Is It Just The Rules OR Is The Whole Lisbon Town Council A Joke?

COUNCIL WORKING RULES A JOKE

Vice Chair Pomelow started in April 2011 to create new working rules for the council.  Pomelow is an administrator by profession and after she screwed up this seven page document she turned it over to another administrator (Evil Eldridge) to correct.  The council voted to adopt these working rules knowing perfectly well these rules could never be complied with by the people.  This made total sense to these councilors.

However, the simplest issue, which was agreed upon by everyone, never got changed in these new working rules.  Everyone agreed to move the recognition portion of the meetings to one of the first agenda items so people being recognized would not have to wait around with their families.  You would think such an easy item could be incorporated without any problems.  Never done by both of these administrators, and as a result people being recognized have to sit through whatever portion of the meeting the chairman so desires.

These new working rules do not have a place to discuss any new business.  I want to thank Chairman Mark Lunt for allowing Mrs. Trudy Duvall to address the council about a horrible issue involving the lack of an animal control officer being on duty to take care of an unfortunate situation.   The fact of the matter is the residents of this community can only address agenda items during Audience Participation according to these new rules.  This demonstrates yet another method the council is using to restrict residents from communicating with their council.

Paragraphs 4(b) is in direct conflict with paragraph 5(d).  Paragraphs 4(b) addresses Public Comments and states “After introduction of an agenda item, appropriate motions and time for explanation and council questions, the public shall be allowed to comment on that agenda item at the discretion of the Chair.  During that period of time, the public comment shall address only the agenda item before the council.”  And Paragraph 5(d) states “Once the agenda has been explained by its sponsor or the town manager or staff and clarified by any questioning as provided above in 4c, the discussion on the specific agenda item will remain with the council and public comments will only be allowed at the Chairman’s discretion.  The public shall address the item during the Public Hearing or Audience Participation section of the agenda.”

At this point in the meeting, the Public Hearing and the Audience Participation are already passed.  In paragraph 4(b) the people are allowed to make comments on this agenda item but in 5(d) comments by the people can only be made in Public Hearings or Audience Participation.  This clearly demonstrates the council is trying to restrict any comments by the people.  Well, which is it?

Right now, Chairman Mark Lunt is allowing the people to speak on agenda items after the sponsor has explained the situation.  I guarantee you (Potential) Chairperson Pomelow will never allow anyone to speak on any issues.  You see Bowie (the puppet master) has designated/primed Pomelow to be the next Chair.  All of these changes have been made to prevent residents from having any input into what the council is doing.  The council wants total control without any interference from the people.

Two administrators, (Vice Chair Pomelow and Evil Eldridge) could not even publish a simple document seven pages long.  This surely speaks volumes for their professionalism as administrators.

I also want to thank Peter Reuter for joining our fine staff of the Lisbon Reporter.

Larry Fillmore
Concerned Citizen