Vice Council Chair Pomelow's Council Working Rules Are A Joke, And Here's Why

SEPTEMBER 6 COUNCIL WORKING RULES

At the September 6, 2011, Town Council meeting I asked the question: “What is the status of the Council Working Rules?”  I was informed by Eldridge the Council Working Rules were approved on August 2, 2011 and were currently in affect.  At the last council meeting, we were told the working rules had been approved on August 2, 2011 but there was some confusion on the language so the town manager was going to fix it.


I reviewed the Council Working Rules attached to the agenda and it is so obvious that neither the town manager nor the town council have a lick of common sense.  I explained at the August 2, meeting the council working rule 5d was impossible to comply with because the council requires the citizens to speak on agenda items prior to having the agenda item explained by the sponsor.  So now the town manager rewords the paragraph to read “Once the agenda item has been explained by its sponsor or the town manager or staff and clarified by any questioning as provided above in (4)c, the discussion on the specific item will remain with the council and public comment 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.”  This version of the paragraph says exactly the same as the old but in a different order.  Eldridge also added “at the Chairman’s discretion”. 


I cannot believe the council and the town manager are so stupid as to not realize the same issue exists.  Residents are compelled to speak during Audience Participation without knowing what the issue is.  Residents have a right to voice their concerns or opinions on agenda items once it has been explained to them.  This is a form of censorship and I believe is a violation of Maine Revised Statute Title 13-C.


However, at last night’s council meeting there were even more disturbing actions taken by the council.  The Chairman Lunt refused to allow myself to speak on an agenda item even after I showed him the incompetency of the town manager by not posting the new changes to the Town Ordinance.  These changes to the Council Working Rules were supposed to be replacing Section 74-201 of the town ordinances and this never took place.  Chairman Lunt would not allow me to comment of the Charter Changes after I explained this to the council.  In effect, Chairman Lunt violated the town ordinance and my right to address agenda issues.  The town manager is so incompetent, simple tasks such an ensuring ordinance changes are posted in a timely manner and yet the taxpayers of the Town of Lisbon reward this incompetency by paying this individual over $80,000.


Councilor LaRochelle explained how he was offended by comments published on blogs.  Councilor LaRochelle stated he and other councilors show up every meeting and work hard to earn their pay and do not deserve the abuse they are taking.  I write many articles to the Lisbon Reporter and I am proud to bring the TRUTH to the residents of Lisbon because the residents of Lisbon will never hear it from a councilor, except Councilor Cote.  I make it a practice to support everything I write so the people of Lisbon understand what these councilors are doing.  The main reason, I utilize the Lisbon Report is because I am NOT allowed to bring most of these issues up during Audience Participation or Public Hearings.  This council will not discuss issues of violations of the Charter, incompetency of the town manager, or any wrong doing by members of the council.  This council wants these issues buried in letters to the council to be reviewed only by the council.  The people need to hear what really goes on in this town.  This town has a town manager who is not only incompetent but lacks professionalism.  Calling Public Works employee “idiots” in an email is unacceptable behavior in my book and required disciplinary action but instead the council said Eldridge handled himself in a professional manner and no action was taken.


This council forces the people to comment on blogs in order to get the truth to the people.  If Councilor LaRochelle cannot stand to have the truth brought out to the citizens of the town of Lisbon then he needs to resign and do the Town of Lisbon a favor.  The residents of the Town of Lisbon are entitled to know the truth about what is going on in the Town of Lisbon. If the truth cannot be brought out in town Council meetings, then we need to utilize blogs.  Neither, the Sun Journal nor the Times Record will publish articles or Letters to the Editor without Eldridge’s approval. 


Now Councilor LaRochelle, tell me how the citizens of the Town of Lisbon are going to hear the truth about what is going on in the Town?  We, the people, deserve to know the truth.


Larry A. Fillmore
Concerned Citizen