WHERE ARE THE COUNCILORS GOING TO FIND THE MONEY???

WHERE ARE THE COUNCILORS GOING TO FIND THE MONEY???

In today’s Sun Journal, there is an article written by Paula Gibbs about the search for an Interim Town Manager.  People can read this at:  http://www.sunjournal.com/news/lewiston-auburn/2014/01/28/lisbon-seeks-another-interim-town-manager/1483886 .  The most important part of this article, to the people of Lisbon, is the last paragraph.  The last paragraph reads and I quote:   “A separation agreement signed by Eldridge on Jan. 9 and by Ward on Jan. 10, specifies that Eldridge will receive three months of salary and three months of medical coverage.”

The following Councilors voted to approve this separation agreement:  Chairwoman Ward; Councilors Bickford, Lunt and Garrison.  These four Councilors are responsible for this separation agreement and should be held accountable for the contents.  So where are these four councilors going to come up with the money to meet the terms of this separation agreement? 

Eldridge spent all the towns’ money to include $223,514.00 of our tax dollars that was in the Undesignated Fund.  Over the past six years, our Undesignated Fund went from over $3,000,000.00 to $1,076,332.00.  Eldridge's salary is over $90,000.00.  His reckless spending required the town to raise our taxes the last few years.  He violated about every section of our town Charter.  Eldridge manipulated the Town Council into approving three contracts that clearly violated the Town’s purchasing policy.

With all these accomplishments by Eldridge, these four councilors felt the need to approve a separation agreement worth approximately $25,000.00.  I hope these four councilors are not thinking about taking it from the Undesignated Fund.

The people did not approve this settlement; so why should the people pay for it? 

Larry Fillmore