The Lisbon Reporter

WELCOME TO THE LISBON REPORTER. In an effort to keep our community informed of what is going on at local and Federal levels of government, we decided to create this on-line newspaper. It is our hope that this on-line newspaper will help you stay informed so that you can get involved and take action for the benefit of our ENTIRE community. Thank you for visiting and please check back frequently for information about what is happening in LISBON/LISBON FALLS, MAINE USA

Friday, October 9, 2015

THIS YEAR’S CHARTER CHANGES!!!!

Members of the Town Council, every so often, decide our Charter does not provide them total control over the town. This leads to the Council making changes to ensure they have total control.

Several years ago, it was to eliminate any possible chance of recalling a Councilor. The Council added additional requirement to make it harder and to discourage the people from thinking about recalling a Councilor. If you remember, the people have tried twice to recall a councilor and both times the effort failed. They failed NOT because the majority of voters were not in favor of recalling the councilors but because there were not 30% of the voters in the last gubernatorial election voted. It is impossible to reach 30% without the help of Two Priests, a Nun, a Rabbi and the Pope. This means that in the Town of Lisbon there will never be a councilor recalled. Adding additional requirements just ensured the people would not try.

Now, this year the Town Council is trying to ensure a Councilor can remain Chairman of the Town Council for his entire tenure on the Town Council. This is another means to control the people. The Chairman has complete control over the agenda and the meetings. The Chairman can deny a person from speaking, throw a resident out of a meeting, and restrict any discussion he does not want. In the current situation, members of the Council want Chairman Pesce to remain Chairman until the people vote him off the council.

Chairman Pesce has denied people from speaking and does not allow for any dialogue during the meeting regardless of how crucial the situation is. This is the very reason it is important to keep the two one year terms limits. It is vital to a strong council, if the town has fresh input from the Chair. New Chairman means new thoughts, agendas and a refreshing new perspective on allowing the people to contribute in local government.

These no term limits apply to committees and boards. The President of the United States is restricted to two terms. Remember the town forefathers placed the two one term limits on the Chair position for a sound reason and it has worked well for years. So if it NOT broke why change it!!!

Please do not let these Councilors manipulate you and weaken our town Charter any more.

Vote NO on questions 1, 3 and 4.

Larry Fillmore