At
last night’s Town Council meeting, Councilors Lunt and Pesce stuck
to their guns and voted no on the Municipal Budget failing it again
for the second time. Congratulations
to these true Councilors for trying to help the citizens they
represent.
During
Audience Participation portion of the meeting, I spoke on the
Municipal Budget and asked why Chairwoman Ward did not pass any
guidance to the Town Manager on some of the suggestions offered by
both Councilors and citizens during the previous Council meeting and
workshop.
Councilor
Lunt suggested not replacing any police vehicles this year saving
approximately $10,000.00 dollars.
Councilor
Pesce recommended a Personnel Assessment which could reduce manpower
and save an undetermined amount.
Roger
Cote asked why there were no cuts in the largest department in the
budget. The Police Department continues to grow every year and is up
to $1,387,595.00. That is correct over $1.3 million and no cuts!!!
I
recommended cutting one Detective and at least one if not two of the
three secretaries Chief Brooks has in the Police Budget. The two
called Secretaries are part-time personnel but will save at least
$20,000.00 (Chief Brooks will still have his Administrative
Assistant) and the Detective will save between $60,000.00 and
$75,000.00 more dollars.
I
suggested eliminating Professional Service this year saving
$65,000.00. Professional Development is still in the budget.
Richard
Main recommended cutting the Legal budget by eliminating everyone
calling the Town Attorney any time they feel like it. This could
save as much as $20,000.00.
Just
the known saving is roughly $170,000.00 and that is not counting all
the unknowns. So every time Chairwoman Ward asks the questions
asking for specifics here are some good ones.
Before
any cuts can be made the Chairwoman has to tell the Town Manager how
much to cut and areas to look into. However, when Chairwoman Ward
asked the Councilors who failed the budget the first time Councilors
Lunt and Pesce’s suggestions were ignored. Chairwoman Ward
provided no guidance to the Town Manager after the previous Town
Council meeting and provided no guidance to the Town Manager after
the last Town Council Workshop. After last night’s failed budget
Chairwoman Ward asked again and neither Councilor Lunt or Pesce said
anything and I do not blame them; she did not hear them before so
what makes anyone thing she would listen this time.
No cuts to the budget can be
made unless the Council makes them or the Town Manager is directed to
look into areas designated by the Chairwoman. Chairwoman Ward has
failed to discuss any suggestions brought out by Councilors or
citizens and has provided no direction for the Town Manager.
Chairwoman
Ward has scheduled another workshop for July 22, 2014. I guarantee
that any suggestions pertaining to the Police Department will be
ignored by Chairwoman Ward because she will protect her mentor’s
budget at all cost. The citizens should be outraged at this
Municipal Budget and Chairwoman Ward’s lack of concern for the
people who have to pay ever increasing taxes.
Chairwoman
Ward is stalling until the Council has no choice but to pass the
Municipal Budget thus protecting the Police Department Budget for
another year and screwing the taxpayers again.
Larry
Fillmore
I am disgusted at the way Ms. Ward and Mr. Bickford handled themselves in the town council meeting. Mr. Bickford’s suggestion that both Mr. Pesce and Mr. Lunt explain themselves why they are voting down the budget is uncalled for and childish. If they really need an explanation, let me spell it out for them, “The Police Department needs to be cut in half”. If not, we should get rid of the police department altogether and join with Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Dept. I say to Mr. Bickford, Ms. Ward and anyone else who wants to pass this budget that they are the ones who ought to explain themselves to us as to why they are unwilling to take any suggestions and make any cuts to the town budget. It is quite obvious that Mr. Bickford wants to stick it to the people while Ms. Ward feels obliged to discipline anyone who is trying to stand up and make a change. It is time for Ms. Ward and Mr. Bickford to resign as they are not for the people but rather against them.
ReplyDeleteAll one needs to do is go to the town office and get a copy of the 2012 - 2013 Town Report. That is the latest and current one. On pages 30 - 33 you will find the names of over 200 who have not paid their taxes or taxes were paid too late to not be printed. That alone is enough to tell you that people have having a tough time. Heat your home or pay your real estate taxes. Lisa Ward, Chair of the Town Council does not own property in town, so does not pay real estate taxes. She will be up for re-election in November. With her lack of consideration for taxpayers, do we, really want her to serve another term on the town council? Higher taxes or responsible government. The choice will be yours.
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