I recently saw in the news where the York County budget needs to be cut some 18% in order to balance as required by law. This can only mean that the present coverage is in jeopardy of being limited further due to cuts in Deputy’s for the County. There has been much discussion on this site about the need for expanded coverage, not limited coverage.
It was brought to light last week during the Selectmen meeting that the State will be having a referendum vote on November 3rd. At this vote the Selectmen have the option to have referendums for the Town placed on a ballot at this time as well. It would seem that given what we know, a referendum for the full-time Deputy Sheriff could be revisited at this time.
If the Selectmen do not take action on their own to place a referendum before the people, it could still be placed on the Ballot with a Petition and about 168 good signatures. Other initiatives could also be pressed and re-visited with other petitions and the same petition signatures required. The petitions would need to be completed and submitted before 9/1/09.
The petition option is something to think about to assure we have protection.
9 responses so far ↓
1 Pat Allard // Jun 25, 2009 at 9:03 pm
Shall we begin the petition at the first Round Table? I say, better safe than sorry. If the Selectmen act on their own, we’ll have only wasted some time and paper. But, if they do not act, we can have the petition completed and ready
2 woody // Jun 25, 2009 at 9:34 pm
I talked with Jason Cole at the store and he said he is asking the Sheriff if they can extend the grant funded position until November. Jason said he had to talk to the other selectmen, but thinks there would be support. They have to revisit the code enforcement officer anyway, there is no additional printing costs, etc.
They could lay off several deputies. Instead of the sheriff covering 4 towns now, they could cover 7, so we could wait even longer.
With everything going on, we need this officer in town!
3 Mark // Jun 30, 2009 at 8:40 am
does anyone know what happened in colonial last night? I saw 4 sheriff cars, 2 marked and 2 plain cars and the ambulance in front of a house
4 Don Hollenbeck // Jul 2, 2009 at 7:11 pm
Better safe than sorry is right, but;
4 sheriff cars, 2marked and 2 plain?!?!
That doesn’t sound like we have no police to me!
I’m all for police protection, but it sounds like the people of this town want a cop on every corner, as in the city!
O.K.,: Are we willing to pay the price, as in the city, and still not have enough police protection and too much crime?
What will it take to satisfy us? A cop at our every door step?
I do agree that some police protection is better than none, but let’s make sure we have things,(cost versus application), in perspective!
Don
5 Mark // Jul 3, 2009 at 11:18 am
Don,
I spoke to one of the neighbors who knows what happened because she helps take care of the resident and it was 2 rescue members cars that I thought were police cars and then 2 marked police cars. and the ambulance. The police came from Limington and Arundel, each about 30 minutes away while people were prowling this persons house and she thought they were breaking in. She was petrified. The rescue folks stood by with her until the police got there.
Maybe if we had a sheriff closer, they would have caught these people?
I agree having a sheriff at every corner is not worth in. But for 6000 people, 1 cop covering 60 square miles of just Lebanon would be nice. Not one that we share with 800 other sqaure miles of towns. If someone was breaking into your elderly mothers house and you lived too far away to get there soon and you called the police, would you want someone close by or is 1/2 an hour ok for a response?
6 Don Hollenbeck // Jul 6, 2009 at 5:23 pm
Thanks for the correction!
And yes, I totally agree!
7 striveforchange // Jul 6, 2009 at 10:01 pm
You know this really terrible. Greed is a powerful thing and shame on the town for voting down to have a full time sheriff or some sort of protection. I get so aggrivated I can’t stand it. Is it because the monies would take away from something someone else wants………?
My name is Claire H.
8 rural // Jul 6, 2009 at 11:14 pm
I was watching the news and we had an armed home invasion and a kid airlifted because he was hit by a drunk guy on a atv?
Yeah, lets save a dollar and have no police.
Come on, what can we do to get this changed?
9 Don Hollenbeck // Jul 7, 2009 at 5:12 pm
Rural,
If talking to everyone we can, and what we’re doing now on this web site isn’t enough, then I, for sure, am one open to any suggestions anyone might have!
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