Today was the day to have the Ambulance and Town Manager Petitions submitted, but the Town Clerk has extended the deadline until next week given the large submission volumes received so far. We are very close with the Town Manager Petition drive and the extra couple days will allow us to get a few more signatures to ensure we get over the top. If you haven’t yet seen one of the volunteers a Petition is available at Train’s Quick Stop, please stop and sign.
The Observer has written an article highlighting the Town Manager petition drive and the need for the Town to have a Town Manager. It is a great read and mirrors much of the thoughts on this website. It is important as a resident to research and understand exactly what a Town Manager does and what they can provide to our Town.
Personally this has been a very trying week with some serious family matters to attend to, which had set back my ability to make rounds. I want to thank the Town Office for extending the time and allowing the efforts of all the volunteers to bear fruit.
We will be collecting signatures through the week, we need to collect ALL the sheets for submission this Monday. If you have sheets please get them to me. Contact me via email and i will stop by and grab them if need be. – Thanks again to the Town Hall for their understanding and providing us the couple extra days.
Finally the Town is doing something positive for the citizens of Lebanon. We owe that to you Glen and Corinna for being sted fast. Thank you for both of you and to all the volunteers who are working so hard.
It is now Sept. 8, has anyone found out whether or not they have checked the signatures? The last thing I heard was that they needed to check them. Correct me if I am wrong, but aren’t the names on the voting registration in alphabetical order? How long does it take for this procedure?
My gut feeling is they will try to stall and give the execuse that they were so busy they went past the deadline, therefore no Town Administrator on the ballet for Nov. 3 because they don’t want a Town Administrator……….
You almost have to think the way they do in order to get past the bull…………..
i read that the town may “delay” the vote on the town manager and ambulance until June? Laura Bragg said this wasn’t a “municipal” election, its a state election. When has that stopped other things on the November ballot. Also didn’t the SELECTMEN say that anything that didn’t pass as an essesntial service would be voted on in November? I think the CEO was voted down and it needs to be brought up. The town clerk told the people when they had to have stuff in for the November election. Now shes in the paper saying the selectmen may not put anything on? We have to do something, this isn’t right. How come the SELECTMEN told us one thing, but now are doing something else. Is it because of the new selectman? I am so furious that this is happening. Aren’t our selectmen supposed to look out for the people? If they got enough signatures, and they told us they would put the essential services on the November ballot, then what is the question. What are they trying to hide? I think as citizens we can call a special town meeting, which would cost money and instead of having it on the day we are already voting, having a special town meeting. If we have to, then lets do it!
I am trying to find out information, does anyone know if we can call for a special town meeting? I found a case in Camden where it says you can by going through a Notary. If anyone has any info, please share it.
While we are doing it, maybe the new selectman can be recalled, since the board of selectmen said during the budget process that this would be on the ballot in November, thats why I voted for that question when I voted in June.
I googled Maine How to call a special election and found this for Maine:
Who calls special Town Meetings?
Generally, the selectmen call Special Town Meetings. Residents can petition the Board to
schedule a Town Meeting or bring a matter to Town Meeting. A petition to call a Town
Meeting would have to follow the State statutes contained in Title 30-A. State law requires
10% of the voters of the prior gubernatorial election would have to validly sign the
petition.
May voters call a special Town Meeting?
Yes, voters may call a Special Town Meeting by petition.
maybe we need to start another petition??
Thanks to the last article, I found this MAINE STATE LAW:
Title 30-A, Section 2522
ยง2522. Petition for article in warrant
On the written petition of a number of voters equal to at least 10% of the number of votes cast in the town at the last gubernatorial election, but in no case less than 10, the municipal officers shall either insert a particular article in the next warrant issued or shall within 60 days call a special town meeting for its consideration.
So, 60 days they have to call a special town meeting
The Selectmen stated last spring the CEO if not passed would be placed before the people…So the MUST have a ballot, it has been committed to. Further they have stated their intention to have it which is why Petitions were circulated in the first place.
The Town cannot go back on it’s word. I know I and others have spent many hours circulating Petitions and the Petitions for Ambulance and Town Manager Plan if nothing else demonstrate a strong desire by the Townspeople to have these items on the ballot.
What paper was this article in Fed Up Elaine? Do you have a link is it online?
Keep doing your Research and speak with State Resources..
Residents should show up this coming week and get a clear answer direct from their elected officials.
Why is the town dragging their feet verifying the signatures ?? Were they told to do this ? Was the soap operas having the seasons finallies this week ?? Catching up on town gossip ?? Maybe this shows we need a few more town employees at the town hall to pick up the slack ?! Must be more family and friends WE can support by keeping the chairs warm !!!!