Immediately after the change, the department committed the town to tens of thousands on new equipment purchases and also never clearly explained the financing of the new ambulance purchase. This was even after being pressed by the Budget Committee and Residents during the last the Town Meeting.

The point is residents had NO SAY in this extra spending or ANY of the spending. The purpose of this petition is to change the department account back to a standard account as it always was, once again requiring residents approval of the departments budget and it’s spending as is done for other departments via annual referendum vote.

So I created a petition to Lebanon Board Of Selectmen, which says:

“Repeal the Lebanon Rescue department’s enterprise account, changing it back to a standard account. Thus requiring Lebanon Rescue to complete the customary budget process and get spending approval by residents via the routine referendum process like other town departments do, i.e… Fire, Roads, EMA, Library, General Govt, Rec..etc.”

Will you sign this petition? Click here:

http://signon.org/sign/repeal-lebanon-rescue?source=c.em.cp&r_by=6030

Thanks!

Glen Stadig

Here is the wording…

“Residents request that all meetings and workshops of Selectmen, Budget Committee, and Planning Board be recorded. This allows residents to stay informed and also to facilitates the accurate transcription of official minutes. The audio and or video recordings shall be made freely available to residents to view online. Recordings made shall be secured and safely archived for no less than 4 years.”

Here is the reasoning why it is important…

Presently Selectmen meet at workshops and do not keep minutes and the minutes from evening minutes may be vague and or lacking. This petition is to require recording of ALL Town boards and to have the audio and or video recordings placed online so residents may listen and or view to them on-demand.

Recording is done by a great majority of towns and to implement this simple process is very inexpensive. It could also serve to protect the town in the case of a he said she said situation. It will provide much greater transparency and access for residents.

Selectmen should take the quickest path to implement for example start audio recording while awaiting a more complex video solution.

If you are a registered voter of Lebanon …Show your support by signing the petition online, when we get a couple hundred signatures it will be submitted to Selectmen.

This website was started as a way to allow an open public dialogue for residents to stay informed. Over time I have added on-demand audio and video of Selectmen Meetings, published meeting highlights, shared opinion, linked to news, and highlighted local events. I attended and followed the Budget Committee Meetings as well, recording those for residents to see. This web site continuously gains more visitors as residents have begun learning of it’s existence, taking part in the online commentary, and publishing events and opinion.

It is important to understand this website and the Town itself for that matter, will be what we make of them, neither will change on their own. I encourage Lebanon residents to take an active role in publishing articles and events here online, as well as share in the comments and dialog.  It is also important to be an active resident by being informed in matters facing the Town, attending and watching the Selectmen Meetings and or participating in the Citizen Roundtables.

The Citizen’s Rountable is a meeting of residents the first Thursday of each month to discuss many of the topics and issues facing the Town. The meetings are held at the Lebanon Elementary School. Many of the topics are similar to current affairs on this website, all with a goal of improving the betterment of our Town. The meetings are casual open affairs that promote information exchange and dialogue. Every meeting I have attended has left me a bit more enlightened. I have met many wonderful people, listened to many great ideas and heard many shared perspectives.

When I ran for Selectmen last year, I met many of you and listened to your individual stories of happenings about town, I was amazed!  I was further astonished when speaking to residents during the collection of signatures for the Town Manager and Ambulance Petitions the overall feeling of discontent people had for the Town. Residents described with apathy how they were dissatisfied with lack of police coverage, town management, hiring practices, bidding methods, town hall and so much more. Many explained how it’s been this way for years…some have tried to change things and had some success but overall the feedback was sad. There was also another group of residents who simply didn’t know anything….they are busy, out of touch, much like I was.  They wrongly assumed things are handled effectively as they may have seen in other towns.

This needs to change…there should be no apathy when one speaks of the Town Hall and the way the towns business, roads or services are handled. We should be proud! I don’t have all the answers but I do know right from wrong and unfortunately there is more wrong than right when it comes to how things are handled. This said, I am certain it can be changed and corrected, it starts with residents paying attention, being informed and being involved.

Our town is a wonderful place with a truly wonderful community. If we don’t start taking measures today to improve and prepare for tomorrow we are going to be in even more serious trouble. As a town we lack many of the foundations a municipality of our size should have like a Charter or Comprehensive Plan. We miss out on Grants and Aid because we don’t keep adequate records and our part-time Selectmen cannot effectively manage or drive these complicated matters or provided the needed oversight.

We need greater resident involvement …not just those that are connected or employees of the town. Real folks like you and me who have no preconceived agenda other than to see things in our Town improve day by day. I hope after you have had a chance to look around the website and view some of the meetings for yourself you too will step up and join in in making the Town a better place.

Welcome to OurVoice and please enjoy it and make it part of Your Voice!

Below are the facts presented to you the residents to judge.

1. The Selectmen Promised the Budget Committee they would have a Ballot for any essential services that were voted down this past June. (Code Enforcement failed to pass)
2. Residents circulated Petitions on two issues collecting more than 700 signatures. Compare this to the recent election in June that had roughly 895 voters participate.
3. Residents at the meeting spoke in favor of the November ballot, NOT ONE person spoke against the November ballot other than the Selectmen Patch and Frizzell.
4. Residents offered to pay ALL the printing / processing costs associated with the November Ballot.
5. Delay of the vote for a New Ambulance, could potentially cost Lives and Revenue. The delay WILL increase the cost to residents in June.
6. The Polls must be set-up anyway to facilitate the State Ballot on November 3rd, where there is sure to be very high turnout.
7. Discussion over the Ballot items started back on July 7th, a full ten weeks before the recent vote.
8. Selectmen strategically waited until the 15th in an attempt to assure no recourse to residents for the Nov 3rd Ballot.
9. State Of Maine Law States “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.”

The people tried to speak , but were silenced. …..There simply are no excuses not to at least allow the people to vote. If we cannot reverse the Selectman’s decision in time to have our say on November 3rd, we should require a Special Town Meeting and at this meeting allow our vote on the Petitions as well as adopt a Recall Ordinance for our elected officials and commence that process.  These Selectmen do not speak for the people, or represent the peoples best interest when they won’t even allow a vote.

Boomer - The Sanford Mainers Mascot

Lebanon Fire Department Color Guard

Adam Neubert performs the Nation Anthem on guitar.

There was a great turnout for the event and the conditions of  S.T.S Field were excellent and you couldn’t have ordered a better day.  The grills and snack bars were busy with hot dogs, burgers, fries and beverages. It was a great day and a great way to kick off another exciting Little League season….Play Ball!

I am soliciting input from residents and putting together an agenda. Please let me know if you have any particular topics you would like to explore by commenting this article or via email. I believe this will be a fairly free form and informative meeting. More information will be coming soon, Please spread the word and save the date.