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	<title>Our Voice : Citizens For a Better Lebanon Maine &#187; campaign 2009</title>
	<atom:link href="http://ourvoice.stadig.org/tag/campaign-2009/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
	<link>http://ourvoice.stadig.org</link>
	<description>Improving Communication, In Our Town, About Our Town, One Day At A Time...</description>
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						<item>
		<title>Election Results 2009</title>
		<link>http://ourvoice.stadig.org/2009/06/09/election-results-2009/</link>
		<comments>http://ourvoice.stadig.org/2009/06/09/election-results-2009/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 10 Jun 2009 03:30:08 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Glen Stadig</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Community News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Elections 2009]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Town Government]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[campaign 2009]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Referendums]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://ourvoice.stadig.org/?p=1496</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The Election results are complete. 835 votes including 155 absentee were cast. and the results are&#8230;.
Selectmen

Ron Patch &#8211; 495


Glen Stadig &#8211; 315

School Board

Betsey Clark 299
Joanne Potter 460

Budget Committee

Glen Stadig 561
Mark Stuart 22
Judy Churchard 8

Town Manager

Yes 366
No 450

Add Full Time Sheriff

Yes &#8230; <a href="http://ourvoice.stadig.org/2009/06/09/election-results-2009/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The Election results are complete. 835 votes including 155 absentee were cast. and the results are&#8230;.<span id="more-1496"></span></p>
<p><strong>Selectmen</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Ron Patch &#8211; 495</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Glen Stadig &#8211; 315</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>School Board</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Betsey Clark 299</li>
<li>Joanne Potter 460</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Budget Committee</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Glen Stadig 561</li>
<li>Mark Stuart 22</li>
<li>Judy Churchard 8</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Town Manager</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Yes 366</li>
<li>No 450</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Add Full Time Sheriff</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Yes 321</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>No 498</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Open Town Hall a Night Till 7pm</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Yes 684</li>
<li>No 132</li>
</ul>
<p>In Order by Referendum Number&#8230;<a href="http://ourvoice.stadig.org/docs/Referendum2009-2010.pdf" target="_blank">(Download Referendum</a>) (<a href="http://www.lebanon-me.org/Public_Documents/LebanonME_Document/results-2009.pdf" target="_blank">Town Published Results Here</a>)</p>
<ol>
<li>Y 636/192</li>
<li>Y 538/282</li>
<li>Y 603/221</li>
<li>Y 517/304</li>
<li>N 366/450</li>
<li>N 154/668</li>
<li>Y 551/274</li>
<li>Y 698/129</li>
<li>Y 730/92</li>
<li>Y 682/143</li>
<li>Y 694/132</li>
<li>Y 679/147</li>
<li>Y 618/204</li>
<li>Y 710/97</li>
<li>Y 657/167</li>
<li>Y 621/206</li>
<li>N 73/746</li>
<li>N 198/623</li>
<li>Y 660/156</li>
<li>Y 654/166</li>
<li>N 321/498</li>
<li>Y 527/291</li>
<li>Y 557/255</li>
<li>Y 512/307</li>
<li>Y 534/276</li>
<li>Y 646/163</li>
<li>Y 696/118</li>
<li>Y 544/263</li>
<li>Y 667/146</li>
<li>Y 534/275</li>
<li>Y 559/247</li>
<li>Y 549/255</li>
<li>Y 661/149</li>
<li>Y 685/135</li>
<li>Y 652/165</li>
<li>N 255/543</li>
<li>N 204/608</li>
<li>Y 448/362</li>
<li>Y 709/98</li>
<li>Y 639/174</li>
<li>Y 657/159</li>
<li>Y 647/162</li>
<li>N 224/579</li>
<li>Y 684/132</li>
<li>Y 536/260</li>
<li>Y 730/91</li>
<li>Y 644/153</li>
</ol>
<p>Congratulation to Mr Patch&#8230;Mrs Potter, Mr. Stuart, and Mrs Churchard</p>
<p>I want to thank all of you who supported me at the polls, and I really appreciated all the kind words of encouragement. I am disappointed but not defeated. I will look to double my efforts for the future and ask those of you who support improvement for our Town to unite and promote best practices and sound policies throughout. I ask each of you to try to get just that little more involved, that little bit will make the difference when compounded by many.</p>
<p>In meeting and speaking with many of you I sense the same desires, hopes and frustrations that catapulted my creation of this website and led to my name on the ballot. I pledge to continue my efforts and encourage you again to become more involved. Thank You again for your support, together we can initiate and sustain improvement. &#8211; Glen Stadig</p>
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		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Foster&#8217;s Asks Questions</title>
		<link>http://ourvoice.stadig.org/2009/05/28/fosters-asks-questions/</link>
		<comments>http://ourvoice.stadig.org/2009/05/28/fosters-asks-questions/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 28 May 2009 14:22:48 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Glen Stadig</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Community News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Elections 2009]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[campaign 2009]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Glen Stadig]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://ourvoice.stadig.org/?p=1398</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Karen Gerrish, Lebanon Correspondent for Fosters Daily Democrat and the Sanford News asked me a few questions for her upcoming article spotlighting Lebanon&#8217;s candidates for Selectmen. Below are her questions and my responses. I thought it might be beneficial for &#8230; <a href="http://ourvoice.stadig.org/2009/05/28/fosters-asks-questions/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Karen Gerrish, Lebanon Correspondent for Fosters Daily Democrat and the Sanford News asked me a few questions for her upcoming article spotlighting Lebanon&#8217;s candidates for Selectmen. <span id="more-1398"></span>Below are her questions and my responses. I thought it might be beneficial for those of you who may miss her article to understand my positions and opinion. When released I will<span style="text-decoration: line-through;"> link to her article</span> (Removed By Request 6/8/09) so you can see it in it&#8217;s entirety.</p>
<p>1. Wife&#8217;s name<br />
<em>Rose-Lynne</em></p>
<p>2.  Much is currently being said about a conflict of interest policy in<br />
town government. This year&#8217;s budget committee was forced to abstain on<br />
several articles without a policy in effect. What is your opinion of<br />
acquiring such a policy? Is there a need and how would you like to see<br />
such a policy implemented?</p>
<p><em>The policy was indeed passed by Selectmen two full weeks before the<br />
Budget Committee vote and circulated to all employees, so it was in<br />
effect.</em></p>
<p><em>There is a definite need for a conflict of interest / ethics policy. I<br />
was actually very surprised to learn the Town did not have one in place.<br />
Most people would do the right thing without such a policy, however<br />
there are those who would not. The policy provides necessary structure<br />
and guidance as well as details a formal means to bring matters forward<br />
for resolution if needed.<br />
It is unfortunate that more people do not come forward and participate<br />
in the Budget Committee and other boards. I am certain residents<br />
expectations are not that, a wife, a sister and an employee, of a<br />
&#8220;department head&#8221; would occupy three seats of the Budget Committee, but<br />
without more general civic involvement by residents this type of<br />
situation can occur. A policy such as our new one helps to ensure the<br />
right thing is done in these circumstances and people do abstain. Even<br />
though this is New for Lebanon, every other town in the area has just<br />
such a policy.</em></p>
<p>3.  What is your opinion on the new town office building and how that<br />
was fiscally handled?</p>
<p><em>The new Town Hall cost residents far too much and continues to cost<br />
residents money. It is an example of the best of intentions generating<br />
the worst of results in regards to cost and management. This spring a<br />
new granite sign was installed as well as a additional light installed<br />
to light the flag, so costs are still being levied.<br />
I believe no resident or contractor would have built their own home or<br />
managed a project the way this was handled. It is troubling the building<br />
built upon donated property has cost residents so much. The building<br />
doesn&#8217;t even provide a dedicated conference area for Selectmen, Planning<br />
Board, Budget Committee and or Department Head meetings.</em></p>
<p><em>I believe All projects in town must go out for proper public bid,<br />
following a standardized formal procedure, with a clearly defined<br />
specification of work to be performed. Currently this doesn&#8217;t typically<br />
happen in a routine open way. The result&#8230;All of our projects in town<br />
are handled much the same as the way the Town Hall project was run. I<br />
find this fundamentally unacceptable and in great need of improvement.</em></p>
<p>4.  Where did you live before Lebanon?</p>
<p><em>Before coming to Lebanon back in 2001 I lived in Acton Maine. What drew<br />
me to Lebanon was the quaint country character of the town and the<br />
community. You can still see this today in driving around many roads in<br />
town. The town though is changing rapidly as many things do, and like<br />
many residents I worry that Lebanon may not be preparing itself for the<br />
future since we do not have a comprehensive plan. It is hard to know<br />
where you are going if you don&#8217;t have a destination and map to get<br />
there. This is what a comprehensive plan can provide us, direction and<br />
focus.</em></p>
<p>5.  Are you in favor of having a budget committee here in town?</p>
<p><em>I favor having a Budget Committee, this committee is the eyes of the<br />
people. However, the Budget Committee needs to be provided accurate<br />
figures early in the process which did not happen this past session. The<br />
Budget Committee was also provided different figures the nights of the<br />
meetings which caused confusion, was inefficient, wasted time and did<br />
not allow proper review. This information exchange needs to be improved<br />
to be more reliable and transparent. I attended most of the meetings as<br />
an observer and placed the recordings on http://ourvoice.stadig.org for<br />
residents to view and follow along on their own time.<br />
I would like to note I had applied to the open Budget Committee seat<br />
last fall and I also pulled papers to be a on the ballot for the Budget<br />
Committee during this upcoming term. My desire and efforts are to serve<br />
you as Selectmen, but in the event I am not elected Selectmen I wanted<br />
an opportunity to serve as a Budget Committee member. To be clear I have<br />
no intention or desire to do both.<br />
My broad professional experience and fresh perspective would better<br />
serve the town as Selectmen.</em></p>
<p>6. Are you in favor of the Selectmen appointing bud. com. members rather<br />
than being elected by the people?</p>
<p><em>The people should elect their Budget Committee representatives, if due<br />
to lack of participation or a person dropping out then Selectmen must be<br />
afforded the authority to solicit candidates and appoint people to fill<br />
such vacancies. If residents do not take an active role to participate<br />
then Selectmen are left no option other than to solicit interest and<br />
appoint people. I encourage more civic involvement by our residents.</em></p>
<p>7.  Are you in favor of Lebanon having a town manager? What sort of<br />
background/education should that person have? Should we share one with<br />
another town?</p>
<p><em>I favor a Town Manager and I also favor a five member board of Selectmen<br />
if we adopt a Town Manager plan.</em></p>
<p><em>In years past I would have voted against a Town Manager, viewing the<br />
position as unnecessary and another layer of costly administration. I<br />
have learned a Town Manager would provide the detailed oversight<br />
required to properly handle day to day activities of the Town. They<br />
would be an expert in state and federal grant application bringing much<br />
needed monies to our community and ensure we efficiently manage our<br />
people and cash resources. A Town Manager would in effect not cost the<br />
town anything, moreover they would drive more revenue into our town and<br />
ensure we get the most from every single dollar we do spend. This person<br />
would seek out and implement best practices in policy, management, and<br />
record keeping at all levels in our Town.</em></p>
<p><em>A Town Manager is an educated administrator with a broad background in<br />
finance and administration. They would not be a part-timer, working to<br />
simply do the best they can, as our Selectmen have. The Town Manager<br />
would be a dedicated full-time professional manager of the Town, taking<br />
direction from and reporting to the Selectmen. Current and past<br />
Selectmen have both stated there is just too much that needs to be done<br />
and or could be done and time and other constraints stand in the way. A<br />
Town Manager would eliminate these constraints having the time to apply<br />
their knowledge and expertise to steadily improve Lebanon&#8217;s ability to<br />
handle future fiscal and community challenges.</em></p>
<p><em>Increasing the board of Selectmen from three to five would provide a<br />
more balanced, consistent oversight of the Town Manager. The Selectmen<br />
in this case should be provided only a small stipend versus an open<br />
ended hourly wage as is the case today. All this to be done with the<br />
goal of achieving a better, more efficient administration of the Town,<br />
with more people involved, and in the end actually be less costly.</em></p>
<p><em>Our town has grown and we are one of the only towns our size in the<br />
state that does not have a Town Manager. Some have suggested a part-time<br />
person, or even sharing them with another Town. This might appear cost<br />
effective and an attractive way to ease into things, but I believe it<br />
would only serve to water down and impair the Town Manager&#8217;s<br />
effectiveness and in the end we wouldn&#8217;t reap the benefits to the levels<br />
expected. I am certain a good Town Manager will more than earn their<br />
keep given the opportunity.</em></p>
<p><em>In general we need to adopt &#8220;best practices&#8221; in our town government and<br />
its overall administration. With or without a Town Manager that is what<br />
I will work toward given the opportunity. I am certain my fresh<br />
perspective will compliment the experience of the other Selectmen. If<br />
elected I promise to be an effective Selectmen and work to enhance the<br />
trust, transparency, and communication in our Town, on your behalf.</em></p>
<p><em>You may learn more about me at http://ourvoice.stadig.org</em></p>
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		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Support Stadig for Selectmen</title>
		<link>http://ourvoice.stadig.org/2009/05/06/support-stadig-for-selectmen/</link>
		<comments>http://ourvoice.stadig.org/2009/05/06/support-stadig-for-selectmen/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 06 May 2009 18:46:13 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Glen Stadig</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Town Government]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[campaign 2009]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://ourvoice.stadig.org/?p=1296</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I have created a sign to allow people to show their support for my campaign . Please print and place the sign in your car window (don&#8217;t obstruct your view), place of business, bulletin boards, anyplace you think would be &#8230; <a href="http://ourvoice.stadig.org/2009/05/06/support-stadig-for-selectmen/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I have created a sign to allow people to show their support for my campaign . Please <a title="Vote Stadig" href="http://ourvoice.stadig.org/docs/votestadig.pdf" target="_blank">print and place the sign</a> in your car window (don&#8217;t obstruct your view), place of business, bulletin boards, anyplace you think would be beneficial. Thank you for supporting my efforts.</p>
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