The Town Manager Plan will be back before the people on June 8. I encourage you to vote Yes to adopt the plan. Our Town needs the consistent daily management and oversight only a Town Manager can provide. Our Selectmen voted to support the plan and you should too!

In meeting with residents going door to door I hear many of the same concerns about a Town manager, so I put together an information sheet to explain the benefits of having a real Town Manager and adopting the Town Manager Plan. You may download it here to print and circulate to your friends and neighbors.

Why do we need a Town Manager, we pay Selectmen already? Won’t this person will be just another lackey and or relative to warm a chair at the town hall?

• A Town Manager is a hired professional with a degree typically in finance and or administration, and a well rounded knowledge, backed with proven municipal history.

• Our Selectmen are part-time regular folk like you and I who are challenged by not having enough time to review and investigate issues thoroughly, lack of expertise in enough areas, and cannot provide the detailed oversight that is necessary to be truly effective.

• A Town Manager focuses on one thing, running the business of the Town.

Won’t the Town Manager position be expensive and cost us a lot of money?

• A Town Manager will be an expert in grant application and will seek out opportunities for State and Federal aid, which will actually bring much more monies into the Town.

• Cost savings will be realized through more effective management of staff, town resources, process improvements and record keeping.

• A Town Manager will ensure money we do spend is spent wisely and work is bid out properly.

• A good Town Manager will more than earn their keep, and they will be more accessible to you as well.

The Town is a multi-million dollar business and must be operated like one.

• You wouldn’t operate a multi-million dollar enterprise with three part-time volunteers, you would use professional management.

• Selectmen are great individuals and do their level best, but at the end of the day the scope of job requirements is just beyond what their time, expertise, and experience can cope with effectively. Things routinely slip through the cracks, overall costing us more money.

• The Town handles millions of dollars over the course of each year. We could do better for ourselves with a Town Manager and have far more to show for our taxes with the oversight and benefit professional management affords.

• The issues facing our town today are much more complex than they were 5, 10, 20 years ago. The old ways simply are not enough. We need to manage today as well as set the course for the future; a Town Manager can provide the necessary leadership and guidance on addressing these needs.

• There are “Best Practices” for doing anything, even managing a town. We need to adopt and follow these. There is no need to re-invent the wheel; some 46% of Maine towns have a Town Manager / Administrator.

I like the Selectmen and the way things are, will I lose control with a Town Manager?

• The Selectmen still play the key role in the oversight of the Town Manager and the Town in general, but the multitude of problems and challenges faced each day can be met head-on, timely, and in the detail required by a full-time Town Manager.

• The Selectmen are voted into office and the Town Manager is an interviewed and hired position, if you don’t get the service and results you can hire a new person.

• You actually will have better access to voice your concerns directly as they come up. The Town Manager is a full-time position and available during normal business hours.

I am worried, I know we need to do something; I have seen and been disappointed in the way elected officials have performed and represented my interests in the past. Will this really improve things?

• NOT adopting a Town Manager plan almost certainly ensures there is NO chance for improvement.

• If we don’t see results and we know we have hired the right people, we can always change back.

• Town Manager is only one piece of a needed more formal framework for managing the Town. Other pieces would include a Town Charter which sets the rules the town operates by and a Comprehensive Plan which is a plan to manage town growth and town needs like a road map. A Town Manager is a needed step.

• Once a Town Manager is adopted there is no reason why Selectmen couldn’t have their wages reduced to a small stipend since the heavy lifting of management will be done by the Town Manager. Same for the Road Commissioner the position really isn’t required.

Here is the Agenda:
Selectmen’s Meeting, 6:30 PM

SEPTEMBER 15, 2009
AGENDA: PLEDGE of ALLEGIANCE
6:30 pm Open Generator Bids
6:45 pm Laura Bragg Sign SAD 60 School
Sign Appointment Papers
7:00 pm Open Winter Sand Bids
7:15 pm George Payne 202/Center Rd Intersection 457-6062
Ideas for safety at this intersection
7:30 pm Glen Stadig – Question the uncertainty that has been published about November ballot
in particular the CEO budget, Town Manager Plan and Ambulance.

Town Manager – FAQ Information Sheet

Why do we need a Town Manager, we pay Selectmen already? Won’t this person will be just another lackey and or relative to warm a chair at the town hall?

• A Town Manager is a hired professional with a degree typically in finance and or administration, and a well rounded knowledge, backed with proven municipal history.

• Our Selectmen are part-time regular folk like you and I who are challenged by not having enough time to review and investigate issues thoroughly, lack of expertise in enough areas, and cannot provide the detailed oversight that is necessary to be truly effective.

• A Town Manager focuses on one thing, running the business of the Town.

Won’t the Town Manager position be expensive and cost us a lot of money?

• A Town Manager will be an expert in grant application and will seek out opportunities for State and Federal aid, which will actually bring much more monies into the Town.

• Cost savings will be realized through more effective management of staff, town resources, process improvements and record keeping.

• A Town Manager will ensure money we do spend is spent wisely and work is bid out properly.

• A good Town Manager will more than earn their keep, and they will be accessible to you as well.

The Town is a multi-million dollar business and must be operated like one.

• You wouldn’t operate a multi-million dollar enterprise with three part-time volunteers, you would use professional management.

• Selectmen are great individuals and do their level best, but at the end of the day the scope of job requirements is just beyond what their time, expertise, and experience can cope with effectively. Things routinely slip through the cracks, overall costing us more money.

• The Town handles millions of dollars over the course of each year. We could do better for ourselves with a Town Manager and have far more to show for our taxes with the oversight and benefit professional management affords.

• The issues facing our town today are much more complex than they were 5, 10, 20 years ago. The old ways simply are not enough. We need to manage today as well as set the course for the future; a Town Manager can provide leadership and guidance on addressing these needs.

• There are “Best Practices” for doing anything, even managing a town. We need to adopt and follow these. There is no need to re-invent the wheel; some 46% of Maine towns have a Town Manager / Administrator.

I like the Selectmen and the way things are, will I lose control with a Town Manager?

• The Selectmen still play the key role in the oversight of the Town Manager and the Town in general, but the multitude of problems and challenges faced each day can be met head-on, in the detail required by a full-time Town Manager.

• The Selectmen are voted into office and the Town Manager is an interviewed and hired position, if you don’t get the service and results you can hire a new person.

• You actually will have better access to voice your concerns directly as they come up. The Town Manager is a full-time position and available during normal business hours.

I am worried, I know we need to do something; I have seen and been disappointed in the way elected officials have performed and represented my interests in the past. Will this really improve things?

• NOT adopting a Town Manager plan almost certainly ensures there is NO chance for improvement.

• If we don’t see results and we know we have hired the right people, we can always change back.

• Town Manager is only one piece of a needed more formal framework for managing the Town. Other pieces would include a Town Charter which sets the rules the town operates by and a Comprehensive Plan which is a plan to manage town growth and town needs like a road map.

• Once a Town Manager is adopted there is no reason why Selectmen couldn’t have their wages reduced to a small stipend since the heavy lifting of management will be done by the Town Manager.

• You can stay more informed and involved. There are many who want to see Lebanon improve for the better, you’re not alone.  Visit ourvoice.stadig.org for information on news and events about town.

I am posting here to alert the volunteers gathering signatures, since I don’t have all you’re contact information.

Please email me gstadig@gmail.com with your current counts, so I know where we stand and have your contact info. If the deadline has been moved and we are close as I suspect we are, I will try to take time off wrap it up.  We will also need to make arrangements to get your petition paperwork by this Thursday afternoon so we can submit it. So keep busy, and keep working, email your counts, and stay tuned.

Residents, Registered Voters…Please help the petition drive for Town Manager by completing a petition and mailing it to me. You can find the details Here.

I am circulating a Petition to have the referendum revisited on the ballot this November. By signing the Petition you would be simply providing Lebanon the residents the opportunity to vote on the item.

You can ensure your voice is herd by performing a Self Service Petition..If you are a “Registered Voter” in Town you may download a copy of the Petition, print it, and complete the form using ink, by adding your signature, printed name and address. Then simply mail it to: Glen Stadig, 1174 Carl Broggi Hwy, Lebanon, ME 04027.   If you can also circulate this petition to friends, family, and neighbors that are also registered voters, that would be helpful too. It is important to do this quickly however, so these petitions may be included to be certified.   Town Administrator Petition-Download Alternatively you may contact me at gstadig@gmail.com and I will stop by to meet you and gain your signature. (Your can only sign and submit one Town Administrator Petition, so if you have seen one of our representatives or signed one at the store, you’re good)

What is the Town Manager Plan?
Essentially Lebanon would interview and hire a full-time professional to manage all the intricate day to day operations of the town. The Town Manager applies for grants and put things in place to ensure we can get and qualify for Federal Funds. A good Town Manager will more than earn their keep via cost savings and revenue generated; the position will take direction from and report to the Selectmen.
The Selectmen are essentially part-time ordinary folks, most have jobs, untrained in matters of formal government and simply they do their best to handle the issues thrown their way. Given the towns growth, and number of staff, daily troubles it is hard to stay up on everything and reliably things slip through the cracks.

Our Town handles millions of dollars each year, we need a person with skills, knowledge and tools that can meet these needs head-on. We can not continue to attempt to figure things out as we go, and there is also no need to re-invent the wheel. 46% of towns in Maine have a Town Manager Plan form of government. Our cost for in-action gets higher year by year, the current system just isn’t working. Let’s take a shot at making things better.

A positive vote in November would start the process of interview selection and budget consideration for appointment next year starting July 2010.

It is an easy read and is available in PDF format. The MMA is a great resource and is used by many municipalities as a resource for training and education.

The history of how the book was put together and the persons involved is available here at the MMA website.

I personally love our town with all it’s unique personality and timeless character. I am sure many of you feel the same way. With each day that passes I am worried we operate at risk of losing a piece of that character to new development, mismanagement and or by simply making usual decisions because it’s the way we always have. I believe we need more dialogue and resident involvement in town.

Selectmen Churchard mentions the need for a Comprehensive Plan. Others speak of worries of not having a more formal Zoning Plan. The need of a Town Manager has been raised,  perhaps an Accessor part-time or under contact.

Now don’t get me wrong I am not in favor of spending any money. Understand though there is a cost for doing nothing and for not acting as well.

I am in favor of protecting our Town’s character and learning more detail about these issues and others. I also favor maximizing the return on spending we presently do in regards to town expenses. Based on history You can’t simply place an item on a warrant article and see if it passes or expect one night of discussion at a town meeting to answer everyone’s concerns. These issues are important, complex and need discussion with more opportunity for resident involvement.

I propose we ” Citizens” hold a regular meeting to discuss issues impacting the present and future of our town. We invite our Selectmen and others, and delve into the Towns needs. We review the pros and cons of these issues and others, and where sensible and consensus is found, create referendums or warrants.

An agenda could be created through input on this website. I am also willing to use a webcam to record the preceding for residents who can’t attend and post it online on this site or perhaps YouTube.

You have heard the Selectmen at the recent meetings, they need our help, they want our help. A Citizen’s round table would seem to be a perfect forum. We could even invite guest speakers from other districts and the state or experts on specific topics to provide insight if needed to learn how others handle such things.

This is your town, and there is no better place to be heard or to vote than in your town. People get excited about Presidential elections but the fact is a single resident’s voice matters most and rings most loudly in your local town hall.

What do you think?   Do I schedule some space, call the papers to get notice out and send some invites?

Please comment as well as vote your will below…

In your comments please specify a night that works best..ie. 1st Wednesday, 2nd Thursday etc. also specify a frequency preference of monthly or bi-monthly We will take these into account for scheduling as well as trying not to impact other town meetings like budget, planning etc.

My sense is that our Selectmen are sincere and trying their darnedest to manage things. They are regular people like you and I, trying to oversee the affairs of the town but they’re hindered by inaccurate reporting, changing of accounting methods and mainly by not having any kind of operating procedure or bid framework to work within. Therefore, even with all the good faith effort they put forth, and the greatest intentions they operate with, they wind up to a spinning their wheels or being hoodwinked.

Two additional people could help the process by providing diversity of opinion, splitting of the work load, bring more oversight through improved availability and involvement. They also need a Charter and Operating manual or procedures that details this is how they do business. Any ISO certified company has this type of structure why wouldn’t a town as a minimum have a “ISO light” version?

I believe if we had improved oversight and procedures the Selectmen could operate with improved accuracy. The town would have never had the accounting fiasco over the recent years leading to our tax increase, it likely would have been caught much sooner.  Issues like the recent timber harvesting (“Timbergate”) could be avoided.  What do you think? Please vote and share you’re thoughts by clicking comment.