Town of Lebanon, Maine......Public Hearing Video.........April 30, 2016......2 pm to 6:12 pm...

Video from the Lebanon Maine Public Hearing,

The meeting came to order at the Lebanon Elementary School on Saturday, April 30, 2016 at 2 pm.
The meeting was adjourned at 6:12 pm

 

Thanks to Ms. Jeanette Lemay for video taping the proceedings of the evening

and for making them available to the residents of the Town of Lebanon, Maine.

***It is noted in the midst of negativity that LMTS did not video tape this meeting. It was video taped by a private party, working unpaid and on their own time with their own equipment, who made decisions when to stop and start the video tape to create evenly timed "breaks" for uploading and viewing ease. If a word or a comment or a sneeze was not captured, LMTS is not responsible. LMTS has not reviewed this video as I sat in the meeting and then uploaded for over 6 hour making a total of 10 hours spent on providing those who did not attend with the best available record of the proceedings. Thank You for that acknowledgement***

This meeting is presented in 5 parts.

Part 1............

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amIym9KfDyg

Part 2............



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aalVUvt8V_I

Part 3............

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyWZLLpcEfE

Part 4.........

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9qDxkQAbzQ

Part 5.........

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yH400oDLjWU

A Written Interview With Lebanon Fire and EMS Chief Daniel Meehan, in His Own Words.

LTMS was present at the most recent set of Budget Committee meetings regarding the desire of the Lebanon Fire and EMS Department to replace an ailing and out of service Engine 1 with a 2017 model year Fire Truck.
The comments made during the meeting, and after, were concerning to us, and we asked Chief Daniel Meehan for an interview.
Chief Meehan, asked us to provide the interview in writing for him to complete, and we think that is a lovely idea!!! It's always better to provide an interview in someone's own written word.
Many thanks to Chief Daniel Meehan of the Lebanon Fire and EMS Department for providing the answers to our questions in writing........
The Chief provided his answers to LMTS on Wednesday, April 6, 2016.




Sent from Lebanon Maine Truth Seekers March 17, 2016

Good Morning Chief Meehan, and Happy St. Patrick’s Day,

I attended last evening’s (March 16, 2016) Lebanon Budget Committee Meeting at the Town Office. I was alerted to this meeting less than an hour prior to its beginning, and there was no Town Website notification. As a resident of Lebanon, but not part of the current Budget Committee, I am not allowed to participate or ask a question during that meeting, however, during the meeting, and after the meeting, statements were made by members of the Budget Committee that concerned me greatly. I hope that you will consider sharing a few answers with me today so that I can properly inform the residents of the Town of Lebanon to truthful answers, Right from the horse’s mouth, so to speak.

LMTS: During Wednesday evening’s impromptu question and answer meeting, many questions were asked of you regarding the Lebanon Fire and EMS Department’s need for a new fire truck, exact specifications, equipment capabilities and specifications, and yet you seemed unprepared to deliver a presentation to the Budget Committee.
Could I begin by asking you when you were alerted to this meeting, and why you were not prepared?
Chief Meehan: “I found out about 15 minutes before the meeting. I was still gathering information about the truck and had no time to get it together before the meeting.”

LMTS: One of the questions presented to you during the meeting was with regards to your late submission of a referendum question to the Budget Committee for inclusion on a May 10th, 2016 Town Ballot. Why didn’t you present your request when you presented your regular department budget to the Committee?
Chief Meehan: “Eng 1 was inspected in January and failed half way though, Hartford’s said there was no need to proceed with what they already found, so we started looking at a Fire Truck, it takes time to get meetings set up, bids in and then prices, usually it is a six month to a year process, we did it in about three months.”

LMTS: I was personally present at the Monday, March 14, 2016 Lebanon Board of Selectmen’s meeting, when you contacted Selectman Royce Heath regarding specifications and pricing of a 2017 fire engine pumper tanker truck that you are hoping to obtain for the Lebanon Fire and EMS department. How long prior to that phone call did you receive those final proposal prices?
Chief Meehan: “Pricing and loan payment came in just a few hours before the selectmen’s meeting and as a matter of fact the specifications on the truck came in via email while I was in the selectmen’s meeting.”

LMTS: Prior to receiving pricing, how long had you, or your department members, been speaking to fire truck companies with regards to pricing and specifications of a new fire engine, pumper tanker truck?
Chief Meehan: “We had asked 3 companies to put in a bid with the specifications we wanted just months prior. It takes time for them to put a bid together, then for us to meet to go over it. Then to pick one and start talking about what if anything we want to cut from the truck or add. This process usually talks 5 months or more. We got it done in 3 months.”

LMTS: On the morning of Wednesday, March 16, 2016, I was personally present at the Blaisdell Corner, Station 2, as the Maine State Police conducted a complementary truck inspection of Lebanon Engine 1. What was it that prompted you to have the Maine State Police conduct this truck inspection?
Chief Meehan: “We had it inspected by a very knowledgeable mechanic but to make sure bases were covered and to show the citizens that Engine 1 really has out lived its service to the town.”

LMTS: During the Budget Committee meeting of Wednesday, March 16th, you stated that Hartford Truck of Lebanon had also conducted a partial inspection of Engine 1, but that they did not complete the inspection as the list of problems with that vehicle was too extensive to repair without the repair costs going over the value of the vehicle. Could you tell us what the problems were that Hartford Truck identified with Engine 1?
Chief Meehan: “Tank Supports rotted, tank might of shifted, right side tie rod needs replacing, exhaust needs replacing, excessive rust. Also once again the fire pump needs repair, after reviewing past records this has been an ongoing problem, since 2000 costing thousands."

LMTS: Former Fire Department Chief Blaine “Skip” Wood, questioned you on the number of gallons of water that Engine 1 could hold, your answer was 750 gallons of water. Mr. Wood corrected you and stated that Engine 1 could hold 900 gallons of water. The Budget Committee seemed to be concerned with this discrepancy. In the greater scheme of what you are trying to achieve, does the tank capability of Engine 1, matter, since it is out of service, and probably permanently so?
Chief Meehan: "The discrepancy was with Engine 2 our first engine out the door, this engine carries only 795 gallons of water, this apparatus would be good if there was plenty of hydrants in town, but in a town like Lebanon no Engine should be ordered with less than 1000 gallons."

LMTS: Budget Committee Member, Corinna Cole had asked the 7 members of the Board who voted not to recommend the Lebanon Fire and EMS budget to the voters of Lebanon, 7 to 0 with 2 abstentions, their reasons in not recommending. Three members stated that they felt the budget was “too high” but would give no specifics as to what it was they were objecting to. I had been present during the meeting in February when you presented your budget to the Committee, and in reviewing my notes, the only suggestions to changes in your budget seemed to concern the purchase of t-shirts for your department, (the only uniform provided to members other than a single set of fire turnout gear) and many questions regarding the Depot Road Fire Station (Station 1) and its upkeep and repair, which were continually addressed by Selectman Thompson as being questions for the Lebanon Fire Department Inc., a separate entity not within your control. In your recollection, were there any suggestions by the Lebanon Budget Committee with regards to items in your budget that could save the Town of Lebanon large amounts of money?
Chief Meehan: “There were no suggestions by the committee, I answered their questions and when done had asked if they had any other questions. I remember hearing "good job".
I am asking for the budget to stay the same as this year.
T-shirts and hooded sweatshirts were bought and given to members to show pride in their department and to be more uniformed for the EMS crew answering calls. I have personally bought pink shirts and sweatshirts for members out of my own pocket, to show support.
I did give back over $4,200 to the town from the EMA department."

LMTS: During the Budget Committee Meeting of March 16th, the upkeep and maintenance of Station 1 was once again discussed, with a member stating that over the years, the Town of Lebanon and the Lebanon Fire Department had “milked that free station dry”, insinuating that the Town and it’s fire department had put little to no money into the upkeep or maintenance of Depot Road, Station 1. Could you tell us the issues that plague Station 1 when you took over as Chief, and which issues are present at this time? How have you personally addressed each current maintenance item? In your time as Chief, you have spent any of your department’s budget on making repairs or conducting maintenance of Station 1?
Chief Meehan: “I do not understand how the town or department “milked the station dry” The building is owned by the cooperation. But all maintenance has come out of my budget. I pay for heat, electricity, cable, propane, internet, phone, salt for water and alarm service. I have had the furnace repaired, repaired all three bay doors, bought lights, bought a new electric heater for office, had water system maintained. Currently I am looking at an antiquated internet system, a leaking hot water tank and the back meeting room floor has some sort of sink hole.”

LMTS: During a recent Selectmen’s meeting, there was discussion on the department’s purchase of a pickup truck with a utility body, a skid unit with the possibility of a plow on the front. At Wednesday evening’s Budget Committee meeting, members seemed to have a difficult time understanding why the Fire and EMS Department would consider a need for this type of vehicle, and they seemed angry that you would ask for two new vehicles in the same year. Could you explain what a “skid unit” is, why this would be important, what the benefit would be to the taxpayers of Lebanon if this vehicle should be obtained, and why the fire department feels the need to obtain a pickup truck and a fire engine within the same year, and how that vehicle would be paid for?
Chief Meehan: “We need a new forestry vehicle, the current one is from 1978 and has served the town well, but needs to be retired. In this topic a skid unit is used for brush fires, it is the pump and water tank on a removable skid. All this is for a forestry unit; the money would come out of the CIP. I have explained to the selectmen about some ideas, to buy a pickup with a utility body and put a skid unit in it, to just buy a forestry truck and if a plow would benefit because sometimes the ambulance cannot make it into a drive way when there is too much snow.”

LMTS: Budget Committee Member Nancy Neubert discussed the fact that voters of Lebanon had turned down the replacement of Engine 1 on several occasions between 2009, and 2014, and there was a long recitation by Committee Member Chris Gilpatrick, Sr. regarding department members continually blaming the former Fire Department Administration for the poor condition of the department’s apparatus when you took your office back in January of 2015. Why do you believe it is important for 2016 Lebanon voters to approve a fire truck purchase for your department?
Chief Meehan: “ The safety of the citizens of the town, the safety of the firefighters and to protect property. The town is growing, more developments are going in, more people are moving in. Having the right tools to do the job safely and efficiently."

LMTS: Chief, if given the money to purchase a 2017 fire truck for the Town of Lebanon, there were concerns voiced by members of the Budget Committee that you are planning to purchase other new vehicles next year. It has been my personal experience in business and my limited knowledge of other Budget Committees and Town Governments that it is typical to have a 5 and 10 year plan with regards to Capital Improvements. Do you have a plan in place for continuing replacement of older Emergency Services equipment over the next 5 or 10 years?
Chief Meehan: “There should have been a plan already to replace vehicles on a rotating cycle, but it takes the vote of the Selectmen, the budget committee and the citizens to be able to replace vehicles on schedule. It is the plan to look at replacing a vehicle in 5 years because of their age.”

LMTS: Members of the Budget Committee questioned you on your proposed plan to pay for the 2017 fire truck over a period of 10 years at a cost of $54,572.00 per year. Members voiced the opinion that dividing the cost over a 10 year period would cost the town a total of $90,000.00 in interest payments over the term of the lease, about $9,000.00 per year. The Members who seemed interested in the actual budgeting for the fire truck rather than your need for one, questioned whether the payments would be best paid for over a shorter time period. Chief, could you tell the residents and voters if the suggested 10 year time frame was your recommendation, and if not, who chose the 10 year payment timeline, and what payment timeline you would personally recommend to the Town?
Chief Meehan: “I suggested a 7-10-year plan because of the yearly payment being lower, the selectmen agreed and went with the 10-year payment, this was only because of the yearly payment being less than a 5-year payment. But it makes sense to go five years paying a higher lease payment but saving money over all.”
***It is noted that members of the Budget Committee recommended that the Selectmen change the original 10 year planned payment time frame to a 5 year planned payment time frame, the Selectmen agreed, and it will be a 5 year payment plan that will appear on the referendum question regarding the  new fire truck***

LMTS: After the Budget Committee Meeting, five members of that Committee continued their discussion of your fire truck request in the Lebanon Town Office parking lot. I was personally in the parking lot obtaining signatures for a petition when I overheard the things being discussed by these five members. Since the five members would constitute a quorum of the Board, who were meeting without notice or invitation of the other members or the public, I feel it is my right to question you on the discussion they were having. When I confronted them as to the conversation I was overhearing, I was told that I was attributing the statements made to the incorrect members, and that may be so as it was dark. The statements I was hearing were so incorrect that it upset me greatly. To that end, the following questions will not mention who was speaking, but will answer questions that may come up in private conversations with Town of Lebanon Budget Committee Members, or at the Lebanon Public Hearing, scheduled for Saturday, April 30, 2016. It is my hope that voters of the Town of Lebanon will print this interview and come to the Public Hearing armed with questions and comments with regards to these statements. Again, I relate to you that these statements were not part of the formal Budget Committee meeting, but were so disturbing to me, that I re-entered the Lebanon Town Office and requested that Budget Committee member Corinna Cole accompany me out into the parking lot to hear the statements being made.

LMTS: Chief, one of the statements made Wednesday evening was that the Lebanon Fire and EMS Department is predominantly made up of EMTs and that you currently have only “a couple” of certified Firefighters on your department. Is this true?
Chief Meehan: “That is not true, we have a good number of certified firefighters. Some of our certified Firefighters are also medical and some medical members are in a Firefighter 1 & 2 class to be certified. Also some of our firefighters are testing out on their EMT, we care cross training. The old ways of fire being on top is in the past, medical is equally important if not more as they handle the bulk of the calls. Last year the Ambulance did about 450 calls and fire did 220 calls.  Our dedicated certified members do also hold a full time job, sometimes it depends on when a call comes in that will depend how many will respond.”

LMTS: It was also stated in that parking lot meeting, that Lebanon Fire and EMS only has an average of 2 firefighters responding to active fire scenes within the Town of Lebanon, and that our Fire and EMS Department are relying on outside towns to come and put out Lebanon’s Fires. The two members certifying this to the others stated that they listen to the scanners and only hear two people responding. When I told those two members that only one or two members respond to dispatch via the radio, and the rest respond via the “IamRepsonding” app, it was told to me that these two Budget Committee members have the “IamResponding” app which would show them the firefighters responding to any incident. I have related to you that evening at the Lebanon Town Office, the names of the two Budget Committee members stating that they have “IamResponding” apps. Could you explain “IamResponding” to our residents, and answer to your best knowledge, whether these Budget Committee members have, or have any right to have, “IamResponding” apps related to the Town of Lebanon Fire and EMS?
Chief Meehan: “I am Responding is a phone/computer app that active members have, this app allows our current members the ability to get notified of Lebanon calls, it is like carrying a pager in their phone. The only way a budget committee member could have access to the account is if they, a family member or friend gave them their log in information.”

LMTS: One of our Budget Committee members present at the parking lot meeting is related to a firefighter in a nearby town. If that member had “IamResponding” for that neighboring town, would they have the ability to see which Lebanon responders were responding to an incident within the Town of Lebanon?
Chief Meehan: “NO, but if they had a family member was a member of the Lebanon Department they could if they had their family member’s log in information.”

LMTS: In a second question with regards to the above statement, could you explain to the voters of Lebanon the agreements you have made for Mutual Aid with other area Fire Departments?
Chief Meehan: “With Milton we have an automatic mutual aid simply because they can reach parts of Lebanon before we can, it is about patient care and safety. We have also remade our run cards, these run cards splits the town into 4 quarters and helps dispatch with who we need when we call in how bad the fire is, but these new run cards also call in bordering departments automatically if we go out on some certain calls such as smoke in the building, chimney fires etc. It gets trucks on the road saving much needed time, if we get on scene and we can down grade, we can cancel them. But if we get on scene and it is worse they are already responding and we can call in more if needed.”

LMTS: Mutual Aid, Chief, in my limited understanding, means that the Lebanon Fire Department also responds, upon request, to fires in other area towns. Could you tell the residents and voters of Lebanon, have members of the Lebanon Fire and EMS Department responded to fires outside of the Town of Lebanon, and if so, how many responders are typically sent, and how our own station and town are covered in the event of a fire in Lebanon?
Chief Meehan: “Last year we covered 31 mutual calls, anywhere from 2-5 members have gone mutual aid. With our run cards we have an outside department that will come in to cover the town, if we send two trucks out of town mutual, we will call in a mutual aid station to cover our station incase calls come in.”

LMTS: It was mentioned on Wednesday evening that other local towns do not call Lebanon to participate in Mutual Aid events. Within each area town, there was a certain “order” in which other area departments are called to Mutual Aid from other towns based on their ability to furnish manpower and apparatus, Could you tell us the “order” that Lebanon Fire Department was called for Mutual Aid when you took over as Chief, versus the “order” that Lebanon is now called to furnish Mutual Aid to other area towns?
Chief Meehan: “You cannot blame towns not calling you in if you cannot get them help, over the year I have seen us get called sooner, like I have said we provided 31 mutual aid calls to outer towns. This does not include mutual aid calls the ambulance has done to Sanford and other area towns. Our dedicated certified members do also hold a full time job, sometimes it depends on when a call comes in that will depend how many will respond.”

LMTS: Has the Lebanon Fire and EMS received any mention or award from local area town fire departments for their accomplishments and progress in responding to Mutual Aid incidents?

Chief Meehan: “We always receive many thanks and recently received a certificate of thanks from Alfred for helping fight their structure fire.”

 

LMTS: During the formal Budget Committee meeting, it was stated that the truck you are hoping to purchase for your department was a medium sized cab, capable of seating four responders. later it was said  that there was no need for a four seat piece of equipment. I have also received, via e mail, questions regarding that decision. The question seems to be whether or not the fire truck would sit at the station waiting for four responders to arrive, rather than getting out of the station in a more timely fashion with two responders and having others meet them on scene. What is the reasoning behind obtaining a four seat fire engine vs a two seat fire engine, is there a difference in the cost to the taxpayer, and would you advise your firefighters to wait for a crew of four prior to responding to a fire in the Town of Lebanon?

Chief Meehan: “The engine is not being built for just today but for the future, plus currently if we go mutual aid and more than 2 people show up we have to also send my car or the squad taking up road space when parking. The truck will not be held up if a fire is in town, but members use "I am responding" to sign on to the station, as members come into the station they can see if anyone is almost at the station and can quickly load the truck if needed. Members are not allowed go mutual aid in their own vehicle.”

 

LMTS: In the dark of the parking lot, it was stated that the Lebanon Fire and EMS Department had “enough power” with the town’s two tank trucks and single remaining fire engine (Engine 2) to put out any fire in Lebanon, and that an additional engine was an unnecessary expense to the taxpayers. Could you respond to this statement?

Chief Meehan: “In the past the fire chief and members have tried to keep the 4 apparatus they have to serve the town of 55.8 sq. miles and some 7000 citizens. Engine 2 carries under 800 gallons of water and 40 gallons of foam, it really should have at least 1000 gallons being the first apparatus out of the station, this type of Engine is good in areas with hydrants. So the new apparatus will have 1500 gallons being more appropriate and replacing an engine which was 1000 gallons. At least twice the retired Chief and members tried to replace Engine 1, they knew it was old, it cost more to repair and was unsafe because the 4 extra members it could carry was not in an enclosed cab which is now a National requirement.”

 

***LMTS hopes that this interview with the Chief has been helpful to you in forming questions of your own for the Chief and the Board of Selectmen with regards to the Lebanon Fire and EMS budget and their quest for a new fire truck to replace the now out of service, Engine 1.

 

We would like to thank Chief Meehan for responding in writing to our questions. By quoting the Chief directly, you should have no question as to whether or not his quote is shortened or misquoted. LMTS retains the original written documentation of this online interview.***

 

Thank you for reading this interview and we hope to see you at the Lebanon Public Hearing on Saturday April 30, 2016, at the Lebanon Elementary School, beginning at 2 pm.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

OPINION.... OPINION.. OPINION... Budget Committee Rejections of Several Town Budgets...OPINON...OPINION...OPINION

Please note that the following article is an OPINION piece. The opinion of LMTS editor, Deborah Dorey Wilson. While I must label this as OPINION, readers can rest assured that my opinion is an educated one, made after over a year of sitting in meetings of various boards and committees throughout the town. Please read this as my OPINION and use it to as a research guide to  help form your own opinion and choices. Thank You.

LMTS alerted our readers over two weeks ago to the fact that the Lebanon Budget Committee voted not to recommend budgets from several town departments to the town's voters.
It has been my intention to save this discussion for the Meet the Candidates Night, sponsored by Harrison Thorp of The Lebanon Voice, however, Mr. Thorp has announced that while other candidates will have a voice that evening (date still unannounced), he has chosen to leave out the members of the community seeking election for Budget Committee, so we apparently have some work to do prior to that date, where once again, LMTS will be left without a voice.
A Lebanon voice.
MY voice.
LMTS has an opinion on things as they are in the Lebanon town government. This post will attempt to address my concerns. Many in town government positions will see some of what I have to say as a slam against the members personally, however, I assure you, this is not about any one individual, their personal opinons, or character, but after a full year of sitting in town board and committee meetings, these are my thoughts and it is my right (and I feel my responsibility) to share them with our readers.
The board of three Selectmen are responsible for the day to day operations of the Town of Lebanon. If something should happen to one, the other two should be able to pick up the slack and the town should continue to operate seamlessly. Please keep this statement in mind, as it is important further on in this post.
Since this discussion is on the recent vote of the Budget Committee not to recommend various town budgets, it is the budgetary process that we will cover in this post.
Each year, the Town of Lebanon begins anew in the creation of budgets for all of it's town departments. The budget is the agreed upon dollar amount that each department is granted by the taxpayers to spend, via town election votes,  during the upcoming year.
In other towns across the state, the process begins with the Budget Committee.
As part of their job description, department heads are required to create and present their expenditures to the Budget Committee, who in turn, are charged with working with department heads to examine the numbers, suggest ways to save money, and aid in the examination of possible grants or other means of creative financing in order to aid the department head in moving things forward and into the future for their department and for the town. This requirement is missing in the job descriptions of Lebanon town department heads.
In short, the Budget Committee should act as an aid, a tool, both to the department heads, and to the Board of Selectmen, and finally, to the voters of the town in assuring that the members have examined every line item and understand them, and have done the research and work needed to try and keep those dollar amounts to a minimum. However, the Budget Committee must also weigh the importance of the town's needs and they should have a general working idea of material and application cost for each of the many things needed to secure a growing and thriving town with the ability to serve the residents, which is, the basic ideals behind having a town government.
Once the Budget Committee is satisfied that they have examined dollar amounts for each department, and have examined possible solutions to curtailing larger dollar expenditures, they should then pass the completed numbers on to the Board of Selectmen for examination and perhaps some further ideas and suggestions.
In Lebanon, this process is backward. Our town's department heads go first to the Selectmen. Some department heads show up with a spread sheet and preliminary budget, others come with a file folder full of receipts and estimates and a head full of ideas, and some others come with nothing but their winter jacket. This is not always the "fault" of the department head. While some department heads are wonderful at their job, they may have no idea on budget creation or what is needed to create a working budget. It has been LMTS' thought that perhaps a class or video available for department heads to utilize in the creation of their department budgets, created by some competent budget or financial professionals would be a good idea. One that LMTS has suggested, but has fallen on deaf ears due to LMTS lack of elected status.
Sitting in the Board of Selectmen's meetings during budget preparations, LMTS watched as Selectman Thompson spoke to each department head and marked his budget book. One by one, Thompson addressed line items and dollar amount while the other two Selectmen did not even use a calculator to check the numbers to ensure correct figures. In fact, what happened was that Thompson would figure the numbers and Heath and Nadeau would just record them in their budget books without the benefit of understanding how each number was created, or a double checking of figures.
The next step in Lebanon's budget process is for the department head to appear at a scheduled Budget Committee meeting. The purpose of presenting a budget to the Budget Committee should be for the department head and Budget Committee members to work on shaving a dollar here or there and boosting budgets for needed growth and sustenance for the town. However, since the department heads, generally speaking, don't create their budgets, they can't present them to a 9 member committee with any ideas or passion for the money they are requesting from tax payers. LMTS repeatedly hears from members of the Budget Committee regarding the incompetence of town department heads in "defending" their budget request. LMTS does not fault the department heads on this problem. How can anyone defend a budget that they did not create and many of them do not understand, or why should a department head have to defend anything to a committee that should be a tool to them in figuring out funding alternatives and methods of saving dollars prior to finalizing their presentation to the town voters?
This frustration is not the fault of the Budget Committee either.
Without any actual power within town government to effect a change in budgetary decisions, the Budget Committee has become little more than a self imposed judge, jury, and prosecutor rolled into one. They sit at a table and without benefit of any changes or decisions that have happened over the last year, they judge the numbers presented on paper without an iota of knowledge of average cost or manpower hours to effect the projects needed to further the town.
To Budget Committee's defense, if this Committee had competent Selectmen's meeting minutes to view with regards to changes made in town departments, they may have an easier time of it. If the Budget Committee held any power or any responsibility for research on pricing, average salaries within the State for various positions, or responsibility for researching materials pricing, they may understand more about the line items presented by each department head. LMTS would even go as far as to suggest subcommittees in charge of watching over department's expenditures over the course of the year, in order to understand where the dollars go, how they are spent, and the necessity versus the waste in each department. These subcommittees could then present competently to the larger committee body regarding average costs in other local area departments or the differences in costs of other supply companies that could be utilized at a savings, or with regards to more service for similar dollar values.
The Budget Committee questions and verbal attacks on department heads have created a feeling of fear and even loathing for the process within all of the town's department heads that leaves them unwilling, or perhaps even unable, to come in to a committee meeting and participate in a competent discussion of needs, ideas, growth, or change for their departments. Some department heads have spoken openly with regards to their feelings on the budgetary process within Lebanon, and there have been ongoing discussions regarding law suits to the demeaning statements made during those sessions, which have cost the town dollars in legal fees, Selectmen's wages to review the problems, and hard feelings with several former and current town employees.
Budget numbers in Lebanon are often judged with regards to town operations of the past rather than on the needs of a growing and changing town or project ideas, there are no suggestions on upcoming grant applications that could aid in keeping the numbers down, department heads are chastised, discussions on the size of men's testicles are commonplace, and department heads leave the Budget Committee table feeling as though they have been raped of any voice, respect, or recognition of accomplishments.
It is said that negativity breeds negativity, and LMTS finds a lack of respect and dignity within the town boards and committees for the Budget Committee, and the important role they should be fulfilling for residents, leaves us with no surprise that the Budget Committee reacts, in kind, in a negative manner, passing the negativity along to town employees and residents.
This year, it was discovered that the Budget Committee is actually acting in a questionable manner with regards to State Law, as there have been no bylaws ever presented as to the scope of work, guidelines or parameters under which the Budget Committee is to prepare for budget work, nor was there ever a legal vote to create the committee. In a speedy attempt to correct a need and create legality, Selectman Thompson, presented this problem to the currently seated committee and asked for their help in creating a set of Budget Committee bylaws to present to the voters of the Town of Lebanon on the May 10th ballot. Members Corinna Cole and Sean Bright and Chairman Jeri Basko did come to the meeting prepared to discuss and create a new set of Budget Committee bylaws and Selectman Thompson presented several sets of bylaws from other Maine towns. The discussion regarding bylaws for this committee were speedy and left some members of the committee's concerns and ideas left unfulfilled, and basically, what is being presented to voters, is a cut and paste version of several other town's bylaws The Budget Committee bylaw referendum was hastily created over the time period of 2 or 3 meetings, rather than a plan of action discussed and created by members of the committee after lengthy consideration, research and discussion.
LMTS finds this unacceptable.
The Budget Committee should be charged with hearing the budget needs of town departments as a first step. Members should work to research and identify grants and low interest loans in order to make ideas and plans of department heads work and come to fruition. Budget Committee members should cast aside personal feelings for department heads and as much as they would like department head to come to their meetings prepared, so the Budget Committee members should come prepared, having read the previous year's budget for each department, and armed with suggestions, available solutions to problems and an open mind on hearing department heads ideas for the future.
LMTS is unsure of who created the backwards position of the Budget Committee and Selectmen, but it is faulty at best. It is LMTS idea that the Budget Committee bylaws should be examined by every resident and that they should not be passed as currently written, but truly considered and worked on by a subcommittee of the Budget Committee, department heads and Selectmen, and presented as a complete and well thought out document rather than a hastily thrown together compilation of other towns' work. We also think that it would benefit the town of Lebanon to charge their Budget Committee members with the responsibility of aiding in the creation of competent budgets as a required first step, rather than sitting as a judiciary panel over the character and ideas of the town's department heads with no voice or responsibility. Giving this responsibility to a larger group of town residents ensures that there are several sets of eyes searching for possibilities for growth, grants, low interest loans, and ways to save the taxpayers dollars.
When considering the recent denial of recommendation by the Budget Committee on various town departments, LMTS has had several conversations with interested voters in Lebanon. Most people in town do not understand some of the relationships or dynamics at play in our Budget Committee as they currently sit.
With specific regard to the Fire and EMS budget, voters need to understand those who are voting against recommendation and their possible objections to the department's budget.
Blaine "Skip" Wood is the former Fire Department Chief. While Skip is to be applauded and respected for his years of service to the Town of Lebanon, one has to wonder why he would vote against the Fire Department budget request. Wood is an old school Fire Chief. He groomed and trained many of his department members to one day take his place in the leadership of the Lebanon Fire Department. Woods' number 2 man was the former Chief's choice to replace him upon his retirement. The Board of Selectmen chose differently and appointed Chief Daniel Meehan. No one can blame Wood for being disappointed in the Board's choices differing from his own, however, what seems "right" in the thoughts of a Fire Department, may not have been right in the thoughts of creating a combined Fire and EMS department for the town. No matter what the reasons behind the Board of Selectmen's choices at the time, LMTS is sure that the choices were made with thought and planning, and we remind voters that this should not come into play when considering budget choices for the current Fire and EMS department or their future needs in providing essential services to the town.
Nancy Neubert is the wife of the former second in command under Chief Wood. It has never been a secret that she supported Wood as Chief, and that her respect for him is still maintained, which is as it should be. This is no surprise to most Lebanon voters who have been paying attention over the past years, and Mrs. Neubert has served on the town's Budget Committee for years, to her defense, and has supported the Fire Department Budget and the Department's former requests for new equipment and new apparatus. Once again, we have to state that this respect and personal relationship with the former Chief should not carry over into Mrs. Neubert's discussions and decisions as a seated member of a Budget Committee and that this is not a personal attack of Mrs. Neubert, but an opportunity to open our eyes regarding possibilities for actions.
Laura Bragg is the former Lebanon Town Clerk. But what most people don't know is that Mrs. Bragg's brother is the husband of the former Chief's daughter. It was a large disappointment to many in town when Mrs. Bragg chose to leave her position as Lebanon Town Clerk and there were so many who spoke on her behalf and made accusations against the Board of Selectmen regarding her personal choice for departure. At the time of Mrs. Bragg's leaving the Town Office, LMTS also considered that it might have been a mistake to not fight harder for her to remain in her position. However, it should be considered that there is a relationship there, and that this relationship needs to be considered when establishing reasons behind denial of a current department budget.
Also entangled in the mention of relationships is the always outspoken Chris Gilpatrick Sr. It comes as no surprise to Lebanon voters that Gilpatrick has a relationship with the State Representative for Lebanon, that is common knowledge. That is not the relationship that has a possibility of playing itself out in the discussion of the Budget Committee's refusal of the Fire and EMS budget. The relationship to examine here is that Mrs. Neubert is very active on the town's Republican Committee, a Committee  that supports the State Representative with whom Gilpatrick has a personal relationship. While LMTS is sure that the State Representative is not in any way influencing the choice of the voters with regards to the Fire and EMS budget and that she has been hard at work at State level to institute many changes that have been beneficial to Lebanon, the relationship chain can not be ignored when stopping to question the Budget Committee's denial of recommendation.
There were others who denied the Fire and EMS budget as well, as outlined in both The Lebanon Voice's post, and in LMTS post with regards to the vote on recommendations of the Committee. It is important to note that member Corinna Cole (also a cousin of Chris Gilpatrick) abstained due to her daughters' participation in the Junior's program with the Department. It is LMTS opinion that members Bragg, Gilpatrick, Neubert and Wood should have followed Cole's lead and abstained from this vote due to their own relationships with the department (past or present) or with it's former members and administration, or if choosing to vote, these members should have disclosed these relationships to the public. Four members of a nine member Budget Committee only need one more member in order to become a quorum of the Board and a large voting block of representation to the public. I might also add that in speaking with other members of the Budget Committee, there were several seated members who were not aware of the relationships between the mentioned members of the committee, which denies these members a chance to ponder if the decisions are made through relationship loyalties or true concern over the budgets.
LMTS continues on with the budget discussion of the Road Commissioner and Highway Department. It is no secret that LMTS has been disappointed with some of the decisions with regards to the Highway Department expenditures. However, it also needs to be noted that Budget Committee member Gilpatrick is running for election of Road Commissioner, and that the very committee members mentioned above, were also the driving force behind the negative vote regarding the Highway Department budget. LMTS also sat in on that budget discussion and it was difficult to follow, at best, however, considering that Road Commissioner Torno did not create his own budget requests. In struggling to understand the Highway Department budget request, the Budget Committee received more answers from Selectman Thompson than they did from the Road Commissioner, and this is no disrespect, but more-so a question of Torno not understanding his department's budget. Selectman Thompson wrote the Highway Department budget, much as he has written just about every budget in town, therefore it was suitable that he should answer most of the questions regarding it rather than putting Torno in a position of trying to answer questions on a budget he had little hand in creating.  I'm sure that the current process is as frustrating for the Select Board Chairman as it is for the Road Commissioner and every member of the Budget Committee. Once again, let me remind you that this is not a slam on Selectman Thompson, Road Commissioner Torno or the Budget Committee,  but a statement of the events as observed by LMTS during town department and budget meetings.
Also at issue with the Budget Committee is the budget for the Lebanon Transfer Station. LMTS was not present at the Budget Committee meeting where Transfer Station head  Ronal Patch ( a former Lebanon Selectman) discussed (or didn't discuss) his budgetary needs. However, I did have the opportunity to speak with Mr. Patch regarding this Budget Committee meeting.
In the interest of the same disclosure I require of others, it is noted that LMTS Deborah Dorey Wilson is engaged to be married to Ronal Patch's cousin in the near future, however, LMTS usually refrains from discussion on the Transfer Station for just this reason. Ronal does not know his cousin well, due to family separations through divorce when LMTS fiancé was a very young boy. In the importance of my thoughts on the Transfer Station budget, we felt that the disclosure was important to note.
Historically, the Transfer Station holds a large piece of the town's attention. Entering into the property, things are clean, well organized, and orderly. Patch runs the Transfer Station with the employment of his wife, Lorraine, his brother Robert, and from time to time, his grandson Jordan as well as two other employees, one a neighbor of the Patch family. Upon LMTS first hearing of the relationships of Transfer Station employees, it was a surprise that the residents of Lebanon would have allowed such nepotism to occur, but in many visits to the Transfer Station, it is hard to find anything amiss or faulty with the day to day operations. It is also important to note in this section that it is the Selectmen of the town who have final approval on any and all town employees, and while Patch can recommend employment, he does not have the final decision, and that while the majority of the employees are in their 60s and 70s, there are no reports of injury or insurance claims from that department and turnover of employees, even among those not related, is almost non-existent.
In the year that we have been vigilant in eyeing the Transfer Station, we have seen that the Transfer Station is well run, with consideration to recycling, ideas on saving money when the opportunity arises, and ideas on boosting recycling efforts. When Patch appeared before the Budget Committee, discussion was directed toward the employment of family members and friends rather than the budgetary numbers. The demands for answers on Patch's character or employees are not the concern of the Budget Committee, and therefore, it is understandable that Patch refused comment. When the actual budget is examined, there is little waste, and any increases this year stem from the increases passed on to the town from Waste Management, the company that the town contracts with for the removal of Transfer Station waste. Negotiations with Waste Management or other waste disposal companies are not the responsibility or concern of the Transfer Station Department head. Patch does not sign the contract with this company, and although he has input, the Selectmen make the final decision on which company will be utilized.
Disclosure of relationships reminds town voters that there are two seated Selectmen, Heath and Nadeau, who were former Transfer Station employees, working under Mr. Patch.
In a final observance, LMTS would like to notice the many department heads of Lebanon Town Departments, who boldly attend Selectmen's meetings and Budget Committee meetings and attempt to provide some insight into the budgetary needs of their respective departments, and who leave year after year without their "wish list" and manage for another year to keep things together in order to provide services to the Town of Lebanon, a nod to Selectman Thompson and recognition of his many hours of work over the past year in creating these budgets, overseeing their expenditure, and questioning dollar amounts spent, a nod to the members of the Lebanon Budget Committee who see me as a personal adversary, when in fact, I support their efforts and understand their frustrations and a word of thanks to the people of Lebanon for considering carefully the items placed on your May 10 ballot and voting what you see, rather than what is being implied.

Selectmen and Budget Committee Votes on Referendum Questions for the May 10, 2016 Lebanon Ballot.

Selectmen's Official Referendum Ballot
Town of Lebanon, Maine
May 10, 2016

VOTED: That it be and is hereby ordered that the questions set forth below be placed on the ballot of the Annual Town Meeting of the Town of Lebanon to be held on May 10th, 2016 and that an attested copy of this order be placed on file with the Town Clerk of the Town of Lebanon.

REFERENDUM 1: Shall an ordinance entitled "Board of Appeals Ordinance for the Town of Lebanon, Maine" be enacted?

Selectmen Recommend: Yes 3  No 0  Abstain 0

REFERENDUM 2: Shall an ordinance entitled "Maine Uniform Building and Energy Code Administrative Ordinance for the Town of Lebanon, Maine" be enacted?

Selectmen Recommend:  Yes 3  No 0  Abstain 0

REFERENDUM 3: Shall an ordinance entitled "Town of Lebanon Planning Board Establishment Ordinance" be enacted?

Selectmen Recommend:  Yes 3  No 0  Abstain 0

REFERENDUM 4: Shall an ordinance entitled "Town of Lebanon Budget Committee Establishment Ordinance" be enacted?

Selectmen Recommend:  Yes 3  No 0  Abstain 0

REFERENDUM 5: Shall an ordinance entitled "Town of Lebanon Recall Ordinance" be enacted?

Selectmen Recommend:  Yes 3  No 0  Abstain 0

REFERENDUM 6: Shall the Town of Lebanon, Maine authorize the election of two (2) additional Selectmen positions on the 2016 Town Meeting Ballot with one (1) position expiring after a two year term in 2019, and the other position expiring after a three (3) year term in 2020 with both elected positions to continue as three (3) year terms with alternating schedules thereafter as existing elected Selectmen's positions, thus effectively creating a five (5) member Selectmen's Board, until revoked by Town Vote?

Selectmen Recommend: Yes 0  No 0  Abstain 3

REFERENDUM 7: Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $1,500.00 to be used as a subsidy for the annual Lebanon Festival?

Selectmen Recommend:  Yes 2 (Nadeau, Heath)  No 0  Abstain 1 (Thompson)
Budget Committee Recommend  Yes 6 ( Basko, Bragg, Bright, Churchard, Cole, Harris-Howard)
No 3 (Gilpatrick, Neubert, Wood)  Abstain 0

REFERENDUM 8: Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $1,680.00 for the fire hydrants in South Lebanon per contract?

Selectmen Recommend:  Yes 3  No 0  Abstain 0
Budget Committee Recommend  Yes 9  No 0  Abstain 0

REFERENDUM 9: Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $451,353.00 for the operation, upkeep and purchase of equipment and supplies for the Emergency Services Department?

The Emergency Services Department includes the Lebanon Fire and EMS Department, The Lebanon Fire and EMS Stations and the Lebanon Emergency Management Agency.

Selectmen Recommend:  Yes 3  No 0  Abstain 0
Budget Committee Recommend  Yes 0 
No 7 ( Bragg, Bright, Churchard, Gilpatrick, Harris-Howard, Neubert, Wood, )   
Abstain 2 (Basko, Cole)

REFERENDUM 10: Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $50,000.00 to place in the Capital Reserve Fund for the purpose of purchasing equipment for the Emergency Services Department?

The Emergency Services Department includes the Lebanon Fire and EMS Department, The Lebanon Fire and EMS Stations and the Lebanon Emergency Management Agency.

Selectmen Recommend:  Yes 3  No 0  Abstain 0
Budget Committee Recommend  Yes 6 ( Basko, Bragg, Bright, Churchard, Harris-Howard, Neubert, )
No 2 (Gilpatrick, Wood) 
Abstain 1  (Cole)

REFERENDUM 11: Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate an annual payment not to exceed $99,869.00 for five (5) years for a new Fire Truck to replace a 1989 FMC Pumper, Engine 1, and to authorize the Selectmen to enter into a lease purchase agreement with a total cost not to exceed $499,345.00 over the term of the lease with a $1 buyout at the end of the lease?


Selectmen Recommend:  Yes 2  No 1 (Nadeau)  Abstain 0
Budget Committee Recommend  Yes 6 ( Basko, Bragg, Bright, Cole, Churchard, Harris-Howard )
No 2 (Gilpatrick, Neubert, Wood) 
Abstain 0

REFERENDUM 12: Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $57,038.00 to cover the cost of Emergency Dispatching for the Emergency Services Department and for radio tower rental?

Selectmen Recommend:  Yes 3  No 0  Abstain 0
Budget Committee Recommend  Yes 9  No 0   Abstain 0

REFERENDUM 13: Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $793,768.00 for operation of the Highway Department??

Selectmen Recommend:  Yes 2 (Heath, Nadeau)  No 1 (Thompson)  Abstain 0
Budget Committee Recommend  Yes 4 (Bragg, Churchard, Cole, Neubert)
No 5 ( Basko, Bright, Gilpatrick,  Harris-Howard, Wood)
Abstain 0

REFERENDUM 14: Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $370,788.00 for operation of the Lebanon Transfer Station??

Selectmen Recommend:  Yes 3   No 0   Abstain 0
Budget Committee Recommend  Yes 0  No 9  Abstain 0


REFERENDUM 15: Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $150,000.00 to place in a Capital Reserve Fund for the purpose of paving Town owned public roads??

The spending of any funds from this account requires the approval of the Board of Selectmen. Capital Reserve Funds allow unused funds to roll from one fiscal year to the next, and may only legally be used for the purpose for which they have been voted.

Selectmen Recommend:  Yes 3  No 0  Abstain 0
Budget Committee Recommend  Yes 0  No 8  Abstain 1

REFERENDUM 16: Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $10,000.00 to place in a Capital Reserve Fund for necessary bridge repairs and replacement of town owned bridges?

 The spending of any funds from this account requires the approval of the Board of Selectmen. Capital Reserve Funds allow unused funds to roll from one fiscal year to the next, and may only legally be used for the purpose for which they have been voted.

Selectmen Recommend:  Yes 3  No 0  Abstain 0
Budget Committee Recommend  Yes 9  No 0  Abstain 0

REFERENDUM 17: Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $22,199.00 to fund the No Spray Contract with Central Maine Power??

Selectmen Recommend:  Yes 3  No 0  Abstain 0
Budget Committee Recommend  Yes 9   No 0  Abstain 0

REFERENDUM 18: Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to pay the Selectmen $12.00 per hour plus expenses?

Selectmen Recommend:  Yes 0  No 0  Abstain 3
Budget Committee Recommend  Yes 9  No 0  Abstain 0

REFERENDUM 19: Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to pay the Road Commissioner $32,000.00 salary plus expenses?

Selectmen Recommend:  Yes 3  No 0  Abstain 0
Budget Committee Recommend  Yes 0  No 9  Abstain 0

REFERENDUM 20: Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $377,565.00 for government expenses for the town office including elections, and the Selectmen's wages and expenses?

Selectmen Recommend:  Yes 3  No 0  Abstain 0
Budget Committee Recommend  Yes 9  No 0  Abstain 0

REFERENDUM 21: Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $21,730.00 for the operation of the Animal Control Officer and expenses?

Selectmen Recommend:  Yes 3  No 0  Abstain 0
Budget Committee Recommend  Yes 9  No 0  Abstain 0

REFERENDUM 22: Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $50,872.00 for the combined department budgets of Code Enforcement Officer / Health Officer / 911 Director including expenses?

Selectmen Recommend:  Yes 3  No 0  Abstain 0
Budget Committee Recommend  Yes 3 (Basko, Churchard, Cole)  No 6 (Bragg, Bright, Gilpatrick, Harris-Howard, Neubert, Wood)    Abstain 0

REFERENDUM 23: Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $10,000.00 to place in a Capital Reserve Fund for the purpose of contributing toward large scale repairs of municipal buildings or grounds totaling $10,000.00 or more?

 The spending of any funds from this account requires the approval of the Board of Selectmen. Capital Reserve Funds allow unused funds to roll from one fiscal year to the next, and may only legally be used for the purpose for which they have been voted.

 Selectmen Recommend:  Yes 3  No 0  Abstain 0
Budget Committee Recommend  Yes 8  No 1 (Gilpatrick)  Abstain 0

REFERENDUM 24: Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $48,000.00 for legal fees?

Selectmen Recommend:  Yes 3  No 0  Abstain 0
Budget Committee Recommend  Yes 8   No 1 (Gilpatrick)  Abstain 0

REFERENDUM 25: Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $50,000.00 for the contingency fund?

Selectmen Recommend:  Yes 3  No 0  Abstain 0
Budget Committee Recommend  Yes 9  No 0  Abstain 0

REFERENDUM 26: Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $189,253.00 for all insurances for the town?

Selectmen Recommend:  Yes 3  No 0  Abstain 0
Budget Committee Recommend  Yes 9  No 0    Abstain 0

REFERENDUM 27: Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $24,425.00 for General Assistance for residents in need?

Selectmen Recommend:  Yes 3  No 0  Abstain 0
Budget Committee Recommend  Yes 9  No 0   Abstain 0

REFERENDUM 28: Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $7,000.00 for the updating of tax maps?

Selectmen Recommend:  Yes 3  No 0  Abstain 0
Budget Committee Recommend  Yes 9  No 0  Abstain 0

REFERENDUM 29: Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $13,408.00 to support the following relief agencies according to the breakdown below?

York County Community Action                $4,005.00
Caring Unlimited                                         $1,809.00
So. Maine Agency on Aging                       $2,594.00
York County Shelter Programs, Inc.           $1,500.00
Counseling Services, Inc.                            $2,450.00
Kids Free to Grow                                          $250.00
Lebanon Community Learning Center           $300.00
American Red Cross                                       $500.00

Total                                                          $13,408.00

Selectmen Recommend:  Yes 3  No 0  Abstain 0
Budget Committee Recommend  Yes 9  No 0  Abstain 0

REFERENDUM 30: Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $12,654.00 for the operation of the Planning Board and for dues to the Southern Maine Regional Planning and Development Commission?

Selectmen Recommend:  Yes 3  No 0  Abstain 0
Budget Committee Recommend  Yes 9   No 0   Abstain 0

REFERENDUM 31: Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $500.00 for the operation of the Conservation Commission?

Selectmen Recommend:  Yes 3  No 0  Abstain 0
Budget Committee Recommend  Yes 9  No 0  Abstain 0

REFERENDUM 32: Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $450.00 for the operation of the Appeals Board?

Selectmen Recommend:  Yes 3  No 0  Abstain 0
Budget Committee Recommend  Yes 8  No 0   Abstain 1 (Harris Howard)

REFERENDUM 33: Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $750.00 for the operation of the Budget Committee?

Selectmen Recommend:  Yes 3  No 0  Abstain 0
Budget Committee Recommend  Yes 9   No 0   Abstain 0

REFERENDUM 34: Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $17,550.00 for the operation of the Martha Sawyer Community Library?

Selectmen Recommend:  Yes 2 (Heath, Nadeau)  No (Thompson)  Abstain 0
Budget Committee Recommend  Yes 9  No 0  Abstain 0

REFERENDUM 35: Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $3,142.00 for the Lebanon Recreation Department?

Selectmen Recommend:  Yes 2 (Heath, Nadeau)  No 1 (Thompson)  Abstain 0
Budget Committee Recommend  Yes 9  No 0   Abstain 0

REFERENDUM 36: Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $500.00 for the Memorial Day Ceremony and the decoration of Veteran's graves as mandated by the State of Maine State Law, 30-A 2901?

Selectmen Recommend:  Yes 3  No 0  Abstain 0
Budget Committee Recommend  Yes 9  No 0  Abstain 0

REFERENDUM 37: Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $32,000.00 for the restoration and maintenance of cemeteries throughout the town as mandated by Maine State Law, 13 MRSA 1101?

Selectmen Recommend:  Yes 2 (Thompson, Nadeau)  No 1 (Heath)  Abstain 0
Budget Committee Recommend  Yes 7 (Basko, Bragg, Bright, Churchard, Cole, Harris-Howard, Wood)    No 1 (Neubert)   Abstain 1 (Gilpatrick)

REFERENDUM 38: Shall the Town of Lebanon allow the Tax Collector to accept prepayment of taxes prior to the tax commitment date and to charge interest on unpaid taxes at the rate of 7% per annum, and to set the date when taxes are committed for the fiscal year 2016-17 (July 1, 2016 through June 30, 2017) and payable as of October 15, 2016 and April 15, 2017?

Interest will be collected after October 15, 2016 and April 15, 2017 respective to billings due dates.

Selectmen Recommend:  Yes 3  No 0  Abstain 0
Budget Committee Recommend  Yes 9  No 0  Abstain 0

REFERENDUM 39: Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to set an interest rate of 3% per State Law as the rate to be paid back to taxpayers who pay amounts in excess of amounts finally assessed and authorize any such interest paid or abatements granted to be charged against the annual overlay, which is not to exceed 5% of the total assessment as per State Law (MRSA 36, Chapter 105, 506-A)?

Selectmen Recommend:  Yes 3  No 0  Abstain 0
Budget Committee Recommend  Yes 9  No 0  Abstain 0

REFERENDUM 40: Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to authorize funding at last year's (2015-16) level for the General Government, Emergency Services, Codes Enforcement, Animal Control, Transfer Station and Highway Department whose new appropriation is not approved by this year's referendum vote, until such time that any new funding is authorized before the net tax commitment?

Selectmen Recommend:  Yes 3  No 0  Abstain 0
Budget Committee Recommend  Yes 0  No 8   Abstain 1 (Bright)

REFERENDUM 41: Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to appropriate all of the monies received from the State for snowmobiling registrations to the Lebanon Trail Riders Club for the maintenance of their system or network of snowmobile trails, on the condition that those trails are open in the snow season to the public for outdoor recreation purposes at no charge, and to conditions as to the municipal officers to enter into an agreement with the Club, under such terms and conditions as the municipal officers may deem advisable for that purpose?

Selectmen Recommend:  Yes 3  No 0  Abstain 0
Budget Committee Recommend  Yes 9  No 0   Abstain 0

Lebanon Maine Budget Committee Notes, Tuesday March 8, 2016

The Lebanon Maine Truth Seekers is not an official member or representative of the Lebanon Maine Budget Committee. The notes below are not an official record of the Town of Lebanon or any of their boards or committees, they are only the notes of LMTS resident sitting in on Committee meetings. For the official minutes of these meetings, please see the Town of Lebanon Maine Official Town Website.

It is also important for us to write that we do not represent any one person, board or committee within the Town of Lebanon, Maine and that these are only our notes on the events, happenings and statements during the specified meeting.

The Lebanon Maine Budget Committee met on Tuesday evening, March 8, 2016 beginning at 6:30 pm at the Lebanon Town Office.
There were 9 Committee members present at the meeting, Chairman Jeri Basko, Sean Bright, Corinna Cole, Bettie Harris-Howard, Chris Gilpatrick, Skip Wood, Laura Bragg, Nancy Neubert, and Judy Churchard.
The Meeting was called to order by Chairman Basko at 6:35 pm.
The Committee was asked to read a copy of the previous meeting's minutes and when all had finished reading to themselves, Member Laura Bragg made the motion to accept the minutes as written, seconded by Member Bettie Harris-Howard and all voted in favor.
Town Clerk Mandy Grenier was in attendance, as well as Selectmen Ben Thompson and Royce Heath, and Resident LMTS Deborah Dorey Wilson.
Chairman Basko gave the floor to the Town Clerk who presented all but the first 5 ballot questions to be presented to Lebanon voters on the May 10, 2016 Town Ballot. The first 5, were explained to be one Citizen's Petition for the creation of a 5 member Board of Selectmen rather than the current Board of 3 members, and 4 questions pertaining to legal wording for the separate Committees and Boards within town government.
Ms. Grenier read the questions one at a time, and the Budget Committee registered a YES vote (voting to recommend to the voters), a NO vote (voting NOT to recommend to the voters) or an ABSTAIN vote, (not wanting to vote on that particular question for whatever reason).

Beginning with:

REFERENDUM 6:  Shall the Town of Lebnaon vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $1,500.00 to be used as a subsidy for the annual Lebanon Festival.

YES: Basko, Bright, Churchard, Bragg, Harris-Howard, Cole (6)
NO: Wood, Neubert, Gilpatrick (3)
ABSTAIN: 0

REFERENDUM 7: Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $1,680.00 for the fire hydrants in South Lebanon per contract?

YES: Basko, Bright, Churchard, Bragg, Harris- Howard, Cole, Wood, Neubert, Gilpatrick (9)
NO: 0
ABSTAIN: 0

REFERENDUM 8: Shall the town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $451,353.00 for the operation, upkeep and purchase of equipment and supplies for the Emergency Services Department?
The Emergency Services Department includes the Lebanon Fire and EMS Department, The Fire and EMS Stations, and the Lebanon Emergency Management Agency.

YES: 0
NO: Bright, Bragg, Churchard, Gilpatrick, Harris-Howard, Neubert, Wood,(7)
ABSTAIN: Basko, Cole (2)

REFERENDUM 9: Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $50,000.00 to place in the Capital Reserve Fund for the purpose of purchasing equipment for the Emergency Services Department?
The spending of any funds from this account requires the approval of the Board of Selectmen. Capital Reserve Funds allow unused funds to roll from one fiscal year to the next, and may only legally be used for the purpose for which they have been voted.

YES: Basko, Bright, Bragg, Churchard, Harris-Howard, Neubert (6)
NO:  Gilpatrick, Wood  (2)
ABSTAIN: Cole (1)

REFERENDUM 10: Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $57,038.00 to cover the cost of Emergency Dispatching for the Emergency Services Department and for Radio Tower rental?

YES: Basko, Bright, Bragg, Churchard, Cole, Gilpatrick, Harris-Howard, Neubert, Wood, (9)
NO: 0
ABSTAIN: 0

REFERENDUM 11: Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $793,768.00 for operation of the Highway Department, to include Road Commissioner's wages and expenses?

YES:  Bragg, Churchard, Cole, Neubert,  (4)
NO: Basko, Bright, Gilpatrick, Harris-Howard, Wood,  (5)
ABSTAIN: 0


REFERENDUM 12: Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $370,788.00 for the operation of the Lebanon Transfer Station?

YES: 0
NO: Basko, Bragg, Bright, Churchard, Cole, Gilpatrick, Harris-Howard, Neubert, Wood, (9)
ABSTAIN: 0

REFERENDUM 13: Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $150,000.00 to place in a Capital Reserve Fund for the purpose of paving Town owned public roads?

YES: 0
NO:  Bragg, Bright, Churchard, Cole, Gilpatrick, Harris-Howard, Neubert, Wood, (8)
ABSTAIN: Basko (1)

REFERENDUM 14: Shall the town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $10,000.00 to place in a Capital Reserve Fund for necessary bridge repairs and replacements of Town owned bridges?

YES: Basko, Bright, Bragg, Churchard, Cole, Harris-Howard, Neubert, Wood, Gilpatrick (9)
NO: 0
ABSTAIN: 0

REFERENDUM 15: Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $22,199.00 to fund the No Spray Contract with Central Maine Power?

YES: Basko, Bright, Bragg, Churchard, Cole, Harris-Howard, Neubert, Wood, Gilpatrick (9)
NO: 0
ABSTAIN: 0

REFERENDUM 16: Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to pay the Selectmen $12 per hour plus expenses?

YES: Basko, Bright, Bragg, Churchard, Cole, Harris-Howard, Neubert, Wood, Gilpatrick (9)
NO: 0
ABSTAIN: 0

REFERENDUM 17: Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to pay the Road Commissioner $32,000.00 salary plus expenses?

YES: 0
NO: Basko, Bright, Bragg, Churchard, Cole, Harris-Howard, Neubert, Wood, Gilpatrick (9)
ABSTAIN: 0

REFERENDUM 18: Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $377,565.00 for government expenses for the Town Office, including elections and the Selectmen's wages and expenses?

YES: Basko, Bright, Bragg, Churchard, Cole, Harris-Howard, Neubert, Wood, Gilpatrick (9)
NO: 0
ABSTAIN: 0

REFERENDUM 19: Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $21,730.00 for the operation of the animal Control Officers and expenses?

YES: Basko, Bright Bragg, Churchard, Cole, Harris-Howard, Neubert, Wood, Gilpatrick (9)
NO: 0
ABSTAIN: 0

REFERENDUM 20: Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $10,000.00 to place in a Capital Reserve Fund for the purpose of contributing toward large scale repairs of municipal buildings or grounds totaling $10,000.00 or more?
The spending of any funds from this account requires the approval of the Board of Selectmen. Capital Reserve Funds allow unused funds to roll from one fiscal year to the next, and may only legally be used for the purpose for which they have been voted.


YES: Basko, Bright, Bragg, Churchard, Cole, Harris-Howard, Neubert, Wood (8)
NO: Gilpatrick (1)
ABSTAIN: 0


REFERENDUM 21: Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $50,872.00 for the combined budgets of Code Enforcement Officer / Health Officer / 911 Director including expenses?

YES: Basko, Churchard, Collins (3)
NO: Bright, Bragg, Harris-Howard, Neubert, Wood, Gilpatrick (6)
ABSTAIN: 0


REFERENDUM 22: Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $48,000.00 for legal fees?

YES: Basko, Bright, Bragg, Churchard, Cole, Harris-Howard, Neubert, Wood (8)
NO: Gilpatrick (1)
ABSTAIN: 0


REFERENDUM 23: Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $50,000.00 for the Contingency Fund?

YES: Basko, Bright, Bragg, Churchard, Cole, Harris-Howard, Neubert, Wood, Gilpatrick (9)
NO: 0
ABSTAIN: 0


REFERENDUM 24: Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $189,253.00 for all insurances for the town?

YES: Basko, Bright, Bragg, Churchard, Cole, Harris-Howard, Neubert, Wood, Gilpatrick (9)
NO: 0
ABSTAIN: 0



REFERENDUM 25: Shall the Town of Lebano vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $24,425.00 for General Assistance for residents in need?

YES: Basko, Bright, Bragg, Churchard, Cole, Harris-Howard, Neubert, Wood, Gilpatrick (9)
NO: 0
ABSTAIN: 0

REFERENDUM 26: Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $13,408.00 to support the following relief agencies according to the breakdown below?

York County Community Action:                  $4,005.00
Caring Unlimited:                                           $1,809.00
Southern Maine Agency on Aging                 $2,594.00
York County Shelter Programs, Inc.              $1,500.00
Counseling Services, Inc.                               $2,450.00
Kids Free to Grow                                          $   250.00
Lebanon Community Learning Center          $   300.00
American Red Cross                                      $   500.00
                                                                       _________
                                                                   
                                                                      $13,408.00


YES: Basko, Bright, Bragg, Churchard, Cole, Harris-Howard, Neubert, Wood, Gilpatrick (9)
NO: 0
ABSTAIN: 0

REFERENDUM 27: Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $7,000.00 for the purpose of updating tax maps?

YES: Basko, Bright, Bragg, Churchard, Cole, Harris-Howard, Neubert, Wood, Gilpatrick (9)
NO: 0
ABSTAIN: 0

REFERENDUM 28: Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $12,654.00 for the operation of the Planning Board and for dues to the Southern Maine Regional Planning and Development Center?

YES: Basko, Bright, Bragg, Churchard, Cole, Harris-Howard, Neubert, Wood, Gilpatrick (9)
NO: 0
ABSTAIN: 0

REFERENDUM 29: Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $500.00 for the operation of the Conservation Commission?

YES: Basko, Bright, Bragg, Churchard, Cole, Harris-Howard, Neubert, Wood, Gilpatrick (9)
NO: 0
ABSTAIN: 0


REFERENDUM 30: Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $450.00 for the operation of the Appeals Board?

YES: Basko, Bright, Bragg, Churchard, Cole, Neubert, Wood, Gilpatrick (8)
NO: 0
ABSTAIN: Harris-Howard (1)

REFERENDUM 31: Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate the sum of
$750.00 for the operation of the Budget Committee?

YES: Basko, Bright, Bragg, Churchard, Cole, Harris-Howard, Neubert, Wood, Gilpatrick (9)
NO: 0
ABSTAIN: 0

REFERENDUM 32: Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $17,550.00 for the operation of the Martha Sawyer Community Library?

YES: Basko, Bright, Bragg, Churchard, Cole, Harris-Howard, Neubert, Wood, Gilpatrick (9)
NO: 0
ABSTAIN: 0

REFERENDUM 33: Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $3,142.00 for the operation of the Lebanon Recreation Department?

YES: Basko, Bright, Bragg, Churchard, Cole, Harris-Howard, Neubert, Wood, Gilpatrick (9)
NO: 0
ABSTAIN: 0

REFERENDUM 34: Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $500.00 for the Memorial Day Ceremony and the decoration of Veteran's graves as mandated by Maine State Law, 30-A, 2091?

YES: Basko, Bright, Bragg, Churchard, Cole, Harris-Howard, Neubert, Wood, Gilpatrick (9)
NO: 0
ABSTAIN: 0

REFERENDUM 35: Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $32,000.00 for the restoration and maintenance of cemeteries throughout the town as mandated by Maine State Law, 13 MRSA 1101?

YES: Basko, Bright, Bragg, Churchard, Cole, Harris-Howard, Wood (7)
NO: Neubert (1)
ABSTAIN: Gilpatrick (1)

REFERENDUM 36: Shall the Town of Lebanon  allow the Tax Collector to accept prepayment of taxes prior to the tax commitment date and to charge interest on upaid taxes at the rate of 7% per annum, and to set the date when taxes are committed for the fiscal year 2016-2017 (July 1, 2016 through June 30, 2017) and payable as of October 15, 2016 and April 15, 2017?
Interest will be collected after October 15, 2016 and April 15, 2017 respective to billings due dates.

YES: Basko, Bright, Bragg, Churchard, Cole, Harris-Howard, Neubert, Wood, Gilpatrick (9)
NO: 0
ABSTAIN: 0

REFERENDUM 37: Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to set an interest rate of 7% per state law as the rate to be paid back to taxpayers who pay amounts in excess of amounts finally assessed and authorize any such interest paid or abatements granted to be charged against the annual overlay, which is not to exceed 5% of the total assessment as per State Law MRSA 36, Chapter 105, 1, 506-A?

YES: Basko, Bright, Bragg, Churchard, Cole, Harris-Howard, Neubert, Wood, Gilpatrick (9)
NO: 0
ABSTAIN: 0

REFERENDUM 38: Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to authorize funding at last year's (2015-2016) level for the General Government, Emergency Services, Code Enforcement, Animal Control, Transfer Station and Highway Department whose new appropriation is not approved by this year's referendum vote, until such time that any new funding is authorized before the next tax commitment?

YES: 0
NO: Basko, Bragg, Churchard, Cole, Harris-Howard, Neubert, Wood, Gilpatrick (8)
ABSTAIN: Bright (1)


REFERENDUM 39: Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to appropriate all of the monies received from the State for snowmobile registrations to the Lebanon Trail Riders Club for the maintenance of their system or network of snowmobile trails, on the condition that those trails are open in the snow season to the public for outdoor recreation purposes at no charge, and to authorize the municipal officers to enter into an agreement with the Club, under such terms and conditions as the municipal officers may deem advisable, for that purpose?

YES: Basko, Bright, Bragg, Churchard, Cole, Harris-Howard, Neubert, Wood, Gilpatrick (9)
NO: 0
ABSTAIN: 0

REFERENDUM 40: Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to place any unexpended funds from the prior year into the unassigned restricted fund balance?

YES: Basko, Bright, Bragg, Churchard, Cole, Harris-Howard, Neubert, Wood, Gilpatrick (9)
NO: 0
ABSTAIN: 0



At 7:10 pm, Satisfied with their votes for referendum recommendation, the Committee went on to read the Budget Committee Bylaws that they have been working to help write over the last few weeks. On the whole there were only minor changes in wording suggested and Selectman Thompson stated that he would take care of them.

One of the changes discussed was regarding the use of the words "Town Meeting" as several of the Committee Members felt that Lebanon no longer has a "Town Meeting" but a "Town Election" or "Town Ballot". There was questioning back and forth on what exactly is meant by "Town Meeting".

***LMTS submits the legal meaning of the words, "Town Meeting" according to Webster's Dictionary is:
 

town meet·ing

noun

noun: town meeting; plural noun: town meetings

1. a meeting of the voters of a town for the transaction of public business.

 

Thus LMTS maintains, that even though there is seldom any discussion, and that all town business is contained to the secret ballot voting process, the elections that are held annually in the Spring, in Lebanon, DO fit into the description of "Town Meeting".***

At 7:35 pm, Member Judy Churchard motioned to adjourn the March 8, 2016 Budget Committee Meeting. The motion was seconded by Bettie Harris-Howard and the Committee voted all in favor. Meeting adjourned.

***LMTS offers the following help for Budget Committee members questioning the different types and levels of funds held by the Town and how they are used and expended......

The restricted fund balance category includes amounts that can be spent only for the specific purposes stipulated by constitution, external resource providers, or through enabling legislation. The committed fund balance classification includes amounts that can be used only for the specific purposes determined by a formal action of the government’s highest level of decision-making authority. Amounts in the assigned fund balance classification are intended to be used by the government for specific purposes but do not meet the criteria to be classified as restricted or committed. In governmental funds other than the general fund, assigned fund balance represents the remaining amount that is not restricted or committed. Unassigned fund balance is the residual classification for the government’s general fund and includes all spendable amounts not contained in the other classifications. In other funds, the unassigned classification should be used only to report a deficit balance resulting from overspending for specific purposes for which amounts had been restricted, committed, or assigned. Governments are required to disclose information about the processes through which constraints are imposed on amounts in the committed and assigned classifications.

We hope that helps you out a little bit****