Lebanon Maine Board of Selectmen's Meeting Video Posted in 4 parts. 7/30/15

 

Lebanon Board of Selectmen's Meeting Video from 7/30/15

 

The first part of the video from the Lebanon Maine Board of Selectmen shows the Board speaking about the upcoming Medical Marijuana Festival scheduled for Friday, August 21 - Sunday August 23, 2015. The Festival has requested a midnight end time on Friday night, 1 in the morning on Saturday, and 9 pm on Sunday. The Board is thinking that those times may be a little late for the Festivals neighbors. According to Selectman Thompson, the Festival is expecting over 1,000 visitors this year.

Some discussion is had regarding the heat in the Selectmen's Office and the hope that voters in November will allow for the Selectmen to spend some money from the town's Contingency Fund in order to open the wall between their current meeting room and the current Code Enforcement Office to make a larger meeting room. The Lebanon Maine Truth Seekers purchased and donated a window fan to the Board over a month ago, in hopes of improving temperature and air quality in the room, however, only minutes after turning it on, Selectman Nadeau stated he couldn't hear over the fan and it has sat, unused, under the Selectmen's desk, since the day of it's donation.

Lebanon Board welcomes Colby, a member of Lebanon Boy Scout Troop 369, who is at the meeting in order to observe and gather information for his Citizenship and Community Badge.

 

SEE PART 1 of the July 30th

Lebanon Maine Board of Selectmen's Meeting Video

HERE:

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

 

In Part 2 of the Selectmen's Meeting Video, you will see more even more comments being made about the excessive heat in the Selectmen's meeting room.

The Board speaks with Treasurer Jeanette Lemay regarding the town's upcoming bid for Information  Technology (hereafter IT) assistance, which should be ready for publication on Friday, July 31st, 2015. It is Lemay's goal to bring the town's computer system into modern times, with the ability to "talk" between town departments. Specifically she mentions Fire, EMS, Highway Departments.

 

SEE Lebanon Maine Board of Selectmen's Meeting Video of July 30th, 2015 HERE:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjx83-t-17M

 

The third part of the Thursday, July 30th Lebanon Maine Selectmen's Meeting video shows Lebanon Maine Truth Seeker Deborah Dorey Wilson asking a resident's question regarding the publication (or lack thereof) of Selectmen's Meeting Minutes to the Town's Website. According to the resident who had asked, the June 8th meeting, and all those that have occurred since that time, are not published. Selectman Royce Heath, who is the designated Secretary for the trio erupts in a series of "NO COMMENT" answers to both Wilson and Lebanon Maine Truth Seeker Sandy Adams' questions. Selectman Nadeau is asked for comment, to which he replies "NOPE" and Select Board Chairman Thompson says that he would LIKE to see the minutes continue to be posted, however they are not in his possession. Selectman Heath does state that they are in his possession, but then continues on with the "NO COMMENT" comments.

 

WATCH HERE: Part 3

of the

Lebanon Maine Selectmen's Meeting Video of July 30th, 2015.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cN23HTNTcaQ

 

The fourth and final part of the Lebanon Maine Selectmen's Meeting Video begins with a conference call to Maine State Police Sergeant Shapiro in regards to the upcoming Events and Festivals coming up in town including the Medical Marijuana Festival, Tiki Days at Skydive New England, Country Music Festival at the 4X4 Proving Ground and more......

The upcoming Re-Dedication Ceremony for the Gully Oven Town Park is discussed, and none of the Board had any idea that it was happening, and at first look, had no intention of attending. No answer was ever given in surety if they are intending on attending now that they are aware.

Lebanon Code Enforcement Officer Mike Beaulieu speaks to the Board on his work on the pending Festivals and Mass Gathering Permits. He speaks about placing his office hours on the window of the Code Enforcement Office door.......Monday and Tuesday from 7 am to 12 noon and "Available for Inspections" noon to 5 pm by appointment only.

Beaulieu states that the town has received $4,678.00 in building and plumbing permits during the month of July and says this money is from permitting for 8 new buildings. He says that Rockwell Homes is planning a total of 30 new Lebanon Homes in the upcoming year.

Town Clerk Mandy Grenier speaks to the Board on her research and development of ordinances to require Business Licensing within the town, including permanent businesses, Festivals and Gatherings. Ms. Grenier and Mike Beaulieu have been working together to create some very good ordinance and fee structures for proposals which will be presented at a Town Meeting (date to be determined) and then placed on the November ballot.

Ms. Grenier takes a moment to explain the need for Business Licensing as Lebanon continues to grow, with words on how part of the higher tax rate in Lebanon is due to the increase of Town services for businesses and their need to pay for those services rather than the expenses being shifted to the residential taxpayers in town. The Town Clerk also speaks about the importance of the townspeople's attendance at Town Meetings, and how she feels compelled to send multiple notices and try to increase taxpayer attendance and participation at the meetings.

Selectmen Heath and Nadeau both spend their time telling her reasons why they don't think it will work and giving their opinion that she will never get more than 60 people at a town meeting.

Undaunted, Ms. Grenier asks the Board to look over the proposed changes in the Mass Gathering Application she and Mr. Beaulieu have prepared, which does not need a town vote to be changed, and the pair think that their form of Application will make things easier on gathering hosts to know the rules, know what's expected of them, and understand the fees associated with the permitting process.

Ms. Grenier then asks the Board to schedule time to review the 7-10 Applications for the Part time Deputy Clerk / Collector position that she has open for the Town Office. It is decided that she will sit with the Board to discuss these, and any that come in until that date, on August 13th at 4:30 pm.

At the end of the discussion, Lebanon Truth Seeker Deborah Dorey Wilson asks for public participation time and is granted one minute. Wilson takes her allotted time to speak to the Town Clerk, thanking her for her hard work, research and preparation of the Business Licensing Permit Ordinance proposals, with Selectman Heath interjecting that 1 minute Public Participation time is over after only 21 seconds. Wilson continues to speak with Selectman Nadeau regarding discouraging such a refreshing work ethic and reminding him that Lebanon is changing whether we like it or not and proper knowledge of businesses operating in town is important. Selectman Heath motions to close the meeting during the discussion.

 

WATCH the FINAL segment of The Lebanon Maine Selectmen's Meeting Video (Part 4) of July 30, 2015 HERE:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgOKzD3Ayl4

 

 

 

Lebanon Family Fun Center to Offer 2nd Free Concert on August 7th.

 

LEBANON FAMILY FUN CENTER

Hosts

FREE CONCERT

with

THE ON TAP BAND

Music for All Ages

FRIDAY AUGUST 7th

6-9 PM

77 Carl Broggi Highway (Rt 202)

Lebanon Maine

For More Information Call (207) 457-6030

DEES Rt. 202 Diner Announces Wednesday's Specials!!!

DEE'S RTE. 202 DINER SPECIALS

WEDNESDAY JULY 15

 

 

 

NO SHEPHERDS WERE HARMED IN THE MAKING OF THIS

SHEPHERD'S PIE

WITH YOUR CHOICE OF

HOMEMADE TOAST OR BISCUIT

$6.99

 

SOUTHERN FRIED HADDOCK WRAP

WITH COLESLAW & THOUSAND ISLAND DRESSING WITH CHIPS & A PICKLE

$6.99

 

BBQ CHICKEN MELT

3 FRIED CHICKEN TENDERS IN OUR SWEET BBQ SAUCE,

BACON, RED ONION & CHEDDAR CHEESE

ON GRILLED CANADIAN WHITE BREAD

WITH CHIPS & A PICKLE

$5.69

 

LOADED CHEESEBURGER

WITH SAUTEED ONIONS, PEPPERS & MUSHROOMS

ON A HOMEMADE BULKIE ROLL

WITH FRENCH FRIES & A SODA

$6.99

 

COLD HAM & CHEESE

WITH TOMATO, RED ONION & AMERICAN CHEESE

ON A HOMEMADE BULKIE ROLL

WITH CHIPS & A PICKLE

$4.99

JULY is National Ice Cream Month.....Time for a Visit to Your Favorite Local Ice Cream Parlor

 

JULY IS NATIONAL ICE CREAM MONTH!!

CELEBRATE

by ENJOYING A CONE

from Your

FAVORITE

LEBANON AREA ICE CREAM PARLOR~

 

SCHOOL HOUSE ICE CREAM

253 Bakers Grant Road, North Lebanon, Maine

Find out More HERE

http://www.schoolhouseicecreammaine.com/

 

LICK ME ICE CREAM

1716 Carl Broggi Highway (Rt 202), Lebanon Maine

Find out More HERE

https://www.facebook.com/lickmeicecreamstand

 

and just over the border in Rochester, NH

LONE OAK ICE CREAM

175 Milton Road, (Rt 125), Rochster, NH

Find out More HERE

http://www.loneoakicecream.com/

 

and in neighboring Sanford, ME

SHAINE'S of MAINE ICE CREAM

1491 Main Street, Sanford, ME

Find out More HERE

http://www.shainsofmaine.com

 

 

 

 

PICTORIAL of Independence Day With Belgian Meadows Farm and Friends at School House Ice Cream in North Lebanon.

What a lovely choice of places to spend the Independence Day holiday!
We've been to School House Ice Cream before just for a quick grab-and-go cone, but on July 4, Independence Day, we were treated to much more than an ice cream cone. We got to spend some time on the well appointed and maintained grounds of the old North Lebanon Elementary School, now owned by Sharon Thompson.
The old school house is beautifully renovated inside, decorated with antique school needs and photographs of some of the actual students who had once attended the small one room school.
Strolling across the groomed paddock, you'll meet Nellie the pot bellied pig, and her co-hort Patsy Swine. Sheep are grazing nearby and a flock of ducks voices their opinion of your presence. Pedro the absolutely adorable miniature donkey keeps a protective eye on all the barnyard creatures and the chickens pay absolutely no attention, spending their time scratching and pecking in the lawn.
What a LOVELY setting for any outdoor event!!
If you haven't been to School House Ice Cream yet, it should be a MUST on your list of things to do this Summer!!
Grandson Damien and I went to see Steve Collins of Belgian Meadows Farm, who was at School House Ice Cream with a group of 8 other horse teams and wagons. The group formed an informal Lebanon Independence Day Parade as they traveled through the streets of town, with wagons full of friends and family, flags flying from the backs of the buggies and wagons, or in Collins' case, the red, white and blue created the covering for his antique covered wagon.

 

The opportunities for horse photos were amazing today!!

What beautiful animals!!

 

I can't imagine anyone not being completely taken by the great power of such enormous beasts. Seeing these horses pulling wagonloads of people with little effort was a testimony to their power and strength. People in attendance at School House Ice Cream were invited to ride along back to

Belgian Meadows Farm , if they so desired.

My grandson Damien hitched a ride with this fine team.

 

 

Clip Clopping along on the back roads of Lebanon.

 

All in a row at School House Ice Cream.

 

These two young ladies hitched a ride horseback,

as the team pulled a full wagonload behind them.

 

It was nice to get to see Steve Collins. An old family friend of my fiancé,

he was happy to get to meet Gary's youngest grandson, Damien.

 

Steve Collins of Belgian Meadows Farm,

with his American Flag draped wagon,

his grandson, and mine.

 

The time today at School House Ice Cream was a horse photographers bucket list event.

So many chances for beautiful equine photography.

 

Although there was a short time of rain in the late afternoon,

the day was just meant for horses as it was cool and cloudy.

A perfect day for a ride!

 

 

 

Seeing horses out on a trail is always beautiful, but there's just something special about seeing horses harnessed and hitched, traveling down the back roads of town that brings you back to a simpler time when horse and buggy were an everyday means of transportation.

What a lovely way to travel.

 

 

Hey, wait a minute! Another familiar face!

That's Lebanon Town Office Employee Christine Torno handling the reins!

Beautiful!!

 

 

Back at Belgian Meadows Farm after a little over an hour.

It makes you appreciative of our forefather's means of transportation.

A little over a hour at a relaxed pace for a trip that took me about 2 minutes by auto.

 

School House Ice Cream is located at 253 Baker's Grant Road near the junction of Depot Road, tucked in neatly beside the North Lebanon Church, in Lebanon, Maine. They are open every day but Monday. But they say to give a call!! If they're home, they'll scoop!!!

You can find more information on School House Ice Cream on their website, HERE:

http://www.schoolhouseicecreammaine.com/

 

Belgian Meadow Farm, located at 279 Merchant's Row in Lebanon, offers farm fresh products as well as offering hay rides, sleigh rides and an beautiful outdoor farm-style wedding and event venue. To find out more about Belgian Meadows Farm, or to inquire for pricing for wagon rides, or for assistance with event planning,  please visit Belgian Meadows Farm at their website HERE:

http://www.belgianmeadowsfarm.com/

 

 

 

 

Salmon Falls River RV Resort & Family Campgrounds Gets a Surprise Honor from Boston's Channel 5 Television Station.

As I promised last night, I want to tell you the story of a local business, and family, who are making their dreams come true in Lebanon, Maine.
The story is of the family of Cheryl and Marty Flood, the owners of the Salmon Falls River RV Resort & Family Campground, located off Rt. 202 on Natural High Road, right here in Lebanon.
When the Flood family came to Lebanon, the campground functioned, although barely, as the Natural High Campground.
Open from Mid-May through Mid-October, the campground boasts 187 over-sized camping sites, Olympic sized Indoor Pool, Crystal Clear Outdoor Pool, access for Fishing to the Salmon Falls River, an Exercise Room, Craft Room, Nature Trails, a 17,000 sq ft Activity Center,  Horseshoe Pits, Volleyball and Basketball Courts, a Private Pond where guests can enjoy Paddle Boats and Row Boats, and new last year, "SHIPWRECKED", an 18 hole Miniature Golf Course.

Of course, the BEST part about camping at Salmon Falls is that it's quiet, family friendly, and if you'd just like to kick back and relax for the day, that's okay too!!

Salmon Falls is a pet friendly campground, encouraging people to come and stay with their pets. Although there are some dog breed restrictions and pets are required to be leashed, there are two dog parks on the grounds just for a little run time for your dogs.
For guests of the park (of whom over half are now seasonal campers), there are so many planned activities to enjoy, and a camp store and ice cream parlor too!! And all of this is planned for comfort on a 53 acre pine tree studded site right here in Lebanon.
When I heard from Mom, Cheryl Flood, late last night, she was more than excited!! One of her seasonal campers, had called her from Massachusetts having seen the Campground mentioned on Channel 5 News out of Boston. Salmon Falls has been given a wonderful honor by being named one of the TOP New England Campgrounds by that network. Number 15 out of the 32 mentioned by the news agency, in fact!! Although Cheryl is unsure of how that honor came her way, she is grateful that people are acknowledging the hard work done by her family in turning a dilapidated old camping venue into a quality family camping resort.
"If I would have known I'd been nominated", she stated, "I would have had all my seasonal campers calling in to vote!". Who nominated her, or who voted, she is not sure, but her easy laugh, I would assume, would be a delight to the person responsible. It's almost that much more of an honor that she didn't have a hand in it though. Knowing enough people enjoy her campgrounds enough to nominate Salmon Falls and vote in the camping resort's behalf has a sort of sweetness to it that making calls and asking people to vote for you just doesn't include.

The new Mini Golf Course is open for business, and the public is more than welcome!! At first only 9 holes were open, but now you can play the entire 18. "I got it on a barter," says Cheryl proudly, talking about how she traded a few items she had no further use for, to a businessman who wanted to do away with Mini Golf on his own property. It took 6 men to move all the pieces to Lebanon, and several days, with the larger stuff coming first, one or two pieces at a time, and then a final trip for all the smaller pieces. The final touches of adding plant life and flowers around the course are in the works now. Playing the course is only $5 for adults, and children under 5 play free with a playing adult. Children over 12 years old are only $3....."And it's not your typical plywood built course," said Cheryl. This is the real deal!
Don't forget, their best friend of over 40 years also owns and operates BITE ME Hot Dog Eatery, just down Rt. 202 a piece, where he's carved out a niche for himself with great comfort food at an affordable price, served in a friendly, small town atmosphere.
I could have sat with Cheryl all day in the shady sunlit front lawn of the Camp Store and Office. The day was breezy, and although hot in the sunshine, under the cover of the pines it was cool and comfortable. Hearing her story of how she and husband Marty, sons Jon and Bill and daughter Jen have carved and molded a beautiful property out of something almost too far gone to bring back to life is nothing short of amazing.
Ms. Flood credits her family's success to her children. Son Jon and younger brother Bill worked side by side for many years, always doing something to better the camp sites and the campground in general. "You can't mention one without the other," she stated, "they were always working together." and you could see a smile come across her face as she spoke of her two boys. Daughter Jen works at the campgrounds too, "Many here say she's one of the hardest workers," stated Ms. Flood. "But we know she works at her beauty sleep, that's why she's radiant!"
Coming to Lebanon has not been without times of trouble and loss for the family. In November of 2014, son Jon was struck and killed on Route 16 as he pedaled his adult tricycle on the busy nearby New Hampshire highway. For Cheryl, that evening, only 8 months ago, is still so fresh and painful that her emotion is easy to see when she speaks of her late son. 
According to Cheryl, the larger news papers and news organizations wanted to turn their attention to Jon's mental illness, as he suffered from Bi-Polar disorder. However, it is thought that the 34 year old may have been suffering a form of seizure that caused Jon to have frequent blackouts where he would seem, on first view, to be completely himself, until you tried to speak to him and realized he wasn't making sense.
In speaking, my own memories of complete loss were flooded back to me, and we had a long conversation about trauma, redemption, and forgiveness that was at once, refreshing as it was sad.
Honestly, very little is known about how Jon, on his first trip alone off the campground property, wound up traveling southbound on the northbound side of Route 16, on a pitch black, rainy evening. Cheryl says that sometimes the grief still takes over and she has viewed satellite views of the area and driven the area many times trying to figure out how he could have been so far off course.
Of course, no one will ever know exactly how Jon came to be on that highway in the evening hours of November 4, 2014, but all the hoopla and attention given to only the suggestion of mental illness has always bothered Cheryl.
Lebanon Maine Truth Seekers thought we would share Cheryl's story here, to help our local residents understand that sometimes there is more to a person than mental illness, or what you read in the larger news media. It could have only been a simple mistake in direction and nothing at all to do with Bi-Polar Disorder or Epilepsy. Jon was never just "Jon", to the news media. He quickly became known only as the "mentally ill man killed on Rt. 16". In hearing Cheryl's story, the fact that local news organizations chose to focus on Jon's mental illness rather than acknowledging the person that he was, or that any man could have made a mistake and taken a wrong turn, was heartbreaking .
Jon was more than they could have ever reported, he was her son. A hard worker, a good brother, an attentive groundskeeper, friendly and social, and completely committed to the betterment and upkeep of the family's chosen business venture, Salmon Falls Campground.
Sometimes things are just accidents, and the cause is never truly known. Accidents have no reason, and are sometimes the hardest tragedies for a family to overcome. However, despite such devastating personal tragedy, the family continues to maintain, build, and renovate the campgrounds and provide a happy, peaceful place for others to come and enjoy one another, or just to relax and enjoy the quietness of the winds in the pine trees and the rush of the river.
After a lengthy conversation, our talk returned back to the campgrounds that Cheryl and her family love so much, and once again back to the designation and honor given to them by Channel 5 Boston viewers.
As we spoke, a young man delivering firewood caught our attention. He spoke of the early days of the campground, when his Uncle was carving the campsites from the pine forest, and his "happy memories" of being a child and living in one of the apartments over the Camp Store. He spoke of his mother, who was the campground's cashier and of walking the long walk up Natural High Road to catch the school bus.
Campers drove past, in and out through the key card controlled security gates, all waving and smiling as they passed.
Cheryl stayed busy, our conversations interrupted by phone calls, making reservations, and helping groups of smiling, suntanned, bicycle riding children coming for candy or ice cream at the Camp Store. Marty left with the aforementioned young man delivering firewood, and Bill, now the campground's Maintenance Foreman bounced back and forth, passing us several times with trash barrels, and the like.
"Bill is responsible for all the maintenance now," Cheryl added, "He runs this entire campground with only one other employee."
It was hard for me to leave that idyllic little spot at the entrance to the campgrounds. It was comfortable and the conversation and company were good. But my grandson was waiting and I was already an hour late, so we finished our conversation, said our goodbyes, and promised to keep in touch, even though we're only right across Rt. 202 from one another.
If you have guests coming to visit the area, why not suggest they stay at the Salmon Falls River RV Resort & Family Campground during their stay. As one of Channel 5 Boston's TOP Campgrounds in New England, they're sure to have a good time and thank you for your suggestion.
Lebanon Maine Truth Seekers would like to Congratulate Cheryl and Marty Flood and their family on a job well done and for bringing family pride to their Lebanon Maine business!!

If you'd like to see the Channel 5 Boston Report of the TOP area campgrounds, Look for Lebanon's Salmon Falls River RV Resort & Family Campgrounds at number 15~~~  SEE IT HERE:
http://www.wcvb.com/news/33769202?utm_campaign=WCVB%20Channel%205%20Boston&utm_medium=FBPAGE&utm_source=Social

DEE's Rt 202 Diner Announces Daily Specials for 6/29/15.

Dee's Rte. 202 Diner-Lebanon

Carl Broggi Highway (Rt 202), Lebanon

(207) 457-1700

 

 

 

Monday June 29 --- On the Menu at Dee's

Bacon Mushroom Cheddar Burger

On A Homemade Bulkie Roll

With French Fries & A Soda

 $6.99

Fried Haddock BLT

 Your Choice Of: Mayo Or Tartar Sauce

On Canadian White Bread

With Chips & A Pickle

$6.99

Chicken Salad Wrap Lettuce

With Chips & A Pickle

$5.49

Mini Chef's Salad

Small Salad

With Ham, Turkey, Swiss Cheese &Roast Beef

$5.69

Tuesday Night Dinner

Chicken Leg Quarters

With Rice, Green Beans, Cranberry Sauce,

Hot Coffee Or Tea

& Dessert

$6.99

Lebanon's Select Board Meeting Holds Some Surprises and Ends in a TKO of Taxpayer Dollars.

Don't ever let it be said that small town Selectmen's Meetings aren't worth attending. While the majority of the meetings are laid back and a lot of work gets done for the betterment of the Town, there are some days that just ALL goes right out the window.

Reminder, to see any attached photo or document in a larger format, just click on the item and it will open up larger for you!!

June 25, 2015, Lebanon Maine Town Office, 4:00 pm.

The video tape of the meeting is in 6 parts to break it down for ease in viewing the parts you want to see.

Select Board Chairman Ben Thompson opens the meeting and proceeds to the first item of the night. It seems Thompson thinks an Ethics Policy would be a good thing to have. It's something a previous Board had worked on, and Ben thought it would be appropriate to finish the project and have all Town employees sign it and for the Town to keep this signed copy in personnel files. Not much discussion is had on the Ethics Policy, but all three members agreed to take the information home, look at it, and visit the issue again on Monday, June 29th.

Speaking as a concerned West Lebanon resident, The Lebanon Voice Editor, Harrison Thorp engaged the Board in a discussion regarding speeding up the process of providing "Automatic Mutual Aid" for the areas of West Lebanon closest to the Milton, NH border. He explains to the Board how each call to a West Lebanon address would be sent through multiple dispatch zones to finally reach, and dispatch Milton's EMTs automatically.
"Nick says HE's ready", stated Thorp, leaving one to believe that it is our own Lebanon Fire and Rescue Chief who's holding this agreement hostage.
Selectman Thompson said that he was confident that Chief Daniel Meehan had been working on this project with Milton, NH Fire and Rescue Chief Nick Manique and that there had been quite a bit of discussion as to how that would work, and at what level of call Milton would be dispatched automatically. Since Milton NH also works on a non-paramedic level, all of the paramedic intercept calls would still require support from Sanford or Frisbie and that Milton NH calls require the same level of support, so whether the call would come through Milton or through Lebanon dispatch, the paramedic calls would still be coming out of neighboring towns.
When pressured individually by Thorp, Selectman Royce Heath seemed to think we should let the two Chiefs do their jobs and work things out, and Selectman Nadeau was in agreement with Heath's way of thinking.
The room grew quiet as Selectmen went to work on a series of Purchase Orders.
Thorp left the room with Lebanon Truth Seeker, Sandy Adams for a private conversation in another room.

SEE Part 1 of the Lebanon Maine Selectmen's Meeting of 6/25/15 HERE:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCVNTSSJxVc

In the second part of our video, Lebanon School Summer Camp Director, Shirley Mathews arrived to go over some of the final plans for the Summer Camp that is starting up soon. More questions were answered for Mathews on the use of the Purchase Order system and how to utilize it. Mathews also spoke about a 2% raise this year for herself and her Camp Counselors, saying that she had spoken about this to the former Board at an earlier meeting. Thompson looked through several pages of old Meeting minutes and couldn't find any discussion regarding that issue and asked Jeanette Lemay to look into finding that discussion.
Thompson leaves the room to go to the Code Enforcement Officer's room to see if departed Former Selectman Paul Philbrick remembers the conversation.

SEE Part 2 of the Lebanon Maine Selectmen's Meeting of 6/25/15 HERE:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9r6TKYNzvo

As part 3 of the meeting begins, the conversation continues about the discussion for a 2% raise for Summer Camp Director Shirley Mathews workers.
Select Board Chairman Thompson asks about different options for funding Mathews' needs, and while Treasurer Jeanette Lemay was in the room, Thompson asked her again about the long awaited "Procurement Cards" from the bank, to which the Town Treasurer, Lemay, stated that she'd been in touch with the bank and they keep saying "They're in Process".

SEE Part 3 of the Lebanon Maine Selectman's Meeting of 6/25/15 HERE:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STeyJrYs0wE

Kurt and Brenda Zeller of Lebanon's 4X4 Proving Ground are on the Agenda as we begin part 4 of the video. The pair has been working with Clear Choice Events (no address or phone number given on their proposal) in creating a Country Music Festival that they are intending to hold at their facility on the Saturday before The Lebanon Festival, August 15, 2015.
The estimated amount of people is about 1500, so the couple realizes they need a Mass Gathering Permit in order to go forward.
Mr. Zeller says they have their Primitive Camping permit in hand from the State of Maine and that if folks have been drinking all day he'd rather have them stay and camp right there on his property.
There was some talk of other events in the making for later on in the year, including the possibility of the Proving Ground being the home for a Tough Mudder event and their desire to create a charity event to benefit Lebanon's newly combined Fire and Rescue Department.
When questioned as to why the couple chose the weekend before the Lebanon Festival, the couple explained they didn't think it would hurt Lebanon's town festival as they generally pull people from a different demographic group.
The Country Music Festival is also planning several old fashioned games such as a hot dog eating contest, a "horse shoe" toss using toilet seats, log sawing competition, and a lawn mower racing event.
After a brief discussion, Chairman Thompson sends the pair off in search of the Code Enforcement Officer, saying "Have Fun!" as they departed.

SEE Part 4 of the Lebanon Maine Selectmen's Meeting HERE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6ucKm3g5yY

Part 5 of tonight's video opens with a question for Selectman Paul Nadeau. Resident and Lebanon Maine Truth Seeker, Deborah Dorey Wilson, went to the Lebanon Transfer Station on Saturday 6/20/15 to see Mr. Nadeau and wish him well on his last day before his resignation took place, but found that he was not there. Later, it was stated on the pages of the Lebanon Community News that Mr. Nadeau, along with Transfer Station Manager and fellow Selectman Royce Heath had been at the Memorial Celebration of the late Road Commissioner, Larry Torno. Checking the time cards for that day, they show that Mr. Nadeau and Mr. Patch had never signed out from the Transfer Station, and had both been paid for working hours while they were, in fact, at the Memorial Celebration for Mr. Torno.

 

 

 

 

 

Mr. Nadeau counters with the fact that he came in early that day, 6:30 am, and that he had been coming in early every day for quite some time, and stated that it was the first time since 1997 that he had ever left for anything. And then adding, "To be truthful with you.... I just forgot".
Selectman Heath just got angry, accusing Wilson of making Mr. Torno's Memorial into a "circus" but he is corrected by Wilson and fellow Truth Seeker Sandy Adams that this was not even about Torno's Service or who attended, but that it was about accountability and charging the Town for hours worked when the pair of Nadeau and Patch were not even there. (Heath was not scheduled to work on 6/20/25).
Once that issue is put to rest, just asking Nadeau to be honest in his position with the Town, Truth Seeker Deborah Wilson asks if the Town's business is over with for the evening and WATCH as Royce Heath tells her that, in fact, it IS OVER.
The pair of women turn off the video recorder and head out the door, leaving the trio of Selectmen to finish up on payroll checks and purchase orders.

SEE Part 5 of the Lebanon Maine Selectmen's Meeting HERE:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZuzEQdKjbU

As Wilson and Adams were getting into their vehicle in the Town Office Parking lot, Selectman Royce Heath exited the building. That he was angry was easy to see, and he instructed Deborah Wilson that he had been mistaken in his word that there were no more items of importance on the Selectmen's Agenda for the evening. Heath stated there was, actually, one more item. Ms. Adams stayed in the car in the parking lot while Wilson entered the Town Office with the video camera.
***It was later told to me by two separate people who were in the Town Office at the time of my departure, that as I was getting into the vehicle, they heard Thompson raising his voice and saying, "You just lied to the public AND on camera! You need to get out there and get those women back in here!" At which point, Heath came out after me asking me to return.***
After only a brief moment, Selectman Royce Heath pulled out a torn yellow slip of paper and read from it. WATCH as Heath motions to take the $28,000. that had been earmarked as a savings for the Town of Lebanon and motions to place it into the Road Department budget. Before Heath has the entire motion out of his mouth, Selectman Nadeau seconds the motion and the vote is taken with Heath and Nadeau both voting to approve the motion and Thompson never even having the chance to make a statement or ask a question. No discussion. No reason. No idea what the money will be used for.
Watch as an obviously angry Selectman Thompson reminds the Dynamic Duo that budgeted money is not ACTUAL money and their hasty decision could leave the town, who had a very good chance of making it to the next tax appropriation date, lacking in cash flow and needing to take a TAN line of credit loan. It doesn't matter to Heath and Nadeau who stand firm in their decision, and yet deny every having any conversation about this prior to the TKO of Thompson only moments before. Thompson is almost pleading with the pair as he takes time to explain to Nadeau what he has just done. But Nadeau, making no sense in his answers to Thompson's queries, stands firm as Heath looks on.
Wilson asks what Torno is going to do with this $28,000 windfall gift from the two Selectmen, to which Heath, grinning from ear to ear, says he's going to "leave that up to Tommy".
Heath also adds that if Torno doesn't have the use of this money outlined to the Board prior to June 30th, the money would revert back into the General Fund of the Town, but we've got a pretty good idea that money's all planned out, and was not shy about saying so.
So, round 2 of the surprise TKO motions is in play, with all 3 Selectmen agreeing to invite Road Commissioner Tom Torno to Monday, June 29 meeting to hear where the money will be spent.

Meeting was adjourned on the SPEED MOTION so that we could be SURE there were no more roundhouse punches awaiting Selectman Ben Thompson.

WATCH TKO ROUND 2... SURPRISE MOTION costing Lebanon Taxpayers $28,000. in the Lebanon Selectman's Meeting 6/25/15 HERE:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzdCAMSkV_c

All we can say at this point is WOW.
We're hoping the Lebanon Budget Committee is watching so that you can get a handle on this wild and crazy gift-giving before our TAN line of credit is out of control!!!
We were on track to not have to borrow any money this year, but now you can BET that a TAN loan is in our near future.

What Every Lebanon Voter Needs to Know About Town Selecmen's Meetings

Do you know what actually happens at your local town Selectmen's meetings?  These weekly meetings of your locally elected town government officials serve many of the same functions as the Legislature in Augusta and the Congress in Washington, passing town ordinances, figuring out the best ways to operate for the town, and adopting budgets. But Selectmen's Meetings are more than just the town's “legislature;” it is also the “electorate,” appointing the various department heads and other town officials. In fact, under state law, the only thing required of Maine towns' annual town vote is the election of the municipal officials.
Elections may occur in two ways. The traditional way is to nominate officials from the floor of the meeting and to vote by a show of hands or by writing names on a paper ballot. A more recent way (1890) is to require candidates to declare their candidacies prior to the Town Election by taking out nomination papers. Voting is then done by secret ballot in the privacy of a voting booth.
Unlike the state Legislature and Congress, Town Election is not a representative body of voters. It’s just what it says it is: an election in which participation is the right and responsibility of every voter. Some say Town Elections are the “purest form of democracy” because citizens, not their representatives, participate directly in the making of laws and the raising and spending of their taxes.
Since colonial times, the Town Elections have been a staple of local government in New England. Today, in Maine, most towns still operate under the Town Election, or Town Meeting form of government.
If you're sitting at home on the evening of a scheduled Selectmen's meeting and wonder fi you should attend.....the best and perhaps most colorful answer to this question appeared in the Biddeford Journal Tribune in March 1994:
If you ask why town Selectman's meetings are so poorly attended, people will tell you they go if there’s something exciting on the warrant. They’ve been watching too much television. When it comes to doing your civic duty (which is the key to accountability in self-government) there’s no room for channel surfing. On Selectmen's meeting days, those meetings should be the only show in town.
Or they’ll say Selectmen's meetings are held at the wrong time, or that there are too many issues decided in executive session, or that the selectmen do what they want no matter what people say. Well, the way to get things changed (including Selectmen's meeting scheduling and Executive session activity) is to attend Selectmen's meetings and put up a fuss. And it’s no wonder the selectmen and other officials take control of municipal affairs and do exactly as they want. Somebody has to make decisions, and without a representative amount of towns people at the meetings, they only do their best at forming things to their own best ability and knowledge.
The purest form of democracy is participatory democracy, in which you put your butt in the chair at the Town Office and you have your say on every last blessed item on the day's agenda. You might slip out for a coffee but you don’t slip out for the whole day. If you do, you’re part of the problem and somebody else is going to solve it in their OWN way and on their OWN agenda. In order to remain completely legal, The items voted on at a Selectman's Meeting should follow an agenda which is posted one to two weeks in advance by the selectmen on the town's website or in a local newspaper. The requirement that all subject matter must be stated on the Selectman's agenda keeps the meeting orderly, prevents surprise, and lets voters who might otherwise stay home know that some topic of interest to them is coming up for discussion and possible action.
The warrant law requires only the general subject matter to be stated.  Selectmen's decisions will be legally valid, so long as they are within the same general subject matter state on the Selecmen's agenda. But Selectmen's meetings which add some brand new subject matter not published on the agenda may not be legal if there are people who wish to file a report that the information was not made known on the Selectman's agenda prior to the vote by the Selectmen.
Any vote taken under an agenda heading entitled “other business” cannot be legally binding, because that agenda doesn’t state any subject matter. Of course a vote to name someone “Volunteer of the Year,” a vote to thank the Girl Scouts for the sandwiches, or even a vote to strongly urge the selectmen to appoint an advisory committee to look into a parking garage, doesn’t have to be legally binding, and therefore can be passed under an “other business” article.
Large changes to town policy or operations must be included in the Selectmen's meeting agenda in order to give the people of the town their say, or allow them to ask questions prior to the Selectmen's decision.
Do you have to know the Robert's Rules of town engagement to attend a local Selectman's Meeting or other Board Meeting? The answer is "No". Voters may not talk without being recognized by the Selectmen, but if you ask to be recognized to speak, the Selectmen must hear your argument or question. You should direct all of your questions to the Selectmen. You should not argue with another resident during a Selectman's meeting, but you may make your point directly to the Selectmen. If an item of business is not on the agenda so that the town knows that it will be discussed, the Selectmen are not supposed to act on it without allowing the opportunity for towns people to ask questions and  have their say. This is why you are more than encouraged to request time at the Selectman's meeting by contacting the Town Clerk's office or the Selectmen's Secretary at least a week before the scheduled meeting to request a time slot be allowed for your concerns. If someone has already scheduled time on the agenda for your same concern, you are encouraged to attend and speak your mind, ask questions, or give your thoughts on the matter being discussed.
To approve an article on the Selectmen's agenda, It is customary for the Chairman to read the article aloud and ask if anyone in attendance has any statements or questions regarding the item being discussed. Once all discussion is deemed over, or when the conversation is no longer moving in a forward flow, the Chairman will make a motion on the article; usually one of the other Selectmen will respond by saying “I move to pass this motion", or "I move to decline this motion",  the Chairman will then ask, “Is there is a second?” to which the motion will be seconded by one of the remaining Selectmen or it will not be seconded, which will mean the defeat of whatever the Board is discussing at the moment.
To amend an article: Sometimes, during the discussion, someone will propose a change. For example, in a so-called “open-ended” money article, they may want to increase or decrease the amount of money recommended by the budget committee or selectmen. The amendment must be announced by the interested party, and then motioned and seconded by the Selectmen. There must also be an opportunity to discuss the amendment before voting on it. If the amendment passes, then the motion, as amended, is passed. If the amendment does not pass, and there are no further amendments, then the original motion is voted upon.
Also, over the years, Selectman's Meetings practices themselves may have evolved in ways that are slightly different from what happens in the town next door. That is to be expected with a practice that has been around for more than 200 years. Due to the lack of attendance at Selectman's Meetings, proper Selectman's Meeting protocol may no longer be followed, more out of bad habit than out of  a disinterest by the Selectman to follow the proper procedures. It is up to town residents to push the proper meeting protocol back into normal use at a Selectman's Meeting by their attendance and demands to the right to speak.
If you have a question, you can't be ridiculed or spoken to rudely by any Selectman. They must act in a respectful manner of any town taxpayer or registered voter. They may defer your answer to a Department Head or ask you to attend the next meeting in which they will have the Department Head's answer in writing to read to you, or have the Department Head present for your questions, usually depending on whether that person is elected or appointed. Elected officials have to answer to the voters, while appointed officials usually will answer to the Selectmen or upon Selectmen's approval will be at the meeting for your questions.
So after reading all of this information, the question remains, how important is our voice and attendance at the town's Selectman's Meetings? The answer is VERY important!! All those old sayings about town government being a “pure democracy” are true! State law refers to the Selectmen's meetings as the “legislative body” of the town. The Selectmen's meetings hold all the basic power for governing the town and holding the town management to the requirements of the town voters. There is no higher authority in town. But in order to have the right to participate, you must be a registered voter of the town, and you must attend. If you don’t go, how can you justify blaming anybody but yourself?
Do you know what was voted on, approved, or negated at the last Selectmen's Meeting?? Perhaps you should know. The decisions there directly effect the management of your town, it's rules, regulations, hiring practices, tax rates, road and transfer station information and more. If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem!!

All information found within several pages of the Maine Municipal Association. Some are copied and pasted into this article for expediency. Other information comes from past officials of other local Maine towns, and some comes from the General Meeting rules under Robert's Rules of General Meetings.

Lebanon Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts Come Together to Host Lebanon Clean Up Day on Saturday June 13.

Saturday, June 13, 2015

Lebanon Maine Boy Scout Troop 369 and Lebanon Maine Girl Scout Troop 1908 will head up the Lebanon Maine Clean Up Day, tomorrow beginning at 9 am at the Town Office Building, 15 Upper Guinea Road in Lebanon.
Boy Scout Leader Norm Sirois has other children's civic groups contacted and we're expecting a lot of young folks, their parents, and follow vehicles.
Scouts will be sent out in groups of 4 or 5 with an adult and a follow vehicle, cleaning up the roadways in town.
Rt. 202, Carl Broggi Highway, will not be cleaned by the Scout troops as there have been concerns about crews working along Rt 202 and the heavy traffic this weekend mostly attributed to the fact that this is Bike Week in Laconia, NH and Rt. 202 is a major route for motorcyclists coming from points in Maine and heading through to Laconia.
Lebanon residents are encouraged to get out on the roadsides along their own properties, and along vacant stretches of roadside in town and bag up trash, leaving the bags tied along the roadside. This day is for roadside debris only and residents are asked not to include their yard debris and household trash in the debris pick up.
Newly appointed Road Commissioner, Tom Torno and the Lebanon Road Crew will be canvassing the town's roadsides between 1 pm and 3 pm, picking up the bagged litter and bringing it to the Lebanon Transfer Station. Residents are encouraged to have their roadside trash bagged and ready for pick up by 1:00 PM as the Road Crews will only be making 1 pass down each roadway in town.
After the roadways are cleared of debris, all who helped are invited back to the Town Office for 1:00 pm to a Hot Dog BBQ hosted by the Scout Organizations.
Norm Sirois, Scoutmaster for Boy Scout Troop 369, has also been in contact with North Edge K-9 from Gorham who have graciously agreed to bring some of their trained K-9 dogs down and put on a demonstration for us!!
There will be signing of Community Service paperwork for Noble High School students toward their graduation goals.
Schoolhouse Ice Cream will also gift all of the workers with a certificate for a free kiddie sized ice cream cone!!
Many thanks to Selectman Ben Thompson who has agreed to let us use his grill and propane for the day and to keep the Town Office restrooms available, to Butch, Tony, Nancy, and Scott of Welch's Hardware for donations of garbage bags and rubber gloves, to Big Lots for the donation of garbage bags, to Hannaford's Supermarket for the hot dogs and rolls, to Market Basket for the donation of macaroni salad, and to the Lebanon Truth Seekers for the donation of bottled water to keep our hard workers hydrated!
Thank you to the Lebanon Road Commissioner for working with us on a date that we were all available to come together and to his Lebanon Road Crew who will be donating their hours for the afternoon debris pick up.
Thank you to the Lebanon Transfer Station Crew for letting us bring the roadside debris to the Transfer Station on Saturday afternoon. And to the Lebanon Board of Selectmen for opening the Town Offices for restroom facilities and for the use of the Town Office lot for our BBQ.

Schoolhouse Ice Cream Announcs First Saturday of the Month CRUISE NIGHTS... May - October

 

SCHOOLHOUSE ICE CREAM

ANNOUNCES

SATURDAY NIGHT CRUISE NIGHTS

May to October Firsts Saturday of the month

NEXT CRUISE NIGHT -- SATURDAY JUNE 6th, 2015

4 pm - 7 pm

Located on the Corner of Baker's Grant Road and Depot Road

Lebanon, ME

Bite Me Hot Dog Eatery and Lick Me Ice Cream Stand Announce Summer Hours

Bite Me Hot Dog Eatery

and 

Lick Me Ice Cream Stand

Announce that they are now open

11 AM - 8 PM

7 days a week

for the summer season

Two Ice Cream Parlors on the Lebanon / Rochester Border. Both GREAT!!

 

 

Lick Me Ice Cream

Rt 202, Lebanon ME

Open until 8 pm

 

BUT if you get there and they're closed...

Don't forget

 

 

Lone Oak Ice Cream

Rt 125 Rochester NH

Stays Open until 9 pm 

 

 

 

Lebanon Family Fun Center Weekend Batting Cage Special!!

Lebanon Family Fun Center

Weekend Special

May 30 - May 31

 

ALL BATTING CAGES

15 Balls for $1.00!!!

Train's Tavern Hosts The Pat Foley Band on Saturday Night May 30.

 

TONIGHT AT TRAIN'S TAVERN

Route 202, Lebanon ME

The Pat Foley Band

8 pm to Midnight