LISBON — The Town Council voted at its meeting last week to enter into an agreement to take legal action against Androscoggin County Commissioners.
The town will join Lewiston, Auburn, Poland, Durham and Mechanic Falls in seeking, in part, a declaratory judgment from the Maine Superior Court regarding the authority of the county Budget Committee to approve salaries and benefits. The City of Lewiston is spearheading the action. Other towns in the county still to be heard from included Sabattus, Leeds, Wales, Livermore Falls, Greene and Minot.
Land sale
Upon prior request by the council, the town manager’s office presented a list of town-owned properties that could potentially be sold.
Those properties included a town park on Summer Street; a vacant tax-acquired property on Ann Street; three vacant properties on Bowdoin Street; a vacant property on Parillo Street; a vacant property on Ridge Road; and the Lisbon Junior Athletic League ball fields on Gartley Street — a small section between the Open Door Bible Church and the Superintendant’s Office parking lot.
The council voted to approve the sale of all properties except the Summer Street town park.
School Capital Reserve Request
A request by Superintendent Richard Green to use $61,290 from the capital reserve to upgrade the wireless system at Lisbon Community School and Lisbon High School was approved.
Council Chairman Dillon Pesce said he would have voted for it in December if documentation to support the request had been presented at that time. He thanked Green for re-submitting.
School Budget
The council approved a tentative schedule for the budget to be voted on by the School Committee and the Town Council.
Public notice and public hearing dates also need to take place before the school budget referendum validation to be voted on Aug. 11. Although an earlier date for the public vote was discussed, the council voted for Aug. 11 to allow more time for absentee voter’s ballots to be received.
The school budget approved by the council on May 19 for $15.1 million was defeated by voters on June 9. Responses to a question on the warrant showed voters thought the budget was too low.
In other business, the Town Council voted to allow town employee Sherry Garnett to move into Beaver Park Cabin beginning July 1.
According to Town Manager Diane Barnes, her office was still waiting to hear from the company which was hired to do the revaluation of taxed properties. She still had not seen the numbers she needs to appropriate taxes.
Outside counsel, hired to assess the Town Council’s decision not to use perceived excess bond proceeds until the project has been completed, agreed that it was not prudent.
School Committee meeting next step in budget process
LISBON — The School Committee, at a special meeting 7 p.m. Monday, June 22, at the town office, will discuss budget amounts to send to the Town Council for the proposed 2015-16 school budget.
A final vote by the School Committee will be held on or before June 29 and then it will be sent to the Town Council for approval. The school budget referendum validation vote will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 11.
The full schedule is as follows:
* June 22 — Special School Committee meeting; discussion on budget amounts to send to Town Council
* June 29 — School Committee final vote on budget amounts adopted at budget meeting
* July 1 — First public notice
* July 16 — Second public notice
* July 21 — First public hearing; council votes on proposed school budget
* Aug 11 — Budget validation referendum
This schedule is subject to change, except for the referendum date.
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