LISBON
In the wake of a school budget validation referendum a week ago in which voters rejected the Town Council’s proposed $5.1 million spending plan, the council will consider scheduling another referendum during its meeting tonight.
That meeting starts at 7 p.m. at the town office.
The budget was defeated 790-308 on Tuesday, June 9. A majority of voters opposing the budget said it was because it was too low, according to a non-binding ballot question, by a 659-120 vote.
Council chair Dillon Pesce said Wednesday the council needs to have another vote on the school budget within a minimum of 10 days to send to voters no more than 45 days from Wednesday. He had asked staff to look at how long it will take to order ballots, but expected to recommend a budget validation referendum be scheduled for July 14.
According to state statute, Pesce said, the school department has to operate after July 1 under the budget the Town Council approved to send to voters May 19.
The council is also scheduled to discuss several townowned properties tonight, and has been provided with a list of the property uses and assessed value. Six properties are vacant, another is a town park on Summer Street assessed at $43,800 and the third is the Superintendent’s Office and ball fields maintained by the Lisbon Junior Athletic League on Gartley Street assessed at $653,400.
The Lisbon School Committee’s request to utilize school capital reserve money in the next fiscal year is also on the council agenda tonight. The School Committee requests to use up to $61,290 pay for installation of an upgraded wireless network system at Lisbon Community School and Lisbon High School. The balance of the capital reserve fund is $184,920.
The council will also discuss a Beaver Park cabin rental, a draft banner policy for non-profit organizations promoting events, and granting permission for the streets to be closed at various times during the Moxie Festival.
Councilors will also consider a council resolve authorizing legal action against Androscoggin County “regarding certain elements of the county charter relating to elected official compensation benefits and the authority of the county budget committee.”
The council also has before it an agreement with Lewiston for jointly pursuing legal action against Androscoggin County regarding the authority of the budget committee.
There is also an update on talks about possible dispatch related savings and the council will consider several appointments on town boards and committees before it is scheduled to enter into executive session to discuss the town manager’s evaluation and contract.
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