Few show up to debate issues at Lebanon Public Hearing

A disappointingly sparse crowd listens during the town's Public Hearing on the ballot on Saturday at Lebanon Elementary School. (Lebanon Voice photos)

LEBANON - Once you took away those who get a paycheck from the town, are members of the Board of Selectmen or Budget Committee, are running for office, or spouses or partners of same, some 20 or so Lebanon residents showed up for Saturday's public hearing on the ballot.

The turnout, which has steadily dwindled since the public hearing was shifted from a weeknight to Saturday, featured spirited discussion on several town budgets, including town offices, fire and rescue and highway.

The biggest news item, however, came out of the transfer station, which will go back to being open on Mondays and a four-day affair, it was announced.

The lion's share of the budget discussions came out of Fire and Rescue, which is asking for about $682,000 for the year, including its $452,000 operating budget, $75,000 for a capital reserve account and $55,000 for a first-year payment on a new $300,000 ambulance. The ambulance's $100,000 down payment will come from a reserve account.

Lebanon Fire and EMS Chief Dan Meehan gestures as he explains to residents why he thinks the town needs a new ambulance.

Selectmen split on the ambulance referendum, with Selectman Royce Heath voting for it and Paul Nadeau against.

Former Selectmen Chair Christine Torno resigned prior to the vote.

Meanwhile, the budget committee voted for the ambulance, 7-2.

Another department budget that drew close scrutiny was highway, which saw its general operating budget cut by about $100,000.

Several budget committee members agreed that they did much of the budget themselves, complaining that Road Commissioner Tom Torno had repeatedly rebuffed their requests to meet with them.

Torno's salary referendum, however, was maintained as well as a question asking voters to approve $150,000 in funds dedicated to road paving.

The town offices budget's increase of $40,000, fueled in part by a new line item for assessing, seemed to draw wide support from the budget committee, in particular, who pointed out that perhaps it was time for professionals to be doing the assessing that selectmen had done in the past.

The town is currently contracting former selectman and Certified Maine Assessor Ben Thompson to do assessing work.

As the hearing drew to a close and with such a small contingent of residents on hand, several budget committee members urged community members to get involved in their town.

Click HERE for a copy of the Election Day ballot.