LISBON – Town Manager Curtis Lunt has presented selectmen with a proposal to consolidate seven town committees and commissions into a single nine-member panel.
Lunt explained that his plan to reorganize the committees that now oversee the Teen Center, MTM Community Center, Beaver Park, Recreation Department, Parks Department, Trails Commission and Forestry Department into a single new Community Services Department that would oversee and control all parks, recreation and facilities.
There are 38 appointed members of those groups, with a combined budget of $365,000, Lunt said. His goal is aimed at increasing “efficiency and coordination,” not to reduce costs, but a cost reduction could be a “byproduct” of the plan, he said.
Selectmen voted to set a workshop to further discuss the proposal and its implications, if any. If approved by the board, it would not take effect until approved by voters at town meeting, Lunt said.
In other business selectmen:
• Chose Lora French of Maple Street for the Gold Post Cane, which goes to the oldest citizen in town each year. French will turn 100 in January. A formal presentation will be scheduled.
• Approved a three-year contract with Commercial Waste and Recycling of Scarborough, for an estimated 1,200 tons of waste per year at a cost of $30 per ton, down from $38 per ton for a one-year contract. The town will save $10,000 over the term of the contract.
• Removed Renee Wright from the Board of Appeals because she failed to show up at five of the last six meetings.
• Voted 2-2 with one abstention on a motion to appoint Allen Ward to the Board of Appeals. The same motion failed on a 2-2 vote two weeks ago.
• Named George Woods and Steve Lewis to fill two vacancies on the Technology Committee.
• Voted to send letters to state Rep. Robert Berube and state Sen. John Nutting in support of a plan submitted by the special Tax Reform Committee.
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