I have served on the Lisbon Water Board for the past 35 years and I am against the takeover of the operations of the water company by town officials.

When residents vote on Nov. 6, the choice is simple: a yes vote will mean that the Lisbon Water Department will be run by the town manager, engineer, and council; a no vote would keep the water operations run by three elected water commissioners.

I believe that town officials have more than enough to do; their plates are already full. The public will be better served by leaving the water operations overseen by a board of water commissioners.

The Town Council took a straw vote to have a nonbinding question on the ballot to take over the operations of the Lisbon Water Department. Where are the suggested savings? Or is there another motive?

I do not believe there would be any savings. Some of the councilors reflected the same feelings.

I made the suggestion that a small committee be made up of two councilors, two members of the water board and three residents to investigate the possibility of savings and any problem areas. That did not materialize.

I support a no vote on this issue on Nov. 6.

William A. Bauer, Lisbon, chairman, Lisbon Water Board