Friday, May 6, 2011

Newburgh town employees resign en masse

From Bangor Daily News:
A routine Board of Selectmen workshop ceded to drama when Town Manager Rick Briggs, Assistant Town Clerk Jill Gilman and Town Clerk Lois Libby, who has worked in the Newburgh town office for 32 years, all resigned effective immediately.

139 comments:

  1. I sincerely hope that all Newburgh Citizens know that this was a staged event. Leave it to Belcher and Leona to come up with something to keep the town at odds. Soon everything will be behind us and we will prosper.

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  2. I don't believe that this was a "staged event".

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  3. What does couteous mean?

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  4. You "Fixers" are causing more problems then you are fixing. Your intentions may have been appropriate from the outset but you have gone too far. Crucifying employees for the actions of one individual is wrong. The citizens of this town deserve far better than what you are providing.

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  5. This had nothing to do with the concerned citizens group. Please wait to hear how this came about and why. Do not go out there making accusations without facts and documentation. It will all surface. Take time to find out the truth. After you do, please support the new board for their hard work.

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  6. I need to ask, why Mr. Briggs was escorted out of the town office by "a badge" and why is he required to have a member of the selectmen escort him if he should return?

    The article mentioned nothing about criminal acts taking place, and what was done, what is being required be done, indicates to me he is a criminal. It just seems like a very hostile approach to take under the already tumultuous period of time for our town. Am I off the mark here?

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  7. Not only did Briggs go, he left YOUR town shut down. Do you think these people cared about you when they walked out and left all the computers not able to be accessed in any way? No codes or combinations to anything.

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  8. This as common business practice. When someone in a position to cause damage, etc, resign's than they are asked to leave, immediately and are relieved of their keys, passwords, etc. This was met with resistence and law enforcement was asked, to just watch so nothing got out of hand. Don't forget, this was a staged event with Belcher and Leona there. Belcher had called all his friends to come as it was going to be a big blowout. So what does the community want, or need ? It cannot go both ways. You have 3 hard working selectmen trying to watch the finances and let me tell you , they need to really review the, finances. Briggs is not a town resident and as such has no reason to be at the town office after walking out. He didn't like to answer questions about what he was doing or his intentions. Keep in mind that he had a trailer there and Belecher and Leona Smith was there loading it up and no one was aware of what was his or the towns. The few that were there tried only to protect the towns interest. It seems that the departure was to cost the town many more tax dollars that was not necessary, keep in mind it is your money that will be wasted time and time again. We need to have it cease, don't you really agree ? Give it a few weeks, more will be forthcoming about damage control and the actions that unfolded. Newburgh cannot and will not be held hostage as some would like. I was only a bystander but I heard and saw. This was yet again, an attempt to bring Newburgh down without any loyalty, of being a citizen within and looking out for their neighbors. This was a bad decision for those involved.

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  9. Seems like an awful lot of vital info was left out of the news report then, which I wish I could say I was surprised by, but sadly the "scoops" of today's breeding are not what they were years ago.

    Anyway, moving onward then, it seems our town no longer has a town manager and is now thrust a year or so ahead in going to that "administrative assistant" form of town government. Does this mean that the remaining 2 selectmen seats required to fulfill the 5 positions will need to be filled ASAP in order to make that happen or are there plans for yet another interim TM?

    Is anyone thinking of organizing some sort of "emergency town meeting" to address peoples concerns? I was told by an AMG'er that it's a simple as riding a horse from house to house shouting that "hear ye hear ye" crap at the top of my lungs to get people to go, and as fun as that sounds, I don't want to get shot at either or blue papered to Acadia--although that would make for a hell of a good time right there.
    :D

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  10. ...and darnit all, can I beg, on bended knee, won't folks PLEASE start signing their posts, at the minimum with some sort of "handle" so each post isn't anonymous? This really does put the kibosh on posting before thinking...so easy to verbally hit and run when there's no accountability.

    I'm a nobody here--just a fellow resident who has no control over this blog whatsoever, but I just think it's the right thing to do. Thank you for taking that into consideration.
    :)

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  11. ...as far as Lois retiring, I'm so sorry she had to end her career on this particular note but I'm totally jealous of her that she GETS to retire...can't say I'll ever get to do that. Enjoy your retirement Lois--Luc and I will miss razzin' you and recycling handfuls of your lollipops (note, I did not say we stole them!)

    So, is she retired as of this past Thursday or will she be staying for say a few weeks until a replacement clerk is hired/trained? The article didn't mention anyting in regards that that either.

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  12. This is to all the people that think that Lois Libby is so faithful and trusting to you towns people. She left due to all the input of The prior select board and Rick . Lois is such a good and honest citizen and you all love her. This is how she left all of you locked out of all the computers the safe and all file cabinets in the office it is going to cost us as a town lots to get into them to continue the town business. To do this when asked for the pass words does not speak well for a trusted employee. She was asked by the selectmen for the password she said I will think about it but never gave it to them. That is looking out for the Town in a real good way. The town still owes $800.00 that she made up petitions and sent to the town attorney for a sex offender to go door to door without selectmen approval or knowledge of.

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  13. LOIS LIBBY NEEDS TO DO SOME DEEP SOUL SEARCHING, AT ONCE. TO SEE IF SHE WANTS TO DO THE TOWN, AND ITS AN ENTIRE TOWN OF CITIZENS, SOME GOOD, SOME NOT SO BUT STILL, A TOWN, THE WAY SHE LEFT AND CAUSE SEVERAL THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN UNNECESSARY EXPENSES BECAUSE SHE DIDN'T WANT TO DISCLOSE THE TOWN'S PASSWORDS FOR THE COMPUTERS, ETC. WHAT AN EXIT INTO RETIREMENT AFTER REPRESENTING THIS TOWN FOR SO MANY YEARS. LOIS YOU ARE LISTENING TO THE WRONG VOICES, THINK ABOUT IT.

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  14. He said, she said, you said, they said, you heard. As there is no sound byte with that, no signature at end of post to back yourself up, I'm not going to personally believe anything you just posted.

    It may be 100% true for all I know but hearsay and conjecture are just that.

    I find it hard to believe a government employee can refuse to relinquish keys, passwords, and whatever else relates to their duties without facing legal ramifications or withholding of last paycheck, whether it is by resignation, retiring, or by firing.

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  15. lAWYERS COST THE TOWN $200.00 PER HOUR AND ONCE YOU START LEGAL ACTION, YOU CANNOT TURN BACK. BUT.....IT IS BEING CONSIDERED, NOW AS THERE MAY BE NO OTHER WAY. SO EVERYONE WILL NEED LEGAL REPRESENTATION AND THE LAWYERS COLLECT ALL THE MONEY. NOW, THAT I THINK ABOUT IT, THE TOWN SPENDS THE TAX PAYERS MONEY TO OBTAIN WHAT IS THEIRS SO IT WOULD BE RIGHT FOR THE PROPERTY OWNER TO PAY TOO, IF YOU WANT TO THINK OF BALANCE. TO BAD FOR ALL BUT, YOU HAVE TO DO WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO. I HOPE THAT ALL CAN COME TO THEIR SENSE BEFORE THERE IS NO TURNING BACK AND EVERYONE LOSES.

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  16. Lois followed legal protocol and was right not to give out passwords etc. Check with MMA! This was not staged it was simply one person deciding that they were not going to take any more abuse and the others deciding they were not going to get left behind! Nothing more! Stop trying to twist everything to fit in with your crazy conspiracy theories. Buddy and Leona were there to lend support as friends! I love how the new selectman are holding "workshops" that are suppose to be announced 7 days in advance so that the public can attend if interested yet don't post notice until the day before on the website and consider putting up a small piece of paper at the town office adequate announcing....The last workshop just had the selectman and some fixer friends....no minutes were taken (as ordered by the 1st selectman) Which by the way is illegal.

    It is also illegal for all the selectman to ride in the 1st selectman's vehicle to Augusta for a budgeting class. And highly irresponsible and childish to bad mouth other town employees while at said class and goof off so much that they flunked the test at the end of the class and had to stay for extra training!

    This does not sound like people who care about their town but rather people who care about an agenda (their own). Where is the transparency? I am NOT impressed!

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  17. So one person, ONE person holds all the info tucked away safely out of the hands of any evil do'ers? As acceptable as it may be, I find it hard to believe. What if (heaven forbid) that one person were injured/out of commission, even if they were still employed. Then what? There has to be a backup in place, right?

    I can completely understand not giving that information to just anyone, especially voicing it out loud in a public forum full of very questionably motivated citizens.

    Not to be a dink, but have the current selectmen or ANY town employee gone through any sort of a legal background check? If not, or if so, who performs that? People say none was done for Mr. Briggs so that is why I'm asking.

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  18. Lois still lives in town she will have to look all of us in the eye and think about what she did to the entire community if she chooses to screw us. What she needs to remember is the Fixers group is a fraction of the town and the rest of us will suffer for her lack of class and cooperation. I do not believe she is an evil person I believe she is hurt and confused by the comments of a few and would hope she does the right thing for the community overall, her life advisers are not doing her any favors at this point.

    Selectmen, if not in place already you need to implement another policy and have all future employees acknowledge and sign as part of their employment agreement that until we recieve "working" passwords, keys and other town property upon termination that they will be liable for the cost of replacing these.

    I am 100% all for the cost of bringing a lawsuit against these people to cover the costs of replacement locks, keys, computer costs, professional fees, and ALL LEGAL FEES. I do not think there is a jury or judge in the world that would not find them liable for these intentional and willful acts against an entire community based the their defense of "someone said hurtful things against me on the blog" or in Ricks case "the bastards made me explain how I spent the towns money". These actions are intentional and costly and no different than any other acts of vandilisim or sabotage. Let's get them on the stand and find out exactly who did coach them and let these people hire their own lawyer to defend their actions.

    THE TIME TO THINK ABOUT IT IS OVER, TAKE THEM TO COURT AND TAKE A STAND THAT NEWBURGH TAXPAYERS ARE TIRED OF BEING HUNG OUT AND STOLEN FROM BY TOWN EMPLOYEES, WE HAVE HAD ENOUGH OF THIS BULLSH-T TO LAST US A LIFETIME.

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  19. "Lois still lives in town she will have to look all of us in the eye and think about what she did to the entire community if she chooses to screw us."

    It is not a matter of her "screwing the town" she followed legal protocol set forth by MMA. There are legal procedures to follow. "These intentional and willful acts against the community" of which you talk are the rules and laws set forth by MMA. Go to Augusta and complain if you don't like it but stop blaming law abiding citizens! Please stop spewing hate and discontent!

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  20. So Lois checked with MMA asking if she should keep the towns computers passworded when she left on Thurs? Holding up town business and costing the taxpayers thousands of dollars to get the computers back up and running? Interesting!

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  21. Things will work out. Just put some faith in the new board, they are 3 great guys working hard. I have faith they will choose the right people to fill the gaps. Change is good.

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  22. I’m on the outside and looking in however, I have heard and witnessed a few thing that you comment on.
    I must correct the disillusioned person who didn’t think the resignations were a planned and staged event.
    Belcher made the phone calls, said it was going to be a big blow out and to attend. I would call that, a staged event.
    In addition, 3 people don’t resign all at once without pre-planning. So to say the opposite just simply is not true. Belcher, Leona
    and Skip were all there, with Belcher and Leona helping Briggs load up his truck and trailer with ? and that is a big question.
    What all did he take ? The proper procedure would have been to advise his superiors that he was leaving and taking
    his own things and they could of set up a time to watch and there would of not been any question. Why didn’t he do this?
    He only knows. How he did what he did was out of the normal routine and with it, it added to the suspicion and it would
    of to anyone that was in a position to protect the towns interest. This is the reality of what really happened.

    The so-called fixers and or The Concerned Citizens of Newburgh are all residents and from what I know, long term, for the most part.
    They are the ones who discovered the theft by reviewing and researching the financials. After Cindy, the window to view these
    was shut and over and over, the selectman didn’t want them reviewed. They groomed Briggs to act the same way. Briggs
    however took it one step further and invested what $28,000 in a new software program to close that window completely. The town had a perfectly good software program in place
    so this was a major waste of our tax dollars. But because so many folks have relatives, family and friends in a small town , no one wanted to believe the truth
    and that is to be expected to some degree but ....I will leave this alone as if it was my family, friends, I too may have a hard time seeing the big picture. The money
    was spent however, Briggs promised transpiresy and that certainly never happen, quite to opposite and he came to Newburgh with a lot of baggage and it was
    never exposed so, things happen when you don’t follow common business practice. I could go on and on however, this is my belief and hope.
    Our new Selectmen will make our town government responsive to the community and have the town office available while answering any and all questions, and above
    all, not waste tax dollars on frivolous items. The near future may require again, an audit. That’s all I will say about that. So, I for one would hope
    that we all can put our efforts behind our selectmen and start fresh and help our community. The more people that can attend the meetings, ask legitimate questions
    and become interested and knowledgeable in town government, the better we all will be for it. Respectfully submitted, Homer

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  23. Now that we have a clean house, is it not time to address, the open hours of the town office ?
    Cable , Broadband, Competative Telephone Service,a different snow plower, recovery from Cindy and Alan Dunton? I'm looking for some positive result from our new Selectmen and I do understand your have a plate full and it may take some extra time. Just keep your community in mind and I hope you are not bothered by any troulbed individuals so you can do your jobs, to the very best of your ability.

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  24. I've met and talked with the C.C.G. (concerned citizen group) many times, I must say they all have things organized with facts and documents from 2000 to present. I know for a fact that the C.C.G uncovered the Dunton theft and at that time Belcher and Skip Smith were informed and shown proof. Belcher and S. Smith both sat down with the C.C.G.
    CCG keeps up on the financials with Sue L. our current treasurer. Someone has to, presently the previous Manager Briggs is WAY over budget in Administration and other accounts.There is NO money to go over with. The statement that the town is in the best shape in a long time is UNTRUE.. The town of Newburgh has VERY LITTLE money. Some accounts have just plain disappeared.
    Now we have a member of the select board that is concerned with the finances as he should be, all 3 are, but one is digging in. Briggs would not answer his questions. Sue on the other hand does. The financial accounts are far from what Briggs gave to the budget committee, or what he said at our town meeting. The current board along with the new administration will get this together and we can get back to business.
    I would like to have someone prove that any one of the C.C.G. has ever caused any trouble, has spoken to the current office staff in an inappropriate manner, done anything other than ask some questions at a selectmen's meeting. Most of the meetings 3/4th of the people attending never asked anything. No one ever raised their voices or any such thing. The rumors about the group were generated by someone looking to have the town look at the group rather than see the real picture. That way the towns people could concentrate on something else. Keep your eyes open, deal with only the facts.

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  25. Thank you poster May 7 at 2:42. All anyone has to do is think, where would we be if it was not for some folks poking around and asking questions. The concerned Citizens, The Fixers and anyone else that was wanting to see why things didn't add up, should be thanked. Homer

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  26. I also know the concerned citizen group, they are not doing anything wrong. They are just what the group name says "concerned".. When the group first started, it was to look into the financial side of the books. A group of 4 just doing what any citizens should do. This is when they noticed 29 checks missing in 2009. From there they started finding lots of missing money & how easy it was to see it. They were shocked, "WHY hasn't anyone seen this they asked". None of them could understand why the previous selectmen were not interested in knowing about it. This just threw up another red flag, here is so many thing in the books that do not balance, here is where money has been transferred, here is a town credit card Dunton is using, and so on. Why doesn't anyone want to know about this! So from there others joined, yes the new ones were at times being vocal and yes at some point someone added the name fixers, but the original 4-5 have never been vocal, never caused any grief, never had any intention but to get to the bottom of the financial mess they saw.

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  27. Happy Mother's Day to all the great moms in Newburgh. Skip

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  28. On this Mothers Day, Congratulations to Lois Libby on her retirement.

    The Concerned Citizens.

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  29. Lois is not the only person in the state of Maine who knows how to register a car. Where I work when you retire you give a notice you don't just quit, even if you don't like the changes in your office. The town will still operate and perhaps this total change of office staff is a new start for the town. I believe it is up to the town manager to post the budget meetings and if that was not done in a timely manner then who is at fault for that? From what I hear the Selectmen are looking into the budget and finances very carefully to be sure Newburgh is on track financially - isn't that their job? I say let's give them a chance, let's see what unfolds. One thing I know is every story has two sides.

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  30. Maybe Lois was listening to evil voices ? I wonder what files Briggs has taken with him? Newburgh should request The State of Maine to assist in order to sort all this out, once and for all.

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  31. Any person who thinks so little of their employer, to walk out deserves
    to lose their job along with their respect, period. You just don't do this especially to one who you worked for many years and this employer paid in toward your social security so you could retire. Lois, have you lost your mind ? How could you do this to your community? Did Briggs or the former selectmen convince you to do this to your neighbors ? It was and it is, so wrong. To walk out on your community indicates that
    the Hatch gang may still be trying to take down, Newburgh. I for one am going to seek government intervention as of Monday morning.

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  32. It will not be the end of the world, the office was stale and needed to be cleaned imagine no bad attitudes when you conduct business, that will be a welcome change.

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  33. In response to... "Lois, have you lost your mind ? How could you do this to your community?".
    Did you ever stop and think how bad it must have gotten for her to just walk away? She did awesome to put up with it for as long as she did!

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  34. I have copied and pasted from a previous post as I am very concerned with what it said....see below

    "I love how the new selectman are holding "workshops" that are suppose to be announced 7 days in advance so that the public can attend if interested yet don't post notice until the day before on the website and consider putting up a small piece of paper at the town office adequate announcing....The last workshop just had the selectman and some fixer friends....no minutes were taken (as ordered by the 1st selectman) Which by the way is illegal.

    It is also illegal for all the selectman to ride in the 1st selectman's vehicle to Augusta for a budgeting class. And highly irresponsible and childish to bad mouth other town employees while at said class and goof off so much that they flunked the test at the end of the class and had to stay for extra training!

    This does not sound like people who care about their town but rather people who care about an agenda (their own). Where is the transparency? I am NOT impressed! "

    I would hope that this is not how our new selectmen are behaving. They are no better than what we had if they are trying to meet secretly with only a few of there fellow fixers in tow.

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  35. No, I did not think of it this way as I cannot see, what she put up with other than getting a incredible $32.00 per hour for licensing dogs and to register vehicles, for the most part.
    In addition, she had to have a secretary to help.
    Of course, she obtained a benefit raise with the questionable health insurance coverage for keeping quiet about the inner workings of the town office. She also received the unauthorized
    Christmas bonuses. That to me is a great job for someone with limited skills but good public relations for the most part. Lois Libby received more pay per hour than anyone else in the State of Maine
    for doing the same work and to think, it our little community. It is without question, that she was greatly over paid. What did she have to put up with, folks asking questions about their towns finances ?
    that was about it. Questioning the benefits and bonuses and what she knew about the embezzlement and Nancy Hatch’s involvement ? That was the absolute correct thing for the folks to question.
    So, no I’m sorry but I did not see the need for her to throw her long career away and turn her back on her town. She could have been totally honest and up front and retired with pride. The road that she did decide to take
    was one paved with revenge from the past selectmen as well as well placed town manager’s who wanted Newburgh to fail and have all the tax dollars depleted even if they have to borrow from the town, destroy files
    not pay their own taxes, and many other things. There is a lot more to this story than made up work related stress that did not for the most part,didn’t involve her other than, it did involve some of her friends.

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  36. Dear Concerned: Where were you when the past selectmen were asleep at the wheel for the better part of 8 years. On the plus side, at least you taking an interest now, just please make it an honest one and don't jump to any judgement in the selectmen first few days. After 8 years give them a chance to prove their worth and protect your tax dollars. As you know, it will take some time to make some correction unless the town has to throw in the towel as all the funds and records, are destroyed or missing. Pissed off town officials can do some crazy things without regard, of their neighbors and community.

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  37. I read a mention of spending 28,000 on a software program....had a couple of things to say about this....

    1) Isn't the old software written and sold by some of the original "Fixers" or friends of the Fixers. Why would the town buy another round of this software if it didn't do the job the first go around?

    I also heard a juicy tidbit regarding the second selectman going into the business establishment of where the new software program came from ranting and fuming about it being no good and having all sorts of loop holes. Now I am no rocket scientist but he hasn't been on the job long enough to have even been trained on such a program. Why would he do such a thing unless he is just a puppet on a string for the "Fixers" trying to help their buddies sell the town the other program????

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  38. No its the new software that Briggs wanted. He didn't know how to read the reports from it thus he had to hire Susan to read and generate them for him. We had quickbooks, now replaced
    with this, Trio.

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  39. I just want to say how much I APPRECIATE all that the CCG or Fixers have done for our town. It is abundantly clear to me that without all of the hard work of this group, we would still be in the dark and losing. At least now, with them and the new selectmen, we have a chance to change the course of our town for the better. THANK YOU!

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  40. WABI is reporting the selectmen are holding a meeting tonight at 7:00 at the Town Office:

    http://www.wabi.tv/news/20047/newburgh-board-of-selectmen-scheduled-to-meet-monday-night

    The following is copied and pasted from the above link:

    "Newburgh - The Newburgh Board of Selectmen is scheduled to meet Monday night for the first time since the town's office staff quit.

    According to the town's website, the meeting is Monday night at 7 o'clock at the Newburgh Town Office.

    On Thursday, town manager Rick Briggs, town clerk Lois Libby and assistant town clerk Jill Gilman handed in their resignations.

    Part-time treasurer Sue Lessard didn't resign, but because she was an appointee of Briggs she is technically no longer a town employee."

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  41. Selectmen,
    Make sure you write MMA and inform them of the personnel changes in town.

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  42. 1. No one from the town of Newburgh pushed Lois Libby to retire. She may have been asked 2 questions over the past couple years by anyone in the audience at a selectmens meeting. During the 3 days a week of work at the office no one confronted her at the desk with anything other than to make copies of financial reports (normal for all offices) and recently with the new board wanting to see copies of things they needed to address. Why would anyone run from that, its normal daily routine.
    2. L. Libby did have 10x the work load once the previous select board hired Ricky Briggs as he could not do any of the work he was hired for. Therefore you were paying 3 full salaries, one dep. clerk to cover for Ricky.
    3. An office staff member was present at the training last week in Augusta, the selectmen took the class seriously and all 3 passed the class.
    4. No one ever wanted the software that Claude Bolduc created as the software for the town. It was not only the concerned citizens who thought it was a waste of $$$ to buy the Trio software. It's very expensive, it has many parts, maintenance, training and all that is expensive each year. We got a very small part of the software. The quick books software we already had worked very well. It was not the software that failed. No one knows anything about Claudes software so you can stop spreading that rumor, the CCG was trying to save the town tons of unnecessary spending.

    4. There was not and never has been any physical confrontation with L. Libby and the selectmen as posted on the BDN site.
    It is legal to post a "work shop" 3-5 or 7 days in advance of the meetings. It is posted in 2 public places, the selectmen's meetings have always been posted at the office on the bulletin board from previous town manager Briggs. I don't believe previous manager Hatch even posted it.

    6. Briggs did not know how to use any of the software. The CCG also tried to get the town to understand that Lois was talking retirement in 2012 and with the current quick books we had we could continue using this software program instead of spending even more money to train Lois and a new clerk week after week on trio. The amount for trio software was and did put the administration budget way over. There was no funds for the new software.
    7. Why is it that all the good things the CCG did have been taken as bad? I can make a long list of thing they accomplished in a short time. Where and when did you ever see any one of them out of line?
    8. Things were turned in to Briggs to be put on the Town Website, he in turn was suppose to turn them into Kelly, if that didn't happen, the select board had no way to get things posted.
    I think the town just had no way of knowing what all was taking place, with the new board I believe you will now be able to pick up reports on all that is being done. Support them.

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  43. In response "Things were turned in to Briggs to be put on the Town Website, he in turn was suppose to turn them into Kelly, if that didn't happen, the select board had no way to get things posted."

    When the selectman walk in to the office say on a Monday and tell the town manager they are going to have a "workshop" meeting on Wed...how do you propose it was Briggs' fault for not advertising the "workshop" 7 business days prior? Why is it always someone elses fault here on this blog?

    In response to Lois making 32/hr....I also read 24./hr which is it??? Wasn't her pay voted on each year at town meeting? And to say that all she did was register cars and dogs? Please ...are you so clueless to think that was the majority of her work? You truely have no clue as to all the work she did... reports due to the state etc...I could go on and on but you would just twist it. I would bet that it will take 2-3 people working to replace her. She asked the town if she could purchase her health insurance through them when her husband retired and was told yes....end of story nothing sinister there....yes they screwed up the amount that should have been taken out but that was not Lois' fault. Nancy came out and said she did it as a favor to Lois....but she never asked for any favors and was not aware of the rules not being followed. The fact that you are trying to take something so simple and turn it into a conspiracy shows that you are out on a witch hunt. Where is the fairness in that? Jill would have been a big help. But Burns ruined that chance by being abrasive, argumentative and unprofessional when dealing with Briggs in the office. He could have taken the high road and been pleasant to be around even if he disagreed with Briggs. It was these instances of the new selectman coming in the office and being down right ugly that caused Lois to leave. Briggs even asked Burns to at least say good morning to the front desk....He replied nice and loud...."I don't need to say anything to them" Nice environment to work in huh?

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  44. TONIGHT'S SELECTMEN'S MEETING, FOR THOSE WHO WERE NOT THERE TO WITNESS SOME OF THE MOST RIDICULOUS BEHAVIOR THAT
    HAS EVER BEEN SEEN AT A COMMUNITY PUBLIC MEETING. IT WAS SUPPOSE TO BE INFORMATIVE BY OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS, ONLY
    TO BE HARNESSED BY LEONA SMITH’S SISTER, NIECE AND DAUGHTERS. THANK GOD THE 2 DAUGHTERS TOOK THE HINT AND LEFT
    THE BUILDING, TO BAD THEY ALL DIDN’T. RUDE AND CRUDE BUT THAT IS LEONA SMITH TOO.

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  45. 3:31 PM Poster. You are totally wrong. Please stop spreading lies. Newburgh is regrouping for a good bunch of hard working employee's. Its people like you that cannot see the truth and even though it is proven beyond doubt, you won't believe it. By the way, Burns has taken the high road over and over and he is for helping the community and keep everything out in the open. I only wish he would expose all that he has found so others would really know what their town was up to and it was not, working.

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  46. This was only the 2nd meeting I have attended. After the meeting I had to ask who the 2 women were and was shocked to hear that was a MOTHER & DAUGHTER being that disrespectful to our town officials, to the attending town people and the new town manager. I have no words for the sadness of that situation. I pray they are not raising children in that kind of toxic environment. I believe we should all not respond to this as they surely were seeking attention, what other reason would anyone stoop that low for.

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  47. I was impressed with the meeting tonight!! Good job selectmen, after being left a lot on your plate, you have handled the situation with professionalism. Continue to get to the bottom of the finances. Your good strong, solid, hard working individuals, we are proud to call our BOARD.

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  48. IF SAYING WHAT I BELIEVE IS RUDE SO BE IT! IT SURE MAKES A DIFFERENCE WHO YOU ARE IN THIS TOWN! MIKE BURNS CAN DISH IT OUT BUT SURE CAN'T TAKE IT! IF I HAVE TO BECOME A "FIXER" TO BE LIKED BY ALL OF YOU I'D RATHER BE HATED. I'M NOT HERE TO BE LIKED I'M HERE TO GET MY TOWN BACK. FURTHER MORE WHY ARE YOU ABLE TO SAY WHAT YOU WANT AND I'M NOT COURSE I DON'T KNOW WHO YOU ARE BECAUSE YOUR TO MUCH OF A COWARD TO SIGN YOUR NAME!! I'M THE RUDE ONE READ YOUR POST IT'S QUITE RUDE BUT YOUR A FIXER SO YOU DO NO WRONG.
    HAVE A GREAT NIGHT EVERYONE ENJOY TALKING ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE BEHIND THEIR BACKS AND JUST BEING THE QUALITY CITIZENS YOU KNOW YOU ARE.

    HEATHER RINES

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  49. The rude people were Heather Rines and Diana Prescott. There families should be real proud to have them as wives and mothers. They made real fools of themselves. Mr Darling had to ask them to stop and Heathers reply was leave town if he did not like it. That is your past Leona Smiths attitude that is why we are glad she is gone. The board of selectmen were professional in every to these rude two even when she called the chair names he answered her with respect. What a shame that we still have people like them in our town. I had not been to a selectmen's meeting in a while I am ashamed to have A new town manager be exposed to that at our first meeting.

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  50. Why can't any of you sign your names to anything is it because you don't want anyone to know how "rude" you are? You can talk about me until your blue in the face but you leave my child and husband out of it! And I'm the disrespectful one! How dare you!!!

    I must have missed the part were I called people names?? And when someone asked me to stop talking its interesting how rumors start isn't it??
    Heather

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  51. And to clarify the lie above the statement made was
    Mr.Darling: "I am ashamed to say I live in this town"
    Me: "You can move then"
    Is this not true if a person whom ever they may be hates the town they live in they can always move to a different town.
    Heather

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  52. If you would like to pick a fight with me then you just let me know because you can verbally bash me here but you are too much of a coward to say a word to my face you can't even sign your name why?
    Diana Prescott

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  53. Man, I sure wish this stuff would go out on streaming video (say like Skype) or something so those of us stuck at work can see first hand what is going on. BDN is reporting this tonight:

    http://new.bangordailynews.com/2011/05/09/news/newburgh-administrator-hired-after-mass-resignations/?ref=latest

    Nice to see progress is being made. Seeing that "Hatch" name gave me the oogies, but glad they clarified it was no relation.

    I haven't heard such good things about the trustworthiness of Mr. Davis, and this was not hearsay or through the grapevine, but rather face-to-face from a source who I particularly trust and admire, so to hear of an alternative person working for us gives me hope we are continuing to move in the right direction.
    :)

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  54. I would like to say a few things that are on my mind…first of all the last time I looked it was ok for two people to disagree or several people for that matter. I do not agree with most everything that you “fixers” say but I do not in turn attack your ability to be a mother/father and I do not question weather or not your husbands/wives are proud of you or are happy to be married to you. I am told I am the disrespectful one but I have never once said anything about any of you that I wouldn’t or haven’t said to your face. I am tired of people getting on this blog to attack me but not telling me who they are. If you have a problem with me just because I am related to Leona then tell me not a page on the internet. This is Newburgh we live in half of the town is related and I don’t hold who you are related to against you do I? I have lived in this town for almost 30 years and I am just as upset as you are about what Cindy has done, I’m sure that is one thing we can agree on. I don’t understand how when there were three selectman that we sitting before all of you that were not fixers it wasn’t rude or disrespectful for you to say what you wanted and to stand up for what you believe in but now that our selectman are fixers its not ok for “non-fixers” to speak up. I guess what I am trying to say is if you have problems with me come to me or at least have the respect to sign your name, you are truly a coward if you can’t come to me and talk like adults. If you are too ashamed to sign your name maybe you shouldn’t be saying it at all! We have to share this town weather we like it or not so we can either choose to do it like adults or continue on like middle school children.

    Heather Rines

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  55. My comment on this. Leona relatives can defend their actions and family to no avail. It was Leona and her other 2 selectmen that caused Newburgh's financial loss. Cindy was only a tool that took advantage of a totally incompetent board of selectmen. Most in town support this view. The fixers were only out to get the financial records to locate where the funds went. They were resisted right up through Mr. Briggs as he didn't have a clue what he was doing and followed orders from the selectmen. Weather you want to believe the facts or not, our new board is occupied by diligent, hard working and honest folks who want Newburgh's town, to be open and honest in their dealings. You can continue to make Leona Smith look worse everyday by your behavior in support of her questionable ways ( I'm trying to be good)
    or you can, let our new officials try to establish a community again.
    Last night I thought Mike Burns did a pretty good job of not playing your game and start with the facts of how bad the former board was. You did rattle them a little with your crude and rudeness but it gave us who did not know you, some insight as to who and what you are.
    Thanks for exposing yourselves, now we do know who you are and why you act like you do. Very Sad that your on the wrong end of the stand up chain and don't have the ability or want to break loose and become, normal and offer respect to our town's officials. It may have not been what your family wanted but the town residents spoke their will and you need to live with it. Give Leona some advise and leave it alone as it will only pull her down into the sewer more and more. Thank you to the ones who did take issue with you which chased at least 2 of you out of the building and to bad, it still left 2 of you there.

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  56. You are correct we do have to share this town, that is why it is beond me how you could act that way in public, you had to be embarrased after you had time to think about how you performed. You had no concern about your family last night you were there only to pick a fight and allienate as many in town as you possible could with your leave town if you dont like it attitude. Most middle school children I have known are a click or two more mature than what we saw from you both last night, your actions made you two look just like the fools you are. As far as Mike Burns or any selectman taking the high road from what we all witnessed there is no chance he will run into either one of you on that road. Why would anyone want to sign their names in a reply to either of you, you need to seek professional help for your anger and behavior issues you are obvious certified nut cases that may be beyond help. I feel sorry for you both having to go through life with so much anger and arrogance penned up inside at once. Keep doing all you can to make sure the couple of people left in town that do not know about you both get the message too.

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  57. Don't pretend like you know me because you don't!! I'm the nut case take a look in the mirror coward! You people keep bring Leona into this I haven't talked about her or any of her actions for that matter. It hurts you to no end that I don't agree with everything that you say, get over it not everyone is going to be on your side!
    I find it quite funny that you think I am the one that is not "normal" as you sit back and attack my ability to be a mother and wife, really....because I don't agree with you and stand up for what I believe in I can't be a good mother? For you information I am one heck of a Mommy!! GROW UP!! Give me a call if you really want to chat about it if not SHUT YOUR MOUTHS!! For such stand up people you are awfully childish to take such low blows at others. I think the reason you won’t tell me who you are is because you know I know you to well to even begin to think you’re that much above the rest.

    Heather

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  58. Kathy P.
    u should of been at the meeting. Now, at least we know who the trouble makers are and why. It's to bad they are of very limited IQ's, because they should of been asking their questions to the last group of selectmen. Of course, they would of not gotten any answers, why, because they didn't know them. I remember when the town was trying to find out what the selectmen were doing for the 8 years that Cindy was stealing in front of them, rudeness wasn't used. Questions and questions were asked and for good reason. Without the trouble makers, the meeting went well and the new (real) town manager appears he will help Newburgh greatly and he comes with a lot of experience and honest references. So, it is starting to look very good. Keep us entertained with your insight, questions and humor. Homer

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  59. Yep a real whack job, both of them.

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  60. Sad part is they think they are normal and everyone else is strange.

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  61. There is an old saying that "Like begets like". I was at the town meetings last year when everything came out about Cindy and the money she stole. As I remember it, Mike Burns was one of the loudest and most angry individuals at the meeting. He was very vocal and made many of us uncomfortable with the stance he took. I don't claim to know any of The Fixers. But I can say that I understand why they were upset. We were all upset. But since that time, it has seemed to the rest of us, that it was a campaign for The Fixers to oust everyone who was associated with the Town Office from that point on, whether or not they had anything to do with Cindy. I have heard stories about the harassment from people that I respect, so I don't doubt that they FELT harassed. So it is also understandable that those who felt harassed may want to retaliate. And those who love them may feel that they should also retaliate. Like begets like, hate begets hate. The Fixers took an aggressive and angry stance at the onset, so in response those who were on the opposite side reacted with the same attitude.

    If we all step back and look at the whole picture we can see that in the beginning the Fixer's actions were meant for good, but maybe in the process, things got out of hand. Unfortunately, now there are lots of people on both sides that feel they have been abused and harassed. I didn't like Mike Burns at first because of his aggressive attitude. I have noticed a change in that attitude since he became selectman. I will reserve judgement until he either proves himself or sinks himself.

    It is really too bad that all of this couldn't have been handled in a more positive and gentler way. Hopefully the rift between the two sides won't rip the town completely apart and can be overcome. There are people out there who are calling us the "Hatfields and McCoys". It makes me sad that we have come to this.

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  62. I see Heather is as true to her word as Leona was go back a little while ago I read where Heather said QUOTE I WILL NOT WRITE ON THIS BLOGG ANYMORE GOOD BY. Am I glad I am not any of there family today can you imagine what the co-workers think of this. Think of the child that is in that environment all the time. oh no someone told me Diana takes care of other peoples children and Emily is Diana's daughter. At our unlicensed day care over at Newburgh School building. The apple doesn't fall to far from the tree. Parents think what anger you children will get if you cross her. WOW WHAT NUT JOBS PLEASE GET THEM HELP.

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  63. Be thankful if you do not live on the north side of town. To see there angry face everyday would be a real treat.

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  64. I wonder how many people out there would not get aggressive and some angry when people were blatantly stealing from them as was the former Newburgh Town Government. Thank God Mike Burns actually stood up and insisted on his questions being answered! Probably a tape of last night's whole meeting will become available for s---s and giggles for those of you who were not able to attend. It's not often people actually stand up in public and show how ignorant they are! Yea for the new Newburgh leaders! They are going to do a wonderful job for all the town, and that's gonna really tick off the deposed "family", so be sure to go to all the future selectmen's meetings. With persistent people like Heather and Diana, they could replace Judge Judy.

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  65. IN REPLY..... Mike Burns was one of the loudest. AND HE HAD THE RIGHT AS HE WANTED THE TOWN PROTECTED AGAINST LOSS. PLEASE REMEMBER THROUGHOUT ALL THIS HE WAS NOT GETTING ANY HELP FROM THE SELECTMEN, ONLY OBTAINING FILES FROM THE FIXERS AS THEY HAD THE ACTUAL PROOF AND DOCUMENTS. He was vocal and made many of us uncomfortable with the stance he took. YOU SHOULD OF STOOD UP AND CLAPPED FOR HIM FOR HIS STANCE AS WITHOUT IT, WHO KNOWS A LOT MORE DAMAGE COULD OF BEEN DONE AS UNTIL IT IS ALL SORTED OUT, WE STILL DON;T KNOW TO WHAT EXTENT THE LOSS WILL BE. I can say that I understand why they were upset. We were all upset.HOWEVER ONLY A FEW CAME TO THE TOWNS RESCUE. NOW IT SEEMS OK TO BAD MOUTH THEM FOR SAVING OUR TOWN THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS OR EVEN MAYBE SAVING OUR TOWN. But since that time, it has seemed to the rest of us,THE REST OF US, ARE YOU NOT JUST SPEAKING FOR YOUR SELF AND YOUR OWN OPINION? that it was a campaign for The Fixers to oust everyone who was associated with the Town Office from that point on, whether or not they had anything to do with Cindy. ALL HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH CINDY. ALL WERE INVOLVED IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER I have heard stories about the harassment from people that I respect, so I don't doubt that they FELT harassed. IT SOME CIRCUMSTANCES IT WAS GUILT BY ASSOCATION, I'M SURE. I KNOW OF NO ONE THAT HARASSED ANYONE OTHER THAN TO SEEK OUT ANSWERS TO RESOLVE ISSUES AND THOSE ISSUES MY FRIEND, WERE TO PROTECT OUR TOWN. So it is also understandable that those who felt harassed may want to retaliate. BECOME INVOLVED BUT DON'T BE RUDE, DISRESPECTFUL AND CAUSE HAVOC . LEARN THE WORKINGS OF TOWN GOVERMENT AND EXPAND YOUR HORIZENS And those who love them may feel that they should also retaliate. LOOK WHAT THEY DID TO OUR TOWN, THEY WANTED IT SESTROYED AND DID EVERYTHING THEY COULD TO DO JUST THAT, AND THEIR ACTIONS WERE NOT IN RESPECT TO THE OVERALL COMMUNITY. Like begets like, hate begets hate. The Fixers took an aggressive and angry stance at the onset, THEY ASKED AND ASKED FOR CERTAIN REPORTS AND WERE REFUSED AT EVERY STEP AS THEY KNEW SOMETHING WAS NOT RIGHT, IN ORDER TO TRY TO PROTECT THE TOWN THEY HAD TO GET LOUD, SO TO SPEAK. so in response those who were on the opposite side reacted with the same attitude.
    THE PROBLEM HERE IS THAT THEY HAVE NO REASON, UNLESS THEY HAVE SEEN PROOF OF INCOMPETANCE, FRAUD, OR THE ACT TO CONSPIRE. THE TOWN NEEDS TO REALIZE THAT IF IT CONTINUED ON, NEWBURGH WOULD BE, GONE PERIOD. THE STATE WOULD OF SHUT US, DOWN AS A TOWN. I ASSUME ALOT OF THAT ATTITUDE IS GUILT AND SOME JUST DON'T KNOW HOW TO HANDLE IT.

    If we all step back and look at the whole picture THAT IS WHAT MOST HAVE BEEN SAYING ALL ALONG we can see that in the beginning the Fixer's actions were meant for good, but maybe in the process, things got out of hand. ONLY TO THE ONES WHO DID NOT WANT THINGS EXPOSED
    ONLY A SELECT FEW AND THAT IS MOSTLY FROM GUILT. I didn't like Mike Burns at first WHEN HE WAS TRYING TO EXPOSE THE FRAUD ? WHY NOT, HE HAD THE INTEREST OF NEWBURGH AT HAND because of his aggressive attitude. AGAIN HE GOT TIRED OF ASKING AND ASKING WITHOUT REPLY, WHAT ELSE COULD HE DO BUT CONTINUE ON HIS QUEST FOR ANSWERS I have noticed a change in that attitude since he became selectman. I will reserve judgement until he either proves himself or sinks himself. HE IS PROVING HIMSLEF EVERYDAY AND PUTTING FORTH THE TIME TO BRING NEWBURGH BACK WITH THE HELP AND ADVISE OF THE OTHER SELECTMEN. OH BY THE WAY, MIKE PROMOTED GOING FROM 3 TO 5 SELECTMEN SO TO PRMOTE BALANCE EVEN FURTHER AND BRING IN MORE OF THE TOWN, TO THE DECESION MAKING PROCESS. HOW CAN THAT NOT BE THINKING OF THE COMMUNITY, IN TOTAL. THE HATFIELDS AND MCCOYS WAS LARRY DOUGHTY' COMMENT AS HE HAS BEEN THROUGH MANY MESSES IN BREWER IN HIS TIME AND HE WISHED US, GOOD LUCK. THE ONLY PROBLEM LAST NIGHT WAS LEONA SMITH'S SISTER AND HER NEICE. I THINK EVERYONE ELSE WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO OUR NEW BEGINNING. TO, ME IT LOOKS VERY PROMISING AND WARREN HATCH HAS THE EXPERIENCE TO ASSIST US IF WE LET HIM.

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  66. Yep those boys have their hands full with these two meat heads, could you imagine having to deal with that for the rest of your life, likely would make you a little queezy. Now you all can go home a kiss your wives tonight and thank them for being just the way they are cause now you know no matter what it could be worse. Use this experience to help understand what people mean when they say "you are lucky to have her".

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  67. Opinions, opinions....you know what they say about opinions!

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  68. I GUESS IT CAN BE DONE, IF YOUR UNRULY, NEGATIVE, RUDE, DISRESPECTFUL AND BASICLLY TRYING TO CAUSE TROUBLE

    Westbrook bans ex-official from City Hall


    The Associated Press

    Posted May 10, 2011, at 7:38 a.m.
    Last modified May 10, 2011, at 11:28 a.m.

    WHAT'S THEIR NAMES, DIANE PRESCOT AND HEATHER RINES ? LEONA'S RELATIVES

    I WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE PROPERTY THAT LEONA SMITH'S DAUGHTER BOUGHT FROM THE TOWN BY SECRET BID, IN THE NAME OF SCOTT DOW ?

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  69. Heather, day off or did you get fired again?

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  70. Not sure what your talking about I've never been fired in my life and no I work 5 days a week to support my family thank you for your concern. I haven't posted since this morning until now, but I can see you missed me. Continue on...
    Heather

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  71. couteous and courteous are 2 different things...obviously!

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  72. I think Heather Rines should run for selectman.

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  73. Just would like to say a few things to those of you that are bad mouthing my wife and mother in-law and bringing my sister inlaw into it who had nothing to do with it if you would like to talk about them why don't you come on over to our house and we can talk about it like adults or at least sign your post so we can talk the next time we see each other in passing if you don't want to do that than keep your opion to your self and as for Emily leave her alone she has done a great job with the after school program

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  74. You all sound like sore losers and thugs. Let it go. She keeps embarrassing herself by keeping it all going. Don't you think she has said enough? Men should stand up for their wives, though, so bravo for you. Things are starting to turn around in the town, and they will continue to do so as long as this small bunch of sore losers leaves them alone. Newburgh Town Office opens tomorrow. Stop in and say hello to the new interim manager and give him your support.....Good is going to happen in Newburg now whether or not you and yours want it to happen. Even your taxes will go down!

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  75. I attended the selectman meeting last night - the first one I have ever attended. I was appalled at the rudeness of the two women in the front - how embarrassing for this town.
    I was very happy to see the selectmen reviewing each warrant and actually comparing the warrant with an original bill for services. Isn't that what the town wanted? It was quite clear that some money shuffling was going on in the office when you look at the reports supplied to the selectmen. The selectmen are correct you should not pay for animal control out of the administrative budget. It needs to stay in that budget whether it is in the red or not. I'm glad one of the selectmen is keeping a good old fashioned ledger for tracking purposes.
    I for one was happy that we used a larger machine with the carbide teeth to try and fix up the roads. What is wrong with that?
    Excellent pick for the interim town manager I hope we can offer him more pay to keep him. It is a plus to have a town manager that can also register a car if needed. That is getting the most bang for our buck because if he is working in the office then he can help out at the desk too when needed.
    Remember not all of the selectmen were in the "fixers" so lets not label everyone.
    I think that when one door closes another door opens and Newburgh has just opened another door - welcome Warren.

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  76. Don't forget, the 'fixers' got the fixin' going in this town and a lot of good people joined the bandwagon! The 'fixers' should have a good connotation attached to it. We should thank them all after all they have gone through. Without them, we would still be losing all the town monies,our tax monies!! It wasn't easy, and, in fact, it is still not easy for them with the family still bad mouthing them. All the true colors will come out as is beginning, the good and the bad.

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  77. Let's put an end to the fact that the Concerned Citizen Group (nickname fixers)did anything wrong. The group worked long and hard to bring the finances out where they are today. It took countless hours to even get a financial report from anyone previously in the office. Everyone refused to give out a report. Once they received one it never added up, so therefore they had to ask again. If you go to any office anywhere in the state and ask for the financial report for that town you can receive one as soon as you ask. The clerk will print the report as you wait. Most towns hand them out monthly at the Selectmen's meeting. Once the CCG (concerned citizen group) started asking for the reports, word from the office to 100s of citizens was "they are causing trouble". This was not true. You will find the reason the group was bad mouthed by the officials and dragged through the mud was because it was like a smoke screen, the more they could make people believe that, the more anyone would think the finances were GOOD. The finances as you will SOON see are not OK. Things have been moved, accounts are GONE, money in the general account is not there, things are very iffy.
    The new board is going to be on top of every dime from now on, things will no longer be covered up, what the CCG asked for and was trying to get the towns people to see and understand will now be in YOUR hands. What you do with it from there is up to you. Taxes will soon go down because the CCG has fought to get this done by having the finances correct. Instead of bashing them, talk to them, understand what their work was and be thankful they opened this up for all the towns people. I'd hold my head up and be proud to be a CC. Welcome aboard Mr. Hatch, thank you for coming to our rescue.

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  78. Yes I do agree and I am happy for what they did.

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  79. Sorry to see Mike Burns getting so much flack for serving his town. As a Demolition Engineer in the Army, who served six months in Iraq, he should'nt be asked if he has his BIG BOY PANTS ON! I support you Mike. GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS!

    John Calderwood

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  80. Again to clarify...he was told to put his big boy pants on not if he had them in. If your going to quote me please get it correct. It had NOTHING to do with his time served I don't appreciate everything said being turned into something its not, I to support our troops 100%. If all you people have to talk about is me I feel bad for you, you must not lead very exciting lives. Jealously does not look good on any of you by the way.
    Heather

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  81. I'm not sure what you want Heather, did your husband listen to your tape by any chance before he defends you and supports your actions? I know love is strong, but believe me my wife and family would not be proud of me for attending a public meeting, with no good intent, no idea of what was actually being worked on or what needs to be done and just start shooting from the hip. What exactly was it you wanted to say or do last night? Please explain to us in adult language what you needed to ask and receive to help you get the truth? Do you understand what has been happening in our town right up until the new board was put into place? Your mother was not correct when she made the comment about the board making up the financial report to make Briggs look bad. The financial reports come from the town manager of Hampden, our current treasurer Sue L. The selectmen do not create the financial reports. Does your family when proven wrong, apologize? If all your questions last night were answered and you got the correct information, then and only then would you offer an apology to the board? That in my opinion would be the adult way to handle this situation. If you want to know and understand what has been going on with the towns money, please get the information, come back to the meetings and have your facts. That way when you ask questions they will be answered and you will go away knowing more each week. A lot of the information your aunt was given was false. Eventually it is going to all come out.

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  82. OMG... at the very least, Heather and her aunt owe the new town manager and our offical board of selectmen an apology and until that happens, I hope they refrain from attending all future meetings with us. The town may not remain in control as no one likes rudeness and statements that just are not, true. I hope you two have gottten that message, by now. we are proud of our new team that is in place, they have experience and have no relatives in town. It just can't get any better.

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  83. Let it be known that I am not a member of the fixers, but I am not against what they are working for.

    As a younger member of the town of Newburgh, I found it incredibly shocking what has been happening. I personally think that people need to take a step back from this whole situation, and forget about who they are friends with, and who they're not. What has been done has been done. I find it hard to believe that hundreds of thousands of dollars were stolen without anyone in that office noticing, especially being such a small town.

    I understand that feelings have been hurt in this process, especially those who have been apart of the town for so long, but they themselves are NOT the town. The town will move on without them. The town needed a drastic change, and that's what we're getting. Sure, it's going to be a struggle, but now we can start fresh and start to grow again. I've seen so many young families leave the town, giving and supporting other small towns. AND, to top it all off, other town offices that I have been in to, every single person in that office has been friendly, informative, and non-judgmental. They did not care who you were or what family you belonged to.

    For those against the fixers, doesn't this bother you? Doesn't this make you sad to the future of Newburgh leave? Did you not want the truth? The truth is ugly, but it's much better than lies after lies.

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  84. It’s funny to me that I am the one who should get my facts straight but there hasn’t been one of you that have quoted me correctly or you’ve have said things that I didn’t even say…
    You would like myself and my Aunt to apologize to the new Town Manager, talk about not having your facts straight my Aunt has never even seen the Town Manager never mind meet him what would you like her to apologize for?
    You are all so concerned that I have family members that live in the same town, last I looked it wasn’t against any rules to live in the same town as a family member. I’m pretty sure you all have at least one member of your family that lives here.
    There isn’t one of you that will sign your name to any low blow that you have taken at me, I’m not sure if this is because you don’t want people to know just how crude you are or you just are to much of a coward to tell me who you are. If you think I don’t have any ideas who the people taking stabs at me are you are sadly mistaken.
    So “secret people” is this how you want to play taking stabs at my ability to be a mother and wife and then in turn dragging my extended family into it with facts that you don’t even know. You forget that I grew up here and know most of you so I could start doing the same, posting things about you and your families…But that is not something that I will do because I am not as low as all the rest of you. I have thick skin I can take it so if you and your sorry lives have nothing better to do and this is what helps you feel good about yourselves then I’m glad I could help.
    It sounds to me that you are all extremely jealous, you say that I am the one making myself look like a foul but please take a minute and go back and read all of your post, you are the ones that have spent the last 2 days verbally bashing me, calling me names and taking personal stabs at me. Do you think that makes you look very good? I have not once taken a personal stab at any one of you or called any one of you a name, because I am an adult and name calling is something children do… Well that is probably the reason you don’t want to sign your names we wouldn’t want all the rest of the fixers to know just how dirty you are now would we.
    Have a great day everyone and you will all be in my prayers!
    Heather Rines

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  85. Heather, I am sorry but you seem so angry, you are in my prayers too, I pray you realize soon how socially misguided you are and how much negative attention you have brought upon yourself and your family. Don't you get it or is your urge to make sure you get the last word in so strong you can not possibly control it? Seek help please, ask an unbiased professional counselor they will tell you the truth!

    We are all praying for you to get better soon.

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  86. Ms. Rines I did not see where anyone said anything about your family other than the one who accompanied you in your attempt to disrupt the Selectmen's meeting of Monday evening. Yes, I too, believe that an apology is absolutely in order to the board and our new town manager.

    What an disgrace to our town, you two were. The town attempted to show the new town manager that is was not as bad as he had heard,
    and yet you two despicable troublemakers came to carry on in the tradition of Leona Smith and continue to show us all, what family values,
    tack and professionalizm as a community member that you all, have. Let me clarify, your family members that have or attempted to disrupt
    the town, not the ones who have community values and blend in. I used despicable for two reasons, you enjoy the likes of Kendall Davis
    so, as they say, birds of a feather. Kendall is the poorest excuse of a man, that I know and if you continue to follow him, you will be reduced even further than you are now. The community is waiting on your apologies at the very minimum. As you said to the elder gentleman, maybe you should move, that I believe is the towns desire, for you.

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  87. I just heard that our town is going to try to open today. WOW, after all that has been done to Newburgh. The selectmen and new town manager are working overtime just trying to piece our town office back together so to be there for the community as quick as possible, even quicker. You don't see this overall effort and dedication very often and they all need to be thanked. Of course some legal issue may delay some things but what has been done has taken a lot of overtime effort, to protect and please the tax payers.

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  88. It is really sad to watch all this happening between the townspeople, but it is the cleansing that Newburgh needs. I wish for Heather to take a big deep breath before she makes it impossible for her to hold her head up high, because she is spiraling downward. The slippery slope she and her accomplice created at the town meeting is just that, a slippery slope that she is adding grease to. Take that deep breath, Heather, and don't make things even more difficult for yourself. It is good for you to question what goes on in town government, but at least make it logical. You've gone over the edge, and it's my guess that you know it. When you're wrong, you're wrong, and it's time for you to put your 'big girl pants' on and go about your business. The people who post as anonymous could, and probably are, some of your friends, as you have lived in Newburgh all your life. Take the clue I am offering you before you muck it up too much. I will remain anonymous, as I would not want to suffer your wrath.

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  89. Well, being as I'm from away and am painfully aware that I will forever be considered an outsider no matter how many years I may live here, and have no family ties to worry about, I will say it:

    The bickering going on this blog is making us all look retarded. A lot of people are logging onto this blog via references to it from the BDN and other sources, and they are playing the dueling banjo tune in their heads as they read these posts and laughing their butts off at our expense.

    It's a total drag man. If you are not helping our town, then you are hurting us all, yourselves included.

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  90. Careful Kathy as this heats up you may get caught in the middle of the sh_t storm.

    Selectmen thank you for your effort and for watching my tax dollars so closely it is a ton of work on your part but noticed and appreciated. I also look forward to the reduced tax bill mentioned in here but common sense tells me the pending school increases will far outpace any tax reduction we could expect in the near future, I can only hope I am wrong.

    I attended the selectman's meeting the other night and it was at times quite a show, it is very unfortunate but I do think it is time to bring out a podium and PA system again. It was nice to have an open type of meeting with the relaxed regiment featuring questions/comments from our chairs but it appears we have lost some control. It was often difficult to hear the questions/comments from the citizens and the responses from the board. We have a soft spoken manager and board for he most part and the distractions made it worse than one would expect at a public meeting.

    For those of you that were not present there were many people in attendance, too many speaking over each other, side conversations and poor room acoustics that made for many missed words and comments. It was hard to make sense of it at times, I could not imagine what it would be like with a hearing impairment.

    Thanks for listening
    Jim Hopkins

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  91. Hey Kathy P:
    Glad your still around but it is to bad you were not at the selectmen’s meeting where Heather Rines and Leon’s sister, Diane Prescott
    took their front seats and began their plot to be totally disruptive, rude , and just pain to the board, new town manager and the audience.
    The audience suggested that they leave, stop harassing the board and listen, to reason but above all, to please respect our new officials duly
    elected by our town voters. They refused and kept it up until the meeting concluded. So, retarded is a very strong word and no longer used in society
    according to the human service departments worldwide. However , I agree that some of the posters may have gotten a little personal with these
    trouble makers but if you were there you would see why. Sorry but I have to support their overall discontent. It was absolutely awful and they never
    attend another meeting the town will be so far better off. If they had a legitimate question, or even interest but they sure didn’t, they were there to
    cause trouble and took the wrong side to everything. It was all in defense of Leona Smith and her departure, they wanted it the old way with family
    and friends, in control. They just don't get it, it was their tax money too that was being mis-directed, to say it nicely. The new administration
    looks like they have the interest of the town at the forefront and not themselves. I for one, have high hopes as we now, have folks with experience
    and knowledge, what a combination.
    I have missed you comments, please try to attend a meeting or two. Homer

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  92. Jim H:
    I am in total agreement with you. I had asked for the same to Briggs and never got a reply. Also throw in not enough copies of the agenda for the audience.I mentioned that a few times also in the past. Overall, I bet they will comply to the audience now we have interested folks and articulate ones, at that. Homer

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  93. Hi Homer,

    Unfortunately, so long as these meetings are on Monday nights, I will never be able to go, as I am the only one on for my shift at work and there is no coverage. I was even an alternate on the planning board once and had to give that up because of work demands. My stupid job has to come first these days because without it, both of us are screwed.

    Jim, I appreciate your concern and thought long and hard about posting what I did, before I posted it. I'd like to think I had some balls to move to a place so far from "home" where I would have no friends, no family, no social support at all, so I can't say as I'm too afraid of this particular little bees nest we have going on in town. There's a much bigger world out there than Newburgh and it's just such as shame others can't see that sometimes.

    ;-)

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  94. Mental Disorders - Disruptive or Externalizing Behavior Disorders, Emotional or Internalizing Disorders, Other Disorders

    In both children and adults, mental disorders typically are defined in one of two ways: as a category or along a dimension. Categorical approaches are typified by the American Psychiatric Association's diagnostic criteria, as published in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: DSM-IV. The definitions of mental disorders in theDSM-IV are characterized predominantly by symptom criteria for diagnoses, as well as by taking into account impairment and, for some disorders, age of onset. For this approach, clinical interviews are the typical measurement.

    http://social.jrank.org/pages/401/Mental-Disorders.html#ixzz1M4OJvmTw

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  95. You're just trying to p-ss of Heather again. Leave her alone so she can come to grips with herself. And I'm part of the fixers!

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  96. She'll get it eventually if you guys don't tick her off. It's pretty clear now that the town is finally moving forward without the family. Maybe you don't want progress in Newburgh and that's why you are aggravating her.

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  97. Heather Rines and Diane Prescott have brought the wrath of the Newburgh voters together. See, from evil comes good.
    Sorry but we will not accept their behavior and avoid confrontation.

    Kathy P. Demand the facts, state your opinion if someone wants to disagree, have them provide the (why) . We all can
    learn things as log as we are accepting and they offer a complete picture of their position. Somehow, you need to get to a meeting,
    you learn things about the conduct of your community and who the trouble makers are and in most cases, why.

    To disrespect our newtown manager is beyond acceptance and that was shown by Rines and Prescott. The audience in attendance was embarrassed to say the least. What do you mean tick her off, she thas ticked almost the entire town off, the citizens that were there, have told all the ones that were not. What a rep to enjoy.

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  98. I went to the Town Office Today. I was greeted by our new town manager and our new town clerk.
    This is how it is suppose to be, a warm and friendly enviroment. Everyone a professional and with lots of experience. A great combination. I think all our citizens will be pleased. THANK YOU TO OUR BOARD OF SELECTMEN WHO OVERCAME ALL THE BARRIERS AND PUT THIS TEAM TOGETHER, SO QUICKLY FOR OUR COMMUINTY. GREAT, JOB GUYS HOMER

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  99. Great job selectmen keep up the good work!

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  100. I also went to the office today! What a breath of "Spring" air. It was a pleasant experience, friendly, smiles, even a few jokes. Some of you say it has always been like that with the previous officials, but I am here to say it has not been for lots and lots of people. I was there for a registration and although she told me she might be a little slow,she was far from slow. Everything looks like its really coming together. I'm hoping they can sift through all the rubble, and get things taken care of.
    I fully agree with giving the select board credit for pulling this all together in a matter of what 5 days? GOOD JOB!

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  101. I hope the local store owner got all his registrations, hunting licences, fishing licences, and paid his taxes today. I know on the news last night he was in a real panic that he could not get all that done during the 1 DAY the office was not open when it normally should have been. Thank goodness he could do those things today. I was worried for him.

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  102. WAS THAT THE SAME STORE OWNER WHO VOTED TWICE LAST YEAR ?

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  103. Why yes I believe it was. It seems he had lots and lots of business with the town office that he could not get done. I hope the LONG LONG lines at the town office today did not prevent him from getting his stuff done.

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  104. Was there long, long lines at the office today? Did anyone else go to the office, what did you think of the new staff?
    I am so impressed with the work the 3 new selectmen have accomplished in such a short time. I have heard they have gotten the roads graded better than any time in the past 10 years. That they have driven over and over all the roads checking culverts and all. Inspected all the buildings the town owns. Obtained information to all town property. Stayed up 1/2 the night for the past weeks going over the messed up finances. THIS IS JUST SOME OF MANY THINGS THEY HAVE DONE IS JUST A SHORT TIME, more than the previous board did in 8 yrs. I cannot even begin to imagine WHY the previous office personnel would run from this.

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  105. I want to thank the new select men's board for a terrific job of getting the town up and running so fast best of luck to you all. Thank you for taking such a thankless job. You are doing a great job. Keep up the good work. AFA ALWAYS

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  106. Complacency, family loyalty, and there was a lot more money for everyone then, too which was soon to disappear! They were all tangled up in the lies and covering it all up, that for any of them to stay, they would have been under too much pressure and they knew it. With all the new management now, it will be interesting to see if more crap comes out. Have to go to all the selectmen's meetings to find out, and you can also go to the town office and ask all the questions you want. It'll be different, for I surmise you will get smiles with all your honest answers.

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  107. Just wondering if the above poster has been on any of the graded roads if they have they would know that the north county road is still full of pot holes and the grader caught pieces of the geotextial mat and pulled it out of the road so great job selectmen on costing the town more money and as for as any one else that thinks it was such a great thing that the grader had a carbide blade its dirt your cutting not hot top so a steel cutting edge would do just as good a job and the equipment is only as good as the operator so that might be taken into consideration next time I never saw kendell Davis have to come back and grade the road twice in the same week

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  108. The North County Road, always known as the "Bog Road" is just that a bog. Remember there is no gravel there to do much and when we spend money for gravel it just sinks in. Trucks hauling over it as well. I've been across it and its WAY better than Kendall ever did.

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  109. There's absolutely nothing that any of us can say here. They are still in protective mode for the family, and Kendall was part of the family. The rest of us will give the new guy a chance to do good for us with our roads. If he doesn't, then I am sure the new selectmen will take care of it and find someone who will.

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  110. It is Spring in Maine. Nothing out of the norm.
    It is the way it is when you live in Maine. Looks like someone should of done some research before buying in a Bog. Buyer beware. Homer

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  111. If I post on this blog I WILL sign my name so please don’t assume that everything posted that states an opinion that doesn’t agree with yours is me!!
    Heather

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  112. Your mean like you assume the concerned citizens are the ones that post / write here daily? I happen to know 100's that read this blog from Houlton area, where I'm from. Our state auditor reads this blog. I posted 3x yesterday.. I do not know any of the CC, but I've read about the great work they have done and are still doing from the "As Maine Goes" site. Keep searching / working / looking / keeping track CCG, that is what good citizens do in a town with or without trouble. You have my support.

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  113. The last 4 post were moved to the hash and bash
    comments since they serve no purpose but to vent and be discourteous.

    Please maintain civility folks.

    Thank you


    Admin

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  114. My post was NOT discourteous AT ALL! Kendal DID rip up the mat on the Littlefield road. Nobody said a word. The new guy does the same on the bog road and it's a big deal.

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  115. Transparency in the town office but not on this blog? I didn't see any bad stuff today, but there was a whole lot a couple of days ago and they didn't get ripped??

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  116. Yep just let them rip on the new grader owner but god forbid you say something about Kendal.

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  117. Oh my Claude almighty

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  118. Claude: If you do not want to have this site as a place to vent take it of. You have plenty to say at selectmen's meetings so why do you take our posts off.

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  119. Claude / Heather you two both should be chained out front you were a horses ass when you was code enforcement who do you think likes you?

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  120. Can you say harassment!!!! You people need to get off your lazy asses and find jobs!!

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  121. or just go outside and play, (nicely with others)

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  122. Some of us worked 40 years and EARNED retirement. Let us know when YOUR lazy ass gets to 40 years of hard work!

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  123. Claude I think you should take Down this blog because it has just been a place for people to run their mouths about any one who has the balls to post their names on here and to all that talk trash and shit on other people you are nothing but a bunch of worthless turds that really have nothing better to do so my advice is get a job and do your part like the rest of the proud mainers so with that said I have to go back to work lunch is over Craig rines

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  124. Take it down, Claude, so we can get back to 'family' rule as suggested above.

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  125. Hot news this just in,

    I found out most of the Newburgh and North Road posse are embarrassed and ashamed of the clone and her mother with the way they act, turns out this is not a one off event has been going on for years.

    Weird huh!!! they may be the skeletons in the closet you always hear about.

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  126. I am one of the fixers and I am beginning to be ashamed to say so!

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  127. I'm not a fixer but I am sure proud of what they have accomplished. I 100% support them. I think they get a lot of negative attention because people don't like change.

    I wasn't at the town meeting, nor do I personally know the two ladies mentioned, but I think people need to lay off. People make mistakes, and they were obviously upset about the situation. Does that make it appropriate behavior? Absolutely not. (I also don't think it's fair to take jabs at personal lives... I'm sure the lady mentioned is a fine mother.) But we're only human, so let it go. We all know it was embarrassing and that she made a fool of herself, but move on! There are SO many exciting things happening in this town right now that we should be proud of! We shouldn't let ourselves get pulled down with the things that we have worked so hard to resist!

    I am so proud of the fixers and the selectmen and what they have uncovered. This was bound to happen, and it was coming for years. Finally, a town office with FRIENDLY, NICE, SUPPORTIVE, EXPERIENCED, NON-JUDGMENTAL people! GO NEWBURGH! KEEP IT UP!

    By the way, anyone know how to get involved with the fixers?

    ~Jay

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  128. I would like to let you all know that the fixers are no more. We have fixed what was wrong. The town office will move on and so will the rest of the town. They served their purpose and did a fine job. Thank you to Steve and Craig and Mike for taking on such a hard job, and doing a good job clearing out our corrupt house the town office. Thank you to all the citizens who support us and helped make this happen.

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  129. Why are you ashamed to be a fixer? None in the group post on here.

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  130. I was wondering the same thing.

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  131. I agree Jay, they are wonderful people (the concerned citizen group) all are family oriented people, hard working and upstanding citizens. I guess as a group working nights into the wee hours of the morning comparing figures, notes, finances and such, they are not. But as far as supportive to the towns folks, they will always be. I agree with this post as well
    a town office with
    FRIENDLY, NICE, SUPPORTIVE, EXPERIENCED, NON-JUDGMENTAL people! GO NEWBURGH! KEEP IT UP!

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  132. Seems like there are a lot of posts missing!

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  133. Everyone who has a blogspot.com is missing a ton of stuff today. They did some maintenance overnight and it messed up everyone's pages everywhere in the world, so don't take it personally. A lot of frustrated/angry people are waiting to see if the info on their blogs is recoverable or not.

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  134. Anything new on the "stuff" that is missing from The Town Office and are we going to reclaim ? Doesn't Kendall still have the " stuff" from the old town office building ? Anything new on the property that Cindy may have purchased ? So many area's to still cover and resolve. Keep up the good work, Claude and Company.

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  135. Make a list and drop it off at the town office addressed to Mike / Steve / Craig and the new Town Manager.

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  136. Claude what are you and your investigators working on now ? Or can you disclose it on this blog ? TV 5 wants to know too/

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  137. I have entered in a new post please review it since it governs the use of this blog

    Thank you

    Claude

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please be couteous!

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