Breaking News: City of Orono Appears to Break Open Meeting Law
BREAKING NEWS: The CITY OF ORONO appears to have BROKEN OPEN MEETING LAW again.
On Monday January 8th, 2024 three Orono City Council members gathered at the Long Lake Fire Department’s “Pinning Ceremony.” Orono Council members #MariaVeach, #MattJohnson and #RichardCrosby attended without a public announcement of a quorum (half or more members of City Council) to the Citizens of Orono.
Orono Council member Richard Crosby in his own words
Orono Council member #RichardCrosby (RC): How does he come up with these statements?
RC: “I believe that the two people that are in the negotiating positions, which are Matt (Johnson) and Maria (Veach), should be the people attending this meeting. Without a doubt.”
Really Mr. Crosby? Well we have a lot more than doubt about this whole arrangement because Maria Veach’s husband is a fire firefighter and she has a clear Conflict of Interest on any fire related committee or meeting.
Council member Richard F. Crosby II - Hiding the Facts?
How does Mr. Crosby come up with these statements?
He said during the 7/24/23 Work Session “we haven't increased the overall tax budget, taxes has gone up simply because property values have...” This just isn’t the whole truth. Orono property values have gone up but the Orono tax levy is 100% under the control of the Orono City Council.
“Walsh said city elections are sufficient public engagement”
Orono was not a kingdom nor an empire and yet, the citizens of Orono are treated as subjects with little rights to voice their opinions and participate in the process of their own government.
Mayor Walsh said elections replace citizen input yet he wonders why there is so much discontent in Orono.
Orono City Council Member Matt Johnson: needs a variance for his Free right-of-way land
Council member #MattJohnson seems to have no problem apparently trampling the city code, his future neighbors or the free speech of his fellow council members.
After heavy-handily getting Orono to give him public right-of-way for free so he could create two new lakeshore lots, he is now asking for a variance to build on one of them. On April 17th, the Orono Planning Commission agreed to give him his variance against citizen unrest.
It’s Time for Orono to Listen
Let’s ask for a Listening Session For Hackberry Park Development Now
One of the primary reasons that there is so much unrest in Orono at this very moment is because the Park Commission and City Council are not asking the Citizens what they want BEFORE starting Park design and master plans.
Because the Citizens were not a part of the process from the beginning, there have been what appear to be four false starts.
Lack of listening sessions at Summit Beach, Lowry Woods Nature Conservation Area, Bederwood Park and Orono Golf Course lead to citizen unrest about the lack of engagement with the general public.