Years ago in Old Orchard Beach, there was a small grocery store owner who wanted to sell booze in his store. He wanted the town council to give him a liquor license. Councilors at the time turned down his request, so he approached a friend and asked him to run for town council. That person was well-known in town. He did the store owner a favor and ran for town council ”“ and won.
Needing two more votes for passage, the store owner got his wish. The newly elected council voted to give him his liquor license.
Be honest: If you decided to run for town council, would you do so to help the taxpayers or help your friends? We all know the answer is, “to help your friends.”
Unlike Biddeford and Saco city councilors who would like to give a discount to senior citizens 70 years or older with their property tax, our seven-member council says, “whatever the department heads want, they get.” Our councilors are generous with taxpayer money, but not toward senior citizen property owners.
On Wednesday, March 12, in a Congressional hearing on C-SPAN, Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius admitted Medicare health insurance premiums will increase next year. The cost of everything is going up except our Social Security benefits. It can’t keep pace with the cost of living.
Our town manager just got a $2,000 raise, making several thousand more than the person who took his place in Kennebunkport. They must have a Republican town council in Kennebunkport. We in Old Orchard Beach have a tax and spend Democratic council. There is no tax our town manager doesn’t like.
Watch public access channel 3 and tell me if I’m wrong.
Conrad Boisvert,
Old Orchard Beach
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