Public hearing on recall petition for four elected Lebanon officials set for Saturday

From left, Selectmen Jeff Adams, Chuck Russell, Butch Lizotte and budget committee member Deborah Dorey Wilson (Rochester Voice file photos except Lizotte/YouTube screenshot)

LEBANON, Maine - A public hearing is set for Lebanon town offices on Saturday to discuss a special recall election of four elected town officials, including one facing his second recall in a year.

The four facing possible removal from office are Selectmen Chairman Chuck Russell, Selectmen Ernest A. "Butch" Lizotte and Jeffrey Adams and budget committee member Deborah Dorey Wilson.

The moderator for the public hearing is expected to be former state senator Richard Nass of Acton, but he said today those in attendance will have the final say on that when they pick a moderator as the first order of business.

Nass has moderated several Lebanon public hearings in the past as well as many in other Maine towns, but said today this will be his first as moderator at a recall hearing.

He said he planned to closely follow the model chosen for Russell's earlier recall hearing in October 2020.

The difference, Nass said, is that while it was only Russell up for recall last year, this time there are four.

If elected moderator tomorrow, he said he tentatively plans to propose that the petitioner for each recall be allowed 10 minutes to make their case followed by the public official targeted for recall to make theirs.

He said after that any members of the public who so desire would be allowed to speak for up to three minutes.

After public comment concludes the petitioner and public official would get another five minutes to make their closing arguments.

Since there are, in effect, four separate public hearings, the Board of Selectmen estimated it could take six hours, he said, but he is hopeful it won't take that long.

Nass said the ground rules that apply at all public hearings will be in effect, including that public commenters make their points and move on, and not repeat the same comments over and over.

Also, he said public commenters must remember to only address (look at) the moderator while making their points and not turn to the crowd or the person to whom the comments are directed.

This is to keep down the level of animus, he explained, and keep the hearing moving forward in a civil fashion.

He added that the procedure is not set in stone, and some little tweaks could be added.

The public hearing gets under way at 9 a.m. outside Town Offices at 15 Upper Guinea Road.

It is a rain or shine event, but forecasts call for cooler temps and clear skies.

Make sure to bring you own chair.