By Liz Moomey
liz.moomey@salisburypost.com

LANDIS — Residents will meet to talk about their concerns about town government at 3 p.m. today at the Landis American Legion building, 412 N. Central Ave.

Organized by Meredith Smith and Katie Sells, the meeting will give residents a forum to air their thoughts about the direction the town should go in and talk about power and water/sewer bills.

Sells said she and Smith will compile concerns expressed at the meeting and present them to the Landis Board of Aldermen at its May 6 meeting.

Sells said board members have not been invited to today’s Concerned Citizens of Landis meeting.

“In my opinion, they don’t want to hear it,” Sells said.

Residents have been flocking to the monthly Board of Aldermen meetings since the announcement of former Town Manager Reed Linn’s resignation on Feb. 4. After that meeting, the State Bureau of Investigation said it is probing reports that Linn and former Finance Officer Ginger Gibson embezzled town money.

The town has since added a section to its website called “Transparency,” where it posts public records and answers to questions from Landis residents.

The goal of the meeting, Sells said, is to figure a way to help Landis grow and move forward.

At today’s meeting, Smith requested there be no discussion about the SBI investigation, that speakers take no more than three minutes, and that every resident who wants to talk have time to do so. Handouts on a budget workshop and utility rates will be available for review.

Sells said she and Smith have been posting fliers and knocking on doors to inform residents about the meeting. She would like to see 200 people turn out.

“We don’t know what we’re getting into,” Sells said.

She asked residents to bring lawn chairs and copies of their utility bills to compare with others.