LISBON — Town Manager Glenn Michalowski and several town councilors urged residents to stop lashing out at town officials, residents and businesses with their online criticism and attacks.

Such criticisms are becoming more common on social media, several councilors and the town manager said at Tuesday’s council meeting.

“We were raised to have some respect, and I would like to know where that all went,” Council Chairman Fern Larochelle said.

Larochelle said he and his family have fought against online abuse the past few years.

“As a public servant we tend to get abused a little bit,” Larochelle said. “We sign up for it, and our names are on the roster and get voted in for it. I found that out the hard way being a business owner and someone who does a lot of volunteer work in town. I went two or three years of ongoing abuse for me and my family.”

Councilor Nick Craig spoke of the abuse and attacks members of the recreation department have faced recently, saying it must stop before the town loses valuable employees and volunteers.

Michalowski issued a statement at Tuesday’s meeting, urging everyone to seek conversations with the various departments instead of posting a rant on Facebook or other social media platforms.

“I’d like to acknowledge the recent online commentary concerning our organization,” Michalowski wrote. “While social media can be a quick way to share opinions, it often oversimplifies complex issues and leads to misunderstandings. If you have questions or concerns, please reach out to us directly. Our doors remain open for constructive, fact-based discussions.”

“I also want to extend my sincere gratitude to our dedicated staff and councilors,” he said. “They sacrifice personal and family time to attend numerous meetings, workshops, events and other commitments on behalf of our community. In the face of labor challenges across the public sector, persistent negativity only increases the risk of losing talented professionals who could readily move on to other opportunities.”

This past weekend, brown tap water in the town’s system led to several angry social media posts. Michalowski and others urged residents to contact officials to discuss the issue and not just post complaints and photographs.

“I understand the frustration surrounding past decisions — like decentralized long-range planning that leads to digging up newly paved roads when a water or sewer main breaks, or underfunded town buildings — have created real challenges,” Michalowski wrote. “But these issues are fixable, and past performance does not have to define our future.

“Instead of attacking staff online, let’s work together to address our town’s needs. If you truly want to make a positive impact, I encourage you to read our Town Charter, attend council meetings or budget workshops, and speak with the Town Clerk about board vacancies. Your time and involvement can help us build a more resilient community.”