LEWISTON – Councilors are perfectly happy with the way their terms of office are right now, they said Tuesday.

Councilor Mark Paradis proposed changing the City Charter to allow staggered, three-year terms. Councilors currently serve identical two-year terms. All seven council seats and the mayor’s job go up for election in November. The new council and mayor will be sworn in to the jobs in January.

“You could have an all new mayor and council coming into office at the same time,” Paradis said. “I think staggering those terms, so that not all of the seats are up for election at the same time, would help.”

Paradis said increasing council terms to three years lets councilors get more comfortable in the job.

“The first year, you’re really learning your way around,” Paradis said. “This would give us more time to learn the job.”

His colleagues didn’t agree, however.

“I think we’ve been fortunate so far to have at least one or two people stay on to help things run smoothly,” Councilor Lillian O’Brien said.

Councilors O’Brien, Marc Mason and Ron Jean said they favored leaving council terms as they are. Councilors Paradis, Norm Rousseau and Renee Bernier said were willing to put the idea in front of voters this November. That left the matter in a deadlock, since seventh councilor Roger Philippon didn’t attend Tuesday’s workshop.

staylor@sunjournal.com

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