Mayor Normand Guay is urging tax-cap opponents to come forward to review city books.

“I would like to see a citizens’ advisory committee learn about city government and how the tax cap would affect it,” Guay said at a City Council meeting this week.

Guay said the committee’s job would be similar to a committee being considered by Lewiston officials: Study city books to determine how the budget would survive if a 1 percent property tax cap passes. The question will go before voters on November’s ballot.

The group would be independent of the City Council and city staff, but City Manager Pat Finnigan said she’d make employees available to advise the group.

“How can you do that? You’re short-staffed as it is,” said Councilor Rich Livingston.

“We’ll be even more short-staffed if this passes,” Finnigan said.

Guay urged anyone interested in serving on the committee to contact him at the City Building. His email address is [email protected]. The City of Auburn’s main phone number is 786-2421.

– Scott Taylor
Greene: Allen Pond disputes aired tonight

Selectmen will hold a public forum on Allen Pond issues at 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 28, at the municipal building.

Issues surrounding the Allen Pond public boat launch surfaced again this week when selectmen were told of disputes between camp owners and outsiders using the pond.

Others complained about the amount of rocks at the launch entrance. Board Chairman Ron Grant said the rocks are there for several reasons, none of which were intended to keep non-camp owners out of the public water.

“The rocks have been there forever,” he said. “They are there to prevent land erosion, to keep big motorboats from entering the pond and to keep vehicles from backing into the water.”

Town Manager Stephen Eldridge said the town would not police any civil issues. “But if rights are being violated, we will look into it,” he said.

– Nick Angelides
Greene: Leaky septic gets attention

A Vermont Avenue residence has been deemed environmentally unfriendly due to a leaky septic tank.

Designs were drafted and the board agreed that the town would pay to have the tank repaired before further environmental issues arise. The funding will come from the town’s surplus fund. A lien will be issued on the property until the cost is reimbursed by the property owners.

The town acted quickly on the matter because the property is next to Allen Pond.

– Nick Angelides
Auburn: Jackson Hill Road gets work

Councilors put paving work for Jackson Hill Road back into a $4.68 million capital improvements bond package Monday night before passing it on two successive readings.

Councilors had tabled the same package, minus the Jackson Hill Road work, at their last meeting. City Manager Pat Finnigan said the $181,500 paving project was originally culled as a cost-savings measure. But councilors said work on the road, a link between the city and the town of Minot, was an important path for Auburn retail customers.

“I just hate that the road turns bad as soon as you see the Auburn city limits sign,” said Councilor Marcel Bilodeau.

Monday night, councilors killed the original $4.5 million bond package and voted to adopt a larger package, $4,681,500.

In addition to the Jackson Hill Road paving project, the bond package earmarks $1 million for school building repairs, $1.75 million for other street improvements and paving, $927,000 for new equipment and furniture, $350,000 for engineering and designs for a new industrial park, and $200,000 for repairs at the Great Falls building.

– Scott Taylor
Auburn: Charter talk continues

Questions about putting charter changes on the ballot this November should be settled next week.

Councilors expect to decide Monday whether to ask voters to elect a charter commission. The commission would review the city’s charter and present changes to voters some time in 2005 or 2006.

“This has been one of the goals for this council since we were elected,” Mayor Normand Guay said.

Councilors will also settle on the make-up of the charter commission. State law allows the council to appoint three members. The rest must be elected, and the council can decide if they want to ask voters to elect six at-large commissioners or five commissioners by ward.

Both choices had backers Monday. Councilor Bethel Shields said that electing one commissioner per ward would leave eight members on the commission. There would be no tie-breaker if there is an even split, she said. Councilor Belinda Gerry thought that having each ward represented would be more fair.

– Scott Taylor