A plan to give zoning staff more say over small projects will go back to the Planning Board.

Councilors want the board to review changes made to the ordinance since they looked at it in May. If councilors approve, it will give planning staff the ability to approve applications by nonconforming businesses to expand. Currently, those businesses need to bring their projects before the Planning Board – and pay a $500 to $600 fee.,

Councilor Marcel Bilodeau said he was against the ordinance, no matter what changes were made.

“I firmly believe government roles should be distinct,” Bilodeau said. “You cannot have the reviewing authority – the city staff – and the approving authority be the same person. It’s just bad government.”

Councilor Belinda Gerry said she thought the plan had merit.

“If the way to salvage this is to send it to the Planning Board, I’d rather do that than nail it dead here tonight,” she said.

– Scott Taylor
Lewiston: Bates to host speaker

The founder of the international Time Dollar movement will speak at Bates College at 7 p.m. Wednesday.

Edgar Cahn will discuss “Co-production” in his talk at the college’s Muskie Archives.

Cahn has worked for the last 24 years creating the Time Dollars network, a plan designed to help disenfranchised people to convert their time into a marketable asset. People trade skills over the local network, exchanging odd jobs and skills for “time dollars.”

His current project looks for ways to turn the “beneficiaries” of social programs – clients, recipients, patients, disadvantaged students, at-risk populations – into co-producers of health, education, justice, family preservation, community development and social change. Cahn will be at the local Time Dollar exchange, at 2 Howe St., for a 5 p.m. dinner.

– Scott Taylor
Auburn: Officer comes to airport

Helicopter pilot and retiring Air Force Lt. Col. John McGonagill will take over the helm of the Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport.

McGonagill is scheduled to take over the job on Oct. 7, replacing acting airport manager Phil Simpson.

Simpson, a Wiscasset resident, said he asked the airport’s board of directors to replace him this summer.

“I just couldn’t take another winter driving those roads,” Simpson said. “I even went off the road once, when it was really bad. So I asked them to find a replacement before the winter.”

Simpson came out of retirement in June 2003 to take the Auburn position. He had served as assistant director of Maine aviation until 1996, working 30 years for the department. He also worked as director of the Augusta State Airport for part of 1997.

– Scott Taylor
Auburn: Taxi fees to increase

Zone fees for taxi rides in Auburn will go up a quarter per zone, councilors agreed Monday.

City Cab President Daniel Leonas told the city council that maintenance and fuel costs are forcing him to ask for high fees. It’s the first fee increase in three years.

The city has five zones, starting downtown and radiating out. Currently, cabs charge $3 for a ride in the first zone, $3.50 in the second zone and up to $7.50 for the outermost zone. Each zone will increase 25 cents.

– Scott Taylor