AUBURN – 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.

Livermore Falls:Rules limit input

LIVERMORE FALLS – It was listed on the agenda as a public hearing on the proposed ordinance to regulate adult-only businesses, but the public had very little opportunity to be heard.

Chairman Ken Jacques told the full house of citizens that he would entertain only questions relating directly to the contents of the proposed ordinance, not their feelings for or against it, because that could take too long and might bring confrontations.

He also refused to hear comments from any who were not registered voters of the town, noting that the voters were the ones directly – including financially – affected by the ordinance.

Town Manager Alan Gove supported Jacques’ position, saying people had had enough time to express their opinions in previous meetings and through petitions.

Code Enforcement Officer Brenda Medcoff suggested that present businesses that currently have adult material, such as videos and magazines, be allowed to continue selling them in a portion of their space, rather than having to eliminate the materials over a specified time as provided in the ordinance. That time period would range from six months to five years.

Selectman Russell Flagg thought this would cost the town money to hire someone to monitor compliance, but Medcoff suggested, “We may be drawing the window too close.”