By Scott Taylor,Staff Writer

LEWISTON – A $15,000 pat on the back from Gov. John Baldacci is just a start, Lewiston-Auburn officials hope.

Baldacci said Tuesday that he is giving the grant to the Twin Cities to recognize efforts to combine services. The remark was part of his State of the State address.

“This is seed money for Lewiston-Auburn,” said Joy Leach, deputy director of communication for Baldacci. “It’s just the governor’s way of identifying the good work the mayors have done in starting to build regional efforts.”

Mayors Lionel and Normand Guay formed a commission in October to find ways to share municipal services. The two cities applied for a $200,000 grant through the Maine Development Foundation to pay for staff and consultant support for that group.

The Twin Cities are competing with 40 other grant applications for a share of $3 million in grant money. Baldacci made that money available in November to cities, towns and school districts considering ways to regionalize and offer more frugal services. A panel of state and local officials is scheduled to announce grant winners on March 15.

Lewiston Mayor Lionel Guay said Baldacci’s $15,000 announcement was a surprise to both Twin Cities mayors. He and brother Normand Guay attended the governor’s speech.

“He talked to us before the speech, but he never mentioned the $15,000,” Guay said. “When he announced, I just sat down and looked at my brother and said That’s another $15,000 for the commission.'”

The 10-member commission began meeting in late October. Its job is to review services in each city and to issue a plan to combine some of them. Sharing could range from buying office supplies jointly to combining police or fire departments.

Justice Robert Clifford, co-chairman of the commission, said the group needs staff before it can start suggesting changes. Members have been meeting with Lewiston and Auburn school superintendents, city managers and former staff members. He and co-chairwoman Donna Steckino have also talked to potential consultants, he said.