By Scott Taylor,Staff Writer

A local group studying ways to combine Twin Cities’ services could find help this month, according to co-chair Donna Steckino.

The Mayor’s Commission on Joint Cooperation is interviewing three consulting firms Friday, hoping to pick one to handle research and administration for the group.

“These are firms that have worked on these kinds of projects before, in other cities or school districts,” Steckino said. “We’re looking for a group that has a little experience and maybe access to national information and resources.”

Steckino said the commission hopes to hire a firm within the next 30 days.

Last month, Gov. John Baldacci announced a surprise grant that is making finding a consultant easier. The group also has applied for a $200,000 grant through the Maine Development Foundation to pay consultants, but doesn’t expect a decision until March 15.

Baldacci singled out the Twin Cities’ collaborative efforts in his State of the State speech last month, awarding the effort an additional $15,000.

“There never was any doubt that we were going to move forward with this,” Steckino said. “The $15,000 lets things happen a little earlier than they might have otherwise.”

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.

That sharing could range from buying office supplies jointly to combining some departments.

Members have been meeting with Lewiston and Auburn school superintendents, city managers and former staff members.