By Scott Taylor,Staff Writer

AUBURN – Certain limits to city borrowing in a new charter would be fine, according to the city manager.

City Manager Pat Finnigan urged the city Charter Commission to keep annual capital improvement bonds separate if they decide to put a bonding limits in the charter.

“But specific bond questions, like the one to build Auburn Hall, could be referred to the voters,” Finnigan said. “I think that’s a very reasonable compromise.”

Finnigan, acting Finance Director Laurie Smith and Economic Development Director Roland Miller discussed changes they’d like to see in the city’s current charter. Tuesday’s meeting revolved around the city administration, finance department and economic development efforts.

The city sells bonds each year to pay for regular maintenance and equipment, such as paving streets, buying new firetrucks and repairing city buildings. Last summer, the council approved a $4.68 million capital projects bond for those kinds of items.

According to the current charter, councilors must schedule a public hearing before borrowing more than $500,000. That’s the only limit in the current charter. Bonds and borrowing are never subject to a vote of the people. That’s one of the top issues for the commission.

Finnigan didn’t argue against limits, but said the commission should be careful. Any limits should be based on a sliding scale, such as a percentage of the city’s total property value, she said.

Exempting the annual capital bond is also a good idea, she said.

“I don’t disagree with putting special projects up to a vote, as long as we don’t endanger annual city maintenance,” she said.

The charter should also be reorganized and cleaned up when it discusses city boards, committees and the city manager, Finnigan said. She called for one section devoted the manager’s job that explains duties, requirements and limitations. Rules dictating the manager’s job are spread through different parts of Article 6 of the charter.

“It’s not useful for the city manager or the community,” she said.

She also suggested removing rules pertaining to some city boards, saying those could be better handled in city ordinances and policy.

“I think a charter serves best when it has the fewest words,” Finnigan said.

The Charter Commission began reviewing the document in November. It is expected to suggest changes and possibly draw up a new charter in time for November’s election.

Chairman John Cleveland said the group had finished meeting with city boards, committees and department heads after Tuesday’s meeting. It is scheduled to meet again on Feb. 28 to consider what members have learned and begin talking about what to do next. A second public hearing is tentatively scheduled in March.