Auburn: Help wanted for audit

Auburn is looking for help setting up a joint accounting audit for city and school books.

Members of the newly formed Auburn Audit Committee are scheduled to meet Wednesday afternoon. So far, the committee has four members: City Councilors Kelly Matzen and Bethel Shield and School Committee members Kathy Constantine and David Das.

The members need to select a fifth, independent member. Those interested should contact the city clerk’s office at 333-3300.

The committee will draw up a process to review financial records for both the city and the School Department and hire an auditor.

– Scott Taylor
Lewiston: 8 win Maineiacs tickets

Eight Lewiston residents won tickets to Friday’s home opener of the Maineiacs hockey team at the Colisee in a random drawing Tuesday.

Opening night tickets go to David Caron, Kim Coombs, Gregg Dayon, Roland Durocher, Debbie Landry, Paul Potvin, Gerard L. Roy and Eric Zamrock.

The city announced the drawing last month. People who registered but didn’t win are eligible to win tickets to future games and do not have to reregister. Those who didn’t register but still want to enter may call and leave a message at 784-2951, extension 224; visit the city’s Web site at ci.lewiston.me.us; or visit the Treasurer’s Office in City Hall in person.

On a similar note, Northeast Bank has started a ticket exchange for young Maineiacs fans. Corporate and season ticket-holders may give the bank tickets to games they will be unable to attend and have the bank distribute them to charitable groups that help children. The bank is working with Advocates for Children, Big Brothers/Big Sisters and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Auburn to distribute the tickets.

– Scott Taylor
Lewiston: Espo’s sign gains OK

LEWISTON – A new sign for a Main Street eatery is good to go, councilors agreed Tuesday.

Councilors voted 6-0 to let developer Travis Soule put a sign along Main Street over the sidewalk. The sign can be up to 40 feet tall.

The sign will advertise Espo’s Trattoria at 142 Main St., the first part of Soule’s proposed Island Point development. He said work was under way at the site and he expected the restaurant to open by Dec. 1.

Councilors discussed the sign last week at a workshop meeting, saying they approved. Tuesday’s decision made their approval official.

The restaurant is part of the development along Main Street that Soule announced in January. He is redeveloping the former CMP Building next to the site of the old Empire Theater. Pine Tree Tele-Services, a phone marketing firm, will rent the top floor, and the bottom floor will house the restaurant.

Councilors also approved an easement that allows parking on the empty lot at the corner of Main and Mill streets. That’s the former home of the Empire Theater.

– Scott Taylor
City: Methadone ban extended

City leaders extended a six-month moratorium on any methadone clinics in the city limits. That gives the city until May to come up with zoning regulations for the addiction treatment facilities.

Methadone is used to treat addiction to opioid drugs, like heroin or OxyContin. Lewiston does not have a problem with heroin addiction and related arrests, according to city officials. National treatment firms are trying to expand their services in central Maine, however.

– Scott Taylor
Lewiston: City urges Time Warner upgrades

Lewiston joined the group of Maine cities and towns urging Time Warner to upgrade cable TV service if it takes over Adelphia Cable’s franchise agreements.

Councilors passed a resolution backing the $17.6 billion takeover, with several conditions. Key among them, they require Time Warner to offer services on par with those available in Portland.

“It’s not that we don’t think Time Warner is a fine company or won’t offer fair services,” said Phil Nadeau, assistant city administrator. “We just think it’s better for our community to make our desires a little more clear to them.”

According to the resolution, Time Warner must abide by the current franchise agreement between each town and Adelphia. That includes paying franchise fees and fixing any ongoing problems customers have with their cable service.

It also requires Time Warner to meet with municipal officials within 90 days of closing to talk about expansion plans. It requires the company to expand service significantly within three years and include all but the least-dense portions of the city within 10 years.

– Scott Taylor