Lewiston’s Colisee could have a corporate sponsor by Christmastime.

Two companies are interested in purchasing the naming rights to the city’s ice arena and Assistant City Administrator Phil Nadeau said he hopes to have a decision from one of them in the next several weeks.

“If we don’t have something at that point, we may have to put it off and start fresh next year,” Nadeau said.

The city announced the naming scheme in January. The city wants a company to commit to the Colisee for at least 10 years, for a minimum of $75,000 each year. The Colisee board will consider any company willing to submit a proposal – local, national or international.

Nadeau said he could not name the companies interested but said both were national companies with a significant local presence.

AVCOG planning day set for Nov. 18

Municipal leaders from around central Maine will converge on Auburn’s Hilton Inn Nov. 18 for the 28th annual municipal planning day.

The event features municipal planning discussions and seminars. Topics this year include economic development, land use, growth management and comprehensive planning. It’s sponsored by the Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments.

People interested in attending can get more information at www.avcog.org. Ticket prices are $25 for member municipalities and nonprofit agencies and $35 for nonmember municipalities.

Symposium looks at cooperation

A local law firm will tackle government regionalization and cooperation at a day-long symposium in November.

The symposium is scheduled to run from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 16 at the Hilton Garden Inn. Sponsored by Bernstein, Shur, a law firm that specializes in municipal issues, the symposium features former Gov. Angus King.

Topics throughout the day include rating state efforts to encourage cooperation across town lines, finding areas where cooperation makes sense and making sense of labor laws. One panel will look at Lewiston and Auburn’s cooperative efforts.

People interested in attending should call the law firm at (207) 228-7274 or e-mail [email protected].

Pontiac garage project capped

Lewiston will cap the work on its third garage since 2002 Monday.

Mayor Lionel Guay will be on hand for a ribbon cutting at the new Pontiac Garage, just north of Oxford Networks’ new offices on Lisbon Street.

The ribbon cutting is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. Monday at the entrance to the garage.

The garage adds about 369 new parking spaces downtown. The first hour of parking in the lot will be free; it will cost 75 cents per hour subsequently. Lisbon Street merchants may buy books of coupons good for parking.

The city opened the 611-space garage on Chestnut Street in December 2001 and the 600-space Park Street garage in July 2003.