The town will hold a public workshop on the comprehensive plan from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. today in the Monmouth Academy cafeteria. Light refreshments will be served.

The town’s plan was adopted in 1992. Since then, the town has seen many changes, and many of the plan’s strategies and recommendations no longer make sense for the town, according to town officials.

A comprehensive plan describes actions that townspeople should take to ensure the economic welfare of the town and its residents. A comprehensive plan is the result of a town’s residents looking ahead to the next 10 to 20 years, envisioning and planning for the kind of community they want to live in.

The workshop will be hosted by the Kennebec Valley Council of Governments and the Monmouth Comprehensive Plan Committee.

Auburn: Council approves Stevens Mill deal

The city will swap $250,000 in federal grant money from one account to another to help a condominium project get off the ground.

The City Council has agreed to move the money from an account earmarked to help low-income home buyers.

Council members moved the money into another account, to help with rehabilitation. Now, the city will loan it to developer Travis Soule, who’s renovating apartments on Stevens Mill Road. He plans to put those 20 one- to four-bedroom condo units on the market for between $120,000 and $135,000 this spring.

According to the agreement, 10 of the units will be set aside for lower-income families, those making 80 percent of the local median wage: $40,900 per year for a family of four or $28,600 for a single person.

People who qualify for the moderate-income condominiums will agree to take on $25,000 of the HUD loan as part of the purchase price.

– Scott Taylor
Auburn: Utility easements now manager’s job

City Manager Pat Finnigan has been the city’s point person for area utilities for years, leading negotiations for easements across city property.

Now she has the council authority to back her up.

Finnigan said it became an issue while negotiating easements for the renovated Auburn Public Library. Lawyers for utility companies wanted more assurance that Finnigan spoke for the council, she said.

Councilors agreed Monday night, voting unanimously to let her continue negotiating easements.

– Scott Taylor
Auburn: Council to consider costs of reval audit

City Manager Pat Finnigan will talk to audit firms to find out how much it would cost to have professional auditors review the city’s controversial property revaluation. Finnigan said she will tell councilors much it would cost at their next regular meeting.

Councilor Bob Mennealy said he wanted to discuss whether or not it would be necessary at that meeting. “It just seems to me it might be a necessary step to help restore confidence in the city,” Mennealy said.

In August, the city mailed notices to taxpayers detailing new property values, with many facing sharp tax increases. That’s led to vigorous protests from citizens and citizen groups as well as a recall effort aimed at unseating Mayor Normand Guay and four city councilors.

– Scott Taylor
Auburn: Council confirms finance director

Councilors unanimously confirmed Christopher Trenholm as the new finance director and city treasurer Monday.

Trenholm, who is scheduled to begin Feb. 21, attended Monday’s meeting to meet the Auburn City Council. Currently, he manages budget and financing matters for SAD 52. He replaces Ron Farris, who resigned in December.

– Scott Taylor

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