AUBURN – Cooperation in Lewiston-Auburn means more than just the Twin Cities, councilors agreed Monday night.

Councilors appointed a new board to lead future consolidation efforts and freed their top managers to begin looking for a joint services coordinator.

But Twin Cities officials agreed there is room for more cooperation involving the county and regional 911 services.

“It seems like what’s going on at the county is almost anti-collaboration,” said Lewiston City Administrator Jim Bennett. “It’s the opposite of what we’re talking about here tonight.”

Bennett and Lewiston Councilor Renee Bernier updated both councils on the status of Androscoggin County budget negotiations.

The county Budget Committee has delayed a decision on $10 million in spending until January. The original budget includes a 10 percent tax increase for most communities. To find savings, commissioners have called for wage freezes and five furlough days for many nonunion workers.

Many of the cuts are aimed at the sheriff’s budget, which accounts for about half of county spending. One plan is to do away with jail transportation at the county level. That would force the cities to pickup those costs.

“It’s a slight savings for the county but a big increase for the municipalities,” Bennett said.

A plan to upgrade radio equipment for county dispatchers also raised questions Monday. Both cities already pay for emergency dispatch through LA 911. The county needs to upgrade its radios and dispatch equipment, however, and could pass those costs along to the cities.

Councilors urged the county and Lewiston Auburn 911 to join services.

“This is something tangible we can support that will mean real savings,” Auburn Councilor Kelly Matzen said. “We have to demonstrate the political will to make this happen, or it will languish.”

Lewiston’s Bernier agreed.

“We’ve been talking and waiting for this too much,” she said.

New commission

Councilors also created a new 10-member commission to lead their own consolidation efforts. City clerks are taking applications now, and councilors are expected to appoint members to the new group at their December meetings.

Auburn swears in its new City Council on Dec. 4. Lewiston meets on Dec. 5.

Each city will name five residents to the Citizens Commission on Lewiston-Auburn Cooperation. According to an agreement approved by both councils, two from each city will serve one-year terms, two will serve two-year terms and one will serve a three-year-term.

Councilors also freed their top managers and Lewiston Auburn Economic Growth Council President Lucien Gosselin to begin advertising for a joint services coordinator.

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