LEWISTON – Mayor Larry Gilbert defended his appointments to a downtown development study group, saying the members are a well-rounded cross-section of the city.

Councilors Tuesday night were critical of Gilbert’s choices, saying they didn’t recognize several names. Councilor Renee Bernier said that at least five of the nine members of the group are downtown political activists and members of the Visible Community.

“But where are the business owners?” Bernier asked. “Where are the landlords?”

Gilbert said it was late for councilors to begin complaining.

“They have had every opportunity to suggest names for this group,” Gilbert said. “But it appears that every time I propose something or try to appoint people, they have objections afterwards.”

Councilors created the Downtown Neighborhood Task Force in October. The group will write a master development plan for the city, especially designed for business and residential downtown. The group will also devise ways to encourage new growth, new housing and boost the area’s spirit.

Councilors created the group with nine members, including one named by Empower Lewiston and one from the Visible Community. The remaining seven were to be selected at large.

But then-Mayor Lionel Guay resigned before appointing members to the group. Gilbert, elected to the mayor’s job in January, finally filled the task force last month. Members held their first meeting this week, he said.

One of Gilbert’s appointees didn’t meet all of the requirements to belong. According to the rules adopted by councilors last fall, members must be registered Lewiston voters.

That would have negated one of Gilbert’s appointments, Ismail Ahmed.

“He is qualified, a fine young man who is sincere in his dedication to the community,” Gilbert said. But Ahmed is not yet a U.S. citizen and not a registered Lewiston voter.

Councilors refused to change that rule Tuesday, with only Councilors Stavros Mendros and Normand Rousseau voting to relax the standards to allow any Lewiston resident to belong. Gilbert immediately named Zamzam Mohammed, who is a registered voter, as Ahmed’s replacement.

But councilors voiced disappointment in the rest of Gilbert’s choices. Councilor Mark Paradis asked for more appointees, possibly one additional member from each ward.

“The reason this is important to me is because of the importance of this board,” Paradis said. “This has the ability to really change the whole direction of the city, and I want more people so we actually represent more of the city.”

Gilbert said Wednesday that the group does represent the city. Adilah Muhammad owns and manages ASM Properties, managing a slate of 92 apartment units, he said. Michael Lecompte, another of his appointees, is an Auburn firefighter and EMT. The group includes Somali immigrants, several Bates College graduates, community activists and volunteers. Five are members of the Visible Community, a group created by community activists in 2004 to challenge downtown development plans.

“In reading through the resumes of these people, I think I more than exceeded the guidelines set by the council last fall,” Gilbert said. “I have landlords, I have people that live all around the community.”

Gilbert said the councilors’ concerns Tuesday had less to do with his appointees and more to do with his authority as mayor.

“The bottom line is, I make the appointments and that needs to be respected,” Gilbert said. “It’s my job, according to the charter. The people elected me to make these kinds of decisions, and I’m doing that.”

Lewiston Downtown Neighborhood Task Force

Craig Saddlemire (Visible Community representative)

Alyson Stone (Empower Lewiston representative)

Barbara Rankins

Ari Rosenberg

William Kimberly Wettlaufer

Rachel Anne Rodrigue

Michael Lecompte

Adilah Sabreen Muhammad

Zamzam Mohammed