Board: Auburn City Council

Met: Monday night

Animal Control

Issue: Lewiston and Auburn have been sharing one animal control officer since last September, when Auburn’s full-timer in that position resigned. Most codes between the two cities are similar, but councilors moved Monday to make them identical. That will make it easier for the acting officer, Wendell Strout, to do his job.

The scoop: The new rules allow people to keep up to three dogs older than 4 months old in a multifamily building. That’s the Lewiston limit. Auburn has had no limits for multifamily buildings, and neither city has limits on the number of dogs in single-family homes.

Up next: Councilors adopted the measure on first reading Monday. They’ll see it again at their next regular meeting on Oct. 1 for a final hearing

Graffiti

Issue: With Lewiston’s campaign to reduce graffiti under way, Auburn councilors tightened the city’s own graffiti rules – especially as it relates to property owners.

The scoop: Auburn’s rules require property owners to remove graffiti left on their walls quickly or face paying the city to do the work and a $500 fine.

Up next: Councilors will vote on the measure a second time at their Oct. 1 meeting.

False alarms

Issue: Auburn police responded to 914 false alarms last year. New rules will require owners to register their automatic burglar and fire alarms with the city and have a better understanding of how they work.

The scoop: Permits for security alarms will cost $30 the first year, according to the plan. Renewals cost $5 for residential alarms and $10 for commercial alarms each year. Police will respond to the first two false alarms without charge. Business owners will pay $30 apiece for the third and fourth false alarms each year, $50 for the fifth and sixth false alarms and $100 for each false signal after that.

Up next: Councilors will vote on it again at their Oct. 1 meeting.

Appointments

Issue: City government relies on a host of support and advisory committees. In most cases, these groups have limited authority to make or interpret city rules and decide policy. In some cases, the groups simply advise the city council. Each new council and mayor gets to put people on those committees, shaping the way city government operates for the next few years.

The scoop: Councilors reappointed Timothy Goss, Daniel Moreno and Preston Chapman to terms on the Planning Board. Goss will serve through September 2010, Moreno through August 2010 and Chapman through October 2010.

Councilors reappointed Walter Gary and Daniel Philbrick to terms on the Zoning Board of Appeals. Gary will serve through March 2010 and Philbrick through February 2010.

Councilors also appointed Debra Cousin to the Community Development Loan Committee through September 2010 and Susan Roy to the Lewiston-Auburn Community Forest Board through September 2010.

Contact government reporter Scott Taylor via phone at 689-2846 or via E-mail at [email protected]