LEWISTON – The group studying joint Lewiston-Auburn services will take up the topic of sharing one top manager again, councilors from both cities decided Tuesday.

“If we miss the opportunity to do this now, we’ll have less credibility later on when we want to discuss combining other departments,” said Lewiston Councilor Stavros Mendros. “If we don’t at least look at this now, nobody will ever be able to look at any part of it.”

Councilors from both cities directed the Citizens Commission on Joint Lewiston-Auburn Services to figure out how the cities could combine one top administrator and how much it would save them. They met Tuesday night for a combined session in Lewiston City Hall.

It will take some doing, according Steven Eldridge, joint services coordinator for both cities. There are possible benefits for both cities from sharing the top job. They include lower salary and benefit costs, more strategic budgeting and economic development and more consistent management.

But there are barriers, including parochialism on either side of the Androscoggin River, lack of trust and questions of loyalty.

“How can one manager even serve two communities?” Eldridge asked. “How can the people trust that the manager is working hard for them? They need to know that there is no bias one way or the other.”

The idea first came up earlier this year, when then Auburn City Manager Pat Finnigan stepped down. Member so the Citizens’ Commission voted in May to recommend the Auburn council consider sharing their manager with Lewiston.

Auburn Mayor John Jenkins put an end to the discussions in June, after two citizen groups came out against the idea.

Auburn’s Ron Potvin, one of two seeking a City Council at-large seat in November’s election, said he’s still against the idea. He doesn’t even want councilors to get more information.

“Once they combine the city manager’s job, they can combine the other departments that much easier – whether it will save money or not,” Potvin said. He’s not convinced combining any services will benefit Auburn.

But councilors assured Potvin they were simple asking questions that need to be answered.

“A real leader needs information,” Auburn Councilor Bruce Bickford said. “We can’t answer any questions until we have the answers, and we’re not there yet. We need the information first, and then we can share with everyone else.”

Master plans

Councilors also voted to create a master plan for both Lewiston and Auburn downtowns. That will guide development decision for the communities growing downtown.

“Take for example Lewiston’s Mill No. 5,” Councilor Eric Samson said. “That’s going to affect us, and what we do in Auburn can enhance that. If we all work together, we can make sure we’re not duplicating efforts, but actually covering all the bases.”

Auburn councilors voted unanimously to support creating a master plan for both cities. Lewiston councilors voted 4-1, with Councilor Lillian O’Brien saying the decision should wait until after November’s election.

“It’s a matter of timeliness,” she said. “We’re going to have entirely new councilors in many of these chairs, and I think they’ll bring with them a wonderful new energy after they’re elected. Then, they’ll have two years to work with it.”