Board: Lewiston City Council

Met: Tuesday night

Airport board

Issue: Decisions at the Auburn Lewiston Municipal Airport are handled by a seven-member board made up of staffers from both cities, councilors and residents.

The scoop: Board members are recommending expanding the board to nine members and recruiting representatives from the Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments and the Lewiston Auburn Economic Growth Council. According a letter from Manager Rick Cloutier, that will broaden the board’s knowledge and make it more stable.

Up next: Lewiston councilors agreed Tuesday. Now it’s up to their counterparts in Auburn.

Economic development

Issue: Downeast Networks is a small technical consulting company based in Lewiston that wants to expand. Owners hope to be included in one of the city’s Pine Tree Zones, state programs that give local businesses economic incentives.

The scoop: Created in 2003, the Pine Tree Zone program provides corporate income tax and other incentives to new and growing manufacturing, banking or high-tech businesses. To qualify, businesses need to add full-time employees, offer qualified retirement programs, group health insurance and offer wages greater than the surrounding county average.

Downeast Networks hopes to hire up to 10 new employees over the next few years, paying an average of $50,000 annually.

Up next: Councilors voted to include the firm, at 214 Russell St., in the Lewiston Pine Tree Development Zone.

Labor contracts

Issue: Councilors have approved labor contracts with three of the six unions representing city employees in the past few weeks. They reviewed deals for two more Tuesday.

The scoop: The new contracts increase the amount employees pay for health insurance. However, employees who quit smoking, lose weight or make other healthy lifestyle changes will be rewarded with lower health insurance rates.

Up next: Councilors ratified collective bargaining agreements with two unions Tuesday night, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees professional technical unit and the Maine Association of Police.

Police get drug-bust money

Issue: The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency shares the proceeds from drug busts with the other police agencies involved. In Lewiston’s case, that money is put into a special account to help pay for drug enforcement actions.

The scoop: Councilors on Tuesday accepted proceeds from a drug arrest, amounting to a share of $12,500 in seized assets.

Liquor licenses

Issue: Local restaurants and bars must reapply for liquor licenses and amusement permits each year. Liquor licenses let them serve alcohol; amusement permits let them play music, have a DJ or karaoke, or have games on site.

The scoop: Councilors approved new liquor licenses for: Winners Circle Off Track Betting, 4 Mollison Way; and Schemengees, 551 Lincoln St.

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