LEWISTON – Mayor Larry Gilbert and the newly elected City Council will gather in the Bangor area at the end of the month for a weekend of strategic planning.

“It’s going to be our first chance to really get to know each other,” Gilbert said Tuesday. “It will be a good opportunity to just talk and discuss each of our priorities.”

The city has reserved space at the Lucerne Inn, outside Bangor in Dedham, on Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 for the retreat and strategic planning session. The meeting will be moderated by Wayne Mitchell’s Augusta-based planning firm ProdComm.

Voters last week elected an entirely new City Council, and that group will take its oath of office in January. New councilors are Thomas Peters II in Ward 1; Nelson Peters in Ward 2; Larry Poulin in Ward 3; Denis Theriault in Ward 4; Tina Bailey in Ward 5; Elizabeth Dube in Ward 6; and Robert Reed in Ward 7.

“It’s especially important since we have an entirely new council,” Gilbert said.

Councilors last went on a weekend retreat in February 2000, when then-Mayor Kaileigh Tara brought newly seated councilors to Damariscotta Lake for a weekend of strategic planning.

Gilbert said it was also important to take councilors away from Lewiston for the meeting.

“We need to get into a place that’s secluded, away from distractions and cell phones, and into a place they can just reflect,” Gilbert said.


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