Board: Lewiston City Council

Met: Tuesday night

Council rules

Issue: When councilors meet for their first meeting in a new term, they need to settle a handful of standard items that determine how their meetings will run, how some mundane items will be handled and how they’ll delegate tasks.

The scoop: Councilors agreed to delegate the authority to approve and sign beano permits, carnival permits, liquor license renewal applications, utility pole permits and close out sale permits to the city clerk and the deputy city clerk. They agreed to let the finance director, tax collector and deputy treasurer act on their behalf regarding certain financial matters and agreed to let city staff approve or deny banners hung on municipal property.

Councilors also agreed to abide by Roberts Rules of Order for their council meetings and added a regular item on their agendas to discuss ongoing projects.

Petitions

Issue: Councilors last fall could not settle on new rules allowing residents who disagree with council actions to circulate petitions door-to-door. Current rules require people who support petitions to come to City Hall to sign them.

The scoop: Councilors on Tuesday said they favored allowing 10 registered voters to begin a petition process challenging a council decision or proposing new ordinances. The group and its supporters would have 60 days to collect roughly 1,200 signatures

Up next: Councilors could see a new version of the rules in February for a public hearing.

Solid waste

Issue: The city continues to face questions about the future of its solid waste landfill, even though councilors and residents last fall defeated a management plan for the dump.

The scoop: Councilors agreed to form a standing committee to review and make recommendations on all issues relating to the landfill and trash collections. That could include collection fees for apartments, agreements with Mid-Maine Waste Action Corp. and future expansion at the landfill.

Up next: City Administrator Jim Bennett said he expects to propose a complete plan to councilors before the end of February.

Previous decisions

Issue: The previous City Council approved several projects during its time and each of those projects set aside a certain amount of money. For some projects, that money hasn’t been spent and the sitting councilors could decide to override those decisions.

The scoop: Councilors agreed to revisit old decisions. For example, the last council approved building a bathhouse in Kennedy Park to serve the municipal swimming pool. Councilors could decide to cancel that plan, directing the money to other projects.

Councilor Larry Poulin said he favored taking a second look at old decisions since the city faces a tight budget this year, but urged caution.

“We don’t want to be seen as overturning everything the last council did on a whim,” Poulin said.

Up next: Councilors will review pending projects as part of their budget discussions.

Drug 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 four drug arrests. That amounts to portions of the sale of a Smith and Wesson PM 40 firearm plus part of $30,516 in seized money.

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 a new liquor license and a special amusement permit for Willy Beans Coffee, Inc., 70 Lincoln St.

They renewed a special amusement permit for the Fuel, Inc., 49 Lisbon St.

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