AUBURN – The architect of Augusta’s merged water and sewer district will take the reins of Twin Cities efforts to combine municipal services.

Kay Rand, a principal in Bernstein Shur Government Solutions, has been hired as strategic consultant for the Citizens Commission on Lewiston-Auburn Cooperation through June.

“What happens after that, we hope to know very soon,” said Bette Swett-Thibeault, one of the co-chairs for the commission.

Rand oversaw the merger of Augusta’s water and sanitary districts into the single Greater Augusta Utility District. That allowed the city to eliminate eight staff positions between the two organizations and put off purchasing some equipment, including a truck.

She was scheduled to meet with members of the citizens commission Thursday night at Auburn Hall.

Rand will replace Stephen Eldridge, who served as coordinator for the group until January. Eldridge became town manager in nearby Lisbon last month. His position was paid for with a $152,900 grant from the state’s Fund for Local and Regional Efficiency, due to expire in June. Rand will fill in at least until then, Swett-Thibeault said.

Eldridge and the commission had completed a report that predicted the two cities could save up to $1.86 million over the next five years by combining government services, including sharing a city manager.

But councilors in both cities have been skeptical of those savings, asking for more specific actions and more accurate models. Rand’s job will be to provide that information, Swett-Thibeault said.

“We’ll be looking at projections for individual departments,” Swett-Thibeault said. “I call it kind of a dress rehearsal before the big show, so we can see what it might ultimately look like.”

Rand said Thursday her job will be to answer questions from both commissioners and Lewiston and Auburn city councilors.

“What they ultimately do, that’s up to the councils,” Rand said. “I’m just going to help them flesh that out, based on the work that’s already been done.”