AUBURN – Ward 5 citizens called for a return to the days of vitality and pride in their neighborhood at a public comment session Thursday night.

They backed their wishes up with plenty of ideas about what New Auburn should be, but also had praise for the work of city departments.

About a dozen residents addressed concerns, and most challenged city officials to channel more resources to New Auburn. They voiced a need for a bank and a pharmacy in that area and asked that consideration be given to more safe recreational space for children.

Ray Berube, Ward 5 councilor, reminded his constituents that he fought consistently for city officials to pay more attention to New Auburn.

Michael Davis of 21 Huston Ave. urged maintaining an appropriate level of funding for schools. He said he and his wife have two children in the school system.

“A flat budget might be necessary to meet current financial times,” he said.

“We don’t want extravagance, but we want reasonable class size” and support for students’ needs, he added.

Davis added, “Our biggest concern is the adversarial tone and level of mistrust” among elements of city government, schools and other entities.

Conrad and Virginia Levasseur of Soper Mill Road praised municipal officials for conducting last spring’s clean-up. They and others asked that the clean-up be continued, but Berube warned that’s not a sure thing. “We’ve already talked about the chance that we would not have it because of this year’s snow costs.”

He said nothing has been decided, and added “everything has to be considered.”

In the event that a city-wide pick-up is not done, Berube said the city would designate a drop-off point where people could take large items usually put at street-side during Clean-up Week.

Bruce Rioux of 85 Mary Carroll St. said he wanted to venture “a new idea.” He commented that weeds grow rampant in late summer, and he wants to see the Auburn Public Works Department mount a special attack on them.

“They grow wild in every crack and cranny and on every traffic island,” Rioux said. He noted that it’s a poor impression of Auburn to people who visit for the Balloon Festival or athletic events.

“The downtown looks shabby,” he said.

Rioux said Lewiston has used a sprayer-mounted cart and he wondered if Auburn could borrow it.

Bob Belz, director of the Auburn Public Works Department, said management of weeds had been considered, but state licenses and training are required. He said the annual cost could be between $12,000 and $20,000 for Auburn, and he pointed out that Lewiston contracts the work out because of the licensing issues.

Jonathon Labonte, president of the Androscoggin Land Trust, a member of the Auburn Comprehensive Plan Committee, and a New Auburn homeowner, criticized restrictive zoning ordinances and building codes.

He also challenged citizens to come up with concrete plans for New Auburn. Others in the audience urged efforts to generate more traffic to New Auburn and to develop some inviting destinations such as specialty shops, cafes and green space.

Ronald Potvin, Auburn councilor-at-large, said Auburn has $250,000 in grant funds to be allocated, and he asked people to think about good uses for it in New Auburn.

Potvin also urged citizens to become involved in upcoming budget discussions, particularly the school budget. He said Auburn’s share of state funding for the schools will drop by $1.7 million this year.

In response to questions about redevelopment of the former Vincent Bottling Co. building into a 17-unit housing for the elderly project, Berube said work is under way inside and a lot of progress should be evident by late fall.

Graffiti on a retaining wall near the former Jake and Andy’s doughnut shop was mentioned by Robert Fisher of 14 Sixth St.

Police Lt. Scott Watkins said recent plain clothes and unmarked car details have been stepped up and two offenders were apprehended on the first night of those patrols. He noted that it’s the responsibility of property owners to paint over graffiti within five days, in most cases.

The graffiti discussion and remarks about drugs and other negative factors in the area prompted Michelle McClellan, principal of Walton Elementary School, to say she had occasion to work with Auburn police and it led to good results.

“It took some time, but things improved,” she said.

Thursday night’s meeting at Sherwood Heights Elementary School was led by Auburn Mayor John Jenkins.