Board: Auburn City Council

Met: Monday night

Budget committee

Issue: Councilors will enlist the help of a group of residents in reviewing the fiscal 2009 budget. The group will get the same information councilors receive during their budget review and will recommend actions.

The scoop: Councilors appointed seven to the committee at their March 4 meeting, but decided to add two more. They appointed Robert Cavanagh and Andy Titus to the committee Monday night.

Development money

Issue: Auburn receives federal money to help with economic and urban redevelopment projects. The city files an action plan each year explaining how that money will be spent in the next 12 months.

The scoop: The city’s development staff is suggesting changes to the spending plan – moving $100,000 to pay for a home loan program, $40,000 to help pay for sidewalk work at Cook and Fifth streets and $4,000 to help pay for a security deposit program.

Up next: Councilors approved the changes.

City authority

Issue: The city can review development plans for projects smaller than seven acres on behalf of the state Department of Environmental Protection. That’s a benefit for developers because city reviews typically take a month compared to four months for the state.

The scoop: State regulations have gotten more specific, citing specific rules and naming exactly what kind of permits are required. Auburn’s ordinances need to match the state’s rules if the city hopes to keep that authority.

Up next: Councilors voted on first reading to update ordinances to match the state. They’re scheduled to vote on it a second time next month.

Boards and commissions

Issue: City government relies on a host of support and advisory committees. In most cases, these groups have limited authority to make or interpret city rules and decide policy. In some cases, the groups simply advise the City Council. Each new council and mayor gets to put people on those committees, shaping the way city government operates for the next few years.

The scoop: Councilors appointed Joseph H. Theriault to the Lewiston-Auburn Railroad Board until 2011.

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