Board: Auburn City Council

Met: Monday night

Plowing routes

Issue: The city has 180 narrow, dead-end streets that can be a challenge for plow drivers. Drivers clearing those streets need to back out of the street once they have it cleared – no easy feat in a 15-ton plow truck.

The scoop: Councilor Ron Potvin suggested changing city plow routes, handing those dead-end streets off to private contractors or using smaller trucks. Public Works Director Bob Belz said smaller trucks have a difficult time clearing heavy snow at the dead-ends.

Up next: Councilors will discuss plow routes again later this summer.

Mall TIF

Issue: Redevelopment of the Auburn Mall cost developer George Schott $1.3 million more than expected. He asked the city to share those costs.

The scoop: Under a 2006 tax deal, the city agreed to return part of the property taxes Schott pays. He hopes to expand that by $500,000 total over the next 20 years.

Up next: Councilors should vote on the matter Aug. 4. Three of them – Bob Mennealy, Dan Herrick and Ron Potvin – said they couldn’t support expanding a TIF that promotes retail. Councilor Ray Berube, Robert Hayes and Bruce Bickford said they would. The swing vote looks to be Councilor Mike Farrell, who didn’t attend Monday’s meeting.

Property committee

Issue: Councilors agreed last month to create a committee to review property that came into city ownership through property tax liens.

The scoop: City Manager Glenn Aho said the city already has a policy for a committee, created in 1998. It uses city staff to determine which pieces of property the city should keep and which to be sold. They’ll use that policy and that committee, he said.

Energy help

Issue: High heating oil prices are eating up more household budgets. That’s stopped some low-income people from qualifying for a city program that helps them buy a home downtown.

The scoop: Under the program, low income people can qualify for help if their rent or mortgage payments account for between 28 and 32 percent of their income. But while mortgage payments have not increased, heating costs have and some people who qualified for the program before find they don’t now.

City staff is suggesting reducing the mortgage or rental costs to 25 percent of the household budget.

Up next: Councilors will vote on the change at the Aug. 4 meeting.

Rezoning

Issue: The city’s residential zones don’t allow many commercial uses. Land owners Jake Pittman and Derek Dube hope to change the zoning on four lots along Center Street to make their land more valuable.

The lots are on the west side of Center Street between Princeton and Brown streets. It includes lots at 11 and 20 Princeton Street and 15 and 20 Brown Street. Combined, it covers 1.3 acres.

The scoop: The Planning Board approved their plan this month.

Up next: Councilors approved the plan Monday by a 6-0 vote.

Labor Day

Issue: Since City Council meetings are set by charter on Monday nights, they can get interrupted by special holidays. That’s the case on Labor Day again this year. The holiday falls on Sept. 1.

The scoop: Councilors moved their regular meeting to Sept. 2.

Pawn licenses

Issue: State law requires municipal officers review and approve licenses for pawn shops.

The scoop: Councilors renewed the pawn license and secondhand seller permit for Webster’s Trading Co., 150 Minot Ave., pending approval of the police and fire departments and the city treasurer.

Liquor licenses

Issue: 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 renewed special amusement permits for Gritty McDuff’s, 68 Main St., the Hilton Garden Inn, 14 Great Falls Plaza, and Holly’s Own Deli, 84 Court St.

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