Board: Lewiston City Council

Met: Tuesday night

Technical difficulties

The scoop: Due to technical problems, Tuesday’s meeting did not air live on Great Falls TV.

Up next: It is scheduled to be shown at 7 p.m. Friday in its entirety on Channel 23 for Time Warner cable customers and Channel 3 for Oxford Networks customers.

Canine kibosh

Issue: Councilors said they were bothered by smokers, dog waste and litter at the city’s newly refurbished Knox Street park, and asked staff to erect a sign banning all three from the playground. That prompted a more thorough review of rules at other city parks.

The scoop: Dogs are currently allowed at most city parks and fields, with some limits. They can be in Sunny Side Park, the Montello track area and Simard-Payne Park – formerly Railroad Park – early in the morning and after 6 p.m. Other parks ban them prior to athletic events. Littering is already banned on all fields. Smoking is banned on Lewiston School Department properties, but not other places.

Staff recommended banning dogs and smoking in all city playgrounds and athletic fields. Councilor Tom Peters cautioned them not to be too restrictive.

Up next: Staff will draw up a new ordinance for councilor review in October.

Councilors ride along

Issue: With less than a year behind them as elected officials, councilors are trying to make themselves more familiar with city departments.

The scoop: They’ll get more familiar with police operations this Friday as every councilor and Mayor Larry Gilbert ride along with officers. Councilor Denis Theriault said it would give councilors a unique perspective on Police Department requirements and operations.

Storm-water review

Issue: Large developments can change the way storm water flows into city sewers and ditch systems, increasing the flow in some cases or funneling potentially dirty water into city streams and the Androscoggin River. Because of that, the state Department of Environmental Protection keeps a steady watch on most development projects. It can mean a lengthy wait for developers while state officials review their projects, so the state allows cities – including Lewiston – to handle the applications and permits themselves. City rules must mirror state rules, however. Lewiston’s did, until the state changed its rules at the beginning of 2007.

The scoop: Water quality rules get tighter under the state’s new rules, especially for projects that add paved or water-impervious area.

Up next: Councilors agreed to match Lewiston’s code to the state’s.

Refinancing

Issue: Interest rates available to the city are better now than they were in 1999, when councilors approved a $1.9 million bond issue for capital improvements at the Promenade Mall, the Bates Mill and along Bates and Middle streets, and in 2004 when they approved a $300,000 guarantee bond for the Colisee. The interest rate available under that sale ranges between 6.7 percent and 7 percent. Now, the city can qualify for a 4 percent rate.

The scoop: With the bond sale for a new school pending, the city plans to piggyback the $935,000 remaining on the two bonds on the school project. It would save the city an estimated $63,000 for the 1999 bond and $40,000 for the 2004 bond, according to Finance Director Dick Metivier.

Up next: Councilors agreed to both.

Drug funds

Issue: The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency shares proceeds from drug busts with the other police agencies involved in investigations. In Lewiston’s case, the money is put into a special account to help pay for drug-enforcement actions.

The scoop: Councilors on Tuesday accepted proceeds from five drug arrests in which the city can claim a share of $2,268 in seizures.

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 special amusement permit for Shooters, 347 Lisbon St. They renewed a special amusement permit for Carriage House Plus, 1119 Lisbon St.

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