Board: Lewiston City Council

Met: Tuesday night

Storm water credit

Issue: Councilors last month extended a storm water fee credit to business owners that drain all of the storm water collecting on their property directly into the Androscoggin River, never touching the city system. Businesses that can prove that none of the rain falling on their property drains into a city-owned system don’t have to pay the fee.

Councilors said they wanted to expand that credit to homeowners who can show that no rain from their property drains into city maintained roads, culverts, storm sewers.

The scoop: The city has 7,313 single-family homes and 1,062 duplexes paying the storm fee now, and Public Services Director Dave Jones predicted most would apply for that kind of a credit, even though they might not qualify. Each application would take up to two hours of staff time to verify, so the change would would require a lot of work for city staffers.

Councilor Tom Peters suggested putting the burden of proof on property owners, and City Administrator Jim Bennett suggested creating a map of properties that might qualify.

Up next: Staff will continue working on the idea.

Bumping the council

Issue: The City Council’s first meeting in November is scheduled for Nov. 4 – otherwise known as Election Day. Rather than meet on that day and create conflicts and more traffic, councilors agreed to cancel that night’s meeting.

The scoop: Councilors will meet for a regular meeting one more night this month, on Oct. 21. Their next meeting after that will be Nov. 18. They’ll be back to their regular schedule in December, meeting on Dec. 2 and 16.

Pettingill Bonds

Issue: Councilors and voters approved a $21.9 million bond package in spring 2007 to build a replacement for Pettingill elementary school. Work is under way, and the new school is on track to open this spring. Bonds to pay for that work are scheduled to go up for sale this fall.

The scoop: Construction costs are actually coming in $2.9 million less than expected.

Up next: Councilors rescinded authority for that money, reducing the city’s debt service.

Housing help

Issue: Developers Collaborative, a Portland-based firm, began work this summer to transform city lots at 279 and 283 Bates St. into affordable housing for seniors. The project is being developed with $4.5 million in Low Income Housing Credits from the MaineHousing.

The scoop: Development costs are about $660,000 higher on this project than budgeted, and developers are asking the city to give them money from Lewiston’s federal Housing and Urban Development HOME fund to help make up the difference. Developers have found financing to cover most of those cost overruns.

Up next: The project received up to $100,000 in HOME funds from councilors.

Cleanup logo

Issue: The city has been sponsoring a contest to design a logo to represent the city’s downtown beautification effort..

The scoop: Lewiston High senior Athena Andoniades won the contest with a drawing of flower sprouting from a cleaned-up trash can. The new logo will grace posters and brochures.

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 renewed special amusement permits for the Schmengees, 551 Lincoln St. and tabled discussion about another permit for Friends Lodge, 724 Main St.

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