Met: Tuesday night

Spring clean-up

Issue: People left a record amount of junk curbside this past April and May, part of the city’s annual curbside spring cleanup collections. Members of the city’s solid waste committee are suggesting ending the practice.

The scoop: Members of the committee agreed that the curbside collection program needs to change, although they disagreed on what changes are needed. Some wanted to end the practice completely, hoping to boost the city’s image and get an early start on street maintenance. Others favor limits, recommending collecting brush only, or replacing the collections with free bulky item drop-offs at the landfill.

Up next: Councilors said they were fine with ending the collections as long as people had alternatives for their bulky junk. They sent the solid waste committee back to create specific alternatives. It should be back on the council’s agenda in January.

Issue: City rules require council approval before an outdoor concert or rally can be allowed in a city-owned park. That’s true even if the city is sponsoring the event.

The scoop: The Twin Cities Parade of Lights and Christmas tree lighting ceremony is just such an event. The parade started in Auburn and ended in Dufresne Plaza, formerly known as Courthouse Plaza.

Up next: Councilors approved the outdoor concert permit.

Issue: An Oct. 26 fire at 665 College St. left Stephen Roy’s home interior damaged and in need of repairs before he can move back in. He wants to put a mobile home on his lot for up to six months while he makes repairs.

The scoop: City codes don’t allow mobile homes in all of Lewiston’s planning zones unless they are temporary and used in cases just like this. The ordinance does require city councilors to approve the temporary home.

The Planning Board voted on Nov. 24 to recommend councilors let Roy have a temporary mobile home on his lot.

Up next: Councilors approved, as well. They’ll vote again on final reading later this month. Roy hopes to have repairs completed this winter and be back in his home by the spring.

Issue: The city bans on-street parking overnight beginning Dec. 1 through the spring. That’s done to leave plenty of room for city plows in case of a snowstorm.

The scoop: The ordinance keeps the ban in place through April 15, but councilors think that goes too late in the year. They are proposing shortening the ban by two weeks, to March 31.

Up next: Councilors approved the change and will vote again on final reading later this month.

Issue: Visitors to the city’s Multi-Purpose Center on Birch Street have used the Colisee’s parking lot as their own for years. Even before the city owned the Colisee, then owner Roger Theriault let the city use the spaces for a $600 annual fee.

The scoop: Now that the city no longer owns the arena, it needs to work out an agreement with new owner Firland Management. Firland owner Jim Cain is recommending letting the city and MPC patrons use the spaces in exchange for up to 12.5 tons of rock salt. That would be used to maintain the lot and would cost the city up to $918 annually.

Up next: Councilors agreed, capping the salt trade at $1,000.

Issue: Concerns about health and cleanliness at city parks led to a review of ordinances governing where people can smoke cigarettes or walk their dogs.

Dogs have been allowed at most city parks and fields, with limits, but are banned in others prior to athletic events. Smoking is banned on Lewiston School Department properties, but not other places.

The scoop: Councilors on Tuesday approved a final ban on walking dogs through athletic fields and playgrounds. They are banned 30 minutes before sporting events in Holy Family Field, Marcotte Park, the Randall Road softball complex and the Simard-Payne Memorial Park. They are banned completely from Potvin Park, St. Mary’s playground on Oxford Street, the Marcotte Park playground, the Kennedy Park playground, Pierce Street Park, Knox Street Playground, River Valley basketball courts, the Sunnyside Park playground, Franklin Pasture, Lewiston Athletic Park, and the multiuse fields at Marcotte Park, Montello Park, Simard Payne Park and Upper Franklin Field.

Councilors tabled the smoking ban, with Councilor Denis Theriault asking for a complete ban on smoking in all city parks.

Up next: The smoking ban could come back to the council early next year.

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