Government at a glance

Board: Auburn City Council
Met: Monday night

Storm water management
Issue: The city is working on a 15-year plan to control how storm
water runoff from public properties flows into the Androscoggin River.
That has involved building a separate storm water sewer system.
The scoop: New state environmental protection rules require the city
to begin monitoring private storm water systems. Those are systems that
collect rain and snow runoff and direct them into the Androscoggin
River. Councilors need to adopt a final plan by Sept. 1.
The plan would have the city monitor new construction that creates
disturbed land or hard, water-resistant surfaces larger than one acre.
It requires those property owners to have plans in place to mitigate
storm water runoff from their hard surfaces.
Councilors approved the idea on first reading last month.
Up next: Councilors approved the plan for the final time Monday.

TD Banknorth incentives
Issue: TD Banknorth plans to build a $16 million call center in the former Steve & Barry’s at the Auburn Mall, with room for 250 employees by 2011. To convince the bank to pursue the call center project, city officials had to offer several incentives — including extending the city’s Pine Tree Zone and offering tax increment financing help.
Councilors approved the Pine Tree Zone amendments earlier this year. They amended three, mall-centered TIF districts Monday night.
The Scoop: The city has approved three TIF districts for the mall development. Councilors created the first in 2002 to redirect the tax money paid from Lowe’s, Burger King, Lamey Wellehan and future developments along Turner Street through 2021 to pay for road improvements in the area. The second TIF was created in 2005 for Kohl’s and the Mt. Auburn Plaza development that includes Ruby Tuesday and the Longhorn Steakhouse. The third TIF was created in 2006 and designed to fund renovations to the existing mall, pay for road improvements and a sewer connect nearby and break open retail developments on surrounding lots.
The proposed changes would extend the life of each TIF district to 30 years, increasing the revenue to developer George Schott. Overall, the city will see an additional $400,000 per year in general fund property tax revenues. Another $336,00 in new property taxes will go into the TIF fund each year.
Up next: Councilors voted to extend the life of the TIFs to help the bank’s call-center project.

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 allow them to 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, Holly’s Own Deli, 84 Court St. and Rack M Up Billiard, 128 Center St.

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