Board: Lewiston City Council

Met: Tuesday night

Street lights

Issue: Councilors trimmed $25,000 from the 2009-10 budget last spring, intending to reduce the number of street lights the city operates. Lewiston has about 3,400 streetlights in its network, costing the city $500,000 a year in electricity. There are several kinds of lights in use, including high- and low-pressure sodium lights, mercury vapor, incandescent and LED fixtures.  

The scoop: Councilors considered a plan in June to create three streetlight zones, based on density: Lights would be more closely grouped in the downtown area, spread wider in less densely populated areas and situated on intersections, hills, dead ends and cul-de-sacs in the outskirts. Rural residents were concerned those changes would darken their neighborhoods, making them especially unsafe for walking in the fall. City staff came back with a plan to turn off 106 lights. In addition to hills and intersections, lights would be preserved on streets that have residents.

Up next: Councilors voted to adopt the policy and begin testing the streetlight reduction over the next 45 days. 

Shared software

Issue: A new government-specific software suite would automate many scheduling and tracking jobs currently handled by city staff. The programs, made by Georgia-based firm EnerGov Solutions would be shared by the cities of Lewiston and Auburn. It would let them share staff, ordinances and operations.

The scoop: Auburn’s City Council approved purchasing the package at their meeting Monday. It would cost $353,980 for the package; those costs would be split evenly between the two cities.

Up next: Lewiston’s council agreed with their Auburn counterparts and agreed to purchase the software but wanted to add a clause allowing either city to back out of the agreement if future councils change their minds. The two cities will begin meeting to make sure zoning, code enforcement rules and fees match as much as possible. Representatives from EnerGov should be on hand early in 2010 to begin designing a specific system for the Twin Cities. It could be in use by July 2010.

Workshop schedule

Issue: With two months left in the year, terms for the current city councilors are winding down. But the group has a number of city issues to discuss and vote on. They plan on a busy schedule through the end of 2009.

The scoop: Councilors will meet each week in November and December for workshop meetings, in addition to their regular meeting schedule. Topics will include appointing a new city administrator, policies for the Pettingill School property, impacts of the tax-cutting referendums and the future of the city’s downtown canals.

Liquor licenses

Issue: Local restaurants and bars must reapply for liquor licenses
and amusement permits each year. Liquor licenses permit the
establishments to serve alcohol; amusement permits allow them to play
music, have a DJ, host karaoke or have games on site.

The scoop: Councilors approved new liquor licenses and special amusement permits for Midtown Athletic Club, 43 Walnut St., and the Dawg House, 1018 Sabattus St. They renewed special amusement permits for Schemengees, 551 Lincoln St., and Fish Bones American Grill, 70 Lincoln St.

Next meeting:  The next regular meeting of the City Council is scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 17.

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