AUBURN — As far as slogans go, Mayor Dick Gleason’s “Hub of Maine” stickers are fine with most city councilors.

It’s the way the campaign came about some of them don’t like.

“Is Auburn the ‘Hub of Maine?'”  Councilor Dan Herrick asked. “I don’t know. But what I do know is we need to follow the charter. I don’t feel like we followed the charter doing this, and that’s really touched a nerve.”

Gleason launched the hub campaign at the celebration following the official inauguration Dec. 7. He included bumper stickers and window stickers declaring “Auburn, the Hub of Maine.”

The stickers cost about $1,000, paid out of a City Council discretionary fund, 2,000 bumper stickers and 2,000 window stickers.

They are being distributed around the city by volunteers. Ed Desgrosseilliers, one of the volunteers, said the stickers have been well received by local businesses.

“The only ones I’ve had problems with are big corporate stores,” Desgrosseilliers said.

Herrick and Councilor Mike Farrell said councilors should have been asked before the campaign began. Herrick pointed out that a discussion about creating a city ambassador program garnered two city council workshop discussions and still has not been adopted.

“And then I turn around and this program is going and we were never even asked,” Herrick said.

He also objected to using city money to pay for the stickers.

“We’re in a tight budget, and I don’t know if that’s the best way we could have spent our money,” he said.

Gleason admitted councilors should have been consulted.

“It’s a point well taken that it would have been wiser to bring it the council first,” Gleason said.

Councilors are scheduled to discuss the program and if they want to continue it at their Jan. 5 meeting. 

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