Board: Lewiston City Council

Met: Tuesday

Market concerts
Issue: The Lewiston Farmer’s Market has been operating for a couple of years along the Pine Street side of Kennedy Park. The market is scheduled to begin operating on Tuesdays this summer beginning this month.
The Scoop: In an effort to bring more customers in, organizers are planning to host a series of live concerts with the market. The concerts would be scheduled for June 29, July 29 and 27 and Aug. 24 and would feature performances by acoustic guitarists, jazz ensembles and singers.
To do that, organizers need the city’s approval.
Up Next: Councilors voted 6-0 to approve an outdoor entertainment permit for the market.

Credit card fee
Issue: Using credit cards to pay for city business — including building permit fees, taxes and car registrations — costs money. Rather than have the city absorb those costs, the city charges a transaction fee of 2.5 percent.
The Scoop: PayPort, the company the city uses to process credit cards, also requires a minimum transaction fee of  $1 for each transaction. In other words, for any transaction less than $40, the city would charge an additional $1. For a transaction more than $40, the city would charge the 2.5 percent transaction fee.
Up Next: Councilors approved the minimum charge.

Landfill scales
Issue: When councilors approved building a new temporary cover for the city landfill in 2008, they thought the project would cost $225,000. It didn’t, coming in significantly under budget at $27,941. The project needed a much smaller cover than first thought and the city was able to do most of the work in house.
The Scoop: City staff would like to use that leftover money, $197,000, to replace the truck scale and scale management system at the landfill. Public Works Director David Jones said the current scales have been shown to be inaccurate at times.
Up Next: Councilors agreed 6-0 to approve using the money to pay for the scales.

Martial Arts mats
Issue: Last spring, Gee and Bee Sports in Auburn awarded an $8,000 grant to the Lewiston Recreation Department for an indoor batting cage system.  Gee and Bee Sports is a member of national buying organization Sports Inc., which donates equipment grants to member stores to help their communities.
The Scoop: Sandy Heldman, Gee and Bee Sports owner, told the city that another grant was available. The city applied to Sports Inc. and was awarded a second sporting gear grant, $11,000 this time. It will be used to purchase a floor system to manage wrestling mats. The mats will be used to develop a wrestling program and a mixed martial arts program.
Up Next: Councilors accepted the grant.

Joint city fees
Issue: Lewiston and Auburn staff have been working on a shared fee and permit management computer  system. The system designed by EnerGov Solutions should come online June 28.
One step involved matching fees between the two cities. Councilors reviewed the new fees and adopted them — effective July 1.
The Scoop:  Since the new software is scheduled to debut on June 28, city staff suggested councilors make the fees change as of that date.
Up Next: Councilors agreed to make the new fees effective June 28.

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 renewed a special amusement permit for Lewiston Social Club, 347 Lisbon St.

Next meeting: A special  Lewiston City Council meeting and workshop are scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 29.  The next regular meeting of the City Council is scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 13, at 7 p.m.

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