LEWISTON — Councilors cautioned that cutting parts of a proposed eight-point contract between the Twin Cities and the Lewiston-Auburn Economic Growth Council could hurt Lewiston-Auburn’s economic development options.

Mark Cayer, Lewiston’s City Council president, called for a meeting between Lewiston and Auburn councilors to negotiate a new deal for economic development.

“I do think it’s time our councilors take responsibility for this and come up with an agreement that will lead us another 30 years down the road,” Cayer said. “If we do not do that, the $150,000 to $180,000 we’d pay the Growth Council this year, we’ll lose that with the first deal that we compete against each other. We’ll offer TIFs, free parking and, not only will we give you free parking, we’ll put a sign up for your business.”

The growth council is the economic development arm for both cities, leading a combined marketing effort and serving as single point of contact for businesses interested in relocating here.

Cayer said he and Auburn Mayor Jonathan LaBonte were part of the group that helped negotiate the proposed new contract.

It spells out what each city expects from the growth council. It was drawn up by members of the Auburn Business Development Corporation, the Lewiston Development Committee and the two city councils at 10 meetings over the summer.

“Initially, those meetings were kind of contentious, because you had two different opinions on both sides,” Cayer said. “But then, as with any negotiations, people started coming together on a general direction. So at the end, as it started to come together, I was encouraged.”

The proposal identifies eight responsibilities for the growth council. They include developing economic strategies, coordinating efforts between the two cities and other groups, promoting the area, attracting and retaining local business, managing a loan portfolio for local businesses and administration.

Under the proposed contract, both cities would agree to fund $189,388 for the growth council services, but those dollars would be specifically earmarked toward specific tasks. For example, each city would agree to pay $10,917 per year for developing strategy, $44,211 for downtown community development and $29,936 for attracting and developing new businesses.

Auburn’s councilors and Mayor Jonathan LaBonte said last week that they favored some parts of the deal, but not all eight. They liked shared regional marketing efforts but didn’t see the value in using the growth council to coordinate economic development efforts.

Cayer said that’s why he’s dismayed.

“That set me back a bit,” he said. “If that was the case, it should have been brought up earlier on, as a part of the discussion.”

Cayer said he feels Auburn’s proposed cuts would hurt economic development efforts.

“It almost feels like we’re at an impasse, to come up with a viable solution,” Cayer said. “I truly think it’s time that councilors get together. I’m not sure of the form it will take, but it’s time to take responsibility for this.”

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