LEWISTON — The Friends of Pettingill Steering Committee met on Oct. 6 at the home of Anne Auer.

Those present included Peggy Rotundo, Carolyn Court, Judy Andrucki, Anne Auer, Bill Maroldo and Ted Walworth. Guests included Megan Bates of Lewiston Public Works, Mark Labonte from Labonte’s Landscaping, and Darby Ray from the Bates College Harward Center.

Bates told the group that Public Works would continue to be responsible for maintenance at the park, namely mowing and weed whacking, picking up litter, emptying waste receptacles, and checking the playground equipment.

She noted that Mike Bernier at LPW is in charge of repairs of equipment, but that she will be the contact person at LPW for the Friends. The city will continue to provide liability insurance for the park.

The Friends will bear the cost to install new features, such as trees and benches and signs, and LPW would do the work as time permitted, or would employ a subcontractor.

The current status of the seeded lawn was discussed. There was concern about the ruts and grooves and uneven growth of the grass. Group members felt this was a safety and aesthetic issue. That maintenance is the city’s responsibility so Bates and Bernier agreed to review the situation.

Rotundo obtained a copy of the “Agreement Between the City of Lewiston and the Lewiston-Auburn Veterans Council on Veterans Park,” and the Friends may use that agreement as a template for an agreement or memorandum of understanding between the Friends and the city.

Labonte offered to provide, through his landscaping company, upward of $2,500 of in-kind labor for landscaping work.

No date has been set for the next meeting.

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