LISBON — The Town Council on Tuesday unanimously approved hiring a community development specialist and using funds from two tax increment financing districts to pay for the position.

Maine Downtown Center is a Main Street America coordinating program, a grassroots network that helps build stronger communities through preservation-based economic development, according to its website. It helps advise affiliated towns on its community efforts, offers grant opportunities, along with some other benefits.

Since the town became a Maine Downtown Affiliate in 2009 when the program launched, the Economic and Community Development Department has been managing the program for the town. The new hire would oversee the program.

Economic Development Director Ross Cunningham said the Maine Downtown Center recommends that towns have a committee or nonprofit manage the program because it is easier to fundraise and recruit volunteers for downtown revitalization efforts.

Lisbon’s business community has grown and could use the support of a person designated to operate the Maine Downtown Center program, Cunningham said. He requested that Positive Change Lisbon become the new affiliate designation.

Positive Change Lisbon was established 13 years ago to work with businesses, residents and town administrators to grow the community through events, with the initiative to bring more business to town and improve its image, according to President William Kuhl. The organization has hosted concerts, dances, communitywide cleanup efforts and other services.

Kuhl is concerned that businesses need more than what the organization’s current volunteers can provide, he said. The community development specialist would allow the organization to take current community events to new heights and plan new ones.

The new hire would spend two days per week executing Positive Change Lisbon’s goals and objectives, and spend 1 1/2 days per week working for the Economic and Community Development Department helping with community projects, Cunningham said.

He asked councilors to dedicate $10,000 toward operating expenses to cover event executions and overhead expenses. He also asked for the position to be funded through the town’s Downtown TIF district and the Dingley Press TIF district.

He asked that $30,000 come from the Downtown TIF district, which brings in about $98,000 per year now, and $15,000 come from the Dingley Press TIF district. The part-time position’s salary would be $35,000.

After a local business owner and two town councilors expressed their support, councilors unanimously voted to establish the position and designate the funding.

In other business, Rep. Richard Mason of Lisbon and Sen. Jeff Timberlake  of Turner recognized two local men for their contributions to Lisbon.

Councilor Harry Moore Jr. was recognized for his 40 years of service with the Lisbon Police Department.

Lisbon Parks and Recreation Director Mark Stevens was recognized for his work with the Recreation Department.

They also recognized the Pejepscot Sno-Chiefs for its 50-year anniversary.

Later in the meeting, councilors approved police Chief Ryan McGee’s request to expand the town’s Narcan program, placing Narcan in various public spaces around town in case of an opioid overdose. It comes at no cost to the town.

The department saw four overdoses last December, with a suspected overdose death, which is unacceptable, according to McGee.

The chief also requested that councilors authorize Lisbon police officers to act outside their jurisdiction and they agreed. It is primarily to make arrests in investigations that utilize officers outside the town and while on mutual aid calls, McGee said.

The department has been acting in this capacity because it was approved by town councilors about two decades ago, but McGee could not find the official document reflecting that approval. Tuesday’s vote was to ensure that the department has all appropriate documentation moving forward.

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