Lewiston and Auburn have announced the distribution of public surveys this week.
In Lewiston, officials have released a public survey that will be used to drive the City Council’s goals for the next term.
But while the survey is typical for the city to issue under a new City Council, its release follows a rocky month for elected officials, who saw considerable public opposition to decisions on code enforcement personnel and received news last week that another high-level staff member is leaving City Hall.
Angelynne Amores, director of marketing and communications, said the purpose of the council’s strategic planning survey is to engage the community to help shape the city’s priorities over the next two years. It asks for feedback on city services, programs and community issues that officials can use to prioritize the council’s goals.
“By leveraging this survey, the City Council can better understand preferences and needs, facilitating more informed policy choices and responsive service delivery – particularly in advance of the budget season,” Amores said.
She said conducting this type of survey early into the City Council term is a practice that city administration has used since the previous City Council. The survey is not related to the one proposed by Mayor Carl Sheline regarding code enforcement that was recently voted down by the council, but some of the questions are related to economic development and local businesses.
The survey asks participants to rate on a scale of one to five a number of city services, including recreational facilities, road and sidewalk maintenance, public safety and more, as well as prompts like “ease of doing business with city staff” and “appropriateness and direction of economic development.”
An earlier section of the survey asks more specific questions such as, “When friends, family and/or business associates ask you about living in Lewiston, what are your two positive and two negative aspects you share with them?”
Asked about whether the timing of the survey could influence responses, Council President Scott Harriman said it’s “a possibility,” but this type of survey has been conducted by the council at the beginning of each new term “to help inform the work we do.”
“If residents have concerns around those particular topics or any others, I’m looking forward to hearing them,” he said.
Reached Wednesday, Mayor Carl Sheline said, “Responses will always be influenced by the current times and that’s OK. I encourage all residents to take the survey and give us their candid feedback. Hearing from the people whom we serve is always helpful.”
Harriman said the council has identified “some big-picture goals to work on during this term,” but the council also wants input from the public.
“This survey should help us determine how to implement those goals in a way that aligns with residents’ priorities and concerns,” he said.
During recent council meetings, it’s been clear that the public is concerned over decisions like the firing of longtime Code Enforcement Director David Hediger, as well as subsequent proposals to eliminate local restaurant inspections and survey businesses regarding their interactions with code enforcement. Some have called on officials to be more transparent.
Amores said participation from the community is “vital,” so there are multiple ways for residents to participate. The survey can be taken on a smartphone or desktop by visiting www.lewistonmaine.gov/ccsurvey24. Or city staff can send a hard copy or translated copy by emailing hello@lewistonmaine.gov.
The deadline for taking the survey online is 7 p.m. Feb. 25.
Amores said information will be shared as the council progresses through the process, and results will be reported out in council agenda packets. The city anticipates the process to be completed by late spring.
Also this week, the city of Auburn has issued a survey regarding its community development programs, the results of which will be used to formulate its annual action plan for Community Development Block Grant and HOME funding that also funds the work of local nonprofits.
According to Liz Allen, director of Auburn’s communications department, the city holds an annual hearing and conducts a “community needs” survey each year prior to drafting the action plan.
“Based on input from our community survey and public hearings, community development staff will release a draft action plan for additional public comments and City Council input prior to adoption,” Allen said.
The community survey can be found at www.auburnmaine.gov or by clicking here. Postcards with a link to the survey have also been delivered to every residential address within the city. For printed copies, translations, or other accommodations, residents can contact the Community Development office at: CDBG@auburnmaine.gov. The survey deadline is March 1.
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