The newly sworn-in Lewiston City Council began the new term by clashing over several committee appointments, including the reappointment of Scott Harriman as the council’s representative on the School Committee.

Several members of the public, and city and school officials, argued that Harriman should be replaced on the School Committee following his recent censure by the council for skirting Freedom of Access Act laws by using an encrypted messaging app to communicate with a city employee.

During public comment, two members of the School Committee — Janet Beaudoin and Meghan Hird — read a letter they sent to Mayor Carl Sheline and the council asking for new representation on the committee due to Harriman’s recent censure.

“We need someone who can restore trust and maintain the integrity of communication between our two bodies,” the statement said.

Other councilors, such as Michael Roy, agreed that they would like to see someone else in the role, especially with Harriman potentially taking on another political position if he is elected to the Maine Legislature next month. Beaudoin is Harriman’s opponent in a special election for the House District 94 seat.

“I don’t think that’s the best foot we should be putting forward right now,” Roy said.

In response, Sheline said he would not change his mind on supporting Harriman, who has served on the School Committee for the past two years.

“I’ve enjoyed my time, I’m happy to serve another year, and believe I can do so,” Harriman said.

Ultimately the council voted 4-3 to reappoint Harriman, with Councilors Roy, Susan Longchamps and Bret Martel opposed.

FORMER POLICE OFFICER’S APPOINTMENT DRAWS DEBATE

The council and members of the public also engaged in a debate over the appointment of Joe Philippon to the Lewiston Area Public Health Committee.

Philippon, who resigned from the Lewiston Police Department and reached a separation agreement with the city in October following an internal affairs investigation, was also at the center of the Signal app controversy that led to the censure of councilors Harriman and Josh Nagine.

Despite the recent controversy, Nagine defended Philippon, stating that he’s still engaged with the Lewiston community with the Summer Films and Fun events and was “crucial” in bringing the Project Support You program to the Police Department.

“We have a hard time finding qualified people to serve on our boards and committees, and if we base our decisions on who we like, I think that’s a complaint that the public has,” Nagine said.

Nagine also pointed out that Philippon has worked on previous political campaigns for the mayor and a sitting councilor.

Councilor Longchamps responded, “He’s responsible for you getting censured and you’re lucky it was just that,” before being cut off by Sheline.

Sheline and Longchamps acknowledged that Philippon worked on their campaigns, but both said they would not work with him again and did not support the nomination to the public health committee.

During public comment, resident Andrew Jones said that because Philippon “conspired with two members of this council to violate FOAA laws,” he “can’t support his continued public service with the damage he’s done to our city.”

Councilor Martel said given that Philippon was recently separated from Lewiston police for what “seemed like credible reasons, I don’t think rushing that same individual back into public service is the most ideal scenario.”

The council again voted 4-3 to approve Philippon’s appointment, with Roy, Longchamps and Martel opposed.

‘EPITOME OF HYPOCRISY’

Another appointment that in previous years might have been a routine decision also turned into a debate over the Lewiston Republican Party’s nomination of Lisa Jones to serve on the Lewiston Voter Registration Appeals Board.

The appointments typically receive quick approval by the council given the nature of the board, which features one member nominated by the Lewiston Democratic Committee, one member nominated by the Lewiston Republican Committee and a third member nominated by the City Clerk.

Harriman said he was concerned for Jones’ appointment because she has “repeatedly disrupted public meetings” in the past.

“I don’t know that that behavior should be rewarded with an appointment to a city committee,” he said.

Ward 5 Councilor Iman Osman called on the city Republican Party to “put forward somebody else.”

Others, including Nagine and Sheline, said because the position is partisan by nature, the appointment should be a formality.

“This is the party’s nominee,” Nagine said. “I don’t think we have the luxury of picking and choosing people we like or don’t like, especially in a case where it’s just a formality for us to approve.”

Sheline said “if things were flipped, many of us would be endorsing what was put forward by the Democratic Committee.”

“This is the party’s nominee. I don’t think we have the luxury of picking and choosing people we like or don’t like, especially in a case where it’s just a formality for us to approve.”

Lewiston City Councilor Josh Nagine

Jones, who has been a frequent presence during public comment and who was wearing a shirt that said “Chaos Agent” Monday night, said the council’s debate over her appointment was “a ‘Twilight Zone’ moment.” She pointed out that the council had just appointed “someone to the School Committee that’s been censured twice and someone who was just fired from the city for multiple offenses.”

“That’s the epitome of hypocrisy and you just put it on display for everyone,” she said.

The council voted 5-2 to approve Jones’ appointment, with Harriman and Osman opposed.