MET Tuesday night

Capital spending approved

ISSUE: The town could spend up to $8.2 million over the next five years on capital improvements.

THE SCOOP: Councilors adopted the spending plan, described as a planning tool by Town Manager Curtis Lunt. The Planning Board has reviewed the plan and found it compatible with its goals. The plan includes 67 projects: water, sewers, schools and buses, highways, municipal vehicles and equipment, a public works building, among others, as well as anything costing more than $10,000 and anything to be financed over a period of years.

Route 196 study

ISSUE: Route 196 needs traffic-flow improvements.

THE SCOOP: Consulting engineers gave a presentation on a six-month study on how to improve the flow of traffic and encourage access management between Lewiston and Topsham.

Among the recommendations: Make the downtown business district on Main Street a one-way street heading north; widen some areas of the road by adding extra lanes.

UP NEXT: The council will take the study under advisement; no immediate action will be taken.

Public Works building

ISSUE: Voters defeated a $1.7 million bond issue for the public works building last fall.

THE SCOOP: Councilors heard a report by Eric Dube of Casco Bay Engineering that the roof on the 7,000-square-foot building is over-stressed. Repairs vs. replacement was discussed. No vote was taken.

Propane shortage

ISSUE: A Canadian rail strike is creating a shortage of propane.

THE SCOOP: Town Manager Lunt is collecting information to disseminate to the public on ways to conserve.

Sheriff visits

ISSUE: Androscoggin County Sheriff Guy Desjardins met with the panel as part of his effort to reach out to town officials throughout the county.

THE SCOOP: Councilors brought up the issue of taxes and the services they get for the money. Lisbon has its own police department, so the town doesn’t rely on the county for law-enforcement services.

Freelancer Connie Footman can be reached at 353-2598.