Turner: TABOR debate set for tonight

Selectmen voted 4-1, with Chairman Dennis Richardson opposed, to support the Taxpayer Bill of Rights referendum initiative on the Nov. 7 ballot, then put the finishing touches on a formal debate on the topic.

The debate will be held in the Leavitt Area High School auditorium beginning at 6:30 p.m. today. Steve Wade of the Skelton, Taintor & Abbott law firm of Auburn will moderate the two-and-a-half-hour debate. William Becker of the Maine Heritage Policy Center and Geoff Herman of the Maine Municipal Association will be principal proponent and opponent, respectively, of the tax-capping measure.

Questions are being formulated by the town officers and staffs of Greene, Leeds and Turner for the tri-town debate.

The audience will be invited to ask questions of the speakers. Turner Town Manager James Catlin informed his board on Monday that while the debate is scheduled to end at 9 p.m., he believes the speakers will agree to stay beyond the closing time to respond to all questions.

Catlin emphasized it will be a formal debate.

– Kenneth Roberts
Lewiston: School trips to England, Quebec OK’d

School trips to Quebec and England have been approved by the Lewiston School Committee.

On Monday, two Lewiston High School English teachers asked for permission to take students to England and Scotland June 25 to July 2. So far, 18 students have expressed interest. Parent meetings will be scheduled once the committee gave its blessing.

Pettingill Elementary School teachers asked to once again take sixth-graders to Quebec in June. Committee members were treated to a slide show and personal testimony of sixth-graders who went last year. The students raved about learning the culture, history, food of Quebec, and going without parents. To pay for the trip students sold flower bulbs, held penny and bottle drives.

“Bon voyage,” committee Chairman James Handy said after a unanimous approval.

“Merci,” said one teacher.

– Bonnie Washuk
Auburn: Housing loan programs tweaked

A program designed to help low-income Auburn residents buy homes downtown will switch lenders, councilors agreed Monday.

Bangor Savings Bank has agreed to provide a $500,000 7 percent fixed rate loan to back the city’s lease-buy program.

The program uses federal money to help low- and middle-income buyers qualify for home financing. In some cases, the city purchases the property, leasing it to the buyer until they are ready to take over ownership. The Bangor Savings Bank loan will provide the money to do that, according to Community Development Administrator Reine Mynahan.

Councilors also approved minor changes to the other low-income loan programs. Councilors raised the limit for grants to cover sewer assessment to $7,000 and allowed new home buyers to qualify for $1,000 grants to purchase home heating oil.

– Scott Taylor