Board: Auburn City Council

Met: Tuesday

The Hub
Issue: Some councilors were unhappy when Mayor Dick Gleason unveiled his community pride-boosting sticker “Auburn: The Hub of Maine” campaign during his inaugural address. They said they should have been consulted before the campaign was made public and any stickers had been printed.   
The Scoop: Gleason did say he should have checked with councilors before he asked volunteers to begin distributing the stickers. But he asked Monday night. Gleason asked councilors to confirm the slogan as a new city marketing program.

Councilor Dan Herrick said he wouldn’t support the campaign, worried that was might supplant the Lewiston-Auburn Economic Growth Council’s “LA: It’s Happening Here” campaign.

But the slogan did have support. County Commissioner Jonathan LaBonte said it was an opportunity for Auburn to promote itself.
Up Next: Councilors voted to continue the campaign by a 6-1 vote. 

Council dinners
Issue: Past councils have scheduled short dinners before their normally scheduled 5:30 p.m. workshop meetings. It’s handy for councilors coming straight from work who might otherwise miss dinner and for letting councilors discuss non-city business and become more familiar with each other, according to Mayor Gleason.  
The Scoop: The previous council budgeted money for the pre-meeting meals but City Manager Glenn Aho said it’s has not been used. Aho said it would cost about $60 per meeting to offer the meals.       
Up Next: Councilors voted 4-3 to continue funding the meals, with Councilors Belinda Gerry, Dan Herrick and Ray Berube dissenting.

“I didn’t get elected here to get fed,” Herrick said. “I got elected to try and save some money for the taxpayers of Auburn.” 

World Harbors
Issue: When the sauce and marinade maker World Harbors expanded its Auburn operation in 2007, it did so with city support. The city issued $2.95 million worth of Industrial Development Bonds through the Finance Authority of Maine to help finance the expansion. The city has no financial interest in the bonds and doesn’t face any liability because of them but acts as manager between FAME and the company.    
The Scoop: World Harbors and its parent company Angostura International have been sold to Illinois-based Mizkan Americas Inc., a subsidiary of Japan’s Mizkan Group Corp. Councilors need to approve the sale and allow the buyers to assume the debt.
Up Next: Councilors approved the change. 

Tax acquired property
Issue: City Councilors have said they don’t want the city to be in the real estate business. That includes owning property taken over when owners didn’t pay their property taxes.  

City Manager Glenn Aho said he currently has a list of 28 properties foreclosed at the end of 2009. He can’t technically take money from the former owners without City Council approval.
The Scoop: City policies let the city offer tax-acquired lands back to the owner first, in exchange for payment of all back taxes, interest and other costs. If the owners decline, the city makes those properties available to other buyers.    
Up Next: Councilors agreed to let city staff proceed with negotiations with the former owners. 

Next meeting: The next workshop scheduled for the Auburn City Council is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 19,  followed by a regular meeting at 7 p.m. Normally scheduled for Monday night, the meeting was moved so it does not interfere with the Martin Luther King holiday on Jan. 18.

Contact government reporter Scott Taylor via phone at 689-2846 or via e-mail at [email protected].