Lewiston council advances charter changes, new community development department

The Lewiston City Council held public hearings and first votes on several items, including proposed city charter amendments, a new Department of Community Development and Strategic Initiatives, and new parking rules for unregistered or uninspected vehicles. Councilors also heard extended public comment on public safety, the CMMC nurses' union effort, and needle cleanup, and approved routine junkyard and special amusement permits.

Key points

• The council approved the September 1 meeting minutes 6-0, with Ward 4 absent and roll call votes beginning with Ward 5.
• Councilors approved a special amusement permit for live entertainment at the Gridiron restaurant, 1567 Lisbon Street, and discussed whether new permits could be delegated to the clerk's office.
• The council approved four automobile graveyard junkyard permits 6-0: Grimmel's Industries at 50 River Road, Resource Waste Services at 38 Alfred A. Plourde Parkway, St. Laurent Properties at 1445 Sabattus Street, and Lewiston Public Works at 420 River Road.
• The council voted 5-0 to advance proposed city charter amendments on filling a council vacancy and council action on the school budget to the November ballot, with Ward 7 out of the room.
• The council gave first passage 6-0 to an amendment creating a Department of Community Development and Strategic Initiatives, after City Administrator Bryan Kaenrath said no new staff or salary increases are involved.
• The council gave first passage 6-0 to an amendment on unregistered or uninspected vehicles parked on public ways, with a proposed $50 ticket after 30 days; Chief Conley said it adds an enforcement tool without changing the abandoned-vehicle towing process.
• Public comment included support for CMMC nurses seeking to unionize, complaints about needles and gun violence, criticism of the rent stabilization ordinance, and an allegation read into the record concerning a Ward 3 councilor.

Next steps

• Staff will draft a possible ordinance change to let new special amusement permits be handled by the clerk's office.
• The public hearing on the community development department ordinance will continue at the next regular council meeting, with a workshop planned to explain the new department's programs.
• The public hearing on the unregistered or uninspected vehicle ordinance will continue to the next meeting, and staff will check a numbering error in the parking fine schedule noted by a resident.
• The police department will report back on how many abandoned vehicles are towed annually and will work with communications on public awareness beyond social media.

Read the full transcript