Lewiston council hears wayfinding, trash fee plans; abuse allegation aired

[0:00] Carl L. Sheline: Hello and welcome to our Tuesday evening workshop. Appreciate everyone in attendance here. We're kicking things off for the first 30 minutes an update on wayfinding signage product project director Blaze, please. Introduce yourself and then have all of your guests introduce themselves and kick us off. If I can have counselors hold questions until the end, that'd be great. Thank you mayor. Yeah, I'd like to [0:25] John Blaze: John Blaze economic development. THANK YOU FOR HAVING US. I DO WANT TO INTRODUCE CORBIN DESIGN HERE. I'LL LET THEM INTRODUCE THEMSELVES. BUT COLORAD DESIGN BUILD TEAM THAT WE WENT OUT FOR AN RFP. WE'VE BEEN DILIGENT WORKING WITH THE WAYFINDING COMMITTEE MEMBERS FROM THE COMMUNITY RECENTLY. WE JUST COMPLETED THAT. And I just want to talk a little bit about this. We're submitting our follow our design and implementation considerations for the proposed city of Lewiston wayfinding science system. The proposed system is intended to create a coordinated attractive functional wayfinding network that improves navigation throughout the city while supporting the historic character and economic vitality of downtown Lewiston. The proposed rep represents the comprehensive wayfinding system incorporating multiple levels Of signage for both vehicle and pedestrian. So as you'll hear from our design team today, really we're getting people into the city as quickly as we can, getting them into our parking, our parking garages, which I think we have some of the grace great parking any community across the whole entire state, and then on the on the ground, then we get them on the ground and then into our businesses. Really that is the hyper focus of what we're doing here. The majority of the system is concentrated within the Downtown area, but the overall approach establishes a coordinated hierarchy for guiding residents and visitors throughout the city. The wayfinding logic is designed to first direct vehicular traffic toward public parking facilities as I just said and primary destinations. From these locations the system transitions users from a vehicle to a pedestrian wayfinding. The goals are to better connect key destinations, encourage walking and exploration, improve the visitor experience and strengthen the Overall image and identity of Lewiston, what we have here, these are essentially renderings, these are life-size renderings that meet that meet the main uniform traffic control design. We do have nine existing signs in the community, they do not meet you know civil engineering practical standards from DOT. I would call them dangerous because you can't read them, the text is too small. These will these will meet the intent and then we'll let I'm gonna turn it over to Corbin and certainly introduce yourself. [3:10] Jeff Frank: Fantastic, Thank You John, my name is Jeff Frank, I'm representing the design team, it is a partnership between the firm that I work for, Corbin design, I am the lead designer and design director for Corbin design, war was hiding in the second row here, she is a project manager on this team, we are your team represented in terms of representation in terms of the way finding logic could [3:33] Carl L. Sheline: you move the mic a little closer to you please, the wayfinding and design and then we're working [3:38] Jeff Frank: with our partners at colorad who will be fabricating and installing the program, so this is a design build partnership, i have a presentation today, kind of show you our progress, we are still deep into developing the final documentation package, we have the designs further along so we can understand size scale limitations with messaging and but we still need to finalize the locations, they're on site the past two days staking and marking, looking at sight lines, making sure these signs are going to work the way that we have proposed they will work, i'll go through the presentation, we'll talk from the beginning essentially about the design itself, we'll go into the logic behind some of the locations and the programming, the way the signs look and then we'll get into a little bit of details, so we do have as john said this is a comprehensive program starting with gateway recommendations, so when visitors enter the city they know where they're at and the good times that they're having are associated with you all, we want to get them efficient efficiently and effectively navigate the downtown and surrounding areas from a vehicular standpoint, trying to eliminate traffic and bring folks into the nearest most accessible parking lot, identify that parking lot, provide additional information there through digital signage and then get them on foot, we have a new essentially you have some pedestrian guide signs out now but i'll show you what we're proposing, it's a series of these kiosks and Some support signs to help create a more robust system for visitors. So as part of our analysis, we developed, I'm sorry, this is the screen. Yeah, so this is part of our analysis, put together our initial recommendations and some goals. As Sean pointed out, is to improve the overall image and perception of Lewiston. That means having an identity that reflects your brand as well. So right now there is a series of different kind of variations in sign type. This is going to be unification, so a system that will be implementable right now but can grow and expand in the future as things change, and I'm sure they will. We want to prioritize directing visitors to the two downtown main districts, is what we're focusing right now, between Lisbon Streets and the downtown area and surrounding shops, and then the riverfront and the middle district, making that which for a visitor can be a perception that it's there's a bigger divide than where it is. How do we make those connections for folks and make it easier from understand how to get back and forth between those two areas. We're going to reinforce walkability, that's the other thing that we have talked about a lot. So in a fantastic parking garage, is how do we get you into one and let you know how easy it is to navigate the rest of the city what half without having to feel like you need to relocate from a driver's perspective to do this. We created a series of sign types, so this is a wayfinding program in that there are a number of different variations of these signs, but we always start with developing the primary vehicular guide, which is the signs, the designs that we're showing here. This is an original early sketch that we developed, and so the inspiration behind some of these design elements, where their history, architecture, the culture, the natural connection to the river, and then your existing both industry and business. So we've tried to blend those elements in subtly in a couple different ways. We've got dimensional letters across the top that top that are taking their inspiration from the very nice very large dimensional letters that are next to veterans park and we've brought in elements from the branding as well so the angle cuts and the symbol graphic icon at the bottom there is directly from your branding so we can unify those two elements we brought and we utilize the existing branding colors that's the front that's the utility aspect of it so the size scale and the text that meets as john said dot mutd tcd Standards for reflectivity and size for the appropriate road speed, so it's a safe sign. It's consistent with what the DOT would do. We follow those standards pretty strictly. What we did then is everything that we can affect in terms of color and shape and silhouette to make these unique to the city. This won't be any, this won't be a design you'll see any place else. And to sort of cap that off, we looked at the back and thought about what opportunity existed back there to do something truly unique. The front is sort of the business part. Could we have a little bit more fun and bring in some of the natural or the more organic murals that you have throughout towns, beautiful murals? How do we bring some of that energy to the back of the science, both to use what would be underutilized space otherwise, but also to help this blend into the environment so it doesn't feel like the back of a sign. So that, to that end, we created this. We didn't create this, you provided this amazing drawing, this sketch. And what we've done is just overlaid it with color so that it works with our, program. So the idea here is that there's not a map that you would follow. That's why we don't want you to look up at the map and kind of read it and look at the streets. We want to look at more as an abstract piece of art, but it does represent and it is realistic. It is your, you know, a sketch that is represented and created by someone from the community. So here's the, on the left-hand side is the original. Black-and-white sketch and. [8:45] Carl L. Sheline: On the, raise me one second, if we can have it quiet in the council chambers. If you need to talk, please head to the hall. Thank you. Please continue sir. Yes, on the. [8:53] Jeff Frank: Left is the original sketch, on the right is the black-and-white version. So you can see we didn't change any physically, we just played with the scale a little bit and add some depth and dimension to it. And then and that pop of color. Here's the ultimately design that we landed on, and you can see there's sort of break down those little, that text there kind of breaks down all the individual design elements that are there. And yes, these are represented, this is a four inch copy height, this is good for. Speeds up to 35 miles per hour, there will be smaller signs, there will be less messaging on signs. I'll show you an array in a moment which has sort of a variations of all the different sign types that we're going to be utilizing. Now the construction of the sign system, as with our help of our partners here, we've created a modular system, so this is a updatable components there in case something gets damaged or messages change, and we expect that they will. Our systems and the systems that Colorad builds are designed to last at least 10 years. We've got systems that last, have last 20 years, and really the finishes, it's the paints and the graphics, they need to be updated, but the physical construction of the signs could almost last indefinitely. Their aluminum construction painted with automotive finishes, but there are the ability to change something in case something gets damaged on the sign, it's hit or some other, you know, natural phenomenon happens. We can update and replace some of the elements from there. This also, the modularity also helps with controlling costs on the sign types too. Here's just the elevation, so if you're wondering the size and scale, these obviously are very low to the ground, why they appear very large, but you can, the photo or image behind us, you can see the size and scale. There are at least seven foot to the bottom of the signs, that again is MUTCD recommendations for overhead clearance. Here's a, an example of one of the smaller sign types we are working within a specific budget. In order to do that, we are working with the different construction techniques to put the money in on the hero signs where they're necessary, and then reduce costs on the other support signs to help overall balance that budget. So this is a version of sort of a lower cost sign where there'll be less pedestrian traffic. We still have the graphic on the back side, but you can see we've simplified the front construction to be a flat panel, and then we still have our graphics on the back, they're just not as elaborately done as the previous design. The other key design element, sign type, that we want to make sure that we're considering is the pedestrian kiosk. This is the heavy lifter in that pedestrian wayfinding program. There'll be variations of this sign as well, but this is kind of our hero sign here. This is full-size scale so that when someone's standing in front of that map graphic, that overhead information is visible to them. That is going to be pointing to some key destinations along with parking, and then it gives you the walking distance in minutes. So we really want to reinforce, you know, the connectivity within the area. That map graphics is a replaceable, changeable insert, so it can be updated whenever, you know, substantial changes happen. And it's a really great opportunity to have the you are here location, potentially walking distance and radius. We can even include things like charging stations, public restrooms. It can get as granular as you want. We've had communities that even go down to putting businesses on there. We don't usually recommend that because it's more of a difficult to maintain that sort of system, but we can include a QR code that brings you to a business directory so you can find all the businesses and even locate them on a map. Sometimes we put an alphanumeric grid so it's a 11 and you can help find where some of those destinations, right? So it's a really great way to connect that. This case though, specifically, it's going to highlight those routes between the Lisbon Street and over into the riverfront area, so understanding where those pedestrian pathways are and how to connect into those. It is double-sided, so that backside, and we're showing that on the image right here, is a flexible space. It could be another map, but we envisioned it being more of a either a marketing, advertising, promotion, or even interpretive panel. Could have us speak to the history of a destination or architecture or the, or the mills itself. It's a great way. We found that visitors connect more with a destination if they know something more about it. They feel like they're an insider if they understand why something is the way it is. So while someone's navigating on the front, someone on the back side could be learning about an event or potentially learning a significant piece of history about the area. We kept them small and narrow so these will be in near intersections and crosswalks, but they're roughly the size of person standing there. They are purposely designed to be tapered at the bottom where there's a post, so it's not, we think of them as an obstruction, someone standing behind there or, you know, startling somebody. That's not the case with these because you can see their feet standing on both sides, and then we kept the profile from the side as narrow as necessary to kind of keep that from being obstruction as well. Here's an example of what that will look like. Right now these are still renderings. The final locations I think we Just verified that location today, that's still going to work. So this is what that would look like. We've aligned these specifically to align with existing street lights so they don't block. And we saw today the street cleaning equipment as they come up and down the streets, we kept these tucked out of the way to keep those safe. And then here's another opportunity that we've identified. This one specifically in our recommendations, we called out this specific area here as a maybe even a potential for an enhancement more than just the sign. Maybe that sign now is a reason to put some landscaping or update that location to kind of be more of a spot that people can settle in and spend a couple moments orienting themselves before they head out. As I said, it's a series of sign types. One solution is not going to meet every situation. So we've got a version of that which is about a three-quarter scale kiosk that can be mounted to existing streetlights, which significantly changes, saves on the cost because you don't have to put a footing in into the ground location. We're exploring some opportunities to tie in physically to the existing sidewalk to save some of those costs, but this would even be a further cost savings. And this again could be single or double-sided, and it would function in essentially the same way. We do have a parking, digital parking signs, but there are in some cases multiple entrances to the parking. Forgive me if I'm going quickly, I'm trying to be really cognizant of your time. So if I feel like I'm rambling, no, keep going quickly. Okay, this is the parking identification, not unlimited. So the some locations that are don't have a parking screen, this would be the parking identification sign that could go there. It does have a changeable portion at the bottom. It would just be physically changed rather than having a digital screen there. As I mentioned, part of the program we recommended a new identifier, identification gateway welcome signs, and that is so that we can tie in physically design wise with the rest of the program and leverage our design elements like our dimensional letters. So we've got a main gateway sign, and this potentially at the location of Main Street in Lincoln. Here's our proposed location. Right now we've got it tall and open so you can see, that you can see through the signs. We've got the graphics up high enough that's visible through traffic coming through, and we've also looked at the opportunity to illuminate that, so potentially there could Be lighting with those letters at night, a couple either externally, which is what this is, or internally. The lights, the letters will glow white, or I'm sorry, or there's an opportunity to even change the colors on those with color LED. We thought that might be an opportunity if you wanted to change the colors for holidays or specific events. You could change the color around there too for something fun if you wanted to, but the default would be the white. We do have a secondary entrance and identification sign at Lisbon and Canal Street, and this is the only difference between the two signs. This would be non-illuminated because there are not, there's not a power source close enough to pull power to that location feasibly right now. If for some reason that changes in the future, it still could be a ground mounted up lighting to fold that into the program. We had two different sizes. I think right now, based on our site location work, we're probably gonna do both large size scale signs right now. And then we had, again, two different versions of white or orange letters. As I mentioned earlier, this is the sign type array. So this is that kind of kit of tools that we're using. So you can sort of see the kind of spectrum of sign types and see their size relative to one another. Do have a parking garage program as well. This includes digital identification signs at six locations, one for each garage. This is a freestanding illuminated and with a digital electronic screen capable of updating and pushing out messages both in terms of the space could be spaces available. Really what it's going to be is more likely to going to be seasonal information as well as the hours and the rates. So we can push that information out instead of right now you've got some low static signs that are either directly outside or sometimes in those locations. This is a great way to kind of promote and advertise those outside the entrances, but then also easily updatable if something happens. I know there's a winter condition with the roads all closed due to snow conditions. This can alert folks to that, to let them know that they can park in these garages. There is a, we were exploring two different color options, but I believe based on the input we received we're going with the blue one because it matches the rest of the System this also has obviously the Park Circle parking p which is going to help bring, right now the parking garages have that, but now we're bringing it down more to the vehicle height in front of the entrances to really reinforce those connections. Working that we've worked through a parking circulation study, so we've looked at the way that people access those parking garages and we've developed a program that effectively and efficiently gets those folks from depending on which direction they come into downtown town, which garage they garage that they will access most readily and easily, and we're focusing our wayfinding guide information to get you to those garages. There will be situations where we cross direct you to garages in case one fills up, we want to redirect you to another, but we did want to make sure that we weren't crossing people across downtown to get to different garages when there was a garage easily accessible when they entered. I 'm not going to go in super detail I don't want to bore you, but all we have a parking study for each garage showing circulation entrances, what our proposed sign location is. This is an earlier study, we're refining those exact locations now, but it basically covers all of our recommendations per each garage, and then some cases we have a photo rendering here showing the our proposed location again, these are slightly going to change, but it gives you a sense for what the sign is going to look like scaled at that entrance point that we've identified lincoln chestnut garage everything's included all the garages are included there is we've had to prioritize the entrance and again it's based on that circulation and traffic flow because we're doing one per garage but there is a rendering and a day and night rendering for each one even to show we're bringing some more light to the street so even in situations like the south gateway garage where there's a sign located in the front that sign now is a nice draw for the entrance but it does add some additional sidewalk lighting as well. Oak Street garage gets its own identification sign directly at the entrance, this is great because it's a one-way street, we can kind of direct you correct you know direct you in easily. Even Centerville is getting a sign program there and the rationale behind that is though although this may be more of an employee oriented or staff oriented garage, that those folks will also need that information about parking and information regulatory and The weather alerts too, and then for us our next steps are to finalize our documentation package, present that back to our team for review. In the meantime our partners at Colorado are working through design details and specifications when coordinating science locating and programming so that we can look for submitted making a submission for our package probably within the next month, and then with the goal for having this program installed by we said August 1st of next year. That's me, I know that was quick, so I can go back to any slide and cover anything in more [21:32] Carl L. Sheline: detail if you have questions. Is it time for question questions, Director? Yeah, okay, yeah, I love the look of these signs, I think the design will fit in well with our downtown, so thank you. Questions comments from the council, Councillor Neijin [21:47] Chrissy Noble: Thank You Mr. Mayor, I Know that this projects been in the works for a few years now, and so Seeing something delivered is great. The parking garages, I believe it Are both underutilized as an amenity of the city owns and also important to communicate I don't think we have issues with parking. I do think that some of the challenges that we have around comfort and accessibility from parking to business areas is a challenge, and I also think you know we're talking about the riverfront district in the downtown and yet still I don't think anybody has defined those places, and so it might be important to do so before we put up the signage, just a you know so there's a chicken and an egg here I think a little bit, but at the same time this projects been moving forward for a while, so I'm happy to see that it's coming to fruition, but again we do have a downtown business district sign right where we're talking about putting one of the new signs pretty close to it, right, and even then there still wasn't a definition for what the downtown business district was, which is not the sign makers fault, but if you're making [23:02] Jeff Frank: signs saying this is a great opportunity to actually work on that, we'll have a map so we can define those borders were from wayfinding perspective always hesitant to put a hard line on those because we want businesses to understand they're part of this and not you know feel like there's a hard line between, so there is a way that we've done it where we've put soft edges on for downtown and saying this is roughly where it's at, here's the so you can understand where the core of it is and kind of Where it starts to fade out at, that's absolutely something that the map graphic could communicate, and that would be a great spot for people to orient themselves to the districts, the sizes. [23:31] Chrissy Noble: that yeah absolutely i again i just want to reiterate like when we define our downtown there 's a lot of stakeholders in that including the businesses that are located and people who live here right and so like we just need to make sure that the municipality this isn't necessarily directed at just the sign make i'm saying we have to do this collaboratively that's all but that's my feedback thank you further questions comments from counselors [24:01] John Blaze: i guess we're good if i could make mayor if i could make just one comment about the downtown you have a few minutes yes yep i agree with you counselor and agent we do have to define the downtown and that's you know that i think that's going to be our first step particularly when we talk about the downtown tiff i think we're going to have we'll have a workshop we're going to we're working with our team right now to come up with some maps and to do that and we hope to deliver that within the next two months or so and have some options and maybe some workshops so we can really you know define the downtown and focus on what we're going to do for downtown tiff and then ultimately help with this you know defining this and we could insert that downtown map that we choose on any of these you know kiosks that we have and really define that and put locations within that so i ultimately agree with you on that 100 and i know that it's important so we it is one of our first orders of tasks on Defining that for the, for the downtown TIF, thank. [25:11] Chrissy Noble: You, Mr., I appreciate that, and just keeping in mind that again the collaborative processes that brought us the Riverfront Island master plan, the collaborative processes that brought us the choice neighborhoods plan, those pieces, like, we don't necessarily want to jam it in two months if we're not getting the feedback right, like we want, we want to make sure that, like, the dot, the downtown stakeholders, including the residents and the businesses, are at the table for the discussion, that's all, thank you. [25:40] Amy Smith: Amy Smith, did you have something? I just wanted to add that I was one of the community representatives on this committee on behalf of the downtown Lewiston Association, and I wanted to compliment the city on what must have been an exceptional RFP because the project itself has been really pleasant to work on. The consultant, it has been these three people the whole time, was which is also rare, and they were also quick to take feedback, and there's a lot of opportunity on these signs because they're so modular and they are, they allow for updating to both make sure that the maps are always accurate, like with an annual refresh, and plenty of opportunity for public art on the backside of the smaller signs, not the big ones, but the backside, and so ways to engage our art commission community. So I thought it was a very thoughtful and [26:29] Carl L. Sheline: collaborative project. Thank you. And I apologize for you not being recognized earlier. In sorry, if you can introduce yourself. Yes, for the record, my name is [26:40] Chris Hillen: Chris Hillen. I'm with color add science. Will be fabricating and installing the [26:43] Carl L. Sheline: program. Excellent. I look forward to seeing these signs up around town. Thank you. Thank you all. Thank you. Next up we have the update on solid waste ordinance REVISIONS AND CART TO CURB SERVICE FRAMEWORK. WE HAVE OUR DYNAMIC DUO HERE, DIRECTOR CONNER AND DIRECTOR GANYE. THANK YOU, SIR. WHILE THEY'RE GEARING UP, ADMINISTRATOR O'MALLEY OR DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR O'MALLEY, CAN WE HAVE THESE SIGNS REMOVED [27:51] Bryan Kaenrath: DURING OUR BREAK? THAT'S THE PLAN, MR. MAYOR. ALL RIGHT. [28:01] Carl L. Sheline: IF YOU TWO CAN INTRODUCE YOURSELVES AND KICK US OFF. [28:05] Kevin Ganye: GOOD EVENING. KEVIN GANYE, DIRECTOR OF LOUISTON PUBLIC WORKS. [28:08] John Connor: Good evening, my name is John Connor, the director of planning and code enforcement. All right, slides are good to go, Mr. Mayor, members of the City Council, members of the public. Tonight's workshop is designed to review updated contract data, examine our current solid waste financial structure, and gather council direction on potential updates to Lewiston solid waste ordinance. To set the stage for our discussion tonight, this slide here, update or this slide, it outlines our four primary objectives for updating Lewiston solid waste framework. First, eliminating the taxpayer deficit. We want to transition our solid waste Handling from a 331 thousand six hundred and sixty dollar annual general fund deficit to 100 full cost recovery. Second, correct legacy exclusions. We are evaluating options to expand service access to 132 downtown mixed-use residential properties that were inadvertently omitted during the initial cart to curb rollout. Third, align the regional standards. We want to consider establishing a four-unit commercial ceiling, bringing Lewiston's direct, bringing Lewiston directly in line with our other peer communities such as Bangor, Auburn, Augusta, in South Portland. And fourth, balance our policy lenses. We aim to protect resident homesteads under a tax-funded public good model while structuring multi-tenant commercial rentals as a self-sustaining utility. Before we dive into the specific contract figures behind these objectives, I'd like to briefly outline our legislative process just as a reminder for tonight. Two policy approaches local governments use to manage solid waste. First, regarding our legislative process, as you all know, tonight's session is an exploratory workshop intended to present contract figures and receive policy feedback from the council. No formal vote or an ordinance changes will occur tonight. If the council direct staff to draft ordinance amendments based on tonight's feedback, those draft amendments will proceed through the formal process, including first and second readings, as well as public hearings, where every resident, property owner, and business owner will have a chance to speak on the floor. Second, regarding our policy framework, as municipalities evaluate solid waste collection, discussions generally revolve around two distinct governance approaches. The first is trash as a broad public good. This view holds that uncollected waste poses a general public health and environmental concern. Under this model, trash collection is treated as a core public safety service, similar to fire protection and stormwater management, snow plowing funded out of the general property taxes for the clean and healthy benefit of the entire community. The second is trash as a direct user pay utility. This view holds that waste generation is a private operational activity associated with property usage, similar to water, sewer, and electricity. Each property pays the actual break-even cost of the waste volume generated, so general property taxpayers do not subsidize private operating budgets. The three-tier service framework staff IS PRESENTING TONIGHT INTEGRATES BOTH GOVERNANCE MODELS. And I apologize for the font that is not what was designed, but it is coming up that way on this computer, so I apologize. I did not type this out on a typewriter. The three-tier service framework it integrates both governance models. It maintains tax-funded baseline collection for resident homesteads under the public goods model while structuring multi-tenant commercial rental properties as a self-sustaining fully cost recovery model our utility rather let's look at the actual contract data from public works assessing and Casella under our current model the true cost to collect and dispose of waste in Lewiston is roughly 310 dollars per unit annually it's about a hundred dollars for collection and about 210 dollars for the landfill disposal tipping fees this is based on roughly two tons per unit per year however the city currently charges is opt-in operating properties a legacy fee of 170 dollars per unit that creates a 140 net operating loss on every single opt-in unit every single year across the 2,369 total units that are currently enrolled general property taxpayers write a 331,660 subsidy check every year out of the general fund when single family homeowners pay property taxes their dollars are actively funding $140 per unit in unpaid operating expenses for multifamily rental investments moving to a $310 breakeven opt-in rate which is about $25 and 83 cents a month eliminates this 331 thousand six hundred sixty dollar deficit entirely back to our four concepts policy concepts that we're asking you for the first the first policy concept is what we're calling one, the tax funded municipal pickup. Under policy concept one, we define tier one as a fully tax baseline pickup. So tier one is reserved strictly for primary residential homesteads that get one cart as a baseline per unit. This includes single family homes, duplexes, owner occupied triplexes that's verified through homestead status, condos that are on the public ride of way, mobile homes on their own lots, and a few others scattered throughout that have just a single unit on them crucially we're correcting past exclusions by adding 65 single unit owner-occupied mixed-use properties we call these the live work shopkeepers when a local business owner lives in the single residential apartment above or behind their Shop they receive one free tier one cart granting the 65 local resident shopkeepers cost the city just twenty thousand, little over twenty thousand dollars a year, a minor worthy investment in our downtown business community that treats resident owners fairly alongside single family homeowners. Sorry, apologize. Section four is the policy concept two, so tier two fully the full cost recovery paid opt-in. Under policy concept two we established tier two paid opt-in utility. Tier two is available to three triplexes, four plexes with non-owner our occupiers, multi-tenant mixed-use properties between two and four units, and state license group homes. By setting the opt-in fee at the actual break-even cost of 310 dollars per unit per year, the 1833 units in this pool generate roughly 568 000 in annual revenue. This covers 100 percent of casella collection and landfill tipping fees, ensuring that multi-unit tenant at rental buildings operate on a self-sustaining utility model. Policy concept three is the residential versus commercial ceiling and market restoration. Under policy concept three we establish a four unit commercial ceiling following federal housing standards and peer main communities like Bangor, Auburn, Augusta, and South Portland. All properties with five or more units are categorized under tier three, which is ineligible for municipal pickup and mandatory private hauling. This removes 166 commercial complexes right now, or roughly 1097 units currently on city routes, clearing crowded sidewalks and eliminating one hundred fifty two thousand four hundred and sixty dollars in annual taxpayer losses on those large buildings alone. What this also does is it restores the private market. So under our current system, by changing by charging an artificially low 170 dollar fee for a three hundred ten dollar service, the city has created an unintended government monopoly that squeeze all private waste haulers out of Lewiston, offloading 1097 commercial units to private hauling instantly opens an active local market where regional contractors can compete for commercial dumpster accounts, giving landlords some competitive choices for their for their waste removal. Policy concept number four is the transition and the implementation of the ordinance. Under policy concept 4 we established streamlined administrative logistics. Number one, owner occupancy is verified automatically in city software via site address and homestead exemption matches, eliminating manual staff auditing. Number Two opt-in fees are billed directly on annual property tax bills, ensuring 100% collection without administrative overhead. Number three, carts are serviced based on an automated master address whitelist. Unregistered carts will not be emptied. And number four, five plus unit commercial properties receive a six month transition period post ordinance adoption to secure private commercial haulers. Thank you. Mr. Mayor, members of the council, to wrap up, staff is asking for war no formal votes tonight. We're just seeking general consensus on policies, policy directions so that we can come back with ordinance changes. Again, just to reiterate the four concepts, the tier one scope. We're looking for adding the mixed-use properties to the pickup now. Tier two, the cost recovery. We're asking to go to a increased fee for those that are opted in to be a cost, a cost neutral revenue. And then number three is commercial ceiling, establishing the four units. This is the big one, obviously establishing a four unit ceiling for any of the city's pickup services. And then the transition plan providing the six month grace period for commercial properties. And then utilizing the tax bill line items for the opt-in accounts. With your guidance tonight, staff will draft formal ordinance language for the council to consider during upcoming first and second readings where full public meetings will be held. With that, I conclude the presentation. We can go over any of the data from the numbers on any of the charts on the slides as you'd like to discuss them. Happy to turn it over to my colleague Director Ganye for any comments that he has, and then back to mayor for council questions. [38:55] Kevin Ganye: Anything, Director Ganye? That was really well done. I don't have nothing to add right now, but here to answer any questions about what we're talking about. [39:05] Carl L. Sheline: Excellent. Yes, councillor Chittum. Thank you. Mr. Mayor, tier one. [39:09] Scott A. Harriman: There are a number of people who had been legacy collect her trash had been collected legacy. You are all familiar with that. Some of them, I understand, have been corrected and carts have been issued to them. Do you have any outstanding live work legacy that have not been satisfied at this point? We have less than two dozen. [39:34] Kevin Ganye: That fall into that category, I think there's been very few, one or two that were do have a cart. The rest of the rest of those are we're trying to get through this formal process. I think I stayed in our a couple weeks ago, it's not in the city ordinance where you know we'd be violating the orients if we gave it out, so we're not. We're looking for direction here on [39:58] Scott A. Harriman: how we handle it and move forward. From my own personal perspective, I've had a number of people constituents call saying we used to have trash collection, we are a live work, which you're calling a live work situation, business residents. I would like to see them have their carts at least on an interim basis. The question I've written down here for tier one is when, if we're talking about an ordinance change that's at least a month of process, a lot of trash can build up in a month for those folks who had been getting trash and who are no longer receiving it because the ordinance is specific does not allow it. So I'm eager to push this along as quickly as possible, and anything that we can do to help these folks in the meantime would be much appreciated. [40:48] Carl L. Sheline: Thoughts from other counselors as to what tier? Yes counselor and aging, just comments overall. [40:55] Chrissy Noble: This is more comprehensive than I expected. So I am pleased with that portion of it. I do think that there would be a need before we give guidance 100% to have either one or two work sessions with impacted parties so that we have give feedback from the community. We understand exactly what we're looking at when we make these changes, but I do I like the idea of closing the gap on the funding piece. I like the fact, the idea of encouraging the private market. I understand the tier one, tier two, and tier three, and if it's comprehensive and aligned with other municipalities, I think the logic is there. To speak to Councillor Chittim's point, I also have quite a few folks in Ward 1, especially along main street that are in mixed-use buildings in all kinds of different form formulations. It looks like most of these would be covered, but I would definitely want to check in because I know that we're kind of we're begging casella to pick up trash at certain places in order to you know like I want they either have to be comfortable with the idea of what well maybe not even be comfortable with but if There's a fee for the trash because they have a multi-unit that also has a residential. We just need to work those pieces out with the folks out there that are that are trying to figure out when their trash was picked up for 30 years in a row, why it's no longer being picked up, and what they have to pay. So I would just point that out as well. [42:35] Scott A. Harriman: Councilor Herman, did you have something? Yes, yeah, thank you for this. So on the Let's see. It is page three. You say the true operating cost of picking up a from a unit in a multi-unit building is three hundred ten dollars. But the cost is that the fee is a hundred seventy, correct? [42:55] John Connor: So that's that's what the current system charges the I think it's a hundred dollars to get on the program. For the building and then one hundred and seventy dollars per unit per year is what is charged to the property owner? [43:08] Scott A. Harriman: Yes, do you have similar numbers as far as what it costs to pick up from single-family homes, too? [43:15] John Connor: The cost is the same so the three hundred ten dollars is Costella I take that back forgive me. So the single-family homes are about two hundred ten dollars correct me if I'm wrong give or take about two hundred ten dollars for Collection and then the disposal fee is the same across the board. It's it's based off two tons. SO IF THEY STOP AT ONE PROPERTY AND PICK UP THREE UNITS WORTH, YOU GET THE BULK DISCOUNT. IT'S MORE EXPENSIVE FOR THE SINGLE FAMILY AND DUPLEXES AND THEN IT GOES DOWN FOR THE [43:49] Scott A. Harriman: MULTIUNITS. IT WOULD BE ABOUT $420 FOR A SINGLE FAMILY. CORRECT. BUT THEY'RE NOT PAYING ANY FEE AT THIS POINT. [43:57] John Connor: CORRECT. THEIRS IS WITH THE PROPERTY TAXES. CORRECT. [44:00] Scott A. Harriman: I WOULD JUST ARGUE THAT THE PEOPLE LIVING IN THE MULTI-UNIT BUILDINGS ARE ALSO RESIDENTS, ALSO TAXPAYERS PAYING PROPERTY TAXES, ALBEIT INDIRECTLY THROUGH THEIR RENT. SO I JUST WANTED TO POINT THAT OUT THERE, THAT IT'S A SERVICE THAT EVERY RESIDENT IS ALREADY PAYING FOR, AND THEN IN THE CASE OF MULTI-UNIT BUILDINGS, THEY'RE PAYING MORE WITH THIS FEE. SO I DON'T KNOW WHERE I LAND ON WHICH TIER TO GO WITH, BUT I JUST WANTED TO POINT THAT OUT. [44:31] John Connor: and if I may answer so in some of our research you know obviously we look at we try to look at from every perspective every angle you know a five unit downtown that's worth five hundred thousand dollars is paying the exact same amount of property tax as a single-family home out in where whichever Ward that's worth five hundred thousand dollars however that five unit is utilizing five times the amount of resources you're picking up five units worth of trash versus one unit worth of trash for the same rate. So you know, that's one way of looking at it. I know we had some discussions that one of the last meetings where if you, if you don't allow any services, then they're essentially, you know, offsetting or subsidizing the residential property. So two different ways of looking at, once from, you know, from a volume perspective and one is from a public good perspective. Thank you. [45:29] Carl L. Sheline: Councilor Chittim, and then back to Councilor Nijen. [45:31] Scott A. Harriman: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Yes, from a public good perspective and from a utility or an enterprise fund perspective, I come down very strongly in favor of enterprise fund. It's a utility. The more you throw away, the more you should pay. That would eliminate a lot of this tiering, the structuring, the multi-units. You just weigh the trash and it's called paper bag pay as you throw, very unpopular, but it has been implemented in many municipalities throughout the state, and I think it is the future. The difficulty here in Lewiston is that we have a, an anomalous disposal mechanism where we own our own landfill, which is not the case with most municipalities. But I do see pay as you throw as a separate enterprise fund, very much like sewer, storm water, and water, being the way of the future for trash disposal, trash collection in Lewiston I don't see that 's being addressed here it's a big it's a big leap but I would like to keep that option open and anything that's done here recognize that there is THE POTENTIAL FOR EXPLORING PAY AS YOU THROW DISPOSAL AND COLLECTION DOWN THE ROAD IF I MAY [46:55] Carl L. Sheline: Mr Mayor, really quickly. Yeah, I don't want to get into a whole discussion about pay as you throw. [46:59] John Connor: No, I just wanted to say that I'm glad to hear that, because Director Gani and I have had that conversation. The majority of us feel that same way, in some, maybe not a bag process, but even if it's the cart process, if you're paying for the cart, but like we wanted to try to do baby steps first. [47:16] Chrissy Noble: Yeah, understood, Councillor Nagine. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. So just coming back to like the trash services is currently provided to like a three unit for instance, right, like yes, you do get three trash cans, that's true, you get one recycling can, right, which is also a service that is provided by Casella. I can tell you that in my address I have much more recycling than I have trash, right, it's we're being moved to a volume model whether we decide to or not, and on one level I think it's important because we do on the landfill, right, like the less the more we can divert from the landfill, the longer the landfill lasts, and the and the better it is for city costs overall. This trash program is very expensive, it is you know it's I believe we're paying 2.5 million dollars right now out of a 41 million dollar budget, is that correct, I would [48:09] Kevin Ganye: I haven't looked at it recently, I would defer to your recall, that's a lot of [48:13] Chrissy Noble: money, and so figuring out ways to again this it was sorry this is a failure I think on my part honestly, because about a year ago we talked about moving forward some type of working group in order to look at the overall cost of our trash system, the diversion, the ordinances that we have in place, the enforcement of ordinances, whether or not that is a revenue stream that offsets the cost of services for both cleanup in our community, all of those pieces, we haven't done that, and that's primarily because i think i dropped the ball there and i apologize for that but when we talk about going through maybe a couple of workshops or working group pieces before we come up with so we do have buy-in from the community we also have to really think about like where we're moving for like that landfill is gonna be dead in 30 years be filled we're not gonna get a new one we're not gonna be allowed to have a new one there 's the cost that we're paying for casella right now without strongly encouraging private competition, and then also like what type of development do we want to see, do we actually want to be in a position where we're saying now we don't really want to see mixed-use developments because They won't be able to get trash service in areas where we desperately need the trash service to actually occur. So I did it's those thoughts that I have in mind. I think this is Really well put together, has some really good solid arguments, and I want to test these against The folks that will have things to say. So thank you. [49:53] Carl L. Sheline: Counselors, am I hearing that we're unable or we need more time to look this over and before we make recommendations to staff? [50:05] Susan G. Longchamps: is that what i'm hearing councillor longchamps thank you mayor i too would agree i do think we need to hear from the community regarding this thank you councillor neji and then back to [50:19] Chrissy Noble: COUNCILOR CHIDDOM: I would strongly support moving in the if it can be done. I it's hard because I don't want to necessarily piece mail anything, but I do want to address the homes that we're receiving, the residences that are mixed use, that we're receiving trash service before. So I think that's the challenge that I have. I don't know if we can do move forward with that piece in order to just make sure that we have some conformity there, and then you know basically you know wall test some of these other pieces so that we come up with something that the city isn't going to be upset about in four months, that makes sense for us as well. [51:03] Carl L. Sheline: COUNCILOR CHUDOM: Thank you. I'd just like to [51:07] Scott A. Harriman: iterate what Councilman Agene has said. The sooner we can make whole the folks who had been receiving trash, and my understanding is that they had been receiving collection against our ordinances, it was a violation of the ordinance, and now we're enforcing the ordinance and they're stuck in the middle, they have no trash. So I would like to see that remedied post haste, and if there's a way that the council can somehow excuse or continue a violation of the ordinance so that these folks who have been experiencing and have been having their trash collected are not penalized for our sudden enlightenment on ordinance enforcement. [51:50] Carl L. Sheline: Thank you. Yes, I guess if we can come to a conclusion on that, and then it sounds like the council is feeling some public comment on these policy tiers would be beneficial. [52:04] Chrissy Noble: I WOULD SAY PUBLIC SESSIONS WHERE WE ARE INVITING FOLKS TO ACTUALLY PARTICIPATE AND ALSO POSSIBLY BRING IN SOME FOLKS THAT HAVE STAKE IN SOME OF THE HOUSING SO THAT WE GET LIKE A FULL FEEDBACK AND SO THAT WE CAN MAKE BETTER DECISIONS ABOUT OUR ORDINANCES AS WELL MOVING FORWARD. [52:28] Carl L. Sheline: Our two directors, did you catch all that? [52:31] John Connor: I did. A quick question, if we did a band-aid fix, if you will, to the ordinance, are you referring to everybody that received trash against the ordinance and no longer receives it, or are we talking about those live work, those people, this is their residence and it's their location of work as well, their business, or are we talking like everybody? [52:56] Scott A. Harriman: WELL, I DON'T KNOW WHO EVERYBODY IS. The calls that I've been getting are from folks who have the live-work situation that you're talking about. Okay. So I don't know how large the universe of everybody else is. But those folks who are now excluded because they have a business in their home. Mm-hmm. Let's fix that. Yep. Thank you. [53:18] Chrissy Noble: Councilor Nijing, just to reiterate. I think it's maybe 70 addresses or less, right, that and ultimately, if they're residential, right, if they're owner-occupied residential, I would highly support, you know, a lot of these folks have had front offices in their houses for 35 years and getting service, trash service for 35 years because we, you know, they got in somehow. And so, like, ultimately, you know, when you're 55 and you've had trash service since you were 25, yeah, like, it's not. [53:53] John Connor: It's about 67 of those are multi-units so two to four units. 65 of them are just a single one unit. Okay. So we can we can look to bring forward some language to put a band-aid fix on that as we go through the larger process if [54:09] Carl L. Sheline: you'd like. Sounds great. Thank you. Thank you both. Anything further from each of you, either of you? Okay. Have a wonderful evening. So those that concludes our two workshops. So we're gonna work to reset the stage here, so to speak, and start as close to 7 as we can. Thank you so much. We're starting. Please take your seat or head to the hall. We're getting underway. Thank you all for being here and I noticed that we have the Honorable Linda Scott here in the audience and she will lead us in the she is graciously agreed to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Thank you very much Linda. Madam Clerk, I believe we're ready to begin. Thank you. [1:01:53] David B. Chittim: Mr. Mayor. All roll call votes for this meeting will begin with the Councillor [1:01:56] Carl L. Sheline: of Ward 6. I also understand that we have minutes. You do. The minutes of September 15th. I have a motion to accept the minutes. Move to accept it. Councillor Chittim. Second. Second by Councillor Nagine. Madam Clerk please call the vote. Councilor from Ward 6. Yes. Ward 7. Yes. Ward 1. Yes. Ward 2. Yes. Ward 3. Yes. Ward 5. Yes. Mr. Mayor. Yes. [1:02:17] David B. Chittim: And we will note for the record Mr. Mayor that Councillor Roy from Ward 4 has an excused absence this evening. Thank you. [1:02:25] Carl L. Sheline: We are now up to public comment. Any member of the public may make comments regarding issues pertaining to Lewiston City government. This period is reserved for non agenda items. Public comment is also allowed during individual agenda items. Public comment is limited to three minutes per person. Please state your name for the record and please indicate if you are Lewiston resident. Because this is the business meeting of the City Council all questions should be directed to the mayor. We'll ask staff to follow up at a future time. It is illegal for the City Council to allow comments related to personnel matters. All personnel complaints should be made directly to the city administration office and Can we just get a show of hands who's looking to provide public comment today? Okay, and just so we can move through things smoothly if we can just start to form a line so that way we can just do one right after the other that would be great okay yes Mr. Mayor [1:03:22] Scott A. Harriman: it appears that they're going to be more than 18 minutes worth of initial public comment. It appears that way. I would make a motion then that we suspend the rules to allow more than 18 minutes of public comment with the condition that we not have a second public comment at the end of the meeting. Second did you catch [1:03:40] David B. Chittim: all that Madam Clerk yes to waive the rules and to allow unlimited public comment now and to not hold the second public comment period in [1:03:46] Carl L. Sheline: the app and councillor Martel seconded thank you excellent please call [1:03:52] David B. Chittim: the vote yes Mr. Mayor yes okay and if well we [1:04:05] Carl L. Sheline: have public comment if we can have chatter in the audience to a minimum you have cell phones you can text each other head out to the hall and talk and then i've already heard way too many cell phones this evening so please silence yours please kick us off with public comments counselor [1:04:21] Susan G. Longchamps: i stand here before you today not as a city councilor but as a resident a mother and a victim of abuse and someone who believes that these allegations should be taken seriously This is not about whether counselor Harriman is guilty or innocent The question is whether this council will ensure these serious allegations are looked into professionally independently and responsibly the allegations made publicly include that a sitting counselor Entered a vulnerable woman's bed without her consent and Potentially transported her to purchase illegal drugs. I was not present, and I cannot verify what occurred. I have known Kara for several years, and she shared her story with me after moving out of Council Councillor Harriman's apartment building. I also want to be absolutely clear, the email previously sent by a constituent, a constituent, to the mayor, our Council President Chittum at the time, and other city officials had nothing to do with me. I did not even know it existed. Had I known these concerns had already been reported, this discussion would have happened months ago. I have since learned that Kara shared her story with friends, family, and others, including staff from the shelter, our local shelter. Sorry. I was not the only person she told. But yet I have somehow, yet somehow, because of the political timing, I have become part of an accusation as though I created this, convinced Kara to come forward. That is simply not true. Kara originally asked me not to share what she told me, and I respected her wishes. When she was ready to speak publicly, I stood by her side, and I will not apologize for that. Joe Philippon, you have repeatedly attempted to discredit me. You once worked very hard to get me elected to council. Our relationship changed when I began making my own decisions and refused to participate in things I did not believe were right. Whatever political or personal disagreement you have with me, do not make Kara's allegations about me. Counselor Noble, Chrissy, you have also questioned why I did not come forward sooner and have called me a liar on social media. That's time. Thank you. Thank you. Where am I picking up? I respected Kara's. [1:07:38] Chrissy Noble: Rensoul, Ward 5. I respected Kara's request for privacy, and I know where you stand with this. You stood in that hallway at City Hall and said to me that Kara did not get raped, that she was clear about that, and that there was nothing that could be done. If you have forgotten about the conversation or want to call me a liar, I encourage you to ask Deputy O'Malley for the footage. This should not be a Republican versus Democrat. It should not be about Councillor Harriman's political party or others. It should be about this city responds when serious allegations involving an elected official and a vulnerable resident are brought forward. And taking her allegations seriously does not mean declaring Councillor Harriman guilty. It means we care. We care enough about both fairness and accountability to seek the TRUTH. NOW MY TURN STILL RIN WARD BY GOOD EVENING MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. I'M HERE TONIGHT TO ASK THE COUNCIL TO PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY BY ENACTING A LOCAL ORDINANCE TO BAN THE RETAIL SALE AND COMMERCIAL DISTRIBUTION OF CRATUM PRODUCTS WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS. RIGHT NOW CRATUM IS SOLD OPENLY ON THE COUNTERS OF LOCAL GAS STATIONS AND VAPE SHOPS AS HARMLESS NATURAL SUPPLEMENT. However, public health data proves it to be dangerous and a growing threat. Here are four quick reasons. First, it acts like an opioid. Kratom triggers the exact same parts of the brain as prescription painkillers, carrying a very high risk of chemical addiction and severe withdrawal. Second, it can be deadly. Because it is entirely unregulated, companies sell ultra-potent liquid extracts. The CDC has linked Kratom to hundreds of deaths, Often because it's dangerously slows down breathing or interacts terribly with normal medications and alcohol. Third, there is zero safety testing. Government testing has repeatedly found dangerous impurities inside the retail kratom packages including toxic heavy metals like lead and harmful bacteria like salmonella. Finally, it targets our youth. These products are intentionally PACKAGED IN BRIGHT COLORS, FLAVORED LIKE FRUIT JUICE AND CANDY AND PLACED RIGHT NEXT TO SNACKS AT THE CASH REGISTER TO APPEAL THE TEENAGERS. WHILE FEDERAL ACTIONS ARE LAGGING, DOZENS OF COMMUNITIES NATIONWIDE HAVE SUCCESSFULLY USED LOCAL ORDINANCES TO BAN THESE PRODUCTS AND PROTECT THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS. I HAVE SUBMITTED A FORMAL PROPOSAL LETTER AND DETAILED DATA SHEET TO THE CITY CLERK FOR YOUR REVIEW. I URGE THE COUNCIL TO PLACE THIS MUNICIPAL BAN ON AN UPCOMING AGENDA. Thank you for your time. In 2015, 258 cases of kratom exposure were reported by the Poison Center. In 2025, we are at 3,434. That's a 1,200% increase. This is bad stuff. [1:10:46] Ronnie Parity: Ronnie Parity, Ward 6. I'm here tonight to beg this council to stop looking at the people of Lewiston and please do something if you didn't read the sun journal i know it says oxford county but this also is going on in andrew scoggin company excuse me andrew scoggin county too i talked to so many people and seniors especially they're worried about the oil you guys should be talking about how to help people and get the word out you're not doing that you're not doing that you're dividing Biden and the city up. Again, we're paying attention to Harriman, and Scott, you should drop down. But anyway, I want you to stop paying attention. Oil, gas, food, insecurity. Do you know what it's like to eat cat food all the time because that's all you can afford? Or maybe you can't even afford to feed your pets that many seniors have for their things. You're not talking about our people, you're not talking about what you're going to do this winter, you're not talking about what's going to happen if they can't pay their extra assessments this coming year. Do you know what's going to happen? They're going to be, there's going to be a lien to their house if they can't pay their taxes. Do you know what that means? They lose all their credit. I want word to go out that you guys are doing something about the citizens are loosening and doing something because more and more people are being homeless. I look and talk to people who I've known for years who have their house up for sale. And it's because the mayor has done nothing but divide the city. And then we have to pay attention to people like Harriman and all his stuff. He should drop down. If he was a gentleman, he would. And you've got to care about people. You got to get what are we going to do this winter for people and then you don't even care about the 24-7 thing I hear that's in trouble too and talking about them all the time. What is going on in the city? I saw the last, was it the last council meeting, it was terrible. You are not doing anything. Brett and Susan are asking the right questions and because people don't like the questions and the honest questions they ask, they don't like it, but they are asking honest questions and questions we want to know even that night about the needles and everything I want to know about HIV and Andis Gargan County no one could answer me that night when are you going to start thinking about the taxpayers and People who have lived here all their lives People are worried. They're anxious. They're sad. Thank you. [1:13:52] Chris Hillen: Hi, Adam Jones Ward, too. I just want to first start out and say I'm very proud of you council long chance for standing up here and voicing that. It takes a lot of strength. So, thank you. [1:14:06] Carl L. Sheline: If we can have it quiet in the council chambers, thank you. [1:14:11] Chris Hillen: And then secondly thank you please continue other than the other two embarrassments up there. I just wanted to point out the day today we have 90 days until the biggest clown is out of that seat so get out there and vote be lewis and strong it's time for this city to step up and follow its mission so you got 90 days carl if. [1:14:36] Carl L. Sheline: We can have it quiet in the chambers and they'd be great thank you please continue with public comment john horton ward two. [1:14:45] Speaker P (unidentified): Everyone on the council knows why I'm here to speak against this mobile home moratorium once again at this point just a couple quick numbers I love facts which you guys have ignored and keep voting for this thing taxes 2022 to 2026 the city of lewiston increased their mill rate 100 hundred percent under this ordinance with the CPI increases even with the plus-two modifier if it stays in there my park is looking at over the same timeframe a twenty one point five percent increase that a park is a. Mini city we've got all the same expenses but somehow you think I can function under to the same expenses with one quarter of the cost that's insane I mean I get so frustrated I don't even know what to say and at this point you've exceeded the time frame to the point that my annual january increases cannot go out so you're costing even more money I sent you all several of you a spreadsheet showing 2026 just the basic cost from the city of Lewiston electricity water and sewer city taxes and. Basic increases like that and we were four dollars and 31 cents per lot per month in the black in the red a loss if we use that program for this year alone just as a sample because I've got enough numbers to look at it and somehow you still think this is a good thing if you're not going to bankrupt us you're sure as hell going to hurt the hell out of us you know there's a simple saying I love to leave quotes when I go the simplest one right this minute is either or get off the pot because. You're doing a lot of financial damage to myself and my group it's not small it's six figures worth of damage and increasing every day you're sitting up there they're doing nothing. I keep hearing, oh, we got it legal. Let's talk about the legal. How much is it costing the taxpayers of this city? Well, you guys dink around. You're over $150,000 last I knew for the legal fees, and all I hear is it's still illegal. Well, I'm sitting here not able to make increases or survive. It's shameful. You think you're doing a win-win. It's not. It's a lose,, lose, because eventually those tenants are either going to end up without a place to stay because the parks are closed or they're gonna and the owners are losing money and the city of Lewiston taxpayers are losing money there's no win here I don't even know what to say anymore you just keep dragging this out thinking you're doing something good and you're not Zoe [1:17:44] Lidstrom: Lidstrom Ward one I'm here this evening to speak in support of councillor Harriman whom I know to be a very thoughtful individual who cares a lot about this city and its citizens and residents Including myself anytime. I have written to the just general public comments Councillor Harriman has always taken the time to provide a very thoughtful response to whatever I have had to say Even though I'm technically not one of his constituents since I live in Ward 1 and formerly lived in Ward 5 I'm really concerned about recent Allegations that are I think manufactured and have been Increasingly Volatile and cruel and sort of been ramping up over the past several months culminating in a blogger Not a news outlet staking out Councilor Harriman's house for hours and not allowing him to go home To me that is that's not acceptable. That is not politics That is stalking and if that can happen to councillor Harriman, it could happen to anyone in our city regardless of who they are that's very concerning to me as a voter in this city and just as a Person who would not want that to happen to myself or to anyone else so yeah that's about it if [1:19:17] Carl L. Sheline: we can have it quiet in the council chambers thank you please continue with public comment my [1:19:24] Lisa Jones: name is lisa jones i live in ward 2 and i own a business in ward 7 and that was disgusting i [1:19:33] Carl L. Sheline: intended to come up quiet in the council chambers thank you please continue please [1:19:42] Lisa Jones: Continue. I intended to come here tonight to rehash the Scott Harriman behavior we've all been subjected to over the last few years, a pattern of denial, refusal to accept responsibility for misbehavior, portraying himself as the victim when his own conduct is questioned, apparently getting people to come up and say he's a victim when his conduct is questioned, and attempting to silence people who criticize him. Unlike the person who spoke before me, I do not get responses from Councillor Harriman. I get the police sent to my house. He is my state rep in Augusta and he has me blocked. I have no idea what he puts out. I get the lies that the Democrat Party sends to my house on his behalf. Scott is not a victim and this is disgusting. I'm gonna address the rest of you. Your silence in the face of extremely serious accusations against the Ward 3 counselor tells the community that you condone the behavior that he is accused of. Your silence condones alleged participation in illicit drug sales and use. Your silence condones alleged abuse of power. Some of you have been silent on the issue for three weeks. David and Carl have been silent on it for more than three months. The woman who made the allegations is a member of the local homeless community, a population that a few of you work with. What does it communicate to the unhoused folks you see in your professional capacities when they learn that you heard these allegations from their peer and you deemed them not worthy of further investigation? If you're not going to protect her, then why should they trust you to protect them? It is crazy that you think so lowly of your constituents that this is the best you can offer us for representation. Like having Mitch McConnell in the Senate, the guaranteed vote for your team is more important than engaging in ethical behavior. No amount of slogans, logos, or expensive rebranding will improve Lewiston's image, as long as our elected leaders don't bat an eye when one of them is accused of climbing into bed with his tenant without her consent. Serious transgressions have been alleged here, and short of a resignation, an independent investigation seems like the only plausible way forward. Please [1:22:15] Carl L. Sheline: stop. Thank you, Sergeant. Thank you. Everyone can go back to their seats. If we can have it quiet in council chambers, that would be lovely. Please continue with [1:22:28] Ben Daily: Public comment. Hey, hello, my name is Ben, I live in, or Ben Daily, I live in Ward 1 here in Lewiston, and it's just unfortunate that we all have to come down here and have the city council be a forum on unsubstantiated allegations from a blogger about Scott Herrmann. I've known Scott Herrmann for years. He comes to a lot of events. It's been nice being able to talk to him. Yeah, this sucks. I'm just gonna keep it brief. Thank you. [1:22:58] Jay Zimmerman: please stop thank you good evening my name is jay zimmerman ward one October is national bullying prevention month Lewiston Public Schools is doing series of lessons with counselors and in classrooms to help our children learn how to recognize bullying how to stand up for those who are being attacked how to be an upstander and not a bystander how to fight for a better world I think this is a lesson that a lot of Lewiston needs this month. It makes me sad to look around these chambers and to hear the whispers, to hear the nasty comments, to see the behavior online, and know that despite all our efforts in the schools, the examples of the adults in their lives run contrary to everything we want our students to grow up to learn, to be how to treat each other, how to deal with problems, how to disagree with ideas and not with people, how to conduct themselves respectfully in public, how to have discourse that doesn't resort to name-calling. It is disappointing to think that this is the world that my students are growing up into. They deserve better, and so do we all. Further [1:24:37] Jim Cutting: further public comment, please. Jim Cutting, Ward 6. Jim Cutting, Ward 6. I just want to reflect on something that Sue talked about. When I was still working, this was a rumor in the homeless community about what Scott did with female tenants. It was well known. And I've heard the word disgust thrown about quite a bit. And I want to say, I'm disgusted with a lot of people that have come up here. Why is it when it comes to somebody like Donald Trump, Brett Kavanaugh, or seven frat boys at Cordell, all of a sudden, it's true, it happened, it's true, it's just an accusation, but it's true. But now we have somebody who stood on the line saying me too many years ago, suddenly an accusation comes up against him and nobody wants to talk about it. That's the truly disgusting part. Why should any victim come forward if their city is going to turn against them because somebody's got a D after their name? And as far as you, I'm concerned with you, Scott, one thing to say, you know, it's a funny thing about that little white spock on top of chicken shit, because well, that's chicken shit too, if [1:26:00] Carl L. Sheline: We could refrain from the use of expletives, that would be great. Further public comment, quiet in the chambers, thank you. Hello, [1:26:14] Siri Cressy: my name is Siri Cressy and I live in Lewiston and I'm here to speak in support of the Lewiston Auburn Community Market. [1:26:27] Carl L. Sheline: I think that's going to be an agenda item, so you'll need to wait. Sorry, yeah, we're still having more fun later in the meeting. Don't go away. First, please continue with public comment. Someone left this behind, if you can hand it to our deputy administrator, that'd be great. [1:26:50] Matthew Agron: Matthew Agron, Ward 4. This is one Lewiston, and we all need to understand that. To steal a phrase from President Lincoln, a house divided against itself cannot stand. We need to come together, work with each other to make this a better city. Yes, Lewiston has a problem with violence, but we're not alone in that. But it starts with our young children and continues as they get older. Older. But as they get older, instead of using their fists, some of them are carrying illegal firearms and using them. Then as these same children grow up, that violence can continue and becomes possibly domestic assaults. And then we're all shocked when that happens, especially when it happens to someone that we all know and care about. Then when they make the hard step for the victim to try to step away, they're not believed and supported by the outside world. I know in 2024 the Lewiston Police Department received external funding to help combat domestic violence within the city, to have officers work overtime to follow up with victims, connect them with services and to make sure protection from abuse orders are being followed. I hope the city is still doing this. But back to the violence. We need our school systems, those non-profits working with these kids, Lewiston and Maine's law enforcement agencies, along with the various federal agencies we have partnerships with, the state of Maine's justice system, and yes the general public to help bring our violence level back into control. If you see something off or wrong, say something. Share your videos with Lewiston PD if they ask for them. But you know who really needs to be involved in all this, the parents and guardians. We can no longer be the parents that were for my generation, the ones who had to be remembered by that PSA, it's 10 p.m. Do you know where your kids are? My kid thought that was just a joke until he actually saw one of the real ads, and he was like, huh, it's real. But we need to know where our kids are, who they're going out with, what their ETA home is, what they're doing, and what's going on with them on social media. Yep, it's a lot of work, but we need to do this for the kids, who are the future of this world. Who doesn't want them to go out and have a most successful life they can? I want them all to have a fair chance at being successful in their lives, and we need to keep our city safe. Why? Because that makes people feel free to come out and to our businesses. I have friends and co-workers who live downtown, and they report hearing rounds fired. This should not be the new normal for Lewiston, kids getting off school buses with heavily armed cops looking for shooting suspects. How long before we have innocent victims of rounds? That's time. Thank you, Ray [1:30:04] Toutain: Toutain, Ward Seven. I think I've said this last time, besides Mrs. Longchamp and Brett, this is the worst council I've ever seen in Lewiston, Maine. And Mr. Harriman, I got a proposal for you, and I hope you look at me. You should take a polygraph test, and I'll pay for it. Would you do that, Mr. Harriman? Mr. Harriman, did you hear me? Any further public comment from you, sir? I got two minutes and 20 seconds. I can say what I want, Mr. Chalene. I'm just asking Mr. Harriman a question. I will pay for the polygraph test. Point of order. [1:30:58] Chrissy Noble: Counselor, yes, can you just specify that we're not allowed to answer public comment? [1:31:05] Carl L. Sheline: This is public comment, not public debate. Please continue with your public comment, sir. [1:31:17] Toutain: I'm waiting for his answer. Can I put it on record that he did not answer, which to me proves him guilty as hell? Okay. Thank you, Mr. Herrman. [1:31:36] Carl L. Sheline: Further public comment? [1:31:43] Sherry: Good evening, Sherry, Ward 7. I want to talk to you about some of the things that have In the 20 years that I've lived in Lewiston, for all of our challenges and struggles, for all of the tragedies we've experienced, I've never seen the degree of vitriol, ugliness, meanness, toxicity, shaming, and finger-pointing as I have seen here in the last year. I've never seen neighbors turn on neighbors so quickly and so brutally, believing that it will somehow improve their life, but it doesn't. At the epicenter of this is the main wire. The main wire who churns out weekly another citizen to target and victimize from taking a picture of a teenage boy in front of their house of worship, blowing it up and parading it around the state for people to mock and take pictures with to fueling a coordinated and false political attack on a sitting counselor. Maine wire blogger John Featherston spent four hours parked outside of councillor Harriman's home strategizing on speakerphone with Republican State House candidates and Lewis and elected officials Brett Martel and Janet boned about how to turn manufactured allegations into a political weapon When I think of integrity and government operations when I think of a future for Lewiston It does not look like the kind of political nepotism that I see it does not look like the false narratives to save Lewiston while continuing to profiteer off of poverty and exploit people who have experienced unimaginable harms for political gain. If you wonder what I mean, let me share some facts. Rick LaChapelle is running for Lewiston mayor despite pleading guilty to falsifying gun records in 2001. He is both the owner of several pawn shops in town, as well as a major owner of boarding homes in Lewiston, making him one of the largest beneficiaries of general assistance funding. Rick employs Janet Bowden school committee member and Republican candidate for main house district as property manager Her candidacy is financially supported by John Connor current Lewiston director of planning and code enforcement We're not talking about city staff. Please continue. He also employs Rensoul who is running to be Lewiston state senator replaced senator Peggy Rotundo her name her camp finances Reports list Rick as a treasurer Rick is not only Rens boss. He is her landlord and brother-in-law. This is only the tip of the iceberg. Disagreeing with someone's politics is part of democracy. Staking out a person's home, digging up a former tenant who was evicted through the courts with the sheriff, police, and turn [1:34:05] Carl L. Sheline: Sorry, can you pause for a second? Yes, your point of order, Counselor Murtaugh. This doesn't seem related to city business. Mr. LaChapelle is not a member of the city staff and these comments are directed at someone that isn't. THIS DOESN'T HAVE TO DO WITH CITY BUSINESS. I DISAGREE. PLEASE CONTINUE. [1:34:25] Sherry: Claims of sexual violence, assault, and abuse need to be taken seriously, very seriously, as should following a just procedure to prove innocence or guilt. What I know of Scott Herraman is an extraordinarily dedicated person of service who lives downtown, who is committed to downtown, and the rest of Louiston, and who shows up time and time again for their community. We each can do this differently than what we have been doing. [1:34:56] Carl L. Sheline: Please stop. Please continue with public comment. [1:35:05] Mary Hunter: Mary Hunter, Ward 1. I know Scott as a decent human being. Of course I don't know what happened with respect to the allegations against him, but it seems [1:35:15] Carl L. Sheline: if we can have it quiet in the chambers, please, can we please remove that person, lieutenant? Do we know who that person is? Thank you, we [1:35:41] Mary Hunter: will maintain order. Thank you. My comment is very short, so I'll start again. I know Scott is a decent human being. Of course I don't know what happened with respect to the allegations against him, but it does seem to me that there's an assumption of guilt before there has been a proper investigation of these accusations, and the least I would ask is that a proper legal investigation happen before any decision is made about further action. Thank you. Please [1:36:12] Carl L. Sheline: continue with public comment, Katie [1:36:18] Kranz: Kranz, I'm in Ward 7. I just want to say, Counselor Longchamps, you are simply amazing for being able to get up this evening and speak the words that you spoke this evening. Counselor Harriman, it breaks my heart that when people are speaking to you, 're either busy coloring or writing, not able to be able to look people in the eyes when someone is speaking to you. It's a serious matter when people are asking you to step down. I'm sorry that you don't feel that what you've done is serious enough to look somebody in the face. I feel that it is, and that people deserve the respect that you should be able to look them in the face that when someone is speaking to you, and that they deserve the respect that you should look them into the face when someone's speaking to you, and that they deserve the respect, and that's all I have to say. Hello. [1:37:37] Ifrasa: My name is Ifrasa. I'm from War II. I am here in support of Scott Harriman. He is a great person, wonderful person, great personality, extremely helpful, always responsive. Every time I send an email to the public comment, he's always the first person to respond. He has shown up to a lot of different events in the community. He has always been there for our community, and I have also seen him being there for the vulnerable community. I'm just here to support him and to show that he has a great character. Him and his partner are wonderful, and they have been there for the city of Lewiston, and I honestly think people are jealous of him because he is at the school committee, he's at the city council, he's at the state legislator, and it is very, weird that all of a sudden, four weeks from voting, people are bringing this up, especially when they found this out more than a year and a half ago. That is just, if somebody came to me and told me that they were raped a year and a half ago, I would have reported it a year and a half ago, not four weeks before voting. So I think this is very political, and this is very disgusting and nasty, and I'm very disappointed in city counselors and school committee and people trying to work with Main Wire who has made Lewiston look horrible. Lewiston is a great city, it has great people, and over and over again they have come into the city called Lewiston a dirty city, with dirty people always talking about nasty stuff, negative stuff, they only brought negative energy into this city. And there's a lot of great things happening in the city, great people and a lot of wonderful stuff happening. And it's sad that they always come here with those negative views, but I hope Scott Harriman wins, and I am in support, not campaigning here, thank you, and Lewiston strong, Lewiston strong, if [1:40:21] Carl L. Sheline: we can have a quiet in the chambers, members, please, thank you, looks like we have one, maybe two more public comment. [1:40:32] Bob McDonald: Bob McDonald, Ward six. You know, I think it's time that you people start listening to the constituents that you represent, and it's time to not listen to all your buddies up at Augusta, all your politicians up at Augusta, it's time to bring ICE in here. And this is it. It's time to bring them in now. These people are going. [1:41:07] Carl L. Sheline: If we can have it quiet in the chamber, please. Please continue, sir. [1:41:12] Bob McDonald: Okay, it's time to bring ICE in here. And I would hope not only do you bring ICE in here, but you bring some DEA people in here, you bring some ATF people in here and start looking at what's going on here and investigating it. And I wish you would just let the police chief, let her do her thing, okay? You people are not, you don't know anything about policing. Let her use, let her do what she feels has to be done. That's why you hired her, that's why we pay her salary, okay? Let's see what we, the other thing is we have a lot of nonprofits here we have a Chamber of Commerce that's basically, I would, I would venture the guess that it's has more nonprofits profits than businesses and what a non profit in the business has I don't know, I mean I think they were on opposites so opposite ends of the spectrum. So I would say you know let's start looking at it because we get a start we had we have nothing down here on Lisbon Street absolutely nothing, okay? It's time to bring in some business and last Mr. Council President please do your job The mayor is only is supposed to be running the meetings not giving his opinions or whatever. Shut him down when he does that, shut him down when he does that. YOU, THE PEOPLE HERE, THE COUNSELORS ARE THE ONES THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO BE DISCUSSING THINGS, NOT THE MAYOR. ALL HE IS RUNNING THE MEETING. SO PLEASE. WE USED TO HAVE MEETINGS HERE. YOU'D HAVE, YOU'D HAVE, WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY LENGTH OF TIME ON PUBLIC COMMENT. NOW WE DO. [1:43:37] Carl L. Sheline: THAT'S TIME. THANK YOU. FURTHER PUBLIC COMMENT. STEP RIGHT UP. Martin [1:43:47] Speaker AE (unidentified): Shut down Ward 3 so I'm just gonna talk about what I see happening here in the city. I want to be clear sexual assault exploitation of people who are struggling is despicable and many people here experience this including likely the person who brought the recent allegations up against Councillor and Rep Harriman. I hope for healing and justice for her and for all survivors and I support any effort towards these goals. Whether or not these allegations started politically though, they've been made political. Scott's in a close race and his opponents are the one publicizing the allegations. We've seen this happen before. When Iman Osman won election to the city council, many of the same individuals who are pushing this story also pushed a story about him to intimidate him and drive him to resign. So it seems that every time a progressive candidate gains traction, the opposition seeks to discredit or disqualify or intimidate that candidate. We know that Scott's opponent, Janet Beaudoin, a member of the school committee, plotted with Councillors Longchamp, Councillors Martel, and mayoral candidate Rick LaChapelle and the main wire to push forward, publicize these allegations. We have recordings of them talking and Member Bodun and Martel blatantly talk about that their goal is to win Bodun's race. This same political cadre are in the business of exploiting people who are struggling. LaChapelle and his LLC own four rooming houses in Lewiston. These businesses house people in unstable situations at rents far higher than most monthly leases in often poor conditions. They collect taxpayer money to do this in the form of GA vouchers. Member Beaudoin and Senate candidate Rin Sewell both work for La Chapelle. Another person who seems to be an employee of La Chapelle, Doris, manages the Lisbon Street rooming house where she has admitted she shared tenant information to set up ICE arrests of three tenants, and there's since been a fourth person, and this is a violation of state law. La Chapelle owns pawn shops which profit off of poverty, a gun shop, and pled guilty to falsifying gun records in 2001. If this group really cares about, as the main wire said, a person struggling with addiction and unstable housing being particularly vulnerable to someone who controls access to shelter, money, or transportation. They should use their platforms to advocate for harm reduction and recovery services, low barrier housing, public transportation, and other proven solutions to these problems. [1:46:44] Carl L. Sheline: I think public comment is closed. Okay. One more. If you want to provide public comment, please line up so we can keep the show moving. Please continue, sir. [1:46:55] Andrew Jones: Sorry, Carl. Andrew Jones, Ward 2. I hadn't planned to speak tonight, but there are a couple things that have happened so far, and I feel it's necessary. [1:47:05] Carl L. Sheline: You can have it quiet in the chambers, please. Thank you. [1:47:08] Andrew Jones: Thank you, Carl. First and foremost, some criticism for you, Carl. A lot of the public comment tonight involved some politicking. You've made it clear in the past that 's not something you want people doing up here, and you've been inconsistent with enforcing that tonight. You didn't force it once, but a lot of the stuff you really let slide. Another one of the comments I heard tonight was that Councillor Harriman is very responsive to public comment. I find that difficult to believe. So, Deputy Administrator, you'll probably see another request by the end of the night. I don't buy that one. Last thing is, you know, whether or not you support Scott or not, or don't think that he is guilty or capable of the things he's less most recently been accused of, this is yet another scandal that the council is having to confront involving this man. This guy has been censured by three different councils. When are you going to stop having this guy waste your time? Because I don't think he's going to resign. He would have to have some honor and dignity to do that, and that's just not going to happen. Not a single person who's been up here he has even bothered to look at, or he's just sitting there doodling. I'm sure that would make a great coffee mug or something. But I don't think he's going to resign. I think it's going to be up to you guys to decide whether or not you want to continue and allow this guide to be a distraction to the work you're doing. That's all I have to say. [1:48:59] Matthew Agron: Marchal Leclaire, Award Five. [1:49:01] Speaker AE (unidentified): I have just one thing to say. [1:49:03] Kevin Bollard: That is, when somebody shows you who they are, believe them. [1:49:12] Mohammad Abdullahi: Good evening, everyone. Good evening, Mr. Mayor, City Consults, City Administrator, Cathy, and citizen of Louisiana. My name is Mohammad Abdullahi. Abdullahi. I'm a long-time resident in the city of Lewiston, World War III, Scott Harriman Yard. And believe me, I do not support that man. I do not support because I've been dealing with him for many years. And I will advise my fellow citizens of Lewiston, do not vote [1:49:44] Bryan Kaenrath: for him. We're not campaigning here. Thank you. All right. But I have my reason for that. [1:49:50] Mohammad Abdullahi: And this is the pledge that I'm going to go for this campaign to not side with him. Second point that I'm trying to advance here, Mr. Mayor, with all due respect and the respect of all those elected people, we are sick and tired of main wire. We are sick and tired with taxpayers. Every single day, businesses are closing because of dead men. And we're sick and tired as a taxpayer for a long time reason in the city of Lewiston, you official, Mr. Administrator, that you guys are going to do nothing. I know it's a First Amendment right, he can do whatever he wants to do. This guy is sitting on 503C that is illegitimate, that is expired, and I did some investigation and I'm bringing a lawsuit to him. And I'm sick and tired that businesses are closing, Somali businesses are closing because of dead men. And you city officials, the police officers, the city administrator, you can do shit about dead men. [1:50:56] Carl L. Sheline: If you can please control your language, sir. [1:50:59] Mohammad Abdullahi: I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm a little bit excited, but seeing, he's coming from Saco to come here every single day in my city, in my place, in my hometown, to scare people, immigrant that cannot have voice, that are scared, that trying to build a business. And you guys need to do something about that man. I know you guys gonna say first I'm not right, he has the right to do this to do that, but I've been living in this city since 2006. What is the mayor, he's my friend, he's my friend, I deal [1:51:38] Carl L. Sheline: with if we can have it quiet in the council chambers, we're not having back and forth with the public commenter, please continue sir, you have 32 seconds. Okay. [1:51:46] Mohammad Abdullahi: Elected officials, with all due respect, we don't want a divided city. We don't want a segregated city in here. We are peaceful in here. We try to raise our kids. My kids are going to school in here. They grew up in here, and we want to have peace in here. But this money is dividing the community. You guys need to step up and thank you very much for your attention tonight. Further [1:52:20] Carl L. Sheline: public comments, public comment is now closed. Administrator concern aging, did you have something? Yeah, the [1:52:29] Chrissy Noble: next outburst we should clear the chamber. This is a business meeting of the city and unfortunately there is no respect here whatsoever to do any of the work and even to listen to the people who are speaking and I'm just pointing that out. I'm really frustrated with the fact that like we continue to allow disruption within the chamber [1:52:48] Carl L. Sheline: I appreciate that, thank you. We are now continuing with the meeting. City, thank you to all public commenters. Administrator Kane Rath, I understand you have [1:53:03] Bryan Kaenrath: city administrator reports. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Starting off, our economic development division recently announced funding to help new Lewiston businesses launch and existing [1:53:12] Carl L. Sheline: businesses. If we can just pause your report for a second, just allow people to leave. Don't worry, Administrator Kainrath, you still get your full three minutes. [1:53:49] Bryan Kaenrath: Thank you. I hope not everyone's leaving because of my report, but I'll continue. [1:53:55] Carl L. Sheline: They're leaving to go watch at home from the, from the comfort of their sofa. [1:54:00] Bryan Kaenrath: All right, so our economic development division has recently announced. One second, Administrator, you'll get it all clear from me. [1:54:36] Carl L. Sheline: The sergeant will move everyone to the sidewalk. Okay, Administrator [1:54:41] Bryan Kaenrath: Kinra, please take it away. Thank you. Yes, our business opportunity grant is available. It includes loans up to $50,000 and grants up to $40,000. We do have one additional information session coming up on October 13th at 8 a.m. at the LA Metro Chamber. Additional dates or program details are also available on our website. So if you're interested, please attend. We'll have economic development staff there to answer your questions and walk you through the process. [1:55:07] Chrissy Noble: One second. Can we please just ask the doors to be closed because people in the [1:55:12] Carl L. Sheline: We can't close the doors. [1:55:14] Chrissy Noble: Because there are people in the audience who can't hear you right now. And I hate to ask you to start again, but some of it was missed. [1:55:30] Carl L. Sheline: Thank you everybody. From the top, Administrator. [1:55:33] Bryan Kaenrath: From the top, thank you. Economic Development Division has recently announced through our business opportunity grant program to help new, businesses launch and existing businesses grow, including loans up to $50,000 and grants up to $40,000. We are having another information session on October 13th at 8 a.m. at the LA Metro Chamber. Additional dates and program details are available on our website. Our community engagement and accountability plan. This past week we provided a public update on where things have been and where we're going. So far officers have completed 96 hours of CEA details with more than 900 community contacts. I can say these have been well received. We had one event with a mobile unit where over 75 residents stopped by just to talk with the officers. This is sort of the community interaction engagement we want to see with this program. The next phase of this is the legislative piece. We have an eight-point plan with legislative proposals we'd like to see introduced in the next legislative session. We had a productive meeting with our Lewiston legislative delegation, and we hope to now bring this proposal to community partners, advocates, and others involved in juvenile justice issues around the state to build a coalition to go to Augusta and demand change to stop the cycle of violence we're seeing in our community. We have had 35 gun-related incidents so far in Lewiston this year. 24 of those have involved juveniles, and the vast majority of them have been repeat offenders. So our goal is to stop the cycle of violence. It is not sustainable, and so we plan to bring this eight-point plan to Augusta this legislative session and hopefully have system-wide change to address the issues plaguing our city. Last night, we had about 40 people attend a community conversation regarding the Red Shop, about the future of the Red Shop and its connection to Samara Payne Memorial Park and the Riverfront. The Red Shop was built in 1938 as a machine shop for the Bates Mill Complex. It's a very historic and interesting building and a true asset for the city. We had I think a good community conversation and some good public feedback as well as a tour of the red shop last night. So this is one piece of the larger process of will now be a report developed encompassing all the feedback from the public and the next step will be writing a joint development agreement with the developer including this feedback that we can bring back to the City Council and move this project forward. Again this would involve a concert series and smart paint park and the red Shop potentially being used for community events of all different kinds in the future. The Lewiston Public Works Department is prepping for the winter season. Two programs I do want to highlight. LPW is taking requests for sand for seniors. This is a free community program that Lewiston seniors can use to sand icy sidewalk stairs and steps around their homes. The bucket sand and delivery accuracy of LPW who will deliver the sand and marked Lewiston Public Works trucks beginning on October 19th. A request will remain open through November 9th to request a delivery. Please call LPW. It's 513-3003 during normal business hours. The second program I want to highlight is LPW is offering leaf collection. Leaves must be enclosed paper bags and placed curbside by Monday, November 16th at 7 a.m. Residents can also drop off leaves at the solid waste facility or place in their trash carts as long as the lid is closed per normal guidance. A couple of staff updates I want to highlight. I want to congratulate Deputy Director Alyssa Davis who recently earned her Certified Parks and Recreation Professional certification, the CPRP. It's a national program requiring experience in the field and the completion of a comprehensive exam in communication, finance, human resources, operations and programming. So congrats to Alyssa. We're very proud of you. I also want to welcome a few new members to our team. Cameron Harris and Michael Sassaville as highway workers at Public Works and Owen Page was recently hired as an economic development specialist in our economic development division. Welcome to them. Two retirements I also want to mention. Ballard Nash at Lewiston Fire and Nicholas Weirs at Lewiston PD are retiring after many years with the city. Thank you for your service. The library has an event coming up. The Lewiston Public Library invites residents ages 13 and older to attend its annual Literary Ball. This year is an Edgar Allan Poe masquerade on Saturday, October 17th in Callahan Hall. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Dancing is 7 to 9 p.m. This is free after-hours event featuring waltzing and other Victorian dances, themed refreshments, games, and photo opportunities. Costumes and fancy attire are encouraged. No registration is required. For more information, please visit the Lewis and PUBLIC LIBRARIES WEBSITE. Lastly, I just want to draw your attention for the third anniversary of October 25th. The Main Resiliency Center will host two upcoming events, a candlelight vigil on Sunday, October 25th from 6 PM to 8 PM at Samarda Pain Park and SIGNS OF REMEMBRANCE where participants write a message of hope or share words of support, and then you can share your sign with those passing by at MRC's location on Sabatus Street. You can create your message at MRC on Friday, October 23rd, 3 p.m. For more information, please visit MRC's social media pages. [2:00:42] Carl L. Sheline: Thank you, thank you very much Mr. Shardy Kainrath, we appreciate your service to our city. Madam Clerk, I understand we have a consent agenda. We do, there are three items on the consent [2:00:53] David B. Chittim: agenda this evening. Item number one, approval of election warrant calling for the municipal election to be held on Tuesday, November 3rd, 2026, and recommendations from the city clerk register our voters on actions necessary to conduct the municipal and state election November 3rd, 2026. Number two, amendment to the traffic schedule to prohibit overnight parking on a section of Winter Street, and number three, amendment to the traffic schedule to reduce parking spaces on a portion of Pine Street due to the road changes from the DeWitt housing project. I have a [2:01:23] Carl L. Sheline: motion, please move passage of all cancer should I'm second by Councillor Martel. Madam Clerk, please call the vote. Pencil from word six, yes, word seven, yes, word one, yes, or two, [2:01:35] David B. Chittim: oh I apologize, word three, yes, word five, yes, and Mr. Mayor, yes. Motion passed by vote of six to zero. We're now uptime number four. Item number four, public hearing on an application for a business license renewal for Merrimack River Medical Services Incorporated for an outpatient addiction treatment clinic at 18 Mollison Way. There are two items for requested action. The first item to conduct a public hearing to receive citizen input and comment regarding the application submitted by Merrimack River Medical Services Incorporated for renewal of their business license to operate an outpatient addiction treatment clinic at 18 Mollison Way, Lewiston. I have a [2:02:16] Carl L. Sheline: Motion, please. We hold a public hearing. Yeah, I guess we can open up for, yeah, let's open it up for a public hearing. Public hearing is now closed. [2:02:32] David B. Chittim: Then the motion before you is to approve the license for an outpatient addiction treatment clinic for Merrimack River Medical Services Incorporated to operate a clinic at 18 Mollison Way, Lewiston, subject to the attached conditions. [2:02:44] Carl L. Sheline: Now I'm ready for a motion. [2:02:46] Scott A. Harriman: And I'm ready to give you one. Move we approve the license. Councilor Chittim. [2:02:50] Carl L. Sheline: Second. Second by Councilor Najing. Discussion among the council. Wait, did you have your hand up, Councilor? No. No, Councilor Martel, did you have your hand up? Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Is there, I've got a question. I don't know who I would pose it to. Do you have anyone here from the center? Peers, no. Does anyone know if this is the methadone clinic? [2:03:16] David B. Chittim: I think it is. Yes, Councilor, yes, it is. [2:03:19] Chrissy Noble: Could we, the hall has to be cleared, please. [2:03:23] Carl L. Sheline: Yeah, our wonderful detail is working post-haste. We appreciate their service. ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS FROM THE COUNCIL MADAM CLARKE PLEASE CALL THE VOTE COUNCIL FROM WORD SIX YES [2:03:36] David B. Chittim: WORD SEVEN NO WARD ONE YES WARD TWO IS ABSENT WARD THREE YES WARD FIVE YES AND MR. Mayor, yes. Motion pass by vote of five to one. Item number five. Item number five. Public hearing and final passage regarding an amendment to the administrative code to establish the Department of Community Development and Strategic Initiatives. Requested action that the proposed amendments to the City Code of Ordinances chapter 2 administration article 5 departments division 1 generally and division 2 Department of Community Development and Strategic Initiatives receive final passage by a [2:04:15] Carl L. Sheline: roll call vote motion please so move councillor Chittum second by councillor Nijing discussion public comment back to the council. Madam Clerk please call the vote. Council from Ward 6. Yes. Ward 7. No. Ward 1. Yes. [2:04:33] David B. Chittim: Ward 3. Yes. Ward 5. Yes. Mr. Mayor. Yes. Motion passed by vote of 5 to 1. Item number 6. Item number 6. Public hearing and final passage for an amendment to the Traffic and Vehicles Ordinance regarding unregistered or uninspected vehicles parked on the public way. Requested action. The proposed amendment to the city code of ordinances chapter 70 traffic and vehicles article 4 stopping standing and parking section 70-2 definitions and section 70-153 parking unregistered or uninspected vehicles on a public way receive final passage by a roll call vote. Ma'am, a motion, please. I'll move to [2:05:13] Carl L. Sheline: Councillor Chittim second signed by Councillor Nijeen chief please kick us off. [2:05:21] Speaker AI (unidentified): Good evening I'm just here in case you guys have any questions in regards to this I know that [2:05:25] Carl L. Sheline: WE PRESENTED ON IT PREVIOUSLY THANK YOU FOR KICKING US OFF DISCUSSION AMONG THE COUNCILORS PUBLIC COMMENT MY [2:05:41] Melissa Dunn: NAME IS MELISSA DUNN COMMUNITY ORGANIZER HOMEOWNER ON BLAKE STREET I THINK I DO A LOT OF SUPPORT WORK IN COMMUNITY FOR A LOT OF PARENTS OR PREGNANT MOTHERS people going through life changes or like situations of domestic violence and I'm just concerned that there would be I've seen an increased enforcement around vehicles whether it's unpaid parking or if they don't have you know stickers or registration things like that and causing a little bit more hardship for people really in struggle and there's really no way when like a car is getting towed or tagged or ticketed or whatever that maybe an officer is having conversations to really try to figure out how to connect people to supports and resources including things like to people who do mutual aid that might be able to pay for car repair pay for a car to get registered or stickered and I have a particular interest that I've been trying to do mutual aid work for domestic violence and traffic trafficked survivors especially to minimize police engagement and so I don't know I'm just concerned about domestic violence survivors especially on house that might reside in their vehicles and concerned that this might be a way to force more police engagement when what our community needs is minimal police engagement thanks Martin [2:07:37] Speaker AE (unidentified): shot and again I just like the last commenter I'm just concerned that this adds another hardship on top of someone who's already struggling, who can't afford to maybe fix their car right now or get their car registered right now and may live in an apartment like many of the apartments in Lewiston that do not have off-street parking. And so what are they going to do in that situation is that they get towed and they get a $600 tow bill and then they might get a violation too. And, yeah, I hope we could maybe amend this to give an exemption for someone who's struggling and they don't have a way to move the car right now. So, yeah, and support them to connect to resources to help like Frankie was saying and I understand in the winter when it's snowing that things need to get moved but in the other rest of the year I think that it's likely not harming anybody for that vehicle to be there a little longer thanks I [2:09:14] Jack: didn't actually come here to speak on this particular issue tonight, but i was listening to melissa and i felt like i should speak up. i am actually a survivor of domestic violence and this is an issue that would directly impact me. in the past when i was forced out of my home and all i had was my van, my ex still owned it and i couldn't register it. i didn't know if i was going to get to keep it, i didn't have the money to do it, and as melissa was saying, i received help from mutual aid. if my vehicle had been towed or ticketed, that's not an expense i could have afforded, and without my van i can't get to work, i can't pick my kids up, i can't take them to school. so while i understand that vehicles that are unregistered or uninspected sitting on the street and not being used can be an issue, i think that there should be some understanding of people's situations and how much you can impact somebody's situation by towing their vehicle, charging them money that they can't afford, that's actually preventing them from rectifying the problem that you're trying to address. taking more away from people that already don't have enough isn't going to solve the problem, it's going to make other problems much worse. and as someone who's spent most of their career doing social work, working at Preble Street and whatnot, it is so much more expensive to take care of people when they're unhoused as opposed to helping them before they get there. that is a huge savings to the city and to the community and to the people themselves, so please think about your neighbors when you decide what to do with their cars. [2:10:50] Rory: Rory Ward 6, what this is actually targeting, where most of this revenue will come from, our as I Drive in Lewiston Auburn, I-95 going to work every day, scar born back, it's people who don't actually register to their cars or vehicles for multiple years. I've seen vehicles that still have a 24 sticker. at this point it means they have not paid in three years. most of these people have GMC Sierra's SUVs and as responsible drivers they and you know I presume GAINFUL EMPLOYED PEOPLE HAVE THE MONEY TO ACTUALLY PAY THIS. MR. MAYOR, I'M SURE COUNCILOR NGINI SEES THIS TOO AS WE BOTH COMMUTE DOWN TO PORTLAND FOR WORK ON A BASIS, I'LL SAY. THE COVID RESTRICTIONS, WELL, EXTENSIONS HAVE BEEN LIFTED BY THE STATE FOR YEARS. THIS HAS A DIRECT IMPACT ON THE CITY'S BUDGET, AS WE ALL KNOW, OR ESPECIALLY YOU UP THERE KNOW THIS. YEAH. [2:12:10] Carl L. Sheline: THANK YOU. FOR THE PUBLIC COMMENT, BACK TO THE COUNCIL. CHIEF, IS THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU'D LIKE TO ADD? [2:12:24] Speaker AI (unidentified): NO. AGAIN, I'M JUST HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE IN REFERENCE TO THIS. THANK YOU. [2:12:30] Chrissy Noble: COUNCILOR NAJING, YES. I JUST WANTED TO SPEAK REALLY quickly to a couple of things. i think different neighborhoods have different challenges for sure. i can tell you that there was a vehicle that sat on elm street on my side of main street with no tires on it, parked on the street, unregistered for three years. no idea who owned it, no idea why i was there. the city plowed around it literally. so there are challenges that the municipality faces on making the city actually function. thinking about how we have to now move our cars in certain neighborhoods in order to get trash service to pick up, like these are, these are complications that we have to deal with. I'm not against any of the models in which people get support from community, but the municipality is responsible for running the municipality and part of those tools. and in all honesty, if you have an unregistered vehicle that's parked on our roads for, it's been unregistered for a year, you're, you're not supposed to be driving it anyway. i mean, that's, that's just the truth. so you know, thinking about the ways in which we do put in fines, possibly you know, in the past we've had amnesty periods, that might be something that we might want to look at for either parking or other types of funds. but ultimately those cars can't just sit in a spot for a year, two years, which has happened in this community, and this is why we need these types of ordinances to be passed. [2:13:59] Carl L. Sheline: unfortunately further comment. councillor chinum, yes. thank you mr. mayor. I'm [2:14:06] Scott A. Harriman: in favor of this. however, I would trust and believe that the police force would use discretion and would view long-term violations differently than incidental walking by and noticing that this car registration expired last month. so I firmly believe that the department will use its discretion, and that's why I'm voting in favor of this. ma [2:14:33] Carl L. Sheline: 'am clerk please call the vote. council from word six, yes. word seven, yes. [2:14:38] David B. Chittim: Word one, yes. Word three, yes. Word five, yes. Mr. Mayor, yes. Motion passed by vote of six to zero. I'm number seven. Thank you, Chief. Seven, public hearing in first passage regarding an amendment to the amusements and entertainment ordinance regarding approvals for new special amusement permits. Requested action that the proposed amendments to the city code of ordinances Chapter 10, amusements and entertainments, article 3, special amusement permits, division 2, permit, received first passage by a roll call vote and that the public hearing on said ordinance be continued to the next regularly scheduled City Council meeting. [2:15:12] Carl L. Sheline: No motion, please. So moved. That's our chair. I'm not going by Councillor Nijin. Madam Clerk, I believe this is your department. [2:15:20] David B. Chittim: Would you, would you like to kick us off? This was requested by Councillor Chittim at the last council meeting a year ago. The council amended the ordinance to authorize city staff to approve renewals for special needs and permits that it was to streamline the agenda regarding the agenda items, and then at the last meeting Councillor Harriman asked that, I'm sorry, Councillor Chittim asked that staff be authorized to approve an issue new special amusement permits as well. Thank [2:15:54] Carl L. Sheline: you. Comments, questions from the council. Public comment for this agenda item. [2:16:10] Matthew Agron: Matthew Acron, Ward 4. While this is a idea to streamline things, this is also the only point that the public gets to weigh in on whether or not, hey, we have concerns about this place having a special permit for entertainment. I'll be honest, I've been here for years, very rarely do I ever see anyone stand up here and object to it, but I have seen places being object to because of prior incidents that had happened there, maybe under other ownership groups, but this is the only place that the public gets to stand up and say hey, I don't think they should have a, and this is why. If the city is doing it, people don't even know that amusement license is going to be issued until all of a sudden there is a grand party going on at X, Y, Z location and people are like, when did that get talked about? I think this should be continued as you guys issuing the original one, and then if they want to continue it, staff can continue it. Thank you for your time. [2:17:24] Carl L. Sheline: Public comment is now closed. Back to the council. Councilor Najing. [2:17:30] Chrissy Noble: For special amusement permits for live entertainment where alcohol is served, I would hope that city staff would actually have some level of involvement with the planning of the, or participation with communication with the economic development or community development arm of that. If it's a special amusement permit for a business that already exists, right, is this specifically to one-off events or for businesses? [2:17:57] David B. Chittim: This is for businesses, it would be a year-round 12-month permit for live entertainment in places where alcohol is consumed on-premise. [2:18:07] Chrissy Noble: So I think the answer to that is that when you have a problem with a business in your community that's disturbing you, would be reporting that to the police and the police would also be giving feedback on whether or not that license would be appropriate to issue. They would have either a positive or negative recommendation or no recommendation. I would just point that out. We do a lot of things where we want to triple check allowing anything to happen in the city while we allow all the things to just happen in the city so [2:18:35] Carl L. Sheline: Ma'am wait all right sorry I'm Clark please call the vote yes I'm number eight I [2:18:57] David B. Chittim: Don't number eight public hearing and approval of amendments to the general assistance policy for annual authorization of eligibility amounts requested action that the maximum amounts allowed for general assistance and the maximums allowed for food housing personal care utilities heating fuel transportation and recovery residence expenses in the general assistance policy for persons eligible to receive assistance in accordance with the standards of eligibility be adopted as presented in Accordance with HUD guidelines and the current thrifty food plan [2:19:30] Carl L. Sheline: May I have a motion please so moved Councillor Chittim seconded by Councillor Nijing Director Brackett thank you for joining us please kick us [2:19:38] Elaine Brackett: Off yeah my name is Elaine Brackett I'm the social service director I'm here to present the annual general assistance maximums these maximums are effective from October 1st 2026 to September 30th 2027 seven the maximums are calculated at the state level according to HUD fair market rental rates and inflation the overall maximums have increased by an average of 24.48 percent food maximums have increased by 2.88 percent according to the thrifty food what's it called thrifty food guideline the House and maximums have increased to 24 and a half percent. The mileage rate has increased to point zero three percent. Recovery residents has increased to eighteen point thirty eight percent. And any questions? [2:20:39] Scott A. Harriman: Counselor Chidam. Yeah, thank you Mr. Mayor. Just confirming these numbers are outside the city of Lewison's control. These are established by this, correct? Yes, they calculated by the state department. [2:20:50] Elaine Brackett: Union services and every year in October there is a slight increase. They look at the fair market rates and also any inflation and then they determine what that actual increase would be. [2:21:05] Scott A. Harriman: Thank you Director Bracket and also thank you for the invaluable assistance you give to those folks in the city who need it the most. I appreciate it. [2:21:16] Carl L. Sheline: Councillor Nagy. Thank you Mr. Mayor. [2:21:20] Chrissy Noble: Just to speak to a couple of things concerning a speaker that was here earlier. There are assistance programs within the GA that apply to community members who for instance are in housing that even possibly they own based on their income, correct? You can get assistance for like heating oil? You can get assistance? We do if the person is eligible based on the guidelines. Okay I think that's important for folks in the public to know. Obviously also I believe that if you could just maybe speak to the demands that we're currently seeing on GA. I believe that we're expected to see actually an increased demand during this budget year. Is that correct? Do we have, do we have higher demand for services right now than we have in the [2:22:09] Jim Cutting: past? It's basically my question. I need clarification. Okay. [2:22:21] Elaine Brackett: Are you looking for numbers? [2:22:22] Chrissy Noble: Not exactly, just do we have a higher demand than we saw last year at this time for instance? [2:22:28] Elaine Brackett: Our numbers have decreased. Oh okay, they have decreased and that's mostly because of the immigrant population. A lot of them have left the city, moved down south, so we're not seeing as many families now. We're seeing more single individuals. We've kind of done a flip-flop. If you look at fiscal year 25 we have our case law was 66% immigrant and 34% U.S. born. For fiscal year 26 it went down to 44% immigrant and 56 six years born and from September, from July one of this year up until the end of September we're at 25 immigrant population and 75 percent U.S. born. Thank you and the majority of those we've seen a decrease in the families because the majority of more immigrant families that have left the state, they move down south. It's picked up on the single. [2:23:42] Chrissy Noble: Individuals, and just really briefly, obviously we have the home eating oil program, we have some food assistance programs, those pieces. We also refer folks when they come to GA, take to either other programs that exist or, for instance, the food pantries that are here as well. Yes, if especially if someone [2:24:03] Elaine Brackett: is not eligible for general assistance based on our income guidelines or the criteria, we would refer them on to outside resources. We work with a lot of [2:24:12] Chrissy Noble: agencies. Perfect, I appreciate that. Thank you. Okay, public [2:24:18] Carl L. Sheline: comment for this agenda item. Back to the council. I'm clerk, please call the vote. Yes. Yes. [2:24:29] David B. Chittim: Yes. Board 5? Yes. Mr. Mayor? Yes. Motion passed with a vote of 6-0. [2:24:35] Carl L. Sheline: Director Parakeet, you have a wonderful evening. We're going to stick around a little while longer. Item number 9. [2:24:41] David B. Chittim: Item number 9, amendments to the municipal parking fees policy to establish fees for unregistered or uninspected vehicles. Requested action to approve the proposed amendment to the parking fees policy, manual number 42, as recommended by city administration and the police department. [2:24:57] Chrissy Noble: May I have a motion, please? So moved. Second. Councilor Chiddom followed by [2:25:00] Carl L. Sheline: Councilor Nagine. Chief, welcome back. [2:25:04] Speaker AI (unidentified): Good evening. So this is just to establish the fine amount, and we're looking at $50. [2:25:14] Carl L. Sheline: Questions, comments from the council? Councilor Ironman, yes. Thank you. [2:25:20] Scott A. Harriman: How frequently can somebody be ticketed? Is it once per day? Is that how it works? [2:25:26] Speaker AI (unidentified): So I think that would probably be the technical answer. The way this is going to work is you'll have a 30-day grace period. What will happen is, let's say parking enforcement goes, notices a vehicle that's unregistered or uninspected, they'll put a warning ticket basically to notify the owner, and they'll have 30 days of grace before they can be issued tickets for it. But technically speaking, yes, you could, once that grace period is up, they could receive a ticket every day. [2:25:55] Scott A. Harriman: So the ticket can't be issued unless the vehicle inspection or registration is at least 30 days expired and the notice has been given and 30 more days after that notice has elapsed. No, it would, my understanding is it would [2:26:10] Speaker AI (unidentified): be, it's a 30 day window. So if you're expert, you know, if your vehicle, it expired in September, you have 30 days before it's considered a violation for us, and if the parking enforcement were to go in that 30 day grace window, they would just put a warning. They would not issue a ticket in that situation. I understand, thank you. [2:26:36] Carl L. Sheline: Public or yes Councilor Chiddom yeah where do these moneys go the moneys I believe [2:26:44] Scott A. Harriman: The general fund the end of the general fund thank you public [2:26:49] Carl L. Sheline: Comment for this agenda item back to the council Madam Clerk please call the vote Councilor From Word six yes thank you very much and thank you chief I'm number [2:27:08] David B. Chittim: 10 item number 10 amendment to the parking fees policy regarding use of the new electric vehicle EV charging stations in the parking garages requested action to approve the amendment to the parking garage I'm sorry to approve the amendment to the parking fees policy regarding the use of electric vehicle EV charging stations in the parking garages. May I have a motion, please? [2:27:30] Carl L. Sheline: So moved. Second. Councilor Shittem, seconded by Councilor Nagine. Director Gagne, it's a pleasure to have you back. Please kick us off. Good evening. [2:27:41] Kevin Ganye: I'm gonna take a little bit of history, but then I'll talk about where we're at and why we're here. It's getting late. In October of 20- Please continue. In October of 24, you all approved us to get an efficiency main for a level two chargers that grant we put to use at two parking garages so Public Works put out the bid construction is has wrapped up main solar did the work we have four EV chargers so two stations about four EV chargers at Oak Street parking garage and four EV chargers at Lincoln Street parking garage in the surface lots not actually in the garage to start up and Commission we're here tonight to ask to set rates so as part of The grant we put in there an anticipation of charging 27 cents per kilowatt hour we need to uphold that grant application at that rate so I'm here to ask if you could set that rate as well as most parking garages have what's called an idle fee So parking EV charger is there they reach 100% We want to encourage people to move on and have somebody else be able to have that opportunity to charge So we're asking for a $3 per hour rate after a 10-minute grace period I'm here to answer any questions About our request our recommendation [2:29:07] Chrissy Noble: It doesn't aging the other question I have is as I actually covered at the cost of the kilowatts for us. So [2:29:13] Kevin Ganye: We will look at that There's some debate on that And if we see that we're losing money We can come back and go to efficiency main and show us that we least covering costs because that's the goal is to not lose Money and give it away for free, but we're not looking to make a park profit. It's a pass-through cost [2:29:32] Chrissy Noble: Understood, and apologize. I actually do have just one comment to throw in, which was I saw folks parking vehicles in front of the EV start charging stations at Oak Street that were gas fired. So just something to point out, I know that's going to be an enforcement issue that we have to figure out, but if you're, if you're gonna block the EVs charging stations, nobody can use them. So [2:29:57] Carl L. Sheline: Chancellor Chittum. Thank you, director. Pardon my ignorance, do these? [2:30:03] Scott A. Harriman: Devices indicate when a full charge has been reached with a timestamp or a clock? [2:30:08] Kevin Ganye: Correct, you know what the 10-minute period begins. Yes. So for charge point who is the manufacturer of this? There's actually an app that most people can use you sign up to pay or you can get notification of what the status of your charge Is so as you were reaching a full charge you would you would understand your 10-minute grace period And we can actually see it. So it's cloud-based, so you can actually see utilization. You can actually change some things in the future to encourage more use or promote rotation and people moving. [2:30:41] Scott A. Harriman: So parking, of parking enforcement then knows when this car was fully charged and knows that the time of day when the car was fully charged. [2:30:50] Kevin Ganye: We haven't looped in PD for that. That's something for the chief to consider. But this is really, the user will see that and then pay three dollars per hour if they stay in that spot. [2:31:02] Carl L. Sheline: Through the, through the app and service through the app itself, right? I see, so it's not an enforcement mechanism. [2:31:08] Scott A. Harriman: It's included in the process. Correct. All right. And does Efficiency Main mandate at 27 cent per kilowatt hour cost or can we go above that? [2:31:21] Kevin Ganye: So in our application, so we asked to apply and then the grant application actually included an estimated rate and that's what we put is 27 cents per kilowatt hour. So we figured that was a marketable rate and as something comparable and would cover our cost. So we're gonna look at it the next couple months, see if it's actually covering our cost, but we can't exceed that at this point. We have to show that our costs are higher than what we're charging and we can go back to Efficiency Main and raise that rate. [2:31:51] Scott A. Harriman: Are we not allowed to make a profit on this? [2:31:56] Kevin Ganye: Well, the way the grant was written is that we were, that's the rate we were anticipating to do, so whether we make a profit, breakeven, or give free power, that's a discussion for future consideration, I think. All right, well, a [2:32:11] Scott A. Harriman: Gas station makes a profit on the fuel that it sells. I would think that the municipality, once the conditions of the grant have been met, the municipality should also be able to make a profit on providing that service. A couple years [2:32:22] Kevin Ganye: ago some cities were giving away free power. That's not something that I've had discussion with administration or other departments that was of interest. So we've come at it as we want to be cost neutral on this and cover our expenses, but if there is additional revenues to be gained, we can bring it back and have that discussion. [2:32:45] Carl L. Sheline: Public comment for this agenda. Back to the council. Madam Clerk, please call the vote. Cancel from Ward 6. Yes. Ward 7. Yes. Ward 1. Yes. Ward 3. Yes. Ward 5. Yes. Mr. Mayor. Yes thank you very much director. Okay I'm number 11 order authorizing the city [2:33:09] David B. Chittim: administrator to execute an extension to the purchase and sale agreement with the Lewiston Auburn community market incorporated. Requested action to approve the order authorizing the city administrator to execute an extension to the purchase and sale agreement with the Lewiston Auburn community market [2:33:25] Carl L. Sheline: incorporated. I have a motion. Please you may so moved Councilor Chiddom. Second Councilor Airman. we've passed the first hurdle. Yeah if you two can please introduce yourselves and kick us off I [2:33:44] John Blaze: 'LL GO FIRST UH THANK YOU MR MAYOR JOHN BLAZE ECONOMIC COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT I HAVE LACM LEWIS AND AUBURN COMMUNITY MARKET MEMBER HERE I'LL LET REBECCA INTRODUCE HERSELF REBECCA SWANSON [2:33:58] Becky Conrad: CONRAD OTHERWISE KNOWN AS BECKY I ACTUALLY LIVE IN AUBURN BUT I'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS PROJECT SINCE 2021 FOR THE CITY OF LOUISTON AND THE COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE [2:34:08] John Blaze: Thank you. We're here to essentially extend the deadline for the closing essentially by seven months and then what we want to do is we want to add a little bit you know with that you know there will go through the project we'll provide an update to that and then within this agreement we want to essentially put together a performance contract. So just a little bit of math seven months to closing and then a six additional months will be you know shoveling the ground and then 18 months to CONSTRUCT SO TOTAL UH TOTAL OF ABOUT TWO YEARS SEVEN MONTHS. We should have Lewiston Auburn community market. That's it in a nutshell. That's what we're requesting. We're requesting the administrator to be able to sign this agreement, and I believe Becca's here to just update us on the progress of the project, and I'm going to turn it over to her. [2:35:09] Becky Conrad: At this point, great, thank you. So my first slide was the history, but I will be very brief and just move right to the vision. This has been an idea in our community for many years, and I learned today it might have even gone back beyond my knowledge of an idea for a real destination for food in our downtown. This is a culmination most recently of since 2021 of the Cooperative Development Institute, which is works regionally in a national network to start owner and worker owned cooperatives, and the former police station has become the site that we DEVELOP WITH THE CITY'S INPUT. IT'S BEEN A PARTNERSHIP SINCE EARLY 2024. I'M GOING TO MOVE TO THE SLIDE WHERE I CAN QUICKLY TELL YOU SINCE WE'VE BEEN IN PARTNERSHIP [2:36:00] Carl L. Sheline: WITH THE CITY. CAN YOU GO TO DISPLAY MODE OR PRESENTATION MODE OR SOMETHING ON YOUR SCREEN JUST SO. OH, THERE WE GO. SHAZAM. PLEASE CONTINUE. SORRY ABOUT THAT. Yeah. [2:36:22] Becky Conrad: We were scheduled to be part of the choice project in the DeWitt location, and for a number of reasons that didn't work out, and we approached the city about the police station site, and we're very pleased that the council then was supportive of our initiative and offered the option. As you know the police station moved out a little bit later than anticipated, and we got on site as soon as we could To start to do the environmental work that needs to be done for the purchase and sale to be completed. We you can see in 2025 it was very busy, and To date even though it says September. It's now October. We are still waiting the final report from the EPA regarding the final designation of the site in their mind. We do know, because the work that's been done is public record, we know there are no hazardous building materials in the former police station. We will be raising that building, but we do know there's nothing we need to worry about in terms of tearing that down. We have discovered, however, up to 12 feet of fill on parts of the site, eight feet in some areas, 12 feet in other areas, because of a fill potentially has contaminants from a former dry cleaner that was on the site, and that's really where we are right now, waiting for the final report to come back, and then the DEP also required some additional vapor sampling. Once we have that report, our goal, well, let me just share what else we've been up to, just in case you think we've only been working on the site. We've actually completed market analysis. We've had terrific support from the USDA on some pro bono design work, but we have also engaged Platz Associates. Moving forward, we have our pro forma done for our lenders to be confident of the project. I just mentioned the site study. We've started our membership drive. Our lenders have asked if we would be, could show proof of concept through a co-op, and that would be showing folks want to be members, and we have a commitment from Ever North for a new market tax credit application. I just, I just want to say that [2:38:33] John Blaze: the you know the new market tax credit what's in the current agreement right now is a reversionary clause new market tax credits you know kind of frowned on that so you know part of this you know updated agreement will include not having a reversionary clause so we can secure that funding so i just want to make sure that's clear so [2:38:59] Becky Conrad: our request is for another six months to complete the due diligence so we can move on to closing and this would be the timeline that we have prepared for the october through 2027 march 2027 timeline and work that would be done and it 's complementary to the materials that have been prepared for us to sign that put some requirements at the end regarding six months following closing. We would begin demolition and start construction, and then 18 months following that, we would hope to be ready to open. We are in complete agreement with this timeline and are excited to be able to report that we're hopefully moving as quickly as we can to get there, and this is our current sources and uses. It's about an eight million dollar project, including the remediation that we expect will have to happen and the demolition, and you can see our financing stack there. It has not changed since we first talked to the city back in 2023, late 2023, and the new market tax credit is there. We do still now have some Private philanthropy we're working on only because we're being very conservative regarding our operating budget to make sure that our financing stack is not beyond our capacity to support. You know that the business will support return to paying the loans although the lenders have offered a little bit more. That's sources and uses and our most important message to the council tonight is to thank you for your support for this vision. You've lived here since 1978 and I believe this is going to be some of the first new investment new construction new vision for that corner of our downtown in many years and I really appreciate that the council has stayed with us and continues to see the potential for economic development for this new tax-paying operation. [2:41:07] Carl L. Sheline: Thank you both so much. Questions, comments from the council? Public comment for this. [2:41:19] Grayson Kurtz: HELLO. MY NAME IS GRAYSON KURTZ. I AM A RESIDENT OF AUBURN AND HERE TO SUPPORT THE LOUISTON AUBURN COMMUNITY MARKET. I WOULD LIKE TO START WITH THE SELFISH REASONS. My spouse and I have just started a farm and so we would be coming at this from the farmer as well as member side and this market would be a really special opportunity for us to work with our local community market and that is an opportunity that we really would not get anywhere else that I think would greatly benefit both us and our customers and further there is a possibility for commercial kitchen space rentals and that would be very helpful For the community, I think this would be a very again, very special opportunity to increase the strength and resiliency of the local food systems Which is something that is needed everywhere and especially here [2:42:35] Carl L. Sheline: I am also really excited can you just move the mic closer to you for our friends at home thank you [2:42:41] Jack: I'm Jack I'm in the word four I'm very excited about the idea of a co-op coming in I think it can be a really helpful addition to the downtown I've lived in Maine a long time I've lived in a lot of different communities and you can really tell what kind of community it is by the kind of businesses they have and co-ops are a really good sign of what the community is like. Before I lived in Lewiston, I lived in Gardner. And one of the big reasons we moved there was actually the co-op. We went there. We met the people. They knew where the food was coming from. They knew which farm it was from. And that's a really big deal. We live in Maine for a reason. And for me, at least, a big piece of that is the community and the farmers and the connection between our food systems and our communities. It's really important to be aware of those things and have really strong systems there. I can't wait for it to open. [2:43:45] Melissa Dunn: Kendra Dempewolf, Ward 3. I am super excited and strongly in support of the Lewiston-Auburn Community Market. Living just around the corner, I'm very excited on a personal note to be able to buy local produce without getting in my car. But additionally, as a farmer and community member who works in food justice and security, I cannot overstate enough the positive impact on a neighborhood. Having a walkable grocery store that serves that specific community is, it is a major game changer, and I think will be super great for the Tree Street neighborhood especially. Thank you. What's [2:44:52] Carl L. Sheline: going on? Our I.T. department is working feverishly on this. Please continue with public comment. [2:45:01] Siri Cressy: Okay, I will let you know when you're out of time. Hi, I'm Siri Cressy, and I live in Ward 5 in Lewiston, and I'm here to support the efforts to get the Lewiston Auburn Community Market off the ground and, you know, into an actual business space to make it real. I grew up with a storefront cooperative. It was a food and necessities stores, Fair Share Co-op, which I think is the oldest continuously operated storefront cooperative in the state, and I had a, have a lot of really good memories of mostly of being a volunteer there. I don't think they'll use the same model, but yeah, seemed like a very great thing and a and a wonderful means of not just getting, you know, good food, but also of building community, which I'm very much behind. Thank you. [2:46:29] Christine Holden: Christine Holden, Ward One. I'm very delighted to be one of those supporting this new co-op which will be appearing, and if I understood correctly, about 18 months. It's been a long fight. Unfortunately, many things, good things take time, but it will be worth it. I've lived in other communities that have co-ops. They do provide a great sense of community. They provide an opportunity for local farmers to provide their food, and the location of this one down on Park Street will be very good for people in the community who do not have access, even perhaps to walk as far as the other side of Kennedy Park or down to the Farmer's Market on the weekend. End. I do think that the design that I've seen, apart from the concept itself, is going to be another wonderful acknowledgement of the centrality of Kennedy Park in the city, with the DeWitt housing on one side, some improvement in outside conditions of Trinity Church, and now or in the future soon the market on the other end. I think it's great, and I will publicly admit that I have to put my money where my mouth is and get my membership in. Thank you, Elizabeth. [2:47:57] Eames: Eames, Ward 3. I do have my membership. I live in this neighborhood. Can't wait for this to occur. What an amazing possibility. And I guess my main message here is everyone said all the things I was gonna say, so what I'll say now is that after the earlier part of this meeting, which was so divisive, I'm really happy to have this idea come forward and for us to build some community and some positive feelings around being in Lewiston. Thank you, Alex. [2:48:35] Pine: pine ward one i'm also a member of the planning board wearing that hat looking at this project the applicant has found you know issues with the site and is doing their due diligence and i think it makes A LOT OF SENSE TO EXTEND THE AGREEMENT FOR THE NEXT SIX MONTHS TO ALLOW FOR THEM TO KEEP DOING THIS WORK. IT'S A REALLY GREAT PROJECT. IT'S IN ALIGNMENT WITH OUR COMP PLAN AND WILL BE REALLY BENEFICIAL TO THAT AREA OF THE CITY. [2:49:05] Carl L. Sheline: FURTHER PUBLIC COMMENT? BACK TO THE COUNCIL. [2:49:10] Chrissy Noble: COUNCIL AND AGENT, YES. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY I'VE BEEN IN SUPPORT OF THIS PROJECT SINCE IT'S CONCEPTION. I think it's great and I'm thankful that both CDI and the Economic Development Department were able to stick together to keep working through all these pieces, through all the different challenges that we've Seen up to this point. I'm looking forward to seeing a completed project which will greatly improve food access downtown as well as The vitality of the region of the region that it's located in. Thank you. [2:49:49] Scott A. Harriman: Councilor Chittim. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I simply want to disclose fully that I am a member of this venture and I'm going to be supporting it. I do not believe that there's a conflict there, but I wanted to disclose that. [2:50:06] Carl L. Sheline: I'll sign up very soon. This is gonna be way cool. Madam Clerk, please call the vote. [2:50:13] David B. Chittim: Yes,, Becky, these are for Audie. I'm number 12, number 12, order authorizing the city administrator to sign the timeline and action plan with a Cadence Kitchen Pantry Incorporated. Requested action to approve the order authorizing the city administrator to sign the timeline and action plan for the homeless shelter service agreement with Cadence Kitchen Pantry Incorporated. [2:50:48] Carl L. Sheline: Have a motion, please. I move we approve the order. Councillor Chittim, followed by I second, Councillor Nagine, administrator. [2:51:01] Bryan Kaenrath: Kainrath, who's kicking us off? Yeah, I'll start us off. So thank you, Mr. Mayor. We had a very productive meeting with shelter leadership last week. Really talking about the remaining items in order to actually open as fully as a low barrier shelter. There's really two main items. We worked with our city attorney to develop a timeline and action plan that you see in the packet here that was agreed upon with shelter leadership. I think we have a good plan going forward. It involves having everything operational by December 31st of this year. I think it takes care of the remaining items on the checklist. So shelter leadership is here. I'm not sure if you'd like to hear from them, but city administration fully supports this agreement our legal Council has developed and supports it, and I think it's a good action plan moving forward to have this shelter fully operation. Thank you. [2:51:56] Carl L. Sheline: Questions, comments from the council? Council Martel, yes, thank you, Mr. Mayor. I guess I will address administration. So it's my understanding that this master services agreement was entered into with the city on July 17, 2025. It's a little, well over a year ago. I'm assuming that this action plan is necessary because the group hasn't been in compliance or met the standards or the agreements laid out in that original master services plan. Is that why we're addressing this now? I [2:52:33] Bryan Kaenrath: think it's necessary because the city would like to see an action plan for the remaining items to be completed for it to be operating fully as a little barrier shelter. The original master services agreement, as you know, does not include any particular timelines or benchmarks. That is, that is absent from the agreement. In retrospect, maybe there should have been some specific dates in there going back to the summer of 25. So I think what we've put together here, what our attorney has put together here, really just clarifies going forward the city has approved. [2:53:01] Carl L. Sheline: 1.2 million dollars over three years for the operation of this shelter. are we gonna get what, once it is in a low barrier shelter, do you know, are we gonna get an actual licensed low barrier shelter for three years in exchange for that 1.2 million dollars of taxpayer money, or are we just going to get the balance of the time left so [2:53:25] Bryan Kaenrath: Would you like to speak to him? Okay. [2:53:29] Carl L. Sheline: yeah, come on down. If the both of you could please introduce yourselves and then, yes, answer Councilor Martel's question. I am Linda Scott, I am the acting administrative [2:53:44] Kevin Bollard: director for Alter L.A. Kevin Bollard, I am the executive director for Alter L.A. One clarification I wanted to put out there, I know you continue to reference the operational, our contract with the city was for development and operation of a low barrier shelter, which is hence what we are going through right now for the process to meet all of the planning and code needs for the change of usage for official shelter usage. Can you point out in the master services agreement where it says development? Well, it says that we do have to purchase the building, so it's virtually impossible for us to be operating a shelter if we haven't purchased the building yet, and there is other wording in that clearly indicates that it's in a developmental stage. What is that wording? I don't have the service agreement in front of you, but this is, these are conversations we've had with the city attorney and everyone is on the same page with the current status of the process. So are you currently operating? Point of order. [2:54:38] Scott A. Harriman: Mr. Mayor, one second, Councilor Herman. Yes, could we please make sure people aren't interrupting and speaking out of turn again. Thank you. [2:54:51] Carl L. Sheline: Councilor Martel, please continue. Thank you. Did you say you are currently operating as a low barrier shelter? [2:54:56] Kevin Bollard: No. As we proceed to complete all of the requirements to operate as low barrier shelter. We are currently operating as a 24-7 facility for emergency and cooling center purposes for our agreement with the city in our contract and with the understanding that as of 12 1 we would go to a 24 7 operation through the end of April until shelter operations are complete until shelter development is [2:55:25] Carl L. Sheline: completed. Okay, so I have read the master services agreement, I also don't have it in front of me tonight, but I am confident that the wordings that you're suggesting are not in it, that we have to purchase the building. One second, thank you. We're gonna, we're gonna speak one at a time. Please continue, Council Martel. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. No, so I mean, it's even restated here that approved 1.2 million dollars for three years of the operation of a low barrier shelter. So you've been getting funding for over a year now to operate a low barrier shelter. Is it, but we don't have a low barrier shelter development and operation. Okay, I wish that there was a, so maybe city administration could help me out. Do you have the master services agreement with you? Can you point out the part for the development yeah counselor i don't have it in front of me we [2:56:16] Bryan Kaenrath: could certainly review and get back those answers, of course, but I don't have the agreement in front [2:56:20] Carl L. Sheline: of me right now. Okay, I also believe that master services agreement required for monthly financial statements to be submitted to the city. Did that happen, or when did that start? When did that begin happening? If it's begun happening. [2:56:38] Bryan Kaenrath: It has begun happening. They provided back statements, but yes, as we discussed previously, those statements were not coming in for the agreement for that time period. [2:56:48] Carl L. Sheline: OK. WHO IS IT ON THE CITY SIDE THAT is in charge of compliance? We're not going to rehash that right now. We're good. So we're not going to go down that road. Do you have other questions, Councilor Martel? Yeah, I guess I would just circle back to one of my first questions was, are we actually gonna get three years of a operational licensed low barrier shelter for the taxpayers, 1.2 million dollars, which is clearly stated both in the master services agreement and restated here in our agenda for this evening? We [2:57:23] Kevin Bollard: are confident that you will get the development and operation of a low barrier shelter with that agreement. [2:57:30] Carl L. Sheline: Okay, back to administration. So I'm reading this and I see the timeline set out with the new dates. What I don't see is, so I see an action plan, I don't see a results plan. I'm curious, are there any protections for the taxpayers dollar or the city's funding should these deadlines not be met? Well, [2:57:56] Bryan Kaenrath: I think with any agreement or contract, there would be a breach of the agreement or contract if these actions are not performed by those dates, and there are legal avenues for that. Okay, any [2:58:16] Carl L. Sheline: further questions counselor martel No, I'll just state that it's been, let's see, July, August, September, October, so close to 16 months since the original master services agreement was signed and entered into with your group in the city. We still don't have a low barrier shelter. We have, if you want to reframe my memory, what is it that you're calling it, a 24 7 facility that is [2:58:43] Kevin Bollard: currently connected with HMIS coordinated entry and currently providing all of the services as a shelter, even though we are not officially licensed or operating as one. These bi-monthly [2:58:57] Carl L. Sheline: meetings that are listed in this new agreement aren't, weren't these part of the previous [2:59:01] Kevin Bollard: agreement as well? Originally they were bi-monthly meetings. The first one would have been scheduled in August. That would have been based off of the request of the city. No formal request was received, so unfortunately that meeting had not [2:59:17] Carl L. Sheline: happened. So have there been any meetings with administration prior to the one [2:59:23] Kevin Bollard: that developed this timeline? We have met with the city every time we have received the formal request to have a meeting. All right, but not bi-monthly as defined here. We have met with the city every time we have received a request to meet with the city. Okay, I [2:59:43] Carl L. Sheline: mean, I just, I would just like to point out that I feel like this city has been more than accommodating for the shelter in your organization. You came to us in June and asked for a license. It was a license that code and the fire department formally recommended we not give you. This body gave it to you anyway. That didn't seem to remedy the issues to get what we need for a low barrier shelter, and now we're back here with new deadlines. So I guess I'm just saying that I really do hope that these deadlines are met, and I would expect that after that period of time we'll be looking at close to 18 months, which would be the halfway point of this three-year contract. If we're not opera, if you're not operating as a low barrier shelter halfway through a contract to provide a low barrier shelter, I might think it's time for this council to reconsider what exactly it is that we're paying for. So I just hope you take these deadlines seriously. One second, one second. Thank you, counselor. Are you finished? Yes, thank you, Mr. Mayor. Okay, yes, please continue. I would just like to say that we look [3:00:56] Speaker AS (unidentified): forward to completing the job and working in partnership with the city and moving forward with this needed service in our community. We're proud of the work we do. We're proud of our commitment to this community, and we're proud of our partnership with the city, and we look forward to continuing doing that. Thank you. Thank you, Counselor. [3:01:15] Chrissy Noble: Naijin, did I see your hand? You did, but at this point I'll hold off. Thank you, Chancellor. [3:01:24] Scott A. Harriman: Harriman, yes. Thank you. I just wanted to thank you both for the work that you've been doing ever since the center opened. I live just two streets over on the same, on the same block, and ever since the center opened, it's made a huge difference, at least on my block, with behaviors that are happening out there, people who are hanging out there. It's been much quieter since that, since you opened. So, thanks. Councillor Chittim. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I would like to echo my fellow councillors who appreciate the work that you've done, understanding that standing up an enterprise of this magnitude and complexity is not something that happens overnight. You have been doing a stellar job. It is, to my knowledge, the only one in Androscoggin County. Lewiston has stood up to assist you. You have stood up to make this a reality, and I am very proud of the work that you do, and I support you fully. [3:02:27] Carl L. Sheline: Councilor Nagy, back to you. [3:02:29] Chrissy Noble: Thank you very much, Mr. Mayor. I did wanna just touch on a couple of things. One of them is, so we built out some systems in order to attach people to services. And I'm just wondering if you can speak to, for the first 15, 16 months of the operation, what we've seen as far as moving people into supportive services, housing, getting people stable. Through the low barrier model, if you could just speak to a little bit of that so the community understands that even though you're currently operating as a 24-hour warming center, so to speak, there's work being done. So if you could talk to it, I would absolutely love to. [3:03:10] Speaker AS (unidentified): Talk to that. So currently, everybody that visits our center is now being connected to case management services. They are now seeing doctors. They now have identifications that they need. Many of them have now received their vouchers for housing. We have currently housed over 45 people since we've opened. We work with people every day to put them in the place that they need to be. Of the people that we've gotten housed, statistics show that when somebody gets a voucher and goes into a place to live, the First thing that happens, unfortunately, is they get lonely and they have a difficulty maintaining that apartment. Of all the people that we've got housed, they are all still housed. We had another member of our Center get housed yesterday and he gave us his goodbyes today and it is a proud moment for us when we see this happening. We are working every day to ensure that every person that visits us if they need mental health services they need a place for sober living they need to find help getting a voucher or get identification get their birth certificate all of the things we are doing that with them every single day we are also working closely with maine housing to ensure that we are part of the hmis system as well as coordinated entry we have been able to give more data to the state of maine from andrew scotland county than has ever been given about the homeless situation in our community we recently received funding for a warming center again this year and we had a meeting yesterday with Maine Housing to make sure that we are going to be part of the ESHOP funding moving forward. We are prepared to be part of that as well. We have done all the work that needs to be done to put us in a place to be the most successful shelter in the city and we continue to do that. We work tirelessly. We have 20 people that work with us all the time. We pay these people. These are Lewiston residents. They have jobs because of us. Not only are we helping our community with giving jobs and helping the people that are homeless, we are doing countless work in the neighborhood to ensure that it is constantly clean. We have neighborhood cleanups. We work closely with all of our neighbors. We have helped some of our neighbors who have not even been members in our center move to a new apartment and find the housing and the help that they need. They come to us if they need help with their food. They come to us if they need diapers for their children and we are there to do that for them. Anything else, Councillor? You're welcome. [3:05:41] Carl L. Sheline: Welcome. It's hard work and we acknowledge that we're not hiring the public comment for this agent or I'm sorry yes Councilor Martel I forgot my apologies please continue thank you Mr. Mayor And I just want to clarify, like, this, well, not this body, but the previous body decided that we wanted a low barrier shelter, and that isn't the conversation I'm trying to have. I'm discussing contracts and taxpayer dollars, and the city is meeting its end of its contract by sending the check. I'm just trying to clarify when your end of the deal is going to be properly held up in exchange for the money. This isn't, I'm not saying that you aren't doing good work or helping people or the community or anything else. I think that contracts are important. I think that if should the city maybe stop holding up its end of the deal by cutting a check each month, you guys might have an issue with that, a fair assessment to make. So I'm just looking at this from a contractual point of view. Agreements were made on both sides. The city has held up its end of the deal. I'm just trying to find out, 16 months later, when the city and the taxpayers who funded this are actually going to get what they paid for. They are. Yes. Please continue, Councillor Martel. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I do want to thank you for bringing up the new funding for the warming and cooling center. It's my understanding that a couple of years ago, did you enter into a contract with, I know the city of Lewiston was part of it, but to operate a warming center for the winters of 2024 and 2025, which winter was that? The practice that would have been the winters of 24. I believe it was October to April 2024, and then last winter October to April 2025. It was a two-year agreement to operate a warming center in Lewiston, correct? You got funding for that, correct? Okay, so you also separately, in a separate contract, master services agreement, were being funded to run a 24 7 low barrier shelter to develop and operate. Yes. Okay, so I guess my question is that, so between October and April of last year, 2025, you had previously been funded to run a warming center here in Lewiston, is that correct? And so if that's the case, and what you ran WAS A 24-7 WARMING CENTER. WHAT DID THE MONEY THAT HAS BEEN GIVEN TO YOU FOR THE MONTHS OF OCTOBER AND APRIL THROUGH APRIL IN 2025 FOR A LOW BARRIER SHELTER GOAT TO FUND? [3:08:28] Kevin Bollard: THE WARMING CENTER FUNDING ORIGINALLY STARTED THE WARMING CENTER ON NOVEMBER 1ST. I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT THE [3:08:34] Carl L. Sheline: FUNDING WAS IN PLACE WITH A SEPARATE DIFFERENT DEAL THAT WAS AGREED TO OVER TWO YEARS AGO. ONE SECOND, COUNCILOR MARTELL IF YOU COULD JUST RESTATE YOUR QUESTION AND THEN AND THEN UH THEY CAN ANSWER IT LIKE FROM The beginning, yep. So it's my understanding that a little over two years ago, your organization was entered into a two-year contract to provide a warming center for Lewiston for the winters of 2024 in the winter of 2025. Correct, there is a separate arrangement, a separate contract to operate a 24 7 low barrier shelter, to develop and operate. Yes, you continue to point that out. You continue to leave that out, Mr. Bullier. Thank you, just wait till Council Martel is finished. Answering his question, thank you. I guess what I'm trying to point out is that it seems for the months of October to April last year, you got your group was funded to operate a warming center and a low barrier shelter. So because you already funded to with a separate deal to operate a warming center for last winter, what did the money you were collecting for the low barrier shelter go to fund? You were already funded to run a warming center, we've established that's what you were running. So what did. The money for the low barrier shelter get used for when the original contract. [3:10:03] Kevin Bollard: Contract was signed for that $119,000. The first year had joint funding with Maine Housing for an additional $279,000, which brought that to approximately $400,000. The next year, we did not receive any funding from Maine Housing for the emergency warming center, and that $119,000 was the only available funding we had at the time for the warming center function operations. So when we met with all of our funding partners in December, it was It was decided that all of the funding would be pooled together. We would open 24 7 immediately on December 1st, provide the maximum resources. But all of the funding that was currently available for the emergency warming center services until the development of the shelter was complete. [3:10:48] Carl L. Sheline: All right. Do you know what, one second, comes Martel? Are you finished speaking? Yes, okay. Yes or Martel. What, one last question then we're going to public. I'm just trying to find where the documentation is for the meeting that you're saying where these commingling of funds was supposed to exist. It's my understanding that we funded an operation to give us two years worth of a 24-hour warming center. The city of Lewiston's taxpayers funded that included last winter. Funding for a low barrier shelter was also being paid. So I guess what I'm alluding to here is that it seems that you were paid to offer a low barrier shelter, a low barrier shelter and a. Warming center, and what you provided was a warming center. So if what you're stating is accurate and there was a meeting with an agreement with the city of Lewiston and your funding partners to commingle these two contracts or the funds from those two contracts, could you point out to me where those meeting minutes are, where there was an amendment made to the low barrier shelters master services agreement, where there was a council vote [3:11:55] Kevin Bollard: on that, it where it was made public? No amendment was needed. The normal operating costs for one month, I mean one week, of an operating center that's going 24 7 is approximately $20,000. So when you average that out for one month, that hundred and nineteen thousand dollars from the city of Lewiston hypothetically covered one month of services for the emergency warming center operating 24 7. That facility operated 24 7 for over five months, so $119,000 from the city of Lewiston, which was a partial funding commitment compared to the previous year, which was matched by the 279 thousand by main housing, which was absent in the second year. That's why the funding was combined with the emergency warming center development and operating costs that were currently available for the shelter as well. So the primary funding for this program comes from main housing, the secondary funding from this program comes from the city of lewiston. So we are operating in accordance with the contract that we signed with the city of lewiston, which is for the development and operation of a low barrier shelter. The goal was to maximize the services for the most vulnerable people during the most challenging times of the year, so that we could get as many people into our facility as possible. That resulted in over 700 individuals coming into our facility and over 45 of those individuals being housed. So if you're wondering where the hundred and nineteen thousand dollars in the warming center costs went to, it is a very simple explanation, and that is the 24-7 operations of the facility, the over 700 individuals that we had come through, and the over 45 individuals that ended up getting housed, which saves the city OF LOUISTON APPROXIMATELY OVER 30 000 PER YEAR IN NORMAL EXPENSES DO [3:13:51] Carl L. Sheline: YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS COUNCILOR MARTELL WELL I DO I UNDERSTAND THAT YOUR SECONDARY FUNDING FELL OUT WHAT I WHAT I HEARD YOU SAY WAS THAT LOUISTON PAID ITS PART FOR TWO YEARS OF A WARMING SUMMER MR MAYOR [3:14:09] Scott A. Harriman: YES, GO AHEAD COUNCILOR HERMAN, WHAT'S YOUR POINT OF ORDER? I FEEL LIKE THE SAME QUESTION HAS BEEN asked over and over and over, and i feel like we should move on and hear from other voices at this [3:14:20] Carl L. Sheline: point. thank you. yes, i do agree. if you have a different question, i will allow you to ask it, and then we're going to head to public comment. okay, well i'll make a comment then. i don't feel like my question was answered. i understand that there was a loss of secondary funding for the warming center. i don't have, i did the research, i don't see any notes or anything where this THESE TWO CONTRACTS WERE SUPPOSED TO BE MIXED TOGETHER, AND JUST BECAUSE SECONDARY FUNDING FELL OUT FOR THE SECOND YEAR OF THE WARMING CENTER, I DON'T SEE ANYWHERE IN ANY CONTRACT OR ANY COUNCIL DECISION OR ANY MEETING MINUTES WHERE WHAT MR. BOLLARD IS CLAIMING WAS AUTHORIZED TO BE USING TAXPAYER FUNDING FOR. SO THAT'S A COMMENT, NOT A QUESTION, AND YES, MR. MAYOR, NOW I'M FINISHED. Thank You councillor Martel, we're not having a public comment for this agenda. Elizabeth [3:15:16] Eames: Eames Ward 3, I'm not commenting on that, I'm commenting on the fact that I live right here in this block and the difference is night and day between before and after this Opened, so I just want to be very clear that the life, the phenomenology of living in this neighborhood has TRANSFORMED BECAUSE OF ALL THE WORK YOU DO, SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. [3:15:45] Carl L. Sheline: FURTHER PUBLIC COMMENT? PUBLIC COMMENT IS NOW CLOSED. BACK TO THE COUNCIL. MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE VOTE. COUNCILOR FROM [3:15:59] David B. Chittim: WORD SIX, ABSOLUTELY YES. COUNCILOR FROM WORD SEVEN, YES. WORD ONE, YES. WORD THREE, YES. WORD FIVE, YES. MR. MAYOR, YES. MOTION PASS BUT GO TO SIX TO ZERO. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. HAVE A [3:16:13] Carl L. Sheline: wonderful evening. you too, and the rest of you in the other room, so thank you. [3:16:20] David B. Chittim: we are, I'm number 13, appointment of council representative to the Lewiston Youth Advisory Council. requested action to nominate and appoint a counselor to serve as the city's represent as the council's representative to the Lewiston [3:16:33] Carl L. Sheline: Youth Advisory Council. and thank you madam clerk. and since I'm pulling double DUTY THIS EVENING, I WOULD LIKE TO NOMINATE COUNSELOR NOBLE TO FILL THIS POSITION. WE DO NOT NEED A SECOND FOR THIS, RIGHT? CORRECT. OKAY. COMMENTS ON COUNSELOR NOBLE'S CANDIDACY? COUNSELOR CHIDDOM. [3:16:56] Scott A. Harriman: THANK YOU. I'M WONDERING IF COUNSELOR NOBLE IS AGREEING TO ACCEPT THE NOMINATION. [3:17:04] Chrissy Noble: YES. THANK YOU. [3:17:10] Carl L. Sheline: PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THIS? BACK TO THE COUNCIL. I THINK I NOW NEED A MOTION, RIGHT, MADAM COURT? [3:17:18] David B. Chittim: YES, THE MOTION WOULD BE TO APPOINT COUNCILOR NOBLE TO SERVE AS THE COUNCIL'S REPRESENTATIVE TO THE LOUISSTON YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL. [3:17:24] Carl L. Sheline: MAY I HAVE A MOTION, PLEASE? [3:17:26] Scott A. Harriman: I MOVE TO APPOINT COUNCILOR NOBLE TO SERVE AS THE COUNCIL'S REPRESENTATIVE TO THE LOUISSTON YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL. [3:17:32] Carl L. Sheline: THANK YOU, COUNCILOR CHIDDOM. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. AND BY COUNCILOR NAJING, FURTHER COMMENTS? SEEING NONE, MADAM COURT, PLEASE CALL THE VOTE. [3:17:41] David B. Chittim: Council from word six. Yes. Word seven. Yes. Word one. Yes. Word three. Yes. Word five. Yeah, you're good to go. Yes. Mr. Mayor. Yes. Motion passed with a vote of six to zero. [3:17:55] Carl L. Sheline: It's official. Thank you very much. And we voted not to have the second public comment period, correct? Correct. Okay. We are now up to reports and updates. [3:18:11] Scott A. Harriman: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I would like to report on the Lewis and Auburn Railroad Board. At the last meeting, a motion was presented that would require all revenues generated by the transfer of railroad property to the City of Auburn and the support to the tune of $300,000 for engineering of that property. The motion was made to have revenues from that investment returned to the railroad rather than the City of Auburn. That motion failed. It was voted unanimously against by the City of Auburn representatives, all three of them. Two members of the Lewiston delegation voted in favor of returning those monies to the railroad instead of the city. Three members of the Lewiston delegation abstained from that vote. The result is that Lewiston has essentially now written a check for four hundred fifty thousand dollars to the city of Auburn. I have resigned from the railroad board. [3:19:21] Carl L. Sheline: Further reports and updates from councillors. We're now up to new business. Should there be any counselor [3:19:29] Susan G. Longchamps: Noble, so I'd like to [3:19:34] Kranz: Put what Wren said about the Kratom, like either have a workshop or [3:19:41] Becky Conrad: Look further into this because there is a lot of truth to what she said. [3:19:49] Carl L. Sheline: Counselor, yeah, no. Please be recognized. [3:19:53] Chrissy Noble: Also in a gene. Yes, you've been recognized multiple times tonight when there were back-and-forth exchanges for voluminous periods. I was unrecognized, and I'm a little irritated at certain things tonight. But the public health committee has contacted the state concerning, I believe it's OH-7, and Kratom kind of falls into that as well, and I believe that if you refer that request for the Public Health Committee to come up with an ordinance that we could accept, that would they would be willing to do so. We should use our committees whenever we can. [3:20:39] Lidstrom: I'm definitely on board with however that works. Thank you. [3:20:46] Carl L. Sheline: Are we calling it a night? Ladies and gentlemen or concert should him did you have something else? Thank you. Yes [3:20:52] Scott A. Harriman: I do have a couple of requests. One is I would like to see an action item on the mobile Home lot rent stabilization ordinance appear on the next agenda. I was disappointed that it did not appear on tonight's agenda. We have in effect a moratorium right now. You heard mobile home park owner Speak as you have previously very much in opposition to this right now. The city has forestalled any Increases whatsoever. We have had a report from the Housing Committee on three options that are open to the City Council and I would like to have us move on this with all deliberate haste. The other request I have is that the administration develop a messaging communication to all of our residents about the lien process. I have heard over and over again that people are going to be driven from their homes because of excess taxation because of the revaluation and dramatic increases that will be looked at would be seen in next year's tax bill. People are misunderstanding completely what the lien process is and how it works and I would like to see a very clear message sent to the public as to what the lien process is. It was mentioned tonight that people's credit would be destroyed. That is not the case. So if administration could compile the lien process and what it means to the homeowner who may be whose property may be leaned for non-payment of taxes thank you [3:22:34] Carl L. Sheline: councillor nijing yes back to you i would just like to throw out there that [3:22:43] Chrissy Noble: the division within our city and the divisions within our city based on partisanship and on these insanely political grandstanding moments, all of the things that we are seeing right now, there is no good faith right now in our community and there is no good faith in trying to work on a body where three people are running for state office. So I would strongly encourage people to consider the Charter Review Commission. We look at other communities. I did I don't serve Republicans. I don't serve Democrats. I serve constituents. That's what I do. That's what I signed up to do. I am so sick of this. It is beyond it is beyond functioning in this city at this point. We are in dire straits pulling at each other poking at each other for no reason. You look at other models. Auburn for instance does not allow somebody to run for state office if They're serving in a municipal office and we are a nonpartisan board. We're nonpartisan city. That's I want to comment because I'm deeply disturbed by the dialogue in the community, by the things that I'm seeing FROM THE DIAS. IS IT IS HURTFUL TO OUR COMMUNITY. WE ARE GOING THROUGH ROUGH TIMES RIGHT NOW. [3:24:20] Carl L. Sheline: FURTHER UH IF WE CAN HAVE A QUIET IN THE CHAMBERS THAT'D BE GREAT. FURTHER NEW BUSINESS OR I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADJOURN. MOVE AWAY ADJOURN UH COUNCILOR CHIDDOM SECONDED BY COUNCILOR MARTELL. MADAM CLARK PLEASE CALL THE VOTE. COUNCILOR FROM WARD SIX YES. WARD SEVEN YES. WARD ONE YES. WARD THREE Yes. Thank you to all of you who stuck around to the bitter end. Loosen have a wonderful evening.