Lewiston Council reviews $35M school budget, approves busking festival permits

[2:57] Carl L. Sheline: Hello, welcome to our Tuesday evening workshop. If we can have a quiet in the chambers, that would be great. If you need to talk you can out to the hall. We're joined here by superintendent Langless and you brought a buddy. Mr. Grant, please kick it off. And if I can have counselors hold their questions until the end of the presentation, that would be great. [3:21] Bryan Kaenrath: So we shared this slideshow with you last week, but I did make a note on here that information subject to change. We are still very much at work and we still have new details coming to us as time elapses. So we after this I got sent to you, we did have a meeting last Wednesday night where more work was done and we have more meetings coming up. Just want to share a little bit about the budget process. The budget starts quite early and then we get working through it and what I bring to the school. Committee early March is what we call the superintendent's edition or version of the budget and then it goes through the work of the school committee which is actively happening and then we're here tonight to get input from the council and it will come back to you May 5th hopefully for your support and then go to referendum May 12. We are very mindful of the revaluation, we've been watching the city meetings as well and the impacts of the reval and how people are feeling that, so we're trying to. Be very conscious of it. We just a reminder we have about 5,400 students, we have 12 facilities and over a million square feet of building that we maintain, we have over a thousand full-time staff, more for those watching at home I guess. But we have the highest economically disadvantaged rate in the state of Maine, we have the highest amount of students that qualify for special education in the state of Maine and our programs they range from multiple staff that will work with just one student all. The way up to kids leaving our high school programs with an associate's degree who are very independent well in the way. But we do believe that all of our students no matter what that range is, they are all our students. In our fiscal year proposed budget which I know you're aware of, we did introduce 30 positions for reduction, of those at the time 23 of them were active employees. This is a live conversation because we have people who retire or transfer to other roles, so that number of 23. Fluctuates the budget as proposed is up 11 at 130 million 580 720 and we are not Portland I don't claim to be and don't want to be but their school budget was 179 million and they do have about a thousand more kids than us just as a as a thought the potential request as of last week when I submitted this locally is 35 million dollars this is an increase to all of us as taxpayers I live here as well of 3.9 million dollars so I think the big question is well why the increase what are the cost Drivers so we put together this chart to share some of that special education increases five million dollars plus that's been a growth effort I'll talk more about that but I've been sharing with you for multiple years about how we're trying to bring more students back into our schools and provide the services they need in-house that is not inexpensive it does save us money but it's hard to realize those costs when that all that all of that happens we are building capacity and returning kids to Us as we said we were going to and we have more work to do transportation wise we've had some cost overruns in the current year that are now actuals for us so we've rolled that in but we also have a new multi-year contract with our transportation provider that went out to RFP but there was cost increases with this new contract we are hoping the service is better and we don't have to cancel rides but there is an increased cost there of two and a half million utility-wise our power bill is up we Have a multi-year contract for that also went on to RFP it changed end of December and that's a seven hundred forty two thousand five hundred dollar increase in something that didn't increase what our abilities are but it does increase the cost workers compensation that is up significantly you can see that it's a hundred twelve percent increase one point six nine three thousand dollars but excuse me one point six ninety million dollars we're working on that really diligently we've been working Closely with city staff and trying to figure out what other options we might have I would like to see that number come down but we don't know if that's possible just yet health insurance it's it was up 14 we actually budgeted 15 we did find out late Friday what our rate is there'll be some savings there that we'll be able to share it's it's substantial but not in the millions there is a savings there salaries all combined, it's a 6.5% increase. Those are contractual obligations, collective bargaining agreements, things of that nature. Those are not the only things that are up, but those are our big ones. And then I get asked, well, why the reductions? And so when we worked with our controller, Adam Hanson, who's behind me, he's very detail-oriented and doing projections of the budget and rolling things over and going from every single position that we have in a listing, do we need it, do we not, with our management team it was a six and a half million dollar increase locally and that wasn't something I even wanted to bring to the committee so we had to look at some difficult things we looked at unfilled positions with that maintaining classroom and student support roles we looked at the entirety of our system and positions by school because each school has different levels of need and we worked our best to bring forth something that as an educator I'd like to have it all the reality of the resources is we cannot so the articles overall you have a binder that has all of this in greater detail but this just gives you a snapshot of the articles as they build out our budget it builds on these articles is based on the Department of Education coding structure so that's why you see these different articles and when we go to referendum the article amounts are part of the Warren article that you'll be able to see the numbers where they land if approved and in this you can see again these are the numbers from about a week ago different areas regular instruction all the way through an adult education at the bottom which has remained almost flat it's a different visual a very similar grab of what where the money goes and so the larger blue slice is regular instruction so that's teaching learning staff teachers that takes things of that nature article 2 is special education specifically so that coding has a different setup so we can track that and you can see the other slivers that are much smaller moving through each article all the way to the smallest being adult ed talked earlier about a support for our kids and we've talked about the what we call the CLIMB program that's an acronym for the students that we're We're having back in our district that we used to pay to go elsewhere. That's happening right now at McMahon in one of the wings. And as we predicted two years ago when we started talking about bringing these folks back in and building out a space to do it, we would exceed that wing area. We're there. That's a, it's a good problem in a bad problem. Space is a concern. But our out of district placements are now below 100. When we first started this process, we were at 133. And in the two years we've also added at least 35 students. Last I checked, knew that just they grew up and now they're in our schools. So we have the reduction of outplace kids and we have dozens of new that just came through because they were now in pre-k or first or second grade. Another major concern of ours that we've been working closely with the state on, an assistant and superintendent care pocket is really trying to build out in advance, is child development services or what's known as CDS. That is in a transitional process that districts can opt into until fiscal year 28 when you must take on CDS kids. The estimate for us is somewhere between 80 and 120 kids that we will be taking on at that point in time. And these are three and four year olds and five real, so they're much younger but have high levels of need. They already live with diagnoses and IEP supports. Those students will need to be serviced by those in public schools at that point. The state does that right now. So we would need staffing space. They do have a funding model for it. We're still estimating that out. I think the funding model is supportive, but I always worry about funding models that are two years out with state funds. And that's not on anybody, just that's, that makes me nervous with different changes in administration and legislation and appropriations. As you know, I do have a reflect, a refresher slide that shows what we talked about. So this was back in 24, 25. We talked about starting in a small space, investing some money. Again, these do have cost increases tied to it. And in the middle part of this slide you can see years two and three, which is where we're at. We're in the middle of that. And our goal was to grow in-house programs by 60 students to 300. We are, we are on our way. We're close to that. We're mid 200s right now. And there's, there's some movements in and out, but we should hit that 300 number in that 27 year, next year, as part of our goals. That's a good thing in that it deflects cost, and that's a hard term to throw around. Because it's not inexpensive. However, we've done estimates on what would it cost if these students went to school elsewhere and we paid their tuition and their transportation far away, some of them, and the level of need, and we are saving millions of dollars with this effort. But I need you to understand it does cost millions of dollars to do. And then as we look at years four and five, so a year from now we'll be talking about CDS coming online, our enrollments have stayed steady or grown, and also more and more construction projects being completed that might generate more families for our community. And so when we look at space, not just as it relates to child development services, the projection of growth of enrollment and other factors, we're out of space at McMahon right now to grow that program much further, so we'll have to have that tough conversation. I know at times 287 Main Street comes up. We are working hard on grants for that. We did ask for some funds locally around that project. One of the ideas right now that we've written some grants for, again, this preliminary, is just to look at doing sixth grade hands-on type projects or spaces so we can really try to engage kids that we're losing in that early middle school, late elementary level. And if we can do that, we can move some sixth graders out of some elementary schools. This is not built out perfectly yet, but that would create space for CDS students. We have been working with an architect on some concept plans and we should have that available pretty soon for everyone. So there's, there's a plan out there that is working in a direction, still needs to be more formalized. I mentioned this already, just as we look for those grants and those dollars to trying to find a way to get funds to support the effort locally without asking our local taxpayers for all of it, we continue to do that. So just so you know, as I'm restating really, but the school committee continues to meet as information becomes available. There's some different things that are functioning right now from a state perspective. There have been some changes made to the funding formula, the ED-279, the essential programs and services. Those changes, if adopted, and they're on their way, will take effect not this coming fiscal year but the year after. There is an effort led by Senator Rotundo to do what they call bridge year funding, and if that occurs, they'll be funding next year by way of the appropriations process that will help ease that transition for us. We have an estimate of half a million dollars, but we don't, we won't know that until everything is finally approved. Any adjustments that come in to us, the school committee takes a very close look at. They consider positions that have been cut, different potential reductions, putting money back in as revenue so that it lowers the burden on the community, and they're doing that work. It's been a hard series of meetings because we're talking about people that we know that work with our kids and do a good job with them, so it's a, it's a challenging conversation. After more school committee meetings, again we'll return to you on May 5th to seek your approval to hold the referendum one week later, and between now and then we'll do some community conversations and be available to answer questions town hall style or in other spaces if people wish to have us. That's that was it from my overview of the budget for now. You do have the binder with detail. I do have some slides that discuss LC IP requests if that's something that you would like to know more about, but really thank you for your time and take any questions and recommendations [17:24] Carl L. Sheline: you have. Thank you very much superintendent. I want to note that we have a chair McLaughlin here along with several school board members. Want to thank you all for your service and many educators here, thank you for your service. I appreciate everyone being here. Yeah, my thoughts with LCIP, if counselors have questions we can address them at that time. Questions, comments from COUNCILORS [17:47] Bryan Kaenrath: COUNCILOR NAJING YES THANK YOU MR. MAYOR THANK YOU SUPERINTENDENT. I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS AS FAR AS IF YOU COULD POSSIBLY EXPLAIN, JUST LOOKING AT THE INCREASES, THE UTILITIES AND POWER INCREASE, IS THAT, SO THAT'S, IF YOU CAN JUST GO INTO WHY WE'RE SEEING SUCH A LARGE INCREASE OTHER THAN THE NEW POWER AGREEMENT, IS WAS THE NEW POWER AGREEMENT NOT BENEFICIAL FOR US, OR YEAH, SO BILLY IF YOU WANT TO SHOW ME YOU CAN, BUT IT IS, IT'S JUST THE POWER AGREEMENT THAT CHANGED, IT RAN ITS COURSE AND WE HAD TO DO A NEW ONE. GOOD, IT SHOULD JUST BE ON, IS IT OKAY? YEAH So the new power agreement you probably saw in the city, your power might have went down. We had a really good rate over the last five years, so we were paying like around a little over five cents a kilowatt, and the new contract went up to a little over 10 cents a kilowatt. So that's why we saw a pretty significant increase on our side. We have talked to other districts around the state, and actually Adam and I were just at a conference on Friday, and 10, that 10 cent range is actually what's the pretty competitive rate out there. But with us, we were, we were just, we had a really good rate for five years, and that's come up. So just add real quick to, I think part of our intentionality of keeping a very lean budget, we were budgeting on actuals, and so when the power rate shifted, there was nowhere to put it, so it had to be in addition. I know that there are some budget processes where they project, but we did base our budget on actuals to try to reduce the cost here locally. But when you do that and then it jumps, it jumps, you have no pad for it, right? But then you're also appropriating what you need to expend to, so the transportation cost so we have a new contract with Hudson, and that's driven that up, but the growth in level of need, we were talking about students that are out of district, is that correct? So there's actually a number of factors. One of them is McKinney-Vento, our homeless students, they have different qualifiers to get rides to and from our community depending on their scenario. We do have some increased costs for special education transportation, some of that is local, actually some of it is the kids that we're keeping here, but for instance, a kid who is now in first grade who we didn't have, but we now have, that requires a wheelchair ride, so there's added cost to some of those things, and we have more and more students who have that level of need. We are seeing that drive it up a little bit. Okay, and could you just quickly speak to how many out of district students are attending LPS now, and how many we have out of district? Yeah, so right now we're just under 100, I believe. I don't know if Director Crash is behind me i don't know if she's nodding or not but i think last we looked which was about a week ago it was 98 students that were out of district and we were like i said pushing 150 not so long ago so that's that's an improvement so on the mckinney evento and the special needs education packages that we now offer, or level of education we now offer, how many out of district students are now at LPS? So it's close to 50 students that were once not with us, that were outplaced, that are now with us. Okay, and that includes McKinney-Vento? McKinney-Vento numbers, they go all over. We're in the hundreds of students that qualify as McKinney-Vento. Not all of them need specialized transportation, though, or I shouldn't say specialized, unique transportation, but we do move I could get back to you with a number it's in the double digits for sure different communities and some of those scenarios they're not all that close but their life has been disrupted and they qualify and so some of those rides come from you know Jay and Augusta and as far south as you know Saco in that area for students to maintain their schooling experience as a Follow-up at some point if I could get more detail on the out of district students that are in the McGinney can you then tell program that would be I'd thank you for that and just really quickly on the CDS programming I know that we don't have to put this into place until 2028 we're taking active steps to pay for incorporating this program now so not in this budget we're taking active steps with the state the state has an appropriation for the transition it was essentially mandated after a Federal audit going back about three years they appropriated funds back then that are used to pay for students who have CDS services within a school district that is outside of the funding formula that we use for a subsidy and so I do talk to a lot of other superintendents well what's your experience how will this play out and some superintendents feel like it's it's going okay others are still wondering where the rest of the dollars are going to be but they have a transition team that we can Talk to, and we've been talking to, about if we do this, how many kids, what will it cost? So their funding is direct to that. It's not a reimbursement model, which is good, because we'd have a delay if it were. So we are not budgeting specifically for future CDS kids, other than our attempts at trying to figure out facilities and spacing and in people's time to plan. But gotcha. And my last question is just around that, some of the cuts. So you had public facing cuts that you proposed, and all of those still stand from the original budget proposal? I think all those are still in discussion, but I think the committee has done a pretty good job processing what are these potential cuts, and then trying to figure out depending on what happens with the revenues and the different and funding models that are shifting right before us, what they will do ultimately as it relates to those budget reductions. We continue to look for other things, and we continue to, if we find little things, we grab them. One example we shared publicly a week or so ago, we had our JROTC instructor, we have two of them at the high school, one retired, and when we hired the new one, it went in the budget, but it looked like we had three positions. So when we found that, we were able to extract that. So those kinds of things that we find throughout the process, those are all coming out. The school committee will look at new revenues hopefully, and then make some, they'll have to make some tough decisions on one of those pieces I presented or others that will ultimately land in the budget. The one thing I just like to note, I've been contacted by several constituents who are concerned about certain positions, including the Dean of Student Affairs at Tello and the social worker at the middle school. And so if those are, hopefully that the school board is being contacted by people who have the same concerns. So thank you very much. Thank [24:49] Carl L. Sheline: you. Further questions, comments from the council? [24:54] David B. Chittim: Councillor Chittim. Yes, thank you, Mr. Mayor. There's been a lot of talk and action in Augusta about redeveloping or re-examining the school funding formula. Could you talk to your perceptions on how that's going, what you expect may be happening? Lewiston is one of the largest recipients of the school funding formula, and my fear is that being so, and there's a reallocation, it will hurt [25:20] Bryan Kaenrath: Lewiston. Can you talk to that? Yeah, I think the biggest one right now is that the funding formula has not had a substantial change since 2005. So it's been 21 years since it's been adjusted, changed, modified in any way, shape, or form. A few years back, we had an adjustment that was put in place for COVID that changed one of our adjustments, and they found that correction and they peeled it back. That was the year, I don't know if you recall, that we had a loss in subsidy. We had, we've had a jump in subsidy as of late. The latest legislative language will, it's attempting to again, if passed, adjust the increaser or the factor to multiply those who qualifies economically disadvantaged. It's a, it's a point one five factor currently. They're looking to move that to a point three eight factor if the language stands. There's also language in there about special education caps. I'm actually a little concerned about that. The state, I WANT TO DIVE INTO THIS, TOO, IF I CAN, I GUESS, BUT THE STATE HAS AN ARBITRARY LINE OF 15%. ESSENTIALLY THAT 15% OF YOUR POPULATION WILL NEED SPECIAL EDUCATION, SO HERE'S YOUR FUNDING. WELL, WE HAVE MORE THAN 15%, AND SO WHEN THEY CAP IT AT 15%, IT'S NOT HELPFUL. SO WHAT THE STATE HAS DONE, AT LEAST THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND APPROPRIATIONS, IS SEND OUT WHAT THEY CALL EITHER HARDSHIP FUNDS OR HIGH-COST ADJUSTMENTS. And so we've been a recipient of those high-cost adjustments, and it ranges from two to I think as much as seven hundred and forty eight thousand dollars if I'm remembering correctly. That was a multilingual adjustment that was on the bigger end. But some of the language proposed, if they take the full adoption, takes those hardship funds and either caps them or potentially removes them. So the adjustment from 15% to 17% could be beneficial that they put in an arbitrary cap over a percentage or a hardship fund, we might land flat as it relates to that. However, the economically disadvantaged adjustment will benefit our district a great deal, I think over a million dollars a year. Thank [27:25] David B. Chittim: you. Do you have any guidance for the council as a whole or individuals in the city to talking points that we can address our [27:36] Bryan Kaenrath: legislators it is a work session Wednesday on LD 2226 if you can make a push to support that i do think that would be beneficial to our community but i would also push really a larger conversation about the essential programs and services formula as a whole we've picked up on some things that we 've asked questions about that we find challenging for one example we do main care billing just like outside organizations do for our kids who qualify that have high level of need and they have to qualify in other areas is but when we do that billing there's a factor in the formula that caused that revenue and it takes it out a year later once it's been audited and it's it's Adam was able to find almost a one-for-one removal of those funds and so it's it's hard to put the money in up front to do the work do the main care for billing for what qualifies then have it deducted from your revenue in a year or two so I think there's a lot of room in the essential programming services to look at some modifications that would benefit. We are a large receiver, but I also know that we have a high level of need. So if you could continue to push on anybody who wants to do more work with the essential programs and services, I'd love to see it look like the CTE model where it's you do this thing and it costs this much based on your regional costing and that's why we're going to give you this much money to do that, and we don't currently have that model. You want to add Bill? Yeah, I just want to, I was, I was at the conference I had referenced earlier and MEPRI was there doing a presentation and they obviously did the study of the ED279 along with the Department of Ed. And one of the really, the two pieces that they were looking at would benefit almost every district. There was one district they said that would have a little bit of a loss, but we were not that district, I can tell you that. And ultimately again, they're just providing data and how this becomes the most equitable formula they can have and what they presented. So if you have a chance to look at what Metbury put together, it would, I believe it would benefit Lewiston quite substantially. Federally, I would say IDEA, which is essentially special education law, has never been fully funded by the federal government. If that was fully funded, we would not even be having these conversations. Thank [30:00] Scott A. Harriman: You, Councillor Herman, thank you. And yeah, just to add to what the superintendent was saying, the bill to revamp the education funding formula, it wouldn't take effect until the next budget year, assuming it does pass. And there were, there was at least one, maybe a handful of schools that or districts that could lose funding. They were much wealthier districts, and it seems like they're moving in a direction where they won't, basically they won't go backwards, they'll sit at the same level for a few years. and then once they catch up again they'll their subsidy will start to increase the other piece which I don't know I apologize I was late I don't know if you talked about it's kind of still in the early stages but the supplemental or bridge funding I did you mentioned that okay thank you [30:57] Michael R. Roy: Council Roy, thank you. Thank you, superintendent. I don't know if this is the place for me to bring this up or not. I don't know if we've had any talks with like Bates College to invest in our education program here in Lewiston. I would really love to see that, because again, we have some great students here that would love to go to Bates and all that stuff, and I really think if we could get them to invest in our community, that would be amazing. You know, our kids would really benefit from that, and we wouldn't be having to have these conversations every year, like we'd have a, hopefully a partner that would really invest in us. So I don't know, this may start it or what, but I don't, I don't even know if I'm supposed to be saying that right now. I think, yeah, do you want to talk about the [31:40] Bryan Kaenrath: Harwood Center? Well, I mean, I'll start with a piece of it in that I can't speak to the nonprofit status and the taxation rules, that's bigger than me. But I will say Bates has been a great supporter of our schools with student volunteers, with tutors, with programming. But to your point, it's not a revenue draw for the city, so I can look for opportunities to mention that if it welcomes itself, but I, yeah. [32:16] Carl L. Sheline: I mean, I just wanted to add, through the Harvard Center there are many students who participate in Lewiston students education, and they're doing real work, and yeah, we're grateful for that. Further questions, comments from counselors? [32:34] Bryan Kaenrath: Councillor In Aging, back to you. Thank you, Mr. Mayor, just really quickly, can you tell us at this moment when the budget sits, how much in a dollar amount out is the is the municipal portion, how much the municipal portion of the budget is? Yeah, correct, so we have the overall budget. Yeah, and if you could just blow down by the funding that's coming from the state. Yes, and then the funding that's coming from. Yes, again, so if I go back here for slides are 35 million 417 903 dollars, which is that third to the last bullet, and the increased locally is 3.9 MILLION OVER THE LAST YEAR, SO THE REMAINING AMOUNT, THE 95 MILLION, IS COMPLETELY COMING FROM STATE AND FEDERAL SOURCES. YES, AND FUND BALANCE, OTHER REVENUES, THAT WOULD BE OUR MAIN CARE BILLING AND THEN STATE SUBSIDY. AND IF YOU COULD JUST BRIEFLY, IF YOU KNOW OFF THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD, THE FUNDING FORMULATE FOR EPS IS USUALLY SOMEWHERE AROUND 55. I KNOW THAT A COMMUNITY LIKE portland receives eight percent, eight nine percent. HOW MUCH DO WE RECEIVE? YEAH, WE EXCEED, WE'RE THE HIGHEST RECEIVER IN THE STATE, AND I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT PERCENTAGE, BUT IT'S IT'S LIKE IT'S OVER 70, IT'S LIKE 80 PERCENT. YEAH, OKAY, PERFECT, THAT THOSE ARE THE QUESTIONS THAT I HAD. [33:54] Carl L. Sheline: FURTHER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS FROM THE COUNCIL? I THINK THAT WRAPS IT UP. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. I [34:01] Bryan Kaenrath: APPRECIATE IT. JUST A QUICK NUMBER, I DID GET MCKINNEY-VENTO, THERE'S 131 STUDENTS, 131 STUDENTS, AND OUT OF THOSE, HOW MANY ARE CURRENTLY OUT OF DISTRICT, DO WE KNOW? THAT'S THE ONES THAT ARE OUT OF, THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT ARE OUT OF DISTRICT. OKAY, APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU GENTLEMEN. THANK [34:19] Carl L. Sheline: YOU BOTH. THANK YOU. WE ARE, I THINK WE'RE WE'RE IN A GOOD SPOT TO START OUR MEETING ON TIME AT SEVEN. WE'LL SEE YOU BACK HERE THEN. HELLO, WELCOME TO OUR TUESDAY EVENING COUNCIL MEETING. IF I CAN HAVE A QUIET IN THE CHAMBERS, THAT WOULD BE GREAT. THANK YOU. WE THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING. We're gonna kick things off with the Pledge of Allegiance, and we are absolutely honored to have Elsa Delario, who is the NESCAC player of the year, here, and she will lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Thank you very much. Elsa. [1:03:32] Unidentified speaker (Clerk): Madam clerk, I believe we're ready to begin. Yes. Thank you. Mr. Mayor, all roll call votes for this meeting. We'll begin with the counselor of Ward 1. The agenda says Ward 7, But the Ward 7 counselor has an excused absence this evening. So we'll move on for the council for Ward 1 for roll call votes. [1:03:48] Carl L. Sheline: Thank you Madam Clerk. We now have a few presentations. If I can have the Bates women's basketball team and I believe we have the two coaches here, please join me up front. Come on down. Really proud to have the Bates women's basketball team here and I am holding a proclamation recognizing the Bates College women's basketball team for outstanding achievement. whereas the Bates College women's basketball team achieved an historic 24 and 4 record during the 2025-2026 season the most wins in program history and whereas team captured the NESCAC championship with a victory over Bowdoin so exciting to always be Bowdoin and advanced to the NCEA and NCAA division three women's basketball championship tournament sweet 16 for the fourth time in program history and whereas the team demonstrated resilience and determination throughout the season including a remarkable comeback from an 18-point deficit to defeat Smith College always happy when we beat Smith in overtime during NCAA tournament play and we're at head coach Allison Montgomery and her coaching staff were recognized as NESCAC Coaching Staff of the Year with Coach Montgomery also earning the New England Coach of the Year honors and recognition as a finalist for the National Coach of the Year. And whereas student athletes earned numerous individual honors, including Senior Captain Elsie Delaria, who is named a WBCA All-American NESCAC Player of the Year and NESCAC Defensive Player of the Year, along with additional all-conference, all-region, and all-state recognitions for team members, including Sarah Hughes and Claire Gattani, and whereas the Bates College women's basketball team has represented the City of Lewiston with distinction through its commitment to excellence, teamwork, and sportsmanship. Now, therefore, I, Carl Elshaleen, Mayor of the City of Lewiston, do hereby recognize and commend the Bates College women's basketball team for their outstanding achievements during the 2025-2026 season and extend the city's congratulations to the student-athletes, coaches and staff for their continued success and representation of Lewiston at the regional and national levels. Thank you all so much for being here. [1:08:03] Michael R. Roy: Excellent job ladies. Great job. [1:08:06] John Boccia: yeah we [1:08:15] Carl L. Sheline: now have the Bates College swim and dive team here if the members could please join me here at the front when you can Who else is a team captain? Who else was a team captain? [1:09:20] David B. Chittim: Hey, Mr. Mayor, should we put some people in the back? Yeah, sure. So the taller ones, can we go in the back? [1:09:28] Adam Jones: No, not you. [1:09:31] Catherine Ruth: We're standing? We're standing now. Oh, not now. No, not now. [1:09:36] Susan G. Longchamps: You're good. The taller ones? [1:10:30] Bryan Kaenrath: Thank you for your patience. [1:10:36] Carl L. Sheline: We're going to start things off with a huge round of applause for the Bates swim and dive team. So yes, I have a proclamation recognizing the Bates College men and women swimming and diving programs for outstanding achievements. Whereas the Bates College men and women swimming and diving programs have demonstrated exceptional athletic excellence during the 2025 season, achieving historic success at both the conference and national levels. And whereas head coach Peter Casares, okay, I was named the 2026 NCAA Division three men's swimming co-coach of the year, and along with his staff was honored at the NESCA men's swimming coaching staff of the year, reflecting outstanding leadership and program development. And whereas the Bates men's team achieved a program best six-place finish at the NCAA Division III Championships, highlighted by the program's first-ever relay national championship in the 400-yard medley relay. And whereas student-athletes include Marich and Max Kory earned national titles and multiple All-American honors, with Marich setting a NESCAC record in the 100-yard breaststroke and Kory becoming the most decorated men's athlete in Bates history. And whereas additional student athletes include Sarah Palmer and Tim Johnson achieved All-American status and set new program benchmarks, reflecting the strength and depth of the Bates program. And whereas the Bates swimming and diving programs have also demonstrated a strong commitment to academic excellence, with both teams earning CSCAA scholarship All-American team honors and maintaining exceptional grade point. And whereas the success of the Bates College swimming and diving programs reflects not only individual achievement, but also the strength of teamwork, dedication, and a shared commitment to excellence both in and out of the pool. Now, therefore, I, Carl L. Scheline, Mayor of the City of Lewiston, do hereby recognize the Bates College men's and women's swimming and diving programs for their outstanding achievements during the 2025 season and extend the City's congratulations to the student-athletes. Coaches and staff for the continued success and exemplary representation of Lewiston on the national stage. Thank you all so much. Congratulations. I know that some of you are in position, but I need all the 14 captains to join me up front here. So yeah, thank you. And we're gonna get a, I really appreciate Lewis and his adult education here. We have Ray Zell, and we also have Jen Tyner here, the director. And we have two apprenticeship students. If you can just introduce yourselves really quick and just tell us what you're studying. My name is Mimi Katon Bengudia. [1:16:05] Giselle: I'm staying open. I was, I was take my training apprentices in adapt education to under person. Yes, I'm a CNA. Right now I'm working in Clover Head Care. My name is Giselle. I'm one of the first students in the apprenticeship program at Adult Education Western. So I finished there. I started as a student to learn English. And then from there I went to CNA program and then phlebotomy. Me and then after that now I'm doing my I set for nursing to go to nursing college. And then now I'm working for spawn weeks as a senior looking for adults of intellectual disability a. [1:17:00] Carl L. Sheline: Huge round of applause for these two. Thank you so much. So this is a proclamation celebrating National Apprenticeship Week. Whereas National Apprenticeship Week annually raises awareness of the vital role registered apprenticeships provide in meeting critical industry workforce demands. Registered apprenticeship programs develop the highly skilled workforce that employers need and create pathways for Americans to catapult into in-demand high paying careers. And whereas registered apprenticeship programs are industry driven high quality career pathways that enable employers to develop and train their future workforce. And individuals can obtain paid work experience with a mentor, receive progressive wage increases, classroom instruction, and a portable nationally recognized credential. And whereas the city of Lewiston recognizes the urgent need to prepare and maintain a highly skilled workforce that can meet the current and future demands of the industry, we serve and fortify our economy. And whereas the city of Lewiston, recognizing the pivotal role educators, school counselors, and educational institutions serve in not only bringing awareness of registered apprenticeship opportunities to students and parents, but also serving as training providers, program sponsors, and intermediaries. And whereas Lewiston adult education has demonstrated a strong commitment to workforce development by expanding access to education, supporting career pathways, and partnering with employers to connect residents with meaningful training and employment opportunities. And whereas registered apprenticeship programs are uniquely able to meet the changing demands of the city of Lewiston's economy. Now therefore, I, Carl Elshaleen, Mayor of the city of Lewiston, do hereby proclaim April 26 to May 2nd, 2026 as National Apprenticeship Week 2026 in the city of Lewiston, and call upon stakeholders and partners to recognize the value of registered apprenticeship and to promote awareness and expansion during National Apprenticeship Week. Thank you so much for being here and congratulations. Another huge round of applause for Lewiston Adult Education for everything they do for our city. Madam Clerk, I understand we have minutes? Yes, the [1:20:11] Unidentified speaker (Clerk): meeting minutes of March 17th and March 31st. May I have a motion to accept the [1:20:16] Carl L. Sheline: MINUTES EXCEPT BOTH UH COUNCILOR UM CHIDDOM I WOULD SECOND FOLLOWED BY COUNCILOR NAGINE [1:20:21] Unidentified speaker (Clerk): MADAM CLERK PLEASE CALL THE VOTE. COUNCILOR FROM WORD ONE YES, WORD TWO YES, WORD THREE YES, WORD FOUR YES, WORD FIVE YES, WORD SIX YES, AND MR MAYOR YES. MOTION PASSED A VOTE OF SEVEN TO ZERO. [1:20:34] Carl L. Sheline: THANK YOU VERY MUCH MADAM CLERK. UH WE ARE NOW UP TO PUBLIC COMMENT. ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC MAY MAKE COMMENTS REGARDING ISSUES PERTAINING TO LOUISON 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're a Lewiston resident. Prior council rules, this period is reserved for Lewiston residents only because this is the business meeting of the City Council. All calls, all questions should be directed to the mayor who will 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 then I also wanted to note that we will be having a budget hearing. So anything pretending to the budget will need to wait for that agenda item. I think it's number seven. [1:21:28] Andrew Jones: Andrew Jones, Ward Two. On January 21st, the Mayor posted on social media that fascism is at the door. At the time I didn't realize how right he was until approximately two weeks ago, three weeks ago. Fascism is at the door. As a matter of fact, it's in this chamber and it sits to his right. Counselor Scott Herrman. About two weeks ago I was visited by the LPD at my home and issued a cease harassment notice that was requested by Counselor Herrman. His statement is included in the packet that was given to you and if you read the statement it reads like something Melissa Dunn wrote. The notice was rescinded later that evening when the police realized that virtually every piece of evidence that he presented as harassment was actually constitutionally protected speech. Most of those items were right here in this chamber a similar opinion was also issued by the district attorney which is included in that packet as well all of this came about as a result of criticism that was directed and an elected official in the course of his duties and he wasn't alone in that criticism Mike Roy was also criticized for what appeared to be inattentiveness the difference is that Mike Roy and I had a good conversation about that he explained why he appeared the way he was and I thanked him for it I apologized and we've been tight ever since however we didn't get such a consideration from Scott he acted just like he is now doing whatever it is that he's doing he's not just ignoring me but he ignores the rest of the public as well Scott attempted to shift the blame for increased security in this chamber on me and my wife funnily enough I cannot think of any time in our years of participation here in this chamber that the police were required to intervene in something we were involved in Scott attacked the First Amendment by attempting to silence someone he disagreed with we're not a threat to his safety it's only I've only seen him once outside of City Hall and that was during the special election in February I walked up to him I shook his hand and I wished him luck I don't understand how that could have been considered threatening but it's in the packet as something he claimed to bother him he doesn't belong in public service if he can't handle criticism I'd CALL FOR HIS RESIGNATION BUT I DON'T THINK HE'S GOING TO RESIGN AND IF A CENSURE MEANT ANYTHING I'D ASK THE COUNCIL TO CONSIDER THAT TOO BUT HE'S GOT TWO SO FAR MAYBE HE NEEDS A PUNCH CARD FOR CENSURE I'M NOT SURE I think this council needs to consider whether or not a person with zero respect for constitutional rights of others Should even have a seat at that dais. Thank you [1:24:31] Carl L. Sheline: further public comment [1:24:38] Robert McDonald: Hi, Robert McDonald Ward six. It's been a while since I've been in here And things have changed. I Try to come in through that door there and it's locked and I had to come in through here and now I'm seeing this whatever it is across so nobody can get up there and you know i'm one what i'm wondering is when are you going to put the claymore mines and the machine guns in because i said you're supposed to be here for the public not shying away from them i want to talk about tonight i just want to point out a couple of things These meetings have been going all kinds of, very long. The mayor is supposed to be running the meeting, not continually giving his opinions and telling the councillors how he thinks they should vote. He and he alone is responsible for the long meetings. Why aren't outs, another thing, Why aren't outside investigations being done to find out why Somali groups were given money intended for shooting victims? And Rensoul is not sitting up there because she is actually the only candidate up for election. Why you couldn't put her up there, I don't know. home. You've taken an oath to uphold the laws of this country and state, yet you ignore those you don't like. This is a cause for removal from your office. A majority of the Lewiston residents would like ICE to remove those who should not be here. If that was accomplished how much lower how much lower would our unannounced mill rate be in the morning this morning's paper it appears in several of our counselors and the mayor seemed to be taking the Somali side over the police and code enforcement also in this last Sunday's paper two weeks ago a week the mayor called deceased and former mayor Larry Raymond's letter disgusting. What I'd like to know is did you actually read that letter or was that just an attempt to get a minority vote? Lastly, Mr. President, could you please place your hand over your heart during the Pledge of Allegiance? That's time, thank you. That's time. [1:27:46] Carl L. Sheline: further public comment Ronnie [1:27:51] Parity Ward six: Parity Ward six, I'm back. I want to talk about the taxes. I'm really concerned. My partner just died. We're gonna go, we're [1:28:01] Carl L. Sheline: gonna have a public hearing for taxes. I think that's item number seven. Is that [1:28:05] Parity Ward six: correct? Yes. I don't want to stay that long, Mayor. I'm just telling you, okay, I'll take up, I'll take you up with this other subject, seniors. I am worried about LOSING MY HOUSE. I HAVE ONE INCOME AND IT'S A FIXED INCOME AND I WANT MY ASSESSMENT NOW. I WANT TO BE ABLE TO BUDGET. YOUR VOICE JUST A LITTLE BIT, THAT WOULD BE [1:28:25] Carl L. Sheline: GREAT. THANK YOU. WHY [1:28:29] Parity Ward six: YOU ALWAYS LOWER, YOU ALWAYS SAY HI AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT, YOU NEVER SAY HI, YOU UP YOUR VOTE ANYWAY, ALL YOU DO IS TALK, MAYOR, ANYWAY, SENIORS, YOU HAVE NOT PAID ATTENTION TO SENIORS, AND I HAVE TO SAY to the new administrator, when i talk to you at the beginning, you promised that you would help the seniors, you have done nothing for the seniors, all you talk about is downtown, i'm afraid of losing my house, i have fixed income and i know a lot of other seniors, you are not helping any of the wards, the only word you care about is ward five and then you didn't put rin back in as and she should have been back in she knew what was going on do you know that up in bangor there's 41 cases of hiv now and they had to hire two case managers and now you don't want public health person up here in here and they're giving out a hundred syringes that was supposed to stop hiv and stuff that doesn't stop it needs to be on a one-to-one you guys did not listen to ren and other people that knew what was going on with public health. It's funny, Bangor is doing the same thing, was given 100 syringes, and they got 41. At least they have a public health person up there, and you guys aren't a thing. You're paying a communication director $120,000 a year. At least I'm paying for it. She is doing nothing. What did you do with Dottie? You did a job with Dottie. The administration and Brian, I have to say, That is too bad. Everybody liked Dottie. Your director of communication is not like the public. [1:30:15] Carl L. Sheline: We cannot talk about personnel issues here. I'm sorry. [1:30:18] Parity Ward six: You don't listen anyway, Mayor, so I'm saying what I want. [1:30:21] Carl L. Sheline: The rules are the rules. We're not going to be talking about personnel issues. [1:30:25] Parity Ward six: At Martell School, you have done nothing about Martell School and seniors. Nothing. And even my chidom doesn't even listen to me anymore. But thank you for code at least they got rid of that house at the corner of my road At least and John listens and everything like that You need to do something about seniors [1:30:52] Carl L. Sheline: Thank you, that's time. Thank you. Thank you further public comment [1:31:07] Rin Sol: I'm Rin Sol Ward 5 I'm gonna try to be real civil here I'm here because yesterday morning my life changed in a nanosecond. While I was simply going about my day, I was stuck by a dirty, bloody syringe. I have now spent the last 24 hours asking myself who was to blame for this. Is it me? Absolutely not. Is it my employer? Nope. The blame lies squarely with the State of Maine, the CDC, and specifically four sitting councillors in this room who voted to prioritize service syringe service programs over basic physical safety of your constituents you had a chance to do the right thing for the people who live and work in Lewiston instead you choose to protect the drug user while leaving the rest of us to deal with the hazardous waste left behind right now I am living a nightmare do I have HIV do I have hepatitis I don't know and I won't know for six weeks I'm one of the who has I'm sorry I am the one who has to go through the testing the anxiety the medical protocols because of a policy you all supported How many more victims have to stand in front of you before you see what you're doing to the city you swore to protect? The irresponsibility you are displaying on behalf of Lewiston is unacceptable. We deserve better. I'm Demanding today that this council revisit the needle exchange policies and implement immediate aggressive protocols calls for public cleanup and disposal stop protecting the syringe and start protecting the citizens one person can receive up to 700 needles a week how many clients do they have I don't know let's say 200 that's a hundred and forty thousand needles a week do better further [1:33:05] Carl L. Sheline: public comment hi [1:33:13] Adam Jones: it's been a while. My name is Adam Jones. I live in Ward 2 now, so you'll probably be seeing lots of me. Carl, first off, I'm back, so nice to see you again. Don't worry, Brian, I'm not here to talk about administrators tonight. I just want to start off in saying when I moved to Lewiston, I thought really heavily of where I wanted to live. I wasn't even sure if I wanted to come back here. Thankfully, I was relieved, and for interpretation's sake, I don't mean relieved like Harriman would interpret it, but I was happy to learn that Council Longchamps was my counselor, and I commend her on having a voice recently, and I'm really looking forward to seeing her grow that, and I hope she continues into another term. Most importantly, I think it's just important to go back to the vision statement for the city of Lewiston. Harriman, are you doodling? Okay, most importantly, the first line of the vision statement for the city of Lewiston is Lewiston is committed to being a community of excellence, and I think all of you should kind of sit back and take that in for a minute. That's the first line of the vision statement. That's not the third line, that's not the last line, it's the first line, excellence. And I think week after week you guys are communicating, hopefully with your constituents, finding the needs of the people and communicating that back to make proper change and bring positive change to the city, and it brings me to my next point. If you look back on the mayor's inaugural address back January 2nd of 24. There's a couple things I just want to read that he actually stated. As we move Lewiston forward, I offer you these two guiding principles. Lewiston is for everyone, and nobody gets left behind. You seem to have left behind all of those shooting victims and their families. I think that's unfortunate. I think if you move ahead to his next speech, when somehow he won again, this actually dates back to the 22 era, he talks about how can we streamline the permit process, we should examine our code and zone ordinances to determine what makes sense moving forward. I'd like to just point out the mayor has apartment buildings that he never registered as part of the rental registry program as required by the code enforcement office and local ordinance. I don't think that's excellence, mayor, and lastly I'd like to just call out the fact that I have come before this council many times and spoke on many different topics, and as a citizen now I expect better. I couldn't really have the change like I wanted to back then. You're not going to hear the same thing by all these constituents that I have to say because I come at it from a different perspective, but I want all of you to go back to that one line of excellence [1:36:16] Carl L. Sheline: That's time. Thank you, Matthew. [1:36:24] Matthew Agron: AGRON WARD FOUR. HELLO MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL. I STAND HERE TO THANK YOU ALL PUBLICLY FOR MAKING THE CORRECT CALL ON MARCH 17TH ON ITEM 11. THE ONLY FEEDBACK I WILL GIVE IS TO AN IDEA THAT WAS SPOKEN BY COUNCILOR JEAN SAYING PUBLIC COMMENT EMAILS DON'T NEED TO BE RESPONDED TO. MY RESPONSE IS IF THEY'RE NOT RESPONDED TO or put up on the city's web page, how do we even know they've been received? After all, council herriman not too long ago found out that he was not receiving comments from the public due to a systems failure. So and as we're now building the lewiston wall to keep the citizens and taxpayers of lewiston from being able to directly interact with you here in the council chamber, I assume you'll be setting up watchtowers soon with armed guards like they did in East German East Berlin. And then we have this elephant in the room. We had a counselor file harassment charges against members of the public who've come here to challenge him and call him out. counselor Chittum, I Have to ask, will I be should I be expecting the same? After all, before the 317 meeting I did knock over your nameplate and let's be honest, I have called you out from here and asked you to resign as Council President for your words on the Charter, that if you knew what was in it, you would not agree to follow it. As we both agree words have meanings, we've come to understandings on things I hope. But it's not just Councillor Chinnam. I'm pretty sure I've annoyed all of you up there at least at one point or another. Well, maybe not Councillors Noble and Martell because they're new, but I'm sure I'll get to them eventually. Yet I've spoken to both of them outside the council chambers yet after these harassment charges were served and then reversed by LPD when they figured out the claims of harassment were from public interaction not so while serving as a public servant so that would be a false claim and didn't you all wish that LPD did not have any option but to follow law so should he not be charged with filing a false report and I ask you to consider censoring him again for this act as a way of saying none of you support his method of silencing critics of you. thank you for your time [1:38:58] Carl L. Sheline: Administrator O'Malley, can you run a stopwatch? Okay, thank you. All right, you know where it appears to, it appears to be that we're having some technical difficulties with the clock, but Administrator O'Malley has kindly agreed to run a stopwatch and we'll let me let all of us know when the when the time is up. Please continue. [1:39:24] Destiny: Okay, thank you. There's a forum I'm handing to you. This forum is from the Maine Community [1:39:31] Carl L. Sheline: Foundation. Can you identify yourself and state where you live? Sure. Yeah, I was going to I was [1:39:37] Destiny: going to right after I explained what this form was. So this form is from the Maine Community Foundation and it states that 100% of the funds were to go to the survivors that were at Smenge's in the bowling alley. So my name is Destiny and I am a Lewiston shooting survivor. I was at Smenge's. I'm sorry, do you live in [1:39:59] Carl L. Sheline: Lewiston? I do not, but I have family that live here. I understand, but this is this comment period is for Lewiston residents only. So you're not gonna let me speak? [1:40:10] Scott A. Harriman: I'm sorry, I cannot. Mr. Mayor, I would move that we allow the person to speak, given her ties to the community. [1:40:20] Carl L. Sheline: Please continue. Thank you. [1:40:25] Destiny: Survivors and victims' families did not request the City's Council's assistance in addressing their needs. Instead our focus has been on seeking accountability for the 1.9 million awarded to 29 nonprofits that were not at Smangi's or the bowling alley on October 25th, 2023. We specifically asked for an investigation into the allocation of these funds, not to partnership with the Main Community Foundation or the Main Resiliency Center. The Main Resiliency Center does not handle fund disbursement, nor does it retain the funds raised by the Maine Community Foundation. It is worth noting that the Maine Resiliency Center is the only non-profit recipient of $65,000 from the $1.9 million, which was specifically designated to aid survivors like us and has been providing ongoing support to survivors and families. Given your current partnership with the Maine Community Foundation, it seems reasonable for you to ask the Maine Community Foundation to return the $1.9 million to the victims and their families. While we cannot undo what happened the night at Smengees or the Bolinelli, we cannot erase the fear, the loss, or the trauma, but we can demand accountability. We can insist that when money is raised for victims, the victims come first. I escaped to the kitchen of Swenge's. Others didn't make it out at all. The least we can do now is ensure that their names in the support promised in their honor are treated with the fairness and transparency and respect. [1:42:09] Carl L. Sheline: If individual is here could please silence their cell phones. That would be great for the public comment. [1:42:21] John Blaze: Comment all I have is for you, Carl Selene, the mayor. We had a talk that I [1:42:26] Unidentified speaker (Clerk): had something positive that I had to offer that I would propose, and at this [1:42:30] Speaker V (unidentified): point after what I've heard today I'm gonna hold on to that until some officials are done with their term. Thank you. Further [1:42:39] Carl L. Sheline: public comment. I'll be super [1:42:42] Lisa Jones: quick. Lisa Jones, I live in Ward two, I own a business in Ward seven, it's right on East Avenue and I drive East Avenue daily, and I just want to publicly mention the contrast between the site where the Gendron buildings are being built and they went up speedy and we're going to have people living in them before we know it, and the vacant lot at the other end of East Avenue where we tore down a building two years ago and there's been zero progress, and I think it's very interesting that one is private construction and one is government construction, and I also think it's very interesting that Lewiston Housing Authority never has anyone around to talk about it. That's all. Further [1:43:19] Carl L. Sheline: public comments. Public comment is now. My name [1:43:33] John Boccia: is John Boccia, I live at [street]. I don't know how many of you familiar with what happened to my wife and I's house. I'm not here for a roast, not here to bash anybody. Your insurance company denied us, due to it was a broken pipe that flooded my house. I mean, it was nice to see you giving awards and stuff to all the kids and things like that tonight, and it was nice. They could have swam in my basement, pretty much, and my backyard, and retrieved all our Christmas stuff and everything else that got damaged in our house. I understand accidents happen, I understand you have it, not you personally, I have nothing against the city. I got a note that everybody has been very supportive, very sympathetic, very helpful, especially the employees. Everybody has been stepping up. I've talked to quite a few in the room. It's not really important who I talked to, but I have talked. To quite a few people in this room, and I do appreciate, you know, the support you've given us. I hope it continues. That accidents happen, but this was a really rare circumstance. We're the only house that got damaged the way it did. People had stuff on their lawns and things like that. We're in the process of building the family room on the back of the house. I just had code enforcement out today. That was pretty much destroyed. I got to rip it all back down to redo it again because I have an open permit. Some of the wood was saved, some of it wasn't. All the basement stuff was not saved. I was able to savage, I'm doing all the cleanup myself. And it's unfortunate, yeah, accidents happen all over Lewiston. This was a very bad exception. I don't know how many have seen it on TV, how many have seen it on the newspaper. I didn't call them, they were just standing outside doing that. The insurance company is focused on the pipe breaking and the water. We live there down at the bottom, there's two storm drains, they were not draining. Granted a million gallons of water may not take on those storm drains, may not take it all on, but it would have helped. I had to clean those storm drains off many times when leaves and stuff get on them with a broom, not a backhoe. The public works had to bring a backhoe, I had to show them where the drains were, and they had to rip it up with a backhoe. You don't need a backhoe to rip up a drain that's working. Properly. I was trying to explain that to the insurance company, but they denied us pretty much on the phone, which I, New York side of me, sorry, I had a few choice words to her because she pretty much told us don't even bother submitting anything because this claim is going to be denied due to turk without even seeing what the circumstances were. There's circumstances, people get water in their yards, they get water in their cars, they, this was everything we owned, this was our whole basement, this took up. Weeks of our time. I sat out there with a pressure washer, I pressure washing my lawn just to get the mud off of it, and it took me two days to do that. You know, this is all our time that we're doing, you know. I'm not up here to roast anybody or bash any of yous, you know, you're all here to do a job, you got a lot going on, you know. We're not sitting here, I don't, I'm not looking for millions of dollars, we're just looking to get replaced what got damaged. I got a fence that I have holding up with wire. Right now, you know, we were all excited about starting our new living room. I spent all winter shoveling off snow, and right at the end of winter the water comes up underneath, so all the tarps, everything I had protected. I don't know what the equity in our house is going to be work now because it was plastered all over the news, you know. So there's a lot of factors, but we just want to get compensated. We want to get our help, some kind of help. It would probably be less than what you guys would pay for a barbecue for the city employees. I'm just looking, nobody has asked once how much damage was there, what's your list. I got a list here, nobody's ever asked for it, not the insurance company. They knew before the water even finished draining that they were denying it, our insurance company. They said it didn't happen on our property, so they weren't going to cover it, and they said we didn't have flood insurance. I don't have volcano insurance either because I don't live near an ocean. I don't live near a volcano. I didn't know why we would need flood insurance. So I don't want to take up your time. I do thank all the people that have reached out to us and talked to us, you know. The city has taken responsibility for this, and for the people that have talked to me, they have taken full responsibility. You did drain our basement to a point that they could. I still had to drain a lot more, but I just hope that a little humanity, that you do the right thing, you know. There's there's times to sit there and there's laws to put in place to protect and stuff like that, but it doesn't hurt to be just you mean and do the right thing now. One house, one house got really badly damaged, and you've seen IT. THANK YOU ALL HAVE TO SEE IT. SO ANYWAY, THANKS FOR YOUR TIME. WE'LL BE BACK. WE'LL BE BACK IN [1:50:19] Carl L. Sheline: TOUCH WITH YOU SIR. THANK YOU. OKAY, GOOD LUCK TO YOU. FURTHER PUBLIC COMMENT. HI, [1:50:27] Lisa Jones: MY NAME IS NICOLE LAMAE. I'M A WARD 5 RESIDENT. I REALLY HATE COMING UP HERE, BUT IF NOT ME THEN WHO. THERE'S A COUPLE THINGS I just wanted to address and like propose to the city. Lately there's been an online blog coming to a place of worship and harassing the people that are going there to worship, and people in the community have actually told me that it is a elected official that is kind of inviting, engaging, creating a little bit of hostility or encouraging it I guess, and I want to like ask the City to revisit our ethics and where we stand on, you know, the entire city, right? Like, it's not just about one ward or the other, it's the entire city. And I work with young people in the community, and you know, to hear that people are afraid to go worship because somebody was waving a sword around is just, it's crazy to me. And I really want to hold the city of Lewiston to their standards, right? Raise the standard and just please expect more of our elected officials. And the other thing I want to bring up is, yeah, I'm a person that is in long-term recovery. I work with people who are in recovery as one of my jobs roles in the community. Nobody likes to see syringes, right? Nobody likes to see it, they're ugly, it's gross, we don't want to see anybody's bodily fluids. But I will say, like, I've been in the, in the trenches, as the young people call it, and I've seen what happens when people don't have services like wound care, and it's just not a pretty sight. I've seen some pretty unimaginable things, like I wouldn't even say in a meeting like this. So I don't know what the solution is, but I know we can do better as a community. That's all, thanks for [1:52:37] Carl L. Sheline: the public comment. Public comment is now closed. Administrator Kainrath, I understand you have the illustrators report. Thank you. [1:52:46] Bryan Kaenrath: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Starting off to follow up on Council Longchamps' resolution regarding the October 25th victims and survivors. We did, as promised, meet with the Maine Resiliency Center and talk about a process to survey the needs and identify the areas of assistance that are out there. So we had a good conversation with them, a number of meetings. We have discussed an entry into an MOU, a detailed timeline. If I can have it quiet in the [1:53:13] Carl L. Sheline: chambers, please. Thank you. If you'd like to converse, please head to the hall. Please continue, [1:53:18] Bryan Kaenrath: a decel timeline of the process will be forthcoming, but in general we talked about a timeline of spring and summer, the MRC reaching out to those that they have in their contacts, then doing an assessment and coming back with a full and final report to us by the fall of this year to then identify again the needs and areas of assistance for those victims and survivors. So I'll keep you updated publicly on the process going forward, and we will distribute the finalized timeline as soon as we have It to the council and to the public, our revaluation process, our state assessor did host earlier this evening the first Facebook Live conversation where residents can directly ask him questions and get their questions answered regarding the assessment process. I will have another one of these on April 21st from 5 to 6 p.m. You can participate on the city's social media pages. I also want to put out there residents can learn more about the reval process at lewistonmain.gov reval. In addition, we are adding two more in-person events with the city assessor, public events. All are welcome to learn more about the reval process. The first will be on Monday, May 11th, 1 30 to 2 30 at the Lewiston Armory Senior Center, 65 Central Avenue. The next session, the fourth session, will be Monday, May 18th, 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., also at the Liston Armory Senior Center, 65 Central Avenue. And we are discussing possibly some additional events as well in other areas of the community, again to keep getting the word out. An additional note, letters notifying property owners of new assessments will be going out the last week of April, so look for those in your mailboxes. I'd say the last week of April or first week of May. And this Thursday we will be having a budget workshop, and I anticipate the discussion. As promised, we would like to present some options for the implementation with a reval to lessen potential burdens on residents, and we're also going to have some new information on our overall valuation and forecast and mill rates. And I will say this is relatively good news on that front. So we will discuss more of these options in depth on Thursday at our budget workshop. Lisbon Street, in our effort to create a vibrant downtown, we are going to be installing a budget workshop. Installing banners on all the light poles, the decorative light poles up and down Lizmond Street this spring. They're going to feature a variety of downtown Louiston content to promote the city. My thanks to Louiston Public Works. They're in the process now of procuring the brackets needed on the decorative light poles to affix these banners, and also thanks to them for getting these banners up in place. So we're looking at hopefully within the next few weeks getting those out. We're also working with LA Arts. They're going to have some of their own banners promoting the arts in Lewiston. They're going to be installed right in front of their building on Lisbon Street, so we're excited about some new things coming up in our downtown. Speaking of that, the busking festival for 2026, just some updates there. We have, I condensed some of the dates. We're going to be doing May 1st, May 8th, and May 15th on Lisbon Street between Ash and Maine, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. We did push the April date to into the May calendar due to some concerns about very early season weather. You see the weather outside today, we're really only a week from what we were thinking, and so it was decided that May is a better month for outdoor events than mid-April in Maine. So we're gonna be again May 1st, May 8th, May 15th, downtown Elizabeth Street, 4 to 7 p.m. We hope to see everyone there. Again, this will be our second of these events. We had our first last October, and we hope to build from there so thank you to everyone involved you know joe grokmal is here our downtown businesses the dla so many other partners le arts we're looking forward to this so please join us again first day may 1st some quick staff updates alec collins at the lpd is promoted from patrol officer to corporal so congrats to Alex. Also, Greg Ryder has been promoted from asset management technician to asset management analyst. And at the library, Karen Jones has retired from the Lewiston Public Library for a second time. Karen first began at the library in 1988, and in her second stint here, did help us catalog the library's over 100,000 books and other physical materials. So congratulations to Karen on her retirement. Lastly, street trees. As you know, this is something I care a lot about, just an important update. Public Works will be reconstructing sidewalks on both sides of Howe Street between Ash and Sabatus in the coming weeks. It will involve the removal of ten street trees. These trees are already impacted by the emerald ash borer, which I've spoken about previously. So these trees will be removed, the sidewalks will be reconstructed, and new trees will replace all of the ones that are being removed. So new trees will be going Back where the ones are taken out. I also just want to mention we do remain vigilant in monitoring the emerald ash borer. We are planning for treatment of, I think I talked about this previously, of many of the trees around the city that are eligible for treatment. We did put together a presentation for the public to learn more about this is an invasive species impacting all of our ash trees. But we do have a presentation that CD in our office put together, our administration office. It can be found at LOISTONMAINE.GOV. I will discuss the entire history of it, how to identify emerald ashborers and lots of other information. If you are interested in learning more about this invasive pest that is now coming strongly into Maine and impacting all of our ash trees, again, that's LOISTONMAINE.GOV. Lastly, I want to say we did hear some comments from Mr. Bacchia earlier regarding the flooding on Diamond Court. Although as he mentioned our insurance company did deny the claim, we are not done looking at options and working with him on potential resolution. So I just want the public to know that we are not forgetting about this. We are still working through options and we will be reaching back out to him with some with some work to come so thank you. Thank you administrator Kainrath. We appreciate [1:59:37] Carl L. Sheline: your service to our city. Madam clerk I believe we have a consent agenda we do [1:59:42] Unidentified speaker (Clerk): And before that, Mr. Mayor, we'll just note that Councillor Martel has been able to join us for the council meeting, so we'll retain the voting order that's printed on the agenda since Councillor from Ward 7 is here. [1:59:53] Carl L. Sheline: Sounds good to me. [1:59:55] Unidentified speaker (Clerk): The consent agenda has six items this evening. Item number one, approval of the election warrant calling for a special municipal election to be held on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, for the school budget validation referendum and recommendations from the state clerk register our voters on actions necessary to conduct said election. Number two, order authorizing acceptance and appropriation of funds from the Maine Office of Community Affairs Housing Opportunity Program Municipal Ordinance Development Grant. Number three, order authorizing the transfer of $550,000 from the 2025 Lewiston Capital Improvement Plan Pond Road Water Line Replacement Bond Account to a new 2025 LCIP Central Avenue Water Line Replacement Bond Account. Number four, authorizing the disposition of property at 159 Pine Street. Number five, appointment of a member to the Lewiston area Public Health Committee. And number six, order to give notice to alter Challenger Drive via a conveyance of point four nine acres from the city of Lewiston to tre LLC. Have a motion? [2:01:01] Carl L. Sheline: Please, so moved Councillor Neijing, second thing by Councillor Chittim. Madam Clerk, please call the vote. Yes. [2:01:08] Unidentified speaker (Clerk): Council from word seven, yes. Word one, yes. Word two, yes. Word three, yes. Word four, yes. Word five, yes. Word six, yes. Motion passed by vote of seven to zero. Thank you very much, Madam Clerk. We are now [2:01:19] Carl L. Sheline: skipping ahead. Well, not skipping ahead, we are now at item number seven. I am now opening the public hearing for the budgets. Should anyone like to speak on the budget? [2:01:40] David B. Chittim: Good evening, Mr. Mayor and Councillors, I'm at Roy Ward 6. As I said last year, well, to piggyback on what I said last year, actually state law does require that you do at least two hearings besides tonight. That next hearing it will be in May before you at the meeting where you're going to prove it, but before there is nothing with in state law that prohibits you from having another one after your internal workshops, which would be starting Thursday, as the administrator alluded to, and then that as Ronnie purity was trying to say, but although public hearing on the budget itself in taxation are indirectly they are not the same thing, but yet this evaluation is process has been going on, it's not new. Again, we had the chief, well Mr. the chief assessor having another series of meetings, which as far as I can tell it's all the same stuff that he said last year without actually mailing out the new assessed values to the residences and well and businesses who have or property owners in the city. Those meetings have no value. The only value that you're going to get from a assessment is having your new assessment so you can compare it to what at this point the proposed and then we you guys wasted a half hour having a budget presentation in the school when the school department hasn't eat the school committee, sorry, hasn't even approved a budget themselves to present to you know, and then the insurance company compared to a decade ago takes way longer to get to what that increases although the there might be some SAVINGS FROM THAT. AGAIN THIS IS ANOTHER BROKEN PROCESS AND MORE REASON WHY WE NEED A CHARTER. THE WHOLE PROCESS THAT EVOLVES ON CITY GOVERNMENT THANK YOU. [2:03:44] Carl L. Sheline: FURTHER PUBLIC COMMENT FOR OUR BUDGET HEARING. THE BUDGET HEARING IS NOW CLOSED. MADAM CLERK, I'M NUMBER EIGHT. I'M NUMBER [2:03:54] Unidentified speaker (Clerk): EIGHT. PUBLIC HEARING FOR APPROVAL OF OUTDOOR MUSIC CONCERTS IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE LEWISTON LIVE BUSKING FESTIVAL EVENT AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA. REQUESTED ACTION TO CONDUCT A public hearing on an application from the city for the outdoor music concert to be held at five locations in the downtown area on may 1st, 8th, and 15th, and to authorize a permit for an outdoor entertainment event as required by the city code of ordinances chapter 10 article 1 section 10-3 to the lewiston to lewiston live for the outdoor concerts contingent upon positive recommendations from the police department, fire department, code land use officer, and code health officer regarding COMPLIANCE WITH ALL REGULATIONS AND COMPLIANCE WITH ALL CITY [2:04:35] Carl L. Sheline: ORDINANCES. I HAVE A MOTION, PLEASE. [David B. Chittim: SO MOVED. SECOND.] I'M SECOND BY COUNCILOR NAGIN. DISCUSSION? PUBLIC COMMENT? BACK TO THE COUNCIL. OR PUBLIC COMMENT? OKAY. [2:04:52] Matthew Agron: I JUST WANT TO SAY I SUPPORT THIS. I ATTENDED THIS LAST YEAR. IT WAS A GREAT EVENT FOR SOMETHING THAT WAS PUT TOGETHER IN THREE MONTHS? MAYBE. I THINK THIS YEAR, GIVEN THAT THEY'VE HAD A YEAR TO WORK ON IT, SHOULD BE ANOTHER WONDERFUL EVENT. WE ALL SHOULD SUPPORT IT. [2:05:11] Carl L. Sheline: FURTHER PUBLIC COMMENT? BACK TO THE COUNCIL. JOE, GREAT JOB. COUNCILOR HERRMAN, DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING? YES, THANK YOU. [2:05:22] Scott A. Harriman: ARE WE GOING TO HAVE A PRESENTATION OR ANYTHING ON THIS TO SEE HOW IT'S GOING TO BE DIFFERENT FROM LAST YEAR OR SIMILAR TO LAST YEAR OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT 'S GOING [2:05:31] Unidentified speaker (Clerk): be presented to us. we typically don't for outdoor entertainment permits. the only thing that you are approving for this is to allow the outside music concerts to be held on city property. that's the only purpose of this agenda item. so applicants are usually here to answer any questions, but they don't usually do a presentation because it's just basically a straightforward permit. [2:05:50] Scott A. Harriman: okay yeah understood. will there be a presentation at some point before this happens? there absolutely [2:05:58] Bryan Kaenrath: IF YOU WOULD LIKE AT THE NEXT MEETING WE COULD DO SOMETHING OR JOE IS HERE. I'M SURE HE CAN EASILY DO A BRIEF UPDATE OR RUNDOWN IF YOU'RE INTERESTED. IF YOU WOULD LIKE SOMETHING MORE FORMAL WE CAN COME BACK AT THE NEXT MEETING WITH A SLIDE SHOW AND THINGS LIKE THAT. [2:06:10] Scott A. Harriman: I MEAN OVER E-MAIL IS FINE TOO. OK. [2:06:15] Carl L. Sheline: SOUNDS LIKE WE'RE DOING AN E-MAIL AND SAVING TIME. LOVE IT. FURTHER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS FROM COUNSELORS? [2:06:22] Unidentified speaker (Clerk): Madam Clark, please call the vote. Counselor from Word 7? [2:06:25] Bret Martel: Yes. Word 1? Yes. Word 2? Yes. Word 3? Yes. Word 4? [2:06:29] Unidentified speaker (Clerk): Yes. Word five? Yes. Word six? Yes. Motion passed by vote of seven to zero. [2:06:34] Carl L. Sheline: Thank you very much, Madam Clerk. Item number nine. Item number nine. [2:06:37] Unidentified speaker (Clerk): Public hearing and first passage regarding an amendment to the business licensing ordinance regarding the annual licensing for prepackaged food sales and inspections. Requested action that the proposed amendment to the City Code of Ordinances Chapter 22 two businesses Article one in general Section 22-2 definitions and Article two licenses Section 22-34 inspection of applicants premise merchandise receive first passage by a roll call vote and to continue the public hearing to the next regular scheduled City Council meeting I have a motion please [2:07:07] Carl L. Sheline: So moved Councilor Najing second by Councilor Chiddum yes comments questions from Councilors Councilor Chiddum [2:07:16] David B. Chittim: Yes thank you as a health inspector the same as a sanitarian and are we consistent in our language throughout the ordinances the health inspector [2:07:24] Unidentified speaker (Clerk): and sanitarian are the same the health officer and the health inspector are two separate positions which is that second housekeeping section you see at the bottom in Section 22-34 we are adding the phrase or the title of health inspector health officer is already there but the health officer tends to be more of a public health officer for the state statute requirements and public health emergencies the health inspector is the one who goes on site and does the inspections at the restaurants and so [2:07:57] David B. Chittim: forth if I may Mr. Mayor Madam Clerk is health inspector a defined term or do we use sanitarian my question is about consistency throughout in language right [2:08:08] Unidentified speaker (Clerk): We can take a look at that for the future the health inspector gave us this title to use in the ordinance so I'm not sure if sanitarian is more of a dated term I can clarify with him thank you sure public comment back to the council I'm clerk please call the vote Council from Ward 7 yes Ward 1 yes Ward 2 yes Ward 3 yes Ward 4 yes Ward 5 yes Ward 6 yes I'm number 10 I don't ever 10 public hearing on the Lewiston fiscal year 27 federal fiscal year 2026 community development block grant CDBG Budget and action plan requested action to conduct a public hearing on the Lewiston fiscal year 27 federal fiscal year 2026 community development block grant budget and action plan [2:09:00] Carl L. Sheline: The public hearing is now open public hearing is now closed Madam Clerk item number 11. Thank you [2:09:09] Unidentified speaker (Clerk): Thank you, Mr. Mayor. We'll just clarify for the record that this was just a public hearing. No action will be before the council for this CDBG item because this is just one of several public hearings as required in the process. Thank you. Understood. Item 11, public hearing on the Lewiston fiscal year 27 federal fiscal year 26 home budget and action plan. Requested action to hold a public hearing on the Lewiston fiscal year 27 federal fiscal year 2026 home budget and action plan. [2:09:40] Carl L. Sheline: The public hearing is now open. Public hearing is now closed. Any [2:09:50] Unidentified speaker (Clerk): clarification, Madam Clerk? Same deal, just a public hearing, no action at this time. Thank you. Excellent. Item number 12, I don't have a 12. Order authorizing application and acceptance of funds from the U.S. Department of Justice Edward Byrne Justice Assistance Grant program. Requested action to approve the order authorizing the application and acceptance of funds from the U.S. Department of Justice Edward Byrne Justice Assistance Grant program. May have [2:10:15] Carl L. Sheline: a motion, please. So moved, Councillor Naijin. Second sent by Councillor Chenum. Chief Carley, thank you for joining us. Are you here for questions or did you want to kick us off just in case you have any [2:10:26] Speaker Z (unidentified): questions of me? This is a, the Burn grant that we typically receive every year, it lasts for three years, and I can go over what we normally apply for in it. [2:10:39] Carl L. Sheline: Well, I mean, if you, if you want to, if [2:10:43] David B. Chittim: COUNCILORS HAVE QUESTIONS COUNCILOR CHIDDOM YES I HAVE ONE QUESTION WILL THE ULTIMATE USE OF THESE funds if the grant is awarded be brought back to council or is that a decision [2:10:53] Speaker Z (unidentified): that's made interdepartmental II it's interdepartmental II I believe it's April 28 that we have to submit what we would be looking for this year we're looking for laptops printers air cards we typically use it for training for our supervisors things along those lines understood thank you further questions [2:11:13] Carl L. Sheline: comments from council, public comment, back to the council, Madam Clerk, please [2:11:20] Unidentified speaker (Clerk): CALL THE VOTE COUNCIL FROM WORD 7 YES WORD 1 YES WORD 2 YES WORD 3 YES WORD 4 YES WORD 5 YES WORD 6 YES MOTION PASSED BY VOTERS 7-0 ITEM NUMBER 13 THANK YOU CHIEF ITEM 13 AMENDMENT TO POLICY MANUAL NUMBER 6 THE RULES GOVERNING THE CITY COUNCIL THERE'S A COUPLE ITEMS FOR REQUESTED ACTION DEPENDING UPON THE direction of the council the first item is to reconsider vote 106-2026 from the march 20th from the march 17 city council meeting which was to approve the proposed amendment to the rules Governing the city council city policy manual number six to set a meeting ending time of 10 p.m. unless the city council votes to continue the meeting. Do we have such a motion? [2:12:07] David B. Chittim: COUNCILOR CHIDDUM. Clarification, Mr. Mayor. That was a universal no vote. Correct. I move to reconsider. Do we have a second? [2:12:17] Carl L. Sheline: I'll second. Councilor Chiddum, followed by Counselor Haraman. The only thing I want to say is well,, well. Councilor Harriman, do you have something else? [2:12:31] Scott A. Harriman: Yes, I brought this back because I thought of the three items that were proposed under that agenda item I wasn't much in favor of limiting public comment and I thought that the proposal to shorten the meetings had some good some good bones there but was a little bit a little bit lacking in the language I guess as far as it was very rigid and said you know once the clock hits 10 we have to stop take a vote and then the vote is either yes we continue or no we don't continue so I proposed this language no further agenda items may be taken out of where [2:13:08] David B. Chittim: Mr. Mayor councillor Chittum yes we're discussing the reconsideration we're gonna be talking about the action at the next motion yes thank you okay I was [2:13:19] Scott A. Harriman: proposed or I was providing information as to what may be taken up that could AFFECT SOMEBODY'S VOTE ON WHETHER THEY WANT TO RECONSIDER. [2:13:32] Carl L. Sheline: Anything further, Councilor Herman? [2:13:35] Scott A. Harriman: No, I guess not. I guess we can proceed with this vote. [2:13:40] Carl L. Sheline: We will proceed if there's any, but first, any other comment from councilors about this? I appreciate any council action that's, how do I say this? I appreciate any council action that is considerative of our meeting time, so thank you. Madam Clerk, please call the vote. [2:14:07] Unidentified speaker (Clerk): COUNCILOR, FROM WORD 7? NO. WORD 1? YES. [2:14:12] Susan G. Longchamps: WORD 2? COULD YOU JUST CLARIFY, I'M SO SORRY, WHAT WE ARE VOTING FOR. THAT'S OKAY, NO PROBLEM. [2:14:18] Unidentified speaker (Clerk): So the motion before you is to reconsider your vote from the last meeting on the item of setting 10 PM as an ending time. So if you vote yes on the motion before you that means and if it passes amongst the group then that motion would be back before you again for discussion as if it was never approved at the last meeting basically like opening it up again for discussion in another vote thank you sure yes Ward 3 yes Ward 4 no Ward 5 yes Ward 6 yes motion passed by a vote of 5 to 2 so now the motion before you is what was approved at the mart I'm sorry which was voted down at the March 17th meeting which was to Approve the proposed amendments to the rules governing the city council policy manual number six to set a meeting ending time of 10 p.m. unless the council votes to continue the meeting. That's the motion before you and then the council can discuss it, amend it, vote it, vote yes, vote no, whatever the course may be. Do we need a motion at this time? Again, no, it's automatically now before you. Yes, thank you. All right, thank you. [2:15:27] Carl L. Sheline: Yeah, I understand the council Herman's concerns and I am in favor of these in these changes, in favor of these changes to the amendment, our favor of the he's amendment that will make changes to the motion. Yes, I can't say Herman, thank you. [2:15:47] Scott A. Harriman: Yes, I move that we amend this item so it reads no further agenda items may be taken up after 10 p.m. unless authorized by an affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the council. Any items remaining on the agenda after adjournment will be carried over to the next regular meeting or will be addressed at a special meeting further. [2:16:05] Carl L. Sheline: Counselor Chittum, yes, and I [2:16:07] David B. Chittim: have a concern of parliamentary procedure. We vote, we move to reconsider the entire motion that was denied unanimously at our last meeting. We're only bringing back a part of that. What happens to the portion that was initially denied and is not being addressed tonight? We did three separate votes on [2:16:24] Unidentified speaker (Clerk): March 17th, thank you, because there were independent freestanding items, so there were three separate [2:16:31] David B. Chittim: votes. Thank you so much for refreshing my memory. I do have concerns about this ordinance or rule change. I am concerned, I appreciate very much the fact that the council would be given an opportunity to call a halt to these late -night meetings. However, I am concerned that if the agendas aren't completed and the council votes not to extend the meeting that simply pushes the problem off for another day. It kicks the can down the road. That's my only hesitation. I think there are other ways that we can attack and challenge ourselves to shorten up the meetings, but I do have concerns that This will simply cause a delaying tactic which will like a bow wave expand [2:17:19] Bret Martel: Councillor Martel, thank you. Mr. Mayor. I just can't help but point out that you run our meetings. Mr. Mayor in the elapsed time on those have ballooned exponentially Just under your administration since you've taken in like average five years ago I went back and looked on YouTube. The average City Council meeting was between 90 and 120 minutes and it was consistent for years. We are putting too many things on the agenda and people are talking for far too long and just, Robert's rules aren't being followed in a lot of scenarios. It's just, there's probably dozens and dozens of ways that this should and could be addressed. We are professionals, we serve the city. We don't need a bedtime. We have to address the business that's at hand. We just need to be responsible about building agendas and be responsible for our comments on the dais thank you [2:18:14] Michael R. Roy: Councillor Roy did you ever hand up Thank You mr. mayor and I would agree with council Martel on that I think you know we have a job to do and I think we can police ourselves in some ways right I mean like for an example tonight and I don't want to call out another counselor but wordsmithing can be done through an email it doesn't have to be done through right now taking time away from OTHER BUSINESS AND I THINK YOU KNOW WE NEED TO DO BETTER AS THAT UM AND AGAIN I DO AGREE WITH UH COUNCILOR CHIDDUM ALSO THAT WE'RE JUST GOING TO FURTHER COMPLICATE BY PUSHING AGENDA ITEMS TO ANOTHER AGENDA AND I AND I JUST CAN'T SEE DOING THAT SO UH COUNCILOR UM LONGCHAMPS [2:18:59] Susan G. Longchamps: I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT UM ALTHOUGH I DO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE COUNCILORS ARE SAYING Martel and Roy as long as I've been sitting up here this has been our normal I don't think it's going to change unfortunately unless we have a time that's set for us at this point I wish I wish it would but I just don't think it will I think we have to set a time unfortunately [2:19:30] Bryan Kaenrath: Councillor Nagy and yes Thank You mr. mayor I'm not an expert I'm a citizen volunteer some may be experts I'm not I would suggest that we do consider based on the supermajority vote the idea that we could postpone agenda items that Have staff present the need to speak so we can let them go home at 10 o'clock And then also that agenda items that have no one here from the public to speak to It's just it's just a consideration around when these meetings run till 1 o'clock in the morning And we've seen it before we've had staff sitting here waiting till 1 o'clock in the morning, and that's That's really rough, and we need to figure out a way to handle that and I agree we could run a quicker meeting but this is one of the reasons why i would support this concept because it would be a super majority and maybe we could change which agenda items were taking up that day if they weren't pressing or stop completely if nothing was pressing but we're [2:20:44] Carl L. Sheline: Now heading to public comment for this agenda item. Well, [2:20:49] David B. Chittim: I'll make this easy because you probably all [2:20:50] Carl L. Sheline: can guess. We all know who I am, Mayor. People could be tuning in at home, please identify yourself and [2:20:57] David B. Chittim: state where you live sir again matt roy ward six again we have to look at the absurdity of this three weeks ago on march 17th everyone all seven of you who have an affirmative vote at every meeting when you're here voted no but yet we're going to reconsider this and then as counselors roy and martel have said tonight and to a certain degree the council president too we're going to reconsider this and we don't need rule changes to fix the problem the problem lies with the coordination between the City Administrator and the Mayor who make the agenda, and the Mayor's, after five years, his ineptitude when it comes to fulfilling his chief duty presiding at a City Council meeting, and again that, you know, event earlier tonight, he said, you know, the rules are the rules. Well, that's a, that's a fluid concept for the last five years in these Council meetings, and apparently, as somebody else, you know, apparently our city ordinances are the rule, all does not apply there. Again, there's many of you who have forsaken your oath, including Council President Chittum, when it comes to the Charter, upholding the laws of the state, the federal, state law, City Charter, audiences. Again, stop taking multiple bites each, all seven of you, because all you have done it at least once of on an agenda item going around and round and not knowing what direction you guys want to go in. You have the agenda, you have the agenda packets Thursday, the meeting is Tuesday, you have plenty of time to know what's in the agenda, and you, and then some of you like to use the false equivocation of not understanding when you've had five days to review it by time the City Clerk Pope sends out on by fork, well, the end of business on Thursday, by time you get here for your meeting at 6 p.m., especially in March and April since it's budget, to know what's in the in the agenda, the wrap your minds around it, and how you want to do your job. Thank you. [2:23:24] Matthew Agron: Matthew Agron, Ward 4. 1 on the 17th, you all voted no to extending to ending the meetings early, and let me remind you, when you have 29 items on an agenda and then you end it at item 14, that's 15 items that just got promoted to the next agenda. So the next agenda is, let's call it 34. Eventually you're going to have a bowel wave in front of you that you guys will sink under, or you're going to have to start calling Thursday meetings, or maybe having two meetings in the month of July and August instead of one. But you guys, this is a bad idea, and it's 820 tonight. I might have a chance of making ice cream at Dairy Joy if this meeting continues at the path it is. You don't need to do this. If it's done right, don't vote for this. Vote no. Further public [2:24:36] Carl L. Sheline: public comment back to the council. So I will agree that there's a lot of reasons why our meetings have run long. We're not here to litigate or rehash any of that. We're here to talk about the specific agenda item. I want to repeat what I said last time about this agenda item. When I argued for it or advocated for it, I do think that having a time limit will, you know, give us all a goal to work towards, and I think that will help a lot. And then obviously if there's agenda items that need to be handled that night, we can obviously vote affirmatively to continue the meeting, so that's that's always an option. I thank you [2:25:22] Scott A. Harriman: councillor Harriman thank you have some good points brought up I'll point out that the amendment that I proposed addresses some of them so items remaining on the agenda can be carried over to the next regular meeting or can be addressed at a special meeting this also is not a hard stop at 10 p.m it's no further agenda items may be taken up unless at least five of us vote to do so I am NOT a necessarily a part of parliamentarian but my interpretation of that is that we could vote that has flexibility to it. I think that we could vote to take up the next three items, and then we could take another vote, or we could choose after that. But just having some sort of deadline there, I think, will help us to keep these meetings from dragging on quite so long. It is, again, a 2 thirds majority, so it's a super majority and would take at least five of us. [2:26:26] Carl L. Sheline: Councilor Longchamps, did you have your hand up? [2:26:29] Susan G. Longchamps: I did I would just like to say that I think I think that we will be pleasantly surprised and we will most likely get through all of the items on the agenda. It'll motivate us I think we've gone on too long dragging out our meetings for whatever reason. We don't need to place blame let's just try to move forward. I think setting the time for 10 o'clock is appropriate. I think it's much better for all of us. I know I can't function too well much longer after that so I would say that I think it would definitely help motivate us to get through the items more efficiently and would be pleasantly surprised that we will most likely get them all done. [2:27:18] Bret Martel: Council Martel thank you Mr Mayor I just looked up the last normal City Council meeting for New York City a city with nine million people and it ran two hours and seven minutes on March 26. [2:27:31] Carl L. Sheline: further comments from the council before we vote counselor naging yes i would just like to point [2:27:38] Bryan Kaenrath: out that public comment is not allowed on every agenda item in the New York City Council meeting but I do agree that we can police ourselves as well so counselors I don't [2:27:53] Carl L. Sheline: to go back and forth to repeat ourselves Council Chairman did you have something new [2:27:57] Scott A. Harriman: yes I just wanted to point out I don't believe the motion to amend has had a second [2:28:03] Unidentified speaker (Clerk): Madam Clerk can you where are we I agree with Council Harriman I did not hear a second so I was going to ask for clarification right before the vote whenever you were done who was [2:28:14] Carl L. Sheline: the first council chairman council chairman do we have a second for this second counselor long chams we've buttoned that up thank you back to you councillor Martel thank [2:28:25] Bret Martel: you Mr. Mayor these are the type of comments I like to avoid but if we're gonna call on councillors to I've even seen three times in a row without another councillor being called on just someone repeating their hand putting their hand up and being recognized two three times in a row on an agenda item and then also feeling the need to offer rebuttal to other councillors statements which seems to be coming the norm that is contributing to the length of these meetings as well so I'm not usually the one that's going to put my hand back up and get into the back and forth I think councillors can speak about the agenda without having to feel like it's their opportunity or responsibility to police the other councillors thank you thank you I'm clerk saying no further [2:29:08] Carl L. Sheline: their request for comment please call the vote counselor from word seven no [Bret Martel: right I can't] See it. So what's your, Madam Clerk, can you please repeat the motion that we're voting [2:29:24] Unidentified speaker (Clerk): on? So the motion before you is the amendment which is printed on page two of item 13. It is to add that language into the rules and I'll just read it for the record. No further agenda items may be taken up after 10 p.m. unless authorized by an affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the council any items remaining on the agenda after adjournment will be carried over to the next regular meeting or will be addressed at a special meeting the motion on the floor is the amendment to remove the language that was adopted on the 7th and to basically substitute it with the language that I just read will be the motion before you right now as the amendment no award one no word two yes word three yes word four no word five yes word six no motion failed by a vote of three to four so the motion before you is the original one from march 17th please call the vote councillor from Ward 7 no Ward 1 no Ward 2 yes Ward 3 no Ward 4 no Ward 5 no Ward 6 no motion failed by a vote of 1 to 6 I'm number 14 at a number 14 order authorizing the acceptance of the public Art Committee's recommendation to reallocate fiscal year 26 budgeted funding from a project that was discontinued in the amount of twenty four thousand nine hundred ninety nine dollars to address unmet public art needs. Requested action to approve the order authorizing the acceptance of the Public Art Committee's recommendation to reallocate fiscal year 26 budgeted funding from a project that was discontinued in the amount of twenty four thousand nine hundred ninety nine dollars to address unmet public art [2:31:27] Carl L. Sheline: needs. I have a motion. Please so move. Councillor Chittim. Second saying by Councillor Nei Jean. We have staff and a valued community member up here. If all the three of you can, if all three of you can please introduce yourselves and then [2:31:42] John Blaze: kick us off. John Blaze, Economic and Community Development Acting Director. [2:31:50] Catherine Ruth: Catherine Ruth, Community Development Manager. Deanna Earhart, Assistant [2:31:56] Speaker AA (unidentified): Principal at Montello Elementary and local artists. She [2:32:02] Catherine Ruth: Is also the chair of the public art committee. Yes, thank you. Yes, so thank you to the mayor and the City Council for having us this evening. You had previously approved a budget of fifty two thousand dollars in fiscal year 26, which runs for 25 to 26, and is the current budget. Now all of our projects are going along well. They have purchase orders, contracts, or bills coming in, with the exception of a couple of projects which will describe this evening. In reference to a project that was approved for twenty four thousand nine hundred and ninety nine dollars, we would like to reallocate those funds from the John Jenkins bridge lighting project to three projects which the committee thinks are very important. And this was a very nice project that the proposer and the contractor worked on, vendor, but they just simply couldn't get the bridge lighted well enough with the setup that was arranged, so that project was discontinued. So the committee went on and worked on their call for artists and other projects, and now back to this specific project, because becoming to the few months during the year in which public art can take place. So all of our projects are moving forward with the exception of the John Jenkins bridge and the Lewiston farmers market mural project that we'd like to allocate some funds to. So the three projects are as follows, voted on by the public art committee. One, name plates for five sculptures here in the community. That includes all of the cost. This project has been going on and off for the committee tells me three years so it has been resolved we have the exact price for everybody is in agreement the artists are all in agreement it's wonderful it's also required as part of our 2017 choice grant that we have nameplates for these sculptures so we should certainly do that and if you think about it when you have your new residents come in or even residents that are here that see the sculptures and go over there should be nameplates that explain them out it's good information and public relations. So that price is eleven thousand six hundred ninety six dollars and twenty nine cents, the exact amount. Two, second is the Lewiston farmers market mural project. When a variety of entities came in for funding, the committee wanted to fund everything, so they didn't fund the projects at the total amount that most had asked for. And so everybody went forward except the Lewiston Farmer's Market has some additional issues that they're dealing with. So their fundraising attempts in which they were going to raise the rest of these funds had been diverted to taking care of their food supply. They also were recruiting for a director, and so they just don't have the staff capacity to do this. So the LA Arts would work with them if there was an additional $4,000 added to the $8,000. So it would go back to pretty much the price of the original project. And this would get done down in the area of the park in a wraparound that would be very nice for that area that we have designated as one of the priority projects. Projects three and the last item is street art and mitigation of graffiti. We have a number of locations around the community where there's graffiti, and Public Works tries very hard to clean this up, but they have to go out with the spray paint, and that's pretty much what they can do. But there are some areas where we could shine light on these areas by putting in small amounts street art which are approved by the committee and alleys and other areas that areas would be cleaned up where the spray Painting trash and vandalism, and so nine thousand three hundred and two dollars would be allocated to that, and the committee members have reached out to a number of local artists about this. [2:36:10] Carl L. Sheline: thank you could I think we have some audience members who are also in the public i'm sorry the public art committee could they raise their hand darby ray thank you for being here questions comments for our panel here council martel thank you mr mayor [2:36:30] Bret Martel: Is there any way we could change the allocation and just give this money back to the taxpayers, or do we have to spend this money on some sort of sidewalk art? Well, it's, it's not [2:36:45] Speaker AA (unidentified): just some sort of sidewalk art. These are projects that we've been working on for quite some time, and when that money came back from the bridge project, we thought it would be prudent to use it for these projects that have been waiting. And the nice thing about this is it's multiple projects, not just one, so it affects many areas in the city. And I don't know, public opinion that I get on all of the public art that's going on in Lewiston is extremely important for us, for our image, and makes us a little bit of a destination in Maine and that's what public arts all about and that helps bring in our own revenues because people are going to come and see our murals our art our parks all of these areas that we're investing in public art is an investment in our community in our future and in our finances so it's a positive thank you I appreciate that you [2:37:55] Bret Martel: didn't answer my question though is it possible to give them I understand why you want to keep the money here is it possible to just put the money back in [2:38:01] Carl L. Sheline: the general fund if i may counselor martel administrator kainrath or finance director roy i'm sorry no we're just no we're attempting to get your question answers yeah could you answer that could this money i think what counselor martel is asking could this money be reappropriated for some other purpose or are we bound to spend this because it's part of a grant [2:38:28] Bryan Kaenrath: or some other reason so these were funds that were originally in the budget used fund balance for put to the economic reserve if you look at your notes from the budget meeting on the tip night and the CDBG night I had that screenshot that shows all the projects and what was remaining in those funds so that was put aside for la arts by the city council approved by the city council therefore can be approved by the city council to be used for other funds other items right thank you anything [2:39:09] Bret Martel: further counselor martel yes thank you for that explanation i'm just trying to demonstrate the point that taxpayers are going to be put out of their homes and i'm not trying to midi like minimize the passion that you clearly have and you're how strongly you believe in this but if we aren't willing to cut some artwork which can be beneficial but is not a crucial service or that is provided i it's just if we're if we're not willing to take dollars like this and put it back in where are we going to be willing to make cuts and then cuts need to be made there is there's so many people that are going to be forced out of their homes and it's this is the type of spending that really needed to be reeled in because this reevaluation is going to crush some people and we need to look for every dollar that we can save and this doesn't seem to demonstrate that especially with the fact that we can claw it back and give it to the taxpayer thank you mr mayor counselor herman thank you if i could just ask [2:40:21] Scott A. Harriman: Staff, how much is in our not this, not this reallocated funds, but how much is in our FY, our next fiscal year funds for public art, for the public art program? So there's, there's no you [2:40:38] John Blaze: know, allocation directly to this account, so we basically line this account out. We do have funds through the TIF account, and we'll be identifying that through the budget process, but that's dedicated specific dollars per year that'll go into an account that we could spend our money on, our money on, so [2:41:01] Scott A. Harriman: Thank you. So I guess as far as this reallocation goes, I mean, one of the projects that this would go to is finishing up a project that has been, you know, has been somewhat unfinished for a few years, and we're, we're really bound to, or we're required by the terms of that grant to finish that up. I would also add, just in general, that when we're talking about public art, I would, I would not support taking money away from a public art program that's been operating well for years and has brought a lot into the city that is visible and able to be experienced 24 7, or at least when it's light out, every day of the year. And but we're taking money and funding it towards public performance art that is only available for a few hours out of the year. So just as a, an overall public art priority, I would prioritize the program, the visual art program that's been working well for quite a while. I would like to do both, but if we can only do one, I would prioritize the one that's going to have more impact on folks, because it's, it's there every single day rather than just for a few hours out of the year. [2:42:23] Carl L. Sheline: Councillor Longchamps, did you ever hand [2:42:26] Susan G. Longchamps: up? Yes, thank you, Mayor. I would first like to say thank you to Councillor Martel. I do appreciate his sincerity and looking out for the taxpayers. I think it comes from a very good place. I think public art is very important. I've seen the change that it has made to beautify our city. We clearly can't get that bridge lit. The money was there for it. I would like to reallocate that money to these three things that you have proposed tonight. I think public art is very important for our city, so thank you. [2:43:15] Bryan Kaenrath: Counselor Neijing, thank you, Mr. Mayor. Just to verify, if we did not fund these projects, this money would then go into the general fund for the following year's budget, but we've already allocated these costs for our last year's budget, and we're just shifting this to other projects that weren't complete. Am I correct on that? So correct. So they're they're taking what they originally had budgeted and requesting that they transfer for three other projects and again for fiscal year 2027. There is zero dollars out of the general budget for the public art committee. Correct all of the funds were removed in the economic reserve account for a. [2:44:02] Robert McDonald: Budget okay thank you. [2:44:06] David B. Chittim: At the risk of incurring the wrath of my fellow councillors I'm going to ask that the council order be corrected to reflect the John Jenkins bridge as opposed to the John James bridge Thank. [2:44:23] Carl L. Sheline: You councillor Chittum we are now heading to public comment for this agenda item public comment is now closed yeah I support I support this we're not going to are so important and this recognizes that and we're not going to be able to you know if we reallocate what this is coming to what just under $25,000 how much is that on the on the tax roll finance director Roy a penny is thirty seven thousand five hundred yeah we're not going to be able to you know reduce the budget by any meaningful. Amount by getting rid of these items which will have a meaningful impact in our city I fully support this urge the council to vote for it further questions or comments from councillors. [2:45:24] Bryan Kaenrath: Councillor naging actually i'm gonna pass. [2:45:30] Carl L. Sheline: Anything further from our distinguished presenters. [2:45:36] Unidentified speaker (Clerk): Madam clerk please call the vote council from word seven no word one yes word two yes word three yes word four yes word five yes word six yes motion passed by vote of six to one thank you all for. [2:45:50] Carl L. Sheline: Being here thank you item number 15 item 15 order authorizing application. [2:45:55] Unidentified speaker (Clerk): Acceptance and appropriation of fiscal year 27 congressionally directed spending requested action to approve the order authorizing application acceptance and appropriation of fiscal year 27 congressionally directed spending may. [2:46:13] Carl L. Sheline: Have a motion please so move the counselor should have involved by councillor second majoring and I didn't want to jump the gun there chief Connolly welcome back anything you'd like to say no again I'm just here if you have any. [2:46:27] Speaker Z (unidentified): Questions about how this process works can. [2:46:33] Carl L. Sheline: You explain what a bearcat is for. [2:46:37] Speaker Z (unidentified): Our folks at home so that's actually a reference to the funding that we requested for FY 26 that is basically sort of like a rescue vehicle and what we're requesting this year for FY 27 through the congressional directed spending is some updated surveillance camera systems the exact vision 3d laser scanner mapping device some night vision optics police batons defensive tactics. [2:47:09] Carl L. Sheline: Training equipment and pepper ball launchers. Understood, thank you. Questions? [2:47:15] David B. Chittim: Comments from councillors. Councillor Chittim. Thank you, Mr. Mayor, Chief. Thank you for this. I have a question about in general, but specifically the 3D laser scanner mapping device. How is it going to be used? How will it help the police department better serve its function, and will there be ongoing operational and training costs to maintain this equipment if it's awarded? [2:47:42] Speaker Z (unidentified): So I'm not sure about the ongoing training. What that generally is used in is for homicide investigations, accident reconstruction, things along those lines. I think it's minimal as far as the ongoing training, but it's it's really a tool that just helps us really more effectively handle a scene such as a major accident or a homicide or things like that. Okay. [2:48:07] David B. Chittim: Thank you. I'm familiar with how laser scanners work, and it's not simply push a button and you've got what you want, so there is some training involved, and I'm just concerned about incurring ongoing operational costs. Thank you. [2:48:23] Carl L. Sheline: further questions comments for the chief counselor thank you chief [2:48:30] Bryan Kaenrath: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Chief, I just have a quick question on, so the congressionally directed direct spending that we requested in 2025, that was for fiscal year 2026, was that actually approved and did we actually get that money, or is this just a rewriting of the same? [2:48:50] Speaker Z (unidentified): So we did receive word that it was approved It was approved for a lower amount than what we requested and right now to be honest We're in this waiting phase where it's being moved to what we talked about earlier like a burn grant Where will then be given instructions on how to draw down from that? [2:49:08] Bryan Kaenrath: Okay, and at this point you're comfortable with not getting the Bear Cat? [2:49:12] Speaker Z (unidentified): You want to switch to these other items that would come from that particular funding source, but what we've done is we're reapplying for FY 27 and requesting additional items, things like, you know, when we talk about the defensive tactics trainings, the Pepperball launchers. Those are all things that we would have liked to have put in our budget this year. Things that we could use, but we're looking for other resources to obtain those. Okay, completely understood. [2:49:37] Bryan Kaenrath: I was just concerned about we haven't had that tactical rescue vehicle in a bit. So but that's all I was concerned. Yeah. [2:49:45] Speaker Z (unidentified): It's not going to change any of the previous requests. Okay, brilliant, thank you so much. [2:49:51] Susan G. Longchamps: Counselor Longchamps, yes, I would just like to say that first, thank you for being here, Chief. And you guys know what you need, and it's, it all of these items are very important to help solve crime, so thank you. Public [2:50:11] Carl L. Sheline: comment for this agenda item back to the council. Madam Clerk, please call the vote. [2:50:19] Unidentified speaker (Clerk): I'm sorry, word 7? Yes. Word 1? Yes. Word 2? Yes. Word 3? Yes. Word 4? Yes. Word 5? Yes. Word 6? Yes. Motion passed by vote of 7-0. [2:50:30] Carl L. Sheline: Thank you very much, Chief. We're now up to the second public comment period for people who did not speak during the first public comment period. Second public comment period is now closed. We are now up to reports and updates, and we will hear from Peter Rubens. Come on down. Did you have a presentation on the laptop too? Okay, you're good. If Kurt could join us up here and make sure that everything's all set with that [2:51:10] Speaker V (unidentified): I'd think that would be great, Kurt. [2:51:18] Carl L. Sheline: Can you hear us? I see it, look at that. Okay, never mind, Kurt, we're fine. I apologize, I'm [2:51:33] Speaker V (unidentified): Peter Rubens, I'm with Grow LA, and I've [2:51:36] Carl L. Sheline: been, we need to start using the mic here, I'm sorry. Yeah, I'm [2:51:42] Speaker V (unidentified): Peter Rubens, and I'm with Grow LA, and I've been working with the Grow LA River working group for the past 15 years. Our mission statement is to be the conduit between Lewiston and Auburn for best use of the river, and we've been working together for the past 15 years. [2:52:02] Carl L. Sheline: We're just gonna make a small judgment adjustment to the presentation here. [2:52:06] Speaker V (unidentified): Peter, okay, please, you can click it for me if you want. Okay, huge round of applause for Darby, right, thank you. Boomer here, so I'm gonna try and cut my what I've written into shorter order. Move the mic closer to you, just love it, thank you. So basically, Grow LA has been working with Auburn, Ann Lewiston, David Hettinger for 15 years, Eric Cousins, and of course I graduated with John Jenkins and your former mayor. Senator Ed, oh, here we go. We'll go back. Can I go back to the second slide? Okay. Senator Ed Muskie, Rumford, on the Anderskoggin passed the Clean Water Act in 1972. He is my hero, and I have aspired to work towards his goal of swimmable and fishable from one of the top 10 polluted rivers in the country, our own Androscoggin. There are two issues coming up to a head in the next couple of months that will affect us for the next 40 years. To re-image the Androscoggin from the dirty loo to the that many remember as the polluted and DE pieces that does not meet their computer modeling for class B. Go to the next slide. Reclassification from class C to B Maine and federal law when a body meets a higher class and it shall be upgraded to the higher class and not be allowed to slip backwards. Grohele and both cities who cooperated under DEP volunteer program for water testing for the past 10 years and confirmed that the river meets Class B. Our bill 2187 was defeated a couple weeks ago in the legislature by the DEP threatening the Lewiston-Auburn Clean Water Authority with increased cost if the bill passed, even though all testing proved Class B. Okay, next. This just shows Class B dissolved oxygen with Brookfield's tests and they all meet all the all of the tests that they did meet class B in that this is on their application for FERC for the next 40 years. So there are two so one of the things we're trying to do is reimage the Androscoggin from the dirty loo and many remember the polluted DEP and the DEP says that it does not meet their class B. Go to the next slide. And Brookfield needs a WQC, a water quality certification. Brookfield is pushing to complete their license for the next 40 year period by August 2026. That's about four months away. They need a WQC water quality certificate and since our bill for class B was Defeated it is now going to read class C at the lowest class possible The cities in Lewiston and Auburn need to send a letter to Claire Briggs Department of Environmental Protection Hydro coordinator to make sure that when we finally get to class B That the WQC will then be upgraded by FERC for the 40-year period The next triennial review the next three years grow la will continue to pursue class B with the legislature. Okay next, FERC requirements, FERC, the act requires FERC to balance the license's interest in generating power through the use of public resource with the public interest in protecting natural resources, providing recreational opportunities, aesthetics and other factors. factors. Absent thorough study of these impacts by the licensee FERC will be unable to conduct an adequate NEPA review, calling into question its ability to relicense the project. All right, next. 40 years ago we applied to CMP when they built the Monte. We asked for, we asked for trails, signage, pathways, and they wrote all of this on their, on their recreation agenda, and at the bottom you'll notice it says needed now, none. So CMP basically did as little as possible when they built it in 1970. 1986 they proceeded to sell it to Brookfield, and Brookfield basically has done as little as possible. So very little has been done for the aesthetics and recreation from the power companies. I'm cutting it down so the combined, we want that, but the Brookfield owns three hydro plants here in LA, one especially that can control, controls the Great Falls, our little Niagara. The combined dams generate anywhere from 30 million to 50 million dollars per year. The two cities have the power to assess Brookfield's tax values and are an asset to finance our dreams that were promised by CMP in creating an inviting waterfront for locals and visitors alike. All right. And this is basically the Lewiston Auburn have these asks that we've made to Brookfield. And these are the major things that have been applied to FERC and it's under consideration for their license in the next three or four months, and Rookfield has not answered many of these I asked that we have made. We've asked for minimum water releases over the Gulf Island dam to guarantee minimum flow of the Great Falls in the downtown LA for aesthetics and aeration downstream, to minimally require warumbo minimum flows or timed releases for weekends, special events, and whitewater boating at dressers rips, plus endangered species. We're asking for 40 timed releases plus holidays over the falls. We're asking book field to sponsor portage for kayaking on both sides of the river, signage and parking at dressers rips, and scheduled times for whitewater releases similar to other locations already upstream, and to guarantee, this is really important for Lewiston, to guarantee the, guarantee the ability to get more cubic feet per second in the Lewis then in the Lewiston canals over the next 40 years. The city's plans include aesthetics and recreation possibilities that will require higher minimum flows. 4,000 cubic feet used to run through the canals at one time, and when they gave the canals to Lewiston, they cut it back to 50 cubic feet per second, which is basically a very small flow to keep it from polluting. We're asking them to guarantee the ability to get more cubic feet per second for the Lewiston canals. Lighting studies for the granite faces for the 10 months that water isn't flowing, flows over the Great Falls were reduced from the Monte, when the Monte was built, from 150 days a year down to 45 days a year, and these are the aesthetics of a natural resource that we own, and it's been taken away from us basically for their power. Things we need to do, the administration of both cities need to sign a copy of our draft to the DEP, the Department of Environmental Protection hydropower coordinator. Claire, you have copies of that, and I've given copies to Brian, and be ready to work with Auburn in the next couple months when the 30-day window is open for us to appeal for our asks for the next 40-year license. This is really important. Brookfield's lawyer's job is to do as little as possible for the next 40 years. Both cities need to have their legal teams able to be involved in those 30 days. Okay, next, this is a recreation study that was done and recommended in 2012. These are things that can be done on the, on the, in the canals, Skowhegan is. This just shows a chart of the flows, basically, that Brookfield does every day. They can open and close their dams from a computer center in Marlborough, Massachusetts, for maximum use and maximum profits, which they should be doing. But that also shows that they can open the falls for three or four hours on a Friday night or a Saturday night to bring people downtown. All right, one more. This just shows the number of dollars and hours that Brookfield makes, how many kilowatt hours. We want their clean power and we want them to make money, but we also want them to be able to fulfill the ask that we have for them. Them and our little Niagara, how could we argue that this natural wonder is something that really we should relish? Where else can you drive up to a parking lot and walk a couple hundred yards to see our little Niagara? You don't have to go very far, and next, and this is it without the water, which is about 320, 120 days a year. Okay, next. One of the things that Brookfield had promised was, we had asked for signage and they had promised that, and again, that was never done, but Grow LA and Lewiston and Auburn worked together to put together Museum in the streets, which is, you may or may not know, circumnavigates the Falls for people to come down on Sunday afternoons with their friends and teach them more about in Lewiston Auburn than anyone would ever want to know. And there's the map you can download this as a QR code and take the tour if you haven't already. And this is what people are also doing around the country is lighting the falls. There's a company that is anxious to do a laser light show at the falls and possibly on the rocks when it's not, when there's no water flowing, which is most of the time. And this is the last slide and you can see that the first river regatta that we had was about three years ago. So these are the kinds of things that we can do. So again the need to do, we need to, we need to get back to, we need to get the application to the DEP coordinator, a hydropower connect, HIP coordinator, and be ready to work with Auburn when this 30-day window will open up and it could be june or july and grow la is happy to work with you guys for until we can't yes this is this is it is it's 40 it's a four this is for the next 40 years what we decide and get on there can you move the mic closer to you please it is over the next 40 years what happens on this application from FERC to FERC and that Brookfield has applied to do basically as little as possible thank you I tried to cut it back for you 're good sir thank you [3:04:52] Carl L. Sheline: very much Peter Rubens, we appreciate you being here. Yeah, counselor in aging, Thank [3:05:00] Bryan Kaenrath: you Mr. mayor first Peter I just want to thank you for coming and I would ask that any of the follow-up pieces that grow la working River group is asking OF BOTH LEWIS AND AUBURN BE PRESENTED TO BOTH ADMINISTRATION AND TO THE COUNCIL SO THAT WE CAN GO THROUGH TO SEE UH WHICH PIECES THAT WE CAN DO I BELIEVE IT'S PRETTY EASY TO SIGN ON TO THE CLASS B UH CERTIFICATION REQUEST UM THAT'S ONE THING WE CAN ABSOLUTELY DO UM I AND I THINK THAT WE HAVE STAFF IN PLACE THAT ARE WORKING ON THIS SO THERE'S I BELIEVE IT'S DIRECTORS GONIER CONNER and our city planner Norton so possibly if administration could check with that group to see how we're working with Auburn and also to see what we can move forward on these pieces you're right the FERC licensing is every 40 years and at the end of the day if we don't ask Brookfield for concessions and we're not prepared to fight for those concessions we will not get them and so there's an opportunity here to improve the public spaces as well as the egresses around the Falls that are incredibly important for access just for we're not even talking recreation we're talking about like the ability to walk from one place to another and so this is very important to me and I'm thankful that you've come to speak to it and I'm hoping the remainder of the council would be supportive in asking Brookfield to while conducting business in our community make sure that they consider the [3:06:42] Speaker V (unidentified): community that they're conducting business in I had working with Link I worked with Lincoln Jeffers for years again we've been doing working on this for years and one of the things I really want to emphasize is the canals Brookfield was first tried to sell the canals to you and finally their consultant said or your consultant said they should be paying you to take it off their hands it's a liability so then that was rec then it was negotiated to lower the amount of water going through the canals and basically I just that picture I showed you with all the things that could possibly happen would take about 200 cubic feet per second and it's been negotiated down to 50. So that's one of the things Lewiston needs to be able to do over the next 40-year period realize that you can go back demand that you're able to ask for more water whether it's 200 cubic feet per second or whatever so thank [3:07:39] Bryan Kaenrath: you yes counselor and aging another point is we still hold two FERC licenses on the canals and so if we don't have enough water supply those FERC licenses don't mean anything yep okay well onward thank you thank you counselor Chittum [3:07:58] David B. Chittim: Did you have something? Thank you. Yes. I just wanted to thank Mr. Rubens for his continued advocacy for the river It's been a lifelong project for him. I wanted to clarify perhaps a missum misapprehension that the class B Certification is a dead issue for the next three years. Am I correct in that Mr. Rubens? [3:08:19] Carl L. Sheline: Please use the mic Peter [3:08:23] Speaker V (unidentified): It has to do with this WQC that's coming up right now, and the our group is talking to some legal, getting some legal advice on this. So at this time the legislature specifies and approves classification, and if we challenge this, it could it could go back go back up. It could be another three years, but it's been ten years already. This is the third triennial we've been refused, and there's something going on there between the DEP and Lewiston Auburn and their feelings toward our goals. So if I could restate you just [3:09:16] David B. Chittim: said there is hope yet. I'll be it a faint glimmer, very faint. Okay, yes, I did WANT TO MOVE FORWARD THE LETTER THAT YOU ASKED THE COUNCILS TO SIGN. I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE ADMINISTRATION TO REVIEW THIS AND PUT IT ON A FUTURE AGENDA FAIRLY SOON. THIS SIMPLY STATES THAT WE WOULD LIKE THE DEP TO INSIST IN THEIR APPLICATION TO FERC THAT SHOULD THE RIVER BE RECLASSIFIED TO BE IN SUBSEQUENT YEARS DURING THE 40-YEAR LICENSE, THAT WOULD REOPEN THE WATER quality classification requirements of the FERC license. It would not be fixed at Class C from now for 40 years. That is that correct? Thank you. That's [3:09:56] Speaker V (unidentified): what this is all about is the Warumbo Lewis Lisbon Falls was classified to be below us, and at that time it was 90 days before it took effect and they got their license, they got their FERC license a month before. So they had to go through THIS WHOLE RIGMA ROLL BASICALLY TO GET IT UP TO BE, AND WE'RE TRYING TO BASICALLY ELIMINATE THAT [3:10:22] David B. Chittim: KIND OF THING HAPPENING AGAIN. THANK YOU SIR. OKAY WE'RE NOW HEADING TO PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THIS UH [Carl L. Sheline: REPORT UPDATE UH] MATT ROY WARD SIX. WELL MR MAYOR, BACK IN DECEMBER I EMAILED COUNCILOR HAIRMAN UH BECAUSE FOR THE LAST YEAR THIS WE'VE BEEN READING WELL THE RENEWAL OF OUR FERC LICENSE, although it took city staff nearly a month to get back to the council then to get back to me, and that email from deputy director Norton and council Harriman sent basically said they were to be as councillor Nugent said currently there are two licenses but the Commission is looking or has decided to combine those into one EA and what and so I haven't that was back in January when they said that, and at that point well I implied by the count our deputy director Norton's email that they had an issue that final EA combining the two previous ones at that point. So have I guess we for that as counselor children basically said so for that next when this is actually a workshop item it agenda item be helpful we had that updates to mr. Rubin's points we could be too late if FERC has already issued that EA and the timeframe for that 30 day comment period them make our next 40 years finalized and I guess to the point about the legislature acting statutory adjournment for the second and final session of the current legislature is next week so i don't i wouldn't be that grammar is like the snow that fell this morning fast evaporating further public comment [3:12:24] Christine Holden: Good evening, Christine Holden, Ward One. I'd like to congratulate Peter Rubens. I've known Peter when I was a former member of Grow LA, and I've also known him since he was a student of Bates, back further than either of us are going to want to say. And Peter is also a property owner. His property on Lowell Street in Lewiston has a view of the river, and his former properties on Main Street in Auburn also were close to the river. This has obviously been a big passion for him and I appreciate all the work that he's done as somebody who's seen the transitions in downtown Lewiston and along the river. And as a member of the Riverside Cemetery Board of Trustees, I heartily applaud the efforts to make the river be a scenic, safe and exciting place not only for people but for the animals and fish that are around. And I think if we can restore the amount of flow on the river, not only does it benefit the canals as has been mentioned, but it's also a return to the condition in which not only 18th century people helped develop this community but it's, it's also a return to the way this community was long before any of us immigrants came here, when it was settled by the Wampanoag. [3:13:57] Carl L. Sheline: Further public comment? Back to the council. Councillor Harriman, did you have something? [3:14:04] Scott A. Harriman: Yes, just two things real quick. I just wanted to mention I did vote for the amendment in the legislature to include the Lower Androscoggin. Unfortunately, it didn't get enough support, and I also wanted to emphasize the timeliness of this, you know, this opportunity for comment and for having our say with this licensing process, because it is a 40-year license. You know, just think of where we'll all be in 40 years. I'm going to be an old man and many of these people here won't be here anymore. So it's, it's really important to get this in here now so that, so that if these, if the classification does go up in the future, which I think it probably should in the next 40 years, that gets reflected in the [3:14:51] Speaker V (unidentified): License. Well, I'm proud to say that I was here 40 years ago and I didn't expect to be here now, but I'm still doing it and we are still plowing on. But we certainly have, can say that we've seen the increased beauty of the river and the use and the walking paths. And basically CMP promised to do a lot of these things and they basically were able to do almost nothing. So I think the assessments of the, for the power company, the three dams in Lewiston Auburn should be something that you should be able to do and have the strong arm. Basically, if they're not going to produce, we can just tax it and do it ourselves through assessment. Thank you Mr. Rubens. [3:15:41] Carl L. Sheline: I appreciate you being here. You have a wonderful day. All right. Administrator Kaenerath, you'll be checking in with the people running point on this? Absolutely. We're now up to reports and a new business from councilors. Before we move to executive session, should there be any? Councilor Chiddum. [3:15:59] David B. Chittim: Yes, I'd like to know when the council is going to make an action on the tape barricade. I appreciate that Administrator Kaenerath had no direction from the council, that were all over the map, he had no choice but to reply somehow. So we have this tape barricade up here now and I'd like the council to weigh in on whether or not it remains at some point. [3:16:24] Carl L. Sheline: All right, yeah, I say let's try it out for a little longer, but Councilor Harriman. Yes, I just [3:16:30] Scott A. Harriman: had a couple items that I've asked about before and I wonder if we could come back to them at some point about a policy for city employees partnering with content creators as part of their jobs and also policy around the use of AI and city workplaces, just to have some guardrails and common understanding of what we're doing in those areas. Thank you Councilor Roy. [3:16:58] Michael R. Roy: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I witnessed somebody almost getting their face slapped with that tonight. That's dangerous. I'm going to say that, and I think other people saw it, too. So I would definitely encourage people to probably not have that anymore. But [3:17:25] Carl L. Sheline: further back to you or Counselor Longchamps, what do you have? I just want [3:17:32] Susan G. Longchamps: to thank the council. It's only 915 I believe and I get it, our agenda was pretty straightforward, but we could have drived it out and I just appreciate [3:17:44] Carl L. Sheline: going home very shortly, you know, I want to turn our chickens before they hatch, but counselor Herman, did you, did you have something else? Yes, I just said one more thing. [3:17:57] Scott A. Harriman: I wanted to mention that the month of April is recognized worldwide as autism acceptance month, which is a time to promote understanding, inclusion, and acceptance of people living with autism while also celebrating their strengths and their differences. And I shouldn't be required to explain this part, but since it keeps being brought up, I'll go ahead. I am someone who has been undiagnosed as being on the autism spectrum, and like many neurodivergent people, I find it helpful to do something with my hands while I listen to other people speak. This is a well-known and well-documented method that many people use to improve their focus and their attention. Some people use therapeutic aids or fidget tools, while others knit or crochet or draw with a pen. This helps people like me better comprehend what others are saying, which is exactly what my role is here as an elected official. It's not hard to be a decent person and to be nice to others, but it does require acknowledging that not everybody is exactly the same as you are. Every one of us is different, and those differences should be accepted and celebrated and not used as a way to harass or tear other people down. Let's try this month and every month, point of order, to make every space that we're in a more inclusive one. Second, Councillor Herman. Yes. [3:19:18] Bret Martel: Council Martel, what's your point of order? I just, Jermaine, is this new city business? This is [3:19:24] Carl L. Sheline: reports and updates, and this is, you know, for lack of a better way to explain this, open mic for [3:19:30] Scott A. Harriman: counselors. Please continue, Councillor Harriman. Thank you. Yes, this is an announcement, so I'll repeat the last line here. Let's try this month and every month to make every space that we're in a more inclusive space. Thank you. Further reports or [3:19:47] Carl L. Sheline: updates or announcements from councillors? Madam Clerk, I think we're [3:19:52] Unidentified speaker (Clerk): heading into multiple executive sessions. Sure, and so we will usually vote all three together, so I will read the motions for you. Item number 19. Item 19, Executive Session to Discuss Labor Union Negotiations Regarding Lewiston Professional Technical Unit, Local 3855, Requested Action to Enter into an Executive Session Pursuant to Main Revised Statutes Annotated Title I, Section 4056D, to Discuss Labor Negotiations Regarding the Lewiston Professional Technical Unit, Local 3855. And Item 20, Executive Session Pursuant to Main Revised Statutes Annotated Title I, Section [3:20:57] Carl L. Sheline: Now thank you very much. do we have a motion? So move, Councilor Chiddom. Second thing by Councilor [3:21:02] Unidentified speaker (Clerk): NEIJEAN MADAM CLERK PLEASE CALL THE VOTE CONSULT FROM WORD SEVEN YES WORD ONE YES WORD TWO YES WORD THREE YES WORD FOUR YES WORD FIVE YES WORD SIX YES MOTION PASSED BY VOTE OF SEVEN TO ZERO [3:21:13] Carl L. Sheline: thank you very much, Louiston. You all have a wonderful evening. You're all heading to bed and earlier than we are. And Madam Clerk, thank you so much. I appreciate you.