LEWISTON — City councilors turned a single vote on the Lisbon Street renovation plan into a shopping list Tuesday night as certain elements were scrapped in favor of others.

Before the council could vote on the $1.8 million project, Councilor Michael Lachance presented a motion to split the project into 12 line items to be voted on separately. After a brief recess, councilors agreed to group six of the items into one package for a vote and to tackle the rest separately.

The first vote, including milling and repaving Lisbon Street using multicolored concrete for sidewalks, refurbishing light bases, rewiring street lights, accent lighting at crosswalks and raised landscaping, passed unanimously following the break.

Brick pavers, used as accent strips and building fronts in the sidewalk also passed. Mike Dostie of Dostie’s Jewlers said the accents were needed because they “visually break up” what could otherwise be a monochromatic, bland sea of concrete.

A plan to upgrade the plaza space next to Mother India was tabled to allow for more options for the $30,000 project. Council President Mark Cayer said that for such a price tag, he would like to see more strategies and designs for the plaza.

Also tabled was a plan to add trees along the street. After hearing concerns about young trees obscuring business fronts, City Administrator Ed Barrett offered to look into alternative placements.

Brian LaChapelle of Lewiston Pawn Shop said that although Lisbon Street business owners were interested in beautifying downtown, he thought trees may detract from his business.

Plans to restripe Lisbon Street to a single lane from Cedar Street to Pine Street, eliminate turning lanes at Pine and Ash streets and add a bike lane failed to garner enough votes to pass. Cayer asked the council to reconsider the matter at its March 3 meeting.

Even the matter of additional bike racks on Lisbon Street was contentious. The $10,000 price tag to add multiple bike racks, as well as smaller stands along the street, was called into question.

Mayor Robert Macdonald wanted to see more bicycle parking. “I think we owe it to the downtown businesses,” he said. “We’re trying to bring the city up and it’s going to take money to make money.”

When asked if the city could bargain shop for racks, Barrett said, “I’m disappointed we couldn’t do more on Lisbon Street to give it some pizzazz.”

The council voted unanimously to allocate $30,000 to replace the chain-link fence around a lot where a building once stood.

dmcintire@sunjournal.com