Lewiston City Council Workshop and regular meeting

May 17, 2016

Lewiston City Hall 

Beer and pups

What it means: What goes together better than craft beer and playful puppies? That seems to be the thought behind organizers of the Great Falls Brew Fest and sponsoring group the Androscoggin County Humane Society as they plan to set up a 25-square-foot puppy pen or two at the beer festival in Lewiston’s Simard-Payne Memorial Park next month. 

What happened: City ordinances threw a bit of cold water on the idea, however, since they do not allow unleashed pets in city parks. City councilors Tuesday said they were happy to allow exceptions to those ordinances under certain circumstances, such as special events and festivals.

What’s next:  Tickets are sale online at www.greatfallsbrewfest.com. The festival is scheduled for June 25 and features more than 100 beers from 30 regional breweries — and puppies.

Farmers Market zone

What it means: Organizers of Lewiston’s Farmers Market want a bit more say in who can set up a table at their event.

What happened: Organizers have operated the market on summer Sundays in the parking lot in the shadow of Bates Mill No. 5, the corner of Main and Lincoln streets, since 2011. Organizers asked city councilors to declare the perimeter around their market a designated Festival Zone when they are operating, similar to what the city does for the Great Falls Balloon Festival. That allows organizers to say which vendors can sell at the market. Councilors agreed, passing a resolve without discussion to create the zone.

What’s next: The market is set to begin its 2016 season May 29. 

Assessed values

What it means: Anyone looking for a reason for Lewiston’s high tax rate need look no further than the city’s assessed value, which is about 84 percent of the estimated market value, according to City Assessor William Healey.

What happened: While it does not necessarily lead to higher tax payments, it can cause a tax shift, Healey told city councilors Tuesday. Residential properties are currently assessed at about 82 percent of market value while businesses and utilities are assessed at between 91 and 95 percent of the market. That means the tax burden can fall harder on businesses, giving a break to homeowners.

Healey said the council could shift up the residential values 5 percent next year, reducing the tax rate by 2.1 percent but shifting some residential tax bills up.

What’s next: Councilors passed on making the change Tuesday, leaving property values where they are for the coming fiscal year. 

New bank on the Androscoggin

What it means: Androscoggin Bank can proceed with its plans to build a “showcase” branch bank on Lincoln Street across from the Great Falls, councilors agreed Tuesday.

What happened: Councilors authorized a six-month option agreement with the bank, letting it complete the plans for the quarter-acre parking lot. The bank will pay the city $1 to hold the property while developing its plan and getting the property appraised. The bank also agreed not to ask the city for any tax benefits, such as tax-increment financing districts.

What’s next: According to Tuesday’s agreement, the bank has until November to close on the sale. Before it does, the bank will present its complete plans to the City Council for approval. 

Bad tenant policy

What it means: Bad tenants and noisy neighbors tend to be much more frightened of their landlords than they are of police which is why a city disorderly property policy is working, Deputy Police Chief Brian O’Malley said.

What happened: Councilors asked police to take a greater role in helping identify problem properties prone to violence and decay in 2014. Properties that drew police more than five times in a month or more than 15 times per year were given special attention. Owners were called to meet with the police chief, tenants were identified and a plan negotiated to improve conditions.

O’Malley told councilors that the policy identified 19 properties since the policy started and worked out solutions without penalties.

But landlord Jay Allen disagreed, saying fining landlords would force them to comply and that would help give the area a better reputation.

What’s next: City Administrator Ed Barrett said the council created the disorderly property policy as a policy, not an ordinance, in 2014. Councilors could choose to create an ordinance if they want, but they didn’t move to do that Tuesday.  

staylor@sunjournal.com