As a city councilor.

For the city of Lewiston.

According to the laws of this state.

According to the laws of the state.

And the charter of the city of Lewiston.

And charter of the city of OSCE.

So help me God.

Congratulations.

Thank you.

Congratulations to our new council.

Director Roy.

And Administrator Kenrath.

Okay.

I'll let you two introduce yourselves and uh take it away.

Do you just move the mics uh very close to you?

That'd be great.

And if you can uh if we can uh please refrain from speaking in the uh council chambers if you need to talk, just head out to the hall and then silence your cell phones.

We we have enough stuff going on without having to hear those.

So yeah, thank you.

Please proceed you two.

All right, uh good evening, uh mayor and council.

Uh Brian Camrouth, city administrator.

Tracy Roy Finance Director.

And we are here this evening to kick off the FY27 budget process.

Uh, I think officially with the presentation of the uh LCIP.

The LCIP is a five-year capital planner for the city of Lewiston for fiscal years 27 uh to 31, and we're going to be focusing in a little bit more on fiscal 27 or upcoming budget year in this presentation.

Um this is um the initial piece of this.

Obviously, we'll have more discussions later, um conversation, uh time for more questions.

Uh and I'll also note there's uh one particular item in this presentation for FY27 uh commitments that uh from the police department we will be having uh a presentation on that proposal probably at our next meeting uh in January.

This is on um take home vehicles for officers, and we're gonna have a more in-depth presentation uh on that at our next meeting, probably our next meeting, maybe the first of February, but likely the next meeting, um, to talk more in detail about that and why it may make sense for for Lewiston.

So to kick us off, um we have uh for uh the five-year capital plan about 239 million dollars uh in projects, overall projects, and 224 million of that is from city resources um or taxation.

So uh our proposed use uh of local sources uh for fiscal 27 uh totals about 42 and a half million.

So just really quickly, city bond issue um is a little over 24 million of that, city operating budget is only 168,000, school bond issue, 9.5 million, uh water bond issue 2.9 million, water operating budget, a little under 600,000, sewer bond issue, 2.3 million, sewer operating budget 542,000, sewer impact fees 100,000, stormwater bond issue about 1.6 million and stormware operating budget 125,000.

So proposed uh bond issues uh for 27 uh totals about 41.1 million uh on the city side uh 24.7 on the school side nine and a half million, water two point nine, sewer two point three, stormwater uh one point six.

And the other years you see obviously in the on the slide.

So we're outstanding uh debt issued and authorized um as of December twenty thirty-first of twenty-five uh on the city side we have about fifty uh and a half million, uh school side about sixty um point five million, water twenty-two million, sewer nineteen million six and ninety-five thousand, uh stormwater uh about thirteen and a half million, and authorized but unissued debt uh about fifty million, so a total of two hundred and seventeen million four hundred and forty thousand.

So debt service as a percent of the FY26 operating budget on the city side, it was just over uh 14% at 14.3 percent on the school side, uh 7.8 percent, and a total there of 10 percent uh overall.

So you see our outstanding uh general fund debt.

Um you see the interest in red, uh the principal in blue for 26.

Uh it's been up slightly from past previous years, but certainly down substantially from you see 2005 on there when we were up towards 100 million uh in total, we're just under 16 million now.

And I think during our audit presentation, Tracy, our auditor will also give us some comparisons to other communities where they are with uh total outstanding debt.

And I think my guess is we'll be uh in pretty good shape uh comparatively to other communities of just under 60 million.

Uh so debt management.

Um we lowered our debt authorization limit to uh 80 percent.

We do refinance debt when possible.

Uh we move recurring expenditures into the operating budget when possible, as you know, and of course, using unallocated fund balance uh after requirements are met.

Uh is another option.

Uh this will not be available this year unless the council wants to go to 10% limit.

So that is one limiting factor for this year.

So future year uh debt service requirement, uh city general fund, uh FY26, uh about six and a half million, and you see trending uh down uh over the next five years to fiscal year 31, about 4.3.

So now we're gonna get into some of the actual uh projects that are part of the FY27 capital improvement program.

So I'll just run through these uh quickly.

Again, we're gonna talk about these in more detail uh in the coming weeks and months.

Um note is the city share uh projects in red are proposed to be funded through bond issuance.

So uh transit committee.

Um there's a bus support equipment, um hundred thousand in total cost, fifty thousand city resources they are assessing.

There's twenty thousand toward the citywide reval, economic community development, riverfront island implementation, uh 3.3 million, continental Mill TIFF, Lowell Street Development TIFF, a million and eight hundred and fifty thousand respectively.

Uh citywide wayfinding project, uh hundred thousand there.

Uh fire department, Lisbon Street Fire Station Replacement Project, um about 7.7 million on the city resources, it's about 7 million.

Under planning and code, we have the comp plan implementation, $50,000 there.

Uh under police department, I mentioned this a moment ago.

Uh there is a hefty number of $5.2 million toward this initiative.

Uh we're gonna have a presentation on that to talk about really the the details and all the nuts and bolts of that and why it may make sense.

Um that's gonna be forthcoming.

So that's for police department.

Public works, uh city buildings, uh, city hall, we have $55,000 devoted toward kitchen bathroom repairs and renovations.

We have a number of uh rooms in this building that are really in need of a lot of repair, so $55,000 there.

Uh library, there's an exterior cladding uh project, um $48,000.

Also for library, the HVAC system upgrades.

This is really critical.

We'll get into this more later, but we've had uh major humidity issues in the library the last number of years.

It's required them to use dehumidifiers and some other strategies that are really not ideal for the keeping of uh books, documents, records.

The library also contains an archives room.

So uh this is really uh I think critical.

We'll talk more about that later.

Public works, uh the sidewalk maintenance and rehab program, $850,000.

Our street maintenance program, uh $6.75 million total cost, six million on the city resources.

This is uh again yearly.

We have uh a road maintenance plan, streets to be paved, sidewalks to be done, curbing, lots of other things.

Uh this is something when you don't keep up with it, um, deferred maintenance doesn't just go away.

So this is another thing that's really important.

We'll talk more later, but uh a pretty important item.

Uh the bridge street bridge.

We have some abutment uh issues there, um identified by the state, definitely in need of some work there, 200,000 uh there.

The next public works projects you see are MDOT projects.

So you'll see the total cost and the city resources.

This is our uh match to the project.

So three and a half million for East Ave, Tampa Street to Fairlawn Avenue, about 319,000 for Bait Street, Maine to Ash, and then some locally administered state funded pedestrian improvements about 500,000 uh in total cost.

Uh under public works, uh we have the municipal garage vehicle and equipment replacement.

Uh it's about 1.6 million.

Uh continue under public works open spaces, Kennedy Park rehab.

Um, we have about 317,000 dollars there.

This is largely for rehab of uh sidewalks uh and other walking services uh throughout the park.

A lot of them are in very bad shape.

Sunny side park renovations, we have 300,000 there.

Um some much needed work uh there also.

I'm sure our ward one counselor can talk about some of the issues there, but I think another really important project when it comes to recreational opportunities in the city.

Moving on to the school department.

Um educational space for growing enrollments, they have five million dollars.

Uh Lewiston High School roof replacement, 700,000, Lewis to middle school roof replacement 400,000.

Uh bathrooms uh in total, a million dollars uh in bathrooms, replacement of school zone lights, 250,000 dollars, uh ADA upgrades at Lewis and Middle School and Montello, 200,000, uh district door and window renovations, another 200,000 dollars.

Montello fire alarm system, 330,000.

Uh LPS lighting upgrades, uh 1.5 million, so 9.58 million uh in total there.

Moving on to the water division, uh the SCADA program, $50,000.

Uh distribution, water main replacement and rehab, uh $2.4 million.

As you know, this is an ongoing yearly uh planned replacement.

Uh equipment replacement program, $142,000.

Lewis and Auburn water treatment program, $300,000 meter replacement program.

You had a presentation, I believe, from public works a while back on water meters, $500,000 there.

Pump stations, another $500,000, $3.892 million in total.

Moving on to sewer, rehab of sanitary sewer mains and manholes, $1.2 million.

Equipment replacement program, $192,000.

Collection system inspection and rehab $725,000.

Uh Randall Pump Station Upgrades, $100,000, sewer pump station and generator replacement, $400,000.7 million.

Total cost there.

Lastly, the stormwater division, uh, stormwater drain inspection, $350,000, storm drains for road rehab projects, $700,000.

Culvert replacement, $125,000.

Gully Brook drainage area, $450,000.

Stormwater equipment replacement, another $120,000, about $1.75 million in total there.

Uh death debt authorization uh limit.

Uh Tracy, do you want to go through this one?

So as you know, um, for the newer counselors, there is the next um in the back of your book.

You will have the charter and the chapter that describes that the council approved having an 80% rule.

And um that means that if you go over the 80% has to have a maximum vote of five counselors to approve the LCIP if it goes over that amount.

That is in the back of that book.

This is the calculation for that 80% rule.

They take the last three years, as you can see, um, principal only.

And you'll see the third line down is Les Connor, Geiger, and uh Pettingale.

Those are the reimbursements from the state.

So those are not included in the calculation.

And the 80%, the three-year average is $7.7 million, um, 80% of that.

Uh local debt limitation is $6.1 million.

As you can see, the LCIP for 2027 plan is $34 million.

Uh, therefore, we are over uh the 80% rule by $28 million.

And here is the 80% rule.

So you'll find this in ordinance.

I'll just read it for the public's education also.

So council action on bond issue authorization, the amount of debt to be authorized for issue.

Uh issuance in any fiscal year should not exceed 80% of the average amount of annual debt being retired over the three previous fiscal years, unless the debt is financed through sources other than general property taxes, such as tax increment increment financing, state or federal subsidy opportunities, or enterprise funds which are paid from user fees.

The exception to that is if the council uh decides to override by five votes.

So uh lastly, just our calendar of upcoming events here.

So February 3rd, we're gonna have our LCIP public hearing.

February 15th, on or before that date, the finance committee and planning board's recommendations are needed for the council.

As you know, the finance committee and the planning board both go through this and provide some recommendations to the council.

February 17th, uh the council is scheduled to adopt the LCIP, and we do have a March 1st required charter uh adoption date to meet.

So that's what's upcoming.

So that's all for the slideshow.

Um particular questions now.

Obviously, we're gonna get into this more uh later on.

Um but I think we're happy to take any general questions now also.

Uh before uh thank you both very much.

Uh appreciate that.

Uh we don't have departments here.

So if you want to talk about nuts and bolts of some of these projects, we may want to wait for the department head to be here before that to take place.

Thank you very much.

And uh do we have members of the finance committee here be uh besides those thank you very much.

Uh yes, uh recognizing that we do not have department heads here.

Uh we have uh maybe a couple minutes for uh general questions um or about the or general questions about the process uh for our finance director and city administrator there should there be any.

Uh yes, Councilor Chitam.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Um could you provide copies of those slides on the city website or at least two members of the council and make them available to the public who didn't see them tonight?

Um you indicated that future year debt service, there was a declining balance there.

That's presuming that we incur no more debt and don't issue any more bonds.

That's for our current debt only.

Obviously, as we pay that down, the amount due will become less and less.

Okay, thank you.

Um I did want to to emphasize that water, sewer, and stormwater are enterprise funds for the general public.

These funds are funded by users.

Uh I believe we all pay into the stormwater fund.

That's that's the quarterly payment that we make uh for rainfall on our property.

Uh only users of sewer and water will pay into the inner the sewer and water enterprise fund.

So those projects are not funded by general revenues, those are funded by user fees.

So that doesn't come into the tax base.

I just wanted to make sure that everyone was aware of that.

Thank you.

Councillor Najine.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

And just a point of clarification for that.

The amounts that we borrow uh that we bond um for water, sewer, and stormwater still count towards the 80 percent role, is that correct?

No, they do not.

Okay.

No, because they are utilities, just like the TIP.

So we're still 28 million over the 80 percent roll.

Not counting correctly.

Okay, thank you.

Did we have uh uh representative from the school department here?

No, unfortunately, um they have their meeting tonight.

Right.

So nobody could attend.

Okay, understood, thank you.

Further questions, comments from the council.

Uh anything further from you too?

Look forward to the process.

Excellent.

Um well uh thank you both very much.

Appreciate this.

Thank you.

Uh okay, well, that wraps up uh our swearing in of counselors and our workshop.

We'll be reconvening at seven for our regular meeting.

Thank you very much.

So we're doing that.

Hello, and welcome to our Tuesday evening council meeting.

Uh, with us this evening, we have the honorable uh Chama Mohammed who will lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance.

If we can uh refrain from clamping in the audience, that'd be great.

Uh Jama Mahatson.

Uh, Madame Clerk, I believe we're ready to begin.

Yes, thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

All roll call votes for this meeting will begin with the council of Ward One.

And and I understand we have minutes.

Uh Counselor Chit, I'm seconded by Councillor Harriman.

Madam Clerk, please call the vote.

Council from Ward 1.

Yes.

Ward 2?

Yes.

Ward 3?

Yes.

Ward 4.

Yes.

Ward 5.

Yes.

Ward 6.

Yes.

Ward 7.

Yes.

Motion pass a vote of 7 to 0.

Thank you very much, Madam Clerk.

We are now up to public comment.

Any member of the public may make comments regarding issues pertaining to Lewiston City government.

This period is reserved for non-agenda items.

Public comment is also allowed during individual agenda items.

Public comment is limited to three minutes per person.

Please state your name for the record and please indicate if you are a Lewiston resident.

Because this is the business meeting of the City Council.

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 uh there's a lot of people here.

Please um uh silence your cell phones if you need to talk.

Uh that's fine, but just head out to the hall to do so.

Uh it's too close quarters for you to carry on conversations with your neighbors, so please refrain from doing so.

And please allow our speakers to speak uninterrupted by the rest of you.

Thank you very much.

Please take it away.

Hi, my name is Beth Ames, and I live in Ward 3 in Lewiston.

I wanted to speak tonight because I recently became aware of two new Flock automated license plate reader cameras going up in my neighborhood.

Uh because of these new cameras, it's now very likely that my and my neighbors' vehicles are consistently photographed when we leave and re-enter our neighborhood.

This raises serious concerns about Fourth Amendment violations as these automated cameras are designed to take and store photos of every car that passes them, not just those that are on hot lists or reported stolen.

The company that operates these cameras, Flock Safety, is a third-party security company that uses cloud-based software to store data captured by the cameras.

Cloud-based services are notoriously vulnerable to data breach, putting the private location data of vehicles and people at risk of leaking to the public.

Just a few weeks ago, 404 media reporters shared that live streams from 70 plus flock cameras in California's Bay Area were unsecured and publicly accessible via a basic internet search.

There is also a pending federal investigation into Flock's role in enabling invasive surveillance practices, and recently the main ACLU has requested records regarding the installation of flock cameras in Lewiston.

The process that has allowed the Lewiston Police Department to contract with Flock seems purposefully designed to limit input and obscure details from the citizens of Lewiston.

Further, it is unconscionable that Lewiston PD has been operating flock cameras for upwards of two months without an official policy on the books.

Without a policy, there is virtually no oversight on how camera searches are conducted, which is a fourth amendment violation for everyone who is photographed.

There is also no information on whether, how, or which agencies LPD will share this data with.

Earlier this evening, there was a brief swearing-in ceremony for the newly elected councillors.

A swearing in ceremony is when an individual is asked to swear under oath to uphold the constitution, serve the people with honesty and dedication, and work towards the development and progress of the municipality.

Considering that one of the people who just held up his hand and took that oath has been proven to have lied on multiple sworn statements about his residency.

How are we doing?

My name is David Jones.

I do not live in Lewiston.

I am up here quite a bit.

I own FO Bailey Real Estate.

And I've long been a fan of Lewiston.

And I was very involved during the shooting trying to raise money.

I do a radio show, and we raise quite a bit of money that went into that fund.

And it just boggles my mind that these funds have been misappropriated.

We're talking millions of dollars that was donated by people, myself included, to go to the families to help the families that are suffering.

And when I hear that these NGOs are receiving money, then they had absolutely nothing.

Nothing, nothing to do with the shooting.

I look and think there's families that are still suffering.

And I uh I wondered are do we live in Venezuela?

Or do we live in Lewiston, Maine?

You know, I love the great state of Maine.

It's a beautiful place.

We got a lot of beautiful people here.

And it sickens me.

Sickens me to think that that much money has gone into the hands of people that should not have it.

So I don't know who's involved in this.

And I think a full investigation is absolutely warranted.

And I think that anyone who had anything to do with the misappropriation of those funds should be totally ashamed of themselves.

Now I don't know who in this room had anything to do with it.

But by God, if you're up there, you have the ability to launch an investigation.

You have the ability to make these people accountable.

And I would only ask that you please do the right thing by the people that not only donated the money, but the people that should have the money.

Thank you very much.

Further public comment.

Hi, my name is Ephrah Sait Esse.

I am a Lewiston resident, Ward 2.

Um, I just want to take the moment to translate what you just said, because a lot of people are here about public comment, and I'm just gonna ask them if they want to make any public comment.

Um Hadashin Kof Walbo Fikredina into what Imanicartin Wa Shay Kartin, Kofki to Juanu Bahan Wani Turjuanikara, City Gaushegayan.

Okay.

Um so I am here because um number one, I want to congratulate Iman Usman for being here, and also there's a lot of um smear campaign about the Somali people here in Lewiston.

Um there's some people that um think that we are tourists or guests here.

I just want to clarify that we are Lewiston residents, okay.

Um there's people over here that do not believe that Somali people are Americans.

We are Somali Americans, we are citizens, we are Lewiston residents, we vote, we engage civically, okay.

Um so I just want to make that very, very clear because there are people over here and people online who are harassing us.

Um they are saying um the government is giving us um cars.

Um most of us are working, we make payments, uh nobody's paying for our cars, okay.

Um the other thing, uh, my mom has a store.

Somebody stole something from her, and they said, Oh, this is not your item, this is the government's item.

This is all given to you by the government.

So there is really people out there who really think that Somali people are invited here and are given everything, and that we're living under the government, and I just want to make clear that that's not true.

Okay, we are hardworking people, we work at schools, the hospitals, um, everywhere here in Lewiston at the stores, Walmart, Target, anywhere you go, you will see a Somali person working.

We are very hardworking people.

So I just want to make um those people that have the wrong mentality about the Somali people.

I want to make that clear, and I want to say hi to all my Somali people.

And hi to the city council and the city administrators.

Thank you.

Uh if uh our audience could please refrain from uh uh from clapping or or any any outward signs of approval or disapproval, I would appreciate it.

Thank you.

Please continue with public comment.

I came here tonight to speak about uh two things.

Uh one second, sir.

Uh I need it quiet in the audience, please.

If you need to talk, head out to the head out to the hall.

Thank you.

Please continue.

Uh so I was saying I came here to speak about uh a couple of things.

Uh one was a statement that was made during public comment last uh committee meeting.

Uh the quote was our greatest threat in our community is white people.

And I'll be honest, that shocked me to hear somebody say that in this chain uh chamber council.

Um yeah, that person said a lot of buzzword salad items, but that was the that was the kicker right there.

Um it made me think, you know, if someone had said that about any other ethnicity in this city, it would be condemned as racist and rightfully so.

Um personally, I think that the biggest threat to our community is youth gun violence by youth rival gangs in the downtown that shoot up mosques.

That's a huge threat to the community.

Um but it would be inappropriate to paint an entire community with such a broad brush for the actions of the criminals in this town.

Um and on the subject of of gun violence in this city.

Um I know that the council is gonna be taking up uh action later tonight uh regarding an investigation into the ward five counselor.

So I won't touch on the residency portion of it, but uh his legal troubles are a concern for this city as well.

Like I said, gun violence is a problem in our city, and that man is accused of trafficking stolen firearms in our community.

So he's contributing to this gun violence as well.

Thank you.

Please be quiet.

Public comment, please continue.

Good evening.

Good evening, everyone.

Uh, my name is Mahidin Libar.

I live in Lewiston, and uh I think he touched some points that I was trying to clarify.

I support Iman Osman.

Congratulations to Iman, because we have been seeing a lot of problems in Ward 5 uh the last 10-15 years.

Iman Osman went to school here.

He knows the ins and the outs of word five.

He lived in Ward 5 almost all the time he was in US.

So he's the person we elected him to this seat because he knows exactly how to deal with what is going on in downtown Lewiston.

So the reason why Eman is on that seat is that all the people who have been sitting on that seat previously did not either care or did not do anything about the problems we were having in downtown Lewiston.

So Eman is really somebody who knows exactly how to deal with that.

And all these people you see here have the faith in Iman, and that is why he's there.

He won fair and square.

Uh residence is something that his house was condemned by the city.

So nobody can live in a condemned building.

And he did not move to Urban, he did not live to Green, he lived in Ward 5 all this time.

He has his own mom live in Ward 5.

Everybody, his relative live in Ward 5.

So he's suspending away from his residence because he was condemned, and he's working towards to fixing that.

As soon as that building is taken off the condemned, he's gonna be moving in tomorrow.

So Iman is the trust of the community.

He's somebody we think is gonna do a lot of work, especially with the youth, because he was one uh of the youth in the who grew up here, we went to school here.

He is a coach, soach.

Uh this is if Iman is not the perfect person to deal with that problem, I don't know who's gonna deal with it.

So I congratulate Iman and I would like you guys to work with him because he has the hardest task in town because downtown Lewiston Ward 5 is a problem, and a problem that needs the support of the other counselors with Iman, not just pointing a finger at Iman telling him he's not resident.

He's he's not from California, he's not from Florida.

He's from Loweston, Maine, from Ward 5, and the only reason why he's out of his residence is the condemned from the city.

It's not just out of there, it's not that he is claiming that a resident that he's not there.

So I would like to ask everybody to work with him on his heavy task that he's gonna be facing.

And he has all the faith in the community, and we are behind him 160%.

Thank you so much.

If we can have a quiet account, thank you, thank you.

Uh please be quiet.

Please be quiet.

Thank you.

Thank you.

We're continuing with public comment.

Marcella Claire, 210 Blake Street.

I just want everybody to know that 210 Blake Street does not have a certificate of occupancy, nor has it ever had a certificate of occupancy.

So claiming for him to have lived there is false because it has never had a certificate of occupancy.

Thank you.

Further public comment.

Public comment is now closed.

Public comment.

And uh good afternoon.

And uh congratulations, all uh new members.

Can you please introduce yourself, sir, and uh say what city you live in.

Jama Mohammed, uh for President of Loveton for the past uh probably 18 years now.

Uh now congratulations.

Uh the new members, I think it was four today, but thank you so much for those who are you know new or my for those who are coming back to their you know uh members.

Uh secondly, I just also want a little bit to clarify.

I think it's uh everything that I was just trying to, you know, uh say or maybe prepare to say it already been said.

I don't want to just repeat it that so I just want to also give a little bit of comment to uh lowest resident.

When we are talking about the resident, we are all a resident.

And I I think it's Brother Moudin also touched that we are not you know, like from California or whatever, you know, like other state we are all either is word one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, whatever the resident that we live.

So, but as I see on social media, specifically some of those they come they'll call they call themselves that saying like uh we are like a news or whatever they are.

I don't even know what news they are, but I believe they are missing up in our lewstone.

Um and I think it's uh the city council, you guys have a lot of work to do.

Make sure that whatever, like you know, uh maybe uh law that you need to put together to prevent whatever is going on.

Lewis tone for the past you know uh couple months.

And I think that something needs to be stopped, or maybe something needs to be, you know, uh uh I mean I understand when it comes to like the freedom of speech, but sometimes this is a beyond to the freedom of speech because I can see that sometimes they are talking about the personal, sometimes they are talking about you know uh discrimination specific, you know, community, especially for the immigrant, and I will also say like deeply for the Somali immigrant.

So Somali migrant, as my other colleague already say, we're not here just to like collect the government benefit.

We had to contribute, and we'll be doing that.

We have so many businesses around the area on which we are continue doing that.

I believe law enforcement and also like legislature for you guys, you have a lot of work to do this.

So I don't think so.

Whatever like wherever we are going now, it's not even the right path.

So seeing like a lot of finger pointing and eventually sometimes you know, like the personal, and I have been going through with uh social media and I have seen a lot of platform that are always specifically like putting a lot of nasty stuff.

So I don't want to continue that.

I don't want to really show you like my frustration, but this has to be stopped.

Thank you so much, and thank you.

Congratulations.

Further public comment.

Mr.

Mayor, everyone.

Uh what one once again, yes.

Uh councillor uh, I just will advise you that we have an 18-minute cap on the first session of public comment.

We're nearing that right now.

Yeah, okay, thank you.

Uh unless there's a strong objection, I'd just like to uh finish with public comment rather than make people wait another three hours, however long we'll be here.

Uh please continue.

I'll make it snappy.

Uh Jay Zimmerman, Ward 5.

I just wanted to congratulate all of the recently sworn in counselors and um just say that as a Ward 5 resident, I am really glad that Councillor Osman is on the council now.

I'm looking forward to the change.

Go to the hall.

Thank you.

Please continue.

I'm looking forward to the change in representation.

I'm hoping to feel better represented um with my vote uh towards this counselor, and uh, I'm just excited to see the the things that this council can achieve with the new representation on board.

Congratulations and thank you.

Further public comment.

I'm Martin Chartrand, I'm also a Word 5 resident.

I also want to congratulate the newcomers, especially Iman Osman as my as my representative on the council.

And uh I'm excited also to see what can happen.

I'm dismayed by some of the negative publicity.

And I'm I would ask that the council and the mayor have stepped in on this public comment because it isn't an agenda item, so I don't see why it has happened during public comment.

But I vote stands and I want it to be counted.

And what when there's investigations and taking that away, I'm I'm just I'm I feel like my vote's being taken away.

So I would ask the council to if they're going to investigate, also investigate the whole path that's gotten us to this point because it's not a neutral, it's it's not a neutral uh call out for for an investigation.

And it's also uh been clear to me.

I it makes sense to me why someone would leave their residents to uh deal with the it being condemned and yet have it be their residents.

I don't see why it requires so much to think about that process.

Uh it's it's it seems like a pretty logical thing to me.

So thank you.

Thank you all for being up there and uh I look forward to seeing what happens.

Further public comment.

Matthew Eggwern, Ward 4.

So we start a new council here in Lewiston to our returning members.

Hello to our new ones.

You will get to know me.

I'm here every night.

Now I'd like to ask you all to look into giving us an actual public health officer.

I submitted to the last council my suggestion for the role, scope, and position based on my own research, and talk to those who have actually done the role of public health officers.

My belief it needs to be someone who is with a background in health sciences, not social work.

We need someone who's able to engage all of our city's population as they address community health issues.

They need to be able to integrate with our local health care providers, our government agencies, and yes, our community organizations to coordinate public health responses during emergencies and disasters.

People who live out in ward six, ward seven, ward one, they want to be safe too.

Please keep that in mind as you're going through your budget this year.

Finally, I ask for you all to remember what's best for improving the citizens' belief and trust in our government is to be fully as transparent as accountable as possible.

It was discussed with the last council, but the idea died of having more public meetings, where instead of being a one-way conversation like this is right now, we would have meetings where we could have back and forth.

So you can actually get interact with the public on issues instead of us having to come up and either talk to you one-on-one or send you emails back and forth.

Our new city administrator has been doing a number of public meeting greets.

Our new police chief has as well.

It'd be nice to see the council do the same concept so we could actually talk issues, not have one-way conversations.

Thank you, and enjoy your night and enjoy your terms.

Further public comment.

Public comment is now closed.

Administrator Kenrath, I believe you have a report.

Okay, thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Uh starting off uh Fiscal year 27 budget.

As you saw tonight, we did our LCIP presentation.

That is the first step uh in this what is a somewhat long process.

Uh I'll soon be meeting with uh the finance department, our department heads to uh go over their budget proposals and craft next year's proposed budget.

Per city chart, I'll be presenting uh that proposed budget to the council in March.

Um and I also just want to say this for the first of many times, probably.

This is going to be, I think, a rather challenging budget year between uh what we see coming out of the county government, uh contractual obligations as well as general rising costs uh all over the place.

Uh this will be a challenging budget year.

This is also a reval year.

So um we have our work cut out for us this year.

Um, but the process begins uh tonight and carries on through uh May or June.

And you know, we look forward to it, and we're gonna put forward the best possible budget to invest in the city, but also be mindful uh of our tax uh burden on our residents.

And um, as I said, our work is cut out for us this year.

Uh just quick update.

I got a couple of questions.

Uh there is a brush cleanup project happening along some of the canals uh downtown.

Um there is a lot of invasive brush that has grown in over the years that is being cleared.

Uh the idea would be to plant um trees um along the canals in many of these areas and the large healthy trees were left in place as identified by our city arborists.

Some community events coming up.

Uh Chief Connolly and I will again be hosting another public uh meet and greet and listening session this time at IFCA Community Services, 229 Lisbon Street Suite B on January 15th, uh 530 to 7 p.m.

Um we are also going to be uh the speakers uh Chief Connolly and I at the Great Falls Forum on that same day, uh January 15th at the Lewis and Public Libraries.

Look forward to that.

Um we are working with the public works department to find brackets for the installation of banners on light poles downtown along Lisbon Street.

Uh the city will be procuring new banners to promote uh the city and our downtown uh to be hung, and we're also working with some community partners uh such as LA Arts to also install some banners that they will be funding and providing in front of their area uh also.

We hope to have these banners installed sometime uh in the spring.

Uh the city reval process uh as I mentioned is happening uh right now.

We are developing additional uh content for public education materials.

Uh the idea is that these will go out as uh printed inserts in tax and water bills to try to get into as many hands as possible before new assessments uh come out in April or May of this year.

I think it's really important that we take any possible step to get the word out about the reval process, about what's happening and why it's happening.

Uh it has been 30 years or so since Lewiston has done this, so this is a new concept to many people.

Um I also want to mention you know, our current ratio uh assessed to market is around 40 percent, um which is rather low.

Uh after the reval, the goal is to get that closer to 100 percent.

So there will be a dramatic increase uh in property tax assessments in the assessed value.

Um we're gonna say this many times also, but it's important to note that when you get your new tax assessment, um, you should not immediately multiply with the current existing tax rate.

That tax rate will go down uh based on the budget process this year, but it will go down substantially.

Um so you should not be immediately concerned that we're keeping the same tax rate and you're seeing your new assessment and multiplying that out.

So just uh a word of caution there.

Um but we are gonna be getting um those out, uh those inserts out, and we're gonna be looking at some other uh additional public education efforts between now uh and that time also.

Uh lastly, I just want to uh thank everyone, December 18th.

We had a really great um staff appreciation luncheon uh at the armory.

Thank you for everyone's cooperation and letting us uh put that on.

Went over really well.

We had uh really great attendance across all city departments.

So thank you to everyone there for helping to put that on and for everyone for coming.

We're gonna be doing a similar event uh next year.

Thank you.

Thank you, Administrator Kenrath.

We appreciate your service to our city.

Madam Clerk, I understand we have a consent agenda.

Yes, Mr.

Mayor, there are 10 items on the consent agenda this evening.

Item number one, authorization for the city clerk and or deputy city clerk to approve and sign all applications to operate Bino Bingo and other games of chance on behalf of the municipal officers.

Number two, authorization for the city clerk and our deputy city clerk to approve and sign all permits for circuses and carnivals on behalf of the municipal officers.

Number three, authorization for the municipal clerk and or deputy city clerk to sign all liquor license applications on behalf of the municipal officers.

Item number four, authorization for the city clerk and our deputy city clerk to approve and sign all applications for utility pull permits on behalf of the municipal officers.

Number five, authorization for the city clerk and our deputy city clerk to approve and sign all licenses for close out sale permits on behalf of the municipal officers.

Item number six, authorization for the finance director, treasurer, treasury manager, tax collector, deputy treasurer, and the investment officer, deputy treasurer manager to act on behalf of the municipal officers regarding deeds, liens, and municipal investments.

Number seven, authorization for me for city administrator and deputy city administrator to approve or deny all requests to hang banners post-community event signs on municipal property and place temporary signs, flags, and decorations in the public right-of-way on behalf of the municipal officers.

Item number eight, authorization for deputy city administrator and or finance director to have signatory authority for the city administrator when the administrator is unavailable.

Item nine, order authorizing notification of city of special city council meetings to be issued via electronic means and number 10 order authorizing execution of municipal quick claim deeds for real estate located at 11 Castle Street and 26 Mason Avenue.

May I have a motion, please?

Move we approve all 10 items on the consent agenda with a single vote.

Counselor Chitam seconded by Second Uh Councilor Nagene.

Madam Clerk, please call the vote.

Counselor from Ward 1?

Yes.

Ward 2?

Yes.

Word three?

Yes.

Word four?

Yes.

Ward five?

Yes.

Ward six?

Yes.

Ward seven.

Yes.

Motion pass a vote of seven to zero.

Thank you very much.

Madam Clerk, we are now up to uh jumping to item number eleven.

Item number eleven.

Election of city council president for 2026.

The first item for requested action would be to receive nominations for the role of president for the city council.

Thank you, Madam Clerk and uh counselors.

Um do we have nominations?

Nominate counselor Chitam.

We have Councilor Chitam as uh nominated.

Do we have further nominations?

Uh discussion among uh among the council.

Counselor Chitam, yes.

Thank you, thank you, uh Counselor Osman.

Um I have served as council president for the past year.

Um it has not always been an easy job.

Uh I believe I've done so with integrity and professionalism and would welcome the opportunity to continue in service to the council for the next year.

Further comments and discussion from the council, counselor Najing, yes.

Um so I just wanted to say um thank you, Mr.

Mayor, by the way.

Um per our discussion, um the uh position uh council president.

I do agree that you've done it uh with uh integrity uh as well as the fact that uh you've done it um in a way that um um is been very professional.

Um I think a couple of the issues that I addressed um, which is uh the appearance of transparency occasionally uh communication among all council members in order to make sure that you're representing us as opposed to representing your own views and um to actually a couple of the um uh the uh people who are attending right now point um we need to be more accessible uh to the public as well.

And so um whether or not we're looking at um open office hours, however, we have our discussions, they need to be public um for sure, um which is why I'm also uh stating that I had this conversation with you.

Um but uh and we need feedback and accountability in the form of the public eye.

And so I I do support you for council president.

I do I am hoping that we can make those changes further questions, comments from counselors.

We're not having the public comment for this agenda item.

Back to the council.

Anything further, counselors Madam Clerk, uh I guess we will call for the vote.

Sure.

So the motion before the council now would be to elect councilor Chitam as the city council president said term to expire January 4th, 2027.

You all set for the vote, Mr.

Mayor?

Uh yes, counselor from Ward 1?

Yes.

Ward two?

Yes.

Ward three?

Yes.

Ward four?

Yes.

Ward five, yes.

Ward six, yes.

Ward seven.

Yes.

Motion passed by vote of seven to zero.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

Item number twelve.

Item number twelve election of city council member to serve on the school committee for twenty twenty-six.

Requested action to receive the mayor's nomination of councillor Harriman and to elect counselor Harriman as the city councillor to serve on the school committee said term to expire January 4th, 2027.

May I have a motion, please?

So moved.

Uh councilor Chitham.

Seconded by Osman.

Uh seconded by Councilor Osman.

Uh I'll start off.

Yes, appreciate uh your service to the school committee.

Uh Counselor Herman.

Uh happy to send you back there.

And uh yeah, uh questions, comments from counselors.

We're now going to public comment for the sorry what one second.

Uh uh Counselor Martell, yes.

I'm not going to be able to support this appointment just due to the recent censure and another in the past.

I am not confident that um Scott represents the best person to be doing a job for the school committee of Lewiston.

Further uh comments, questions from counselors before we move to public comment.

So uh do you do you wish to be recognized, Counselor Oswond?

Yes.

Uh yes, please, counselor Osman.

I like to um nominate um counselor um Scott to be the school reped on this his best work experience.

I I have nominated him, but we'll we'll take that as your uh support.

Uh further comments, questions from the council.

Now we are heading to public comment for this agenda item.

Thank you, Megan Heard, Dyer Road Ward Six, school committee member.

And I am Janet Bowden, and I am the ward two um school committee member.

Um so we're here tonight um to respectfully request um different representation um on the school committee from the city council.

Um councillor Scott Harriman has now been formally censured twice by this council and his previous counsel.

The most recent censure is particularly troubling as it involved the use of an app that deletes messages while engaging in conversations about confidential matters with individuals outside of city government.

Given his own admission to these actions, we no longer have confidence in his ability to serve as a trusted liaison between the council and the school committee.

The situation raises serious concerns about the handling of sensitive and confidential information related to our students, staff, and schools.

We believe it's in the best interest to appoint a different council representative.

We need someone who can restore the trust and maintain the integrity of communication between our two bodies.

Marcella Claire, Ward 5.

Uh, I too think that with the two centers, uh especially being the last one using the signal app, that it is time to have some new blood in the school committee.

Thanks.

Uh further public comment for this agenda item.

Back to the council.

If audience members could please refrain from speaking, thank you.

Uh yes, Councilor Roy.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Um I too am a little concerned about um actions that were taken with uh this out this app that um and the center and all that stuff too.

I don't think that um that's the best foot that we should be putting forward right now.

Also um, how busy will you be if you do get elected to another job?

You're gonna have this council, you're gonna have that other job, and you're gonna be on the school committee.

I think your plate will be very, very full.

So I am a little concerned about your time.

So that's my feelings on that.

Councilor Harriman.

Thank you.

I just want to say that I uh I've uh enjoyed the last my time on the school committee.

Um, and I would be happy to serve another year on it, and I believe that I can do so you know, given the time commitment that that other things are in front of me and yeah, and potentially another office as well.

Um I just think that I can do it, and I have enjoyed the last the term that I have spent on it.

Further public comment or sorry, uh further uh council uh further comment and discussion from council members.

Uh counselor Nagyen, yes.

So I just want to point out that um being the council representative on the school committee is a humongous uh amount of time to dedicate.

I would say that the school committee uh members are actually giving more time um than council members are giving to council work.

I just want to point that out.

Um it's important to make sure that we have somebody in that seat who has the time to dedicate, um, who is committed uh to to the mission, who also recognizes the separation between council and school committee because it's incredibly important that people understand that the the city council has no purview over anything that happens at the school committee with the exception of the budget.

Um and ultimately that's a final number that we either approve or disapprove before referendum.

And so um Scott has done that work.

Um if we do not have any representative uh any other names to bring forward at this point.

I I think any concerns that we might have are moot, and you know, at the risk of of pointing out the fact that I also was censured.

Um a FOIA violation is a civil infraction.

Um it's it's it's not a criminal act.

Um and so you know, it's unfortunate for sure.

Um wasn't uh the best uh for transparency for the city or for myself personally.

Um but uh it's uh it's it's not a criminal indictment.

Uh back to you, counselor Roy.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

I'd be happy to throw my hat in the ring for that appointment.

So yeah, just for uh the public's benefit.

Um this nomination can only come from me, and I am uh not not changing my mind.

I am uh still nominating uh counselor Herrman.

Further comments, questions?

Yes, Councilor Chitham.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Um Counselor Harriman, I appreciate your service uh both on this council and on the school committee for the past two years.

Um I do not envy you the work, but I do share counselor Roy's concerns.

If you are elected to the legislature, uh which you hope to be, um, and you are serving full-time on the council job, which I know from personal experience is essentially a full-time job, and you are working on the school committee as well.

I would like to hear you say again that you in your heart of hearts feel that you can give all that's required in each one of those three very important positions.

I I'd like to hear you confirm that, sir.

Uh Councilor Harman, back to you.

Yes.

Um I I will point out that the so the special election um that is happening next month will be to fill the remainder of a term.

Um the second session.

Uh there is no, you know, there are no bills that can be submitted at this time.

Um so that's one responsibility that's that's off the person's plate.

Um the the session generally goes till April or May.

Uh and then and then the legislators are still serving, they're just not in session.

Um I have I have done my homework consistently throughout my time on the city council and the school committee.

Um always fully read the agenda packets, um, ask questions when necessary.

And um, and I do believe that I have the time to commit to to this role.

I just wanted to add that uh I had this conversation with counselor Herriman, and uh the thing about Councilor Harriman is that he's been doing these roles uh for for quite some time now.

How long have you uh counselor?

How long have you served on the uh school committee?

Uh two years on the school committee and four years on the council.

Uh counselor Harrman doesn't uh need to get up to speed, he's already up to speed and can just uh hit the ground running.

Uh further questions, comments from counselors.

Uh counselor Nagyen.

So again, just to reiterate, you you're not going to change your nomination.

It is for Scott, correct?

Uh correct.

So that means that either we vote down your nomination and it doesn't move forward tonight, or we accept your nomination.

And you're most probably going to continue to put Scott forward.

Uh right now, Scott is the candidate.

Okay.

My nomination.

I just want clarification for that so that we can all make a decision of how much time we want to waste.

Um thank you.

Thank you, counselor.

Uh further questions, comments from the council.

Madam Clerk, please call the vote.

Counselor from Word One.

Yes.

Word two?

No.

Ward three?

Yes.

Word four?

No.

Ward five?

Yes.

Ward six.

Yes.

Ward seven.

No.

Motion passed by vote of four to three.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

Uh item number thirteen.

Item number thirteen, appointment of city council representatives to various boards and committees.

You will note the attached um vote sheet lists the um outline of the various committees and the um counselors who are interested in being appointed to those positions.

The motion is above, which is to approve the filing appointments of the city council representatives to the various boards and committees.

I'm happy to read that list if you'd like, uh, Mr.

BR.

Um yes, if you could read it in the public record, I would appreciate it.

So our 911 committee, Councilor Chitam, Airport Board of Directors, Councilor Chitham, Andrescoggen County Budget Committee, District 1, Councillor Martell, District 2, Councilor Longchamps, Anderscoggin Valley Council of Governments, General Assembly, Councilor Nageen, and Councilor Chitham, Community Development Block Rant Committee, Councilor Nagene, Housing Committee, Councillor Roy, LA Transit Committee, Councilor Chitham, Lake Auburn Watershed Protection Commission, Councilor Chitham, Lake Lewiston Auburn Public Health Committee, Councilor Nagene, Lewiston Public Art Committee, Councilor Harriman, Lewiston Seniors, Advisory Council, Councillor Martell, Loan Qualification Committee, Councillor Harriman, Maine Municipal Association Legislative Policy Committee, Mayor Shaleen, and Youth Advisory Council, Councillor Roy.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

Once again, if I can have it quiet in the council chambers, I would appreciate it.

Thank you.

Further or questions or comments from Counselors.

Counselor Chitam, are you raising your hand?

I I am.

I think you need a motion.

So I move.

Oh okay.

Yes.

Thank you.

Counselor Chitam, second by second.

Second by Councilor Nagene.

Thank you both very much.

Further questions, comments from counselors.

Public comment for this agenda item.

Back to the council.

Madam Clerk, please call the vote.

Counselor from Ward 1?

Yes.

Ward two?

Yes.

Ward three?

Yes.

Ward four?

Yes.

Ward five?

Yes.

Ward six?

Yes.

Ward seven.

Yes.

Motion pass by vote of seven to zero.

Item number fourteen.

Item number fourteen.

Appointments to various city boards and committees.

There are several items for requested action.

The first item is to receive the mayor's appointments to various city boards and committees.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

I am working feverishly on that, and uh we'll have uh hopefully a full list uh ready for next uh meeting.

Okay, thank you.

Uh the next item is to review the mayor's nominations regarding his appointments to the housing committee and planning board and take a course of action and those motions are outlined in the attached vote sheet.

Um I'll be happy to read those, Mr.

Mayor, for housing committee to receive the mayor's nomination and to appoint Craig Saddlemer to a three-year term on the housing committee as a full member serving as a Lewiston Real Estate Developer Representative.

Uh are we uh thank you, uh Madam Clerk.

Are are we voting on uh the nominations uh independently?

Are we voting on all the housing members together?

Uh it's laid out as separate items for one and two, but really whatever the preference of the council is.

But we do have it laid out as separate um separate votes.

Okay.

Uh I guess we'll just proceed with separate votes then.

Uh do we need a do we need a motion for Craig Sademeyer?

Yes, please.

Uh may I have a motion for Craig Sademeyer?

You may.

Uh Counselor Chitham, second by Counselor Roy.

Uh yeah, Craig has served admirably, and I'd like to uh send him right back there.

Questions, comments from the council.

Uh and I guess for each of these we also go to public comment.

Public comment on uh this first item.

Back to the council.

Councilor Roy, yes.

Thank you, uh Mr.

Mayor.

I just say it'd be a disservice to our city if Craig was not put back in that place.

So there questions or comments.

Madam Clerk, please call the vote for Craig Saddle Meyer.

Counselor from Ward 1.

Yes.

Ward two?

Yes.

Ward three?

Yes.

Ward four.

Yes.

Ward five?

Yes.

Ward six?

Yes.

Ward seven.

Yes.

Motion pass by vote of seven to zero.

The next uh motion, Mr.

Mayor is to receive the mayor's nomination and to appoint Emily Horgan to a three-year term on the housing committee as a full member serving as a Lewiston Affordable Housing Agency representative.

Ma'am, a motion, please.

So moved.

Counselor Chitham, seconded by Councilor Harriman.

Uh discussion.

Counselor Harriman.

Um I just had a question because I noticed that the application shows this person doesn't live in Lewiston, but I I believe they work for Lewiston Housing Authority.

Is that correct?

Correct.

Okay.

Public comment for this agenda item.

Back to the council.

Madam Clerk, please call the vote.

Counselor from Ward 1.

Yes.

Ward two?

Yes.

Ward three?

Yes.

Word four?

Yes.

Ward five?

Yes.

Ward six?

Yes.

Ward seven.

Yes.

Question pass a vote of seven to zero.

Thank you very much, Madam Clerk.

I think we're up to planning board and yes.

The next motion is to receive the mayor's nomination and to appoint Amy Smith to a three-year term as a full member on the planning board.

I have a motion, please.

So moved.

Counselor, sorry, who was that?

Uh counselor Harriman.

Seconded by Councilor Nagene.

Thank you very much.

Discussion.

Public comment.

Back to the council.

Madam Clerk, please call the vote.

Counselor from Ward 1.

Yes.

Ward 2?

Yes.

Word three?

Yes.

Ward 4.

Yes.

Ward 5.

Yes.

Ward 6?

Yes.

Ward 7.

Yes.

Motion passed by vote of 7-0.

The next motion to receive the mayor's nomination and to appoint Zoe Lidstrom to a three-year term as a full member on the planning board.

So moved.

Counselor Nagine, second by Councillor Chitam.

Thank you both very much.

Discussion.

Public comment.

Back to the Council.

Madam Clerk, please call the vote.

Counselor from Ward 1.

Yes.

Ward 2?

Yes.

Ward 3?

Yes.

Ward 4?

Yes.

Ward 5?

Yes.

Ward 6?

Yes.

Word 7.

Yes.

Motion pass a vote of 7 to 0.

Thank you very much, Madam Clerk.

I think we're up to public health committee nominations.

Yes.

The next one is to receive the nominations from the Lewiston Area Public Health Committee and to take a course of action.

There are two motions regarding the two nominations from the public health committee.

The first one is to receive the nomination from the public health committee and to appoint Megan Parks to a three-year term as a full member serving in the position of area resident business representative.

I have a motion, please.

So moved.

Councilor Chitham.

Second.

Second by Councillor Osman.

Discussion among the council.

Public Councillor Najene, yes.

Currently Megan Parks serves as the chair for the committee.

And it's been, I think, a little bit of a rough start reforming the committee's work with uh with the new counselor in there.

Um but uh from what I've seen she's done a good job.

So um good deal.

Uh further comments, questions from the council.

We are now up to public comment for this uh item.

Andrew Jones, Ward 2.

Uh I oppose the nomination of Megan Parks to this position.

The reason for that is at the most recent school committee meeting, she admitted to violating the First Amendment rights of constituents in our city by blocking members' emails.

Uh this is viewpoint discrimination, and she has no business in public service.

Further public comment for this agenda item.

Melissa Dunn, community organizer.

Uh me and Megan don't align on a lot of things.

But uh a stalker is not a determinant to whether there's victim should be able to block them or not.

And so I just would ask council, maybe if they're hearing testimony, uh, to use discernment.

And um, you know, follow up with people that might be experiencing things like defamation stalking, cyber stalking, incitement to unlawful acts, mobbing, hyena mentality, uh terrorizing menace, things like that.

Thank you.

Further public comment.

Back to the council.

Madam Clerk, please call the vote.

Councilor from Ward 1.

Yes.

Ward two?

Yes.

Ward three?

Yes.

Word four?

Yes.

Ward five?

Yes.

Ward six?

Yes.

Ward seven.

No.

Motion pass by vote of six to one.

Thank you very much, Madam Clerk.

Uh next agenda item to res I'm sorry, next motion to receive the nomination from the public health committee and to appoint Joseph Philippon to a three-year term as a full member serving in the position of area resident business representative.

So moved.

Councilor uh moved by counselor chitam, seconded by Councilor Najene.

By Counselor Najene.

Don't need discussion among the council.

Public comment for this agenda item.

Andrew Jones, Ward 2.

Uh, I also oppose the nomination of Joseph Philippon.

Um I met Joe uh a number of years ago, and he seemed like a pretty stand-up guy.

Uh then we learned about his misconduct at the Lewiston Police Department and how he conspired with two members of this council to use signal to violate the Freedom of Access Act.

And I don't care uh Mr.

Najen if it's civil or criminal or or whatever you want to call it, it's still a violation.

And yeah, the the both of you who are censured for that.

Uh you say that uh you didn't know what signal was and what it does.

I call bullshit on that.

But yeah, I think that's a good question.

If we could please refrain from using uh foul language at the council meetings, that would be great.

Thank you.

Yeah, colorful language, I get it.

Um like I said, I liked the Joe that I knew until I learned who he really was.

So I can't support his continued public service with uh what he's the damage he's done to our city.

Thank you.

Further public comment.

Back to the council.

I I don't get a vote here, but I uh I I oppose this uh appointment.

Uh yes, uh counselor Longchamps.

Yes.

Um I too.

I just don't think that Mr.

Philippon really has Lewiston uh at his best interest.

Um so I will be uh voting no on this, and I hope uh given the facts and everything that uh transpired with Mr.

Philippon, I hope everybody here does the right thing.

Counselor Ro.

I take it back.

Uh Counselor Najine, yes.

So a few things.

Uh thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

One, um Joseph Philippon is a resident of the city.

Um certainly has um the ability to participate um in any of the ways that anybody else would participate in the city, and including volunteering.

Um I understand the separation agreement doesn't allow him to to work for the city, but uh uh volunteer border committee is uh completely allowed.

I'd also point out that uh Joe Philippon uh was uh a member of the Crow team for years, uh has been the de facto public face of the police department for years, ran your election campaign and re-election campaign, so you know who he is.

Um and uh runs the Summer Fund and Fillness Program, was crucial in bringing uh the uh project support you teams to Lewiston.

Uh I think his uh perspective would be helpful on the public health committee.

Um so yeah, just wanted to put that out there.

Uh back to you, Counselor Longchamps.

I just have to say he's the one that's can you please use the mic, thank you.

And you're lucky that we just helped.

Counselors, thank you.

Uh you can address uh questions to other counselors through the mayor.

Uh anything further, Counselor Longchamps.

Counselor Nagyen, did you have something?

Yeah, I was just gonna state that I'm responsible for getting myself censured.

And I would also say that in a public meeting, um you can read the meeting minutes if you're wondering what Joe and I are talking about.

Further uh questions, discussion from council members.

Uh counselor uh Roy.

Thank you.

I'll go now.

Um I just feel like when you when you lose somebody's trust, it's hard to get back, right?

Um, I too really like Joe, I I've liked him ever since I met him.

But you know, we have choices in life and we make those choices, and right now, you know um I'm just having a hard time with this one, to be honest with you.

So Councillor Martell, did you have your hand up?

I did.

Uh please you yeah, thank you.

Um I'm new to this, so I don't know how formal this is uh gonna sound, but it just doesn't feel right.

Uh someone was just separated from a long-standing tenure in service to the police department, and it was decided for whatever reason that um sounded like pretty credible reasons from what I've seen.

I've never met Mr.

Philippon, but I have followed the story.

And I think that uh if the city and the police department felt that that separation was necessary, I don't think rushing that same individual back into public service is the most ideal scenario.

So if there could be another nomination or something that we could consider, I think there would be value in that.

Counselor Chittam, did you have your hand up?

I did.

Um I guess the first thing I want to say is that uh we have all made mistakes.

Um that for us to judge an individual uh solely on his mistakes rather than on his contributions as well, uh might be short-sighted.

That uh Mr.

Philippon's relationship with the police department, his severance package, uh separation agreement, um does not speak to uh his qualifications to serve on the uh public health committee.

Um I know that his mother is a nurse.

I know that he has been involved in public health uh for a long time.

And I would hate to see the potential asset that he could bring to that committee uh wasted because of errors in judgment and mistakes that he's made in his past.

Counselor Najine, back to you.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

I would just like to reiterate that that we have a hard time finding anybody to fit uh to serve on any border committee, especially qualified people.

And if we base our decisions on who's going to serve on what border committee on who we like, um I think that's a complaint that the public has uh about several different committees and appointments.

Um just something to think about.

Um thank you.

Uh Counselor Roy.

Thank you.

I don't think it's about who we like, to be honest with you.

I like Joe.

I've always liked to.

I've had great conversations with Joe.

I'm just talking about transparency if we go down that road again, and I I can't do that.

That's the only thing.

And yes, can he bring great knowledge and foresight into this into this committee?

Yes, I agree with that.

But I think you know there are other people that could do that too, right?

And I think we I I I can't I can't support it.

I'm sorry.

Uh back to you, Councilor Chinner.

Uh question.

Um, and I'm not sure who the correct person to address this to would be.

But uh, if this uh council rejects the nomination of the public health committee, what is the process following that?

Uh Madam Clerk, isn't it the the council who decides who's nominated?

Uh I realize the public health committee put this forward, but can you shed some light on this, please?

Right.

So my uh recollection from the um description of the public health committee, and I'm not sure if it's in the policy manual or the ordinance offhand, but it is a council adopted definition of the work and duties of the public health committee, um their bylaws and whatnot, that they are a unique committee that they put forth nominations.

They're able to nominate their own members, and I believe if I recall when they were created several years ago, it's because of the specialized work that they do, wanting folks that are work in the public health realm and and industry.

So they will nominate people to make sure they have a good balance of um nurses and hospice folks and whatever the case may be for public health issues.

Um so if this nomination fails or if this motion fails, we'll simply just notify the public health committee that one of their two nominees this evening did not receive council approval.

There are actually currently four openings for the area resident business representative seats.

There's four seats on the public health committee for area resident business representative.

We um did not receive a lot of applications uh for that, but we did receive some, and the committee reviewed it and brought these two forth at this time, and I believe are working to fill the other two slots, and we'll have the other recommendations in two weeks.

I'm not sure if they're gonna try to do some outreach and target recruitment to try to fill some specialized slots.

Uh, but to answer your question, if this motion fails, we'll simply just notify the committee, and then they will have responsibility to present additional nominations so they can fill their committee and make sure they have a quorum to be able to meet and move forward.

Thank you.

Uh Madam Clerk.

Uh and I don't know whether you have this information handy, but I was talking with uh a resident who uh lamented the fact that there was no uh physician that currently serves on on the committee.

Uh are you um uh can you confirm that?

Uh I I believe that is correct.

There there used to be physicians that were on there, uh, but of course it's very time consuming.

You know, a physician's job is very time consuming, and I'm not sure when the committee meets, but perhaps it wasn't convenient for their time.

Um but I believe that is a correct statement at this point.

Uh the last one um resigned due to scheduling conflicts or whatnot a little bit ago from my recollection.

Thank you.

Uh and just to speak to the fact, yes, uh, Mr.

Uh Philippon uh did ran uh did run uh a couple of uh campaigns for me uh but he would um I would not select him now.

Counselor Longchamps, yes.

Just for the record, he also did help me with my campaign too.

But um I would not select him either.

Again, I just wanted to share that.

Counselor Chitum, did you have something?

I did.

Uh thank you for anticipating that, Mr.

Mayor.

Um if the public health committee has uh seen the work that uh Mr.

Philippon is doing in this regard and has nominated him to this position, um in concert with my comments earlier, it it doesn't seem to me to be uh a wise policy for us to say this man has made mistakes in other areas, he's made errors in judgment.

Um but he has the the qualifications and the recommendation of the public health committee.

So I would argue that we're all flawed individuals.

Um but here is an opportunity for uh Mr.

Philippon to contribute uh through his knowledge to the public health committee, and he has their endorsement.

Counselor Nagine, did you have your uh hand up again?

I did not, Mr.

Mayor.

Oh, okay, thank you.

Uh okay.

Further uh before we go to vote, any any final thoughts from counselors Madam Clerk, please call the vote.

Counselor from Word One.

Yes.

Word two?

No.

Word three?

Yes.

Word four?

No.

Word five?

Yes.

Word six?

Yes.

Word seven.

No.

Motion passed by vote of four to three.

Next item, Madam Clerk.

The next item is uh nomination from the Lewiston Republican Party for their representative to the voter registration appeals board.

Uh the motion is to receive the nomination from the Lewis and Republican Party and to appoint Lisa Jones to the vacant seat on the voter registration appeals board said term to expire April 1st, 2027.

Mm-hmm, a motion, please.

So moved.

Counselor Nagine.

Second.

Uh second by Counselor Martell.

Uh discussion among the council.

Counselor Nagine.

Um thank you very much.

This is uh for the clerk if you don't mind.

Um Cathy, do you mind uh just quickly going over um why these appointments occur and the fact that it's been empty for two years?

Just just to fill people in, because I think the the looking at a non-partisan board uh uh appointing a Republican uh position seems weird, uh at least at least at first glance.

And so if you don't mind filling everybody in, I'd appreciate it.

Thank you, Counselor.

So state law requires.

If uh audience members could please refrain from speaking or head into the hall.

It's it's really so simple.

Thank you.

Madam Clerk, please continue.

Thank you.

Uh Mr.

Mayor, uh state law requires that uh communities with a population of 5,000 or more have a voter registration appeals board.

The state statutes also define the structure of the committee.

There are three members on the board, one nominated by the Democratic Party, one nominated by the Republican Party, and one um appointed by the city clerk.

And so currently we have the um member from the Democratic Party, Tom Reynolds, who's been on for a while, and the committee chair is Ed Barrett.

And um the Republican Party, I think due to changes in their leadership, um hasn't had a member uh to serve for maybe a year or two.

I can't remember exactly.

So they have a new committee chair.

I knew that they were having their special caucus a couple weeks ago, so I reached out to the new committee chair and said if you have an opportunity to uh find someone to serve from your caucus, that would be great.

It would be great to be able to have a full board on any of our city boards and committees.

So their work is defined under state law.

They would hear appeals from denial of voter registration if the registrar of voters denies someone voter registration and they want to appeal that, they would appeal it to the board of voter registration appeals.

But all of it is defined under state statutes.

Thank you very much.

Sure.

Further comments, questions from counselors.

Yes, Councillor Nathan.

Uh Counselor Chitham.

Thank you.

Uh through the mayor to the city clerk.

If this position is not filled, how long has it been vacant and what happens if it's not filled tonight?

Um I believe it's been vacant for about a year or two approximately.

Um if it's not filled tonight, we could um bring it forth at another time.

We would reach out to the Republican Party and say that uh the it's either not filled whether you uh move to postpone this motion or whatever, however you dispose of the motion, uh we would communicate that to the Republican Party and let them know.

Thank you.

Counselor Hierman.

Thank you.

Um I did have a little concern about this nomination um given that this person has repeatedly uh disrupted public meetings in the past.

Um so I would I do understand the importance of this board, but I would respectfully ask the city republicans to put forward another nominee because of that.

I I don't know that that behavior should be rewarded with a uh with a appointment to a city committee.

Further uh questions, comments from uh from the council.

Uh so I'm or Councilor uh Long Champs, did you?

Yeah, I think just like we did all everybody else on the other committees, you know, uh why have her removed or put someone else there?

She's here, so my opinion is as to uh nominate her.

Thank you.

Uh uh yes, Councilor Martel.

I also support this nomination.

Did somebody have their hand up here that I didn't see?

Uh Counselor Osman.

So I would I'm opposed to this nomination.

I would not be voting with um and I think the Republican should put forward somebody else.

Uh I'll uh counselor Nagyen and then I'll chime in.

So just really quickly, this is the Republican, the Lewiston Republican party's nominee uh to for the Board of Appeals.

This is basically a formality for us.

Uh we didn't pick this person.

Uh and again, coming back to the point that I'm making about finding people to serve on boards and committees.

It's been very difficult in several cases.

Um I don't think that we have the luxury of picker picking or choosing people who we like or don't like, um, especially in a case when this has nothing to do with us except for a formality that we just simply approve.

Thank you.

Uh so I I think it would uh is this the first time uh we've voted on this in a while, or something like this?

Um, yes, yes.

The chair's uh seat is a four-year term and the others are three-year terms.

Right.

Um so here's where I'm at.

Uh I think uh appending uh a real issue that the clerk had uh with the candidacy, which you know that they you know didn't meet qualifications or something else.

Uh I really do think we need to take whatever uh the city committee, uh in this case the Republican City Committee uh has uh put forth as a as a nomination.

Uh if things were flipped, many of us would be wholeheartedly endorsing the um the uh nomination from the Democratic City Committee.

Uh and you know, and let's remember that these positions are partisan positions.

And so uh yeah, I well I um you know respectfully disagree with many of the things that the applicant um uh you know policy positions.

Uh yeah, I I do uh support, you know, since she has received the uh nomination from the city committee.

I I wholeheartedly encourage uh the council to uh to vote this through.

Mr.

Mayor, if you're gonna be able to do that.

If you don't mind um we were just I apologize.

We were just pulling out the language from the state statutes, which just for reference is Title 21A, Section 103, subsection one.

And let me just read a sentence for you if I could.

Um the municipal committee being the political party committee, the municipal committee of each of the major political parties shall nominate one member who must be enrolled in the party of the municipal committee that nominates the member, and the municipal officers being the city council, the municipal officers shall appoint the person nominated by the municipal committee.

So we would um interpret the word shall as really being a directive that the city council um must appoint must appoint the per people nominated by the political committees.

I just wanted to point out that language in the status.

I appreciate that, Madam Clerk.

Thank you.

Uh do we still um since we're uh up here parsing legal language, do we still have uh a city attorney in the back room?

No, seriously.

Marty.

Can you uh repeat uh for uh Mr.

Eisenstein, uh Madam Clerk?

Sure, I'm sorry, let me just call it up again.

I'm sorry.

So uh the council is discussing the motion on the floor, which is the nomination by the Lewiston Republican Party to appoint their representative to the voter registration appeals board, voter registration appeals board being defined in state statute.

Uh both municipal, both political parties have the right to nominate someone to serve, and we are working to fill the vacancy uh from the Republican Party.

The Republican party has submitted a nomination, and the council is discussing um whether to approve that nomination or not.

There is a line from the state statutes, Title 21A, Section 103 regarding the definitions of um voter registration appeals boards, and the sentence says the municipal committee of each of the major political parties shall nominate one member who must be enrolled in the party of the municipal committee that nominates that member, and the municipal officers shall appoint the persons nominated by the municipal committees.

The question at hand, uh Mr.

Eisenstein is can this uh can the council reject a nomination by the local um uh political party?

Or are we obligated to vote this person through?

Well I don't think the city council is in a position of being a quote rubber stamp, close quote.

So if you have any right to vote, you have a right to vote.

That would be my opinion.

You can't say nominate John Q.

Smith.

We would prefer him.

You don't have that choice in the same way that when you nominated counselor Harriman to be a representative of the school committee.

It's not up to the other counselors to say I want uh John Doe to be the uh representative.

So my reading is that you have the you have the possibility and the power to say no, we don't approve.

Otherwise, why give you the vote to approve?

It would be a meaningless vote.

So that without having done any research.

And this is the uh a spur of the moment at my not my finest time, which is at 8 30 at night.

Uh it's more like 8 30 in the morning than that isn't my prime time, but with with those caveats, that would be my opinion.

We deeply appreciate your service to our city.

Thank you very much.

That was most helpful.

So while we are absolutely not required, uh, if I'm paraphrasing, while we are absolutely not required uh to vote through uh this nominee, I I think um it would set bad presidents and it would be bad practice if we do not.

Thank you, Mr.

Eisenstein.

Uh Councilor Harriman, did you have something?

Yeah, I I just wanted to reiterate that it's not about liking or disliking someone, and it's not about partisanship.

I mean, obviously this seat has to be a partisan seat.

Um my concern is the individual's lack of respect for civic institutions and being appointed to a position in in that realm doesn't seem to me like um like something that we should do.

Uh counselor Nijene.

I would just like to remind everyone that there's a certain decorum that we should be conducting ourselves with in these um actions of uh excoriating private citizens for volunteer service um is below us.

Um that's all further questions, comments from the council before we head to public comment.

Public comment.

Hi, everyone.

My name is Lisa Jones, and I'm the applicant that has been discussed for an absurdly long amount of time here.

I honestly assumed this would be a rubber stamp.

Um, Carl, I really appreciate what you just said at the end there.

Um again, we're having a twilight zone moment here where this council just approved putting someone on the school committee that's been censured twice and has proven that he can't follow FOIA or chooses not to.

Um, and he has a problem with me responding to Megan Parks.

Um you just appointed somebody who was fired from the city of Lewiston for a litany of reasons, not we don't even know all of them because of the separation agreement, and you appointed somebody else that was caught defrauding the city of tax money, and and literally there are people quabbling about appointing me because you have a personal dislike for me.

That's the epitome of hypocrisy.

You just put it on display for everyone.

Scott, your favorite reporter is right over there in the corner.

Further public comment.

Oh, sorry, honey.

My name's Melissa Down, I'm community organizer.

Uh I think it was Najene that said something uh in the beginning that it sounded weird to be getting something from the Republican party or whatever for our nomination, and it was all explained, and that's great and everything.

But please hold on to that feeling of weird because that document actually shows proximity and association to what we've been saying for people being targeted in community repeatedly through manufactured uh FOIA, propaganda uh narratives, uh civil conspiracies, things that do incitement.

And so as we see and subtleties here, how usual business might be held with care in present.

Um it's it's worse than that to be on the receiving end as somebody sitting around a table or testifying or observing.

And so I would ask people that may vote to reject or vote no that you know and you feel that there may be uh recipient or receiving of the backlash or retaliation of that.

But please stand strong in your conviction.

There are true Republicans out here.

And we actually voted one for Ward 5 City Council, which we're very proud about to get behind him.

And so just please discernment.

We're looking for bipartisan, nonpartisan for the advancement, not the destruction of Lewiston.

Further public comment.

Sorry, one second, sir.

Now that we know that you don't live in town, I want to make sure that you speak after everyone who lives in Lewiston.

Is there anyone else who would like to speak?

Okay.

Sorry, we're gonna have you go at the end, sir.

Thank you.

Marcella Claire, Ward 5.

Uh I just want to uh point out to Councilor Harriman, uh, you know, cattle is in pots, and you live in a big glass house, and yes, is the nominee very passionate.

She is extremely passionate about the city, but that just shows how much she cares for the city.

Thank you.

Christine Hulden, Ward 1, former writer of legislation in the first time.

One second election.

Uh Chris.

Uh if we can have it quiet in the audience, that'd be great.

It's hard for me to see here who are repeat offenders, but please be quiet.

Thank you.

Okay.

Uh yes, we've restarted your time, Chris.

Christine Holden, Ward 1.

Um, I have written election laws in a former life.

I also am an election worker.

I understand state law when it says shall, it does not mean may or what you feel like it is you shall do this.

And it is in the system that we have in the United States, state law takes precedence over municipal feelings or laws.

My question, Mr.

Mayor, if I may address the city clerk moment.

Ms.

Monteo, how frequently are appeals made to the voting appeals board?

Do you know?

Uh we've had one in the 25 years I've been here.

Thank you.

We'll get to you, good sir.

Don't worry.

Uh please continue.

Matthew Agrin, Ward 4.

So this is a partisan position because it's nominated by a party.

It is not nominated by the city council, the mayor.

Kathy.

It is the partisan, the party gets to put their nominee out here.

Now, the word shall means you shall do this.

It is not as she said just earlier, it doesn't mean you may do this, you shall do this.

Words have meaning.

Counselor Chitam, you will agree with me on that.

Now is Lisa passionate about things?

Yes.

But that's not a bad thing.

And to paraphrase Council Nadine from earlier with when we were talking about Councilman Harriman and the mayor's nomination for him for school committee.

How long do you want to keep this position open?

Because the Republican Party can keep coming back every two weeks and saying Lisa Jones is our nominee.

And they have the same right that the mayor has to keep nominating the same person.

You can just be sitting here wasting time as council Jean said, or you can just nominate the person that the Republican Party feels they can do the job for them.

Just like the Democratic Party has their person, they feel this does the job for them on this board.

It's unfortunately that it's designed as a partisan board, but that's how we live in this country.

Thank you very much.

Further public comment.

Sorry.

Can you can you hear me bet?

The microphone's a little low, I think.

Um Kieran Majorus Collins, Ward 5.

Um I just want to um say that I I think that what Attorney Eisenstein um uh said is seems right that uh state statutes generally cannot compel um elected officials to vote a particular way on a particular item.

Um it obviously cuts in the other direction that you know the the party um has a right to to nominate someone and they shall um be appointed.

Um it strikes me that that perhaps this isn't something the council should be voting on at all.

Um and so you know I I don't know if um it would seem like the council would have an opportunity to perhaps delay this nomination for two weeks uh to figure out a way um to handle the legal questions here because um you know I think your city attorney's got it right um and I also think that uh there's a decent argument that you all shouldn't be voting on this um in in in any way that it should be an automatic appointment uh from the two parties based on the the language from the statute that we just heard.

So uh thank you very much.

How are we doing tonight?

David Jones.

I do not live in Lewiston.

I'm running for governor, and I'm a Republican candidate.

So we're there's there's no politicking here I'll just just I'm a Republican and I am running for office.

And I'm telling you right now, you have a response point of order.

There's no politicking here.

Okay, so I'm not politics.

If you have something to say on the agenda item, please say it.

All right, here's the point.

This should be a rubber stamp.

It's not up to you.

It says shall.

Shall doesn't mean may.

It means shall.

It means will.

And you have responsibility, you have responsibility to the public to uphold the rule of law.

This is a statute, it's in place.

Why in God's name you would even debate this?

It's the person we want.

It's the first the Republican Party wants to represent them.

Whether you like that person or not, it does not matter.

What matters is that you have a responsibility to do your job, and that is to say yes, nothing else.

Thank you.

Public comment is now closed.

Back to the council.

Uh Councillor Nagyen, yes.

So just really quickly, I think the most probably the reason why the process is set up the way it is, is to make it public record.

Um, and also um as a double check to make sure that the qualif qualifications match.

Since we know that the qualifications match, um it's now on the public record, we can probably just vote.

Right.

Further questions, comments from counselors.

Yeah, uh counselor Chitam, yes.

Yes, thank you.

I I normally do not disagree with our city attorney.

Um, but this is not precordy language.

It does not say may, it says shall.

Um and as much as it pains me uh to think that this committee is viewed by the legislature as nothing more than a rubber stamp, I don't see that we have any choice.

Uh so for the record, um I I uh trust our city attorney's advice.

However, my um position remains the same, and uh I think it would be bad precedent and bad practice not to uh vote through this applicant as put forth by the uh political party.

Any further comments before we go to a vote?

Madam Clerk, please call the vote.

Counselor from Ward 1?

Yes.

Ward two?

Yes.

Ward three?

No.

Ward four?

Yes.

Ward five?

No.

Ward six?

Yes.

Ward seven.

Yes.

Motion passed by vote of five to two item number 15.

Item number 15, executive session pursuant to main revised statutes annotated Title I section 4056A to discuss whether and how to proceed with regard to the council resolve passed December 16th, 2025 to review the qualifications of one of its members pursuant to sections 2.01A or the grounds for forfeiture of the office pursuant to 2.06A3 of the city charter.

Requested action to enter into an executive session pursuant to main revised statutes annotated Title I section 4056A to discuss a personnel matter involving the investigation of a complaint pursuant to section 2.08 of the charter.

Mab a motion, please.

So moved.

Counselor Chiddock.

Second second by Counselor Nagine.

Uh Madam Clerk, please call the vote.

Counselor from Word 1.

Yes.

Ward two?

Yes.

Ward three?

Yes.

Ward four?

Yes.

Ward five?

Yes.

Ward six?

Yes.

Ward seven.

Yes.

Motion pass a vote of seven and zero.

Uh thank you, Madam Clerk.

Uh for the public's benefit.

We are now heading into an executive session.

Uh we will be coming back.

No idea when we'll be coming back, but we will.

So uh feel free to uh make yourselves at home.

We'll see you in a bit.

Thank you.

Uh hello, we are back from executive session.

Thank you all uh for waiting for us.

Uh you all deserve a prize.

Uh item number if we can please have it quite in the chambers, that would be great, thank you.

Uh Madam Clerk, what item are we on?

Item number sixteen.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

Item number sixteen.

Item number sixteen, resolve authorizing the city attorney to retain an independent investigator to prepare a report, presenting the facts relating to Councillor Osman's qualification to represent ward five on the city council.

Requested action to approve the resolve to authorize the city attorney to retain an independent investigator to prepare a report, presenting the facts relating to Councillor Osman's qualification to represent Ward Five on the City Council.

So moved.

Discussion.

Not suggestion, not conjecture, but facts and interpretations of law that apply.

That's the purpose of this resolve.

What the report will say, no one knows.

But I think it's important that we do have that report.

So that's why I'm I've I've sponsored this resolve, and I encourage the council to vote in favor of it.

Can you uh please say where you live?

I live in Lewiston.

For like twenty years.

There are a lot of kids who are not uh who are not taken care of.

There are a lot of kids who are not attending uh like programs in like uh summer programs, kids on the street who are not having uh appropriate city funds.

So using that money to somebody who was duly elected by this many people who are behind him, that is a misuse of funds.

I mentioned that again like last time when I talked, Iman is supported by everybody in the community, and this is the only hope we have.

His youth who went to school high school here in Lewiston High School, he played soccer there, and he knows he lived all his time in word five.

He never moved anywhere else, and he's not gonna move anywhere else.

So now assigning somebody paid by the city dollars to something that is clear to all these people who are spending the night here is an appropriate use of the funds.

So I would suggest this person was sworn in, this person has to do his job, and what I'm trying to urge all the counselors is to work with him because he's representing the most needed uh word, which is word five, which is Kennedy Park, which is downtown Lewiston, is a hot place in the city.

So instead of the city council working with him, strategizing how best he can be helped.

It's unfortunate that we're gonna hire somebody to go look after something that's clear, it's already clear.

He lived there, he was it was condemned, now he's gonna live there.

If that condemnation is out tomorrow, he's gonna be moving in, it's living there.

That's gonna be his address.

Nothing can be changed from that.

So I suggest the city funds that is mostly needed by other programs should not be used to do an investigation against Iman.

Thank you.

Hi uh my name is Mohammed.

I live in Lewiston World 5.

I'm speaking today on behalf of the Somali community in Lewiston.

We understand that under the Lewiston Charter, the city has the legal authority to review the qualification of its members.

We respect the law, the charter, and the role of the counselors, but today our community is very concerned.

This is not accountability.

This is this issue is a narrative.

What we are seeing in the media and public discussion has become a ritual, political and hostile, sadly.

It now feels like the city council is becoming part of it.

Let me be very clear.

Not race, religious.

We vote for people of all background because we believe in democracy, fairness, and equal opportunity.

Councillor Osman was elected by voters, not selected or appointed.

He earned his seat through the ballot box, just like everyone else who's sitting here now.

Yet today it feels like only one elected counselor, our counselor is being targeted from social media and everywhere.

This send a painful message to our community.

In recent Lewiston election, Somali community voted in a large number.

We participated because we trusted the democratic process and believe our voice matters.

Some of you sitting here today, we voted for you.

We elected you to protect our community interest, not creating division or go after one elected member from our community.

This narrative, if this narrative continues, our community will be forced to re-examine our relationship or political relationship, including our relationship with the democratic party and who we will be voting in the future.

This is not a threat.

This is a democratic.

Further public comment.

I I just want to be clear that this is not a Somali issue.

This is an eligibility issue.

This is an occupancy issue.

We love our Somali citizens just like we love all of our citizens.

This investigation, if it if it brings nothing, then there's nothing to be worried about.

So an investigation, I encourage it uh 100 percent.

Thanks.

Matthew Agren, Ward 4.

This is the correct.

One second, sir.

If we can have it quiet in the chambers, that would be great.

No, really, please be quiet.

Thank you.

Please continue.

This is the correct step.

Why?

Because it asks you, the council, to act in a reasonable manner to quickly put to end a controversy which has the ability to rap havoc and issues over the next two years.

It's not racism to ask, because the question has been raised by sources both within our own community and outside whether or not we have a resident who is not living in the ward he was elected to represent.

Now, after this complete and thorough investigation is done, we end the source of this controversy for the city, no matter how it turns out.

But now, what I want to ask of you all as a member of the council is when this investigation is complete, that you authorize the complete and fully transparent report released of the investigation.

I don't care how the report comes out, but what I and many of the other citizens do not want is a over half redacted report released that doesn't provide any clear answers to us.

That way, there is no way anyone can say that politics in any way, shape, or form influenced this investigation, and that there was a cover-up done in order to make the answers go one way or the other.

Thank you for your time.

Further public comment.

All right.

So I'm David Jones.

I do not live in Lewiston, but I love this city.

And um here tonight because I think it's really important, you know, that the communities come together.

And as long as there's this question about his eligibility, which is it's serious.

You know, he is living in a building, or supposedly living in a building, it's condemned.

Was the condemned in October of 2024?

Um it's uninhabitable, there's no certificate of occupancy.

He refuses to give the public uh access to an address that he's supposedly living in this ward, which is a problem.

Set aside the fact that uh that building was in fact involved in a very, very large drug bust, and then on top of that, this man was arrested on felony gun charges, which are pending.

So, you know, it's a question of character.

Now, I think that the Somali community deserves representation, but there has to be someone more qualified that has a cleaner record of behavior that we could look at and know that we respect that individual and that he is going to do what's right for everybody, because he doesn't just represent the Somali community.

He represents everybody.

All you folks sitting up there at that bench, it's your job to represent everybody.

Doesn't care black, white, green, yellow, hot pink, Republican, Democrat on a roll, it doesn't matter.

You represent everybody.

If you're incapable of doing that, or if you don't have the credibility, then you just shouldn't hold that position.

So I think the idea that you're going to do an investigation is fantastic.

It's really good.

It's a good first step.

I agree that we should that that trans that should be a fully transparent report, and we should make sure that the public gets to see everything about it.

And in the meantime, you know, he took an oath to support a constitution, which I think he's already violated.

He's already violated saying he's going to uphold the Constitution.

He won't even tell us where the hell he lives.

So I I think you really got to take a point at this, and a real look, real good look at what you are doing here tonight.

I witnessed something I didn't think I would ever witness.

Uh we don't live in Venezuela.

All right.

We live in Lewiston, Maine.

And we need to make sure that the laws of our land apply.

Uh so I know there's a question.

I'm glad to hear you're going to do the report the report, and I do uh beg you to please make it fully public.

And I do um beg you to please make it fully public.

Thank you very much.

Further public comment.

Lisa Jones, board two.

This is extremely simple.

We all know the facts here.

We all know that 210 Blake Street was condemned in October of 2024.

We all know that Mr.

Osman has signed paperwork after that date, swearing that he lives at that address.

That's not true.

If anybody dares vote against opening investigation, I I don't know how you even look in the mirror.

Further public comment.

Back to the council.

Oh wait, oh sorry.

Sorry, I was late to the party.

I just have one or two things to say.

For me, I just want to.

One second.

If the audience could please refrain from speaking or yeah, like for real.

Okay.

Thank you.

Shookri, please continue.

Please identify yourself and state where you live.

Hi everyone, my name is Shukri Abdurrahman.

I live in Ward 7.

Um and I'm a community organizer.

This loosens my home.

But anyways, for me, that there's no problem with investigation.

The problem is the bigger picture.

You know, the problem is we literally destroy someone's image.

There's nothing wrong with following the law, the rules, and the charter.

But at the end of the day, when we're fishing for something, the who else is going through what Iman is going through.

And I understand that like we want to know and understand his exact address, where he lives, and everyone has a right to know that, right?

But at the end of the day, it's bigger than that.

This is this is hurting a whole entire community.

Personally, there's nothing wrong with investigation on my end, right?

But for me, what I have a problem with is the bigger picture of that investigation, what could come out of that, and how people perceive to just be able to put anyone who's been elected or voted into office to be questioned, like their character.

At the end of the day, there was a man who was literally bashing his character.

He came up here and he doesn't even live in Lewiston.

Uh, you have the opinion to share, you have a right to share your opinion, but at the end of the day, the only people who actually understand the importance of the situation is people who live in ward five.

I don't even live in ward five.

I live in ward seven.

But I know Iman personally, I know he's a good man.

And I know this is something that can just be sorted out easily.

And I ask for you guys to just lose this everyone's home.

And let's make sure that we're respecting him.

And if we're gonna follow the rule of law, we follow the rule of law.

We don't go around the bushes, we don't go around social media, we don't destroy someone's character, we don't destroy someone's reputation, because at the end of the day, regardless of what the what the evidence is that comes out of this investigation, his reputation is on the line.

So how do we hold people accountable?

If this investigation comes back and it's true that he lives in that address, how do we hold the city accountable?

Because the city destroyed this man's life and his reputation.

If he's elected and people voted him for in office, then that's that.

The problem should have been dealt with in the beginning.

Why weren't these questions raised in the in the beginning?

And why didn't an investigation happen in the beginning?

We literally waited until this person got sworn in office to do all of this.

That's not right, and that's not fair in my opinion.

But thank you guys for all your service, and I hope this is just done with because this problem is affecting everyone.

Andrew Jones, Ward 2.

Uh, I just want to support this resolution.

I think an independent investigator.

Sorry, can you just uh move the mic or speak into it so that our folks at home?

Um again, Andrew Jones, ward two.

Uh I just want to echo my support for this resolution.

I think uh an independent investigation is necessary.

Um as we've figured out at this point, um, I will echo the mayor's statement that even Osman should resign, but at this point it's clear that he will not do the right thing.

Um I would like to see the investigation go play go forward, uh, and then hopefully the council can use that information to do the right thing themselves, since he will not.

Uh and if the council can't do that, well, in a couple of days he gets to see a judge, and maybe the judge will do it for him.

Um there was a a comment earlier about uh, you know, why wasn't this investigation done earlier?

Uh yeah, you know, we we actually had an opportunity back uh in the school committee, and uh one of those members up there, Mr.

Harriman, you refuse to allow that investigation to go forward.

So that's on you.

Thank you.

Further public comment.

Uh well.

Hello, Martin Tracks and Ward Five.

I I know you all heard from me earlier.

I just want to add that the point made by my fellow Sazan Wahiden earlier about the use of public funds on an investigation is a really important point.

It seems to me that this issue was resolved by the city clerk when Councilor Osman ran for office, and that the call for an investigation happened after a lot of loud voices with an agenda came into the into the dialogue.

And if that's the case, then are we gonna call for an investigation into everything that some folks get up here and say an accusation about?

Um again the case that Councillor Osman makes about uh having to leave his apartment because of uh condemnation makes perfect sense.

I don't quite understand what more there is to investigate, and I also am hopeful about the democratic process that we've already had supporting counselor Osman to be in Ward 5 council seat.

Uh could bring good results to the Lewiston community to everybody in it, and that's democracy.

Not everybody's gonna like the result, but uh to find ways to disqualify to me it's it seems like a poor use of all of our time, a poor use of city funds, and harmful.

Uh I and I think if there is investigation done, it needs to be investigation not just into Mr.

Osman's residence, but into all of the harm that's been caused by this process of accusations and including from people that don't live in Lewiston, and that there needs to be accountability for that and support for Councillor Osman to live his life in the midst of all this.

So thank you for your time, and I hope you make the right decisions further public comment uh back to the council questions, uh discussion from counselors.

Uh yeah, uh Councillor Najing, yes.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

I would just like to say to the public.

A third-party investigation is both objective and accountable.

Um there's a lot of opinions out there putting forward uh an investigation that finds a determination of fact based on law allows us to move forward uh because the council does have the ability to uh the sole ability to judge the qualifications of a sitting member of council.

Um there seems to be some confusion about issues concerning divisive language targeting the Somali community and findings of fact regarding the qualifications of a sitting member of council.

They're separate issues.

I understand that they seem to be combined in certain ways.

Uh I don't think you'll find any member of council posting on social media about any of this.

Um there's a loss of trust uh in government and elected officials overall.

And these processes are needed in order to make sure that we're being both transparent and accountable to the people that we serve.

Um so I just want to put that out.

Thank you.

Councillor uh Launchcomes.

Yeah, no, you're you're being recognized now.

No, thank you.

Council Ariman.

Thank you.

I just wanted to speak to a couple of things.

Um first around there's been some questions around the timing of things, and I know it can seem um it can seem confusing, but uh the body that someone's a member of can only investigate someone who is currently a member of that body.

So you know, when when someone is on the school committee, they can only investigate someone who is on the school committee, and as soon as they stop being a member, that investigation stops wherever it is.

Uh the city council subsequently cannot um cannot investigate someone until they are on the city council.

So that that's part of the I think that's some of the confusion around that.

Um the second piece that I had was I wanted to address some of the rhetoric that's been going around around this.

Um, that frankly I'm very disgusted by and it doesn't seem that it seems like some people out there are not motivated by trying to figure out the truth in this situation, um, but the they're motivated by something else.

And I do have questions that can be answered by an investigation.

Um, and and that's what I'm trying to get to the bottom of with this further questions, comments from counselors.

Counselor Longchamps, yes.

Yes.

Um, I do think an investigation is important.

It will either clear someone or uh there'll be findings of that the person in fact didn't live there.

Um I do just want to say that I think reputation is absolutely important.

Um and I think that 210 Blake Street, unfortunately, at this time has a bad reputation, and not because we have done anything, but because of what has happened in the past there.

Um but again I support an investigation if he's cleared uh of living at 210 Blake Street.

Good, then we we put this to rest.

Um if he's found not uh that that he wasn't living there or hasn't been living there, residing there, um, then we put that to rest too.

So I think an investigation is important, and I hope that um everyone sitting up here does the right thing and votes yes.

Thank you further uh questions, comments.

Uh counselor Nagyan, yes, back to you.

Uh I would just uh thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

I'd just also like to say that that public service is uh not for everyone.

Um we don't get a lot of reward back uh for what we give out.

So just keep that in mind as well.

Uh further comments.

Uh so as was mentioned, yes.

I called for um counselor Osman uh to resign.

Um, you know, without uh and that was over the indictment charges and not whether he was uh guilty or not guilty, but simply the distraction that that would represent.

Um and so my position hasn't changed in this uh this meeting and comments and the fact that we may now be doing an investigation, you know, just uh this represents enormous amount of distraction for the city.

And um, yeah.

Um yeah, my business hasn't changed, and uh I urge uh counselor Osman to to resign.

Further comments, questions from uh counselors.

Uh back to you, Counselor Longchamp.

Yes, um had I known we could say that I would have said that.

Um so I too would ask that um counselor Osman resign until he has been cleared of any wrongdoing as far as the indictment.

I think it sets a really bad uh tone for not only Lewiston but your your community.

Um these are serious charges when you are clear, just as um we had had a you and I met on September 2nd.

Um we had this discussion.

Um I thought we had a good conversation, but uh the following day my reputation was uh quite smeared by folks coming to my store um accusing me of being racist.

Um I would encourage you to resign until these matters are cleared.

Once you are found innocent, we would be happy to have you back.

I think the Somali community does need good representative representation.

Um so that that's what I would ask as I asked you before basically said the same thing uh to your face on September 2nd.

And just for the public's benefit, the investigation we're uh talking about is simply over residency questions, not anything having to do with uh his indictments.

Further questions, comments from the council.

Madam Clerk, please call the vote.

Counselor from Word One.

Yes.

Ward two?

Yes.

Word three?

Yes.

Word four?

Yes.

Ward five.

No.

Ward six.

Yes.

Ward seven.

Yes.

Motion pass by vote of six to one.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

Uh we are now up to the second public comment period.

For people who did not comment during the first public comment period.

And public comment is now closed.

We are up to if I can give us one second, uh, counselors.

Uh so uh we still need to continue a meeting.

If you uh want to leave, please do so quietly.

If you want to talk to your neighbor, just take that out to the hall.

Madam Clark, we're gonna give uh people a minute to clear out.

Yes, sir.

Uh we are now up to reports and updates from counselors uh should there be any we are now up to new up uh uh new business from counselors should there be any.

Counselor Nagyen, yes.

So, real quickly for anybody watching at home, we still need uh volunteers for a lot of boards and committees.

Um so please uh reach out to your council uh representative uh for any of the wards that uh we serve.

Um we can uh get a good word in with you uh in for you with the mayor.

Um so uh please do that.

Um and second piece, um I had sent an email uh to the city administrator and copied the um uh the elected officials concerning our conflict of interest policy and also how we handle contracts, RFPs, and MOUs.

Since then I've had a conversation with this with the city council president, and I would like to propose that we put on the agenda um a action to clarify how we can use our um conflict of interest policy uh uniformly across uh any of our RFPs, mous or awards to make sure that any organization that we're working with is uh both registered with the state and in good standing.

This would not sit with just NGOs, but any corporation that we're working with to make sure that any of the money that we're uh that we're giving out is given to trusted partner.

Um to set that up in a way that is very uniform because right now RFPs and MOUs work a little differently than uh committee awards, um and I think we just want to be in a place where we're proactively making sure that our community partners um are um above reproach since they are representatives of the city when we're giving them uh uh financial rewards.

So not quite sure how everybody else feels about that, but I wanted to put it out there.

Uh yes, counselor shouldn't.

Thank you, uh Councillor Nijine.

Yes, we did speak about this, and I think I I recommend it to you and for full disclosure.

Uh I think the appropriate mechanism would be for the finance committee to make a recommendation to city council uh to adopt a policy uh if it's not found to exist already that that achieves those ends, uh then the city council will be able to act on a recommendation from the finance committee.

I agree, and I'll should sh shape up an agenda item for the next meeting.

So thank you.

Further new business from the council.

Council Airman.

Thank you.

Um two things.

If we could get an update at some point of when we might see the uh standing committees for public safety and economic development on our agenda.

And then second, um I've spoke with a couple of you a couple of you about this, um, but to avoid discussing it with a quorum, uh I'll I'll bring it up now in uh in public meeting.

But I met with the residents of Oak Park in the last few weeks on Oak Street, and one of their big complaints was uh in the in the warmer weather, um smoking uh people smoking on the sidewalk outside.

And because they're building directly abuts the sidewalk on three sides, um there's really no way for uh you know for someone smoking on the sidewalk to not impact anyone who has their windows open.

So I was thinking of putting forward an amendment to our our downtown no smoking area to just include the the three streets around the building just on that side.

Um shouldn't be too much of an inconvenience inconvenience for anyone to just cross the street.

Um and that would that would provide the residents with a little bit of relief from um from odor and smoke outside.

So uh I will put that forward uh you know through email, put it up as an agenda item, but just wanted to bring it up in front of everyone.

And if you have any questions or concerns, just let me know.

Excuse me.

Counselor Chitam, yes.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Um, I had not it had not occurred to me before.

Um first of all, I want to thank you for your support uh for my continued council presidency.

One of the jobs that I have is to appoint a counselor to the finance committee.

Um if anyone has an interest in that, uh please get in touch with me, and there will be an appointment made once I made a decision.

But let me know if you're interested.

Uh further updates from counselors or new business uh yes, counselor Nagy.

I would just like to say uh I appreciate the professional decorum of the of the people up here on on the committee, and I'm asking for our community to just have a little grace and compassion for other community members.

Uh a lot of the language that's been used recently is very divisive.

And um we know that you know in a community such as ours, um it's it's damaging long term.

So just be kind to people.

Uh to that end, I I would agree you all haven't uh been so bad this evening, so thank you very much.

Uh Madam Clerk, uh I believe we're ready to head back to an executive session.

Yes, you have um two executive sessions.

One is um executive session to discuss the acquisition or disposition of real estate of which the premature disclosure of information would prejudice the competitive bargaining position of the city.

The motion is to enter into an executive session pursuant to main revised statutes annotated title one, section 4056 to discuss the acquisition or disposition of real estate of which the premature disclosure of the information would prejudice the competitive bargaining position of the city, and to enter into an executive session pursuant to main revised statutes annotated Title I section 4056 to discuss an economic development issue of which the premature premature disclosure of the information would prejudice the competitive bargaining position of the city.

Uh may have a motion, please.

So move to vote.

Second uh second by counselor Harriman.

Madam Clerk, please call the vote.

Counselor from Ward 1.

Yes.

Ward two?

Yes.

Ward three?

Yes.

Ward four?

Yes.

Ward five?

Yes.

Word six?

Yes.

Word seven.

Yes.

Motion pass that vote of seven to zero.

Thank you very much, Madam Clerk.

Thank you, counselors and city uh staff.

Uh thank you, Lewis.

And we just wrapped up our first meeting of the new year.

Uh you all have a great one.

We'll see you soon.