AUBURN — The proposed merger of Lewiston and Auburn took another step toward a November referendum Monday, with a public hearing and election day now set — in Auburn at least.
The City Council voted Monday to set the date for the public hearing, which is required in both cities by state law as part of the consolidation process. The council also officially set the referendum date for Nov. 9.
Auburn’s hearing will be held at an auditorium at Central Maine Community at 6:30 p.m. Monday, July 31. Lewiston is set to discuss its hearing schedule Tuesday.
The Joint Charter Commission handed its required documents to officials in both cities at the end of June, and asked the cities to schedule the hearings.
While councilors last week supported setting the public hearing for as soon as possible, there was some concern Monday for an unusually high turnout, and for having overflow options.
Two weeks also leaves a short time for promoting the event. Officials are expecting a big turnout for what will most likely be the only public opportunity to comment in Auburn on the potential merger.
Some councilors saw a chance for the city to control the process.
Councilor Bob Stone was steadfast in his support for limiting the hearing to only Auburn residents and business owners. However, fellow councilors doubted the logistics and legality of limiting a public hearing.
“I think this is a public hearing held by the City Council in Auburn regarding a discussion about the future, and the continued existence of Auburn,” Stone said. “I don’t believe it’s a time for other folks to be voicing opinion at our city public hearing.”
Stone is also a member of the Coalition Opposed to Lewiston-Auburn Consolidation.
Councilors Grady Burns and Adam Lee spoke against limiting the public comments.
“We’ve never set limitations before,” Burns said. “I’d be hesitant. I don’t want to be in the business of censoring who’s speaking at this event.”
Councilor James Pross said he didn’t think holding a hearing that limited who spoke would “fit the requirements” of holding a public hearing.
“We shouldn’t be pushing someone off the mic, or silencing someone,” Lee said.
Pross did, however, attempt to continue a debate he sparked last week over whether Auburn should push the referendum to 2018. He’s argued that voter turnout in off-year elections is historically low, and said that setting the referendum date is one of only “two levers we have any control over.”
He said setting the date in 2018 would put the decision “entirely in the hands of Auburn voters in 2018,” based on Lewiston voting this November.
City Manager Peter Crichton said he met recently with officials in Lewiston, who stated the city is looking at August for its public hearing.
A backup plan for the July 31 public hearing could be the CMCC gym, which holds 900 people. However, Crichton said the gym does not have air conditioning, which would cause issues with hundreds of people in the building.
“I would ask that we be ready,” Councilor Leroy Walker said regarding a plan for overflow should the 225-capacity auditorium fill.
“It would be tragic if we have to turn people away,” Stone added.
Polling location changes up in the air
The City Council on Monday also agreed that it was not in favor of proposed changes to the city’s polling locations, after public concern for using school buildings led to a workshop discussion.
City Clerk Sue Clements-Dallaire told councilors that her office has received numerous concerns from parents about election day safety and disruption at Auburn schools, especially during the 2016 election period.
She proposed shifting the Ward 2 polling location from Auburn Middle School to the Hasty Community Center, as well as moving the Ward 1 polling location from Washburn Elementary School to the Norway Savings Bank Arena mezzanine.
She said adequate options, with sufficient parking and access, are difficult to find.
“My concern is trying to find alternative locations so we can get out of the schools,” she said.
But overall, councilors weren’t receptive to the idea. Instead, many said they’d be concerned about voter confusion. Clements-Dallaire said most municipalities in the state use schools as polling places.
“Is this a general trend or more of a proactive concern?” Councilor Burns asked. “I’m hesitant to change locations if it’s going to make it more difficult for people to vote.”
“Voter confusion is a harm that we shouldn’t take lightly,” Councilor Lee said.
In her memo to the council, Clements-Dallaire said, “I have received calls from parents who have expressed their concerns for the safety of the students on election days relative to strangers in the schools and vehicular traffic,” she said. “Some parents opt to keep their children home from school on Election Day because of those concerns.”
Auburn Police Chief Phil Crowell said the department has resource officers assigned to the school, as well as other resources available on Election Day. He said Superintendent Katy Grondin allowed parents to make the decision on whether to keep their children from school during voting.
Crowell said that while parking and traffic can be a headache at schools on Election Day, he is “not too concerned” for the safety aspect.
He said the department will examine how the previous election went, and look at ensuring that main school corridors are blocked from the general public.
“We can step up that security,” he said.
Clements-Dallaire said in order to change voting locations, the city must submit an application to the Secretary of State’s Office 60 days before an election, and would need City Council approval as well.
