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V O L . X X I I I N O. X I I M AY 2 9 , 2 0 1 7 20 L E W I S T O N / A U B U R N F O C U S One of the CGR report's fi ndings that drew controversy is its summary that most businesses and residents will see tax savings, and that the total annualized savings for the merged city could range from $2.3 million to $4.2 million. Over 10 years, the commission notes, the average savings could total $1,900 for a typical Lewiston prop- erty and $1,050 for Auburn. e report also points to specifi c savings from merging departments and elimi- nating redundancies, which Morrison and others say will largely be through retirement and attrition. Annual recurring savings for city operations could be $715,000. Past vs. future? Critics of the merger have been accused of wanting to live in the past. Some wonder what will happen to the cities' identities or the rivalries between the two high school football teams. "My sense is this is not going to pass," says Jim Howaniec, an attorney born and raised in Lewiston and the city's former mayor, elected in 1989. He has been a vocal opponent to the merger. " ere's a dis- connect between the business community and the general population on this issue. I've lived here all my life. People have an emotional connection here. "I feel very protective of Lewiston, so I feel many people on the Auburn side feel that way," he adds. "My biggest complaint is it is not a grassroots movement, but a top-down one from the business community." " e other side says you are living in the past, liv- ing in 'Mayberry RFD.,'" he adds, referring to the late 1960s sitcom about small-town America. "It's their [the pro side's] burden of proof to dismiss two centuries of history." He adds that his law fi rm will see no diff erence in its own business whether or not the cities merge. Tom Platz, principal of Platz Associates, an Auburn architectural fi rm that has worked on rehabbing the Bates Mill Complex and other projects includ- ing Two Great Falls Plaza and Lewiston-Auburn College (a campus of the University of Southern Maine), says the pro-merger side was a grassroots eff ort. It included Morrison; Gene Geiger of the Geiger Group; and Holly Lasagna, an associated director at Bates College. ey went to the state to get approval to start the Joint Charter Commission. It is funded by $50,000 in local private donations, The march toward the merger 1 MRS 30A, Subsection 2151–2152, Consolidation, Secession and Annexation, covers the merger and the binding referendum expected on the Nov. 7 municipal election ballot. 6/13/14: Voters in Lewiston and Auburn approve a petition to move toward merging the two cities. They also chose six charter commissioners, three from each city, who were sworn in to create the plan for the unification. 7/7/14: Commissioners begin work. 8/28/14: Commission starts to hold a series of public meetings for comment; sets up subcommittees internally and meets one to three times a month. 1/1/17: CGR completes report on impact of merger on cities, with recommendations to merge departments and estimates of costs and savings. 6/8/17: Commission to name the new city. 6/30/17: Commission aims to hold final public meeting by the end of June to get comments for final report, which will trigger referendum to be listed on November ballot. 11/7/17: Vote on merging the cities. The referendum must pass in both cities. 11/8/17: A new group will be chosen to execute the merger and formulate more details for how it will happen The goal is to have the cities merged by 2020. Debt held by each city prior to the passage will be the responsibility of each city until it is paid off, around 2025. Debt incurred by merged city will be serviced by merged city. 1 This will be the fourth attempt in recent years, with others in 1996, 2006 and 2009. S O U R C E : Chip Morrison, secretary, Joint Charter Commission Visit Patrons.com to find an independent Maine agent near you. Everyone is a target. Patrons Oxford Insurance Company For all the things you value. To learn more, contact your Underwriter or Marke ng Rep today! Did you know? 63% of small businesses have been a vic m of a cyber a ack in the past 12 months. Cyber Liability Coverage for Small Business! Available in our BOP program Limits of $50,000 up to $1,000,000 Comprehensive claims handling "[this] riverfront hotel puts all of L/A within footsteps" — The Boston Globe • 4,500 sq ft of divisible meeting space • 10–12ft ceilings • Group rates available • Event Planner Points 14 Great Falls Plaza • Auburn, ME 04210 ( PH ) 207-784-4433 • (FX) 207-777-9021 AuburnRiverWatch.HGI.com » C O N T I N U E D F RO M P R E V I O U S PA G E

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