AUBURN — During the final regular meeting of the current City Council and longtime Mayor Jonathan LaBonte, officials forwarded some ongoing projects while reflecting on the past two years.
Monday marked the last regular City Council meeting for LaBonte after six years as mayor, and he used the occasion to hand out keys to the city to three people whom he said represent Auburn’s community spirit.
LaBonte and outgoing councilors commented on their time in office. Four of the seven current councilors are leaving and the new City Council will be inaugurated Dec. 4.
“One of the greatest compliments I got while I was here was that the (City) Council meetings were boring to watch again,” LaBonte said, referring to past turmoil during council meetings. “I think we’ve done a great job taking care of the people’s business, and positioning Auburn for growth.”
He also thanked city staff for their work, and complimented City Manager Peter Crichton and Assistant City Manager Denise Clavette for “elevating the work here” at Auburn Hall.
The council will meet briefly for a special meeting next week, but there will not be another regular meeting until the new City Council is in place. City Clerk Sue Clements-Dallaire said its first meeting will be Dec. 18.
Outgoing councilors Jim Pross, Bob Stone and Adam Lee also spoke Monday. Councilor Grady Burns, who also did not seek re-election, was absent.
Pross said he has “a lot of faith and confidence” in Holly Lasagna, who is coming into Pross’s Ward 1 seat. He also urged members of the community to run for office.
“We live in a polarized society,” he said, regarding politics. “But, when we’re up here working together, everything is purple.”
Stone called the last two years an “interesting experience.” He mentioned significant accomplishments of the council, including a revamped Hampshire Street and hiring Crichton and Clavette.
Stone also lauded LaBonte, saying the city is going to miss him. He said LaBonte was often criticized for his approach.
“The mayor takes it on the chin, but he’s passionately involved,” he said.
Councilor Andrew Titus, who was re-elected, said he’s proud of the work of the current council. He said the city dealt with some “over the top” personnel issues, but “we hung in there and made the right decisions.”
He also said he learned a lot from LaBonte, saying that “much to the chagrin of city staff, I mean to use what I learned.”
LaBonte was presented a custom hockey jersey by members of the Central Maine Community College hockey team and athletic director, who thanked LaBonte for “being a great leader and passionate supporter.”
LaBonte will be replaced by Mayor-elect Jason Levesque next month, pending the results of a recount that will take place Tuesday. He beat Adam Lee by six votes on Nov. 7.
Other incoming councilors include Belinda Gerry (at-large), Bob Hayes (Ward 2) and Alfreda Fournier (Ward 4).
The City Council on Monday also approved some housekeeping items, including amendments to two tax-increment financing districts for housing projects in the pipeline. One is a workforce housing project slated for Hampshire and Troy streets. The other is a housing development — with both low-income and market-rate apartments — on Spring Street that’s been in the works for years.
Lee called the Spring Street housing, which is expected to break ground this month, the “first great stretch into the idea of having affordable housing mixed with market rate in Auburn’s downtown.”
The council also approved amendments to the city’s ordinance concerning livestock, an item that stems from the controversy this past spring when, because of conflicting city ordinances, a family was told it could no longer keep goats as pets. The family was eventually allowed to keep the pets.
LaBonte gave a key to the city to Ward 5 Councilor Leroy Walker, who represents New Auburn where LaBonte grew up. LaBonte and Walker served on the council together during all of the mayor’s three terms, and most recently joined forces at the Coalition Opposed to Lewiston-Auburn Consolidation, beating back the L-A merger effort.
LaBonte said Walker is “tenacious” in his advocacy for New Auburn, calling him a “tireless advocate.”
“There are great things coming in that area because of your great leadership,” he told Walker.
The other two keys were given to Auburn city employee Liz Allen, and Edward Little High School senior Isaac Dumont.
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