LEWISTON — The city council unanimously accepted an order Tuesday night to direct the city to stabilize erosion at 795 and 805 Lisbon St.
The property at 795 Lisbon St. is owned by Franklin Property Trust, LLC, while 805 Lisbon St. is owned by Storage Realty Co. and leased to Sullivan Tire.
Public Works Director Dave Jones, City Planner Dave Hediger and city representative Michael Paradis provided evidence showing that erosion posed a serious threat to public safety.
“Sullivan Tire is perched on a steep bank which is washing away,” Paradis said. “It is unstable and in danger of collapsing.”
He said that since 2013 the nearly 25 feet of land has eroded and the slope of the bank is at risk of failure.
It is unclear what caused the erosion, but in its research the city has found a corrugated pipe that, while measuring more than 100 feet, has no record of installation.
Without that information, the city does not know when it was installed or by whom. City officials only know that a nearby, 30-inch stormwater drainpipe was installed in the early 1970s.
The city believes the two pipes were once connected but have since separated.
“We’re very interest in finding out who put in the pipe,” City Administrator Ed Barrett said. “We don’t know for sure but we have a strong feeling it caused the erosion.”
In November, the city added fencing to secure the edge and a curb to help redirect storm water, but the council needed to approve further action.
At Tuesday’s meeting, Jones proposed installing additional fences and barriers, adding material to reduce the slope of the banking, installing riprap to strengthen the banking and prevent erosion, and filling a hole created by erosion.
The city council voted 7-0 in favor of the motion, but further discussion still must happen between the city and property owners to determine who will pay for the work.
Roy Donlon, lawyer Robert Danielson and engineer Jack O’Leary represented Sullivan Tire at the meeting Tuesday night.
They all agreed on the need to prevent further erosion and improve safety, but disagreed with the city that landowners should have to pay for the repairs.
There were no representatives present for the other property owners.
Tuesday’s meeting was also the last for Mayor Robert Macdonald and three city councilors.
“As Porky the Pig said, ‘That’s all folks,'” Mayor Macdonald said to laughter as the meeting was adjourned.
One of the councilors, Shane Bouchard, will be returning, but as Lewiston’s newly elected mayor.
The three other councilors who are leaving are Timothy Lajoie, Isobel Golden and Michael Lachance.
Each was presented with a plaque from the city, thanking him or her for “dedicated service.”
Lewiston City Councilor Michael Lachance, right, asks a question during his last council meeting at City Hall on Tuesday. Lachance is one of four city councilors who will not be returning to their positions in 2018. (Daryn Slover/Sun Journal)
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