I write in support of the proposed Lewiston-Auburn merger.
As the former city attorney in Auburn, I believe there are potential benefits from a merger that haven’t been discussed. A merged city council would be less likely to be swayed in making decisions influenced by a single individual or group, such as when the Auburn City Council was recently persuaded to cut off funding for the Lewiston-Auburn Economic Growth Council. I went to a meeting where leading professional from both cities were unanimous in condemning Auburn’s vote as short-sighted and unappreciative of the contributions LAEGC had made to the economic growth of both cities. Lewiston later voted to continue funding the LAEGC without Auburn’s support. Had Lewiston been fully represented, this vote would probably not have happened.
For many years, Lewiston has had high quality professional management, beginning with Lucien Gosselin and extending to current City Administrator Ed Barrett.
Former Auburn City Manager Charles Morrison and former Lewiston City Administrator Lucien Gosselin, both of whom have retired, have endorsed the merger concept and continued to serve the public through the Joint Charter Commission. As far as I know, neither one has anything to gain from their substantial investment of time other than the satisfaction of knowing that they may have helped to bring about the creation of a better and stronger L-A.
Curtis Webber, Auburn
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