[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6427594,"mediaKeyId","5907524-444b76667e63c2f266380c06a3744d2e","parentId",5907524,"title","Lewiston council pauses syringe-service ordinance after hours of debate; public split","audioSeconds",7080,"startMs",3600000,"endMs",10680000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5907524-444b76667e63c2f266380c06a3744d2e&start=3600&end=10680","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5907524-444b76667e63c2f266380c06a3744d2e/thumbnail_3600000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6427594/Lewiston/Androscoggin-County/Maine/Lewiston-council-pauses-syringe-service-ordinance-after-hours-of-debate-public-split","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6427594-6f0fb5ac1031766077952f8f0b1563d3/orig.mp4?Expires=1770529539&Signature=UzwXDfWm1SX~zFRbSrZ9noQJQetmoIuQjUf12bTw2xwAnfcDzsrSenIf4O8knflKvjCZ5tAXpiFa9wlx-gVSDLl8KOo6dy5QKka2rgF0T9C8BsFh9OnY3By7IT9IXuQpnkBPDvDE9OWf8-4kXkfmKuFHqH2dOoCQDuf04W~4YOdcTTQtaVSMZI5ZDP2WWU5QnnWGBhiGB0~6UQaFZ95KraT~6qdFf21aBBL2hiuFlUHbcnLuuXkfJ~mgPit7SKVNMmAPhUIj9SwDb2vTSlHFw4VuECVBuEu7~Mm7OEtC2g-1c8DNI3VUG6GbGkW9tKyUtKcNnZXXJGHr5DseUBuCWg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Lewiston, ME","date","2025-10-08T03:19:46Z","article","The Lewiston City Council voted 4–3 on a motion to table further action on proposed amendments to chapter 22 (business licenses), article 18 (syringe service programs), effectively pausing first-passage consideration of the draft ordinance.

The ordinance under discussion would set local licensing and operating requirements for SSPs (syringe service programs) in Lewiston, including zoning limits, application and reporting requirements and an earlier proposal language dealing with whether programs must operate on a strict 1-for-1 syringe exchange model. The draft before the council also included limits on the number of city licenses; staff briefed the council that the current draft permits two licenses within the city.

Supporters of looser distribution policies and more than one licensed operator argued a less restrictive approach helps public health and lets providers respond to changing needs. State and public-health speakers told councilors that limiting the number of providers and imposing strict exchange ratios could reduce the ability to meet demand and hinder harm-reduction goals. As the Maine CDC representative put it during public comment, “limiting the number of service providers would likely limit the ability of providers to nimbly respond to needs of the community.”

Opponents and some council members said the city’s recent experience with a failed provider had eroded trust and that more restrictive local provisions or fewer licenses would give the council and residents more control. Councilors who favored a restrictive approach repeatedly cited business and neighborhood impacts and urged stronger local oversight, pointing to the need for a trusted, accountable operator.

Council discussion focused on two recurring choices: how many local licenses to allow (the draft permits two) and whether to restore or require a strict 1-for-1 exchange requirement (the prior council action had removed the 1-for-1 language; an attempt to restore it was briefly reconsidered during the meeting). Several councilors proposed compromise positions — including time-limited moratoria on additional licenses or language allowing a single licensed provider to operate additional locations or mobile services — but those measures were not resolved before the motion to table passed. Councilors who supported tabling said more time and a focused workshop would help craft enforceable local rules and address concerns about zoning, mobile units and funding.

Public comment was extensive and sharply divided. Business owners, downtown residents and others described concerns about discarded needles and neighborhood safety; other speakers representing health and harm-reduction organizations urged the council to avoid restrictions that would limit access to sterile syringes and services for people who inject drugs. Spurwink, the current local provider, and its senior director, Catherine Bridal, said the organization had inherited the earlier program and could expand services if local rules permitted, noting that state certification can allow additional sites or modifications with notice to the state.

The council instructed staff and agreed to pursue additional information and follow-up. Members also scheduled a special workshop slot to continue work on the ordinance and related concerns; staff will return with refined language and details on how mobile services and multiple locations would be treated under state certification and local licensing rules.

Why it matters: The city’s ordinance will set the local process to license and oversee SSP operations, balancing public-health aims with business and neighborhood impacts. The tabled decision delays the city’s formal local rules, but the program that currently operates in the community remains legally certified at the state level while councilors refine the local ordinance.

What’s next: Councilors agreed to a special workshop to continue the discussion and asked staff to prepare a draft moratorium ordinance and to detail how mobile units and secondary locations would be handled under state and municipal requirements. The ordinance will return to the council for further action once that work is complete.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Meeting 10/7/25","oneSentenceSummary","After nearly three hours of debate and extensive public comment both for and against syringe service programs, the Lewiston City Council voted 4–3 to table further action on proposed amendments to the city's syringe service program (SSP) licensing rules until a later meeting.","taxTitle","Lewiston, Androscoggin County, Maine","taxId",2584,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6427585,"Lewiston council approves purchase of 94 Walther pistols after safety concerns about SIG P320s",3130,2520000,5650000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5907524-444b76667e63c2f266380c06a3744d2e&start=2520&end=5650","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5907524-444b76667e63c2f266380c06a3744d2e/thumbnail_2520000.jpg","/articles/6427585/Lewiston/Androscoggin-County/Maine/Lewiston-council-approves-purchase-of-94-Walther-pistols-after-safety-concerns-about-SIG-P320s","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6427585-28d81e443fe935748443ca3bf82856b9/orig.mp4?Expires=1770529540&Signature=dD9FrPoIQ53Ybke7SLAu07uPz05HUq648-igL2EIUL3aynInqyivU6KfXoj4Q0eKgqagTgB2ta65CSPeiOfmw8B0oxv7NR3zsPeUhPAHU8ByshaGPKRNkwY6t2eR6v9jQP~BMsKNNeaiv2zBaW1ksj3aKk02SonpwiR8EfcjfIIBmM~YQ5TmqzxId90MYQKl1a390oS9xQFZDJKjCowWTdScxJ15ObhkpoPzbQmW8Ya2TVvemy4oFuK1uqzmC6jPU6Mw7lNiYHw8BuT2jEt6~vp6zRun759Hc9VBRSSHwVI7G7Uq1bASvcg1-lBgWQAf4EpLh5fEZAygD42iqcsnMA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Lewiston City Council voted unanimously (7–0) to authorize the use of asset forfeiture funds to purchase 94 Walther PDP pistols to replace the department’s SIG Sauer P320 pistols.

Interim Police Chief Higgins told the council the department had reviewed national reports indicating the SIG P320 series “has been accidentally discharging or discharging easily, without pulling the trigger,” and the department wants to replace its pistols “as soon as possible” to maintain officer and public safety. The council approved the order to use asset forfeiture funds to buy the Walther pistols and to dispose of the existing SIGs.

Council discussion covered three practical and budgetary points: the safety risk posed by the P320s, the likely trade-in or resale value of the existing pistols, and legal exposure. Chief Higgins and Detective Nick Wiers, the department’s firearms instructor, described the national litigation and the absence of an industry-wide buyback or refund program. Higgins said the department faces a choice: hold the weapons and hope for a future manufacturer reimbursement tied to litigation or sell them now (the department has a trade-in offer of approximately $200 per pistol, about $18,000 total).

Councilor Herrmann asked whether the manufacturer was offering refunds; Higgins said Sig Sauer was not offering refunds and the company was contesting the allegations. Councilor Grant asked the city attorney about liability; the councilor said the city attorney had advised that selling the pistols to a federal firearms licensee would not create municipal liability in the event of later incidents. Councilors also discussed storage and armorer training; Detective Wiers said the department’s armorers would be trained by the vendor at no cost.

Members of the public spoke during the item. A number of speakers supported replacing the pistols quickly rather than gambling on future litigation outcomes; one commenter wrote that some ranges were already limiting or banning the P320s for safety reasons.

Vote and next steps: The motion to authorize the asset forfeiture expenditure and to dispose of the SIG P320s passed 7–0. The police department will complete procurement paperwork, accept the trade-in offer to a federal firearms licensee or otherwise dispose of the SIGs according to federal and state law, and bring back a record of the sale or storage decisions.

Why it matters: The vote commits city asset-forfeiture funds to a weapons replacement driven by safety concerns and national litigation over a widely used police sidearm. The choice balances immediate risk-reduction with uncertainty about potential future reimbursements.","Council approved using asset forfeiture funds to buy 94 Walther PDP pistols to replace SIG Sauer P320s amid reports of unintended discharges; vote 7–0.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6427580,"Lewiston council adopts higher general-assistance maximums for 2025–26; housing, overall caps rise ~12%",240,1890000,2130000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5907524-444b76667e63c2f266380c06a3744d2e&start=1890&end=2130","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5907524-444b76667e63c2f266380c06a3744d2e/thumbnail_1890000.jpg","/articles/6427580/Lewiston/Androscoggin-County/Maine/Lewiston-council-adopts-higher-general-assistance-maximums-for-202526-housing-overall-caps-rise-12","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6427580-944d0c13c801da6ad6a4e2647816f4d0/orig.mp4?Expires=1770529540&Signature=N5SXYJWGm~b0Gtc9EMyMKnY1zwIt1aNw1YGZvSGonch6-jcHKHtCU5ZRiqoAdTbUdgBgfGPzXBzr~eNoTQO12zJ2HlLY2Tse0gt7PEeuz6eDU4Og18p2Pr4PKyqR2X4t0BzrOBaauBthrkaAXykaPn0J1r-g2xxh6g1G8UHgsF8f77bQwsURspQdtnyd61JJ8oCnCy95p6ZQVWAP9QQMIplcAlTvdjNsIyyy~03nw3-c0-9VBKwBQmzQrI-HrfGlQpbPNtyXk8EIeMjL3gbIp2W4dYvOYNcTQNF~dHVzgdrMMSHbdBAsPxaO2C136eATLfljXGxK6iQPeviG1Jr7nw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Lewiston City Council voted to adopt updated maximums for general assistance payments effective Oct. 1, 2025, through Sept. 30, 2026. The motion passed 6–0 with one abstention (Ward 6).

Elaine Brackett, the city’s social services director, presented the changes. Brackett said the overall maximum for eligible general assistance recipients increased by 12.25 percent. Housing maximums rose by approximately 12 percent and food maximums increased by 2 percent. Mileage rates increased by 8 percent, and recovery-residence maximums rose by approximately 13 percent. Brackett also noted a new monthly maximum for recovery residences with 26 beds or more, based on recently enacted legislative changes (LD 215); the larger-residence rate was set at 70 percent of the lower-bed-rate, per the bill’s calculations.

Councilor Chittum asked why maximum increases for households of five or six people were smaller (about 4 percent) than the increases for smaller household sizes; Brackett said the state-level calculations and Maine Welfare Directors Association guidance determine the household schedule and that she would follow up with specific computation details. No public commenters appeared for this agenda item.

Vote and next steps: The council adopted the proposed maximums by roll-call vote (6 yes, 1 abstain); Brackett will provide the requested clarification on the household-size calculation and finalize the revised policy document.

Why it matters: These changes adjust city assistance levels to reflect HUD fair-market rents and changes in the federal poverty guidelines and the Thrifty Food Plan. The adjustments affect the assistance available to residents who rely on city general assistance for food, housing, utilities and other essential needs.","The council approved updated maximums for city general assistance effective Oct. 1, 2025. Overall maximums rose by 12.25 percent, housing allowances increased by about 12 percent and food maximums by 2 percent; the motion passed 6–0 with one abstention.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6427571,"Votes at a glance: Lewiston City Council actions on licenses, property disposition, 9-1-1 site and appointments",3990,1700000,5690000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5907524-444b76667e63c2f266380c06a3744d2e&start=1700&end=5690","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5907524-444b76667e63c2f266380c06a3744d2e/thumbnail_1700000.jpg","/articles/6427571/Lewiston/Androscoggin-County/Maine/Votes-at-a-glance-Lewiston-City-Council-actions-on-licenses-property-disposition-9-1-1-site-and-appointments","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6427571-066f7205452583de437adaecdbdcbd80/orig.mp4?Expires=1770529540&Signature=objBz-MakBIAEZVRi4JMFnxzMIFSG~MhYAii807SSUoHxl4pq0axFC8xwajw3TrPeKGjeaTIDJ3~fwhXeW75v87yTrI258ZYcMnNFYIcvL8qZY3faxFq0SCZIkRH~KedLFPuD6tzfr9Q5uHf8l2ujMIVhvSHx6BWdZXhdIK-YBck392DaaDL5CLJJQ~QVXTTSB1cflJkFHSF3rAXoinEdHosAI2dFfY8LuZ8xWNPcn-PNVZcZGdojO4ThZXE9aDAotnA2n1XVH98xktAKsBbB4r-SbKDdlXRdprXAM9qwDpBYysIMym-2J6hwqjbFf-HPsh1bw2yZN8zDkp~gpC8Jw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At its meeting the Lewiston City Council took the following formal actions (roll-call outcomes as recorded):

- Consent agenda (three items: continuations related to 54 Knox Street condemnation/hearing and an appointment to the Lewiston Housing Authority Board of Commissioners) — Adopted by roll call, motion passed 7–0.

- Business license renewal for Merrimack River Medical Services Inc., an outpatient addiction treatment clinic at 18 Mollison Way — Approved subject to attached conditions, motion passed 7–0.

- Public hearing and adoption of general-assistance maximums for 2025–26 (see separate article) — Motion passed 6–0 with one abstention (Ward 6).

- Authorization to dispose of city-owned property: 40 Robinson Gardens — Motion passed 7–0.

- Authorization to dispose of city-owned property: 834 Main Street — Motion passed 7–0.

- Approval of recommended location for the new Lewiston-Auburn 9-1-1 communications dispatch center (committee recommended Auburn City Hall as host) — Motion passed 7–0.

- Authorization to use asset forfeiture funds to buy 94 Walther PDP pistols and to dispose of existing SIG P320 pistols — Motion passed 7–0 (see separate article for discussion).

- Syringe service program ordinance (proposed amendments to Chapter 22, Article 18): first-passage consideration and public hearing were discussed at length; council ultimately voted 4–3 to table further consideration and directed staff to prepare additional materials and a workshop.

Votes noted above correspond to formal motions recorded in the meeting minutes; some items included extended public comment or staff presentations. The council also scheduled follow-up work: staff were directed to return with clarified ordinance text, a moratorium draft and a staff report for a dedicated workshop before the next regular meeting.

Detailed item provenance (selected): see the actions list below.","A compact summary of formal votes taken at the Lewiston City Council meeting: multiple property dispositions, a business-license renewal for an addiction treatment clinic, authorization for a 9-1-1 dispatch center location and several other routine items; one high-profile ordinance (syringe service program) was tabled for further work.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Lewiston council pauses syringe-service ordinance after hours of debate; public split

Lewiston council approves purchase of 94 Walther pistols after safety concerns about SIG P320s

Lewiston council adopts higher general-assistance maximums for 2025–26; housing, overall caps rise ~12%

Votes at a glance: Lewiston City Council actions on licenses, property disposition, 9-1-1 site and appointments