Lewiston City Council may launch housing committee
Lewiston lawmakers may soon decide to form a group dedicated exclusively to shaping the housing policies of Maine’s second-most populous city.
The city council on Tuesday is scheduled to discuss a proposed ordinance creating a standing committee on housing, according to the council agenda.
The council, which first considered the proposal in June, will consider a revised version in a workshop tomorrow.
Under the draft ordinance, the housing committee would comprise 11 members appointed by the city’s mayor and confirmed by the council. Committee members would serve staggered three-year terms.
Among the group’s duties would be:
- helping make housing recommendations from the city’s master plan;
- advising on residential development projects requiring council action;
- recommending ways to improve the quality and diversity of residential housing stock and to address lead poisoning; and
- vetting housing programs supported by state and federal funds.
The draft spells out the composition of the committee, specifying seats for landlords, tenants home owners and business people. The council is expected to discuss an addition to the ordinance requiring committee members to be Lewiston residents.
If the ordinance is enacted, Lewiston would be only the third Maine city whose governing council maintains a housing committee. Portland has long had one; South Portland established an ad hoc body in 2016, but made it a standing committee last week.
The Lewiston council is currently scheduled to formally take up the ordinance at its Sept. 3 meeting.
The workshop is scheduled for Tuesday, 6 p.m., in the council chambers at City Hall, 27 Pine St.
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