The basics of local government.
City Charter.
Lewiston is a city, which means it has a city charter. Every 10 years, on the calendar year ending in 1, the mayor appoints a charter review committee. This committee is composed of 7 city residents who have a background in city government. They may make amendments to the charter and present them to the mayor and city council. These amendments impact the way Lewiston governs itself for the following 10 years. Click the image to read the City Charter.
Image by Phyllis Graber Jensen/Bates College
Council Meetings.
City council meetings are held on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of every month. They can be streamed on the City of Lewiston’s YouTube channel. Residents can also access the meeting agenda ahead of time. At meetings, the City Clerk will read aloud an agenda item and the potential steps the council might take. Then, Council Members will move to either accept or reject the item. The mayor will invite the public to participate in a discussion on the item at hand. Residents can speak on the spot or prepare a speech, but must follow the Council Meeting Public Participation Guidelines. Following the public commentary, the council will move to a vote on the agenda item, and determine what to do next. Keep in mind, the council might be discussing anything from transportation to housing. (Source: City of Lewiston Council Meeting Public Participation Guidelines.)
Image by Phyllis Graber Jensen/Bates College