Location of City Council meetings challenged

by Ethan Schuler

The most recent Waterville City Council meeting featured a discussion regarding whether the meetings should continue to be held on Colby property. While there was no official vote, several residents expressed concern about the location, both because of Colby’s growing influence over the City of Waterville and because of Colby’s policy of banning firearms, which are normally allowed at city meetings in the state of Maine, on College property.

While Mayor Nick Isgro expressed interest in understanding the public’s viewpoint on the issue, the city councilmembers who spoke voiced their concern that the downtown dorms were the most practical location, both due to space and their availability every Tuesday. Several members of the council stated that they had not heard about concerns from residents, while Isgro said that he did not think he had “sold out” by partnering with Colby. However, the residents who spoke were nearly universally opposed to the idea of continuing to hold the meetings on Colby property.

While several pointed out that they did not intend to criticize Colby directly, they were concerned about Colby’s growing influence over the community and the public perception issue arising from having city meetings on college property. Resident Sandy Sullivan said she believed “Colby and Waterville are becoming synonymous.” Many citizens used the term “Colbyville,” which has become a joke title for Waterville referring to Colby’s impact on the city (one resident used the term “Greeneville” as well). Another resident was more supportive of having the meetings on Colby property, but said he had hoped it would lead to more student involvement in city issues, which from his perspective it had not.

In addition to discussion about Colby’s perception, much of the conversation was devoted to Colby prohibiting firearms in any buildings owned by the College. The issue was initially brought up by Isgro, who stated he felt safer knowing audience members were carrying concealed weapons when threatened at previous city council meetings in other locations. Several residents reiterated this concern, pointing out that Maine state laws should allow firearms at any city council meeting, and even arguing people should be still be allowed to carry them on Colby property.

Brian Clark, Colby’s Vice President of Planning, spoke twice at the meeting about issues of Colby property. Regarding firearm possession, he reiterated that they were not allowed in the downtown dorms as per Colby’s rules, which only allow firearms among law enforcement officers. He also summarized Colby’s view regarding the meeting location, stating that unlike many local residents at the meeting, “Colby has no position on this issue; we’re entirely agnostic.”