WATERVILLE - His promise to veto a plan to develop the Head of Falls riverfront for public use has effectively killed it, Mayor Paul LePage said Wednesday.

On Tuesday night, the city council voted 4-2, with one abstention, in favor of the project, which would be completed next year. The city would pay around $180,000 in money it already has borrowed from the state for riverfront development.

The deadline for the application, however, is Friday.

"I have 10 days to apply the veto, so it's a dead issue," LePage said.
LePage, a Republican who is up for re-election on Nov. 4, and City Manager Michael Roy disagreed pointedly on the issue Tuesday night. Ward 3 Councilor Rosemary Winslow, a Democrat, opposes LePage on the ballot.

Winslow, Henry Beck, Dana Sennett and Thomas Longstaff voted for the riverfront development. Charles Stubbert and Stephen Aucoin were opposed, and John O'Donnell abstained.