AUBURN - The city will move forward on a project to upgrade its geographic information system capabilities.

The Auburn City Council unanimously approved a resolution Thursday authorizing a study of needed GIS upgrades, as well as the implementation of those upgrades.

The city will pay Rome, N.Y. firm PAR Government Systems Corporation approximately $10,000 to carry out the study and implement its findings. Those funds will come from a Local Government Records Management Improvement Fund grant through the state Department of Education.

City Manager Mark Palesh told the councilors the upgrades will hopefully allow the city to update maps of its water, sewer and other infrastructure. This is a project that should have happened a while ago, Palesh said.

“We're working toward really moving this project forward,” he said.

GIS is an information tool used by city departments such as fire, police, public works and engineering to gather and administer spatial data.

In other news:

* Councilors had positive words for the individuals who have invested time and money into renovations at the Auburn Public Theater. The council meeting was held at the theater, and city officials were given a tour of the facility afterward.

Theater co-founder Carey Eidel showed meeting attendees the 200-seat theater, which has yet to be finished but recently had the seating installed. The tour continued to the basement, which has yet to receive renovations.

Eidel said there are a number of possible plans for the basement, including turning it into a recording studio, television studio, artist space or music venue.

Councilor William Graney said he is impressed by the theater's progress. Many Auburnians remember shopping at the Grants department store that was located there many years ago, he said.

“This is the kind of thing that will bring people downtown,” Graney said.

* The city will have to wait to install an electrical line that would connect a natural gas power plant at the landfill to the wastewater treatment plant. The council voted 4-1 to table a resolution authorizing the approximately $453,000, which would be funded by a state grant.

Matthew Smith voted against tabling the resolution. The measure should be back on the agenda in two weeks, Mayor Michael Quill said during the meeting.

* The council will meet at an early time again next week. Councilors voted unanimously to reschedule Thursday's meeting to 4 p.m.

According to the resolution, the new time is due to the holy Thursday services that are scheduled for that evening.

Staff writer Christopher Caskey can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or christopher.caskey@lee.net.