LEBANON - Three City Council members will have their last chance Tuesday night to shape city policy before they are replaced next week.

        Mark Flick, Jane Davenport and Mayor James Mills, members of Council's ruling faction, were ousted by voters Nov. 6.

        One of their final acts might be to buy financial software for the city — an effort that began more than a year ago.

        The city has twice taken and evaluated bids for software, which will cost several hundred thousand dollars. Both times, an out-of-state company bested Software Solutions Inc. of Lebanon, but SSI officials have continued to lobby for the contract.

        “This is not the software for the city of Lebanon,” Mrs. Davenport said. “I assume that will ... probably be something that we vote on.”

        Emergency language has been added to the legislation so the software can be purchased immediately if it passes. That could ensure the new Council does not have the option of canceling the deal.

        Council tabled legislation to rebuild Main Street at the last meeting after Mrs. Davenport argued that such a controversial decision should be left up to the new Council.

        The software contract, however, is different, she said Saturday.

        Going into Tuesday's meeting, it also remains unclear how and when City Manager James Patrick will exit. The three outgoing Council members have stout ly supported him, despite his July indictment on felony charges of helping two former officials commit theft in office.

        Incumbents Amy Brewer and James Reinhard, however, are expected to have the votes to fire Mr. Patrick after the new Council is seated Dec. 3. Mr. Reinhard also has floated the possibility of Mr. Patrick resigning with six months' severance pay.

        Also on the agenda:

        • A resolution adopting the downtown master plan, a blueprint for the future that's been in the works for more than a year. One element — building Bicentennial Park near the heart of the city — is under way.

        • An ordinance extending controls on new multifamily construction for nine more months. The rules, already in place for several months, give the city more leeway in deciding whether to allow new apartments and duplexes.

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