LEBANON — Don't expect a lot of visible, dramatic changes in the city's direction or services under the new City Council, incoming members say.

        The Main Street project, on the verge of final passage before three new councilmen were elected Nov. 6, will proceed. Local phone service still will be added to the telecommunications system. Road and utility improvements will continue.

        “There's going to be some shifts, but I don't see anything radical,” said Jim Hause, sworn in Monday night as a council member.

        James Norris and Norm Dreyer II also were seated, and incumbent Amy Brewer was chosen mayor.

        Mrs. Brewer and Councilman James Reinhard, who often were a vocal minority of two on the seven-member council during the past two years, are expected to get much more support from the

        new council.

        Last week, City Manager James Patrick and City Auditor Greg Dixon made pre-emptive resignations.

        Other than that, the most visible difference on City Council will be less bickering and tension among members, several of them predicted.

        “We're a group of people who want to work together,” Mr. Hause said.

        They also are eager to work with Service Director Pat Clements — expected to be voted interim city manager at a special meeting tonight — and Deputy Auditor Sharee Dick — expected to be appointed either interim or permanent city auditor.

        “I'm not interested in running out tomorrow and starting a search for a new city manager,” Mr. Reinhard said. “... Right now, I think we've got a known quantity in Mr. Clements. He's a good manager of people.”

        Some things will change, especially as the new council rewrites the 2002 budget in the next month.

        “It needs some work,” Mr. Reinhard said of the version passed by departing council members last week. “There's some areas that could be trimmed, and I feel there's some areas that maybe need more money.”

        Departments he'd like to revisit include parks and recreation, telecommunications, information technology and human resources, he said, declining to be more specific.

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