City Council - workshop

Yeah. Sure. Yeah. But Jessica.

Yeah, I would.

The July 20th 2026 Auburn City Council workshop will be called to order the first item on the agenda is a tax increment financing and credit enhancement agreement historical review. Presentation this will be a presented by Greg the rule he's a financial consultant with municipal Association has been working with the city on the review of if and the year. Mister room.

Thank you. I don't want to bore you too much, though, but I want the a workshop to be interactive. So anytime you have questions, just feel free to ask. When Phil and I talked about this a couple months ago, he said that the council had a variety of knowledge. Some newer councils had less experience in it. So I felt tonight would be good to give a short kind of introduction of what TIFs are all about to start. So I'll start there. Then I'll try to provide a short overview of each of the TIFs that the city has. Some I'll spend very little time. We'll just breeze over them. Others we'll delve into it, and I might have some recommendations to consider going forward. Some of the TIFs date back many years, and we try to provide the data in a cumulative sense to those TIFs that it was feasible to do that. Some that dated back prior to them being kind of organized in Munis properly, it wasn't really feasible to really get that data in an economic sense. It would have taken me many more hours to tabulate that time. So we opted to provide information on a cumulative basis for those funds, those TIFs that we could. Majority of them we have. So. As Mayor Harmon mentioned, I am a CPA. I've worked for a CPA firm for 10 years. Then I worked in various governments, city of Bath, where I worked on the BIW TIF, a very large TIF. I moved to Freeport and worked on the LLB and TIFs. Then I worked with Emily for a number of years at South Portland. And they have some of the larger TIFs in the state with Fairchild Semiconductor, Texas Instruments. And they have a variety of housing TIFs. They have a transit TIF. They have a downtown TIF. They have just similar to your experience here. So I have a pretty broad experience with TIFs. Bill asked me to come and kind of do kind of a grassroots review of each of the TIFs. There's been some transition in various positions, and, you know, TIFs aren't always straightforward, and they're oftentimes confusing in a lot of natures. So we tried to kind of get a broad review of all the TIFs. And I'm kind of doing this presentation and allowing you to feel free to ask questions. Overall, TIFs, or tax increment financing districts, are an excellent mechanism for a municipality. They're an economic tool. There's some people are very opposed to them. I am on the other side. I think that there's a great need for them to stimulate development. And they're a very excellent tool for municipalities. But there is a caveat there, is that there's a balance. And I'll talk about a balance a little bit to start out. To the extent that they provide a function to this municipality, I'm very much an advocate for it. You know, they create jobs, a necessity. They provide infrastructure improvements that don't otherwise get done unless there's the development. So in some respects, I am very much an advocate for gifts. In other areas, I am cautious. And, you know, so my spectrum is, positive but cautious. And they're not a freebie for all businesses. And they're not intended to be a freebie. And that's kind of my philosophy. And each council develops its own philosophy. My philosophy is they're a good tool. Let's use them appropriately. So that's where I start my conversation. They are used to capture. value from a development. And that capturing of value produces revenue, which is then used to do certain authorized project costs, i.e., for the most part, infrastructure is the predominant item that they're used for to pay for infrastructure that wouldn't otherwise get built. And that includes, you know, First TIFs were basically simple ones, like I'll give you an example later. They were used to build industrial parks. You have a TIF just like that here, an industrial park TIF. where you did the infrastructure, you built it out, and you developed the infrastructure, and then you sold the lots in the hopes that businesses would come, produce taxes that would then pay for the debt service. So that's a simple TIF. Then the legislature recognized that, well, should municipalities always be taking that risk factor? And they allowed the developer to take some of the risk and build the infrastructure and then get a reimbursement for part of the taxes that they pay in over time. And that's where a credit enhancement agreement kind of falls into the equation. So I'll talk about that a little bit. Downtown areas are very much advocates for TIFs to promote downtown activities. You have one here. Economic development. The money can be used to further develop economic development and all of your TIFs have it in some capacity. Some aren't really well defined and amend will be a broad recommendation that I'm gonna be providing to you. Transportation projects are often excellent uses of TIFs You know, road projects, excellent uses of TIF. Public safety was broadened, the legislature broadened the definition of what can be of use for, and you have that here and it's been incorporated into your TIFs. I'll talk a little bit more about that. Recreation, recreation trails, some of your TIFs have that as an authorized use. Affordable housing, again, some of your tips have that. But there's a pretty broad spectrum of what's now been allowed. It's been broadened dramatically. But in a sense, all you do is you capture the tax, and then it's able to be used for these approved, authorized project costs. Think of it in that sense. Many of us use acronyms, and so I wanted to kind of jump to some of the key terms that are often I'll be throwing out, so that way you'll all be understanding TIF, Tax Increment Financing Districts. So in most TIFs, you have a series of lots that are specifically designed to capture the tax on that district. And so you'll see a tax map that plots out. There's these four lots that represent the tax. And the growth on that is, as we said, is used to pay for the cost. OAV is another term, original assessed value. So that's the value of the property before it was turned into a TIF. Oftentimes, that's very low. It's a vacant or depleted lot that doesn't have much value. So that's the OAV is a standard term. Capture percent. And that is, there's some discretion that the council has as to what percent it will capture of those tax revenues. To the extent that a project is very much desired, higher the percentage becomes. Or there is a use of that TIF that would otherwise force you to do those projects on the, general property tax side. To the extent that those would normally have to be paid for, you can increase that percent. But I always kind of caution, that's where caution comes into play. You can't tiff everything at 100%, because then you get no growth, per se, for the general tax base. You get it on the long term, at the end of the TIF, but still, it's a balancing act that I've always kind of talked about with TIFs. So I'm never an advocate of 100% TIF, unless there's a real basis for why you might do it at 100%. Jobs. Credit enhancement agreement, that's an agreement with the developer to receive reimbursement for property taxes paid to recover the costs associated with the development. And often there is another percent in the phrase, what's the CEA percent? You capture 100% and the CEA is at 60% of the 100%. That's kind of the terminology that's utilized within TIF districts. Approved authorized project costs. I didn't have this on my list, but it's a concern. you've got to recognize that you can only pay for those costs that are authorized. And the statute very much specifically defines what is authorized to be spent within a TIF, and then this council or whatever council is approving it needs to approve what costs are authorized, and then the state has to approve it. Or the state DEDC or the state housing authority, depending upon the type of TIF, So those are important variables that you can't just go spend it for whatever you want. It's still statutorily limited as to what you can spend it on. The last kind of term that I wanted to kind of talk about is the tax shift benefit. And there is an ancillary benefit by capturing this tax. But there's a misconception, oftentimes, in what that tax benefit is. It's essentially, you build and you put in a facility, and it's gonna add $40 million of value to your community. Well, state revenue sharing, state education subsidy, and county tax all flow from a variable of state valuation. To the extent a project increases value, it ultimately reduces your state education subsidy because those formulas all flow from state valuation. So to the extent that value is added in regards to a project, normal project, it adds to your state valuation. So your state subsidies decline. And this is where the misconception is. Everybody says, OK, there's a tax shift benefit. But what it really is, you do not lose that state revenue for subsidy for education. You do not lose on the state revenue sharing. And you don't have to pay more cost in regards to your county tax. So that's the misconception. And I wanted everybody to be aware of that. Tax shift benefit is really just the opposite. It's tax benefit savings from a loss of revenue. So that's a misconception I wanted to put on the table that the council can understand. I like to show an example because it kind of easier to understand when you show an example. So this is the example where you build an industrial park. And in this example, the city spends $3 million to build an industrial park. It sells some lots for $1 million. So it has a net investment on the project, $2 million. It has to pay for that. So oftentimes, a municipality will bond for that project. And ultimately, over 10 or 15 or 20 years, whatever you finance that for, you're going to have an annual debt service for it. This example I'm just throwing out there is $275,000. It could be done through property tax base, just general property taxes. But in this case, you capture the tax that's generated from the increase in value. So you can see here, original OAV, $500,000. The development brings on, increases that value by $20 million. And then you capture it at 100%. That's the council debate whether or not, whatever project they're doing, they can do that debate. They then capture that $20 million and it produces essentially $320,000 in this example. So that $320,000 pays for the debt service of $275,000 a year. These don't always work out immediately. You don't sell those lots immediately. So there may be, and you'll see it in your examples, that where the fund or the TIF will run into a deficit for a period of time. It will ultimately catch up, hopefully, sometimes. Sometimes it doesn't. But in most instances and in all your instances, they all become whole at the end of the term. 20 years, but you have debt service for 10 years, well, on the backside, it's going to catch up. And that's prevalent in some of your TIFs. Next example is the CEA example, whereby the developer pays for the infrastructure and pays the $3 million. It bills... its project, and it spends $20 million that's assessed. And similar example, except for one thing. The developer assumes the risk. There's a big difference there. And in that instance, the CEA makes the developer whole. Over time, they effectively get a reimbursement for part of the property taxes they pay, including interest, their investment costs. So big difference, and I think it's a, when possible, it's very much a proponent to allow the risk to be assumed by the developer. I'm going to jump to all your tips now. Procter & Gamble TIF number six. And you get numbered. I like the TIF. It made it easier for me to kind of jump from one TIF to the next. But ultimately, Procter & Gamble TIF is a very large, large TIF. It provides a CEA back to the developer 75%. It is on its last legs. It has five years left. It does produce about $300,000, $400,000 a year, of which three-quarters of that goes back to the developer. It provided jobs. It had merit of value when it was first established. It only has five years left. There's also 25% of that property tax is city project cost. i.e., city can use it for those project costs that it defines within the development plan and subsequent amendments. So again, this is one of those ones, it's an older TIF, and it isn't very well-defined of what the use is, and I would recommend you broaden the uses that are allowed within that TIF, and you're probably gonna be able to do it on a blanket basis for a number of these TIFs. You'll do an amendment for TIPS 6, 10, 12, 14, 18, 19, 20 at one scoop at some point in the future. That would be my recommendation. And this one in particular, it has $300,000. And the balance here is all available on project costs. Anything that the project would originally envision could be used for this. very broad economic development downtown action plan. It was a paragraph. It could probably be defined a little bit more concrete and allow, I would, you know, one of your big projects that you just approved a number of years, a couple of years ago, was the public safety building. I would add public safety contribution to pay that debt service out of this building. Plain and simple. A lot of your early TIFs. The downtown TIF is probably your biggest TIF and has the most money. And it has... paid over time, a fair amount for the parking garage here. But all that debt is now paid off. And so there are, again, it's in its latter years. It has another, what, 10 years left? Or nine years left, eight years? management is looking at what potentially these funds could be used for. We have $3.6 million here in this fund. And it generates another $1.3 million a year. So to the extent that you want to do projects in the downtown area, it is available to you. The Auburn Industrial Park. As you can see, it has a deficit of a little under $1 million. But that has one year left on the debt service. So it will incur an additional $300,000 this coming year and only take in $200,000 of property tax revenue. But thereafter, it will be taking in $200,000 a year until the TIF expires, and then thereafter, on a perpetual basis, hopefully, for those businesses that reside within the industrial park. So this one has a deficit today, but in five to six years from now, it should essentially become whole. And over life, there will be available resources that could be used to be spent for other purposes. Again, amend, amend, amend. Retail development. This one had a very extensive list of capital improvements. And it has incurred debt. The debt has now been fully paid. Management, again, is looking at what projects were originally envisioned on this project, on this TIF. And it has resources that could be used. So the amend to include other authorized uses is a recommendation on this one. I'm going to come back to this, too. One of the things that this council can do is modify the capture percent. And in some respects, there's another TIF that I would suggest that you increase the percent. And I like to balance that. To the extent you might increase that capture percent for TIF 25, I would say you could effectively come back to this TIF and slightly modify it down. So that way there's really no negative impact for increasing the capture within the TIF 25. You could just essentially shift it. from this TIF to that TIF by just doing the changing the capture percent. So that would be my recommendation. This TIF had substantial debt service. It is currently running at a deficit. But all the CEA and debt is now paid off. So it will be turning the corner in FY26. By the end of FY26, this TIF will probably have a surplus. and going forward. As you can see, it generates about $400,000 a year, $425,000 on an annual basis. So that, again, management is looking at reviewing to see how do we restructure allowed uses. Are there other projects? Projects, I'm going to jump back Statutes essentially look at within the district, costs that are within the district. So you do projects that are within that confines. And they look at, well, what's adjacent or have an impact, might have an impact to a pump station that feeds that district. So that's the second element within the district. Then it broadens the loose. That pump station may not be the only thing. You could have the treatment plant down not even close proximity that might have. So that's the third leg of TIF that's authorized. The fourth leg is community-wide. And economic development kind of falls in that community-wide element. So you look at your cost here. So again, management's looking at this TIF. going to come back to you at some point and say, well, going forward, what do we want to do with this tip? It still has 12 years of life to it, I believe. So it's going to produce some revenue, has some positive benefits that could occur to support the community. We're going to jump into a number of affordable tips, affordable housing tips. And those are different in nature in that the council made it conscientious decision to support affordable housing. And it's real in need. I mean, I look at it in my own household. My son, I don't know if he'll ever be able to afford a house at today's prices. So affordable housing has some real concerns with many communities. And so you have a number of affordable housing tips that are very, you know, support affordable housing. I think there's a lot of merit to affordable housing. In this case, simple. CEA's provided back to the developer for a portion of their development cost to reduce rents or cost of that project cost. Hart Transportation is an older TIF. Well, it's 10 years old. It also was sold, and there's some question as to... CEA was never transferred to the new owner, and so it's really a kind of question that management's looking at to make a decision. Should it be terminated? Or should we amend the TIF to allow for other uses, even though the CEA is no longer relevant? There's some positives that could be utilized from this TIF for other purposes. 62, another affordable housing TIF. tip over at CEA, 100%, 76% capture. So council at that time made a decision that we want to, 24% is gonna go to support general property taxes, the other 76% is gonna be captured, and CEA was provided 100% back to the developer. These next two are a little bit of a twist in that affordable housing oftentimes brings with it added cost to education because affordable housing typically has kids involved with those residents. And many of the TIFs have kind of recognized that, and the state and the statute kind of allowed for, you know, that added cost that comes with affordable housing is the education side. So in this TIF as well as in the next one, there was a provision there that's kind of fallen through the cracks. But we kind of re-elevated that. And so there is currently $168,000 in this TIF. And in the next TIF, there's an additional amount. I don't remember the exact amount. But my recommendation and management Phil has talked to the superintendent, and there's this intended expectation of how you're gonna use that money going forward. The money will go to support education, and there's a middle school cost, so it's gonna go towards that project. So that's something that I'll let Phil kind of fill you in on with superintendent's support. So my recommendation in both these TIFs, they provide for about $30,000, $35,000 of support back to education. But some money is built up here. And so I would say let's double up or basically $60,000 would be provided to the school from each of those TIFs for a number of years to kind of get you to support this whole middle school reorganization kind of thing that's going on. So you're doubling up in that cost there. The Auburn Memory Care is another one of these TIFs that incurred some debt. So it is collecting revenues of about $74,000 a year. And it's paying out currently this year was $121,000. So you can see the deficit has been a slow accumulation of a deficit. But it has five more years of debt service on this TIF. But the TIF runs for 20 years. So on the back side, the last 10 years, it will be providing have no debt service. So in that respect, it will not have a deficit on the long term. It also has, one of the things that I haven't really talked about is that many of these credit enhancement agreements will have caps, where they will have, and this one in particular has a cap of $625,000. So once that cap is reached, the city has no further obligation to pay that credit enhancement. Or there might be a time element where CEAs for 10 years or 12 years or 15 years, then after that time period, even though it may not have hit the cap, the credit enhancement will expire. So in that respect, some of these have CEAs that will kind of be paid off. And after that, more money flows to the city side. Think of it, the developer side and the city side of the TIF. And so in that sense, once this TIF is fully paid off at CEA, more money will go on the other side, to the city side. As you'll note here at the bottom, I am recommending that you add economic development and public safety as an amendment to this TIF, as well as others. TIF 24. This is predominantly currently a CEA TIF. It was a 51% capture. with 100% CEA of what's been captured. But once it hits the cap, you will have money that flows over to the city side, and you can do some project costs. It was envisioned that some road work would be done, and it would also envision that it has, it's one of the TIFs that has a contribution to help pay the debt service on the public safety facility. FutureGuard, TIF number 25. This is the one that had some significant road improvements. It initially envisioned $1.5 million of road improvements, as well as the cost up front of designing improvements of $200,000. So in that respect, is able to only pay a small fraction of the actual debt service because the value that has been generated within this TIF, two things. Only phase one of this project has been completed, and it still has phase two, which may or may not be done. I don't know any of the particulars on that project or when it's gonna be done or if it's ever gonna be done. But in this respect, it's only able to, Phil and Kelsey and I had a discussion, we're really only able to fund 1 8th of the $3 million of debt service that is on that project. So to the extent that you can increase the capture percent, you get the benefit and it's more in alignment with what the expectation is. So in this TIF, my recommendation is increase the capture percent to 100%. so that would allow you to on a going forward basis after you increase that capture percent fund more of the debt service maybe it increases to one one quarter uh went immediately upon approval that increased to 100 and then maybe when phase two of the project kind of kicks in you're able to fund maybe one half you know so you know it takes the burden off of the general fund from paying that debt service. To the extent that the debt service can be sheltered, you get the tax benefit of the sheltered value. So my recommendation is to the extent possible, increase the capture to the extent, 100% if you can. Just wanted to check on time, so we got a little bit of time more. I'm just gonna keep on going then. North River Road Apartments, it generates about $81,000 a year. It has no CEA agreement. So in that respect, you can use it 100% for what the intended use is. There's some debt that may or may occur in regards to some of these roads. So on an ongoing basis, you can use it to pay the debt service for these road improvements. Public safety, to the extent that you have available money, could be used for, our recommendation is to use it for public safety construction, use it for economic development, DECD is allowed for economic development in a lot of these TIFs, and it's placed caps or limits of what it can be used for, for public safety, economic development. And as you'll see in some of these future TIFs, the later TIFs, you'll see that there's been other allowed uses, and to a certain percent can be used for it. So economic development here is capped at $20,000 a year. Stable Ridge, next TIF. Again, more road work to the extent that you do those projects in the future. You'll have money here to help pay the debt service for those projects. This year we utilized it to fund $26,000 administrative cost and economic development cost. So that fund currently has a little over a half a million dollars in it. When you do those Court Street, Park Street, Russell Ave, road projects, you could essentially pay for it correctly out of this TIF instead of borrowing. Or if you do borrow, you could pay for it on an ongoing basis on a debt service basis. Agrin, it's 100% capture. It has a CEA of 43% with a cap of $1 million. You can see a lot of the TIFs got a little bit more restrictive with the caps, with the CEA agreements not as high. Some of the early ones were 70%, 75% now. You've been a little bit more cautious and more, so this CEA is at 43% currently, with a cap of $1 million. number of authorized usage, and the list within the capital and projects, or capital improvements is much broader. And so to the extent there's oftentimes in those lists, there is utility upgrades. You have to do a water main upgrade or a sewer upgrade. Those are all built in some of those project authorized items. So you have to look back at the specific TIF and see what is authorized within it. TIF 29, 186 Maine. Again, CEA, this one was at 75%, with a cap of $1 million for 12 years. This is, it's in its infancy, so it's really, you know, it's only a couple years old. Hasn't been fully developed at this point, so still only has $4,000 in the TIF at June 30th. All these numbers that I'm giving are preliminary numbers for June 30th. There may be some legal cost or whatever that's charged to some of these TIFs. So these are approximations of what, maybe some small tweaks to the balances. Diamond Point, this one has a little bit more beef to it. As you can see, this current year, just under $140,000. $67,000 with 50% capture going back to the developer, CEA. But it also has 50% being used for city project costs. So the money over time will accumulate in this fund. Good use of it, public safety, affordable housing, broad list of capital improvements, economic development. And this one added this building, central admin, to the extent that you need to do improvements to this facility or any administrative buildings as an authorized use. That wasn't available many years ago. Just recently has that been, that amendment allowed for administrative costs, central administrative costs. This project is just, as of this past year, really had no capture. Skip over this one. But again, similar uses. and Mount Auburn Housing Development, no CEA, but it's generating a fair amount of money this year, $137,000, some broad list of authorized use, and I think management has a better understanding what these buckets are now, that we've kind of gone through that and spent some time with staff, and that is an important element that you have these buckets of money, but understand what's authorized and what's not authorized within each of these buckets. You get 25 TIFs, active TIFs, or thereabouts. So it's somewhat challenging to understand all of these buckets of money as to what can be used and what's authorized within each of these individual TIFs. Public safety debt is several TIFs, all the latter TIFs right now, are starting to generate value. And to that extent, within the authorization this year coming up, FY27, you'll see that you'll be able to utilize some of these dollars to pay for part of that debt service. And it was somewhat of a question of whether or not we start using it in 26 versus 27. We kind of made the decision, or management's now made the decision, with the big step up of debt service this year, it's best to use it, to hold off and use it this coming year and subsequent years, so. That's not insignificant, that service that's for the public safety. Again, broken record here, amend some of those old ones, get the benefit of paying for some of this public safety to the extent the state allows you. When those TIFs were originally, public safety was very specific and very restrictive. become a little broader. They may allow you to go back to those old TIFs that have achieved a lot of their original goals. Now they have a little extra money. We'll see if the state will allow you to broaden and authorize those uses. Takeaways. Amend, amend, amend. I'm not going to dwell on that anymore. But in this respect, you can develop a model for economic development. and say, we want to be able to use it for XYZ within economic development, and then get that model incorporated into the amendment. So TIF 6, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15 is going to use this very defined definition of economic development and gives management a greater ability to allocate those costs. You already do it to some extent. In my opinion, it was probably a little aggressive. But this would very easily define it in a way that you can back it up with the actual plan documents themselves. There are few tips like the downtown chip that have available dollars that management is looking at and will be kind of coming back and say, OK, we have these dollars and how do we want to spend it within the capital plan going forward? I think those are. Some significant dollars there that you could basically look at and utilized within your capital improvement plans. And get them paid for with tip dollars. Schools, TIF 22 and 21, utilize that for the schools as they were intended. Look at the capture percent for TIFs 13, 14, 15, 25, maybe potentially tweak it a little bit. Monitoring CEAs, TIF 19 is a good example. It's been dormant for three years. because of the transition from the old owner to the new owner. It's just kind of sat there. So conscious of those CEAs and when they expire, when they don't expire, all that. So we've set some systems in place to essentially monitor those CEAs a little bit more closely so that those are in place now. There's one takeaway that I forgot to put on my, but I recalled it on my way here tonight. Documents create an electronic directory of all final documents. A lot of them are in binders, and I recall that in South Portland we had binders in one room, storage room, all these different TIFs. Electronic. And some of the documents that I was working with couldn't even find signed copies. Now, they probably do exist within the city clerk's office. We didn't go back and try to, but, you know, so a takeaway that I wanted to add onto this presentation was create an electronic library of all these TIFs. So it makes it easier for staff to kind of look back and say, well, what's the use? The last is this balance kind of concept, balancing impact to general services. And it's understand the tax shift benefit, using TIFs to pay for costs that result from development, i.e., you build a manufacturing facility, it has impacts on traffic, has impacts on utilities. Use them to mitigate those added costs. They're great tools. Pay for those costs. Evaluate TIFs on a benefit basis. Do they generate jobs? Advocate for those TIFs, because jobs are so important. Housing. So to the extent that projects are important to a community, you have this tool to sponsor and support those. not a general assistance for businesses. It basically gives you the tools to promote and get those projects that are going to help broaden your tax base. That's the takeaway that I wanted to. Think long term. To the extent that you can bring in a business of $20 million of value doesn't impact school system, added cost to school system, it helps to pay for that on the long term.

With that, open the floor for questions. Thank you very much, Mr. LaRue. We really appreciate your work on this. Questions from the council?

I'm so glad thank you thank you for the presentation I have a lot of questions but I'm just gonna ask one in the interest of time are you seeing changing habits with municipalities as far as their appetite for TIFs or creation of more discontinuation of existing TIFs to get those taxes back into the tax levy just curious have you seen any trends I think that I think they're they're very much utilized across the board many many communities and I think that there has been

There's a couple. Some citizens have come out against it because they don't really understand the underlying benefits that result. I use my South Portland example with the semiconductors. They were big users of sewer. They used a lot of water in their production facility. The city of South Portland has an extremely low sewer rate. because it had the benefit of getting Texas Instruments to pay for a lot of the upgrades to the sewer system. So you might provide them a credit enhancement agreement that provides them some benefit to support that development that they did, but what they provided on the backside for support of broader tax base was very positive.

Other questions? So if councils have specific questions, feel free to follow up with the city manager. This is quite a bit to digest, but you can follow up with the city manager. And I'm assuming you'll be able to circulate the presentation to the council.

Yeah, I will send it today to everyone so you'll have it. I want to really thank Greg. He's done a great job working with the team as well. We do have a system in place, as Greg said. We'll be utilizing MUNIS. They have an ability to be able to not only have the dollar amounts in, but to have all the supporting documentation. We can actually tie that in and have that. that history that legacy of those will be in the system along before long after other any of us change offices and and shift so that's what's been needed this will be really beneficial for us Council will probably see this come back before you with a plan probably the next next month. You'll see this come back before you with, now what do we do with the recommendations that Greg's brought forward? Glenn will present those back before us.

Thank you. Any final thoughts? Council Gary.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. This was an excellent presentation. I know we've had TIF presentations in the past. Could we get some of the information that was given out in the past, like a listing of all our TIFs? I mean, I don't mean all the documentation, but a list of what one is, or two is, and three is, and the years and stuff.

So yeah, you raise another good point. I think it's worth clarifying we started out with six and some of the early ones we skipped the numbers because those TIFs are closed out. But I think the presentation, Mr. Manager, will have all of the active TIFs. Mr. LaRue has provided those. So I think you'll have all the information. If there's something else that you think is missing, feel free to inquire with the manager.

Thank you. Thank you very much.

Any final thoughts on that? Again, thank you very much, Mr. LaRue. We appreciate your presentation. We'll move on to the next item in the workshop, which is continuation of prior workshop activities related to the mobile home rent stabilization draft ordinance. I would call the council's attention to the draft in the packet at sections 3B. And for aye, there are red line changes. This is similar to the prior discussions. These are items that appeared to be the sentiment of the council to include these changes. If there's no objection from the council, they'll be included in the draft that comes forward at first reading. Are there any other questions or comments on mobile home rent stabilization? Councillor Rendell.

So I just want to say that the ordinance has come a long way and it reflects months of work thoughtful decision and genuine willingness to listen to one another and keep the draft moving. I want to thank the staff, the mayor, my fellow counselors, the residents who came forward to share their experiences and for the advocates of the mobile home park residents. I also want to thank counselors who are willing to step outside their comfort zones a little bit, ask difficult questions, and carefully consider different perspectives throughout this process. The ordinance before us today creates real protections. It establishes reasonable limits on annual rent increases. requires transparency and documentation when increases above those limits are requested gives both residents and park owners an opportunity to be heard before an independent rent stabilization board and creates a clear predictable process instead of uncertainty at the same time it recognizes that park owners should have the opportunity to recover legitimate costs and earn a fair return on their investment through the same transparent process I believe that we have produced a strong, balanced ordinance that is fair for both residents and park owners, and I am pleased to support it.

Thank you very much. Any other comments? Not seeing any, so we'll incorporate the red line changes into the document and the council should expect to see this at first reading at the next regular city council meeting. If there's nothing else, the council. Yeah. So if there isn't anything else on this item, we'll take up the executive session that is Item nine on the agenda. This is an executive session pursuant to one MRSA, section 405, sub six C, for discussion of an economic development matter where premature disclosures of the information would prejudice a competitive or bargaining position of the city. Is there a motion to go into executive session?

Motion to move.

Moved by Council Walker. Is there a second? Second. Seconded by Council Cowan. The vote will be by show of hands. All those in favor? The council will be in executive session. The July 20th, 2026 Auburn City Council meeting will be called to order. Please join us in the pledge of allegiance. Thank you if we could have the city councillors introduce themselves starting with council Gary.

Good evening, I'm Belinda Gary city councilor at large.

Good evening, Rachel Randall city council award one.

Good evening, Tim Cowan city council or 2.

Good evening, Matthew of all city council were 3.

Good evening, Jeff Hyman mayor.

Good evening, Kelly Butler, City Councilor Ward 4.

Good evening, Leroy Walker, Councilor Ward 5. Good evening, Adam Platt, City Councilor at Large.

Good evening, Brennan Edwards, Student Representative.

Good evening, Owen Robinson, Student Representative.

And Phil Kroll, City Manager.

Thank you. The first item on tonight's agenda is consent items. There's three consent items. The first is submitting a ballot to appoint Matthew Gartside from the Town of Poland to serve on the 2026 to 2028 MMA Legislative Policy Committee, the Legislative District 20. Appointing members to the Parking and Traffic Safety Committee is nominated by the Appointment Committee. then pointing Owen Robinson as student representative to the council for term ending June 30th 2028 Is there a motion? Don't move motion to second move by council Gary seconded by councillor Walker What will be by show of hands all those in favor? seven having voted in the affirmative and none in the negative the motion is adopted I The next item is approval of the minutes of the July 6, 2026 regular City Council meeting. Are there any errors or corrections? Not seeing any, is there a motion to approve the minutes?

Motion to approve.

Moved by Council Walker, seconded by Council Cowan. The vote will be by show of hands. All those in favor? MOTION IS ADOPTED. THE NEXT ITEM IS UNDER COMMUNICATIONS PRESENTATION AND RECOGNITION. IT'S THE OATH OF OFFICE FOR THE NEW STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE TO COUNCIL. MADAM CLARK.

OWEN ROBINSON, PLEASE JOIN ME HERE AT THE DAIS. Do you solemnly swear to support the Constitution of the United States and of this state so long as you shall remain a citizen thereof and faithfully discharge to the best of your abilities the duties incumbent upon you as student representative to the city council according to said constitutions, the laws of the state, and ordinances of the city?

I do.

Congratulations.

And if you'll just sign your name here.

The next item will be the first open session of the evening. If there's a member of the public that would like to address the council on items not on tonight's agenda, please approach the podium and provide your name and address. I apologize.

We don't have enough for every member.

I did not. I apologize in advance.

Dear Auburn City Council, counselors, my name is Stephanie Vale and I'm speaking as a private citizen. For the past 20 years I've practiced as a licensed pharmacist in Maine and I'm a board certified psychiatric pharmacist specializing in the care of people with substance use disorders.

Excuse me, are you intending to provide comments relative to the syringe service program?

No. OK. Oh, sorry. Yes. Yes. Strange service, yes. That would not be this portion. Oh, I apologize. I will wait.

Thank you. Is there any other member of the public that would like to address the council on items not on tonight's agenda? So please approach the podium and provide your name and address. Not seeing any, the open session will be closed. We'll move on to unfinished business. The first item is ordinance 1206152026, amending chapter 14, business licenses and permits of the city's code of ordinances to adopt regulations regarding syringe service programs. So this is a pending matter having the decision having been put off by the City Council pending the receipt of additional information from staff in response to questions from the City Council. The question before the City Council is to adopt as amended. So as background on this, first reading occurred on June 15, 2026, the regular City Council meeting. There was a motion to adopt and it passed first reading. On July 6, At the regular city council meeting, second reading was called. There was a motion to adopt. There was subsequently a motion to amend section 4H and 8F as shown in the red line on the draft. Ordinance to align the background check requirements with existing standard practices which was adopted by the council. The council then had a public hearing. At the conclusion of the public hearing, the matter moved to discussion by the council. During discussion by the council, there was a motion to postpone to the next regular city council meeting as referenced earlier. Pursuant to the rules of Section 1417, the City Council is to take up the postponed matter at the point in the process that the postponement occurred. Thus, the question before the City Council is to adopt as amended. So I want to be clear on what the process is going forward here tonight pursuant to the rules. So staff, with the assistance of subject matter experts, will respond to the questions posed by members of the Council. At the conclusion of that, there'll be limited public comment, limited to members of the public that are subject matter experts in harm reduction, substance abuse disorder, or syringe service programs, or those that would submit studies or data to the council for their consideration that are directly related to the questions posed by the city council. The council will then consider the amendment related to individualized assessment as shown in the draft Ordinance as a red line which was included in the packet and then the city council will continue discussion So there any before we move forward. Are there any questions by? the council relative to the pending process So we are, because this is a postponed matter, pursuant to the rules, the council will take this up at the point in which the postponement occurred. So we're in council discussion. And where we left off was there were a number of questions posed by the council to staff staff is not able to directly answer some of those questions themselves, so there'll be staff and some experts in this area. I'll work through the list of questions from the counselors with the group that'll come forward. Council Walker.

Does that mean that no one will be able to get up and give their opinions on the. Tonight's meeting that's correct.

If folks in the audience continue to disrupt, we'll clear the chamber. Are there any further questions about the process from the council?

Motion to allow public comment.

Not seeing any, we'll move forward. Is there another public comment?

Is there another place for public to speak? You told us we couldn't speak on agenda items, and now you're telling us we can't speak on agenda items. Right.

So ladies, no. No.

So to be clear, if people in the audience would be quiet for a minute, I will try to address this so people understand the situation. So this item was called for first reading And pursuant to the practice of the council, we take public comment one time, one public comment on items that are called before the council, including at first reading. That occurred, every person that wanted to speak got up, and without interruption, they would be able to, they provided their comments to the council. The council is required to post specific notice relative to public hearings at second reading. That posting was made by the clerk. The public hearing was called at the last regular city council meeting. Every person that wanted to get up and address the council on this item was allowed to do that without interruption. When there was no further members of the public that wished to address the council, the public hearing was closed. The way this process works, it's second reading. We have a public hearing. It goes to discussion of the council. There is not a second public hearing related to a second reading item. So the public.

Let's go back to open session.

So if people are going to interrupt, we will clear the chamber. The way that council operates is that we follow the process. I have outlined what the process is. We'll move forward, but we cannot have interruptions from the chamber. So with that, Mr. Manager, ma'am, if you interrupt again, you'll have to leave. Ma'am, you'll have to leave the chamber. You cannot be interrupting the proceedings. So Mr. Manager, we'll come forward with. That is not part of the process. We have explained the process that the council will follow this evening. Ma'am, if you continue to interrupt, you're going to have to leave. Can you escort this lady out?

I'd like to make a motion to suspend the rules and allow public comment.

The next outburst will clear the chamber. So, Councilor Randall, such a motion, you have an opportunity to make such a motion later in the process. This is not the appropriate time. I would point out for the council that if such a motion is made at the appropriate time, you want to think about the precedent that you are setting. So this This, so the process that the council follows is well established. The council should not be giving more priority to one agenda item than another, and the council should not provide more weight or consideration to any member of the public's comments than another. So this council has not, ever that we can find documented had a second public hearing at second reading. Once the public hearing has occurred, and you want to think about the precedent you're setting because public hearing was not noticed in this matter. So people that might notice, read the notice, would not understand that a public hearing would be taking place. So at the appropriate time, Council Randall, you can make that motion. But my point would be that this would be a significant deviation from the rules. And you would be establishing a precedent where any member of the public could request multiple public comment periods or public hearings on a particular agenda item. So with that, we'll move on. Mr. Manager, as members of the staff and the experts that you've invited to assist them, if you could have them come forward to the table.

Yeah, go ahead, Glen and the rest of the staff that's here as well as the invited guests, the table should have enough seats for those that were asked to come regarding specific content to the council's questions.

So we have a list of questions that were captured at the last council meeting and those that have been directly submitted by members of the council in the intervening period. And we'll work through those. If I could ask the folks at the table, starting with Mr. Holmes, to introduce themselves and their organization.

My name's Glenn Holmes. I'm the director of business development.

I'm Gordon Smith. I'm the state's director of opioid response in Governor Mills' office. I live in Winthrop, Maine.

My name's Anne Seitz. I'm with Maine CDC Infectious Disease Prevention Program, and I'm the director of that program, and I live in Leeds, Maine.

Elena Simon, viral hepatitis and harm reduction program manager with the Maine CDC, living in Winthrop, Maine.

Hello, I'm Ernestine Peralt, and the Community Outreach Program Supervisor at Spurwink, and I live in Sumner.

Hi, I'm Angela Blyer. I'm the Senior Director of Outpatient Community Services out of our Lewiston office for Spurwink, and I live in South Portland.

And Ms. Seitz, if the two of you could pull the microphone a little bit closer when you speak, that would be helpful. So the questions have been broken out, I think, by staff or the various entities. But certainly, if any one of you is more appropriate to answer the question, please do so. So there was some questions at the prior meeting regarding recent studies of the efficacy of syringe service programs. There's a particular study by the VA that the staff has referenced, so I think the question is, what is the most recent large-scale, peer-reviewed, comprehensive study examining the efficacy of syringe service programs?

Yes, I can answer that question. So Maine CDC references the same study that you have referenced, so the study that came the VA, the Department of Veteran Affairs. And this study reviewed over 100 peer-reviewed studies to summarize evidence of the effectiveness of syringe service programs. And we believe, Maine CDC believes, the evidence presented in that systematic review does support conclusions presented during previous city council meetings.

And the notes I have here that this was a meta-analysis where the Veterans Administration examined approximately 400 studies and then applying rigorous research method standards reduce that down to around 190 studies that were included in the review.

Yes, that's the process of a systematic review. It will review all published peer-reviewed articles according to specific criteria, identify those that meet the standard for the systematic review, and then go about doing the analysis of all the findings across all of those different studies to summarize the body of evidence that's available through the published literature.

In reviewing that study, there was a number of conclusions drawn, and I'll reference those. The council will find them referenced in the executive summary. I think the document that you have here that was just handed out was the director of the CDC's Dr. Vah's letter and synopsis that was earlier provided in the packet, and this study is referenced, I believe, in that. Is that correct? So back to the VA study, which is the latest meta-analysis. In the executive summary, there were a number of conclusions, and I'll read them off and see if the CDC, Maine CDC, could comment on those and whether these findings are in alignment with the CDC's understanding of the efficacy of service programs. In the executive summary, they listed that the benefits of SSPs outweigh the potential harms, that SSPs likely reduce HIV transmission and injection risk behaviors, that SSPs may reduce hepatitis C transmission, that SSPs promote carrying of naloxone, that SSPs increase exposure to overdose education, that SSPs facilitate referral to and enrollment in treatment services, and that SSPs do not increase addiction rates, injection frequency, unsafe syringe disposal, or neighborhood crime. And I guess the question- If the audience is going to interrupt, we're going to clear the chamber. We'll pose the questions to the staff and the people assisting them, and they will answer the question. So the question to the CDC is, does the CDC agree with the findings in this study and have any other comments about those findings?

We definitely agree with the findings of the study, particularly the importance of syringe service programs in preventing transmission of infectious diseases and supporting people with substance use disorder to find treatment and move to a path of recovery.

Does the best available evidence support needs-based syringe distribution rather than restrictive exchange policies such as one-to-one exchange or syringe caps?

Yes, the systematic review did find evidence that the use of a needs-based distribution model is the best method to support people in their need around sterile syringes and being able to support a harm reduction model of substance use disorder and treatments.

So relative to overdose and mortality, what does the current evidence show regarding the impact of SSPs on overdose deaths, all-cause mortality and opioid-related mortality? And that might be best answered by either you or Mr. Smith.

Well, thank you, Mayor. I would say that I would remind the council that I appreciate the opportunity to be back. We were here not too many weeks ago. So I'll be repeating some of the same things I said that night. But our mortality in Maine since the high point of 2022 has been reduced by 46%. So just about cut in half. We believe that in our comprehensive strategic opioid response strategic plan, which is divided equally into parts of prevention, harm reduction, we're really here to talk about tonight, treatment, and recovery support, that all of those contribute to this reduction. But that the harm reduction piece of which there are two major pieces, certainly the naloxone distribution and our syringe programs are the features of that harm reduction quarter of that particular pillar, that they are absolutely a critical part of reducing that mortality. So it will be years before researchers are able to pinpoint, OK, which particular intervention that are in our 36 point, the 36 strategies in that plan. And now we've got seven and a half years into that plan. Which of these were the most effective in saving lives? expensive research to reach that conclusion. So all I can do as a lawyer who does drug policy is to say, I think all of those pieces are important. I'm not saying that one piece is critically more important than another. But I've said for 7 and 1 half years that we need to be successful in all of these. You wish that you could put all the money into prevention. and because having fewer of our adolescents go down that road and being able to address the reasons that people use drugs in the first place, and we know most of that, would be the most effective way of Maine really eradicating itself, people using substances. But we're doing the best we can with the evidence that we have in front of us, and I think that syringe programs are an important part of that.

So I guess I would, I appreciate the answer relative specific to the opioid response strategy in Maine. Is the current evidence showing that the impact of SSPs on mortality broadly?

What I understand in the literature is that there's strong evidence that SSPs help prevent fatal overdoses and that particularly this is of naloxone and then also overdose education. And then it happens during every encounter with a client at an SSP. And then SSPs are also uniquely placed to have an impact on preventing overdoses in that they have a trusted relationship with the people that are coming into their program. As they're delivering those services, they're creating a trust relationship, sharing more about their use their addiction and over time being able to really support that person in their recovery. So through that connection, through that trusted relationship, it's an essential part of overdose prevention and particularly impacting fatal overdoses.

Is that evidence different when considering various different interventions besides syringe exchange and naloxone such as test strips, comprehensive harm reduction services such as referrals?

We see the services as being interwoven, that they're all a critical part of a harm reduction strategy, so delivering fringe services, distribution of naloxone, fentanyl test strips, and then overall comprehensive education and support for people who are in addiction is an essential part of a harm reduction strategy. Meeting people where they're at and what their needs are in that day and supporting them in their path to move toward recovery.

What metrics does Maine CDC use to measure HIV, AIDS and other major infectious disease prevalence within a community and why are these accepted benchmark?

So Maine with all other state health departments use standard definitions for looking at specific disease conditions including HIV as well as other infectious diseases such as hepatitis C. These are standard definitions established by the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists and they're for the purpose of this type of monitoring and surveillance that goes on to understand the impact of infectious diseases in communities. So there's the requirement to report HIV in the state of Maine and through that we can track incidents and prevalence as part of our routine surveillance. So these are the metrics that we use to understand what's happening here in Auburn and other parts of the state with HIV conditions. And we were able to then not only compare what we're seeing here in Auburn or Androscoggin County, Central Maine, Western Maine, other parts of the state, and then Maine compared to other states.

So are you able to offer any insight based on those metrics and how Maine and specifically municipalities like Auburn compared a similarly sized or similarly impacted communities in other states with comparable drug abuse rates?

I can quote you the statistics. So Maine's incidence of HIV is relatively low. In 2024, our estimated rate of new HIV diagnoses was about 5.5 per 100,000 population. So if you have 100,000 people, about 5 and 1 half would be identified as having HIV. So the incident rate of HIV in Maine has increased in recent years. It's up from 2.6 per 100,000 in 2021, but it remains lower than the U.S. average, which is 13.3 new diagnoses per 100,000 people. And it's similar to—or it's, again, lower than Western states such as Florida, Georgia, But our rate here in Maine is higher than our neighbors, so Vermont, New Hampshire, but lower than New York or Connecticut as comparison. And then in 2024, four people were diagnosed with HIV in Androscoggin County, and we had 68 people newly diagnosed statewide, so for comparison. And when you speak of, yeah, please.

What can we learn from past HIV or hepatitis C outbreaks in communities of similar size to Auburn, including number of people affected, the immediate long-term cost, and what impacts such outbreaks have on public health and community well-being?

So you may have heard of Scott County, Indiana. Scott County is comparable in population size to the city of Auburn in terms of the number of people. Scott County experienced an HIV outbreak in the years of 2014 and 2015, where over 200 people were newly diagnosed with HIV, and the outbreak was associated with intravenous drug use, particularly among people who inject drugs, and that reuse often sharpened needles led to HIV, hepatitis C, and other blood-borne infections. So in a two-year period, over 200 people were newly diagnosed with HIV in this community. So increased access to sterile syringes and harm reduction services through the establishment of syringe service programs were a critical intervention to control the outbreak and reduce transmission. And so this was very specific, an intervention that was newly introduced in that community and that state as a result of the outbreak. use of syringe service programs. In 2016, an outbreak in Lawrence and Lowell, Massachusetts relied on SSPs as a part of their response. And then finally, a response to an HIV outbreak in 2019 to 2021 in West Virginia was limited by the closure of SSPs. So there's definitely a precedent in how SSPs have played a critical role in responding to increased incidence of HIV and particularly HIV outbreaks.

And what's the experience regarding whether SSP participants are more likely to enter into treatment or recovery?

There's evidence that people who use SSPs are five times more likely to enter substance use treatment and three times more likely to stop using drugs than individuals who do not use SSPs.

And this would be, I think, specific to Maine. What percentage of participants in the SSP programs receive referrals, initiate treatment, and remain engaged in treatment?

So again, I can cite the data for you. So in Maine in 2024, over 92,000 referrals were provided to consumers or participants of SSPs. And of those, about 28% of those referrals were for basic needs, general assistance, and food. So meeting the basic needs of the individual first. 21% were for peer support. 11% were for naloxone distribution and education. 9% were for wound care. Almost 5% infectious disease testing. And then 3% were for substance use disorder treatment recovery and mental health services. Similarly, in 2025, there were over almost 52,000 referrals. And then similar statistics, 37% for basic needs, 10% for infectious disease testing, 9% for peer support, 8% for naloxone distribution. 6% for wound care, and then 3%, similarly, for substance use disorder recovery and mental health services. So SSPs document, monitor, and report to main CDC referrals, including referrals for treatment, as I mentioned. But we do not track through SSPs reporting of treatment initiation, substance use treatment initiation, and retention and treatment. So those data aren't available to us.

And if you could just clarify that you referenced referrals for wound care, could you expound on what that encompasses?

My colleagues may be able to do better than I, but I can try. So many times individuals that are coming into an SSP, this is their connection to healthcare. This is an outlet for them to... receive care and treatment that includes harm reduction. Many times they'll have skin wounds, skin wounds that may be related to their use. or they may have other wounds that have gone untreated and that they haven't been able to access primary care or other health services. So wound care referral would likely be for an advanced wound that is really in need of care and support. So there may be a referral to a mobile health clinic, some other mechanism whereby they can get direct support, direct health care for that wound care. There's also many times SSPs can provide wound care kits, so things like gauze, a cleaning antiseptic for the wound itself so that the wound can be treated by that individual.

Could you speak to the current treatment capacity? I think the reference here is to the number of available beds as a limiting factor to successful referrals.

Sure. We divide that capacity into outpatient and inpatient residential. We've always had a need for more residential. It got particularly acute shortage during the pandemic. We've been more successful since and we now have available detox beds virtually every night. There's about six, seven different places. Portland would be the closest, would it not, Ernestine? Well, no, we've got, St. Mary's has 18 detox beds, excuse me. So we feel that we've done, we've got, really somewhere between 60 and 100 detox beds each evening. Those are really short-term, five to seven days, get people, treat people in the most acute phase of their withdrawal, and then the idea would be to discharge them to short-term residential, 30 to 45-day residential treatment. We have a number of those facilities, but probably not enough to meet capacity. We then have also longer term facilities that can be six months, nine months. We're going to have six Macaulay homes for young women. The women frequently stay and are reunited with their children and can stay two years. This is a long process and a complicated process. So that's what we have on the residential side. And we're not done. We have the 58-bed York County Substance Use Treatment Center opening by the end of the year, funded virtually completely by the county of York. And that's almost like building a hospital, right? 58 residential beds of different and they'll have all the phases of ASAM, the American Society of Addiction Medicine, each level of treatment. On the outpatient side, because there's much more available, we have 16 opioid treatment programs. Those are what you would refer to as methadone clinics. including one in Lewiston. And we have 5,600 patients today on methadone, and some of the patients have moved to buprenorphine. There's about 100 of those in those 16 programs. Then we have a lot of outpatient buprenorphine. I don't mean to suggest that the only treatment we have is medication and counseling. There are 10 faith-based, abstinence-based programs in the state as well. There's one up in my hometown, Teen Challenge, and Winthrop's been there for a number of years. So our position has always been all roads to recovery we support. Not everybody wants medication. Some people want to have an abstinence-based program. Some people want a faith-based program. And so I think that we have done a good job over the seven and a half years to add treatment capacity. But I'm not going to sit here and say that everybody that needs treatment tonight that decides this is the night that they want to move into active treatment, that we can necessarily find something for them in the next 24 hours. So we are still working on it.

So perhaps a follow-up to that for the folks at Spurlink from the SSP. So when you interact with people at the SSP and have a discussion with them about treatment referral, How is that gap bridged from there at the SSP to Mr. Smith's comment about, you know, there's some beds typically available on a daily basis. Could you describe how that occurs if someone comes in and they indicate that they're ready for a treatment referral? What happens?

Yes, we usually go into action pretty promptly if someone says that they would like help today. We ask, what are they willing to do? Because there are a lot of opportunities out there, but not everyone wants to go to detox or a treatment facility, et cetera. So we kind of start with what they're willing to do. If they say they obviously are comfortable and willing to go to a site where there's treatment, whether it be residential or detox, medical and whatnot, then we have our referrals and resources and connections where we pick up the phone and start making those connections. Oftentimes, the person will be sitting there and do an intake right there in the SSP for whatever treatment program that they're interested in. and then proceed forward. If there's a gap where there's going to be a day or more where they still are interested in going into treatment but there's not a bed available, we have recovery coaching through our clinic that will immediately take place obviously to support the individual. And then we obviously talk with them a bit more about any supports that they do have, a safe place to go, et cetera, and kind of just go through a list of how to keep them safe and how to also keep them moving forward with their decision today to follow through with that treatment program. So there are a number of agencies and organizations right in Lewiston and Auburn that we utilize regularly, including transportation to a treatment program. So we rely on those resources and community partners to fulfill the recipient's wish.

And are your referrals only in the local LA area, or can you refer broader than that?

We can certainly refer even out of state if need be. It really depends on the individual and their situation. Sometimes, obviously, the insurance situation for the individual drives that as well. But we really essentially go to where we can get someone in the quickest.

The next couple questions here related to the current Maine CDC rules. And there's been a lot of discussion about what the current rules are related to exchange rates or caps for syringe exchange. Could you provide an understanding, your understanding on how Maine CDC regulates syringe exchange through the rule and things that are commonly referred to as one to 100 or 100 needle cap and how that all works?

Sure. So the Syringe Service Program rules specify, and I'm quoting, SSPs must adhere to a distribution policy that allows for one-for-one exchange of a used syringe for each sterile syringe provided to the consumer. In instances where the consumer cannot offer a used syringe to be exchanged, a program may provide a consumer with new syringes as needed, but not but may not exceed 100 syringes per consumer per encounter. The SSP may further limit the number of syringes provided to each consumer in accordance with its own, with its policy and procedure manual, end quote. So in this, is this a 100 syringe cap? No, it is not that. Is it effectively a 1 to 100 exchange rate? No, it is not that either.

Can I follow up on that? Sure. So there's been a lot of interest in this issue, of course. And so having been there when that feature of the rule was dealt with in the statute, first as a statutory change, then there was the rulemaking that conformed to the statute. And it And I've been asked, including by you, what is the scientific basis behind 100? And I believe that I probably sat here, how long ago were we here? Two months ago? Three months ago? And said, no, there is no scientific basis. This was a political compromise at the main legislature and further compromise that the regulatory level between those interests, particularly in public health, the World Health Organization, the federal CDC, which advocated for a needs-based exchange. A needs-based exchange is you give the individual what they ask, what they believe they need. And those interests that felt that we had previously lived with a one-to-one exchange and that that was best for everything from controlling syringe litter to people's health and bringing people, the government's always been interested too. And we want people to come into the exchange. We don't want to give them so many syringes that we don't see them for six months. There was a brisk discussion. That is not the right word. It was a very good debate about all of that. We ended up at 100. There were people at 50. So 100 is the max. But I think it's really important to understand that number one, a municipality could control that. So in some municipalities, we may not be able to do 100 because it's been a municipal ordinance that we can't. Number two, the individual exchange itself may not want to do 100. So some typically might do 50. Some might do less than that. They may not have the capacity to do 100. I would say, I don't know, I'll have to turn to my colleagues at the CDC. I think it's quite rare that somebody just walks in and gets 100. That it's far more complicated, far more common that people would get something between one and 100. They might bring back some, have some needles to bring back. So that's where it is. Again, there are constantly people who want us to remove the cap, and there's constantly people who want us to remove the 100 permission and go back to one-to-one. So I'm looking for balance. I think what we're looking for is balance. And it doesn't need to be accountability. We want accountability. on all sides, but that's why we ended up at 100.

So there's questions I see further down here for the SSP provider about how they make the determination, Yeah, just so we could try to clarify this perhaps with a use case and see how the rule applies. So if a person presents themselves at the SSP and they come in and they have 20 used needles and they have their exchange with the SSP, the discussion with the SSP, and the SSP determines that it would be appropriate to give them 30 needles, they can do that even though they brought in 25. Is that correct?

Thank you for this question. This is often times where there's quite a bit of debate. So the rule is clear. If someone comes in with zero, syringes for exchange, they can receive up to 100. If they come in with 200 syringes, they can receive 200. So that is how the exchange works. If they come in with less than 100, it can be based on the policy of the SSP, whether they do the strict one-to-one or they do up to 30, based on the client's needs.

So if I understand that correctly, just so we're clear about this, if the SSP has some type of a policy or procedure in their operational plan that sets forth how they're going to do the assessment, the SSP can regulate that through some individualized assessment. at less than what is allowable under the CDC rule.

So what the rule speaks to is if you come in with zero, you can receive up to 100. And from there, it's a one-to-one exchange. So the idea of if you come in with 200, you can receive 200, that's clear. It's a one-to-one exchange. If you come in with zero or somewhere between one and 99, That's where the SSP's policy kicks in, because that is where they can determine what that person's need is up to the 100. The idea is that we want to, through the syringe exchange activity, we want to engage in that conversation. We also do want the return of the used syringes for proper disposal. And allowing for there to be that exchange with, whether it's 20 or 25 or 30, allows for there to be that conversation around receipts of those used syringes.

Thank you. So just the best current evidence what is the best current evidence regarding the exchange methods? Comparing fixed exchange ratios or caps or individual assessments. What does the best available study say about that?

So scientific evidence supports the individualized needs-based exchange. So this means that it's the most effective harm reduction strategy for preventing HIV and viral hepatitis. It ensures that people who inject drugs have access to sterile syringes for every injection. This is a critical part of it. We do not want an individual to ever reuse a syringe, even if they're the only ones that have used it prior. Every injection should be with a sterile syringe.

And if they're not exchanging that syringe with another person, what's the basis of the thought that they should use a clean syringe each time if they're not exchanging the syringe with anyone else?

I think it's the idea that anything that's piercing your skin can introduce some, you know, a bacterial virus germ into your body. So even if it's only a syringe that the same individual has used, because it's already been used once, that syringe now is no longer sterile and so therefore should not be reused.

So this next question, I think, based on what you earlier answered, might need to be adjusted. The question was whether a 100 syringe cap improves, and there's a list of things here. But I think you've clarified that it's not a strict 100 syringe cap. I guess more generally, what is the effect of the different approaches to providing syringes on things such as mortality, syringe recovery, and litter, and treatment engagement?

So needs-based distribution and syringe services are a proven strategy. It's understood to be an effective intervention among people who inject drugs. Syringe services prevents the sharing and reusing of syringes, which are major drivers of HIV and hepatitis C transmission here in our community as well as across the country. It reduces injection risk behaviors compared to restrictive models, which can lead to people who inject drugs without enough sterile syringes to use safely. And it supports safe disposal through sharps containers, drops boxes, community cleanups, and preventing syringe litter.

What would the expected trade-offs be of implementing a lower syringe cap or stricter exchange ratios from a public health perspective?

Some more restrictive syringe distribution policies are linked to higher infection rates and more unsafe injection practices.

So this next question that was presented is regarding the statewide reporting. So for the reporting years 2024 and 2025, and as I understand it, these aren't quite calendar years, the reporting years, I think go from November 1st to October 31st. So for the 2024 and 2025 reporting years, could you talk a bit about what the statewide totals were for syringes distributed, those that were returned and disposed of, and what that return rate looks like?

So in 2024, about 3.18 million syringes were distributed, and 2.48 syringes were returned and safely disposed, representing a 78% return rate. In 2025, 2.69 syringes were distributed, and 2.48 syringes were returned and safely disposed, representing a 92% return rate. So we recognize that individuals may dispose of used syringes at sharps bins in private or other medical facilities, in their trash, in sealed and marked bottles, which is perfectly acceptable by law, in sharps containers at home, and not regularly bringing them to SSPs. So there are other ways that people who use syringe service programs can dispose of their used syringes.

So would it be fair to say that people of substance abuse disorder and use IV drugs, that they access syringes from other sources other than just at an SSP?

They certainly can, yes.

And if that's the case, The return is a net, correct? Meaning that someone could get syringes from SSP and they could properly dispose of them through some other means and they would not be counted in the return numbers for the SSP. And conversely, they could receive syringes from some other source and return those to an SSP. Yes, correct. So the numbers, these numbers are the net effect of the whole universe of syringes. They're not necessarily a direct correlation from the numbers that SSP gave out and the numbers that were returned to them and they disposed of.

The numbers represent the exact number they've distributed and the exact approximate number they received back right there could be It's not necessarily a one-to-one correlation in that the ones returned are the same ones that were given out.

Okay. Thank you We're guiding community impacts on what impact of SSPs had on improperly discarded syringes within communities

The research consistently shows that syringe service programs do not increase syringe litter and, in fact, are associated with reductions in improperly discarded syringes in communities. Studies found that neighborhoods with SSPs report lower rates of improperly discarded syringes compared to areas without these programs. SSPs help channel syringes into safe disposal channels rather than leaving them in public places.

And is there any evidence regarding the distribution model, meaning needs-based or via some exchange ratio that has any effect on the rates of litter waste?

So studies have demonstrated that restricting syringes does not reduce syringe litter and that more restrictive areas may be associated with increased litter. likely due to differences in access to safe disposal locations. This information is based on evidence provided by federal CDC in 2022. It needs basic syringe distribution and disposal at syringe service.

And regarding community impacts, you earlier referenced HIV transmission through the community. There's been some discussion about the HIV outbreak in Bangor. Could you provide any insight into any relationship between SSP services and that outbreak? And then I think the second part of that is, Could you talk a little bit about how infectious diseases can have secondary and tertiary transmission throughout the community past some transmission through syringe use?

You might ask you to repeat the question. So yes, certainly we have been working with our partners in Bangor community and clinical partners to respond to an HIV outbreak since late or early 2024. The outbreak was first identified in late early 2024 with the first case having been diagnosed in late 2023. That outbreak continues. There are 44 people associated with that outbreak. They've been newly diagnosed with HIV, the majority of which are also co-infected with hepatitis C. And predominantly the outbreak is among people who have lived unhoused and who report injection drug use in the 12 months prior to their diagnosis. A major critical intervention in this outbreak response is working with our SSPs not only to continue delivering the services that they do around overdose prevention, access to sterile syringes and equipment, and providing that trust relationship to help people move to recovery, but also as a mechanism to support their other services that are needed to break transmission around HIV. So delivery of effective prevention mechanisms such as pre-exposure prophylaxis, supporting their entry into HIV care and treatment. and other interventions.

So you mentioned that the Bangor outbreak was mostly centered on Intervene as drug users that were unhoused is is there any information about? The role of sharing of needles or use of sterile needles that How was the services that were available at the time how did that impact this situation

Access to SSPs in the community had changed over time. There was one major SSP provider that had closed in the city of Bangor. And since then, there are two other SSPs that have really been able to expand their service delivery, including opening mobile sites and supporting access to syringe services through expanded hours. What we do know about HIV, for every one person who knows they're infected, there are others that are infected but do not know their status. So access to testing and expanding access to testing through trusted providers such as SSP is a really critical intervention as well. The outbreak definitely has, people impacted by the outbreak are primarily having lived unhoused, but that can also be having lived unstably housed. meaning that they may have been housed at some point, but that is intermittent. They may be staying with relatives, couch surfing. So this idea that they're living outdoors may not be consistent with the actual community impacted by the outbreak. So just to emphasize that while the primary population are people who inject drugs and people who have lived unhoused, there are other members of the community that are impacted as well.

Yes, I think that was the second part of the question. So the spread of infectious diseases of this type aren't necessarily limited to IV drug use and may spread throughout the community through other means of transmission outside of that particular group of people that's been identified as having HIV infection at this time. Is that an accurate understanding?

Well, yes, HIV can be spread through other mechanisms, including sex. So, in this case, in the outbreak in Bangor, the primary drivers are injection drug use, and that is why working with SSPs is so critical. Our prevention efforts are really far-reaching across the state. We do emphasize knowing your status, taking the next step in your health, which includes prevention, particularly if you're at higher risk, seeking out the use of pre-exposure prophylaxis, and if you're positive, really seeking out treatment. HIV is a very manageable disease. people live long, healthy lives and be successful in their care.

Thank you. I think the next group of questions are more related to the service provision by the SSP, the local SSP in this area is . So regarding your operations, could you provide an overview of how many unique individuals the SSP serves each year and how do you, MEASURABLE PROGRESS AMONG THOSE CLIENTS. I THINK THE QUESTION HERE IS RELATED TO IF REFERRALS ARE MADE

Sure. For 2025, we served about 300 unique individuals, which equated to about 1,100 visits to the SSP. And we do an intake assessment for every individual that comes in. And that's how we go about determining what their needs are and how to meet them.

So when individuals come to the SSP, how do you determine the number of syringes to be provided to the participant?

Through the intake assessment, we ask questions that are very specific about their use. How often are they using? What are they using? How many times are they injecting per day, et cetera, and having conversations about that. So it is needs-based. That's the primary focus. And it obviously varies from individual

And is this assessment that takes place at the intake, is this performed for every client on every visit?

Yes.

So this is a standard protocol that's applied each time?

Yes.

Could you talk to how many of the sites provided some information about statewide referrals? Can you provide information about referrals that Spurling made to other agencies or other programs that began with the SSP contact with the client?

For 2025, we had about 9,000 referrals. There's 17 different types of referrals, different categories that constitute a referral. There were about 9,000 that were made.

And You reference it to a 17 different types of referrals. If the person comes in for an intake each time, are the various referrals considered during that process to suggest or refer these individuals to various services?

Yes, each time that they come in, whether it's the first time or the 12th time, the same assessment is reviewed with them because things can change from time to time. And the same, we have a set criteria of 17 that is based on data collection that we give to the CDC monthly and reporting. So those are the things that we're tracking. A referral could be to a primary care physician. It could be to a treatment program. It could be to

testing it could be to a food pantry it could be a case management etc what are the most used services at the SSP is it the syringe exchange or are there other requests beyond clean syringe requests

Our number one reason for people coming into our clinic that we are probably spending the most time with is survival gear for being unhoused. So that can be winter-related, any kind of weather conditions and whatnot, or supplies that are given to them to support their being unhoused and living in poor conditions. as well followed up probably by hygiene supplies and wound care.

So over the past year, and I think we mentioned earlier this might not align with the calendar year because of the reporting cycle, can you outline the total number of syringes distributed and collected as well as the number of client interactions I think you earlier provided that there were 1,100 visits, but could you touch on the total number of syringes distributed and those collected and disposed of?

For 2025, we had distributed about 105,000 and some change, and we collected 155,000.

Okay, so make sure I understand that correctly. For people that appeared at the SSP, you collected and disposed of more syringes than you distributed?

Yes.

And I think the follow-up here to that question was related to the frequency with the numbers of syringes that are given out. And the specific question was how many times were over 50 needles given out and how many times were over 100 needles given out, if you know that.

Let me speak a little bit to your first part of the question regarding why is there a gap of about 50,000 for 2025. There are a lot of people who come into our clinic that are not necessarily participants. They're not actively using intravenous drugs. They might be doing their own part in cleaning up their community. They might have a loved one that's there with them that has these in their home. They want safe disposal, and so they're bringing them in. We have a lot of community partners in the LA area that will call us and say, we have these. They are in our bathroom, et cetera. And we take them so there are we've become you know a sort of a receptacle kind of you know clinic at times where people are they're wanting they're wanting to just get them it you know in a safe place where because we have you know the We have disposal from a state-certified disposal that comes in each month and obviously takes our use syringes.

So specific to Auburn, are some community partners like the Auburn Public Library or the drop-in center, I know they have sharps boxes there and they may collect discarded syringes from IV drug users, and then those syringes may be disposed through your facility?

Yes. Those are two places where we do receive sharps.

And then I guess back to the other part of the question, the question was How many times were over 50 needles given out in a visit? How many times were 100 needles given out?

So typically for a person who comes in for their very first time, and if they additionally do not bring any syringes, then we are quite conservative with being able to provide for them. And what we base that on is connection is the key to recovery. And we would like the person to frequent coming into the SSP to connect with staff and to continue the conversation and support for talking about the 17 referral categories, other needs that they have. The more that they come in, obviously that's going to increase their chances that they're going to make a connection, a trusted relationship with a professional that is going to support them towards a pathway towards recovery, wellness, whichever, whatever it is they're choosing. So we are quite conservative in that number. Typically, a client that would come in that we do not know, Today's their first day and they are coming in with no nothing to exchange Then we're giving them up to 40 is really what kind of our and with the reason why we do that Is because I want them to come in again that week or as often as possible if I give you a hundred plus and I don't know you haven't done really much of getting to know you in a relationship I may not see you For a long time, and unfortunately, statistically, with this disease, I may not see you again. That's not a philosophy that we do in our clinic. So we provide a smaller amount to obviously entice them to come back more frequently.

This next question is somewhat similar. Under the current exchange model, what's the smallest number you typically distribute and what's the largest number that you might typically distribute?

So again, this is based on the framework that someone's arriving with nothing to exchange. It's a little bit different when people come in and they have sharps to exchange. So I'll speak to the first part, which is more of our typical experience that people are coming in that are new as well as that they're not bringing anything to exchange. That particular, I lost my train of thought, sorry. The typical, the typical person that is coming in new and with nothing to exchange, then we have given as least as 10, which is there's a sleeve. When the sharps are packaged, then you get 10 in the sleeve. And so sometimes that person, they just want 10. They might not be using very frequently. So that would be an appropriate, one sleeve would be an appropriate number to give them if they say that they use very sporadically. But there's an increase of people that are coming in that are using several times per day. And so that's where that number kind of goes up from there. So I would say, on a tip our typical numbers are 10 to 40 is our typical range and that's for a person that's coming in with nothing to exchange and again our basis for that is building connection with the individual getting to know them and their use and what their needs are and getting them to come into the SSP as often as they can to get that support. When a person comes in and they are an established client, they've been there for some time, if they come in with 100, they could very well walk out with 100 at that moment. Again, our clientele are not generally doing that. It's not a typical day in our clinic where people are bringing in 200, 400, 500, or more. We don't have capacity for that. I don't have that kind of budget. And I don't have that kind of supply. I don't have a room big enough to house those sorts of things. And again, it would, again, not reflect our philosophy of getting them to come in as often as possible. So there are 11 SSPs in the state. People know where to get sharps. If we're conservative, they will find where they can get more. They'll go and purchase them themselves, et cetera. So there's many means, as you spoke about earlier, for how people can get sharps. So we generally, as a practice, typically are conservative in our approach to giving out syringes.

And when you're doing this intake and in this decision-making process of how many to distribute it, what are the types of factors that go into that decision? Assuming these are return people, right, not the person that just shows up for the first time, if there's a range of Syringes that you're providing what what are the types of factors that go into making the decision on how many you distribute?

Predominantly it's around their use so we're having conversations at each time that they're coming in about what their use looks like What are they what are they using how often that they're using so we're obviously seeing an increase of fentanyl in drug supply And so persons that we're serving are finding that there's a higher amount of fentanyl in the supply, which we've spoken about in these meetings before, that a person that is using the local supply recently, we're finding that they are They're sort of going through withdrawals even within an hour of use. That's very new territory for all of us that's been in this profession for quite some time, that the shelf life is very short now. So what that does oftentimes is people are using more, and they're using more often. And as a result of that, then I would say that at least 50% of our current clients are using at least 10 times per day. That's, again, new charted territory for us. And predominantly what's driving that is because they are reporting about the fentanyl and the withdrawal that is happening so quickly.

So you may, I think you may have answered this question here a few moments ago, but besides returning syringes directly to Spurlink, what other disposal methods may account for the differences between syringes distributed and those returned?

With every sharps container that we give out, and it's a pretty common practice for us to give every single individual, even if they're coming in and they're not participating in the SSP, but they're bringing in sharps that they've collected some way somehow, we give out a lot of sharps containers. It's really our key to being able to kind of support that notion of putting them in something that's already deemed safe and whatnot and for disposal. We additionally, to the sharps containers, we provide a flyer that has about maybe 30 plus different ways in which a person can safely dispose of a syringe using household items, et cetera, whatever. And then additionally to that, we're educating people on where there are public pickups, where there are sharps containers, like disposal containers that are attached buildings or trees and sector that are not only just in this area but elsewhere that we're aware of. We spend a lot of time trying to figure out where people can do these things as well as educating them about municipalities and community buildings etc where there are sharps containers and bathrooms and whatnot so it's very frequent conversation to have them understand that there are many ways um to you know to safely dispose of them and not leave them anywhere for to be in harm's way and i think ms seitz mentioned this earlier

IF HANDLED CORRECTLY, SHARPS CAN BE DISPOSED OF THROUGH THE SOLID WAVE SYSTEM. IS THAT CORRECT?

THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING.

SO DO YOU PROVIDE, YOU SAID YOU PROVIDE SHARPS CONTAINERS. DO YOU PROVIDE OTHER METHODS FOR PEOPLE TO HANDLE NEEDLE CLIPPERS OR OTHER WAYS TO DISPOSE OF SHARPS?

Right. Besides educating them on things that they might have in their own home or that they use, like a laundry detergent container that's duct taped up afterwards. There's many different ways and means to encourage people to safely dispose in them. But we also, as a practice, give out to every new client. It basically breaks the tip off. And it's a needle clip. It's an actual device that we give them. And each cartridge actually holds 1,500 needle tips. It holds it right within the container itself. And then they could dispose of that at our SSP.

So there's a couple of questions here regarding community impacts. What impact, from your perspective at Spurling, what impact have SSPs had on improperly discarded syringes in the community?

I think Ms. Seitz spoke about the impact earlier, so I've deferred to her for that.

So I think the last question here is, So in the council packet tonight, there's a proposed amendment related to individualized assessment. So that specifically, if you could comment on whether that aligns with the practices at Spurwink. And then I think the second part of the question is related to the additional local regulations beyond what's in the CDC rules, do those impede the provision of appropriate services?

What you have proposed does not impede our ability to practice.

And then I think yes, these will be for mr. Holmes if you're responding to the staff questions If you could comment on what the city's experience regarding improperly discarded Syringes are and the questions specifically asked about parks sidewalks the downtown area, encampments, public facilities.

We reached out to Public Works Department, Police Department, Fire and EMS with these questions. Parks' occasional fines and complaints, Public Works crews are present nearly daily in police patrol parks several times each day. Staff collect syringes using approved sharps containers. Two public disposal boxes at Barney Park and Riverwalk and near the night house have seen limited use. The sidewalks in the downtown area, Police and Public Works have received occasional reports. Public Works indicates that issues does not appear as prevalent as it once was. Trains staff respond when notified. Encampments are the most significant concentration point. Police and public works report larger amounts of syringes, used naloxone materials, trash, and other biohazards. Public work uses a contractor for encampment cleanups. And the public facilities reports are infrequent. Police occasionally receive reports from restaurants or other public buildings, including bathrooms or grounds. Public works does not recall a recent complaint in city facilities.

And you may have touched on, I think, part of this next question, but what's the city's observed changes over time relative to the number of syringe complaints, public safety concerns, sanitation workload?

Again, calls and complaints occur, but departments are not seeing a high volume of that. And most of the reports really relate to illegal encampments. Public Works notes that some syringes are removed before staff even arrives, and the sidewalk conditions appear to be better than they have in previous years. As far as public safety, police and Public Works identified that their biggest concern is accidental needle sticks and disease exposure risks, particularly during drug-related calls, encampment responses, trash handling, and park maintenance. I mean, they're using special equipment now for that. Sanitation workload. The most significant workload is associated with the encampment cleanups and some park airs. Public works uses specially prepared pickup kits with long tweezers, sharp containers, and reducing employees' exposure.

So again, you may have just touched on this question as well, but what procedures are currently in place for recovering and disposing of syringes found in public spaces? Please retrieve this room. And I think the focus of this is that are reported, not necessarily what parks, the public works folks that do the trash pickup in the parks, but if things are reported to the city.

They actually retrieve them and put them in. They have special sharps containers in all the cruises at the police headquarters. Officers receive biohazard awareness, PPE, and workplace safety training. Public Works uses trained personnel for routine pickups and specialized tools to limit contact. And they also have the disposal boxes. For larger encampments, we use the contractor. And Fire and EMS serves as the disposal point for syringes brought in by police and public works. So Fire reports no syringe-related volume of it on its own.

Thank you. So I appreciate the patience of the council as I work through all the questions that people send in. Does the council have questions for staff? Council Butler.

Two different questions I'd like to go through. First, could you speak to what makes the difference between a well-run SSP and one that doesn't do so well and ends up closing or having a negative impact on the community?

The rules relative to syringe service programs in Maine describe the proper operation of an SSP, and it is through that criteria that we are obligated by law to monitor the operation of SSPs, do periodic inspections, respond to complaints, and it is through that we may identify some mechanism that an SSP is not operating according to the standards of the rule. So certainly there are other aspects of managing an SSP, even just the typical administrative and financial responsibilities of operating a small business that can come into play. It can also be related to how they're actually delivering syringe services. That could be how a SSP would then close. But generally, our SSP partners are really committed to this work, dedicated. It's not every organization that wants to do syringe services, and they provide such a valuable service to our community, particularly people who have substance use disorder and really need this service. So we're really lucky to have a lot of organizations here in Maine that operate SSPs, many of whom do it through multiple sites.

So is it safe to say that a regulated SSP is better than one that's unregulated?

I mean, SSPs can operate without certification. So it's not necessarily a regulation. It's a certification. Once an SSP becomes certified, then they're obligated to abide by the rule of the operation. So from the state's perspective, we've adopted these rules to be able to offer that standard. And then through that, SSPs are able to deliver their services according to that standard.

There's a number of, I think, families who are experiencing addiction on a regular basis who are probably noting how tenuous it can be to access services. What's the outcome of a family who maybe wouldn't walk through an SSP door or another treatment door?

Sorry, what is the access?

What's the outcome?

Oh, what's the outcome? that is not a family that would not access that service, and they're struggling with addiction? Maybe I should call my colleagues. I do think it, I mean, my experience is it's quite negative. Addiction is, is a serious, complex mental health and physical health problem. And these are people who need supports. And harm reduction, syringe services is one part of that support. I defer to my colleague.

Well, I would add that You know, we have spent tonight talking mainly about syringes, but the issue of addiction and substance use in Maine, that's just a small piece of it, right? I mean, we have alcohol, we have lots of people who use drugs that don't inject, use them in other ways. We have 19 recovery community centers that are not treatment centers. They're somewhat similar to your beautiful drop-in center that I had the pleasure of attending the opening of, your community center. They're places where people can go and see peers and get support. So I think there's a lot I understand your question, I think, Council Butler, that there's a lot of families that might have somebody struggling with substance use that they don't want to be anywhere near a syringe program. But I like to think that there are lots of other places they can go. AA has saved millions of lives. We have people today also recovering more out loud. They tend to go to our community centers. We've got a lot more treatment available, and we've talked about that. So I think they can call 911. I mean, 988. Excuse me. We've got a few too many numbers, I think. and get connected to peers. We have our own options liaison program that Spurlink runs at in this county, and we have 40, today we have 31 people on the ground every day whose job it is to connect with people, connect with people who have had an overdose and lived. 97% of our overdoses now we are able to reverse. But we need to connect those individuals with something, because if they continue to overdose, we're not gonna be able to save them every single time. So I think there's quite a lot available for that family, and we've got ads, we've got the treatment connection, which is an online service, we've got our daily bed report. There's a lot out there for people. And if it's a family, we also have the family restored. We have NA, AA, all of those resources. So this is just a little piece of it that's trying to help people be as healthy as they can that day. There's an awful lot of things we haven't had the time to talk about today globally.

Where there is some concern expressed by our community about the SSP, any recommendations on how we can successfully implement this in the community and be respectful of those concerns?

Absolutely. I mean, I think the fact that we're all here, we want balance. We want accountability. I think that education is the key. A program that opened up in Auburn should have lots of public meetings, should have lots of opportunities for people to come in and visit, see exactly what's done there. I walk into our places quite a bit. We call them syringe service providers for a reason. It's not just about the syringes. It's above those 90,000 referrals so people can get a hot meal or a piece of clothing or stay warm in the winter. Unfortunately, as the director of opioid response, I wish we didn't have to have any syringe programs, obviously. I wish no one in Maine took drugs. But this is not the society we live in. Our obligation, I think, in state government is to provide what those individuals need and have a multi a very comprehensive program for all aspects of substance use in the state, and including the pillars that I've talked about. So I do think that there's an appropriate way for, I've worked with six councils on ordinances, Sanford, Lewiston, Auburn, Augusta, Bangor, Skowhegan. And I've tried in every case to listen to people. And I understand that we lose the battle on stigma if people feel they can't take their family down and use one of your parks because they see discarded syringes. So we absolutely need to do a better job with that. But at the same time, we also need to keep people from infecting other people and all the things you've heard about tonight.

Thank you.

Other questions by the Council Council plot.

Thank you. I appreciate all the testimony tonight. I think last meeting we heard from a lot of folks who are opposed to this and it's obviously good to hear both sides. I'm glad that we postponed our vote until today. I think it gives us additional time to think about the facts. I've been vocal about my thoughts. I think I trust the science. I still have concerns about trash and litter, but I appreciate everything. I think one question that I did have relative to intravenous drug use, I'm not sure if it was answered, but is the CDC aware of any data speaking to the relationship of clean needle access and the increase in frequency of intravenous drug use. It's something I've heard a lot from the public and I'll be honest, I don't believe it, but I wanna ask professionals because a comment you hear is that these SSPs are creating more drug users or it's not compassionate because you're giving these people the ability to keep using forever. I'll be honest, I don't necessarily agree with that statement, but I'm not gonna pass judgment on that question. I think that's for you guys to answer. I'm curious what the statistics tell us.

I'm not sure that I can pull the statistic out of it, but what I understand is because a participant who is coming to an SSP is more likely to enter into recovery Over time, my understanding is use of an SSP will lead to a reduction in the use of injection drugs. So it's all linked to this strategy of harm reduction over time, establishing that trust relationship, building that relationship so there's that sharing of what's going on for that individual. And then over time, that person being in a place where they're ready to move into recovery.

Thank you for your question, Council Platt. You know, we get asked this question a lot about our methadone programs. People would make the same cases that they're not really helping people get any better, or even our naloxone distribution. Oh, well, why would we keep people alive? They're just going to die anyway. It's about connecting people with services. Those 5,600 people that tomorrow morning are going to get a daily dose of methadone, then probably at 5.30 in the morning, and then go to work, and then come home to their families, and pay taxes, and buy a home. Some of them will be on methadone a certain time. dose for the rest of their lives. Most of them not. Most of them will eventually not have to be on methadone. Same with buprenorphine. So there's just no evidence. In the seven and a half years that I've read everything I can possibly read as a lawyer, there's just no evidence that by making these things available to people that it causes more people to start down that road. What we've learned is that this road started way back in that, usually in that family chain and that That's where the investment really needs to be made, supporting families and their children so that we don't have an 8, 9, 10, 12-year-old dad's in prison, mom's died of an overdose, they're being raised by their grandparents. This is where addiction starts, not because somebody walks by a syringe program and says, I guess I'll go in and get syringes today. That just does not happen.

Other questions by the Council? Council Walker?

Thank you. This is to all of you, I guess, this question. How much has the City of Auburn actually helped you? I'm sure you know that the City of Auburn has been sitting on quite a little pile of money for a long time and have chosen not to spend it. to hold it over. I think, if I'm correct, between the university there, the Southern University and the City of Auburn, the sum was around $660,000. $60,000 of that was given to the police department through the city council to help with them in their PACE program. Other than that, the City of Auburn has chosen to hold onto that money and to do whatever they feel in the future to do. to do whatever it is. That's why I'm asking, how much money has helped you through the city of Auburn with any of your programs that you got going?

Well, with all due respect, Council Walker, we're not here tonight to answer that question. No, I'm quite serious about that. I could have done a complete analysis of our opioid spending. I was on the Recovery Council, which is half the money. The Attorney General has 20%, and then the 39 subdivisions, including Auburn, receives a check every year as well. But that's not the question I was asked to address tonight. I'd be happy to come back at any time and be prepared to how you're spending here as compared to other states, or have the people from the Moss Center, the main opioid settlement support center, But I'm not prepared to answer that question tonight, and I don't think it's fair to ask my colleagues that question.

Just to clarify this, I don't have the exact number, but someplace in the area of the $600,000 council walker has reference uh... has been at this point provided to the city in the uh... opioid funds uh... none of that money spent there was a prior appropriation that support PSY outreach workers, which was not used because a local business provided grant funding to carry that through. I would remind the council, I think perhaps some of the new councilors in this term weren't here, but in the prior council, There was significant discussion about trying to do some type of coordinated activities with Lewiston that gets direct funding, as does Auburn and Androscoggin County. The county declined they're using their money for Medicaid medication existed treatment in the jail Lewiston has had a variety of programs The council recall from a maybe a month or two ago there were several requests for the use of opioid money There's some question about whether all of those requests are actually aligned with the settlement agreement and the city manager has been working with legal counsel to clarify that. So in the near term, once that clarification is received, the manager will be back to the council with some request related to opioid funds, but none of the, the city has not provided opioid funds to the state agencies or to Spurwink for the operation of an SSP.

Going back to other counselors, I'll put it that way. The city of Auburn has, back then, I don't want to blame any of these people for what we said, but by holding the funds, Auburn's leadership maintained full control over where this money is insured. to go. It is not funneled into the mobile syringe exchange or unmonitored programs. And that was strictly put in place by the council that was here. So I have a hard time that if we didn't want to get involved in syringes or programs or support them, and you people apparently haven't received any money from us if we still got 600 000 if you subtract 60 from that my number was 660 60 was given to the police so we've been holding on to this money since about to 2021, 22, around that time, that money. The state of Maine was given somewhere around $83 million. The fire department, they were pretty much exempt from this there because they found other things to do with it. County jail have spent tons of money because they were given tons of it. They didn't ask us for any of that money. It was given to them from the state and from the suit that was taken care of. Also, the state has decided, I won't blame this on the city, to fund most of you people with the Narcans and all of these other creams you have and all of this other stuff that you're able to give away because that was the cheapest and the best way to keep people alive day to day. and that's how you do it you can give them all the needles they want and shoot up 20 times instead of 10 and they go under and now we got the the knock hands that we find all over the parks and all over the outside campgrounds to keep these people alive that's so we can report to the state which uh again has programs for all you people to report to so you can keep your grants coming money after money after money So, again, I feel sorry that the City of Auburn is sitting on $60,000, and we haven't put together one good program yet with this kind of money that we're holding.

So, Council Walker, do you actually have a question? We're going to have a debate, and you can bring these points up. At this point, you have questions.

Mr. Mayor, you've given these people an hour and a half tonight to speak. We listened to them the last time they were here for an hour and a half, and yet you don't want to give anyone else any time to speak about what's on their mind. So Randall was right about we should make the motion to let them speak.

Council Walker. This is the last occurrence. If there is another occurrence of interruption from the audience, we will clear the chamber. Last warning. That's not how this works. So, Council Walker, I appreciate your points, and we'll have ample opportunity to debate. My question to you is, do you have a question for the folks that are here?

I asked him a question, but the young fellow over there said that he isn't ready to answer that.

Yes, I heard that. Do you have any other questions? Are there any other questions, Council Randolph?

Are any of you able to speak so that everybody in the room understands what happens to someone who is an addict and is going through withdrawal so that there is a grasp? Today, we're not even discussing whether we're going to have a needle exchange. We're discussing whether we're going to have an ordinance to regulate the needle exchange. The needle exchange is going to happen because the state says that they can run. It's whether or not they're going to run in Auburn. So if they decide to run in Auburn, they'll look at our ordinance. If our ordinance is strong, we're going to be protecting all of us in this room. And we're going to have the ability to take care of patients who are ill. So can one of you please tell us what happens to an individual when they enter withdrawal? So that people can understand that these people can die from withdrawal.

Would you like to answer that? She's not asking the audience. She's asking the people that are assembled here.

I'm not an expert in substance use disorder treatment, so I can't answer that question. Others may be able to.

I'm just trying to tap into the empathy of the room. That's all.

So if you would like to have more information on that, it's the Office of Behavioral Health at the Department of Health and Human Services that oversees the treatment programs that were mentioned earlier, both outpatient as well as residential care, and it would be you know, I could certainly follow up with council to provide that answer afterwards. It's okay.

I just wanted the audience to understand.

That's all. Yeah, I think, I mean, my understanding is that it's a significant health event. It should be managed closely.

Councilor Cowan? Is the issue that we're dealing with a clinically diagnosable condition? Is there an ICD-9 or ICD-10 code for these types of dependences?

For substance use disorder? Absolutely, yes.

So it's similar to someone having an ICD code for diabetes? Similar to someone like myself who has obesity? Hypertension?

It is a medical diagnosis, yes.

And it needs to be closely managed, therefore? A question for the SSP. What is your true motivation for why you have, you're running this program? Maybe, I don't know if you can get into a high level of the funding you have. I don't, my understanding is that the municipalities are not paying into this. You're getting it through other feeds. But is this because you want to have grants so that you can have a paying job or are you actually trying to help people?

Our philosophy through our small clinic that's based in Lewiston at this time is that every individual that comes in to see us is a person that someone cares about and that they deserve access to support and services, treatment, supplies, et cetera, in order for them to live another day, to make another decision towards wellness.

Thank you. Council Gary.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. We're here tonight to grab hold of the barn door that was opened by the legislature that threw this type of program out there with no rhyme, no reason, no perimeters. Tonight what we're trying to vote on is to hold onto that door before it is swung open and everybody in this brother that wants to operate a needle exchange program can come in the city of Auburn. At this time in our ordinances, it's not totally, it's not regulated other than, I mean it is and it isn't, but we cannot stop anybody from coming in that wants to stand on the corner or open up a shop and exchange the needles. What we're doing tonight is try to lock it up to say that Auburn is not gonna allow any more than two OF THESE TYPE OF BUSINESSES THAT ARE RUN BY MORE REPTICAL PEOPLE LIKE SPURWINK'S COMPANY AND NO I HAVE NOT BOUGHT OR DRANK THE KOOL-AID I DON'T LIKE NEEDLE EXCHANGE PROGRAMS I'M STILL NOT GOING TO VOTE FOR NEEDLE EXCHANGE PROGRAMS BUT WE GOT TO PUT PERIMETERS ON THINGS IN ORDER TO PROTECT AUBURN RESIDENTS AND FOR YOU GUYS TO GET YOUR SAY OF LIMITING AND STOPPING THE NEEDLES FROM FROM ANYWHERE AND EVERYBODY.

DO YOU HAVE A PARTICULAR QUESTION FOR THE GROUP?

No, it's more of a statement that I have to put out there.

So let's see if there are any more questions from the council so that we can let these people go if there's no more questions from the council and then we'll proceed to further discussion. So any other questions for staff on this? Seeing none, thank you very much. We appreciate you coming in. Thank you for having us. We really appreciate it. So we're at the point now where we would entertain limited public comment relative to subject matter experts or studies of data that directly address the questions posed by the council. And. This would be the time if you would like to make that motion.

I make a motion to suspend the rules and allow these but the public to speak.

So just to clarify, the motion is to suspend the rules to allow a second public hearing on this agenda item. Is that your intention?

That is my intention.

So the motion's been made by Councillor Randall, seconded by Councillor Geary. The vote will be by show of hands. All those in favor? Opposed? Extension I guess let's do this again. So we have an accurate count for the clerk if those that were in favor Okay seven having a voted in the affirmative and then in the negative the motions adopted so we'll open a public hearing Those members of the public that would like to address the council on this matter please approach the podium provide your name and address and and you will have, given the number of people, you will have three minutes to address council.

Mr. Mayor, I would ask as we enter this process to be cognizant of time and in no disrespect to any speakers, we verbally warn them at three minutes so that we can move through this in a respectful manner of time, if that's okay with everybody.

I'm just saying stick to the time limits if that's possible. So just to make sure that we're all complying with the appropriate process here, the motion's been made to suspend the rules to open a public hearing. The rules relative to public hearing are that there is an unlimited time amount only limited by the number of speakers and their ability to speak for three minutes. If it's the intention of the council to further limit the time that someone has to speak or or to limit the total amount of time in which you want to entertain comments and um a motion can be made to suspend i don't need a motion i would ask the public to please try to keep your comments under three minutes understanding that you have a right to do whatever you want but look at the clock we got kids at home thank you guys for your participation Yes, ma'am.

My name is Lisa Jones. I consider myself a subject matter expert. I live at 57 Hogan Road in Lewiston.

Thank you.

I consider myself a subject matter expert because I am seven years sober from alcohol. I have gone through withdrawals. I have gone through withdrawal seizures. I have been hospitalized multiple times. I've been through detox. I've been supported through sobriety. People who get sober have a passion to help other people get sober. The people who sat up here are helping people die. Now I will read my prepared statement. Dear Auburn City Council and Mayor, my name is Lisa Jones and I live and operate a business in Lewiston. I watched with interest your last meeting with the discussion on regulating needle distribution here in Auburn. I was proud of my friend, my mother, state representatives, and other local citizens coming up and speaking for themselves, their city, and future generations. The Mayor was polite and gracious during public comment. And then the tone changed. It was very clear to everyone watching last meeting that Mayor Harmon is only interested in pushing his own agenda. Not only did he ignore every constituent who came up to speak, he repeatedly said after that that they didn't know what they were talking about. It's important to note that the one-to-one exchange was not dropped at the state level because it was no longer best practice and wasn't helping people. It was related to limiting contact between individuals during the height of the COVID pandemic. Best practice, and they set it up here, tells us that more contacts increase the likelihood of someone getting into treatment. Mayor Harmon repeatedly said that there weren't experts to weigh in last meeting, but I disagree. Auburn residents are experts on their own community. Auburn residents know that they don't want needle distribution in Auburn. They know that they see increased public drug use already. They see the overdoses in the parks. Their daily lives are affected. They traveled to Portland and Lewiston and have seen the major decline in those cities since the exchange rate was changed from one to one during COVID. They explicitly and repeatedly stated that they do not want that here and you don't care. When I watched your last meeting, I saw you agree to go on a walk with Representative Chapman so you could see where he finds needles in town. It's my understanding that you have not yet gone on that walk with him. He continues to find used dirty needles in public. I shall leave you with a question that I know won't be answered at this time. What is your motivation? There are not people going without services currently. Why do you feel the need to expand them into your city? In what way is Auburn benefiting from rolling out the red carpet for an SSP? The citizens sure aren't, but it's clear that someone would be. And then real quick, I added a note on the end. I don't understand why you didn't ask Lewiston Public Works how they handle this and how many workers they have dedicated to cleaning up needles. Taxpayers are paying for the needles, paying for the nonprofits that are handing out the needles, paying those executive director salaries, and then paying multiple public works employees to clean up the dirty needles, paying the cops to arrest the same people over and over.

Again, if you keep interrupting, we'll clear the chamber and one person can come in at a time to the podium. Go ahead, ma'am.

Hi. Kathleen Light, 143 Mill Street. I may not have a college degree in psychology, but I lived a real education. I spent years battling addiction and talked with many people experiencing addiction and living on the streets. and sadly living just 30 feet from the drop-in center at 120 on Mill Street. I have witnessed many mental health issues and more overdoses than I ever cared to witness. Those experiences have taught me lessons no classroom could. They have shaped how I see policies that, in my view, continue to enable addiction instead of helping people recover. Because of what I've lived, And what I continue to see, it deeply troubles me that there is even a thing as a needle exchange program. I believe these programs can keep people trapped in addiction. In my view, continuing to provide needles does not address the root problem. It also affects the entire community through discounted needles and creates what I see on the streets as a real public safety hazard. That's why I'm deeply concerned that some of you are considering supporting or expanding this program. I ask you to think beyond today's decision and consider the long-term effects, impact on people struggling with addiction, their families, their lives, our community. Every policy sends a message about what we're willing to fight for, okay? I believe that one day, every one of us will answer for the choices we make and the decisions we support. My hope is that we choose policies that other people, a real chance, other people can have a real chance at recovery, healing, hope, and instead of enabling. I've also been looking into information regarding this proposal, SSP program that may be moving in next door to Baca Mill Arms at a senior housing complex. I'm concerned about what that could mean for the safety, quality of life, and well-being of the seniors and disabled who live there and the whole community. I believe those concerns deserve careful consideration, especially since you, Mr. Mayor, and several members of the City Council already know that discarded needles have recently been found in the drop-in at the adopted spot garden on Mill Street and near the bus stop in front of Barker Mill Arms and throughout the community. I have shared videos and photos with some of you for reference. I believe policy should protect our communities, not harm them. Please vote nay tonight. Thank you.

Good evening. Bruce Bickford, 64 Cameron Lane. I'm impressed by all of you sitting here and listening to all this. What you have to do is a yeoman's job. But you want to remember one thing. I took a ton of notes during that whole presentation, and I'm not going to bore you with my questions that I would have had. What I want to say is, please, listen to your constituents. You don't have to have a 1 to 30 or a 1 to 50 or a 1 to 100. You can have a 1 to 1 exchange. Just think about that. Thank you.

Stephanie Vale, and I live at 143 Smutty Lane in Saco, and I'm speaking as a subject matter expert. Good evening, Auburn City Councilors. My name is Stephanie Vale, and I'm speaking as a private citizen. For the past 20 years, I've practiced as a licensed pharmacist in Maine, and I'm a board-certified psychiatric pharmacist specializing in the care of people with substance use disorders. I practice in the Portland area, and I regularly speak at national conferences on addiction medicine topics. I'm here today to respectfully oppose any requirements that limit syringe access, including requiring a one-for-one needle exchange. Hepatitis and HIV infections are costly. Maine had the highest rates of hepatitis C infections in the entire country in 2020, 2021, and 2022. Penobscot County is currently experiencing an HIV outbreak, as we heard earlier, with 44 confirmed cases to date. Reducing Auburn's syringe exchange ratio or enacting one with a syringe exchange ratio of 1 to 1 or enacting a daily syringe cap will increase the risk of HIV and hepatitis C transmission by restricting access to unused syringes for people who inject drugs. Syringe services work, and we must learn from the lessons of others. As we learned earlier as well, in 2015, a doctor in Indiana noted an outbreak of HIV in a cluster of patients. An investigation revealed a manufacturer reformulation of oxymorphone, which led to people rapidly switching from nasal inhalation to injection. This event, combined with a lack of legally permitted syringe services, directly led to an HIV outbreak. When syringe services were initiated, new cases of HIV rapidly plateaued. And I have citations for all of those as well as graphics if anyone's interested. People who use the syringe service programs receive unmatched resources and services well beyond provision of sterile syringes, as we heard earlier, including other injection supplies that may otherwise be shared when not readily available, harm reduction education, comprehensive prevention services, and wound care. One might argue that a person who injects drugs should simply stop injecting. That is akin to saying a person experiencing an asthma exacerbation should stop hyperventilating. There is a disease process at play with substance use disorders, and that causes profound brain changes, resulting in a state of extremely low dopamine. People who inject drugs often inject to restore normal dopamine levels in order to feel and function normally, such as go to work, as we heard earlier. Consider this. If you hold your breath for one minute, could you function normally as we get close to the minute mark? Or would your brain be pretty focused on simply obtaining more oxygen? Similarly, people who inject drugs and who have low dopamine can only focus on increasing dopamine in that moment. It is a medical problem, as we heard earlier. Consider now if you were holding your breath in a fire and knew that releasing it would cause you to inhale harmful smoke. At some point, your drive to breathe would outweigh your knowledge of the danger of breathing in smoke. The same happens here with very low dopamine and a primal brain drive to bring dopamine up, which overrides the logic that sharing needles is harmful when unused syringe access is restricted. This is a medical problem. Preventing HIV and hepatitis C transmission is a goal we all share, and the best way to do this is via an adequate and needs-based public health-focused supply of unused syringes for people who inject drugs. I urge you to reject any requirements for a one-to-one ratio for needle exchange or daily caps or limits on obtaining syringes, and I'm happy to answer any questions. Thank you.

Good evening, my name is Amanda Garrett, 20 Cherryvale, Auburn. Next month marks 10 years since I proudly purchased my home in Auburn. We chose Auburn because we had friends here, we saw growth, we saw opportunity, and we wanted to be a part of a community that was becoming strong. A few years ago, I served an associate member of the Auburn's planning board. I truly enjoyed that experience. While I'm not an engineer or a real estate developer, I asked the questions that others simply did not think to ask. I brought a different perspective to the table. More importantly, I was proud of what Auburn was becoming and I was proud to serve. I was proud to see families choosing our city, see new businesses investing here, proud to see neighborhoods growing with homes where people would raise their children, walk their dogs, and build their lives. Auburn was becoming a community people wanted to call home. But I also became frustrated. Meeting after meeting, I heard comments like, we don't want Auburn to become the new Portland. My family pays our property taxes here. We volunteer here. We shop here. We invest in this community because we believe in Auburn. That's why I'm here tonight. The proposed 1 to 100 needle exchange program moves Auburn closer to becoming exactly what so many people claim they wanted to avoid. I understand the purpose of harm reduction. I understand this program is intended to reduce disease transmission and connect people struggling with addiction to services. I recognize those goals. But I cannot ignore another form of harm. What about the harm to the families who encounter discarded needles? What about our children playing in parks? What about our elderly walking neighborhoods, our local fishing holes, our pets, the people who just simply want to enjoy our beautiful city? These concerns deserve just as much consideration. These needle exchange becomes more of a curse than a cure, which I learned when I was in school for substance abuse counseling. HIV is transmitted through blood-borne passages, not reused needles of the same individual. Instead of dramatically expanding needle distribution, I urge this council to invest more heavily in addiction treatment, programs, counseling, solutions that address the root of the issue. while also protecting the broader community. Recently, I talked with my 15-year-old son about this proposal and explained why it was being considered. His immediate response was, that's horrible. Why? That is so dangerous. His reaction wasn't political. It was simply the instinct response of a young person who sees consequences for his community. tonight i ask each of you to consider those consequences very carefully please think of not only reducing harm to those struggling with addiction but those preventing about preventing harm to thousands of residents who live work raise families and take pride in the city every single day I love Auburn, that's why I'm speaking tonight. I want to remain the safe, welcoming community that convinced my family to put down roots 10 years ago. I respectfully ask that you vote no on this. Thank you.

Good evening. My name is Holland Michaud. I live at 54 Charter Way in Auburn. Thank you, Councilor Randall, for being the first person to stick your neck out and do what is right. So I'm not a drug expert or any sort of public health expert. I'm a chemical engineer. I'm really good at math. I like to connect with our local community. I volunteer every year in the high school. I graduated from EL in 2013. There's a handful of people in this room that have known me my whole life. And staying in Auburn was a choice. My husband and I are both engineers. We could move anywhere. Staying in Auburn was a choice. And it will still remain a choice if the city of Auburn cannot learn from the mistakes of other municipalities in our state. We have the advantage right now of looking at municipalities such as Portland. News Center Maine reported that in 2022, the city of Portland distributed 250,000 more needles than they collected. I had family visiting from out of state. They wanted to see Portland and see what Maine tourism is all about. We could not allow my three-year-old niece to walk on the cobblestones in the old port because there were so many needles on the ground. We had to carry her. And that was just on a regular Friday morning. That was not... after a night of partying or anything of that nature. And that is unacceptable. And I do ask that if we, sounds like we have to answer to the state, that if we do decide to allow these SSP programs, that we look at the failures around the state. Was the Church of Safe Injection in Lewiston, that was a total failure. completely disgusted that nobody in this lineup of experts referenced that tonight. And I do appreciate, gentlemen in blue, I'm sorry I missed your name, I do appreciate your transparency on admitting that 1 to 100 was not based on any sort of evidence and that it was just a matter of opinions and people reaching compromise. Math-based, like I said, I'm really good at math. 1 to 100 seems very opportunistic for 99 other needles to end up on the street. It makes absolutely no mathematical sense if you are trying to reduce the presence or frequency of something happening by increasing the opportunity for it to happen by almost 10,000%. That makes absolutely no sense. And I guess, like I said, Auburn is a choice. I pay a pretty hefty tax bill to live here. I really would like to raise my future children here in our community. We've got good people, and I really think that not acknowledging the failures of other SSP programs and just going gung-ho, I'm looking at you, Mayor, of 1 to 100 is incredibly irresponsible. I do recognize that an opioid use disorder is a medical condition. These people have the right to dignity and medical treatment as anybody else would with diabetes or cancer. However, these people do not have the right to make their healthcare problem and the risks associated with that everybody else's problem. So please consider that in what you are going to vote on tonight. Please vote truthfully. Please do not forgo logic in all of this. I do think it was a little bit of a conflict of interest that your experts brought here tonight where people whose jobs or organizations will benefit.

Thank you very much.

I'm speaking. Thank you. You spoke more than I did tonight. That these people, you know, it's a little.

Ma'am, your time is up. Thank you very much. That was a recommendation, not a requirement, but thank you. If we could have the next speaker.

Right.

You folks did have an error in your meeting notes last, my name is not Don Cantbell, it's Tom, Thomas Cantbell, so please correct that. Okay, first of all, I did prepare a bunch of notes, and many of these experts went over those, and I appreciate that. It was distributed by the main, there was a report in 2025, the SSP annual report required by the Maine CDC, and you guys were very accurate, 2.69 million. 2.69 million in one year. Think about that number. 1.14 million people in the state of Maine. Every single person could have received 1.9 needles. Every man, woman, and child. That is outrageous. They recovered 2.48 million, and thank you, Spurway, for being honest, that most of them came in from people who cleaned up the neighborhoods, not from the users. 212,000 units were improperly disposed of by those specific numbers. That doesn't include what was purchased, legally what was given by the federal government the county government local agencies or anybody else so these numbers are drastically underreported it is scary number of naloxone doses per mdni in 2025 for the year of 2023 was 324 000 doses of naloxone in one year. That is outrageous. Let's move on. The current proposal for this should be rejected. And I'm gonna suggest a direct, easy ordinance. No public, pardon me, I'm wound up. No brick and mortar location or mobile delivery syringe service program shall be allowed to reside in Auburn or operate within the city limits, period. That is a very clear statement. Do not do this. The current ordinance, as given in this update, says they're allowed 250 feet from any school. Do you live by a school? I do. I live by both Fairview School and the Auburn Middle School. I watch children walk to and from school well over a half mile. This should be a minimum of 2,500 feet from any school. daycare, public park, or recreational facility where children are present, period. If you're gonna push through it, give some good boundaries. Because you know what? Our kids walk, our kids play. Our children, during that wonderful fireworks display, We refused to let them roll down the hill by staples because we were afraid of needles after dark, and our kids would have gotten, our grandkids would have gotten stuck by needles. We don't know if they're there or not, but they can't even play, period. These folks did a great job with stating the exact words of the SSPs adhere to the distribution policy that allows one-to-one exchange for each used sterile one, whatever. But if they don't have one, you can provide 100.

Thank you, sir. I appreciate your comments.

Wow.

Hi, Erin Sol. I'm from Lewiston. And I just wanted to address the Auburn residents that you can start a petition now and get this on your ballot in November and take the choice away from them and make it yourself. And now I'm going to read. This is not my statement. These are the words of Gail Shelley. She couldn't be here tonight, so. I'm sorry I'm unable to attend this meeting, but I really appreciate Aaron, that's me, reading this statement on my behalf. I want to be clear about something. Addiction is a disease, and people struggling with it deserve compassion, treatment, and hope. Every one of us wants to see fewer overdoses, fewer families devastated by addiction, and more people entering recovery. My opposition is not directed towards those who are suffering. It is based on the concerns about whether this particular approach is the best choice for our town. Most of our residents are already concerned about public safety. We worry about discarded needles in the parks, parking lots, neighborhoods, and other public spaces where children, families, and even pets spend time. Even with the disposal programs, not every needle is returned. The possibility of accidental needle sticks creates understandable anxiety for parents, business owners, municipal workers, and first responders, especially with the amount that is being handed out. I also believe our limited community resources should prioritize helping people move forward towards recovery. Instead of investing in the distribution of injection supplies, I would rather see increased funding for addiction treatment, mental health counseling, and detoxification services. These are investments that address the root causes of addiction and support long-term recovery, not enable people to continue using. Our community should also continue to support law enforcement efforts against drug trafficking and work towards tougher laws and penalties for those caught distributing drugs. A slap on the hand isn't working. I understand that supporters of syringe service programs point to research suggesting these programs can reduce the spread of infectious disease like HIV and hepatitis C. However, it does not help with fentanyl overdoses and tainted drugs, which seem to be running high. I respect that those studies exist and that reasonable people can interpret the evidence differently. HIV and hepatitis C are dangerous, but not nearly as dangerous as multiple needles affecting non-users that may be stuck by them. Look at Lewiston. It's literally a virtual needle dumping ground. And many people have been stuck because of this. However, I remain concerned that the approach may not be the best fit for our community. Every town must weigh the potential public health benefits alongside local concerns about neighborhood impacts, public safety, and community confidence. I believe our focus should be on helping people stop using dangerous drugs, not expanding the access to the equipment used to inject them. Thank you for listening. Gail Shelley, Auburn, Maine. Thank you.

Good evening. My name is Peter. I live on Victory Road in Auburn. First of all, Owen, congratulations. I'm very proud of you. The whole entire Auburn swimming committee is proud of you. I'm diabetic. It's a disease. We all agree that this is a disease. I need a prescription to go get my needles. But they can just get their needles. It's wrong, for one. For two, you mentioned AA, sir. AA. When was the last time you went to an AA meeting and they handed you a drink? They don't. There's a saying in this town, once a Red Eddie, always a Red Eddie. None of you are from Auburn. We have a strong spirit here. We love our community. And as long, I've been a guidance counselor for 23 years and I'm retired from the city of Boston. I've seen it. I've lived it. I've looked at it. You should be disappointed in yourselves. You should. Please do not make this a Sanford, a Portland, a Lewiston, a Bangor, or an Augusta. We're better than that. I'm looking right at you, sir. Thank you.

Nancy Siveny, mathematics and personal finance teacher at Edward Little High School. And also, I have my master's degrees in education, bachelor's degree in mathematics, statistics specifically. I think that when you study and we teach proofs, even in geometry, we speak about having not circular reasoning. We want to have proof that's unbiased. And what I'm seeing with these programs is that, and I think I've seen it roughly pointed out, is that the reason why we collect data, we collect data to support the efficacy of these programs. This is a bunch of data. Data is collected by the CDC. CDC is funded by the state of Maine. So the state of Maine is also basically supporting SpurWink also. So when you look at all the financial gains that are happening, which are roughly pointed out here but not targeted exactly, I'm not hearing from an independent, which is why I feel like we didn't get some of maybe the question that Mr. Plais asked about what's going on with the people. Do they increase their usage? Statistics in general they're not gonna be great anyway because trying to follow up I'm sure there's a margin of error because they're not going to check in how many surveys were 100% you know like collected and maintained so there's definitely some questions with some of that and some circular reasoning that I certainly would question and I also know that financially speaking We've got people that are trying to buy homes. And it's really difficult. My taxes keep going up. And I almost own my home. And it's still difficult. I pay over $600 each month just to pay my taxes in Auburn. And I own less than half of an acre. And all of that, OK? You're asking now that I buy needles for somebody. And I also support Teen Challenge and other ways of doing this drug addiction stuff. But it's not going to be by supplying them with some of their needs. If I were to be a drug addict at all, I would go to places that have the least resistance, the places that would give me stuff that I would otherwise have to buy. So I would be more attracted to going to the places that would support my needs. So I feel like it definitely would attract and not necessarily discourage if we offer these types of programs. So I would encourage you again to vote your conscience and to certainly ask that tough question, how do we operate within these state rules, but also make Auburn a place that stands their ground and we don't support this, but we do come along our neighbors and make sure that we help them in other ways that we can, thank you.

Matthew Harris, I live on 369 Turner Street. So Mr. Platt, you said you had kids at home, correct? How do you explain to your four-year-old that they can't play on the playground because there's needles all over the place?

I take my children to the playground.

Did you? So you allow them to play in a playground with needles? Bonnie Park, which is part of the beautiful river walk that we used to use all the time, I will not take my children there anymore. Because every time I go, we're finding needles. You know that snow bank where the Public Works dumps their snow? Forget going there any time the snow melts. It's full of needles, trash, dirty diapers, the whole nine yards. You know, I chose to live here. I've lived here now for 15 years. I bought a house three years ago. Again, at that time, we were a great city. I want to remind you guys of the incidents that's happened over in Lewiston with their needle exchange house, how many needles that they found there. The fact that April 26, we've had a overdose that landed in the Andescagan River. So again, now we have to pay for the services of the police, fire, EMS, to go help these people. It's not necessary. 1 to 100 is a ridiculous number. These people here even stated that if we do a 1 to 100, people are going to realize that we're giving 1 to 100. They want to get help, but again, it's going to make it easy for these people to get 100 of them. You want to do 1 to 1, fine, but you know what? 1 to 100, that is a ridiculous number that needs to be reconsidered. Also, keeping in mind what I do for work, I work in one of our businesses that we have a high drug use in our bathroom. We have had to call the Auburn Police Department to come down and get needles. They don't necessarily respond, and again, this is nothing against them. We should not have to call our police department to be cleaning up needles. Because at the same time, there could be a family member upside down in a car wreck, or somebody running around with a weapon, and instead our police department is tied up picking up needles off of bathroom floors. Like the other gentleman said, I can't walk into a bar with an empty beer can and go, hey, let me exchange this in for another beer. Why are we doing this with needles? It's not necessary. We're ruining the resources that we have, and I don't see how, Mayor, that this even works in your future plans for the city of Auburn. You want to clean up Washington Avenue? How does that affect any of this? How does that fit in your plan? It doesn't. All it's going to do is just bring in more problems that we don't need as a city. So please, I'm asking you guys, do not approve this. Or if we're going to approve it, one to one, and that's it. It's ridiculous.

Good evening, Mayor and City Council. My notes are all over the place after all the notes I had to take, so bear with me. I'm gonna try to. My name is Dee Chapman. I live at 40 Vivian Street. I'm a business owner here in Auburn. I have been for 25 years. I'm here tonight because I love this city and I care about the people who live, work, and raise their family here. I want to begin by saying that I believe people struggling with addiction deserves compassion, dignity, and help. They are people, and they deserve a real opportunity for recovery and treatment and support. Tonight, all I've heard, support, support, support, from this young lady had compassion. I heard a little of that. Support, to keep supporting is enabling. Kind of like when we raise our children, right? We keep supporting them in their bad decisions and we keep, that doesn't raise great upstanding children. I have four of them. So what we truly, truly need is recovery. Honestly, I stood in church on Sunday. We had a little coffee talk. This gentleman that they were talking about, drug addict for years, came and lost his wife, his three kids. Listening to his testimony, guess what? His testimony wasn't that the needle exchange or all this support did not help him. He overdosed. He was given a chance. So I believe there is a small percentage on support so that these people can get to the next journey maybe of being saved and recovered. I know a lot, I have a lot of friends that are recovered drug addicts. And I can tell you not one of them, and they're an amazing people running successful businesses today in Auburn and Lawston, not one of them will say that the support is what saved them. What saved them was recovery and somebody reaching them. I'm gonna get back on track because there's more important stuff here, so sorry. But I also believe we cannot overlook the impact this issue is having on the rest of our community. As a business owner, I have seen the changes firsthand. Clients have felt uncomfortable coming into my business. Why? Because they're in their car. I had a client call me three weeks ago on the phone. She's like, Dee, I don't dare to get out of my car. And I'm like, why? She's like, there's a guy knocking on my window asking me for money. And I'm like, all right, I'll be right out because I'm going to go out and I'm going to ask this gentleman to leave and get off my property. I went out and helped her in, so that's just one of them, but I'll get back to mine. Clients felt uncomfortable and unsafe coming into the establishment. Employees have been frightened by situations that have encountered. We are hearing concerns from residents about the discard needles in the parks and public spaces, places where our children should be able to play safely. I'm gonna talk about children playing safely, okay?

Thank you very much.

No, I need to get this point across. Please, can somebody make a motion to hear the rest of this? Because this council needs to hear what I, and I'm sorry I got off track. I apologize. Thank you very much. Can somebody make a motion? I want to share what happened last year. Three little girls came running up, four o'clock, I'm leaving work. They said, I think somebody's dead. I think somebody's dead. This nice young gentleman goes, I stayed with the three young kids. Gentleman went down and goes, I'll go see. So I said, all right, and I'm talking to the kids. He comes back and he goes, They're just sleeping. So we told these kids she's just sleeping. She was dead on the riverbank of the park, Anniversary Park. That is unacceptable for our children. Our parks, they can't even play in it because we have an ordinance that they can stay there until dusk. Well, guess what? Our kids don't play in the parks at dusk.

Thank you very much for your time.

Well, I'm sorry I didn't get to finish this, but you will all be getting a copy of the rest of my letter. Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Good evening. I'm Melissa Lee from Forty Pound Road. Thank you for the opportunity to speak tonight. In the interest of time, I'm going to edit my notes on the fly so I'm not redundant. My opposition to the SSPs isn't a lack of compassion at all. It's about enabling illegal activity. It's about surrendering public spaces over to rampant drug use, and we've heard that time and again tonight. The mayor says he isn't seeing it on his 60-plus walks through the city, but I see it, and others in this room have seen it. The mayor says these folks can go into any drugstore and buy a box of needles. Let them pay for it, not us. I have compassion for those suffering drug addiction, homelessness, mental health struggles, and I regularly pass out meals, toiletries, etc. You know what I have never passed out? Money, alcohol, drugs, or syringes. I have never given them anything that would enable them to harm themselves or to continue in illegal activities. On page two of the syringe services programs evidence summary and best practices documents that I think was included in today's packet, I'm not sure, but there are nine core services listed as those provided by SSPs. There is only one of those services that filled this room tonight, the distribution of syringes. Along with that letter was a FAQ type document answering questions raised by the public. One of those questions, do SSPs increase syringe litter? They answer by saying, SSPs can reduce the number of improperly discarded syringes in communities. Of course they can, but those are only good as those who abide by them. Their specific concern goes on to the answer to this specific concern goes on to cite additional strategies to address syringe disposal concerns. We've all heard the number of cities that are already participating in these programs. Bangor is in the news right now because of its drug use problem, because of its cases of HIV skyrocketing. And they've had SSPs since at least 2018, as far as I could find. And here they are experiencing an explosion of HIV cases. Bangor has been battling this for years with SSPs in operation. Auburn needs help. The homeless and drug addicted communities need help. But this is not the right method. Please, I ask you to consider voting no. Thank you.

My name is Stan. I'm on 435 Court Street. I've been just standing here listening to this tonight, and it struck me that behind the mayor and the city manager is the state flag with the word Derigo on it. I lead. I don't see any leaders. I've always considered those leaders, in my study of Maine history, capital L leaders. I don't see capital L leaders. I see small l leaders. So I'm making a suggestion tonight. If you decide to vote in the affirmative on this, I think you should add your name to an addendum, holding yourselves personally, financially responsible for anything that happens or the outcome of this. not just this but any time forward this is your first uh as the mayor said about opening this back up for discussion i think you people really need to consider that hold yourselves personally financially responsible for the outcome of this vote tonight when something happens bad in the city and the city gets sued you guys should stand up there first and put the money in that's my thoughts thank you

Hello, my name is Justin Young. I'm off of Washington Street in Ward 4 here in Auburn. Miss Butler, that's you. I didn't vote for you, but we can still be friends. With the rise in gun violence around the country, I really think we should just start distributing guns to people. In 2024, as a Democrat senator in Kentucky, Karen Berg, she proposed providing pedophiles and child sex predators child sex dolls because she said it would, quote, help their release and would allow them to not commit those crimes against actual children. Obviously, that's disgusting, and we shouldn't even be entertaining the thought of that. So the logic follows with an SSP program. all of the experts here, which are way smarter than me, none of them seem to mention the actual root cause of the SSPs or the drug issue itself, which is actual drug use. And now, the SSP may address and successfully address HIV and health benefits and things like that, and picking up syringes, which I doubt will even be helpful. I mean, look at Portland, Bangor, Lewiston. So what is the actual solution here? And we should be focusing on not the HIV transmission and the health of these junkies, which is what they are, We should be focusing on actual drug use. And so a good analogy would be for us Mainers, imagine you're on a boat and there's a hole in that boat and the boat's sinking and the city council comes in and starts handing everybody buckets. It doesn't make logical sense. How about we patch the hole and stop the ship from sinking? Now there's a great book on this, which I'm sure probably some of you experts actually read. It's called Beggars and Thieves by Mark Fleischer. Excellent book. And it describes what these junkies do day to day. He goes around to different cities and studies them and talks with them and integrates himself with them. And basically, he comes to the conclusion that these are their life choices. And this is their choice to be where they are. And this is their choice to do these drugs and do these things. And there's only so much money and so much education we can throw in their direction before we're in the same loop all over again. So my suggestion and my solution would be to go scoop these junkies up off of the street corners that are panhandling, and you go set them to the jail and have them rehabilitate for 90 days until they're clean. That's what you do. Love does not mean tolerance. We don't tolerate this stuff. In the city of Auburn, we need to love them by treating them forcefully, detaining them, not arresting them, but detaining them and putting them in the jail where they belong so they can get the help that they need. Now it's gonna be hard if the SSP program obviously is state approved. And this bill, not the bill, but this motion that you guys are putting forward tonight is not enough. Now if it's state approved, it's gonna be very hard and very questionable to outright ban an SSP in this city. But you could try it. There's nothing stopping you from trying it. That'd be my suggestion.

Thank you, sir.

Ban it outright, please. Ms. Butler, thank you.

Jeffrey Wilkins 33 Lafayette Street as a data nerd. I just have to correct some of the data that's been given We should always be using data that represents our communities So out-of-state studies that are 10 plus years old aren't really relevant to the state of Maine We can look at the city of Portland. We can look at the city of Lewiston We can see that SSPs do increase police calls to that area now The reports are very tricky how they're worded. They don't increase crime. Crime is represented differently than a call, than a police call to an area. I believe the city of Portland has seen a 38% increase of calls to their Bayside area in the two years they implemented NSOP in that area. That's just that one I could find online. They're not really published. You have to kind of go through them. But Portland has published theirs, and you were able to find that one. You can also look at the needle waste is a huge issue in Portland. They implemented a buyback program, which as ridiculous as it sounds, actually did help raise that rate of recovery rate to like 86%. But when you calculate the fact that the city of Portland gave away 1 million needles, that's still 140,000 needles that are not recovered through Sharp's boxes or any other SSP provider. So it's just extra data that this is published data. You can see it from MTW or the CDC website as well. Thank you.

Hello. My name's Leslie Gary. I live at 38 Flanders Street. A couple thoughts. After listening to everybody here, 3% is what you get of recovery from people that you're helping, that's pretty low. So why don't we give the services, stop, get rid of the needles. Don't give them the drugs. All we're doing is asking our police to work harder. We're giving people something that, last I knew drugs were illegal, and we're giving them a utensil to put them in. That just asks for more drugs to come into the city. Our police, I don't know how they feel. I emailed our chief today, and I didn't get a response, so I don't know if they're allowed to answer or not. But how do they feel that you're giving somebody something that they have to fight against? They don't want drugs here. That's their job to keep them out of the city, and your job now is making their job harder. That's all you're doing. If you want to help people, help them. Don't give them a utensil to put their drugs in to hurt themselves even more.

My name is Rudy Wayne, 499 Penley Corner Road, over by Fox Ridge Golf Course. I've heard a lot of things talked about tonight about the addict. What about the child? What about that child that's just freelancing in a park, and all of a sudden he strikes a needle? What are we going to do? We have to have a game plan here. And I've heard a lot of different things tonight. This city has assets. It's called land. And out where I live, it's the ag area. Why not take some of that $600,000 and put it into a recovery farm out there where we can get these folks in and we can get them the help they need? but we make it an aggressive program. Be a stinker, be a starter in a community, in a state that needs this help. Every county in this state has lands that the city owns. Let's utilize instead of scrutinize and try to do these crazy things that we don't need to be doing. Let's have them turn the needles into us in return. We'll put them in a safe house. We'll teach them how to farm. We'll teach them how to get injected into things that can move them forward in community. It's time, people. We need to fix things, not continue to talk about them, not continue seeing needles and crap like this in the communities. You want to see something pretty special. I'm a homeless veteran on 499 Penley Corner Road. I'm the only one on my road with no power. Figure that one out. But the fact of the matter is, I was homeless. I lived in the only homeless shelter for veterans in the state of Maine. It's in Lewiston. It's the Veteran Inc. They house 24 rooms of single white male veterans that come in there for one reason or another, drugs, this, that, and the other. I've been trying to get this community to give me permission at my property, which is a historical piece, it's in our history books, to be able to come in and bring veterans in and help turn them around. I have. Last year I had a gentleman that couldn't get away from the toilet. I sent him to my physical therapist. He got help. He comes to my eye. He goes, Rudy, I'm away from the toilet. It's wonderful. I said, good. Let's get back on your benefits. Let's get back on what you need to straighten your life out. So we got him back on his knees, his knee benefit. Three weeks later, he had a $148,000 check. He's lived in an apartment in Lewiston his whole life. Now he's a taxpayer for Auburn. He's off the booze. He's off the drugs. He's doing his antiquing. And he's a taxpayer in Auburn now. And he's loving life. He doesn't want to die. So all's I'm saying is we've got to think about out of the box how we fix our problems. We can bitch and complain all we want. But until you start thinking out of the box like I do, like I do, I've wanted to help veterans here. You guys won't help me. You're kicking me off my property. You're kicking me onto the street. You're fining me $2,500 every day. I should be the one shooting up right now. But I'm not. I'm out here for fighting for my veterans. I'm fighting for the city, for the public, and to get the attention. Thank you for your time. I get it. I get it, Mayor. I get it. But the fact of the matter is, you guys have got to be the ones to pay attention and figure out how to fix this. And if I have to come in here and give you some ideas, I will.

Andrew Jones, 57 Hogan Road, Lewiston. I like your council chamber better than Lewiston's. It's pretty spiffy. I just have some concerns about this procedure. Who's the parliamentarian here? Is that you? So it's my understanding that this hearing started at the last meeting and was postponed. And here we are today. When this hearing was picked up again, I did not hear a motion to reopen or a second. I'm just basing my experiences on watching Lewiston. So maybe you folks do something different. I'm not sure. But I was kind of surprised to see that. And also there was a motion by a counselor, Counselor Randall, to suspend the rules and allow public comment at the beginning of the ruckus that was the beginning of this meeting. And that was ignored, I guess, disregarded. was curious if anyone was willing to second that later um counselor randall uh made that motion again and it did get seconded so i'm just kind of curious why we went through all of that um so if if that's the case then i would say that the entire testimony that happened today was out of order um unless you want to say otherwise Another thing, you, Mr. Mayor, wanted to limit the comment to the experts, but you had a person here who admitted that his background was as a lawyer with gun laws. So I'm curious, who was supposed to vet those people? If it was you, then I would say that your ability to vet subject matter experts is about the same as your respect for the First Amendment. With regards to syringe service providers operating in your city, all I can say is please don't make the same mistake that my city did. There are plenty of people who spoke against it. You had plenty of stakeholders who were dependent on resources and funding going to their organizations who spoke in favor of it. and at the end of the day we ended up with the church of safe injection on main street that was a building i spent a lot of time in as a kid when it was zimmy's and to see it in the condition it was left in at the heyday of church of safe injection was just it was sad and i would hate to see something like that happen in your city so again please don't make the same mistake my city did thank you

Good evening. My name is Linda Lee. I live on Pownall Road in Auburn. And I don't have anything to add that hasn't already been said, but I just want to go on the record as being opposed to this. And I do have one thing. What we're supporting is illegal activity. Why are we supporting illegal activity? Why are we making their job harder than it has to be? That's all. Thank you.

Kimberly Craig, 863 Pond Road, Ward 4. So I sent you a very lengthy email last night. I sent you an email today. I sent you a file of photos to show how long I have been opposed to the needle exchange. I sent you everything that COSI had been putting out there from promoting using drugs to bringing people as far as Canada, Vancouver, here to speak for their cause. So I was just talking to my aunt, who's been an expert of 50-year RN. She's in Ward 4 as well. She's a social worker, and she has been working with these people on the streets for decades until she had to take care of my uncle. And she would have never had gotten the people that she took care of into treatment if the government was constantly dangling a needle under their nose. She never would have got them clean. She would never have gotten them help. And she also wants to know How many homeless are walking around with tied bottles to put their needles in? So I love our trails. I'm on the trails many, many times a week. And what I can't understand is how the city has allowed it to be covered in filth. The trails in our city and Lewiston are a huge asset. They're beautiful, but they're not safe to enjoy. Our waterways are being polluted by human waste, needles, and dump truck loads of garbage. And I know what Public Works has had to deal with, and I've seen countless dump trucks full of human waste, the campsites, and unfortunately, dead animals. The fines for illegal camping are $0 to $500. The fines for illegal campfires that could cost hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage to the city, $50. Illegal dumping into the river, $1,000 to $2,000. But when I'm walking the trails of Lake Auburn with my dog and I allow him to drink from the lake, if I allowed him to drink from the lake, that fine is $2,500. But we can allow people to camp and have truckloads of filth going into our waterways. I think we need to strictly enforce our camping ordinances. We cannot prevent people from using drugs. I mean, they can, but we can't. So what we need to do is enforce the camping ordinances, strictly. I think our residents, I know I will be, I've already asked some questions, I think we need to get the EPA involved because this biohazard and human waste, the drugs, the needles, every time it floods, we had to deal with it. When our downtown area flooded, it was floating needles.

Thank you for your comments, ma'am.

Thank you.

My name is Steve Melks, 82 Alderwood Road. I just want to comment on about the, and I understand the reasoning behind the ordinance and whatnot, but the argument is for a very small sliver of harm reduction. And we're talking about specifically to reduce the, you know, it's less than 100 people in the state of Maine with AIDS or with, And we have 100 homeless kids in the Auburn Public School Department. We're talking about harm reduction for the smallest fraction of a population that we're not even looking at the harm that's caused by the harm reduction. We're talking about harm reduction giving them needles. It's affecting all aspects of our society. And it's not harm reduction. You're only looking at one little aspect. Again, I'm going to reiterate, because it's been countered, and to give people needles is not kind. I think the people here genuinely care about the people that they're trying to help. And I think the people that genuinely care about the people. But it's not helping. And it's not helping them. And the woman that mentioned the comfort, that's true. It's sometimes being kind is not being comforting. So and then the last thing I just wanted to comment that I was shocked by the testimony by an expert that they refer 3% of their patients to recovery, of the people that come in, 3%. If it's like a 10%, that's generous recovery, successful recovery in opioid, in non-faith-based. And I want to thank the gentleman for mentioning Teen Challenge, which is probably a 75% recovery rate. And there was, unfortunately, some folks here that could testify to that person. They had to leave. But they should. And 40% of what they're doing is just comforting people that are just there to get needles. And we should be referring, it should be a mandatory thing. If they come in to get a needle, they have to go to recovery. It has to be about recovery. So I understand, but we're going to have needles everywhere. That's damage to our city. That's not harm reduction. Everybody knows there's going to be needles everywhere. There's already needles everywhere. To pretend like it's not, you're fooling yourself. And it's only going to get worse. So I would ask you to stand against the state, make a statement, and make the state do something, but do not approve this and do not approve any needle programs in the state, in the city, and take it to the state. They're all up for election in November. Stand up for us.

Point in chat and then 51 Eastman Lane. I'm going to spare you with the full written speech and I'm just going to address a few things. Miss Randall, you had asked about being dope sick or withdrawals and what that was like. It's not like COVID. It's not like the flu. You sweat and you're cold. There's a stink that comes out of you that you can smell on other people. You ache from head to toe. Your hair hurts growing out of your face. The pain is unbelievable. You have no energy, yet you can't sleep. It is the worst feeling. You only want to go through it once, and most of us go through it many times. That's dope sick. With that being said, Belinda, I disagree with you. Janet Mills, March of 2020, opened up the program 1 to 100, SSPs. She said it was to help prevent the spread of COVID. Wear two masks, six foot distancing, give away lots of needles. Real effective. Then the Maine State Legislature took it up in 2022. It passed by party lines, got driven down the throats of everybody. There was no discussion or conversation. There was no compromise. That doesn't happen in Augusta, not on most things. It goes party in charge, makes the rules, everybody else follows them. That's it. Been there, seen it. So with that being said, 2022, that puts you 90 days out of February. February, that rule took place. It's 2026. What month are we in, July? We haven't had to follow that rule yet. I don't see why we can't continue the moratorium. I really don't. I don't have a problem with renewing the moratorium every six months. I don't understand why you would. I don't. The needles are bad now. They'll be worse with the SSPs. Don't believe your lying eyes. Believe what they tell you. HIV will go down. Has it? No. But don't believe what you see. There'll be less needle waste. Has it? No. But don't believe what you see. There's a book called 1984 that says, don't believe your lying ears or your eyes. It's the last commitment you got to make. This is all wrong. To Adam Platts, Counselor Platts, you say the needle program won't make drug addicts. I had a young man that worked for me. He was a cashier, not for me, I'm sorry, with me at a company I worked for. He was a cashier. I watched him go through Narcan again the third time. Was that because of the needles? I don't know. Was it because there was no needles? Probably not. Just saying. He was a normal kid. He ran a cash register. Now he's on the street. I have compassion. I have a lot of compassion. And I will put myself in front of a bus to save somebody. And the people that know me know that's true. I will feed you if you're hungry. I will clothe you if you're cold. But I'll be damned if I'll kill you. And that's what you're doing. The facts don't merit the decision. Consider them. Thank you.

Is there any other member of the public that wants to address the council on this item? If so, please approach the podium and provide your name and address. Not seeing any, the public hearing will be closed. Back to discussion by the council. Council Platt.

Sure. Someone's got to say something. Someone's got to start it off. Again, excuse me. I want to thank everybody for speaking, who spoke, for spending your evening with us here. There's a lot in front of us right now, so I'll speak to where I'm at. As you guys remember, we passed this in the first reading. In the last reading, I voted to postpone it for more discussion. It's obviously been three hours now, but I think it's valuable that we spent our time here. I continue to struggle with concepts of litter, concepts of where these needles might go. It's not lost on me what people are saying. as I listen to the professionals speak, I find it difficult in my mind to say that their science is incorrect. So I asked if SSPs create more drug users. We don't have numbers for that, but the prevailing opinion was no. We already have drug users in this community. I asked if SSPs do reduce, or we were given information that SSPs do reduce communicable diseases. Again, it's difficult for me to say that that science is incorrect. I'm listening to Public health professionals tell me that that's true. So those two things, I do not believe that SSPs create more drug users. Now that's not saying what folks have said is incorrect. I just want you to know where I stand. I do still have concerns about litter and trash. I understand everyone's got anecdotes. Some people don't see litter, some people do. my issue is where do we go from the moment right now i hear a lot of people complaining about needles drug users employees using drugs finding homeless folks out and about these are issues that already exist we don't have an ssp yet i agree these are issues i appreciate the gentleman who said we have to think outside of the box i appreciate everyone who has said we need to invest The city needs to put money towards things that aren't giving out needles, recovery. I absolutely agree with that. It's my understanding that the city will not be funding SSPs. Again, that is independent of the issue of whether we allow them or not, but I want to make that very clear. The city is not funding SSPs. If we want to have discussions about funding recovery, I think that's a great way to think outside of the box. Someone brought up opioid funds, I believe, Councilor Walker to my right here. Great discussion. Where I stand today is I will support this ordinance. I will also call on the council or the city staff. I believe it was Glenn mentioned some metrics that we're using for police, fire, public works, all the ways that we measure if there will be a change from today to a month from now, two months from now. I will ask that the city receive that information monthly. I will ask that the counselors receive information on any increased costs for police, public works or fire, for increased costs of needle removal, calls. I'm not saying any decisions I'm prepared to make based on that, but we need to monitor these metrics. I do not believe Auburn will have failed. if we put a moratorium on this in six months because we don't like what we see.

I do not believe that is failure.

I believe that is a part of municipal process. What I do believe would be failure, and perhaps this is a smaller percentage likelihood of happening, what I'm about to say. But if we do not regulate these today, I do believe that we are increasing likelihood for the transmission of communicable diseases within our community And that's not just HIV and AIDS. If you read some of the briefs on today, I'm not sure what the public had access to. We're talking, I don't know the exact term, but we're just talking about infection from needle use. I mean, we've talked about AIDS and HIV. The prevalence of infection from needle use dwarfs those two communicable diseases. So that didn't really come up in our testimony today. But in any case. I have stated publicly where I stand. I appreciate what everybody's saying. I will never run from this conversation. I will meet with anybody and have a civil discussion on this. And I will also hold the city accountable for what I perceive as the two biggest risks, litter and increased costs that taxpayers have to burden to deal with these programs. So that's where I stand. That's how I feel. I'm happy to look anyone in the face and have this conversation. I thank you guys again, and that's what I'd like to say.

Other comments from the council? Council Duvall.

Yeah, thank you, Councillor Platts. I think where I fall is largely in agreement with Councillor Platts. I will support this for the reason that I fear what happens if we don't have any ordinance in place. It is very clear to me, as we've heard today by everyone who has spoken, that we have a problem that we need to address. Councilor platts talked about treatment. I agree that we should talk about treatment on the council I also feel like we should talk about prevention What the the gentleman from the state? mentioned The problem starts early and that's where we need to put resources So there's a spectrum of places that that we as a city I think should look and we should look at treatment and we should look at prevention in the meantime with, I agree with Councilor Platt's asking for data after this goes into play. I think I will support this.

other comments by the council council or county i too am going to support it i'm not in favor of going against a state law uh i don't think you know you guys have raised some very valid concerns that we have high taxes in this city if they take us to court we're going to be using property tax dollars to pay for that i just don't i don't think it's there when we actually look at the data and we see that there are some benefits i totally agree with uh council platts and counselor devol that and in all of your concerns i really appreciate you guys spending the time coming in many of you multiple times coming in and telling us your concerns um Clearly waste is a big issue, one that I share, and it's a waste management issue. And I think we can, by using the data, we can monitor that and we can make tweaks and make ways, find ways to address that issue. We do wanna have our parks to be cleared. The concerns of you have an SSP here and you're gonna bring in more drug use is unfounded. The studies do not show that. And so I can't support that based on what I'm hearing can only be anecdotal. Because if you're looking at the data, it doesn't support that. I agree, we should be putting more of our efforts in treatment and prevention. So let's do it, but it's not part of what this is. is not saying we're standing up an SSP that's supported by the city of Auburn or funded by the city of Auburn or the taxpayers thereof. This is to put regulations in place in order to prevent things like the Church of Safe Injection was, I agree, someone said it was a total disaster, couldn't agree more. That's the kind of thing we're trying to put in place, is we're putting in regulations in order to have parameters, guardrails that we can monitor any program that does choose to come here, if they choose to come here, when they choose to come here, and set up a program uh it's not worth us going against the state when we can actually put regulations in place and try to make sure that we're getting the benefits what they're what whether or not we agree if those are the greatest or not yeah i'm happy to have those discussions mr milks i agree it's hard to hear when three percent of the referrals is what goes to treatment Nationwide, state quit lines for tobacco get about 1% of the people that smoke every year to call in for treatment. These things are not high percentages. So it's hard to hear, but I think if we all looked at that and we found ways, how can we maximize that, right? But that's not what this ordinance is about. That's not what we're struggling with right now. We are trying to put parameters in place to ensure that we have a certified program that we can help monitor and help have uh opportunities to react to instead of just letting any uncertified program start up an ssp in the city council gary

Thank you Mister mayor still stand and I don't support drug exchange programs. With that said we've got to vote this and as much as I may not like it because it sets perimeters for any legitimate organization. Like the ones that was mentioned tonight. And it limits it to two. If we don't do it tonight, anybody can come in here. It's going to be unregulated to a certain degree. I'd rather have something that we can monitor, keep track of, and limit its outreach in order to also help those that need the help. And I like the idea of the programs to try to help people get drugs.

Other comments by the council? Council Randall.

So like I said before we're not voting on whether we're going to have the needle exchange program here we're voting on whether Auburn should have a thoughtful enforceable ordinance that establishes clear standards accountability and protections. What this ordinance as written does is it license requirements, operational standards, inspection authority, reporting requirements, cleanup obligations, enforcement mechanisms, and the ability to suspend or revoke licenses if any of those standards are not met. If we do not pass this, we do not have these safeguards. One thing that I will bring up also is that my goal is to make a decision based on evidence and not ideology or feelings I've spent a lot of time researching the issue and listening to our experts. I'm not suggesting that we adopt an ordinance that isn't supported by the evidence. Quite the opposite. I found the evidence to support the syringe services programs generally, but what I haven't found is evidence demonstrating that a cap at 100 produces better outcomes, better outcomes in a conservative approach. In the absence of that evidence, I wonder if we should consider starting with a more conservative cap such as maybe 25 and then revisit later if Auburn's experience or future research shows that a different ratio is warranted. I also want you to know that the people of Auburn, that we have all heard you. We agree with a lot of the things that you have to say. We are not pushing away your concerns. When you get up and speak to us, we feel the passion that you have. We understand where you're coming from. Please know that. Thank you.

Other comments by the council?

Mr. Mayor, thank you. At this time, I'd like to move to amend the draft ordinance so that we're inserting the provision that was added in what's in our packet for individualized assessment. It showed in the red line at Section 8M. That's on page 43 or 44 of our packets. This accounts for what was asked about in terms of the approach and the individualized assessment that Spurwink utilizes. So I think that's an added provision that we've put into this ordinance in order to really assure that we're being thoughtful and listening to people's concerns.

So, Councilor Cowans moved to amend the draft ordinance by inserting the provision for individualized assessment shown as the red line at section 8M of the packet. Is there a second?

Second.

Seconded by Councilor Randall. Discussion by the Council. Councilor, ready for the question? The motion will be by, excuse me, the vote will be by show of hands. All those in favor? Opposed? Five having voted in the affirmative and two in the negative, the motion is adopted. Further discussion by the council on the motion as amended. Is the council ready for the question? Vote will be by roll call, the clerk will call the roll.

Councilor Walker.

Absolutely no.

Councillor Plax?

Yes.

Councillor Geary? No. Councillor Randall? Yes. Councillor Cowan? Yes. Councillor Duvall? Yes. Councillor Butler? Yes.

Five having voted in the affirmative and two in the negative, the motion is adopted. The next item on the agenda is order 6, 4, 0, 7, 0, 6, 2, 0, 2, 6, amending the city's master fee schedule at Appendix A regarding license fees for syringe service programs. Is there a motion?

So moved.

Moved by Councillor Small. Second. Seconded. Seconded by Councillor Platt. Does any member of the public that would like to address the council on this item please approach the podium, provide your name and address. Not see any. Public comment is closed. Discussion by the council. Council Platt.

I had just a question. It's more broad to just kind of rules within the master fee schedule. I noticed that with some fees there's a fee and then there's an additional fee based on services the city might incur. And I was just curious, I understand that imposing more fees on an SSP effectively makes them not be able to function. But I'm curious if in the future the city of Auburn finds that there are increased costs of dealing with litter, how what mechanism would we deal with discussions of understanding is there let me rephrase that is there a mechanism in the master fee schedule that would allow us to consider additional fees

Well, the council at any time could, let's just assume for the sake of discussion that you would have passed this fee and put it in Appendix A. Based on the outcome of the reports that you get, you could adjust that fee at any time. You could

So that's it. It would just be an adjustment. We don't need to create another mechanism now to plan for that possibility? No. Again, that's not my intent, but I don't want the city to be caught with its pants down, for lack of a better term.

Right. So the council will recall in this council, I don't remember exactly what month it was, We modified that might have been at the end of the last council We modified the fee schedule moving all the fees into appendix a they require An order they do not require two readings and the council can modify appendix a as necessary Okay, that satisfies my thoughts Any other discussion on this item? Is the council ready for the question? What will be by show of hands? All those in favor? Opposed? Six having voted in the affirmative and one absent. None voting no. The motion is adopted. There's no new business for this evening. We will move on to report. I just have a quick report relative to the comp plan. At the last meeting, the comp plan committee finalized The policy matrix, staff and the consultant are working on drafting the textual part of the report, and the next meeting of the Comp Plan Committee is on July 28th at 6 p.m. here in the City Council Chambers, where they will finalize the future land use maps. I don't have anything further. Councillor Geary.

None at this time.

Thank you, Councillor Randall.

Nothing, thank you.

Councillor Cowan. Nothing tonight, thanks. Councillor Duvall.

Nothing tonight, thank you.

Councillor Butler.

Not tonight, thank you.

and finally oh yeah oh yeah i'm gonna make you all stand two minutes here um first i wanted to welcome owen owen we every meeting is like this so you welcome uh no i just want to welcome owen uh this is probably the longest meeting we've ever had so um you got to see municipal government at its finest I also wanted to just quickly give an update on the Auburn School Department. There is a big budgetary financial win within the Auburn School Department with regard to their CIP funds. If anyone had recalled, last year's CIP approval for the school committee, for the school department was a million dollars, I believe. And there was a large portion of that that was requested to go into a $200,000 shed at the high school. the city through their MOU with the school department and basically the school's been consulting with the city to figure out, do we need that? And the answer is no, they've decided they don't need that. And so they've found a way to create these structures for, I think it's $120,000 less, and now they're moving projects into that cip that may have been funded by future cips or you know emergency expenditures from uh capital uh capital expenditures fund so just without getting into the numbers i'm happy to get into those with you guys but a big win for the school working with the city being able to leverage the expertise of the city to save a significant amount of money so that's what we want to see with that relationship and i just want to share that with you all

Representative Robinson, I'm assuming you don't have a report for this evening, but you're welcome to if you have one.

I would just like to say I want to thank Mayor Harmon. I want to thank the city manager. I want to thank the council as a whole for welcoming me and appointing me as student representative. I look forward to being the voice of the youth, and I also look forward to creating change alongside you all. So thank you. Great. Thank you very much. Representative Edwards.

I just want to congratulate Owen and any high school age kids, like freshmen. Fall sports sign up is going on right now, as well as practices and the first games of the season. So yeah. Oh, just preseason. Nothing big. Mr.

Manager. I'll be really brief. We're rolling out a new solid waste collection program. I think you've all heard about it. I can say that this Monday was considerably better than last Monday. So we're looking for continued improvements. We continue to make, the team is continuing to make adjustments on a case-by-case basis as they assess needs. I'll continue to do that. Thanks.

And as a reminder, folks that need adjustment, what's the best way for them to contact Public Works? You can call Public Works. So they could call the city here at 333-6600, ask for Public Works, and they'll arrange to look at their issue? Correct. Great, thank you.

And just a reminder for those who wanna get rid of extra cans, that's a Kitty Hawk, is that right?

It's a Kitty Hawk, so of those roll-off containers, we've already filled three of them with people bringing their containers, but we also make arrangements for collections for people who can't bring that out.

Great, anything further? Thanks, so we'll go to the last open session of the evening. If there's any member of the public that would like to address the council on items not on tonight's agenda, please approach the podium and provide your name and address. Not seeing any, the open session will be closed. We already dealt with the executive session and there was no follow on action from the executive session. I'd entertain a motion to adjourn.

Motion to adjourn. Second.

Moved by Council Walker, seconded by Council Randall. All those in favor? The council will be adjourned.