City Council - Regular Meeting

The August 17, 2026 Auburn City Council meeting will be called to order. Please join us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Thank you if we could have for the council to introduce themselves starting with Council Gary.

Good evening Belinda Gary City Council are at large. Good evening City Council award one Rachel Randall.

Good evening, Tim Cohen City Council were too.

Good evening Matthew of all City Council were 3.

Good evening Jeff Hyman mayor.

Good evening, Kelly Butler word for a city councilor.

Good evening Leroy Walker City Council what 5.

Good evening, Adam Platt, city councilor at large.

Good evening, student representative Brandon Edwards.

Good evening, student representative Owen Robinson.

Phil Kroll, city manager. Thank you very much. There's only a single item on the consent agenda this evening, order 7108172026, which is casting the City of Auburn's ballot for the 2027 Maine Municipal Association Vice President and Executive Committee. Is there a motion?

Motion to move. Second.

Moved by Council Walker, seconded by Council Duvall. Vote 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. The next item is the approval of the minutes of the August 3rd, 2026 regular city council meeting. Are there any errors or corrections other than those that have already been brought to the attention of the clerk? Not seeing any is there a motion to approve the minutes of motion to approve second move by Council Walker seconded by Council plaques will be by show of hands all those in favor. 7 have been voted in the affirmative and none in the negative the motion is adopted. Under communications presentations, bring the council's attention to the hydropower relicensing update regarding Lewiston Falls. It's in your packet. If counselors have any feedback on the information, please contact the city manager. We'll be providing final comments to FERC regarding the relicensing. I would also bring your attention to this communication from the clerk for the certificate of sufficiency regarding the INITIATIVE PETITION TO ADOPT A PROPOSED ORDINANCE TITLED AUTOMATED LICENSE PLATE RECOGNITION ALPR ORDINANCE AS THE CLERK HAS REPORTED A SUFFICIENT NUMBER OF SIGNATURES HAVE BEEN GATHERED AND CERTIFIED AT 1647 WHICH EXCEEDS THE NUMBER OF VALID SIGNATURES REQUIRED WHICH WAS 1568. AS A SCHEDULING MATTER FOR THE Council the council has 60 days to act on the petition to either adopt it or unchanged or to send it out to a referendum vote which the 60 days if we're regularly scheduled meeting would be between now and the first meeting in October. We have some questions out to legal on the ordinance but I would suspect that we will have this on the agenda in September. The council, as I mentioned, can either adopt this or send it out to referendum. If it's sent to referendum, it cannot go to a vote in less than 120 days, but must be voted on within six months. With the current schedule, even if we were to act on this tonight, there isn't sufficient time to get this on the November ballot. And the next regular election would be in June, which would be too late of a date to satisfy the six months. So if this goes to referendum, the clerk will schedule a special election for this item. We'll now move on to the first open session of the evening. If there's any members of the public that would like to address the council about city business for items that aren't on the agenda, please approach the podium and provide your name and address.

Good evening, Quentin Chapman, 51 Eastman Lane, Auburn. So I wanted to get out the last statement. I was the nutty professor with a pile of papers. I was talking about the VA study the experts cited from the CDC about the needle exchange. The study periods span of four decades, the majority of them being before 2020. Most studies were conducted in urban populations and prior to the current era of substance use in which illicit fentanyl and methamphetamine use is more common. So this study doesn't even apply to what we're seeing today. I don't see, I would urge that a strict one for one for this needle exchange, if it's gotta be. I don't see anything good coming from this. I wish I'd done more homework, homes for good, more nonprofit money. Anybody else see this as a problem? We tell our kids you can't afford a house. Well, it's for sure the federal government spending money in printing it. devaluing the dollar, making our younger people poor, but it's also us at the state level. Think of how much money the nonprofits get. Spurwink, the CEO, gets $411,000 a year in salary, plus $35,000 in expenses to hand out needles, and no one goes to recovery. No one completes recovery. There's no good from it, but we keep throwing money at it. Doesn't work. That's my two cents. For now, I'll be back.

Thank you. If there's any other member of the public who'd like to address the council, please approach the podium and provide your name and address. Not seeing any, the open session is closed. We'll move on to unfinished business. The next item is ordinance 1, 4, 0, 8, 0, 3, 2, 0, 2, 6, amending the city's code of ordinances to adopt a mobile home park rent stabilization ordinance. This will be for second reading and public hearing. Is there a motion?

So moved.

Second.

Moved by Councilor Randall, seconded by Councilor Cowan. We'll open the public hearing. If there's any member of the public that would like to address the council on this item, please approach the podium, provide your name and address.

Good evening, Mayor Harburn and members of the council. My name is Julie Smith. I am the executive director of the Manufactured Housing Association of Maine. I'm here on behalf of Maine's manufactured housing industry to urge you to reject the proposed mobile home park rent stabilization ordinance. Auburn's own 2025 housing study found that the city needs at least 1,300 additional homes by 2030, just four years from now. Yet this ordinance could move Auburn in the opposite direction, delaying repairs, discouraging investment, and ultimately leaving the city with fewer homes. I understand the ordinance was drafted with the intention of helping families, but our analysis shows that it may instead undermine the housing those families depend on. Since 2019, more than $250,000 has been invested in water and power lines, lighting, landscaping, and new home sites in one Auburn community. That investment added 13 homes without public funding. During that same period, the cost of insurance, trash collection, water, sewer, and property taxes continue to rise. Lot rents must reflect those costs while providing reserves for emergencies and future improvements. When the city of Auburn's costs rise, the city adjusts taxes and fees to keep services running. Mobile home communities face the same reality. This ordinance would limit rent increases, but it cannot limit the bills park owners must pay. The city has not subjected its own tax increases to the same standard it now proposes for park owners. This imbalance has practical consequences. The proposed ordinance has already delayed sewer and road work. If residents have concerns about maintenance or service, the city has an existing tool to address them, code enforcement. Rent stabilization will not solve specific maintenance problems. It will make it harder to maintain and expand Auburn's housing supply. The long-term risk is even greater. If community owners cannot cover rising costs and earn a reasonable return, investment will slow, new homes will not be added, and properties may eventually be sold or converted to other uses. Maine law does permit a mobile home park to close with one year's notice to its tenants. A single large closure could displace more than 100 Auburn families. The council should not adopt a policy that makes that outcome more likely. The ordinance also raises serious legal concerns. Main law just went into effect July 29th and it has a process governing rent increases requiring a 90 day notice and limiting it to one time per 12 months. that Auburn's additional process may conflict with that state law. The ordinance reaches back to February 2nd, even though its August 1st deadline passed before tonight's vote. It also fails to clearly protect an owner's ability to recover legitimate costs and earn a fair return, as required by law. We ask you to please reject this ordinance as drafted or at least pause it until an independent legal review is completed. Use code enforcement to address genuine maintenance concerns and encourage the investment that Auburn needs. If the goal is to protect families, please do not adopt a policy that could leave Auburn with fewer homes and fewer affordable housing options. Thank you.

Thank you very much. Does any other member of the public would like to address the council on this issue? Please approach the podium or provide your name and address. Not seeing any, the public hearing is closed. Discussion by the council?

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. After hearing from this lady that just spoke, my mind was already made up that I disagreed with this to start with because I think it's a slippery slope for the city to take because of landlords and the future that own buildings in our city. I think it's a movement in the wrong direction. but where the state is accepted already rules and regulations i don't see why we should be throwing more rules regulations out behind them that's just my opinion i'll vote no thank you any other member of the council council ready for the question vote will be by roll call the clerk will call the role councillor randall yes councillor cowan yes

Councillor Duvall?

Yes.

Councillor Butler? Yes. Councillor Walker?

No.

Councillor Platts?

Yes.

Councillor Geary? Yes.

Six having voted in the affirmative, one in the negative. The motion is adopted. Move on to new business. The next item is order 7208172026, appropriating funding for the Home for Good project. Is there a motion? Moved. Moved by Councillor Geary. Is there a second? Second. Moved by Councillor Cowan. His background on this item for the public, this request was initiated by the Homelessness Committee. This was related to the Home for Good project that you'll recall is in process of being constructed at Hampshire and Gough. Construction cost is being covered by Maine Housing and the onsite services is being funded by DHHS. The construction includes things like major appliances, but does not furnish the building. So the homelessness committee is taking on a fundraising effort to raise $125,000 to provide the furnishing so that the building will be furnished on opening. They're requesting $25,000 from the council. They're requesting an additional $100,000 in upfront money so that they can do things like get furniture ordered. There's quite a lead time for 32 units. Thanks to our finance director, we've secured $15,000 in pledges so far, and I've had discussions with the Lewiston Mayor, and we'll be requesting a matching $25,000 since this is a regional effort. We'll be requesting an additional $25,000 in funding from Lewiston. The $100,000 would be restored, as is shown in the info sheet, as money is raised would be restored to the fund balance. So with that, if there's any member of the public who'd like to address the council on this item, please approach the podium and provide your name and address.

good evening my name is john cleveland i live at 183 davis avenue in auburn mr mayor and the honorable members of the city council um i rise to speak to you because i'm in support of this order and i urge you to pass it this evening um These are the funds, as I said, for the Home for Good project. This is a very worthy project. It's a real and meaningful way by which you can address the issue of homelessness in this community and try to provide a means by which these unfortunate individuals find a path to become productive and useful citizens in this community. Lots have been said about various efforts, but here is a very positive way, constructive way, and a proven way in which to help those who are most unfortunate and who find themselves homeless, many for quite a long period of time. I also rise because I wanted to share with you that I think this is a very realistic goal that you've set and a very innovative and a positive way to do this. In my professional life, I actually write grants for nonprofit organizations and for municipalities. I've been quite successful over my career raising probably several million dollars for these organizations. And so the effort that you're making is very realistic goal and very achievable goal. And I commend you for setting it forth to go forward. I would just note that for those who are not familiar with this, there are hundreds of foundations just in Maine. Here's the directory that I use. There's more than 200 pages of foundations who make grants for all sorts of worthy exercises and for governmental entities like this. So you have lots of good prospects, not to mention, I'm sure, many community organizations and businesses. So I think your goal is very realistic going forward. I also would hope that this becomes a model that you continue to use. We have many worthy projects in this community and there are organizations who are willing to fund worthy projects going forward. And so I think with good leadership that you have here and a good grant writer, There's some real opportunities going forward to raise more funds for community programs and projects through foundations, and it takes somewhat of the burden off of the local property tax to do that. And it shows a very constructive effort by you as elected officials to look for other sources of funding to do worthy projects that benefit the citizens and benefit the community. So I would very much urge you to support this request in this order. And I'd be happy to serve as a non-paid advisor for how you might get some of this money.

Thank you. Any other member of the public would like to address the council on this item, please approach the podium and provide your name and address. Not seeing any public comments, closed. Discussion by the council. Council ready. Excuse me, I counsel.

Yeah, I said a question in general. I'm supported in support of the idea. I think I appreciate the dual nature of the request asking for funding, but also understanding that there will be fundraising. My question I guess is about the entity moving forward. Are there? Are there plans to somehow endow this entity? What happens when couches are required in 10 years? Perhaps that's too far down the road to even know, but what I'm asking is will this request come back in front of us next year or the year after? Obviously on paper, as it's stated now, it won't, but I'm curious what mechanisms might either allow or prevent that from happening in the future.

I would not expect this to come back in front of us. The team that's working on this has been coordinating with all the other projects and have periodic meetings with Maine Housing. Auburn Housing will be running the facility. The-there are project-based vouchers for all 32 units, plus the residents pay 30 percent of their income, whatever that might be. There's been a lot of discussion amongst the group about the means to support the facility on an ongoing basis. So I think Auburn Housing is positioned to be able to run the facility once it's open. Other questions or comments from the council? Council Gary.

Thank you. Sorry, my voice isn't there tonight. I think this is a very worthwhile, needed project because this is going to be a place for those that are homeless for whatever reason. They'll be living with other homeless that they can draw strength from and support. If they're having issues or need somebody to talk, at least their neighbor will be somebody that's on the same page pretty much and can help them through whatever rough patches there are also this place is going to be staffed by Spurwick so they will be the gatekeeper to make sure that if these tenants get visitors that they don't want then they won't be let in which could distract them and bring them back to slow down in other words their progress to help them move forward I'm looking forward to this as a springboard to encourage others so inclined projects maybe hopefully by Auburn Housing but maybe by some other private developers because hopefully someday those that really want to change their life and get back into society We'll be able to do it and then we won't have so many on the street. I mean I worry about them in the winter because not everybody can get into a shelter at least this way, I know. A handful of while the more than a handful that will be covered in about another year. Thank you Council members for helping pushing this forward as well as staff members and the public general public as well.

Thank you any other comments from the count. Council ready for the question of all be by show of hands all those in favor. 7 having voted in the affirmative and then in the negative the motion is adopted. We'll move on to report. Few items. I want to commend the staff a national night out. We had great weather. had a really big turnout. So thank you very much to police department, fire department, public works, communications, all the counselors that showed up. I know people appreciate you coming out for these. So really great job and a beneficial event for the community. Maine Municipal Association Legislative Policy Committee has started up their pre-work for the legislature. We had the first meeting working on platform bills that Maine Municipal might submit. If councilors have thoughts about legislation or policy issues, let me know. I can bring those thoughts to the committee and keep them in mind as bills start being submitted once the election takes place. The last thing I wanted to say is Bim Gibson, who I think a lot of you probably know, longtime educator in Auburn, sports historian, sports public announcer for many years. He's published his latest book, When Ghosts Were Champions. It's about the eight Auburn state champion football teams. It's a really fun and interesting read, so I would encourage people to take a look at it, especially the early years. It's really interesting, some of the history around the city that he ties in with the football. So great job by Bim, and it's really worth reading. And that's all I have, Councilor Geary.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. This kinder isn't a report, but I, after we, I'm not changing my vote on the mobile home park ordinance we just passed, but I would like to ask a question through the chair to the city manager if the city was aware of these changes that were put forward in the legislature as an add-on stuff and does it is what we've done like this kind lady that came before us say that we're superseding the state law has our lawyer looked at what they passed in the state as well as what we're doing today

So we're not superseding anything. We're familiar with the legislation and the statute that just went into effect. So the things that were pointed out, the one year no more than rent increases, no more than once a year, 90-day notice. That's consistent with prior legislation. That's consistent with our ordinance. A lot of things that were in the law deal with the manufactured housing licensing, none of which is covered by our ordinance. So we'll take another look at it, but I'm not aware I don't think the manager is either. We have things that are consistent with the statute, but I don't think we have anything that's in conflict with it.

Thank you.

Councillor Randall.

Nothing tonight, thank you.

Councillor Cowan.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Just let people know that the Auburn Homelessness Committee is meeting tomorrow morning, 9.30 or 11. If you'd like to attend, it's over at 121 Mill Street at the Auburn Resource Center.

Councillor DeWall.

NOTHING TO REPORT BEYOND THE COMPRESSIVE PLAN IS MOVING FORWARD WE HAVE A DRAFT PLAN THAT WE WILL BE REVIEWING AS A COMMITTEE TOMORROW NIGHT THANK YOU COUNCIL BUTLER NOTHING THIS WEEK THANK YOU COUNCIL WALKER

Thank you, Mister mayor. Age friendly had put on a lobster feed there for senior citizens or anyone that wanted to apply we had like 30 people that applied cost us approximately $950 and we took in almost $1100 so I there was no cost to the city or anyone else except for the people that were willing to pay and donate a little bit of money. So thank you for that.

thank you very much for your work on that council plat just three updates from the school department first off they've made progress with the greenhouse up at Edward Little High School so if you're up there you can actually I don't actually know exactly I haven't been up there in the last month or so but it's up there and if you look around you'll see it I want to just give you guys an update on one of the bond items from the school department last year. That was a $800,000 HVAC system for East Auburn. That was installed last week. Cody Crane dropped that in. Everything is great. I think there was a lot of duct work that was also rebuilt throughout the building. That came in under budget, so that's good news. And lastly, I just wanted to thank, the school department has thanked this entity, but on behalf of the city, I wanted to thank Edward Little High School class of 76, which for their 50th anniversary, fundraised, established, maybe you guys have seen this, and donated a series of kiosks that are around Edward Little High School. and each of these kiosks kind of pays homage to some of the history of edward little and so that's their kind of lasting impact 50-year gift to the city and to the school so also something to check out if you happen to be on site at the high school so thank you to the class of 76. great thank you representative edwards

Yeah, we were just at the school today, and we saw both of those. It's hard to miss. But this is our last meeting before school starts again. We have freshman orientation next Wednesday, and the teachers return on Monday. Our guidance counselors return today. And then this is tryout week for sports. So a lot of things happening.

Representative Robinson?

I think he covered it all. Thank you. Mr. Manager?

Thank you mayor Council just a couple updates one in new parking and traffic safety committee is beginning setting their new their first meeting date rather. Council Butler has been assigned as the chair assigned or volunteered. Yeah. So we appreciate her commitment. And we do currently have a vacancy on this committee. We'll be getting that posted soon. One of the individuals that was brought on had to withdraw their name. other highlights if you drive down mighty avenue take a look at the new or sorry at the central fire station you will see the work being done for the new public safety building a great deal of site work is underway tree removal surrounding that area as well as down alongside where the 911 building is currently. Engine 2 is on track. I think they poured the slab floor for the bay area for the fire apparatus today. That is on track for an October opening, so we're right on schedule. And the LE911 renovations in this building is underway. if you're in the building you'll most likely hear that during the day as they are drilling into the floor making a lot of changes up on the third floor so um so that work is on track as well as many of you know there's a lot of moving pieces with the new public safety building be able to move out current central fire, move out 911. Engine two needed to be completed. The LA91 space here in this building needed to be completed as well as the work done at 67 Kitty Hawk.

Thank you. Thank you very much. Director Earl, financial report.

Hello, my name is Earl. Sorry. Good evening, Council Mayor. This is the final quarterly report for FY 26. This covers the period of April to June. So while the operational year has concluded, the fiscal year does remain open while some outstanding invoices are paid and some remaining revenues are received. We expect this activity to be completed by the end of August, in which case we'll be closing the fiscal year in September. This is all in preparation for the auditors arriving in November. That said, our FY 25 audit is in auditor's hands for draft at this time. So when you're looking at the year-to-date FY25 numbers, those are the numbers. Nothing is going to change with those 25 comparisons. There'll be slight differences with the 26. Like I said, just those expenses and revenues that are coming in, they're trickle effect at this point. So they'll change very little after this report. So this is 99% of the fiscal year being completed. with that said our revenues are 0.67 percent difference from last year same with our expenditures it's all very similar we have no major variances or issues with our revenues or expenditures i will point out that we do expect to have some funds going into the fund balance and we'll be able to give you an updated fund balance number at the time of my next report is the hope which would be at end of october So hopefully I have that number for you at that time, and we'll have some future discussions. Both Norway Savings Bank Arena and Ingersoll ended the year with operational gains, not large gains, but gains nonetheless, which is all very good news for us. And I have no other points to make for this report, but if there are any questions, I'm happy to answer those.

Council Platt?

Thank you. On those operational gains for Ingersoll and Norway, is that normal? Do we usually have gains?

Those are around the normal numbers. So we have not seen anything higher than that, but we have seen much lower in the past. So they've been putting in a lot of work. The arena's been bringing in new shows. Ingersoll, the manager of that, has really been putting a lot of time into getting some more rentals in there. So we're seeing the benefits of that work that they're doing. It's slow progress, but it's progress.

Have we, in your memory, have we run a deficit in either of those? We have.

We have. In the past, run a deficit with the arena, absolutely. Ingersoll became a separate business entity or proprietary fund more recently. That was run under the general fund prior to that, but it was a larger expense. Like I said, the efforts have been put into increasing those rentals to cover its expenses.

Great, so sounds like good news this year. Yeah, awesome, thank you.

JUST AS A REMINDER, SINCE THESE ARE ENTERPRISE ACCOUNTS, IF THERE'S A NET PROFIT WHEN THE BOOKS ARE CLOSED, THAT MONEY IS TRANSFERRED TO HELP OFFSET DEBT SERVICE, IS THAT CORRECT?

THAT IS CORRECT.

OTHER QUESTIONS ON THE FINANCIAL REPORT FROM THE COUNCIL?

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Kelsey, not a question, just a comment. Again, really appreciate the formatting and the summaries. That's a really, really well polished report. Easy read for people who wanted to see the front matter. So good work to you and your team. And I believe you also mentioned that you'd come in a little bit earlier in terms of finalizing your dollars this year. So congratulations on that effort as well.

Confetti. That's what we say in accounting.

Other questions or comments from the council? Is there a motion to accept the report?

Motion to accept.

Moved by Council Walker. Second. Seconded by Council Cowan. Vote will be by show of hands. All those in favor? Seven having voted in the affirmative, none in the negative. The report is accepted. Move on to the second open session of the evening. If there's any member of the public that would like to address the council on items not on the agenda, please approach the podium and provide your name and address. Not seeing any open session is closed. There's no executive session scheduled for this evening is their motion to adjourn motion to adjourn by Council Walker. Second by Council Randall all those in favor. The council will be adjourned.