[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86,98],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6235853,"mediaKeyId","3396694-a60815b3337bb88a2603eb6e9b315d7f","parentId",3396694,"title","Council authorizes $11.76 million in general-obligation bonds to fund FY 2026 capital program","audioSeconds",576,"startMs",6251000,"endMs",6827000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3396694-a60815b3337bb88a2603eb6e9b315d7f&start=6251&end=6827","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3396694-a60815b3337bb88a2603eb6e9b315d7f/thumbnail_6251000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6235853/Auburn/Androscoggin-County/Maine/Council-authorizes-1176-million-in-general-obligation-bonds-to-fund-FY-2026-capital-program","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6235853-104d84ce37109549513aec6b7bbbe4a9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771096714&Signature=ZpZxH8NsKZ6wYpT9EfE9oYqThBh-uZ7AmcalVAXaGBnqyFwZ8FanLjEYKfdOKRfBinER7d-gRYB16j6cBPpPCCmJm3Vl2UaZPRIJmnfbJ7b8bB23yDokahq2W-aGYZHz7Stpy22zTk6u7IleurjsvWZZNYB6gnCW5pnZLHuGZqYJT3GFbVfcOtm5BdagQ7xsWUwOjpM6PkT4uJOOta3YWb7iFN-Uj8DBQ5OfSg1f17MEf4rMRFYzkp0hKQYdSWC~VeOT7qQv7qQ7Xywm6glhrwfXVhr9hrs~9OnO2LjU9Q-DO4Gb3FCydlfZxBWwttGf1HLEluneCWlirjTgQwseSQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-05-19T23:45:37Z","article","The Auburn City Council on May 19 approved an order to issue general-obligation bonds totaling $11,762,700 to finance the city's fiscal year 2026 capital-improvement program.

Councilor Rick Whiting moved the order and Councilor Mills seconded. A public hearing was opened and, with no members of the public speaking on the bond order, the council closed the hearing and proceeded to a roll-call vote. The clerk recorded the vote as six in favor and one opposed; the council adopted the bond authorization.

City staff explained the bonds are intended to fund the FY 2026 capital-improvement program outlined in the council packet. The order is a second-reading matter that followed the required public-hearing step; no additional substantive amendments were made during the meeting.

With the bond order approved, city staff and the finance department can proceed with the steps necessary to issue the bonds consistent with the council’s authorization.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Auburn, Maine, City Council Workshop & Meeting, May 19, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","On second reading and after a public hearing, the council approved an order authorizing $11,762,700 in general-obligation bonds to finance the city's FY 2026 capital improvement program.","taxTitle","Auburn , Androscoggin County, Maine","taxId",68143,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6235858,"Auburn council adopts FY 2026 municipal budget; 6–1 roll call",52,6135000,6187000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3396694-a60815b3337bb88a2603eb6e9b315d7f&start=6135&end=6187","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3396694-a60815b3337bb88a2603eb6e9b315d7f/thumbnail_6135000.jpg","/articles/6235858/Auburn/Androscoggin-County/Maine/Auburn-council-adopts-FY-2026-municipal-budget-61-roll-call","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6235858-2e4866a816d5e59818000efa7bb87a44/orig.mp4?Expires=1771096714&Signature=ES5oC2BMYlrNiaJxzAbtweukjEO~yiDPThRYorNSkWceQSK-ejnsrXmBDrKZPAZxpa49Ctekmzpw~2XvkR3p6fD1QLN-9eXljEQ~bing7my-QUxlSTc0T-Dnan54N5aCSVT46~zZgWrjEkwq2a4F5sqv5CDEYex58uLdr2OmletgnwkTTtQE55xfrWGHGu7FKzKgpIvEbtPwjeI38cootE~2KCISjvjpEALkWJ7ffoDNIvPrVYTAh6Fm5MQEjwFbKLSRTKPYIyO8JP1Ot8dYcF1zJb5XYLsfzva6S9nDY1EX6V6yuoM5fpPPgfFZ-8adVQtu~YJuG0gYwfX89VWpZg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Auburn City Council adopted the municipal appropriations resolution for fiscal year 2026 at its May 19 meeting after a roll call vote.

The motion to adopt the resolution was moved by Councilor Leroy Walker and seconded by Councilor Tim Cowan. The clerk called the roll; the motion passed by a vote of 6 in favor and 1 opposed. Councilor Belinda Gary cast the lone dissenting vote.

Councilors did not receive public comment on the second reading of the appropriations resolution and the council moved to a roll-call vote after closing the public hearing. The clerk recorded the attendance and votes as part of the record.

The council recorded the motion as adopted and proceeded to other business on the agenda.","The City Council approved the FY 2026 appropriations resolution on May 19 by roll call, with one dissenting vote from Councilor Belinda Gary.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6235863,"Auburn staff reports rollout of Lake Auburn septic-inspection program; 57 properties in year 1 cohort",916,1651000,2567000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3396694-a60815b3337bb88a2603eb6e9b315d7f&start=1651&end=2567","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3396694-a60815b3337bb88a2603eb6e9b315d7f/thumbnail_1651000.jpg","/articles/6235863/Auburn/Androscoggin-County/Maine/Auburn-staff-reports-rollout-of-Lake-Auburn-septic-inspection-program-57-properties-in-year-1-cohort","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6235863-6c5eb9bfc29437cbc47b4f7fb713b6cc/orig.mp4?Expires=1771096714&Signature=BSsppCX2rbOy3rzyo03YOiwbLnCKWb2~5H-qOEfpdA3065pw7cp-IK1uzNJPzFlyUlrobNMOqGM471v7iuI937qKsJavpynmZA8fno0JnouPEtAlifHXCbp--PKpRzaUOvUTxeAvrrkH2CPTvc0vKzc2AsobwR-xv5vujXYNNXY74xLMo2O0WWAgwtKbmDQcD8S2t-K6kENeroABG0s2utSdSlk6oH2sLBjhNz17qOmIuhSqyHQXnDCBO8Kb3PkQwLBADErN02fSB-pJZM514ChrQJPVUXjnlx0JyJSi0ZwqcipYsrwRXF~m3qul0whIhez6WqsbueZ-YHle2-xl3g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff updated the Auburn City Council on May 19 about the Lake Auburn Watershed subsurface-wastewater inspection program adopted in July 2024, saying the first-year inspection area covers 57 property owners and that the full watershed includes roughly 615 properties subject to the ordinance.

Mister Hedick, who presented the report, said the city sent notices in mid-April and set July 1 as the inspection-report deadline for the year-1 cohort; the watershed commission has a separate reimbursement program that may reimburse up to $400 for eligible inspections, and the commission is coordinating outreach and a June workshop for affected property owners.

Hedick told the council the ordinance requires annual inspections for properties in mapped zones and limits new residential development in the watershed to no more than three dwelling units per calendar year; he said only one new house has been built in the district since the ordinance took effect on July 1, 2024.

Councilors asked practical questions about inspectors and the reimbursement process. Councilor Adam Platts asked how many contractors are on the commission’s preapproved list; Hedick said the commission had identified about four participants for the reimbursement program but stressed property owners are not limited to that list and can hire any certified inspector from the state roster. Hedick said the state maintains a long list of certified inspectors and the city’s ordinance requires certification but does not constrain owners to the commission’s assistance list.

Councilors also raised timing concerns. Several members noted LawPAC’s (the assistance program appearing in meeting discussion as LawPAC/Lawpack) reimbursement program came online later than the ordinance’s inspection schedule, leaving some year-1 property owners waiting for financial assistance. Councilors urged staff to send reminder notices to the first cohort if reports are not submitted by the June 30 deadline and to issue one-year notices for the year-2 cohort on schedule in July so owners have 12- and six-month notifications as required by the ordinance.

Hedick confirmed the commission’s reimbursement program currently lists funding through December 31, 2025, because it operates on a calendar-year budget; he said Auburn Water and Sewer District and Lewiston Water Sewer Department intended to provide ongoing funding to LawPAC, but ongoing funding beyond calendar year 2025 is not guaranteed and depends on those agencies’ budgets. Hedick also said the program’s state inspection form will be used to verify pass/fail status and eligibility for reimbursement.

Hedick and councilors discussed private sewer lines and lift stations; the presenter said the ordinance and state form encompass private lines and related components (for example, lift stations) that could be inspected when present. The council and staff agreed that better frequently asked questions and clarifications may be needed and that staff may return with amendments to improve clarity and operations.

The council did not vote on an action; staff said they would send reminder notices for overdue inspections in the first cohort, proceed with notices for the second cohort in July and continue coordination with the watershed commission and LawPAC on reimbursement details.","City staff and the Lake Auburn watershed commission coordinated a new inspection program requiring owners in designated areas to submit certified inspection reports; the council discussed reimbursement assistance, inspection providers and the notification schedule.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6235868,"Auburn councilors and staff weigh vacant building registration, fees and exemptions",1589,59560,1649000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3396694-a60815b3337bb88a2603eb6e9b315d7f&start=59&end=1649","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3396694-a60815b3337bb88a2603eb6e9b315d7f/thumbnail_59560.jpg","/articles/6235868/Auburn/Androscoggin-County/Maine/Auburn-councilors-and-staff-weigh-vacant-building-registration-fees-and-exemptions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6235868-41d7c1b538228dd899e4fd36b9edbf06/orig.mp4?Expires=1771096714&Signature=nBjMwvaoSv9i-LY5lS0MIUJW1UMAU3~Y-34lwLxsN8KT6VSOAxqgvKdcR3bZWwPx95Of~EIsAsM2SaoVCF7O8K~63XmtuzkX~om1qS7xkn1bMcSU-eILPr0aehbPdEgM9QkN0v2hJucNRmqqW9shrEfenSQ52z1LG4UikAVrOL7AFLl27-H184oGss1JlhI1nN2SlFsP59GKlJwDtbBdi98sGSJUJ5pOesRuEMQhI1KaxOINs3CUC5-8C6Yr98oy3OGIFrIRcZ-sixY6jisWh~-vna82SSdttiE0WiSUofP8ytFifpYCT8FsKHxWbTWDj0UmyilyoptEgXqqbhgYjQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At a May 19 Auburn City Council workshop, Eric Cousins, Auburn public services director, and Chris Bowden presented a draft ordinance to require registration and periodic inspection of vacant buildings, saying the measure would improve neighborhood awareness, aid first responders and could incentivize property owners to return units to service.

The measure would require a registration that is renewed at six-month intervals and, in many cases, impose a fee schedule that increases with time and building size; Cousins said census-based housing-study estimates suggest 6–7% of units in Auburn may be vacant — “that would put us at, you know, over 500 units, not necessarily buildings,” — and the city currently lacks a reliable registry.

Councilors said the registry could help emergency responders, but they also pressed for clearer definitions, caps on escalating fees and procedures to avoid penalizing owners who are maintaining property for legitimate reasons. Councilor Adam Platts asked how many properties the ordinance would affect and emphasized the city needs hard data; Platts also suggested a cap on long escalations, proposing examples such as limiting the highest fees to levels like $12,000 or $50,000 rather than allowing indefinite doubling.

Councilman (Councilor) Oates and several other councilors argued that owners who keep property maintained but temporarily vacant — for business reasons or because they are collecting lease payments — should not face punitive charges, and urged exceptions or waiver procedures for commercially unmarketable properties. Several councilors asked for a way to suspend fees while owners pull building permits or undertake renovations.

The city’s fire chief told the council the registry itself is important for emergency response and agreed the fee structure should primarily cover inspection and administrative costs rather than serve solely as a punitive measure: “The registry for both vacant and abandoned is hugely important from emergency response standpoint,” the chief said, noting the difficulty of contacting responsible parties during emergencies.

Staff explained the draft separates lower-impact vacant buildings from higher-impact vacant or abandoned large buildings by applying higher fees to larger or higher-risk structures; Cousins said the models used from other municipalities often require re-registration every six or 12 months and that Auburn’s draft leans toward the shorter timeframe to keep contact information current.

Councilors raised concerns about specific draft language. Among the changes requested were: a clearer occupancy threshold for the “periodically occupied” exemption (for example, a specific number of days per year), replacing “seasonal residence” with a defined term like “seasonal dwelling,” explicit language on “constructive occupation” (situations where leases are paid but units are vacant), and consistent naming for enforcement offices in the ordinance text. Several councilors suggested a three-tier approach to fees: (1) low-fee vacant buildings that are well-maintained, (2) abandoned buildings with escalating penalties, and (3) a high-impact vacant-building tier with higher initial fees for structures that pose a greater hazard.

No formal vote was taken. Mayor Jeff Hyman and staff said they would revise the draft to address council concerns and return for another workshop rather than proceeding immediately to a first reading. Cousins said staff will consider caps, waiver procedures, clearer definitions, and a fee schedule that distinguishes low-impact vacant buildings from higher-risk abandoned properties.

The workshop discussion combined policy goals — improved public safety and neighborhood information — with practical concerns about enforcement, administrative cost recovery and the risk of driving property turnover in ways that could be counterproductive. Councilors repeatedly asked staff to preserve an ability to suspend fees when owners demonstrate active steps toward renovation or have legitimate, documented reasons for temporary vacancy.

The council directed staff to revise the draft ordinance based on workshop feedback and to return with a revised proposal for further review.","City staff proposed a vacant building registration ordinance intended to improve emergency response and encourage property reuse; councilors pressed for caps, waiver procedures and clearer definitions for 'vacant' versus 'abandoned.'","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council authorizes $11.76 million in general-obligation bonds to fund FY 2026 capital program

Auburn council adopts FY 2026 municipal budget; 6–1 roll call

Auburn staff reports rollout of Lake Auburn septic-inspection program; 57 properties in year 1 cohort

Auburn councilors and staff weigh vacant building registration, fees and exemptions