City Council

IN COUNCIL WORKSHOP & MEETING MAY 5, 2025 VOL 38 PAGE 21 Mayor Harmon called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M. in the Council Chambers of Auburn Hall and led the assembly in the salute to the flag. Student Representaitive Mubarik Abdulahi was absent. I. Consent Items II. Minutes – April 22, 2025 Regular Council Meeting Motion to accept the minutes made by Councilor Walker, seconded by Councilor Platz. Motion passed 6-0-1 (Weisner abstained due to absence at the last meeting). III. Communications, Presentations and Recognitions • Volunteer of the Season – Recreation Department; Mayor Harmon presented the award to Jeff Smith, recognized as the Winter 2024 Volunteer of the Season. • Comprehensive Plan Update presented by Chair John Cleveland and Planning Director, David Hediger. • Communication: Tax/Clerk Office closed for business on May 9 for training IV. Open Session Misty Edgecomb, resident – held comments for relevant agenda item Johanna Mitchell, Lake St – spoke on police response incident at 133 Lake St V. Unfinished Business VI. New Business 1) RESOLVE 01-05052025 – Adopting the Appropriations Resolve (Municipal Budget) for Fiscal Year 2026. First reading/public hearing. ROLL CALL VOTE. Passage requires majority vote. Motion for passage by Councilor Platz, seconded by Councilor Cowan. Mayor Harmon opened the public hearing. The following spoke: Misty Edgecomb, resident Becky Hutchins, County Club Dr James Parakilas, Lewiston Cathy Lou, 393 Center St Mayor Harmon closed the public hearing. Councilor Gerry moved to amend the proposed budget to cut Councilor and Mayor salary by 50%. Seconded by Councilor Cowan. Mayor Harmon and City Manager Crowell explained this process cannot be done by amending the budget, it is achieved through ordinance amendment, per Charter Sec. 2.2. On a roll call vote by request of Councilor Gerry, motion fails 2-5 (Whiting, Walker, Platz, Cowan, Weisner). Motion passes 6-1 (Gerry) on a roll call vote.  IN COUNCIL WORKSHOP & MEETING MAY 5, 2025 VOL 38 PAGE 22 2) ORDER 40-05052025 – Authorizing the City’s general obligation bonds in the amount of $11,762,700 to finance the City’s FY26 Capital Improvement Program (CIP). First reading. ROLL CALL VOTE. Passage requires five (5) affirmative votes. Motion for passage by Councilor Cowan, seconded by Councilor Whiting. Mayor Harmon opened the item for public comment. There was no comment. Motion passes 5-2 (Gerry, Walker) on a roll call vote. 3) ORDER 41-05052025 – Adopting the five year Capital Improvement Plan (2026-2030). Passage requires majority vote. Motion for passage by Councilor Platz, seconded by Councilor Whiting. No comment from the public. Motion passed 7-0. 4) ORDER 42-05052025 – Adopting the Fiscal Year 2026 Budget of the Auburn School Department. Passage requires majority vote. Motion for passage by Councilor Walker, seconded by Councilor Weisner. Mayor Harmon opened the item for public comment. There was no comment. Motion passed 7-0. The School Budget Validation Referendum will be held June 10, 2025. 5) ORDER 43-05052025 – Accepting the Safe Streets for All report and safety action plan. Passage requires majority vote. Motion for passage by Councilor Cowan, seconded by Councilor Weisner. There was no comment by the public. Motion passed 7-0. 6) RESOLVE 02-05052025 - Adopting “Vision Zero” for Traffic Safety. Passage requires majority vote. Motion for passage by Councilor Whiting, seconded by Councilor Gerry. There was no comment by the public. Motion passed 7-0. 7) ORDER 44-05052025 - Nominations for the Androscoggin County Budget Committee Caucus to be held May 21, 2025. Passage requires majority vote. Motion for passage by Councilor Platz, seconded by Councilor Gerry. There was no comment by the public. Motion passed 7-0.  IN COUNCIL WORKSHOP & MEETING MAY 5, 2025 VOL 38 PAGE 23 VII. Reports a. Mayor’s Report – served as judge for Letters for Literacy, a fundraising initative. Last week, the Maine Mayor’s Coalition held Mayor’s Day in Augusta; attended CMCC awards banquet; attended the grand opening of Safe Voices. b. City Councilors’ Reports – Councilor Whiting noted that the Auburn Public Library has passes for various museums and cultural instititons and has added the Botanical Garden in Boothbay. Councilor Cowan attended Safe Voices grand opening. Councilor Milks reported on a lot of work recently done on Court Street regarding the separation of combined sewer lines. Councilor Walker thanked Sam Boss for putting together the Earth Day Community Clean up held May 3. Councilor Platz noted the pollinator garden initiative in Pettengill Park. c. Student Representative Report – The high school is holding spring concerts, band and choir, 6:30pm in the ELHS Auditorium. Shout out to Seniors graduating next month. d. City Manager Report – Noted the pollinator garden is certified by the UMaine Extension; noted police response to recent events in the City impacting youth. e. 2025 March Finance Report – Kelsey Earle, Finance Director – reported all departments are operating as expected for this time of year; no concerns to note. Motion to accept the report by Councilor Walker, seconded by Councilor Cowan. Motion passed 7-0. VIII. Open Session None. IX. Executive Session pursuant to 1 M.R.S.A. Section 405(6) (A) for a personnel matter. Action to follow. At 8:23pm, Councilor Walker moved to enter executive session, seconded by Councilor Platz. Motion passed 7-0. Council came out of executive session at 8:33pm. Motion for passage of ORDER 45-05052025, to remove Trustee Daniel Bilodeau from the Auburn Sewerage District Board of Trustees due to non-attendance of at least three consecutive meetings. Motion by Councilor Walker, seconded by Councilor Weisner. Motion passed 6-1 (Milks opposed). X. Adjournment Councilor Walker moved to adjourn at 8:35pm, seconded by Councilor Cowan. Motion passed 7-0. A TRUE COPY ATTEST Emily F. Carrington, City Clerk