Auburn Select Board approves emergency plan, fire station update, and FY2027 manager goals

AUBURN -- May 11, 2026, Auburn Select Board approves emergency plan and fire station update as ARPA deadline nears. The board voted 4-0 Monday on three substantive items: the town's updated Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan, the FY2027 Town Manager Goals and Objectives, and a Fall Special Town Meeting timeline setting an August 17 deadline for warrant articles to reach town counsel. Fire Station Building Committee Chair Mark Imse and Owner's Project Manager Connor Sullivan of LeftField reported that general contractor Castagna has mobilized on site, a June 4 groundbreaking is scheduled, and bids came in approximately 10 percent under budget despite a bid protest that resulted in LeVangie replacing Wayne Griffin as the electrical subcontractor. Facilities Manager Joe Fahey reported $178,621.21 in remaining ARPA funds and $158,121.82 in rebate funds for ongoing HVAC projects at several town buildings, with an additional $240,864 in anticipated rebates pending completion of the Police Station and Town Hall projects. Town Manager Dori A. Vecchio flagged that three goals, a staffing study, a building study, and a pavement condition index, are dependent on funding and may require a Fall Town Meeting appropriation. Member Steve Chambers closed the meeting by urging the board to formally vote before directing staff to act on public comment requests, a procedural norm he said should apply going forward, not just to the evening's public commenter, who had raised parliamentary objections to the Town Meeting vote on Article 26.