Auburn Select Board Sets October 28 Special Town Meeting, Advances Tax Relief Petitions

AUBURN -- August 18, 2025, Auburn Select Board schedules October 28 special town meeting and advances two home rule petitions. The board voted unanimously Monday to set the special town meeting for October 28, 2025 at 6 p.m., with the warrant opening that evening and closing September 12 at 1 p.m. The board also voted to forward to the Legislature two home rule petitions stemming from the May 6 annual town meeting, one authorizing expanded senior property tax abatements under Article 30 and one for expanded small-property tax abatements under Article 31. Member Daniel S. Carpenter, before moving the votes, noted for the record that the Select Board is legally compelled to transmit town meeting votes and holds no veto: "I just want to make sure that we're not setting precedent for any future boards that might believe that they get a veto of town meeting." The board also authorized Chair Anne M. Cavanaugh to execute a town manager employment contract, subject to legal review and full board ratification, and deferred a vote on a draft RFQ for legal services, with a November 1 contract start looming, until the August 25 meeting. Assistant DPW Director Nicholas Schwarz reported the Camp Gleason renovation is on track for an early September opening, with $121,000 remaining unencumbered in the project budget.