Auburn council advances demolition order for 81 Minot Avenue

The Auburn City Council voted to declare the commercial building at 81 Minot Avenue a dangerous building and order it secured and demolished within 30 days, with the owner's attorney agreeing it should come down. The council also set a March 2, 2027 special election on a citizen-initiated ordinance regulating automated license plate recognition cameras, and received a report on recreation program finances.

Key points

• The council unanimously adopted findings of fact and an order declaring 81 Minot Avenue a nuisance or dangerous building, requiring the owner to secure it immediately and demolish it within 30 days; the city can do the work and tax the cost to the owner if the owner does not comply.
• The council voted 7-0 to establish a March 2, 2027 special municipal election for a referendum on a citizen-initiated Automated License Plate Recognition ordinance; resident Scott Barry spoke in favor of the measure, citing a federal court ruling in Oklahoma.
• The council postponed until November 16 a business licensing appeal hearing for Webster's Trading Company at 150 Minot Avenue, after Code Compliance Team Leader Chris Bowden said permits have been issued and work is underway but budget trucks on site remain a violation of planning board approval.
• The council approved a first reading of an ordinance change allowing the general assistance maximum benefit schedule to be adopted by order rather than through a two-reading ordinance process.
• City Manager Phil Crowell reported that recreation programs brought in $531,000 in revenue against $408,000 in expenses in FY26, a net of $123,000, and covered 13.4 percent of recreation operating costs, exceeding the 10 percent goal; competition cheering was eliminated in FY27.
• During public comment, Davis Avenue resident Scott Barry criticized the use of concrete rather than granite curbing in recent road work, calling it second-class treatment; neighbor John Cleveland then told the council he and other neighbors were pleased with the completed work.

Next steps

• The owner of 81 Minot Avenue has 30 days from service of the order to demolish the structure, remove debris, and stabilize the site, and must secure the property immediately.
• The Webster's Trading Company licensing appeal is postponed to the November 16 council meeting.
• City staff will do due diligence on a roughly five-to-six-acre parcel in Auburn that New Gloucester voted to transfer to the city, with an order expected at a future meeting.
• The city will announce fall leaf cleanup details through its website alert system; residents are encouraged to sign up for alerts.
• A public hearing on the Comprehensive Plan is scheduled for 6 p.m. on October 14 in the council chambers.

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