Auburn Select Board postpones $15.2 million fire station bond vote, schedules emergency Thursday session

AUBURN — June 22, 2026 — Auburn Select Board postpones $15.2 million fire station bond vote after members cannot explain a figure in bond documents. The board was asked Monday to sign off on a $15,242,000 bond anticipation note package — $14 million for the new fire station and $1.24 million in other capital borrowings — but member Steve Chambers and at least one other member refused to vote after CFO Karen Hanois and Interim Treasurer-Collector Jillian Taylor could not explain on the spot why a document labeled the aggregate principal amount as $3,820,099. Town Manager Dory Vecchio warned that failure to issue the notes by June 25 could jeopardize fire station funding: "The consequences are big." The board voted 4-1 to post an emergency meeting for Thursday, June 25 at 8 a.m., limited to the single bond vote, with bond counsel expected to provide the explanation beforehand. In separate business, the board unanimously approved a Massachusetts Vest-a-Dog Grant worth $3,775 for a K-9 helmet-camera system and unanimously approved a change-of-manager application for Outback Steakhouse at 452 Southbridge Street.