Absolutely Auburn!

In this episode, Jenn Boenig talks with Eric Cousens, Executive Director of Public Services at the City of Auburn; Sam Boss, Chairman of the city’s Conservation Working Group which is part of the Sustainability & Natural Resource Management Board; and Maranda Nemeth with the Restoration Center in Maine for the Office of Habitat Conservation with the National Marine Fisheries Service within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration or NOAA Fisheries.
The City received a NOAA grant to remove the Littlefield Dam on the Little Androscoggin River and the group discusses how the dam removal will impact the Little Androscoggin River watershed.

The City of Auburn is moving to a fully automated curbside collection program on July 13, 2026 for solid waste and recycling. 
Joining Jenn Boenig in the studio to talk about the changes are Denis D'Auteuil,  Assistant City Manager; Scott Holland, Director of Public Works; and Talya Webster, Operations Supervisor at Casella. 
There are also three informational meetings where residents can ask questions and learn more information about the changes. 
Thursday, June 11 at 6 PM at Auburn City Hall, 60 Court Street
Thursday, June 25 at 6 PM at Sixth Street Congregational Church, 109 6th Street
Tuesday, June 30 at 6 PM at Rolly's Diner, 87 Mill Street 
More information about the city's solid waste and recycling program can be found on the city's website and the Casella Recycle 101 app is available on Apple and Android devices.

Joining Jenn Boenig in the studio is Katie Boss, the city's grants and special projects manager. 
Katie shares the city has more than 30 active grants totaling over $17.5 million and she'll discuss three large projects that are in the works. All three projects share a common theme- water!

Joining Jenn Boenig in the studio for this episode of Absolutely Auburn are Lauren Caffe, the City of Auburn’s long-range planner and John Cleveland, chairman of the Comprehensive Plan Committee. 
The comprehensive plan will guide the city’s growth, development and investment over the next ten years. Caffe and Cleveland share an update on where the committee is in this process as well as some upcoming public forums.
Those dates and locations are: 
Tuesday, April 7 from 5:30-7:30 PM at Sherwood Heights Elementary School
Wednesday, April 8 from 5:30-7:30 PM at East Auburn Community School
Wednesday, April 15 from 5:30-7:30 PM at the PAL Center 
Saturday, April 18 from 10AM-12PM at Edward Little High School

Joining Jenn Boenig on this episode is Brennan Edwards, a student representative on Auburn’s City Council. Brennan is a junior at Edward Little High School and as one of the two student representatives on the council, he shares information on school activities as well as participates in council meeting discussions. 
Learn more about Brennan, his love of politics, and thoughts on how to get more young people involved in local government. 
Mubarik Abdulahi, a senior at EL and the other student representative on city council, was featured on episode 26.