The Town of Auburn has received notification from FEMA that their 2024 Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant in the amount of $1,910,318.87 has been approved for award.

The town had been discussing staffing within the Fire Rescue Department for several years since their staffing study was completed in 2022. The SAFER grant was created to provide funding directly to fire departments to help them increase the number of trained front-line firefighters available in their communities. The goal of SAFER is to enhance local fire departments’ abilities to comply with staffing, response, and operational standards established by NFPA 1710.

This grant has secured funding to hire eight (8) additional firefighters as recommended by the

independent staffing study commissioned by the town. This will bring each group to thirteen (13)

members and will allow them to more appropriately staff two suppression companies and maintain a shift commander position staffed daily.

Auburn has recently been informed by the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC) that they are now designated a “Safe Harbor” from 40B developments under certain conditions. The town is actively monitoring its Subsidizing Housing Inventory (SHI) status to determine if it can assert these protections. In addition to the three statutory requirements that can provide Safe Harbor, the town can gain temporary Safe Harbor status by maintaining its 5-year Housing Production Plan and meeting annual affordable housing production goals. To invoke Safe Harbor, the ZBA must notify the 40B applicant within 15 days of opening the comprehensive permit hearing providing documentation to support the claim. Then EOHLC will review the claims and make a determination. Auburn has received a certificate of approval from the EOHLC on September 23, 2025. This certification is effective for a two-year period from July 21, 2025 to July 20, 2027. As a result, the ZBA is not required to accept 40B applications during the Safe Harbor time period. For more information, please visit https://www.auburnma.gov/808/40B-Information to see the certification and other Auburn 40B information.

Newly-restored Camp Gleason was celebrated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on October 6th. The event marked the culmination of years of hard work, dedication, and community spirit to bring new life to the local landmark. Town Manager Dori Vecchio and Assistant Town Manager Paul Dell’Aquila led the ceremony joined by local State Representatives, members of the Board of Selectmen, Auburn’s Police Chief and Fire Chief, and many other residents. Special guests in attendance were Betty Murphy and Donald Staruk, whose family had special ties to Camp Gleason. Ms. Murphy’s father-in-law, John J. “Johnny” Murphy, played a pivotal role in Camp Gleason’s history.  Mr. Murphy was on the building committee that helped select the camp’s location. Originally intended to be in Millbury it was Mr. Murphy who successfully advocated for Auburn thereby helping secure Camp Gleason’s place in the town’s legacy.

 The Auburn Public Library recently launched a new graphic novel section for adult readers who may want to check out works like Kentaro Miura’s Berserk or Emil Ferris’s My Favorite Things Is Monsters! If you’re a fan of comics the library will be adding more inventory regularly. They will also be launching a Library of Things which will allow patrons to borrow useful household items such as a sewing machine, a portable DVD player, and a paper shredder, as well as unique kids toys and board games. The library asks that if there are additional items you’d be interested in borrowing, please let them know. Check out their calendar for a listing of upcoming programs.  https://auburnlibrary.org/