AUBURN – The City Council voted against a resolve to authorize one single polling location, after several residents voiced opposition to it.

Auburn currently has polling station in the five designated wards: Washburn School, Auburn Middle School, Fairview School and Sherwood Heights School.

The Auburn Mall was designated by the City Council to be the polling station for all residents in a move meant to save the city $8,000. As explained by City Manager Glenn Aho, by having one polling place the city would save about $4,000 each election and $8,000 annually.

“When the City Council asked the staff to reduce the budget,” Aho said, “what we tried to do was think outside the box, come up with new ideas, and look at what our neighbors were doing.” He acknowledged that each decision the council makes will in some way effect one group of people or another and offered solutions of public transport and shuttle service to the polls to accommodate concerns of distance.

Mayor John Jenkins welcomed public opinion by first reading two e-mails he received from residents expressing their hesitation and refusal. Once the floor was opened to the public, a steady line of opposition emerged.

State Sen. Deb Simpson expressed apprehension about the increase in traffic on Turner Street this would create and noted that a private property, such as the Auburn Mall, was the incorrect place to hold government activities. Citing a piece of past legislation that described public squares as being replaced by malls, she explained how local mall managers and owners had opposed on grounds that they are private property and shouldn’t have to open their business to house public activities.

Jonathan LaBonte of New Auburn warned of the negative effect it would have on the sense of community for each ward. “Nothing engages residents of a community more than showing up on election day and casting their vote in their own neighborhood,” he said.

Other opponents to the consolidation stressed the impact that such a move would have on the ability of senior citizens, those living in rural areas of Auburn or the handicapped in getting to the polls.

Other business on the agenda passed unanimously. The second reading of an amendment to the zoning map in the vicinity of Lake Auburn Avenue by rezoning four properties from urban residential to multifamily residential passed, as did the authorization of the issuance and sale of capital improvement bonds in the amount of $6,500,000. The authorization of the city manager to execute contract with the Police Command Unit passed without further negotiations needed.

A finance report for May was presented by Finance Director Tracy Roy. Revenues collected through May 31 were $62,364,971 and expenditures through May 31 were $57,853,635. The city’s projected revenues for the end of 2009 fiscal year are estimated to be $40,000 below budget.

Mustard’s Last Stand, a hot dog and sausage cart owned by two college students, was recognized by the council as part of their Business Appreciation Program.