TURNER – While Lewiston is not seeking damages from Turner in its lawsuit against the Auburn Water District, in which the town is named a “party-in-interest,” the town will still incur some legal costs as a result, Town Manager Kurt Schaub confirmed earlier this week.

Lewiston filed a civil complaint against the Water District in Androscoggin County Superior Court May 12 following weeks of debate between Lewiston and Auburn officials on zoning and development changes in the Lake Auburn watershed. In March, the Auburn City Council voted to rezone 148 acres within the Lake Auburn watershed from agricultural to general business, which would open the land to greater commercial and residential development.

Lake Auburn is the public drinking water source for Lewiston, Auburn and parts of Poland. Parts of the watershed extend into the southwest area of Turner, Schaub said.

In 1993, Lewiston, the Auburn Water District and Turner entered an interlocal agreement that created the Lake Auburn Watershed Protection Commission. Lewiston’s complaint alleges that any increased development within the watershed that leads to pollution is a violation of the agreement.

Schaub said that while the complaint names Turner in the complaint, he said it is more of a formality since Turner is a signee to the 1993 agreement. The town still had to provide a response to the complaint. The town’s insurance does not cover the legal fees for suits in which no damages are being sought, the town manager said. Thus far, Turner has spent about $300 of its annual budget for legal expenses, though that number only reflects fees from the month of May.

In other news, the Board of Selectmen unanimously voted to renew Schaub’s contract for another three years at an annual salary of $80,000.

Regarding coverage from a pipe-break that flooded the Town Hall at the end of June, Schaub said the town is waiting to hear from insurance adjusters. There was minimal loss of records on file at the office, though some baseboards and drywall had to be replaced and industrial dehumidifiers brought in.

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