Four Auburn residents appointed to the new Parking and Traffic Safety Committee hope to make city streets safer for pedestrians, bicyclists and drivers.

Last month Auburn disbanded the Complete Streets committee, a joint effort with Lewiston that had residents appointed from both cities review and make traffic safety recommendations to the two cities.

The new Parking and Traffic Safety Committee is taking on those duties, with more of a focus on Auburn.

Former members of Complete Streets from Auburn advocated against the creation of the new committee, feeling like the joint committee would better ensure traffic safety continuity between the two communities but ultimately councilors opted for the new committee.

The new committee includes four residents and one city councilor, Ward 4 Councilor Kelly Butler, all of whom were approved Monday by the City Council.

There were only four Auburn residents who submitted applications to the committee before the June 6 deadline, according to City Clerk Emily Carrington. None of them were current members of the Complete Streets committee.

Here is a little about who they are and what they hope to accomplish.

JONATHAN CARTER

With a background in finance, Ward 2 resident Jonathan Carter has nine years of experience in architecture, engineering and consulting, according to his resume. He is a finance manager for TRC Companies Inc. and has served on the ACE Mentoring Program of Maine board.

He has an interest in traffic safety, multi-model transportation, walkability, economic impacts of parking, along with other aspects of transportation safety, he said in his city application. He hopes to help improve street and road safety for pedestrians, bicyclists and drivers.

JOHN KLUG

Former Minot, North Dakota, police Chief John Klug has more than 30 years of law enforcement experience that includes local and military policing. After retiring in 2025, he is now a resident of Auburn’s Ward 4. 

Klug is looking to get involved in the community and thinks his experience can help the committee make informed decisions and recommendations to make the city safer, he said in his application. He hopes to work with city officials and others to bring forward research and recommendations around traffic and parking that will improve safety and quality of life for residents.

CATHERINE MARDOSA

Ward 3 resident Catherine Mardosa has a background in environmental matters and currently works for Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments as a community resilience coordinator. She also serves on the Sustainability Working Group for the Sustainability and Natural Resource Board.

She moved to the city almost a year ago and has attended previous Complete Streets meetings. She was impressed by the collaborative committee, she said in her application. She hopes to keep the committee focused on its goals to improve public transportation.

LUCY ROBERTSON

Lucy Robertson does not appear to have submitted a resume to the city’s Appointment Committee, which selects applicants to be considered by the City Council for boards and committees. But in her application she said she hopes to resolve road safety issues in residential areas, aiming to make her street safer.