Our Board of Supervisors
Steve Sinisi
Board Chair
Steve Sinisi is the owner and farmer of Old Crow Ranch in Durham, Maine. Alongside his wife, Seren, and their 3 daughters, they raise beef cattle, hogs and meat chickens. Steve has been on the board since 2017 and has served as the president of the board since 2019. There's not a lot of extra time when you run a farm--but Steve's dedication to the community and education can be seen in action in Old Crow Ranch's yearly Potluck Pig Roast, their donations of compost to the school garden and the many farm tours he leads. Steve, a transplant from Wisconsin, has been in Maine since 1999 and has been active in farming and conservation since then. Old Crow Ranch has an agricultural easement that Steve helped write when he purchased the farm in 2008. Steve previously served on the Androscoggin Land Trust's board of directors, as well as Durham's Comprehensive Plan Committee. When Steve does get away from the farm, it's likely to be to attending an agricultural fair with his daughters and wife. He brings an important voice and perspective of farming, business owners, and working families to our board.
Katie Carville
Treasurer
Katie Carville joined the district board in 1998, she has been a board member for 24 years. Katie has served on the Allen Pond Improvement Association and was a volunteer lake monitor for Lake Stewards of Maine. She was on the Vermont Avenue Road Association and helped to organize fundraising for Holy Trinity Parish in her hometown of Lisbon Falls. She was the Assistant Scout Master in Lisbon Falls for a number of years, helping her troop go on hiking trips in New Mexico and the national Boy Scout Jamboree. Katie is a Mainer and enjoys being out in nature. When she's not giving back to her community she enjoys taking walks and fishing. Katie was a budget analyst at the Naval Air Station and has incredible attention to detail. She has a watchful eye on our budget and helps guide staff through budget questions and challenges. She represents a voice for water quality concerns and other natural resources and is a valuable member of our board.
Kathy Shaw
Vice-Treasurer
Kathy Shaw has been a supervisor for our district for over ten years. She is a self-employed lifelong farmer and gardener--operating Valley View Farm in Auburn. Valley View Farm is a mixed product operation, they grow fruits and vegetables, and raise livestock chickens duck, rabbit, squab, turkeys, and sheep. Valley View Farm is open year round, supporting our local communities fresh local food from her farm, and surrounding farmers. You may visit the farm stand, find Kathy at a farmer's market, or schedule a weekly drop off at your house! Kathy is dedicated to giving back to her community; she is the President of the Cumberland and Falmouth Farmer's Market Organization, the presiding officer for the Natural Resources and Agriculture Working Group in Auburn and has been apart of the Northern New England Bird Club, the Cliff Island Association along with many other organizations. She has experience in farming, massage therapy, and welding. She is also a Master Gardener and a Master Food Preserver. She brings representation from a variety of natural resource interests, and is well known across Androscoggin and Cumberland counties for her community efforts.
Eric Cousens
Supervisor
Eric is the Director of the Planning, Permitting and Code Department from the City of Auburn. He has worked in the planning and economic development field for the City since 2006. He lives in Turner with his family where they manage their lands for firewood, maple syrup production, wildlife habitat, recreation, hunting and fishing. They also have a small garden and a growing number of perennial fruits trees, grapes and raspberries and mushrooms. In his free time he enjoys spending time in the woods and on the water with family and friends. Eric brings his city planner hat to our meetings, and strengthens our relationship with the City of Auburn. Eric has been an appointed supervisor since 2023. His understanding of government and upcoming local projects bring an important perspective to our meetings.
Jeremiah Burch
Supervisor
Jeremiah Burch is a Forest Ranger with the Maine Forest Service, primarily serving Androscoggin, Oxford, and Sagadahoc Counties. He graduated from the University of Maine with a B.S. in Forestry, before going on to work for large industrial forest land managers, small woodlot owners, logging contractors, a sawmill, and as an arborist. Jeremiah has a passion for the outdoors, sustainable and inclusive land use practices, conservation, and giving back to the community. Jeremiah joined the board in 2024 as an associate, and was voted in as supervisor in November 2024. He resides in Lisbon with his family, where they enjoy working around their home to encourage native plants, trees and pollinators, and tending a budding garden.
Tom Gilbert
Associate Supervisor
Tom Gilbert has served as the Water Resources Specialist at the Maine Forest Service (MFS) for over 10 years where he manages programs related to water quality protection and aquatic habitat including a forestry BMP monitoring program, forestry BMP educational programs and aquatic habitat enhancement programs. Prior to working at MFS, Tom served at the Maine Dept. of Environmental Protection and The New Hampshire Wetlands Bureau as a water quality and land use specialist, and served as a wildlife biologist for state, nonprofit and private sector organizations. Tom resides in Topsham and joined the AVSWCD board as an associate supervisor in 2024. He brings his important water quality perspective and understanding of state and federal agencies to our board.