[0:04] You're live. Thank you.

[0:24] >> Item two is adjustments to the agenda.

[0:27] >> Um, we do have a couple of adjustments.

[0:29] I apologize. Uh,

[0:33] >> I need to add accepting Victoria Gan's

[0:36] resignation from the energy committee.

[0:38] We can put that right at the end as

[0:41] would that be 6.

[0:44] Please.

[0:46] >> Sorry.

[0:46] >> You need to speak up.

[0:47] >> No, no, hold on. That's a problem.

[0:49] >> You're on. Brian, just

[0:51] >> give me

[0:52] >> How about now?

[0:55] [laughter]

[0:57] » Little we may have room. Bring me down a

[1:00] bit. Just my just my ch

[1:05] um we have two adjustments. Yeah.

[1:08] Accepting Victoria Gan's resignation.

[1:10] >> No minutes for the public hearing.

[1:12] >> Sorry.

[1:12] >> No minutes for the public hearing.

[1:13] >> Right. The other one will be um 8B we

[1:16] delete because there was a public

[1:18] hearing. I have no minutes to approve.

[1:27] » You're putting it under um

[1:30] 6T

[1:31] >> the acceptance of Victoria's

[1:33] resignation.

[1:34] >> Y

[1:40] » do I have a motion to that effect?

[1:42] >> I'll make that motion.

[1:43] >> A second.

[1:44] >> Been moved and seconded. Any further

[1:46] discussion on the motion? Hearing

[1:49] none. Roll call, please. Sarah.

[1:51] >> Councelor Danny Cummings.

[1:52] >> Yes.

[1:53] >> Councelor Ray,

[1:54] >> yes.

[1:54] >> Councelor Stevens,

[1:55] >> yes.

[1:56] >> Councelor Cely,

[1:57] >> yes.

[1:57] >> Councelor Boon,

[1:58] >> yes. Item three, public hearings. 3A is

[2:02] amendment of the of liquor license. Ye

[2:04] old hookers.

[2:09] For information sake, is is upgrading

[2:11] the premises uh to a restaurant to a

[2:14] main lounge uh to a restaurant lounge.

[2:16] Um it has some changes uh with respect

[2:20] to how the state regulates it and and it

[2:23] does you'll see there's a map in there

[2:25] to expand their premises for increased

[2:27] services.

[2:30] >> Anybody from the public like to speak

[2:32] for or against?

[2:37] Seeing none, I'll close the public

[2:39] hearing. 3B, renewal of liquor license

[2:42] for Horn Run Brewing.

[2:44] Anybody in the audience like to speak

[2:46] for or against that?

[2:53] » Seeing none, I'll close that. We're on

[2:56] item four, public open forum.

[3:05] » Since you haven't voted me yet, Victoria

[3:07] Gans, I'm here representing the energy

[3:09] committee. And since you haven't voted

[3:11] for non-residentation yet, the uh energy

[3:14] committee is going to do another window

[3:16] dressers bill this year. We have folks

[3:20] who have already done audits. We have

[3:21] much less money. Our funding was cut

[3:23] severely.

[3:24] The build is going to be sometime in

[3:27] November

[3:28] and we are looking for volunteers both

[3:31] for the committee and for window

[3:32] dressers for the actual build. If you

[3:35] are interested in either, please get in

[3:38] touch with G Peacock because we have

[3:42] less funding this year. We're going to

[3:44] do less number of windows, 10 windows

[3:47] per household instead of an entire

[3:49] household at one time. And the folks who

[3:54] have had an energy audit already will be

[3:57] uh top of the list. So they will be the

[4:00] first folks offered window dressers,

[4:02] window inserts and then if we don't use

[4:06] all of those insert slots with the

[4:08] audited folks and they will take from

[4:11] other people. So anybody interested get

[4:13] in touch with team ASAP.

[4:15] That's all I have.

[4:16] >> If I may briefly just realize what we

[4:18] don't have is action on public hearings.

[4:20] So I'm going to suggest that we just

[4:22] read five is action on public hearings.

[4:24] Continue the public report.

[4:25] >> Okay. Thank you. Thanks.

[4:31] All right. Thank you, Victoria. You're

[4:33] welcome.

[4:33] >> John.

[4:40] » Oh jeez. Feel free just to take it right

[4:41] out. That's easy.

[4:43] >> For me, it actually is. My voice is so

[4:46] loud. Probably carries the entire place.

[4:49] Benefits of being a theatrically born

[4:52] person.

[4:54] So, uh, I'm standing in front of you to

[4:56] give an update. It's really hard to get

[4:58] actual time.

[5:01] The project that I have been working on

[5:04] has reached two flaws. Plus number one

[5:06] is that there seems to be no follow-up

[5:09] emails from the city or

[5:13] um any emails that seem to have been

[5:15] sent out from the city to the grant

[5:17] managers making it impossible for us to

[5:19] receive any grant funding this year.

[5:22] John, can you be clear what you I'm not

[5:24] sure when the automatic uh grant for

[5:27] automatic snow removers for our

[5:29] sidewalks. Uh for the people who don't

[5:31] know, I've been working on this project

[5:32] for 2 years and in the process of these

[5:35] two years um

[5:38] trying to get all of the paperwork

[5:39] together for April. Um the last date

[5:43] that it can be submitted to my

[5:46] understanding is August 1st for uh any

[5:50] type of 2027 funding.

[5:53] So if we do get a grant out, it will be

[5:56] 2028. The problem that we're going to

[5:58] run into is twofold. Number one, we are

[6:02] processing currently a voter amendment

[6:05] to restrict data management in the town

[6:08] support that will have a direct effect

[6:10] to how much we can actually get if it

[6:14] goes through. It's what I've spoken to

[6:16] earlier about unintended consequences.

[6:19] Currently each one of the individual

[6:22] machines counts as a data collection

[6:27] uh computer and the whole uh system

[6:31] would have been

[6:33] uh funneled in the overall management

[6:36] and I'm not really sure under the

[6:37] ordinance how that would work. I haven't

[6:39] really gotten into it, but with the

[6:41] amount of sidewalks we have, the

[6:43] buildings that we use, it would

[6:45] definitely go over the 12,000 square ft

[6:49] um

[6:52] collection. So, that's something to be

[6:54] considered since we are considering

[6:56] action on that at some point either by

[6:58] voter or by council. The other problem

[7:01] we're running into is we are now 3 years

[7:04] behind. The Department of Transportation

[7:07] of Canada has been running a similar

[7:09] program within the province of Ontario,

[7:12] which is now being expanded to Quebec

[7:14] and to Saskatchewan to clean the

[7:17] sidewalks. They have been testing and

[7:19] had great success with automatic snow

[7:21] removal of their sidewalks. This year,

[7:24] five communities in Ontario will be

[7:26] getting upgraded equipment to clear

[7:30] their streets. This equipment is an

[7:34] autonomous snow plow that runs at about

[7:38] 15 to 20 m an hour and it could clean a

[7:42] mile of street in about 15 minutes.

[7:45] >> It is electric. It can be ran on a power

[7:48] grid or it can be run on autonomous

[7:50] power such as a generator or a solar

[7:54] power panel.

[7:56] If we had looked at the proposal that I

[7:58] had drafted up that has been at some

[8:00] point 2 three years ago sent to council

[8:03] and the city manager, we were asking for

[8:05] $150,000.

[8:08] This year that would have moved up to

[8:10] $250,000

[8:11] just because of inflation. And that

[8:13] right now as I see the project, we're

[8:15] going to be looking at $267,000.

[8:20] That includes, but is not limited to the

[8:23] autonomous plows themselves, which are

[8:25] really, really great. If you've ever

[8:26] seen these things in action, they can

[8:30] clear driveways in a matter of minutes,

[8:34] blowing snow up to 8 ft in the air to a

[8:37] direction anywhere that you choose.

[8:40] They're really, really lovely things.

[8:42] Um, that would include 10 of those

[8:45] units. It would include 10 solar power

[8:47] units. That's a 5x3 solar panel

[8:50] [clears throat] that can be plugged

[8:51] directly into the power grid. That will

[8:54] cover the times that we lose power here

[8:56] in Eastport. When the solar panels are

[8:58] plugged into the power grid when they

[9:00] are not producing power for the objects,

[9:03] they will be producing power that goes

[9:05] back directly to the grid that the city

[9:07] receives funding for. It would also

[9:09] include new computers and equipment as

[9:11] well as interns from the University of

[9:14] Maine robotics department. That's how

[9:16] the grants had currently been uh drafted

[9:18] up. That was the cover letter that was

[9:20] drafted up 3 years ago that has been

[9:22] sitting somewhere in city hall waiting

[9:25] to go out in email. So, as it stands

[9:28] right now, we're looking

[9:31] probably at 29 before this project

[9:33] should even be off the ground

[9:36] >> because of our delays.

[9:38] Having said that, there's a similar

[9:41] process going on in Michigan, in upper

[9:43] state Michigan. Because these devices

[9:46] are so successful at removing snow, it

[9:48] cuts down on the municipal

[9:51] cost.

[9:53] Thank you, uh, whoever said that, but

[9:55] also cuts down on the municipal manpower

[9:57] hours. You have to spend an incredibly

[10:00] less amount of time for manpower hours.

[10:02] If the project got upgraded to include

[10:06] one or two of these new wonderful

[10:08] autonomous

[10:10] vehicles for clean streets, which would

[10:12] have been the obvious next place for it,

[10:15] you would be looking at a significant

[10:17] reduction in the manpower hours and the

[10:20] project literally pays for itself within

[10:22] a decade. So, I am hoping by bringing

[10:26] this to the council's attention today

[10:29] that the communications will start

[10:32] flowing again since it hasn't flown

[10:33] since May and we can get on this for the

[10:36] fiscal year 2029. If people could get

[10:39] back to me, I would appreciate that

[10:41] very, very much. And thank you for

[10:43] letting me give the update.

[10:44] >> Thank you very much, John. [applause]

[10:46] >> Oh, if you have any questions, I'm here

[10:48] for questions.

[10:49] >> I have a question, please.

[10:52] I have a question.

[10:54] >> What's the lifpan of one of those

[10:56] machines?

[11:02] » We'd have to be going on dairy right now

[11:03] because these this technology is so new.

[11:06] But the lifespan currently is probably

[11:09] somewhere between 10 and 15 years, the

[11:11] same as you would expect for a normal

[11:13] snow plow.

[11:16] >> Thank you, John.

[11:20] Anyone else from the public?

[11:23] What's the maintenance expenses on them

[11:25] per year?

[11:27] >> Oh,

[11:28] >> I think these are these are these are

[11:30] long. This this is a public forum. We

[11:33] can have a discussion with John on all

[11:36] of the issues, but we need to move on to

[11:38] the council's meeting. [laughter]

[11:40] I'm sorry, John, but we we have time. We

[11:42] do have time and we will be discussing

[11:44] it and we'll make sure that the emails

[11:47] start following. Thank you.

[11:48] >> Thank you, John.

[11:55] Are we doing that? I'm Jamie P from

[11:58] County Road.

[11:59] >> Thank you very much.

[12:00] >> Here we go. Um, I have two quick

[12:02] questions on the agenda. One was

[12:05] I'd like to understand why we think we

[12:08] need another police cruiser from Fort

[12:11] Fairfield.

[12:13] >> Have you spoken to the police chief yet?

[12:15] >> No.

[12:16] >> Okay, you should.

[12:17] >> Okay, we'll discuss it at that agenda.

[12:19] Yeah, we will. But uh but any of those

[12:22] questions you can certainly ask.

[12:24] >> Okay. They're going to be approved

[12:26] tonight. It's hard if we don't have the

[12:28] information,

[12:29] >> right? But the police chief's been in

[12:31] all week, I think.

[12:34] >> Okay. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. He Yes, he

[12:36] hasn't been in, but the doors are open.

[12:38] The police chief, the city manager,

[12:40] we're all willing to talk about any of

[12:42] this stuff. We don't need to do it here.

[12:45] But either way,

[12:46] >> so that's going to include the MMA risk

[12:48] reduction grant, too.

[12:50] >> Yes.

[12:51] >> So, we can't get any answers before this

[12:54] is approved.

[12:55] >> You can anytime city hall's open.

[12:58] >> Okay. But okay. At this point, I can't.

[13:00] >> I would I would say no. We will be

[13:02] discussing it during the meeting. Yes.

[13:04] >> And it's an application. It's not an

[13:06] acceptance.

[13:06] >> Yeah.

[13:07] >> Okay.

[13:08] >> But thank you.

[13:09] >> Thank you.

[13:14] And I certainly don't mean to be

[13:16] sounding harsh, Jean. That's not my

[13:18] prerogative. It's just city hall's open

[13:21] and a lot of these questions can be

[13:23] answered before we even get here that so

[13:26] that we can do our meeting.

[13:28] >> Would it make sense to answer those

[13:30] questions for everybody who's in

[13:32] attendance at this point?

[13:35] >> We're going to we are going to answer

[13:36] during the during the during our

[13:38] meeting. We're going to be voting on it.

[13:40] And if

[13:42] No, this is for the

[13:45] if we don't have the information for

[13:47] that.

[13:47] >> Yes,

[13:48] >> it's kind of

[13:49] >> You're right. It is. But but the

[13:51] agenda's been posted since last Friday.

[13:54] Nobody's read it.

[13:57] >> But thank you. And I'm sorry. And I'm

[13:59] sorry, Jean. Again, I'm not trying to

[14:01] pick on you.

[14:03] >> Not a problem.

[14:06] >> Okay. Thank you.

[14:07] >> Hi everyone. I'm Bernie East. Um, I'd

[14:11] like to say a few words about the voter

[14:12] approval measure that um, the council

[14:14] lawyers have recommended that the city

[14:16] throw away. Uh, the voter approval

[14:19] measure, it's a sister petition to the

[14:21] AI data center ban. We've watched the

[14:23] data centers all over the country um,

[14:26] circumvent local bands by rebranding

[14:28] themselves. So sometimes they're calling

[14:29] themselves um, remote collocation

[14:32] facilities or digital surveillance

[14:34] centers to get around the language of

[14:36] municipal.

[14:38] Um for that reason, um the voter

[14:40] approval measure would give Eastport

[14:42] voters the right to approve hyperscale

[14:44] development in our in our on our island.

[14:47] Um we use the largest building um here

[14:50] as our witness test. That's the former

[14:53] Canary building at just under 25,000

[14:55] square ft. So, what the voter approval

[14:58] um measure was hoping to do was to give

[15:03] uh voters um the opportunity to

[15:08] um accept or deny industrial development

[15:11] that's larger than the biggest building

[15:12] that's already here. Um I think that's

[15:15] pretty fair and it gives us cover in

[15:17] case no m you know no matter what a data

[15:18] center wants to call itself next year

[15:20] and the year before and the year after.

[15:22] Um it it means that approval power still

[15:25] stays with the voters. Uh last week the

[15:28] city lawyers at Richmond published a

[15:30] memorandum giving the council basically

[15:31] a blueprint to toss the voter approval

[15:33] measure on what I think are some pretty

[15:36] flimsy mentalities. Um they argued that

[15:39] the voter approval petition didn't

[15:40] define the scope of temperature change

[15:42] which would count as pollution. Um but

[15:45] on reviewing Eastport's own city codes,

[15:48] uh Eastport city codes don't define

[15:51] pollution either. So I'm not sure why a

[15:53] citizens initiative is being scrutinized

[15:56] more than their own lawmakers are. Um

[15:58] the city attorneys also cited case law

[16:00] for why the petitions should be thrown

[16:02] out. But both cases were situations

[16:04] where an ordinance attempted to either

[16:05] change the threshold for a vote to

[16:07] succeed that would be vtown harbor of

[16:11] town or harbor or whether the ordinance

[16:15] um specified a vote must be you must use

[16:19] a secret ballot

[16:21] but town conducted a vote in open

[16:23] meeting that's uh the town of Walder.

[16:26] Neither of our voter approval measures

[16:27] want to do any of these things. Um I

[16:30] don't think they're relevant. Now, under

[16:32] the city charter 2.02C4,

[16:34] the council has the power to amend any

[16:37] public petitions before [clears throat]

[16:38] adding them to November ballot. Uh city

[16:41] lawyers are paid out of our taxes, and I

[16:43] think they should work for us. Regular

[16:45] people shouldn't need to hire private

[16:46] attorneys to participate in democracy.

[16:49] Citizens initiatives, it's right in the

[16:52] name. They're supposed to be accessible

[16:53] to regular people. And I think the

[16:56] council should honor the spirit of the

[16:57] petition and the will of the people

[16:58] here. They should have asked city

[17:00] lawyers to strengthen strengthen

[17:02] policies instead of killing it. Um I

[17:05] hope the council does the right thing. I

[17:06] hope I'm wrong. I hope they do the right

[17:08] thing. I hope they make whatever

[17:09] ministerial changes need to be made and

[17:11] they move the voter approval measure to

[17:13] November ballot. Uh but given the

[17:15] council's resistance to the petition

[17:17] from the start, I personally don't

[17:19] believe that will happen. Um, I hope I'm

[17:21] wrong, but in case I'm not, the

[17:23] commissioners committee uh has remediate

[17:25] all of the objections raised in the

[17:27] voter approval measure, and this morning

[17:29] we filed affidavit to repeat the, uh,

[17:32] signature gathering process.

[17:35] So, this is a wildly popular initiative.

[17:37] We did it before, we'll do it again. So,

[17:39] to council, um, do as you will. I hope

[17:42] you guys do the right thing. Um, if you

[17:44] don't, we'll be ready for that. To the

[17:46] community, we need 150 signatures to get

[17:48] this thing on the ballot. If you're

[17:50] interested in signing, find somebody

[17:51] with a blue folder just like this.

[17:52] There's a couple other folks here who

[17:55] have them and that petition is to sign

[17:57] and weeded the issues. So, thanks. We

[18:01] appreciate it.

[18:05] [applause]

[18:10] [snorts]

[18:12] » H

[18:22] I'll leave the AI to the professionals

[18:24] so we don't see anything wrong.

[18:26] >> But I wanted to voice a couple things.

[18:28] The new patrol car that we're getting,

[18:30] >> Al, could you please state your name

[18:32] first?

[18:32] >> Alan Skinner 67.

[18:35] >> Thank you.

[18:35] >> The new patrol car that we're getting

[18:37] and I have utmost respect for all of the

[18:39] police department. I probably have more

[18:41] of these

[18:43] in my family than I do in the than I see

[18:46] in the city. But will this car be

[18:49] traveling 90 miles back and forth to

[18:52] home too? So the citizens are paying for

[18:55] the fuel up the other as does the chief

[19:00] or are we going to do something

[19:01] different with that? You know, something

[19:03] just to think about.

[19:06] Uh,

[19:08] I look at it and I see all the employees

[19:10] are part-time. Wouldn't it be good to

[19:11] have some full-time employees and give

[19:13] them insurance and benefits and stuff

[19:15] like that? So, we have

[19:19] every time when I talk to somebody, they

[19:20] say that, oh, there are part-time

[19:22] employees.

[19:24] It would be nice to have some full-time

[19:26] employees, but

[19:27] >> for you,

[19:28] >> but thank you.

[19:29] >> Not enough. Go ahead.

[19:33] >> I asked for the financials the other

[19:35] day.

[19:36] the audit and asked if they were audited

[19:40] and uh I was answered back. They're

[19:43] working on them. Uh now they got 2024

[19:48] online

[19:49] and they're working on 2025, but a lot

[19:52] of people emailed the city asking for

[19:54] the audited

[19:56] financials.

[19:57] They never got a response. Yeah.

[20:00] >> Um I'm not aware of that.

[20:01] >> Huh?

[20:02] >> I'm not aware of that. the state auditor

[20:04] that lives in one of the missions show

[20:07] I'm sorry I couldn't hear you

[20:08] >> the state auditor that lives across you

[20:10] know down the street from me she was

[20:12] showing me how many emails and stuff and

[20:14] I know I have in the past so I haven't

[20:17] received as you stated 2024 audit and

[20:20] I'm sorry I tried is online

[20:23] well yeah it was given to us a month ago

[20:25] >> a month ago

[20:26] >> that's we're doing the best we can Alan

[20:28] the auditor's behind we have a 2025

[20:30] audit underway right now we're getting

[20:32] it out as fast as we can it's online. I

[20:35] can provide we can provide you 2024. I

[20:37] hope to have 2025. It's it's on the

[20:40] auditor's schedule, but we paid quite a

[20:42] bit for it. I hope to see it in I'd like

[20:44] to see it by December. Um but it it's in

[20:48] their hands

[20:50] and I see the taxes went up and

[20:52] everybody feels it and the sewers are

[20:54] going up also. Is the service going to

[20:57] be better or is it just costing more for

[20:59] everything? Yeah, that's what

[21:02] >> everything is costing more for

[21:03] everything.

[21:03] >> And the reason that Yeah, it's more for

[21:05] everything. But the reason I say that

[21:09] the houses that I build, they're 20 uh

[21:11] 1,200 square f foot when they get

[21:14] assessed right after they're finished

[21:16] and even the ones that I rebuilt, but

[21:18] these 1,200 ft houses, they're getting

[21:21] assessed for about 3,800 in taxes for

[21:23] the 12,200 ft house.

[21:26] But then I see the commercial building

[21:28] that sold for $799 on Water Street with

[21:30] a view and they're paying $3,300

[21:34] and it's been going on forever. So, it's

[21:36] kind of a misbalance. There's a lot of

[21:38] money out there. That should be

[21:41] collected and it should all be even.

[21:44] Uh,

[21:46] so it's good for the taxpayers. That's a

[21:48] lot of money just sitting out there

[21:49] every year that's not getting collected.

[21:52] You know what I mean? Even on the house.

[21:54] >> Mr. Council President, we've talked

[21:55] about this before. I'm I feel some

[21:57] impulse to help explain because I I

[21:59] think he's making you I typically try to

[22:01] avoid making sure we don't turn this

[22:02] into a debate.

[22:04] >> Yeah.

[22:04] >> If I may, I'll just give some

[22:05] information here and if we need to go

[22:06] deeper when we speak offline.

[22:09] >> Quickly, we are in desperate need of a

[22:11] revaluation. Part of what you're talking

[22:13] about is is having to recalculate the

[22:16] factors that go into assessment. I know

[22:19] you sat with Wes for many, many hours.

[22:21] So, you put in a bunch of stuff, you get

[22:22] a number at the end. Yeah. So we have

[22:26] now that we completed the taxation

[22:28] process. Wes has the post tax process

[22:30] and dealing with people now that is our

[22:32] next priority is to move forward on a

[22:34] reevaluation. Realistically

[22:37] one to two years just to be able to get

[22:39] someone started because there's so few

[22:41] people who are doing it and will do it

[22:43] out here. But we're we've accumulated

[22:44] some things. We're moving forward. But I

[22:47] I'm not going to speak to any particular

[22:49] property versus another. But the general

[22:51] sense that things might be out of whack,

[22:53] that's why we do the revaluation.

[22:55] >> But when a house sells or is fixed up,

[22:57] like Washington Street, that was $1,800

[23:01] a year

[23:03] uh on that house for 15 years, you know,

[23:06] >> so we can discuss this offline. At this

[23:08] point, we'd have to look at the

[23:09] individual property and see what

[23:10] happens. So, I'll I'll pull back.

[23:12] >> But supposedly, you could look at the

[23:13] listings, what they sold for, and go

[23:15] from there. And all he has to do is push

[23:17] the buttons. That's what he told me.

[23:19] That's why either mine you know

[23:22] >> again if we want to talk at this point

[23:23] I'm not going to get into

[23:25] argument but like I say it's all

[23:31] right that's all I have

[23:32] >> Alan thank you for your comments

[23:39] » anyone else [snorts] from the audience

[23:41] okay y

[23:47] » I just have a quick And um when I was on

[23:49] the disability committee, our one thing

[23:52] that we really tried to get through was

[23:54] the crosswalks. And we're about to get

[23:55] thousands of people who aren't familiar

[23:57] with our city. There's no crosswalks. I

[24:00] wondered if you could I understand how

[24:02] he answers to Brian. So I wonder if

[24:04] Brian could we had So we have been

[24:06] working on the crosswalks on Water

[24:08] Street. We've been staying off the

[24:10] crosswalks on Washington Street because

[24:12] both of those ADA ramps are being

[24:16] rebuilt as part of the sidewalk project.

[24:19] We didn't see any point. It may sound

[24:21] silly, but the reflective paint we use

[24:22] for that stuff is expensive. It's over

[24:24] $100 a gallon. So, we were saying and we

[24:26] had typically in the past point painted

[24:29] them right before school. So, we are

[24:31] hoping we're going to be painting them

[24:32] right before school now when we get

[24:33] those two rebuilt. But that's why we

[24:35] haven't gone. I wonder about the one

[24:37] because I did by the post office.

[24:38] >> Yeah, the one by the post office and the

[24:40] one on High Street are both being

[24:42] rebuilt by the state and they they

[24:44] should have done it when they rebuilt

[24:45] Washington Street, but essentially they

[24:47] said, "Oh, they have a sidewalk ramp

[24:49] going. We're running late. We'll just

[24:50] lump it into that and that's why it's

[24:52] being done now."

[24:53] >> Okay. Um, and the other thing is is I

[24:55] know you're on our side about the data

[24:57] center. I I I get that. But the next

[24:59] time you talk to our lawyers, you could

[25:02] ask instead of saying what's wrong with

[25:04] the petition, you could say how do we

[25:06] fix it? You know, they could give us

[25:07] professional, you know, instead of us

[25:09] having to try to do it. That would be great.

[25:12] >> Thank you.

[25:19] [clears throat]

[25:19] >> Okay, John, I I'll allow it.

[25:22] >> We got to kind of wrap it up here and

[25:24] get going.

[25:26] Please, the chair will cooperate with

[25:28] me.

[25:29] >> [laughter]

[25:30] >> I didn't expect that I would be adding

[25:32] this, so I apologize in advance. Having

[25:35] served on the same disability committee.

[25:38] Um, it was our determination in 2024

[25:41] that the best time to be painting

[25:43] crosswalks was at the end of May, not at

[25:46] the end of September. The reason being

[25:48] is that when you paint them in

[25:50] September, snow flies in October and the

[25:52] snow and the sand phase those things out

[25:55] so they're not there for the summertime

[25:58] and for the tourist season. It would be

[26:01] within the city's best interest to be

[26:03] painting them at the beginning of May

[26:06] just for people safety as well as

[26:10] getting the best bang for your buck.

[26:12] >> Very good point. Thank you.

[26:15] Anybody

[26:17] [applause]

[26:20] else from the audience?

[26:23] [clears throat]

[26:25] Seeing none, I'll close public uh open

[26:28] forum. Item five is action on the public

[26:30] hearings.

[26:36] [clears throat]

[26:39] » So the ye old hookers with this it looks

[26:42] like it's all internal. Mhm. So, yes,

[26:44] it's not any of the external stuff we

[26:46] talked about before. They're just

[26:48] reconfiguring their internal space to be

[26:50] more of a restaurant.

[26:51] >> Would that reduce their need to go out

[26:54] into the

[26:54] >> I can't speak to

[26:56] >> No.

[27:06] Make a motion we approve um both

[27:10] ordinance.

[27:11] >> No. [laughter]

[27:13] What?

[27:14] >> 3 A 3B license application.

[27:17] >> Yes, that

[27:18] >> 3 A and 3B.

[27:20] >> I'll second that.

[27:21] >> Been moved and seconded to approve both

[27:23] of the public hearings. A being the

[27:26] amendment to the liquor license for

[27:27] Yield Hookers. B being the renewal of

[27:30] the liquor license for Horn Run Brewing.

[27:33] Any further discussion on the motion?

[27:38] Seeing none. Roll call, please. Sarah,

[27:40] >> is there a date for the public hearing?

[27:42] >> No, we're [clears throat] approving the

[27:44] public hearing. We had

[27:46] >> Okay. Councelor Dana [clears throat]

[27:48] Cummings.

[27:49] >> Yes.

[27:49] >> Councelor Ray,

[27:50] >> yes.

[27:51] >> Councelor Stevens,

[27:52] >> yes.

[27:52] >> Councelor Steely,

[27:53] >> yes.

[27:54] >> Councelor B.

[27:55] >> Yes.

[27:56] >> Item six, new business, consider a

[27:59] temporary 6A, consider a temporary

[28:02] moratorium on data centers and

[28:04] associated infrastructures.

[28:11] uh that was brought forth by councelor

[28:13] Ray and I appreciate all the work she's

[28:15] put into this. Uh she's done much more

[28:18] than I

[28:21] but thank you Karen.

[28:23] >> You're welcome. Um so in your packets

[28:26] you had um a draft and then this evening

[28:30] I gave you an additional draft. So let's

[28:33] talk about the one I gave you tonight.

[28:35] Um the only change between what was in

[28:38] your packet and what is before us is

[28:41] section two, the duration. Um because of

[28:46] the process that we're in and the

[28:49] potential to have to amend what the

[28:52] petitioners committee did to make it

[28:54] stronger. Um

[28:57] originally this said one, two or three

[29:00] the duration and I just combined it. So

[29:02] it's now the duration is completion of

[29:05] the citizen initiative review process

[29:07] and adoption of permanent ordinance

[29:10] amendments addressing the matters or um

[29:14] 180 days from the date of adoption. So

[29:16] that's the only change from what you had

[29:18] in your packet and I would make a motion

[29:21] that we approve and I would be happy to

[29:23] speak to my motion.

[29:28] » I'll second that.

[29:29] >> It's been moved and seconded. Any

[29:30] further discussion on the motion?

[29:33] >> I the only thing I want to add to this

[29:36] is this is in no way in no means um is

[29:41] meant to be a replacement for the

[29:44] potential ban. This is a tool in our

[29:47] toolbox. This is a way to protect us um

[29:51] if the process takes longer because we

[29:53] are going to have to it is a longer

[29:55] process because we are going to

[29:58] hopefully I one member of the board is

[30:00] going to work to make it stronger.

[30:07] I I would agree with that statement, uh,

[30:09] Karen, and I I I'm not sure and I'm not

[30:13] going to try to remember cuz,

[30:16] uh, some of those things just don't

[30:17] happen anymore. Um,

[30:20] one key thing that I that I feel

[30:22] sometimes here is there's no enemies in

[30:25] this room. We're all into this together.

[30:28] We're all want the same results. We

[30:31] don't want the AI. We don't want the

[30:33] data center. We all want the same thing.

[30:36] So, we need to just work together and we

[30:39] can accomplish that and and like Karen

[30:41] has said, make it stronger, make it more

[30:44] effective. That's all we're asking. Um,

[30:47] so that's my two cents.

[30:51] Any further discussion on the motion?

[30:55] >> Uh, we have a motion.

[30:56] >> Oh,

[30:58] >> thank you, though. Um, hearing none.

[31:01] Roll call, please.

[31:02] >> Councilor Dana Cummings. Yes,

[31:04] >> councelor Ray.

[31:05] >> Yes,

[31:06] >> councelor Stevens.

[31:06] >> Yes,

[31:07] >> councelor Cely.

[31:08] >> Yes,

[31:09] >> councelor [clears throat] Booth.

[31:10] >> Yes.

[31:12] >> 6B. Council's depart departure from

[31:15] council.

[31:20] » Yes. Uh,

[31:23] [laughter]

[31:25] as all of you guys know, I am leaving

[31:26] for a military deployment. So, uh, I am

[31:29] going to resign effective September

[31:32] 30th.

[31:34] a future date. Um, I won't be able to

[31:37] attend any October meetings, so I

[31:40] figured September 30th is probably the

[31:41] best time.

[31:43] That'll give you guys plenty of time to

[31:45] put it on the ballot for the remainder

[31:47] of the term.

[31:50] » Yeah, that's so our reading of the

[31:52] charter is so long as you accept it

[31:53] tonight, that gives us plenty of time in

[31:56] advance of the election to put the

[31:58] remainder of his term uh on the ballot.

[32:01] reading this is the occurrence of the

[32:02] vacancy. It's a future date that he'll

[32:04] be gone, but this way we know that

[32:05] that's that's what's happening. Um, this

[32:08] allows you to keep the amount of time

[32:10] that the seat is left open at a minimum

[32:13] while meeting the charter requirements

[32:14] to be able to put it on the ballot. Um,

[32:16] that way you have enough time to to act

[32:19] on it. Um,

[32:21] technically you should probably look

[32:23] into appointing someone for the month of

[32:25] October. Um, if [clears throat] you do

[32:28] not, you would actually be required to

[32:30] hold a special election in December to

[32:32] cover the month of October. In other

[32:34] words, it would be a meaningless special

[32:35] election. So, you would have to wait to

[32:39] December to do it.

[32:40] >> The the um it would be effectively be

[32:43] for October, November, and December

[32:46] since since new terms would be effective

[32:50] on January 1st

[32:53] term,

[32:54] >> right? which would be effective the day

[32:56] after the election.

[32:59] >> We would his seat would be go for

[33:00] election for filling the remainder of

[33:03] his term on the general election.

[33:07] >> So the person could be that person could

[33:10] be sworn in in November

[33:11] >> could be sworn in that's my

[33:12] understanding could be sworn in in

[33:14] November because you're because he's

[33:16] leaving the same way Karen left and was

[33:18] appointed position immediately.

[33:25] I mean, if there's a concern about this

[33:26] process, we can raise it. But I I I've

[33:29] you know, look to the count of charter

[33:30] does not anticipate the situation where

[33:32] you would have a resignation that would

[33:34] be provided at a future date. It is a

[33:36] legal thing to do. Um I'm

[33:40] spoken about this and try to have a way

[33:41] that he can serve as much of his term as

[33:43] possible while still providing the

[33:45] people the opportunity to fill the

[33:47] remainder of the term.

[33:49] Um the other option is to not accept the

[33:51] resignation now to allow me to make the

[33:53] resignation on September 30th at which

[33:55] point will not be able to not go on the

[33:57] ballot. You would have to appoint

[33:59] someone for the remainder of this term.

[34:06] » So our only question is when what is our

[34:08] question whether or not someone is sworn

[34:11] in?

[34:12] >> Yeah. Well, I am calling this the Well,

[34:13] there are two things I I'm sorry. I did

[34:15] not think there was any question about

[34:17] when you fill the I mean we've seen a

[34:19] couple of these when a seat goes empty

[34:20] and someone's in there they're appointed

[34:21] to the empty seat it doesn't have wait

[34:23] until January um the question is I am

[34:26] putting some weight on the term

[34:28] occurrence here which the charter does

[34:29] not define to call the occurrence today

[34:33] the occurrence has to occur at least is

[34:35] it 45 I've got ordinance timeline now 45

[34:39] or 60 days I believe it's 45 before the

[34:41] election but maybe 60 to be able to do

[34:43] it again so to be able to put it on

[34:45] ballot. That's why it's important we

[34:46] accept it and call it the occurrence

[34:48] tonight. It has been council expressed

[34:50] the concern in previous and and absences

[34:53] that they would like it to go to bot

[34:55] rather than be asked to app. So that's

[34:58] my read right now. Someone objects to

[35:00] it. Uh you may take your own.

[35:06] » So we just need a motion to accept

[35:08] >> a motion to accept his resignation

[35:11] effective September 30th.

[35:15] that motion.

[35:15] >> I second it.

[35:17] >> Moved and seconded. Any further

[35:19] discussion on the motion?

[35:22] Um, councelor Sely, I will miss serving with you. Uh, it's

[35:30] been a pleasure, AJ. Um,

[35:35] never easy to say goodbye, but uh,

[35:37] >> be here next month.

[35:38] >> I know, but [laughter] I mean, it's it's a permanent thing. and uh and I do

[35:44] wish you well. Um

[35:46] >> I'm sure you'll be reading 40 cards and

[35:48] keeping up as much as you can on it or

[35:50] Facebook.

[35:51] >> Yeah.

[35:52] >> But uh but thank you for your service.

[35:55] >> Thanks.

[35:58] [applause]

[36:04] » Any further discussions on the motion

[36:08] hearing? None. Roll call, please. Sarah.

[36:10] >> Council Dana Cummings.

[36:12] >> Yes. Councelor Ray,

[36:13] >> yes.

[36:13] >> Councelor Stevens,

[36:14] >> yes.

[36:15] >> Councelor Cely,

[36:16] >> I can't really.

[36:19] >> Councelor Boon,

[36:20] >> yes.

[36:23] >> Uh 56 C, hold September

[36:27] 9th, 2026 city council meeting at shed

[36:30] high school gymnasium.

[36:32] >> I make the motion to hold the September

[36:34] 9th city council meeting at the shed

[36:35] high gymnasium.

[36:37] >> Second.

[36:38] >> Moved. Any further discussion on the

[36:41] motion?

[36:43] >> Why is the planning board will make

[36:45] their presentation to us and we'll be

[36:47] having the conversation about the

[36:48] ordinances. We assume it'll be a large

[36:51] crowd.

[36:54] » Roll call, please. Sarah.

[36:55] >> Councelor Dana Cummings.

[36:57] >> Yes.

[36:57] >> Councelor Ray.

[36:58] >> Yes.

[36:59] >> Councelor Stevens.

[37:00] >> Yes.

[37:00] >> Councelor Cely.

[37:01] >> Yes.

[37:02] >> Councelor Boon.

[37:03] >> Yes.

[37:05] Uh, we're going to get a lot more

[37:06] meetings in before the 30th, I guess.

[37:09] [laughter]

[37:11] Uh, 6D, appointment of Rita Harmon as

[37:14] deputy tax collector.

[37:16] >> We just need to have a deputy. We ran

[37:17] into this when Ella went down. You need

[37:19] a deputy in place or else you have to go

[37:21] through a whole thing

[37:21] >> and there was something she had to be

[37:24] in and you had to do a whole thing. We

[37:26] couldn't there was that time.

[37:28] >> Make the motion to accept Rita Hartman

[37:30] as a deputy tax collector.

[37:31] >> I'll second move and seconded. Any

[37:34] further discussion on the motion

[37:36] hearing? None. Roll call, please. Sarah.

[37:38] >> Councelor Dana Cummings.

[37:40] >> Yes.

[37:41] >> Councelor Ray,

[37:42] >> yes.

[37:42] >> Councelor Stevens,

[37:43] >> yes.

[37:44] >> Councelor Cely,

[37:45] >> yes.

[37:46] >> Councelor Moon,

[37:47] >> yes. 6E, Paul Tarial, 7:30 2026

[37:51] resignation from school committee.

[37:55] >> I'll move to accept Paul Tariel's

[37:57] resignation from the school committee.

[37:58] >> Second.

[38:00] >> Moved and seconded. Any further

[38:01] discussion on the motion? When do we

[38:03] have the conversation about replacing

[38:05] them?

[38:05] >> So, as opposed to the council where we

[38:08] have all sorts of deadlines that we just

[38:09] negotiated here, the charter is quite

[38:12] lax about what happened with the school

[38:14] committee member. You have the power um

[38:16] which I guess is a little unusual, but

[38:18] the council the council have power

[38:21] responsibility to name one name someone

[38:23] to the uh remainder of the seat. The

[38:26] seat does go up in the next election.

[38:29] So, um unless you got someone you're

[38:31] considering right now. There are no

[38:32] deadlines. There are no requirements. It

[38:34] just says you.

[38:35] >> So, should we be asking for people to

[38:37] submit their letter of interest?

[38:39] >> I would I would point out that the um

[38:41] school board itself has not had a

[38:44] regular meeting since his resignation.

[38:46] So, my guess is

[38:47] >> they're having one soon

[38:48] >> that they're having one tomorrow. And my

[38:50] guess is the school board will come

[38:52] forward with a recommendation. Um

[38:55] not that we have to listen to it, but

[38:57] that's probably what

[38:59] that's what they they will do.

[39:02] Having spoken to a school board member

[39:04] today, [laughter]

[39:05] >> I would still ask recommendation letters

[39:07] of interest.

[39:11] » So the

[39:15] motion is to accept the resignation. I

[39:18] guess we can discuss the

[39:20] building of that seat when the time

[39:22] comes. Uh any further discussion on the

[39:25] motion hearing? None. Roll call, please.

[39:27] Sarah.

[39:28] >> Councelor Dana Cummings.

[39:29] >> Yes.

[39:30] >> Councelor Ray. Yes.

[39:31] >> Councelor Stevens.

[39:32] >> Yes.

[39:32] >> Councelor Cely.

[39:33] >> Yes.

[39:33] >> Councelor Boon.

[39:34] >> Yes. 6f. Accept membership of Greg

[39:38] Gordon's the airport advisory committee.

[39:46] » Is this a request of the advisory

[39:48] committee that he be joined?

[39:49] >> Yes.

[39:49] >> Both of both.

[39:51] >> Okay.

[39:53] >> I move to accept the membership of Greg

[39:55] Gordon to the airport advisory

[39:57] committee.

[39:58] >> Second.

[39:59] >> Moved and seconded. Any further

[40:00] discussion on the motion

[40:03] hearing? None. Roll call, please. Sarah.

[40:05] >> Councelor Dana Cummings.

[40:07] >> Yes.

[40:07] >> Councelor Ray,

[40:08] >> yes.

[40:09] >> Councelor Stevens,

[40:10] >> yes.

[40:10] >> Counselor Celying,

[40:11] >> yes.

[40:12] >> Councelor Boon,

[40:12] >> yes.

[40:14] >> 6G. Accept membership of Jeremy Cooper

[40:17] to the airport advisory committee.

[40:19] >> I move to accept the membership of

[40:21] Jeremy Cooper to the airport advisory

[40:22] committee.

[40:23] >> I'll second.

[40:25] >> Moved and seconded. Any further

[40:26] discussion on the motion

[40:29] hearing? None. Roll call, please. Sarah.

[40:31] >> Councelor Dana Cummings.

[40:32] >> Yes.

[40:33] >> Councelor Ray,

[40:34] >> yes.

[40:34] >> Councelor Stevens,

[40:35] >> yes.

[40:35] >> Councelor Cely,

[40:36] >> yes.

[40:37] >> Council,

[40:38] >> yes. 6H, acceptance of an FAA grant,

[40:43] EPM-

[40:45] NG-3-23-0053-027-026.

[40:59] in the amount of $185,62

[41:03] for the purchase of a snow removal

[41:05] equipment for the airport requiring a

[41:08] $4,870

[41:10] in local match.

[41:12] >> This and the next motion um are for

[41:15] equipment that we discussed during the

[41:17] budget committee process and about the

[41:18] match that would be going there. I'm not

[41:21] sure if we've done the you know

[41:23] application approval whatever process.

[41:25] So I wanted to make sure there was some

[41:27] question about whether I actually had to

[41:28] bring it to you based on that. So I

[41:30] brought it to you anyway. So these are

[41:31] both these were anticipated in the

[41:33] budget. It's slightly higher than the

[41:35] AIP match that we had in there. We

[41:37] talked about potentially drawing on fuel

[41:38] funds if that was a concern.

[41:40] >> So then it will be covered airport

[41:42] budget.

[41:43] >> And if people want more discussion about

[41:45] what the equipment is like I'll defer

[41:47] maybe we can Victoria. Ultimately, it's

[41:50] a it's a great big piece of equipment

[41:52] plus a stone plow plus a brush, right?

[41:55] >> It's a loader. It's a front loader. It's

[41:58] a loader that's brush with it.

[42:01] >> Yeah. The case 21D.

[42:03] >> It's a It's a It's [clears throat] a

[42:05] huge loader that's going to have a brush

[42:07] and also a snowb blower attachment. It

[42:09] comes with a bucket. We'll just park

[42:11] that. But, um, that will make quick work

[42:14] of cleaning that runway in the winter

[42:16] time. And when we have slush and ice on

[42:19] the runway, we'll hopefully the brush

[42:21] will be able to get that off and before

[42:24] the snowblower before it has the

[42:25] opportunity to freeze and just shut our

[42:27] runway down completely. So that's why we

[42:29] purchased it.

[42:30] >> And I believe the reason it's in two

[42:31] pieces essentially we had some money and

[42:33] then we went and had some other money

[42:34] and put it all together, but it came

[42:36] through just two different lines. So

[42:38] both of these together

[42:40] >> um

[42:41] >> cover the whole thing.

[42:43] >> And these are they have already been

[42:44] awarded. We just need to accelerate.

[42:46] >> Correct.

[42:47] >> Can I make a motion to that we um accept

[42:50] items 6H and I

[42:53] >> as printed?

[42:56] Second that

[42:57] >> so that Billy doesn't have to read those

[42:58] numbers. [laughter]

[43:04] » Well, I is just a continuation of it,

[43:07] but it is a it is a separate

[43:11] >> part. Yeah, that fly needs to be dead,

[43:13] but he's um any further discussion on

[43:16] the motion. It's uh $335,000

[43:20] for the airport for a cost of 10,000 to

[43:23] taxpayer. That's a pretty good turn on

[43:25] $10,000.

[43:26] >> It's more than that. It's $450 plus,000.

[43:29] >> No, 150 and 185.

[43:31] >> 335.

[43:33] >> That's what I thought.

[43:34] >> I thought it's 259 and 194.

[43:35] >> No, the motion would be 185 and 150.

[43:40] Either way, any further discussion on

[43:43] the motion hearing? None. We'll call

[43:47] Sarah.

[43:48] >> Councelor Danny Cunnings.

[43:49] >> Yes.

[43:49] >> Councelor Ray,

[43:50] >> yes.

[43:51] >> Councelor Stevens,

[43:52] >> yes.

[43:52] >> Counselor Celely,

[43:53] >> yes.

[43:54] >> Counselor Bo,

[43:55] >> yes.

[43:56] >> 6J, acceptance of the community impact

[44:00] grant of $10,000 for the Eastport

[44:02] community window dressers build.

[44:06] >> Actually, J and K probably.

[44:08] >> Yeah, I think they should. Uh this again

[44:09] this is the window dressers program that

[44:11] Victoria spoke about in open forum. It's

[44:13] a reduced amount of funding but it's

[44:15] what we've got and there is no local

[44:17] match.

[44:18] >> Person Power has put 5,000 toward that

[44:21] project. So it the motion should be for

[44:24] five uh six J and K.

[44:28] >> Make a motion that we pass items 6 J and

[44:30] K.

[44:31] >> Second.

[44:32] >> Moved and seconded. Any further

[44:34] discussion on the motion

[44:37] [clears throat]

[44:37] hearing? None. Roll call, please, sir.

[44:39] >> Councelor Dana Cummings,

[44:41] >> yes.

[44:41] >> Counselor Ray,

[44:42] >> yes.

[44:43] >> Counselor Stevens,

[44:44] >> yes.

[44:44] >> Councelor Cely,

[44:45] >> yes.

[44:46] >> Counselor Bo,

[44:47] >> yes.

[44:48] Item 6 L, approval of application of for

[44:53] MMA risk reduction grant by police

[44:55] department, $5,000 total for upgrading

[44:59] PD technology.

[45:00] >> So, this is a request for an

[45:02] application. We have not made the

[45:04] application. It has not been submitted.

[45:06] We actually haven't started writing

[45:07] again, but this is part of what I would

[45:09] have been speaking about in general.

[45:10] Hopefully, in when we do grants, we'll

[45:12] ask you in advance so you're not

[45:14] surprised and then we ask when you

[45:15] accept. Um, this is a standard MMA

[45:18] grant. What we are talking about doing

[45:20] with it right now is upgrading um the

[45:22] cameras that are currently in use for

[45:24] the police department. Um, I don't have

[45:26] a lot of detail. We're still putting it

[45:28] together and you'll get

[45:29] >> cameras at the PD

[45:31] >> at the PD that that we test. We have

[45:33] cameras that look out onto Water Street

[45:34] into our parking lot and at the Windows

[45:36] City Hall. We're also going to see if we

[45:38] can get money in there. There's been

[45:39] some requests for body cams on the

[45:40] police. Um, and we're looking into that

[45:43] maybe. So, we're not entirely sure

[45:45] exactly what we're spending, but you

[45:47] would be you would be notified of that.

[45:49] >> One of the time and there's no match

[45:52] required for this one.

[45:53] >> There's not. Okay.

[45:56] I make a move a motion that we approve

[45:58] the application for the MMA risk

[46:01] reduction grant.

[46:04] Can I just point of order? I don't think

[46:05] I heard it correctly. Is that MMA or is

[46:08] that EMA? MA municipal association.

[46:12] Okay. Thank you.

[46:15] >> I have a motion. Do I have a second?

[46:17] >> Second.

[46:17] >> Been moved and seconded. Any further

[46:20] discussion on the motion?

[46:24] » No. The council needs to ask the

[46:26] questions. We got a motion on the table.

[46:30] Say, roll call, please.

[46:31] >> Councelor Dana Cummings,

[46:32] >> yes.

[46:33] >> Councelor Ray,

[46:34] >> yes.

[46:34] >> Councelor Stevens,

[46:35] >> yes.

[46:36] >> Councelor Cely,

[46:37] >> yes.

[46:37] >> Councelor Moon,

[46:38] >> yes.

[46:39] >> 6M. Approval of application for housing

[46:42] community program ordinance amendment

[46:44] grant $7,500 total.

[46:47] >> This is a state program. As some of you

[46:48] may be aware, the state has been making

[46:50] a great number of changes and

[46:52] requirements on um land use ordinances

[46:56] related to um the housing crisis.

[46:59] They've made them, they've changed them,

[47:01] they made them again. Um and all of them

[47:03] demand that you alter your ordinances.

[47:06] We have had neither the time nor the

[47:08] effort to put that together and they all

[47:09] require legal review. Happily, there is

[47:12] a program this one that we can apply to give us money to go through and do

[47:17] our all of our revisions. The majority

[47:19] of this will go to our lawyers to the to

[47:22] Mitchell to go through and just make

[47:23] sure that all of our ordinances are in

[47:26] compliance. They won't be. There will be

[47:28] amendments that will have to come

[47:29] forward.

[47:30] >> And again, this is an application.

[47:31] >> This is an this is an application that's

[47:33] not been accepted and there's no local

[47:34] match.

[47:36] I move to approve the application for

[47:39] the housing opportunity program

[47:41] ordinance amendment grant.

[47:45] >> Second.

[47:45] >> Moved and seconded. Any further

[47:47] discussion on the motion

[47:50] hearing? None. Roll call, please, sir.

[47:53] >> Councelor Danny Cummings.

[47:54] >> Yes.

[47:54] >> Councelor Ray,

[47:56] >> yes.

[47:56] >> Councelor Stevens,

[47:57] >> yes.

[47:58] >> Councelor Cely,

[47:59] >> yes.

[47:59] >> Councelor Boon,

[48:00] >> yes. 6N approval of contract adjustment

[48:04] for seaw wall engineering for sidewalk

[48:07] project. So I'm not super happy about

[48:10] this one. Uh but I'm not sure we have

[48:12] anything the sidewalk project is well

[48:14] underway. It is has been a bumpy ride.

[48:17] Um the those of you who may have noticed

[48:20] it you'll notice the part I'm working a

[48:22] 10ft trench to put in a sidewalk. Well

[48:23] that's how you put in a sidewalk

[48:25] properly. Apparently I've learned you're

[48:26] putting you putting in drainage. There's

[48:28] quite a bit of drainage and then there's

[48:31] stone on top before you put the dirt on

[48:33] and you go through all of that. We've

[48:34] had quite a run um of pipes getting

[48:37] broken and some other things and I've

[48:39] got some issues with that. This however

[48:41] is about whenever SUL put their initial

[48:44] estimate together. They estimated a uh

[48:46] construction timeline that's about half

[48:49] what it actually turned is going to turn

[48:50] out to be. Um SU provides the clerk of

[48:54] the works who is a guy that walks back

[48:55] and forth, protects our interests, make

[48:57] sure the doing things correctly. They

[49:00] had initially bid uh $45,000 a guy, give

[49:04] or take a few bucks for that position.

[49:06] They now be twice that. Um because

[49:09] >> they started late

[49:10] >> because well, it's a combination. No,

[49:12] it's not that they started late. It's I

[49:14] mean, honestly, there's an estimate in

[49:16] the bid package. It says this long. EMX

[49:19] says, "No, it's going to take this

[49:20] long." And to be fair, at this point,

[49:22] given what they're running into, they

[49:23] hit ledge yesterday. that we're going to

[49:25] be dealing with. Um,

[49:28] you know, I I it's frustrating. I

[49:30] inherited this project. Uh, the bid

[49:32] documents were done already. The

[49:33] estimates were there. We could not pay

[49:36] for it, in which case someone like me

[49:39] would have to go do it instead because

[49:40] this is a LP local project administered

[49:42] project. So, we are technically the city

[49:45] is responsible for administering it. We

[49:47] have handed those responsibilities in

[49:49] our plan to school. I will say the guy

[49:51] who's down there looking out for us is a

[49:53] great guy. I have no problem paying this

[49:55] amount for the quality of what over what

[49:57] we're getting. I believe

[50:01] and this is a belief I am concerned

[50:03] about cost overruns on this project. I

[50:06] believe this amount brings us right to

[50:08] based on what we have for the

[50:10] construction brings us right to the

[50:12] amount we thought we were going to be

[50:13] spending on the grant. So of this

[50:15] additional 45 are paying 20% about

[50:17] $8,000 $9,000.

[50:20] However, this is a project that once you

[50:23] hit the grant amount and you construct

[50:25] it there, you owe every dollar on top of

[50:27] that. So, we have about $120,000. We

[50:30] have 120 set aside in our capital fund,

[50:32] which is actually more than we need for

[50:34] our local matchup by about $25,000.

[50:37] I will be keeping a very close eye on

[50:39] this, but we've we've accepted the

[50:42] project. It's underway. And although I'm

[50:44] not happy with this kind of change uh

[50:47] short of being willing to hire our own

[50:48] person to do this work because this is

[50:50] federal money coming through the state.

[50:52] This is a project requirement.

[50:55] I see no option on behalf of it.

[50:57] [clears throat] I'm not really happy.

[51:05] » Well, dang.

[51:06] >> Yeah. Here you

[51:11] >> I'm really hating this sidewalk project.

[51:15] >> I hope it's beautiful when it's done.

[51:19] >> I hope it's done.

[51:21] [laughter]

[51:22] >> I hope it's done before you get home.

[51:28] So we are making a motion

[51:30] >> to accept the contract adjustment

[51:32] >> to accept the contract ad judgement

[51:34] adjustment for the skill

[51:37] >> engineering for the sidewalk project.

[51:43] » Oh second [clears throat]

[51:44] >> been moved and seconded. Any further

[51:46] discussion on the motion

[51:49] >> hearing? None. Roll call, please. Sarah.

[51:51] >> Councelor Danny Cummings.

[51:53] >> Yes.

[51:53] >> Councelor Ray.

[51:54] >> Yes. Councelor Stevens.

[51:56] >> Well, yeah.

[51:56] >> Councelor Cely.

[51:58] >> Yeah.

[51:58] >> Councelor Boon.

[51:59] >> Yes.

[52:00] >> 60. Approval of of rate for part-time

[52:03] police and for festivals and selected

[52:06] holidays.

[52:07] >> Yeah. This is a request from the police

[52:08] department to um approve time and a

[52:11] half, which would be 3250 an hour

[52:13] instead of $125 an hour um for part-time

[52:17] police that we're trying to go to the

[52:18] 4th of July, specifically July 3rd and

[52:21] 4th pirate festival. um Thanksgiving and

[52:24] Christmas, these are days we have

[52:26] traditionally had trouble managing

[52:28] coverage. And uh while we had enough

[52:31] coverage on July 4th, July 4th was

[52:33] entertaining enough uh that night that

[52:35] we had a couple people say essentially

[52:37] I'm you know it's not worth it to come

[52:39] out for this. So this is a request from

[52:41] the police. It's a it's a risk, but

[52:43] we'll see if it works. We'd like to

[52:45] think that I my understanding is that

[52:47] you know we've already kind of put out

[52:48] the word. We think we might be able to

[52:49] do this for primary festival and we're

[52:50] getting better response but um

[52:53] >> and how's it going to affect their

[52:55] overall budget?

[52:56] >> Uh they say they can manage this within

[52:58] the budget. It's not so it's an

[52:59] additional $1250 an hour or I have to go

[53:03] and do the hours off my heads but we're

[53:05] looking at you know less than $1,000

[53:07] altogether or maybe right around $1,000

[53:09] if I do this right. an additional cost,

[53:12] >> but it was in the budget.

[53:14] >> If we're going to stay within the

[53:16] budget, we have a very large part-time

[53:17] line in the budget. Maybe this is a good

[53:18] time for me to address Allen's point

[53:20] about full-time police, which I'd like

[53:22] to go there. Um, during open forum, Alan

[53:24] Skinner made a, you know, point.

[53:26] Wouldn't it be great to have more

[53:27] full-time police? I wholeheartedly

[53:28] agree. When I started here, we had no

[53:31] full-time police and only two part-

[53:33] timerrs that were regularly on there,

[53:35] basically there for administration. Um,

[53:38] as we've been building the police

[53:39] department back, um, we had, uh, two

[53:43] police and two part and two full-time

[53:45] positions that we could fill. The first

[53:47] year and a half, two years, we could not

[53:50] keep those positions filled. It was

[53:51] really very, very difficult. And so, we

[53:54] moved about this time last year, I

[53:56] think, to say, you know, we have a lot

[53:57] of people are expressing interest to

[53:59] come down in Eastport, work part-time.

[54:00] Can we actually make that work? We are

[54:03] budgeted at about 2/3 coverage. In other

[54:07] words, the amount of money we have in

[54:08] the budget for personnel covers us about

[54:10] for 2/3 of 24 by7.

[54:14] We're covering 95% of our costs at that

[54:17] level of coverage. So, I'm pretty proud

[54:18] of what we're doing. Having said that,

[54:21] would we like to have another full-time

[54:22] policeman? Would we like to offer

[54:23] benefits? We would. We're not budgeted

[54:25] for that right now. We are doing some

[54:27] we're looking into some possible grant

[54:29] opportunities

[54:30] >> and that comes comes with a price to the

[54:32] tax dollar too far right now but yes we

[54:34] could certainly and round numbers let's

[54:37] be I'm going to be as transparent as

[54:39] possible about this round numbers a

[54:41] full-time employee just off the top of

[54:42] my head I could say $100,000 because

[54:45] when you take uh when you take what

[54:48] they're being paid plus their benefits

[54:50] plus everything else it might be

[54:51] depending on who it is 80 it might be a

[54:53] little bit more but it's a chunk out of

[54:54] $100,000. So that's right now your

[54:57] taxation is at about 4.2 million. I want

[55:00] to say if I looked at let's say 4

[55:01] million for round numbers that's 2% of

[55:03] taxation. Okay. To add another employee

[55:07] but you get rid of them part time.

[55:09] >> You get rid of most that's correct get I

[55:13] took my glasses off and now I can't see.

[55:16] Correct. And so this is worth talking

[55:18] about a budget. So I just want to

[55:20] acknowledge that we're considering that

[55:22] in the short term we're running with

[55:23] partners. if you can find a full-timer.

[55:26] >> Yeah,

[55:28] >> we have some hope that things are stable

[55:29] enough here that we might be a more

[55:31] attractive destination than we were.

[55:32] >> PDR,

[55:34] >> but the the market of police is still

[55:35] kind of is still very difficult. So I I

[55:38] even if we I mean that was one of the

[55:39] issues that there was a line in the

[55:41] budget that kept being not filled and

[55:44] it's like why are we taxing for this?

[55:45] Well, now we're will tax where we will

[55:47] be spending.

[55:50] >> Make a motion we approve 6A as

[55:51] presented.

[55:53] I'll second that.

[55:54] >> 6, not 6. [laughter]

[55:59] » Moved and seconded. Any further

[56:00] discussion on the motion?

[56:04] » Hearing none. Roll call, please. Sarah.

[56:06] >> Councelor Dana Cummings.

[56:07] >> Yes.

[56:08] >> Council Ray,

[56:09] >> yes.

[56:09] >> Councelor Stevens,

[56:10] >> yes.

[56:11] >> Councelor Cely,

[56:12] >> yes.

[56:12] >> Councelor Boon,

[56:13] >> yes. 6P, approval of purchase of used

[56:17] police cruiser from Fort Fairfield.

[56:20] >> Yes. So, we have in our cruiser fleet

[56:23] right now, we have one vehicle we bought new

[56:29] >> the top the one vehicle we bought and

[56:31] I'm sorry I should I do not have all the

[56:33] years in my head right now. Apologize

[56:35] for that. I should have looked that up

[56:36] there. We have the one that we bought

[56:38] from Washurn that was three or four

[56:40] years old at the time we bought it. We

[56:42] have our hybrid vehicle, white hybrid

[56:44] vehicle, which has just come out of

[56:46] warranty. Um, which you you may not

[56:49] have, but we've had some issues with

[56:51] that that vehicle. [clears throat] And

[56:52] right now we have to take it to Hampton

[56:53] if we get a check engine light because

[56:55] of the nature of the electronics on that

[56:57] vehicle. Um, and the black vehicle

[57:01] because of the relative age of the

[57:03] vehicles, I had intended to put a brand

[57:05] new vehicle in the fiscal year 28

[57:07] capital plan, a brand new. And we were

[57:10] probably going to look at tacos again.

[57:11] Right now, those appear to be the crown

[57:13] fix of the 2020s. Um,

[57:17] we when we bought our previous one, it

[57:18] came in at about $54,000. So, I'm

[57:21] imagining that's going to go

[57:22] >> without outfitting. Plus, it cost us $10

[57:25] to $12,000 to outfit it, to put in the

[57:27] cage, to put in everything else. So,

[57:29] when forfield Fairfield offered us this

[57:32] vehicle, it's old. It's a 1990. It's got

[57:34] 95,000 miles.

[57:35] >> 90.

[57:35] >> Yep. Just like our I'm sorry that

[57:39] >> IT'S LIKE JOE. I MOVED MY VOTE. Holy

[57:43] moly. [laughter]

[57:45] >> I don't know what I said. I don't know

[57:47] why that came out of my mouth. 2020.

[57:51] Good job. Wow.

[57:55] 2020. [laughter]

[57:59] I know that was good. Glad because if

[58:01] you didn't catch it, it showed up in the

[58:02] [laughter] paper.

[58:04] Um 2020, 90,000 mi on it. $22,000.

[58:09] Outfitting would usually run 10 to 12.

[58:11] The vehicle itself is worth between 22

[58:13] and 26 according to the blue.

[58:14] >> And it's in good condition.

[58:15] >> It's in good condition. We sort of we

[58:17] know a guy who knows a guy who's who's

[58:19] using it right now. And we feel pretty

[58:21] confident. and our experience has been

[58:22] dealing with other departments that

[58:24] they're not interested in uh you know

[58:26] giving us trouble for you know the acco

[58:28] vehicle we got from less points given us

[58:29] time. So this means I push off a brand

[58:32] new vehicle into fiscal year 29 at least

[58:35] >> we are I will just acknowledge we're

[58:36] doing a bit of a Washington county thing

[58:39] here picking up a bunch of older

[58:40] vehicles and hoping they'll hold us

[58:41] together. This vehicle will stay in

[58:44] town. Um it's going to be the you know

[58:46] the the number one additional patrol

[58:48] vehicle. It's there. If the hybrid, you

[58:50] know, sorry, I've got

[58:53] the hybrid's battery fails. I had a more

[58:55] colorful way of saying that, but

[58:56] [laughter] I was going to do it. If if

[58:57] that battery fails, we could be looking

[58:58] at a $5 a five figure repair bill. Um,

[59:02] that sort of thing. So, I just feel more

[59:04] comfortable having that additional

[59:05] vehicle. It's a bargain for a police

[59:08] vehicle. It really is. Um, I, you know,

[59:10] it's a little bit of risk as with any

[59:12] used car, but I think, um, altogether,

[59:13] it's not much. And I would ask you that

[59:15] you approve to take this out of the

[59:16] capital.

[59:18] It's 30 years newer.

[59:22] [laughter]

[59:23] >> Wow.

[59:25] >> I move to approve the purchase of the

[59:28] used police cruiser from Fort Fairfield

[59:30] and take it under the capital funds.

[59:33] >> Second.

[59:34] >> Moved and seconded. Any further

[59:36] discussion on the motion?

[59:39] >> Hearing none. Roll call, please, sir.

[59:41] >> Councelor Dana Cummings.

[59:42] >> Yes.

[59:43] >> Councelor Ray,

[59:44] >> yes.

[59:44] >> Councelor Stevens,

[59:45] >> yes. Councelor Cely.

[59:47] >> Yes.

[59:47] >> Councelor Moon.

[59:48] >> Yes. 6Q. Accept donation from Sheep Cove

[59:52] Associates for Sky Hope.

[59:55] >> Conor, do we have an amount on that?

[59:56] >> 500.

[59:57] >> Is that the 500? It's in the packet.

[59:59] Thank you.

[1:00:01] >> I thought that was for the airport, not

[1:00:03] for Sky Hope.

[1:00:05] >> What it says here? I think it says

[1:00:07] >> TVs and support systems for the airport.

[1:00:10] >> That's for the airport. It's not Skyh

[1:00:11] Hope. It's airport. donated

[1:00:15] >> and it it's donated to the city. Okay.

[1:00:17] Um

[1:00:22] » your motion.

[1:00:23] >> We will check we will check with the

[1:00:24] donor and make sure that we have for

[1:00:26] some reason it's wrong. We'll correct.

[1:00:27] >> I believe you're correct.

[1:00:29] >> Yeah. Okay.

[1:00:30] >> I move to accept the donation from Sheep

[1:00:32] Cove Associates for the airport for TVs

[1:00:35] and support systems of $500.

[1:00:38] >> Second move and seconded. Any further

[1:00:41] discussion on the motion?

[1:00:45] Uh, only. Thank you. Um,

[1:00:48] roll call, please. Sarah.

[1:00:49] >> Councelor Dana Cummings.

[1:00:50] >> Yes.

[1:00:51] >> Councelor Ray.

[1:00:52] >> Yes. With appreciation.

[1:00:54] >> Councelor Stevens.

[1:00:55] >> Yes.

[1:00:56] >> Councelor Cely.

[1:00:57] >> Yes.

[1:00:57] >> Councelor Boon.

[1:00:58] >> Yes.

[1:01:00] >> 6 R. Accept perpetual care request for

[1:01:04] by Judy Trot for Hillside West Cemetery

[1:01:06] section Memorial Hill lot 143A.

[1:01:12] Move to accept federal care lot.

[1:01:16] >> Second.

[1:01:17] >> Moved and seconded. Any further

[1:01:18] discussion on the motion

[1:01:21] hearing? None. Roll call, please. Sarah.

[1:01:23] >> Councelor Dana Cummings.

[1:01:24] >> Yes.

[1:01:25] >> Councelor Ray.

[1:01:26] >> Yes.

[1:01:26] >> Councelor Stevens.

[1:01:27] >> Yes.

[1:01:27] >> Councelor Cely.

[1:01:29] >> Yes.

[1:01:29] >> Councelor Moon. Yes. 6s. Accept

[1:01:32] perpetual care request by Steven and

[1:01:36] Susan Moore for Bayside West Cemetery

[1:01:40] section E lot 24 and 25.

[1:01:45] >> Make that motion.

[1:01:47] >> Second.

[1:01:48] >> Moved and seconded. Any further

[1:01:49] discussion

[1:01:51] hearing? None. Roll call, please. Sarah.

[1:01:54] >> Councelor Dana Cummings.

[1:01:55] >> Yes.

[1:01:55] >> Councelor Ray.

[1:01:56] >> Yes.

[1:01:57] >> Councelor Stevens.

[1:01:58] >> Yes.

[1:01:58] >> Councelor Cely.

[1:01:59] >> Yes. Councelor Boon.

[1:02:00] >> Yes. 6T.

[1:02:03] Accept the resignation of Victoria Gans

[1:02:05] from the

[1:02:07] >> energy committee

[1:02:08] >> and also the airport committee. She just

[1:02:09] came up and told me she actually needs

[1:02:11] to resign from both.

[1:02:13] >> I move to accept the resignation of

[1:02:14] Victoria Gans from the energy committee

[1:02:17] and airport committee.

[1:02:20] >> I'll second

[1:02:23] move and seconded. Any further

[1:02:24] discussion on the motion?

[1:02:28] I have to

[1:02:29] >> hearing none. Roll call, please. Sarah.

[1:02:32] >> Councelor Danny Cummings.

[1:02:33] >> Yes.

[1:02:33] >> Councelor Ray,

[1:02:34] >> yes.

[1:02:35] >> Councelor Stevens,

[1:02:36] >> yes.

[1:02:36] >> Councelor Cely,

[1:02:37] >> yes.

[1:02:38] >> Councelor Moon, your conversation.

[1:02:40] >> We are on number seven, old business. 7A

[1:02:43] is a request for placement of a memorial

[1:02:46] bench from Mary Gelada in memory of

[1:02:49] Grace Zawaman.

[1:02:51] >> I'm going to ask you to carry this one

[1:02:52] more meeting. I think we've identified

[1:02:54] the bench. I think we've identified your

[1:02:56] location, but I need to speak with Howie

[1:02:57] and confirm it all. We should be able to

[1:02:59] act on this meeting. So, you can just

[1:03:00] carry that to that.

[1:03:01] >> I move it.

[1:03:02] >> Can we carry it to a future meeting? So,

[1:03:04] if it doesn't happen next,

[1:03:07] since it's going to be coming close to

[1:03:08] winter anyways, we probably wouldn't

[1:03:10] place until spring. So, I think October

[1:03:11] will be fine.

[1:03:12] >> October or September?

[1:03:14] >> Well, no. I was just saying I don't care

[1:03:16] what meeting, but I think the motion

[1:03:18] should just be at to a future meeting so

[1:03:20] that if you don't have it next meeting,

[1:03:22] we don't have to discuss it.

[1:03:24] >> [laughter]

[1:03:25] >> But then you lose track of it.

[1:03:28] >> Ty is on it now. So I won't have a

[1:03:30] problem with that. Yeah. [laughter]

[1:03:32] >> So who's had the motion?

[1:03:34] >> Move to a future meeting.

[1:03:37] >> Second.

[1:03:37] >> Moved and seconded. Any further

[1:03:39] discussion on the motion?

[1:03:42] Hearing none. Roll call, please. Sarah.

[1:03:45] >> Councelor Danny Cummings.

[1:03:46] >> Yes.

[1:03:46] >> Councelor Ray.

[1:03:47] >> Yes.

[1:03:47] >> Councelor Stevens.

[1:03:48] >> Yes.

[1:03:49] >> Councelor Cely.

[1:03:50] >> Yes.

[1:03:50] >> Councelor Boon.

[1:03:51] >> Yes. 7B. transfer a fiscal year 2026

[1:03:56] boat excise tax to the harbor account.

[1:03:59] >> Is that what this paper is?

[1:04:00] >> Yes. Here's what happened. So, this came

[1:04:02] up last month and then we all kind of

[1:04:03] looked at each other and said, "Wait,

[1:04:04] what? What is this?" So, my

[1:04:06] understanding, correct me if I've got

[1:04:08] this wrong. In the past, there used to

[1:04:10] be a separate Harbor Bank account into

[1:04:13] which OEXI used to be accepted and then

[1:04:15] you would transfer that or kept ours.

[1:04:18] That's not true anymore. We just keep it

[1:04:20] separate in our accounting system and

[1:04:22] it's automatically credited to the

[1:04:24] harbor account as it's collected. So

[1:04:27] what you see before you is just proof

[1:04:28] that we've been collecting all of this

[1:04:30] if you're curious and there's no action

[1:04:33] to be taken. So we will not break it

[1:04:35] just it happened to be on last year's

[1:04:37] agenda unless you know differently but

[1:04:39] that's our understanding.

[1:04:42] >> We don't need any

[1:04:45] your council is required to transfer

[1:04:47] funds from fund to fund right. So if I

[1:04:49] said like we did last year, please

[1:04:51] transfer X amount from unassigned to

[1:04:53] capital, you have to do that. It's not

[1:04:55] doesn't need to be transferred because

[1:04:56] it's being credited into the right

[1:04:57] account.

[1:05:00] » So there's no

[1:05:03] >> we're on item eight.

[1:05:05] 8A

[1:05:07] uh minutes of previous meetings

[1:05:10] July 8, 2026 regular council meeting.

[1:05:13] >> I move to accept those minutes.

[1:05:15] >> Second.

[1:05:16] >> Moved and seconded. Any further

[1:05:17] discussion on the motion

[1:05:20] hearing? None. Roll call, please. Sarah.

[1:05:22] >> Councelor Dana Cummings.

[1:05:23] >> Yes.

[1:05:24] >> Councelor Ray.

[1:05:25] >> Yes.

[1:05:25] >> Councelor Stevens.

[1:05:26] >> Yes.

[1:05:26] >> Councelor Cely?

[1:05:27] >> Yes.

[1:05:27] >> Councelor Boon?

[1:05:28] >> Yes.

[1:05:29] >> Item nine, city manager report.

[1:05:32] >> So, let's start. Financials. You've got

[1:05:34] two financials. Uh, both. We have

[1:05:36] details that you have from Trio, but I

[1:05:38] gave you my summaries for fiscal year 26

[1:05:40] and 27. I'll keep giving you 26 probably

[1:05:42] one more month and I think we'll have

[1:05:44] everything that should be credited there

[1:05:46] out. Um the top line number is after

[1:05:49] 100% of fiscal year 26 our net is 94.6

[1:05:53] um we're now um there are a couple of

[1:05:56] items I'm going to clear up here. I

[1:05:57] think there's an I think we're actually

[1:05:59] in better shape than that for 26 for 27.

[1:06:01] Our insurance number is very high and I

[1:06:03] think that's because we credited a

[1:06:04] fiscal year 27 payment there but I'll

[1:06:06] clarify that in three. Otherwise, I

[1:06:08] don't think anything has changed here

[1:06:10] from before. I've discussed this these

[1:06:12] overages and everything and we're

[1:06:13] rocking the river down many times. Um,

[1:06:18] the fiscal year 27 one is less

[1:06:20] interesting because we're only 9% of the

[1:06:22] way through the year. I'll just point

[1:06:23] out right now payroll is ahead for two

[1:06:25] reasons. Tomorrow is payday, so we're

[1:06:27] always right at the beginning of the pay

[1:06:29] cycle. And all the July 4th overtime and

[1:06:31] extra expense is being collected there

[1:06:33] right now. So, that should even out as

[1:06:34] time goes on. acco is high because we

[1:06:37] paid the pause lease. Um, hybrid is high

[1:06:40] because I think we just received the

[1:06:42] second billing for the year. Um, you

[1:06:45] know, we paid July at the beginning of

[1:06:46] July. We paid August at the beginning of

[1:06:48] August. Otherwise, we are currently in

[1:06:50] pretty good shape. Uh, this is maybe a

[1:06:52] good point just to acknowledge. Yes,

[1:06:53] indeed. Tax bills went out. We came in

[1:06:55] at about

[1:06:56] >> Oh, we know.

[1:06:57] >> Yeah, I know. I know. You didn't even

[1:06:58] mean to tell. Uh, we came we ended up

[1:07:00] coming in at about 7.8%. We we had

[1:07:03] accepted and expenses at 7.25. 25 but

[1:07:07] business t business equipment valuation

[1:07:10] goes down um and I can go we can sit

[1:07:13] down with Wes and talk about that but

[1:07:14] that's part of what happens there is

[1:07:16] this depreciation it is however also the

[1:07:18] one place I have spoken in this meeting

[1:07:20] before about how doing a revaluation

[1:07:23] doesn't like helping with the homestead

[1:07:24] exemption from the point of view of

[1:07:26] revenue everyone's homestead exemption

[1:07:27] goes up and everyone's house value also

[1:07:29] goes up and so that value of 25% doesn't

[1:07:32] change it does have an impact on

[1:07:34] personal property on business equipment

[1:07:36] because business equipment isn't

[1:07:37] increasing the way real estate is. So

[1:07:40] this is another reason so we are losing

[1:07:42] money on on personal property tax and we

[1:07:45] are going that's why we're I've asked

[1:07:46] West to make it a priority. It is

[1:07:49] possible we will discuss it is possible

[1:07:51] for the council to simply um basically

[1:07:54] across the board say hey we're currently

[1:07:56] you know our ratio right now is 47%.

[1:07:58] state says the numbers on our books for

[1:08:00] our values are less than half of what

[1:08:02] they're probably worth in the market.

[1:08:04] You guys can I'll talk with us but you

[1:08:06] guys essentially could say no we're

[1:08:08] going to change our factors that brings

[1:08:09] us up to 80%. That would help us. The

[1:08:12] only concern is as Alan Ray let you

[1:08:14] before there if there are inequities now

[1:08:16] if values of prop relative values of

[1:08:18] property have changed um you're not

[1:08:20] doing anything about that. All you're

[1:08:22] doing is just raising everyone up and

[1:08:24] people's valuations may look a little

[1:08:25] off. So, we'll talk about how to address

[1:08:27] that. But, um, we are already seeing the

[1:08:31] Peace Port taxpayers are break. We're

[1:08:32] already seeing significant uh, just in

[1:08:34] the last few days, people are paying

[1:08:35] their taxes right away. Thank you very

[1:08:37] much. Um, I have good news and bad news

[1:08:39] on real estate. The good news is we are

[1:08:41] just officially listing our four

[1:08:43] foreclosed properties and the senior

[1:08:45] citizens center. Uh, they actually

[1:08:47] haven't like the website or anything,

[1:08:48] but have been notified and Mike McI is

[1:08:50] talking to people. We are collecting um,

[1:08:53] offers very quickly. Um, I just want to

[1:08:57] say you can set it tonight or we can

[1:08:59] discuss it later. But I think I don't

[1:09:00] think we should wait until the next

[1:09:02] meeting to act on some of these offers.

[1:09:03] These are people are making cash offers

[1:09:05] on a building with a quick claim.

[1:09:07] Waiting an entire month might not be the

[1:09:09] best idea, but I do think two weeks is

[1:09:11] reasonable. And I was going to suggest

[1:09:13] we hold a special meeting in two weeks

[1:09:14] to uh look at the offers and accept

[1:09:16] those we wish to accept.

[1:09:18] >> Where is that printed? What houses are

[1:09:22] >> you have to Mike McI is our uh So Mike

[1:09:24] McY with D East Real Estate is the

[1:09:26] city's realtor. You can contact him.

[1:09:28] >> Okay.

[1:09:30] >> Are they listed on

[1:09:32] Are they listed?

[1:09:33] >> He's listing them now. They just got

[1:09:35] listed this week.

[1:09:36] >> Are they on the city website?

[1:09:38] >> They're not on the city website. We're

[1:09:39] listing it through him.

[1:09:40] >> But you already have offers.

[1:09:41] >> We already have offers, but we're going

[1:09:43] to we're not going to act until next

[1:09:44] week. Until two weeks from now. So go

[1:09:46] take a look.

[1:09:48] He's contacted the budding property

[1:09:50] owners.

[1:09:50] >> Yeah.

[1:09:52] >> But but you have to list it and you have

[1:09:54] to accept all offers.

[1:09:56] >> But how do you have an offer before it's

[1:09:57] listed? That's what I don't understand.

[1:09:59] >> Well, he's listed them. He hasn't put it

[1:10:00] on the website. He's already listed.

[1:10:02] >> As soon as Mike was As soon as we

[1:10:03] appointed Mike at the last meeting, he

[1:10:04] started receiving,

[1:10:06] >> right?

[1:10:08] >> How did people know what they're

[1:10:13] » How do people know what they're worth?

[1:10:15] you'll see on the listing

[1:10:16] >> the tax text tax information.

[1:10:17] >> Any other listing, you'll see what what

[1:10:19] it's what uh what has value.

[1:10:22] >> Um

[1:10:24] I I want to briefly address crosswalks

[1:10:26] again since it came up before. I just

[1:10:28] want to reiterate I I take uh John's

[1:10:31] point about why it might make sense in

[1:10:32] May. We have traditionally painted them

[1:10:34] in September, actually the end of August

[1:10:37] because it's the beginning of school.

[1:10:40] The primary concern is that if you're

[1:10:42] having kids back in town, they're not

[1:10:43] always all the way down here. I grant

[1:10:44] you up there. That's what we've done.

[1:10:46] I'm not saying we have to do that in the

[1:10:47] future. Arguably, we should probably do

[1:10:49] it twice a year. Um we'll talk about

[1:10:51] that in budget committee because that's

[1:10:53] another few thousand in paint time, but

[1:10:56] um we're not we're not leaving them

[1:10:57] alone because we don't like them down

[1:10:59] there. And we have we we were putting

[1:11:01] off painting all of them. And then I did

[1:11:03] ask that we paint the ones on Water

[1:11:04] Street um the small ones along the uh

[1:11:07] west side. And that I I am a little see

[1:11:09] how far we got with that if they're all

[1:11:11] done yet or not, but I know they were

[1:11:12] working on them last week.

[1:11:14] And

[1:11:18] » I think that's everything I need to

[1:11:19] cover with you guys.

[1:11:21] >> Should we get a date for a meeting?

[1:11:23] >> So today is the 26th.

[1:11:25] >> The 26th. We want to set August 26 as a

[1:11:29] meeting city hall

[1:11:30] >> and then Well, we

[1:11:32] >> No, we should do it here.

[1:11:33] >> We should probably do it here. We'll see

[1:11:35] if we So, for now, if it may be just a

[1:11:37] motion to set a special meeting for

[1:11:39] August 26th, um

[1:11:42] wait, I mean, and your call, what time

[1:11:44] of day? Um and then we'll double check

[1:11:46] available. And if that's a problem, um I

[1:11:55] » you guys help me.

[1:11:56] >> At what time?

[1:11:57] >> Five, I would tell you. I mean, that's

[1:11:59] the best I can get there.

[1:12:00] >> Five or six.

[1:12:02] >> Yeah. I mean, I don't think it'd be that

[1:12:04] long. So 5G already with me.

[1:12:10] » Check the building's available.

[1:12:12] >> Don't check the mortgage. You don't

[1:12:13] know.

[1:12:16] >> I'll let her know. You said that.

[1:12:17] >> Okay, you can.

[1:12:18] >> Is [laughter] everyone available on the

[1:12:20] 26th? Just lucky.

[1:12:24] >> Sure. But um you guys this four you

[1:12:28] should be.

[1:12:28] >> We have four.

[1:12:30] >> You available at five?

[1:12:32] >> Yeah. car.

[1:12:34] >> I make a motion to

[1:12:37] what? Schedule a special meeting for

[1:12:40] Wednesday, August 26 here at the port

[1:12:43] building. No, no, no, no, no,

[1:12:46] >> no, no, no, no.

[1:12:50] We can do

[1:12:51] >> What dates are available?

[1:12:55] » Do a Thursday or Tuesday.

[1:12:58] >> We could potentially move it to the

[1:13:00] airport building. Yeah,

[1:13:02] >> it's a little noisy in there. It's a

[1:13:03] little difficult, but um

[1:13:06] that's really the only other building we

[1:13:08] have available to us. City hall is not

[1:13:10] ideal.

[1:13:10] >> We can change the date.

[1:13:12] >> I mean, we could do it Thursday or

[1:13:14] Tuesday.

[1:13:16] >> What?

[1:13:16] >> Bring chairs.

[1:13:19] >> Right. Of course.

[1:13:20] >> Do Tuesday.

[1:13:23] » Is it available the Tuesday or the

[1:13:25] Thursday around it?

[1:13:29] And if the answer is no, we're going to

[1:13:30] just have to take this offline, I think.

[1:13:39] » Well, [clears throat]

[1:13:47] Thursday is open the 27th.

[1:13:50] >> Go with it. Go with it.

[1:13:52] >> Karen,

[1:13:53] >> yep, I'm good.

[1:13:53] >> 27th.

[1:13:54] >> Yeah,

[1:13:55] >> Karen, you're good.

[1:13:56] >> Yep. Colleen, we've gotten quite

[1:13:58] [laughter]

[1:13:59] >> Colleen's excuse just went away.

[1:14:00] [snorts]

[1:14:01] >> So, make a motion to schedule a special

[1:14:03] meeting for Thursday, August 27th

[1:14:06] [laughter]

[1:14:06] at the Port Authority

[1:14:09] at 5:00 p.m.

[1:14:16] » Oh, a second.

[1:14:19] >> Been moved and seconded. Any further

[1:14:21] discussion on the motion

[1:14:24] hearing? None. Roll call, please. Sarah.

[1:14:27] >> Councelor Dana Cummings.

[1:14:28] >> Yes.

[1:14:28] >> Councelor Ray,

[1:14:29] >> yes.

[1:14:30] >> Councelor Stevens,

[1:14:30] >> yes.

[1:14:31] >> Councelor Cely,

[1:14:32] >> yes.

[1:14:32] >> Council,

[1:14:33] >> yes.

[1:14:34] >> We're locked in.

[1:14:35] >> Okay. Item 10, council liaison updates

[1:14:38] and issues.

[1:14:42] » I have some issues with the ambulance I

[1:14:44] need to bring up with the the ambulance

[1:14:47] committee. We lost a driver here. Okay.

[1:14:51] >> Which puts us in situations. There are

[1:14:54] some situations with the vehicles out

[1:14:55] there. One of them isn't even

[1:14:57] registered.

[1:14:59] >> Not good.

[1:15:00] >> Okay. Um, so you and I need to meet.

[1:15:02] >> Yes.

[1:15:03] >> Okay.

[1:15:05] >> Indeed.

[1:15:07] >> Thank you, Miss Stevens.

[1:15:11] >> When is the Do you know when the next

[1:15:13] actual board meeting is of the

[1:15:14] ambulance?

[1:15:15] >> Last Monday in September.

[1:15:17] >> Okay.

[1:15:22] » [clears throat]

[1:15:22] >> So, I'll message you, see if we can get

[1:15:24] together because I have a whole list of

[1:15:26] things.

[1:15:37] Good.

[1:15:40] » Um, last month I forgot to mention how

[1:15:43] well the airport's been doing. Um, under

[1:15:45] Victoria, she's been doing a great job

[1:15:48] out there. Thank you.

[1:15:53] not always easy picking up a new task

[1:15:55] and trying to learn everything all at

[1:15:57] once. Um, and the airport has been doing

[1:15:59] very well. In the summer months, we

[1:16:01] normally do much better anyway with fuel

[1:16:03] sales and um all kinds of

[1:16:08] a lot more activity in the summertime

[1:16:10] out there. So, um, so I certainly did

[1:16:14] not do that on purpose last month.

[1:16:16] Ignore that. uh uh and the airport

[1:16:19] association and the airport advisory

[1:16:22] committee have been working

[1:16:26] a lot on the lease agreements between

[1:16:28] the legacy holders. Last night we had a

[1:16:31] meeting. Um I thought it went very well.

[1:16:35] Um it it passed narrowly. 321 was the

[1:16:40] vote. 3

[1:16:40] >> 312

[1:16:42] >> No.

[1:16:44] >> Yes. Oh, okay. Yeah. 312. Um either way

[1:16:48] it passed three. Um I I see it um

[1:16:55] as two committees

[1:16:57] that were

[1:17:00] um strained before starting to mend

[1:17:02] their ways and coming together. I I I'd

[1:17:05] like to see that continue. Um and and I

[1:17:08] think in in the overall

[1:17:12] scope of things, we're we're just trying

[1:17:14] to be fair to everyone. Um not we're not

[1:17:17] singling out anybody. We're not

[1:17:21] um

[1:17:24] new lease hanger owners and legacy

[1:17:27] owners each have their own rights and

[1:17:29] their own u makeups and their own

[1:17:32] things. We just all need to be together

[1:17:34] on the same page. There was basically

[1:17:37] two uh corrections in the lease that was

[1:17:41] drawn up. Um very minor um but

[1:17:45] definitely need the legal opinion um

[1:17:48] just to have them review it. But I I I

[1:17:50] think we we should go forward with it

[1:17:53] and I that's only for council's

[1:17:57] um

[1:17:58] update because I'm sure it will be

[1:18:00] coming probably in the next month's

[1:18:02] meeting or or October. But I'd like to

[1:18:06] see it sooner than later. We've been

[1:18:07] going since May on it.

[1:18:09] >> So, it's been trickling down, so

[1:18:13] hopefully we can get there. Um,

[1:18:16] and senior center, I attended that one

[1:18:19] yesterday. Uh, they're doing extremely

[1:18:21] well out there. They're looking for a

[1:18:23] volunteer to do line dancing, and I did

[1:18:25] not do that.

[1:18:26] >> To do it or to teach it?

[1:18:28] >> To teach it and do it.

[1:18:30] Um, that's not my thing,

[1:18:33] >> but Barber School of Dance is

[1:18:37] >> But there uh they're if you if you have

[1:18:40] a chance to get into the building, they

[1:18:42] have a calendar right at the top of the

[1:18:44] stairs. It is full every day. Every day

[1:18:47] there's activities going on up there.

[1:18:49] The cardio drumming, the exercise

[1:18:51] classes, the the dinners,

[1:18:54] every day. Um, and they're already

[1:18:57] talking Halloween party and Christmas

[1:18:58] party. So, it's it's quickly it's

[1:19:02] quickly evolving. The uh the pool group

[1:19:05] has been doing well. Um, downstairs I

[1:19:08] think this week they're starting a

[1:19:10] tournament. I think it's this Thursday.

[1:19:12] Um, and I'd say probably on a Thursday

[1:19:16] evening, you got 15 20 people playing

[1:19:18] pool now. So, if we can get the kids

[1:19:20] more involved, um that's what their hope

[1:19:23] is to try to get more kids out there. Um

[1:19:26] but it's a great resource and people are

[1:19:28] using it and that's that was a whole

[1:19:29] intent when we started it. So, I'm glad

[1:19:32] to see that's coming along.

[1:19:38] Okay. And I Yes, I'm done with my

[1:19:41] updates. We are on item 11. I need a

[1:19:44] motion to enter into executive session.

[1:19:47] >> I'm sorry, we didn't get the X's in

[1:19:48] there. IA any uh personnel and

[1:19:51] consultation.

[1:19:53] >> Make a motion to enter into executive

[1:19:55] session personal matters title 1 MRSA

[1:19:58] 4056A

[1:20:01] and consultation with legal counsel

[1:20:03] title 1 MRSA 4056E.

[1:20:10] » I'll second that. It's

[1:20:12] >> been moved and seconded. Any further

[1:20:14] discussion on the motion hearing? None.

[1:20:16] Roll call, please. Sarah.

[1:20:18] >> Councelor Dana Cummings.

[1:20:19] >> Yes.

[1:20:19] >> Council Ray,

[1:20:20] >> yes.

[1:20:20] >> Councelor Steven,

[1:20:21] >> yes.

[1:20:22] >> Council,

[1:20:23] >> yes.

[1:20:23] >> Councelor Billy,

[1:20:24] >> yes.

[1:20:26] >> Thank you everyone.

[1:20:43] » I need a motion to come out of executive

[1:20:45] session. Please.

[1:20:45] >> I make that motion. Second.

[1:20:48] >> So moved and seconded. Any further

[1:20:49] discussion on the motion

[1:20:52] hearing? None. We'll give Sarah a moment

[1:20:53] to catch up.

[1:20:55] >> She made the motion. AJ seconded.

[1:20:59] >> Okay.

[1:21:00] >> I know. She Rhonda. Um, no further

[1:21:03] discussion. Roll call, please. Server.

[1:21:05] >> Councelor Dana Cummings.

[1:21:06] >> Yes.

[1:21:07] >> Council Ray.

[1:21:08] >> Yes.

[1:21:08] >> Councelor Stevens.

[1:21:09] >> Yes.

[1:21:09] >> Councelor Cely.

[1:21:10] >> Yes.

[1:21:10] >> Councelor Boon.

[1:21:11] >> Yes. Item 12. Action from executive

[1:21:14] session if any. None.

[1:21:17] >> Item 13.

[1:21:18] >> I move to adjourn.

[1:21:19] >> Second.

[1:21:20] >> That's quick.

[1:21:21] >> All those in favor?

[1:21:23] >> Roll call, please. Sarah.

[1:21:24] >> Councelor Danny.

[1:21:25] >> Yes. Council.

[1:21:26] >> Yes.

[1:21:26] >> Councelor Steven.

[1:21:27] >> Yes.

[1:21:31] >> Thank you.

[1:21:36] I lost him

Audio of August 12, 2026 Eastport City Council Meeting

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