City Council - Special Meeting

Hello and welcome to our 6 pm uh Tuesday special meeting. We're going to kick things off with the pledge of allegiance. Uh our madam clerk has graciously agreed to lead us. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you very much, Madame Clerk. Uh we're joined here by uh Director Blae. Uh please kick us off.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Good evening, counselors. Um, sorry. Sorry. One one second, Madam Clerk. Agenda item number one. Yes, sir. Item number one, uh, to postpone indefinitely the order authorizing the financial guarantee agreement with Miltown Sports and Entertainment LLC for the acquisition of the Colise. Requested action to postpone indefinitely the order authorizing a financial guarantee agreement with Miltown Sports and Entertainment LLC for the acquisition of the colise. I have a motion, please. So move. Councelor Chid second by councelor Nene. Discussion among the council. Public comment. Back to the council. Madam clerk, please call the vote. Council from W one. Yes. W two. Yes. W three.

Yes. W four. Yes. W five. Yes. W six. Yes. W seven. No. Motion passed by vote of 6 to one. Item number two. Item number two. Order. Author um I'm sorry. Order approving a $250,000 loan for Miltown Sports and Entertainment. Requested action to adopt the order approving a $250,000 loan for Miltown Sports and Entertainment LLC. I have a motion, please. So moved. Councelor Chidam second. Second by councelor Nene. Uh now, director Blaze, please please kick us off. Thank you for your patience.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. council. Um, as you know, uh, we did go back, uh, to the, um, you know, the lending authority, the current owner, and and we, I think we bridged what we see as a really a a better deal for the city in terms of risk, uh, and investment. Um, and I'm going to go down through the the background a little bit here again just to re reacquaint everybody. Uh Miltown Sports and Entertainment is advancing a plan to acquire and continue to operate the Colise as a regional hub for sports, entertainment, community programming. The proposed ownership and operating structure is supported by a combination of of private financing and limited public investment designed to mitigate municipal municipal risk while enabling the continue continuation and growth of this key community asset. In addition to its economic role, this acquisition will secure critical existing community uses to include ongoing parking for Lewon public schools for the surrounding fields, continued access for local high school hockey programs, uh a required parking for the tree tree development project that has some uh secured some CDS funding, and preserve the flexibility for additional future community and civic uses. This puts the city in the seat to have these accessories of the building itself with the $250,000 uh loan. The financial structure, the proposed transaction includes TNM Investment Loans will provide a loan of $2.65 million to Miltown Sports Entertainment. As part of the financing, TNM Investments has agreed to wave the requirement for a formal appraisal

reflecting the confidence in the project and the underlying asset. The BOV that we generated for for this uh last meeting uh for this group really was the catalyst to that discussion. Um so they're they're willing to do that. The seller financing uh Dr. Daryl Antiochi uh will carry the $2 million note as part of the purchase. This note will be secured by the property owner and will not require any s uh city guarantee thereby limiting municipal exposure. So um the the whole u backing up the note or co-signing the note any of that is gone away and they went from 1.4 million now to 2 million. So, the city of Lewon's loan participation includes a two $250,000 loan to the project structured as follows. 14 years, a 0% interest rate, and we have the funding source through the economic reserve account. This participation again is intended to serve as a gap financing tool to support project feasibility while maintaining a conservative risk profile for the city and continued community use and relationship building. City staff understands the financial concerns but recommend approval for the following reasons. Staff and council were aware that the request should be considered effectively unsecured loan second to Miltown's personal property security agreement which is in the packet. The Miltown Sports and Entertainment Group has demonstrated success uh in its Boston location. While this request is for effectively a separate enterprise, the group's collective institutional knowledge, talent, and profitable experience to date are notable. Their presence and investment

in the city that this last year also needs to be recognized. The colise is an iconic structure and the value should be preserved while continuing to deteriorate with time without service and use and investment an injection of a ca capital and the reuse of already brought 3.9 million in investment over the last few years which has favorably benefited the the use of the rink. If the two choices are to be given to this group, a chance a give the group a chance versus let the building continue to decline, staff would recommend giving the group a chance. Three, um, securing again, you know, this this sounds very repetitive, but community uses, hockey, parking, concerts, intrinsic value, the value ad, people spending money in the city. These are all important pieces. the the current broker opinion of value plus personal property puts the total value at 4.85 million. The current building has good value and we don't want to lose that. We just don't want to lose that value. The LQC committee after consideration, the loan, the LQC meaning the loan qualification committee after consideration voted in favor of the loan with the condition that the utility bills are up to date with the city which has been checked and the property information verification form was provided in your packet. staff did a return on investment analysis including two scenarios that bring payback to between four and seven years which really is closer to six years re using the more conservative approach utilizing the combination of the loan payments for Miltown Sports and tax payments in the calculation with the assumed assessed value remaining stable with active use and value.

Again, the requested action. Consider the staff presentation. The information included in your packet when making your decision on the loan application for 250,000 with a term of 14 years at 0% interest rate funded through monies through the economic reserve account. More than willing to answer any questions. Thank you. Yes. Questions uh comments from counselors. council nine.

Um the in the right to accelerate um number four listed inspections and so we can uh ask that the loan be paid prepaid paid immediately upon inspections. Could you just speak to that for a second? I don't I don't really understand the it's in the terms of the under the statement of terms and conditions page one. Um, so it's under uh 3 A and B right to accelerate and use of funds. So, in the

I apologize. I It's my mistake. I was assuming that right to accelerate part of that was inspections. It's just stating that you'll do inspections. Okay. Um the collateral on this loan is personal pro the personal property inside the building. personal property inside the building which is currently assessed at currently right now it's $680,000 according to the assessors we devalued it at a half a million and would we be the primary lean holder on the second we're the second on it who is the first it' be the current owner

I have a few more questions, but I'll let other people. Uh well, uh can you just ask them now? Yeah. Um so the loan qualification committee um how many members are there? Um there's one, two, three, four, five, five members. Okay. Um and was it a unanimous uh support? No, it was not. What was the vote? Uh the vote was three versus one. three versus one and one abstension. Uh yeah, one excused. Okay. Again, that that information is in your in your packet.

Uh councilman,

thank you. Um and thanks for presenting. Uh so I I'm also a member of the loan qualification committee. I wasn't able to make it to the meeting. Um but I emailed the group and said that uh I would have also voted no on it. Uh I did have some questions on so this is under the operations agreement and you had mentioned that our security is the personal property. Um, in the operations agreement section H, security, it says loans will require an acceptable security instrument such as a mortgage. And I wonder if there is how come we're not getting a mortgage or anything more like a little more substantial than um the

personal property. The uh the owners, they're not they're not willing to do it. We'd be third in we'd be third in line to do that. So, um, this was our only option to have any other teeth, uh, versus to go fully unsecured loans. So, I thought this was, I think, our best step forward in with this particular situation. And so, on that in that operations agreement where it says loans will require an acceptable security instrument such as a mortgage, is this this is this is Yeah, this is acceptable. Yeah.

Okay. Um I had some other questions about the um about the operations agreement. So in in part K it says that the repayment will begin upon completion of the construction phase or 6 months after the closing date whichever comes first. Um there's no there's no construction. So that's not no that doesn't apply. I think that that has to be a further edit that has to continue before the closing occurs. So when does repayment begin? Repayment begins at the first month. Okay.

Yeah. At the end of month one. Yep. So has has our legal council reviewed these? It has. They have reviewed it. Um I you know there's still some suggestions about signature the city administrator being a signature. I think you just pointed out another one. And I think there has to be some uh additional combing of the of the documents, but they have they have had review. So they they have had review, but they need more review.

I I believe so. Yep. I think we're going to read through it one more time and make sure that everything's good. We always do that before closings. There's always final edits at the end. Um this is pretty typical for closing documents that the city administers. Okay, that's all I've got for now. Uh further questions, councelor Chadam. Yes, thank you. Um collector label has indicated there's a 90 nearly $9,400 uh over overdue payment on uh sewer and water. Did I hear you say that that's been taken care of as of today?

So, councelor Chadam, you have the same question I did. So, I I'm I'm happy that you're asking that one because I I tend to get excited about things like this when I receive them. My staff gives them to me. But, um so the so the balance owed um they have um they have a a payment agreement established. So, there's the no at 9,300, but then they have a payment agreement established, which we um acknowledged that in the last meeting. And then that means that they're they're still considered in good standing. So yes, the answer is yes. They still owe $9,300, but the answer is they've been in good standing with their payment agreement. So they have been paying their payments.

Okay. So there's another tweak that needs to be made to these various documents when it goes through legal because there is a very clear statement somewhere in the five documents that we've reviewed that um no loan shall be issued until all payments until all utilities and taxes and fees have been paid. So that that needs to be fixed in the legal ease when it goes through the second review.

Okay. Uh could I ask you uh Director Blae to go through the in the ROI the the rate of return rate of rate of on investment return on investment uh and explain how that works. Essentially we're loaning a4 million dollars and it's going to be paid off and there are going to be benefits due to uh uh taxes. Um, is there the addition of personal and or real property to the current value? Aside from the revaluation, will the u will the asset be improved as a result of this this uh loan? So I think the I think the asset valuation would would remain the same you know. So the anticipated value according to the assessing now it would be $4.1 million which is considerable that that and that number was uh included as the proposed um you know value and the current appraised value um assessed value rather is um is the 1.792. So, we can assume that that number is going to if as long as we have use and the the building's not being buttoned up and is not, you know, turning to mold, we're going to at least maintain that that amount. So, um, in this in this summary, I would say that this is the this is the salesman's version. Um, this is me being optimistic and I'll be quite honest. Um, so what that means is that uh we really

looked at straight across the board what is the value now using the $19 mill rate uh that's being suggested the 19.68 across the board and did a a difference in delta. So if we if that value came down or that's value gained rather and that's value sustained while we keep it in there. we're all keeping the the same picture. That's $46,000 that we get every year in tax payment. And then plus the payment the principal paid of 17,858 you know within four years again the the uh the return on investment is paid through taxes through the payment of taxes and the payment of the of the uh loan payments that they make each each month.

Okay. I'm not certain that loan payments are actually counted as return on an investment. And I do have a a concern about using the proposed assessed value of 4.1 million and calling that a benefit of the um loan when the current valuation is 1.79. The only difference is if if I'm hearing you correctly, director, the only difference is the revaluation of the property. There has been no real value added to the building or the or the personal property. Is that okay?

That's correct. We're we're we're maintaining the value. Okay. But so then in that regard, we took a very conservative approach and in my language to the council, um we took the the the valuation today. And that's really the the difference, and I think I explained this to you in an email, but there's there's only $22,000 left on the table there at that point if you take a very conservative approach. And that brings the return on investment. And again, I would think of it as an investment because we're getting the we're getting value back to the community. I I I I don't know how we can't see that as as an investment in value. I mean, I there's just so many tangible values. I could write a book about it, but 22,000. So, the return at that point is is less than seven years. So if we look at if I look I put my old government hat on working for the feds and for the military anything under seven years was was a good was a good investment in terms of our purchasing for military construction dollars. This is a benchmark that I could give to you that I could do mathematically to show you that this is this is worth the city's time and the city's effort and and that's just my best effort.

I appreciate that. I think you and I agree that this is a salesman's version. Um, we can we can certainly agree on that and I don't question at all the intangible assets and the value that this project will bring to the city. I think my beef is trying to quantify that with numbers. So, I will I will accept this is the salesman's version. I will accept that there are benefits that are intangible and perhaps immeasurable to the city. Um, and we'll just leave it at that. Uh further comments, councelor Martell. Yes.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor, and thank you for your presentation uh throughout this. You've been great to communicate with, and I think you're doing a great job conveying the information that's in front of you. So, so thank you. Um the deeper we go into this pro, the deeper we go into this project, the more questions I have and the more concerned I get. So, I I'm looking at this as an entirely unsecured $250,000 loan because we're talking about depreciating equipment that has to in say it gets defaulted and we go to collect 500 or 600k worth of assets, you said. So, resold what maybe two 250 on the used market and we're second in line for that. It's not compelling collateral in my eyes. I also uh share councelor Chidum's um feelings about returned taxes being used as uh payment or looked at as a return on investment. I feel like a lot of that is going to they're going to be there anyway. Uh we're using successful past business ventures as credibility to loan this money and it just seems like at every point along the way this project has been at risk of falling apart if the city didn't step in and do something. And at first it was 1.4 and now it's Is this two 250,000 critical to the program? Is this going to is this whole thing coming crashing down still if he doesn't get this 250 grand?

I I don't I don't know if I can answer that question correctly. I don't I I don't know. Okay.

I don't know like I don't know that answer. I think that that again I I think the most important piece is that this gives us a seat. You know, if they go 100% private, this gives us a seat again to the the the use of the parking lot for for public school programs. This uh gives us a seat to have local hockey programming at this location. Um it helps uh an additional local project in their parking. Um and then any of the other community uses and civic uses that are down the road. I think that that's really I think that those are the biggest pieces. Um, I think that there'll be there may be repercussions if we we back out and the call say continues on their own and they find their own financing. We may be at we may be at a loss for some of the community uses that are currently going on there. Um, I just I I do want to be clear on that on and on the record of that.

So, is that what you expect him to do if he has to get this financing somewhere else? I I again I can't speak for him. I'm not going to speak for you know Nate Bostic or Miltown Sports. Um but I I can I can tell you that I've heard it. Interesting. Why is it he isn't here to answer these questions?

He's out he's he uh he's out raising um monies for his program. He's he's recruiting kids. He's on the road. Um so this is the time of the year that he recruits players and connects with families to, you know, really bring up the academy and and get kids to come here. Okay. Uh that's all the questions I have for now. I have some comments, but I will I'll hold them at the moment. Thank you very much, John.

You're welcome. Uh to Director Blaz's point, um yes, if the city had no involvement whatsoever, I I don't know why they would let us use their parking lot for free. That like makes zero sense uh for them. Uh further questions, comments from counselors before we go to public comment? Council Arman,

thank you. Um has this loan, has there been any underwriting or other analysis of this loan? Yes, there has there um that was done by my previous predecessor that wasn't shared uh with me. Um I did uh touch base with them CCI they didn't provide anything in writing but I think it was going to come out to be a a negative I'll be honest with you it was going to come out to be a negative recommendation. Um I can say that that uh other projects have had negative recommendations had negative recommendations from the loan qualification committee uh negative recommendation from the underwriting um and and others and the the council still voted in favor. So um that being said, I uh there wasn't really any information to share. So, um, and that's, um, you know, that that's that's that I I haven't received anything officially in writing. So,

okay. And then just a couple more questions about the documents. So in the um in the loan agreement section nine recordkeeping uh it says they have to maintain records for a period of seven years following the loan closing but it's a 14-year loan. So shouldn't that be at least 14 if not yeah I think that's an IRS statement. So 77 years for those statements that's what they need to keep for IRS stuff. So it has to be the last seven years of each of those statements. So okay,

at year eight you can get your rid of year one. At year nine you get rid of year two. Okay. And then um in the job creation agreement um there are two attachments attachment A and attachment B. In attachment B, it says uh the employ this employer has received funding from the city of Lewon's commercial rehabilitation loan program. The funding for this program comes from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, but I thought that this loan was I thought this program was funded through the TIFF revenue. Yeah. And that again that has to be edited. That's that's not correct.

Okay. We we held on to those documents because we wanted again we wanted to hold something tangible uh to Miltown Sports in terms of creating jobs. I I mean that I could have highlighted that in the presentation. Um but that's something that that's going to be in the loan. That's something we're going to follow up on. Um it does create it does create some local jobs, some permanent jobs. Um so that is something that we inserted in there. So, we will we will clean that up. Okay. My my concern is just that this hasn't been reviewed again. It has it's had legal review. Um

and it has to be it has to it has to be thoroughly reviewed. Again, I'm not I I understand, Council Haramman, that uh that there has to be some fixes here, but I' I've learned from my experiences. We have a timeline. We've got to submit what we can submit. It had one review. We've been correcting these since then. We're not going to share that with council. That's if if the council says, uh, go ahead and move forward with this. You know, we're going to have corrected documents. We're not going to be referencing CDBG documents. That's the baseline language that that form is. That's a CDBG form. and we're converting it uh again to have a little bit more teeth and more say in in the $250,000 note as we don't I'll agree with you. I'm not going to sit here and disagree with you uh on that, but the the truth is we're looking for any way for the city to be a part of it, to have a say, to have that involvement and make sure that they follow up on that. So, we're trying to get um something back to the city. Yeah, I I understand that. I'm just concerned that, you know, it keeps coming to a vote for for the council and and then it's not

I'm not aware I'm not aware of all finalized legal documents being prepared prior to a council meeting ever. Ever. I'm supplying more information than any other director in my seat has ever presented. I've went back and looked and there's none of this information has ever been ever been um in you know given to the council to review. This is in addition um you know I just wanted to try to be as upfront and so you could have a real baseline understanding of what we're you know what we're making them go through. Um and again it's it's informative. Um, I'd be happy to share with the final signed documents with council. We could certainly do that.

Thank you, director. Thank you. Uh, anything further, Councelor Herman? That's it. Thanks.

We're now having public comment for this agenda item. Should there be any public comment? And now we're back to us. Um, I'll just say a few words here. Yes, I understand, director, what you're saying. Uh, and it makes sense. Um, this is going to, you know, once we head to find or once we finally get a, you know, I'm what I'm hopeful is an affirm affirmative vote for this, it will head to, uh, legal to, uh, button up. Um, you know, the concerns that have been raised in terms of, uh, the legal documents, um, you know, are beyond our pay grade and, uh, I'm sure the council will, uh, uh, you know, our corporation council will be able to, um, to get everything in order. Uh, yeah. and and I understand that there's a risk to this um to this loan. Uh I uh but I understand your point completely that gives us access to the building and uh and then you know I am concerned that the colise uh doesn't move forward at all without this uh and I realize Nate's not here to sorry Mr. Bostik is not here to uh to speak to that. Um, can you explain, you know, is this money being you what is this 250,000 being used for? Can you speak to that for a second?

This is the this is the down payment essentially. This is part of the closing would be part of the closing note. Okay. So, this uh having heard that it is very unlikely that this deal is moving forward without this. Again, I don't know. I I I don't know. I I do want it I did want the city to be part of this again for the community benefit piece and understood.

You know I I don't know for sure. I I think that that could shift with you know with uh TNM investments in the you know in play. I their pockets are deep. They have a lot of private equity. They could certainly raise 250,000 without blinking an eye. But, you know, I don't want to I don't want to assume anything and um I I just I do want to understand the position I think that the city has. We lose a lot of uh a lot of partnership. We lose a lot of opportunity. Um you know, we're economic and community development. This is really the community side. This is a community investment. I I can't say that enough. our community dollars are going down and down. CDBG home funds, you know, after we I'm going to go off tangent, but you know,

for a second, please, but um but yeah, I'll just I'll end it at that. Okay. No, uh yeah, I just uh to the council, I urge it or I mean, I understand that there's uh risk to this. Um, but I think there's a a greater risk if this um deal does not go forward and the the colate does not uh continue to exist as we've come to expect it. Councilor Long Champs, did you have your hand up?

Yes. Thank you for presenting again. Um, I think that um it was very smart of them to uh continue with financing and I think it's great that they were able to pull together. Do I think that they could probably figure this out to um the $250,000 ask? Uh most likely. But I do think just as you've shared um director that you know the city having some involvement is important uh for many reasons. So I do thank you for that. And it is unfortunate. I feel like this is the first loan that the city's ever done with all of this back and forth. Um, so I am definitely in support of it. Um, I'm glad that they were able to come up with the financing. Um, if it were me having to deal with, uh, all of this, uh, he's a humble man because I wouldn't even ask the city for this. But, uh, I I am in favor of it. Thank you. Councelor Roy.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh, thank you for bringing this forward again, doing all the hard work that you've done. Um, I too am in favor of supporting this only because I think, you know, the colise has been there for many, many years. There's been a lot of kids that have been through there. Um, and again, we need more stuff in the city for kids, youth development, everything like that. Um, I do believe the players will give back to the city in in great ways. Um, I also think that leaving the door open for the city uh to use all of these um everything uh that's in the building and all that stuff. I think that's really really important. And I think you know the city uh on a whole should be proud to be able to to come together and do that. Um and again what happens if let's say this is a make or break $250,000 we don't give it to them and then that building goes into shambles. We're still taking care of this, right? So, I think, you know, for $250,000, I mean, yes, it's a large amount of money. Um, I don't have $250,000, but it, you know, I think, um, it's worth the risk on this because of what we can get out of it. So, I'd be voting in support of this.

Uh, councelor Nene.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um um interim director, I I have a couple of points I just want to bring forward and the the way that this process has kind of unfolded. It's kind of felt like I've made jokes about this like it's like Shark Tank, right? Uh like you're putting something in front of us, we're all hemming and hawing over it and then going back um and and and asking for more information. Ultimately, if it was my money, um I would want to be in a position where um I felt uh that the financial guarantee was there. Um and because I've been elected in order to represent the city with the city's money, I also want to see that. I understand the arguments that you're putting forward there. There is value here. Um but at the same time understanding that $250,000 when it takes $2,600 uh uh sorry $2,600 a day to keep the colise open if this isn't operating capital uh which would only keep the place open for a 100 days if this is part of the purchase agreement. That makes me wonder if they're immediately going to to run in the same situation with no operating capital. Um and so that that's a challenge to me. Um I would say this, you've recommended it, our administrator has recommended it. I am not um an expert obviously. Um so over my misgivings, I would support this based on the fact that you and the administrator have both recommended it. Um but um if it fails then like I'm also going to be upset that it does

and rightly so. Uh further comments from council councelor Chidum back to you.

Thank you uh Mr. Mayor. Uh Director Blae um if this were a straightforward blinders on financial decision I would be forced to vote against it. I don't believe the security is there looking at the numbers. However, when you couch this in terms of maintaining the city's relationship with the colise, uh with the potential benefits, uh if the swing in the prayer actually holds out, um I think that here for once in my career on this days, I have to take my facts and figures and set them aside. Purely financially, it's not a good deal for the city. However, when you take the intangibles and factor those in, I'm going to be voting in favor of profering this loan to Miltown Sports.

Councelor Herman, thank you. I just wanted to add very quickly that I want to see this project happen overall, but there are just too many unanswered questions for me to to go ahead at this time. Uh, councelor Nene, did you have a final thought? I did. Um, so I assume that due diligence was done somewhere along the line in order to verify uh the financial standing of Miltowns and also of the principles um that that are putting forward the the proposal. Yes. Okay. Yeah.

Yeah. just uh well my final thought is going to be you know it's very clear that Miltown Sports um you know needs the city in some capacity right otherwise they would just do it you know we wouldn't be having these agenda items and the city does not have the capacity to run the colise by itself at this point and so I really you know this um this agenda item represents the start of uh of a partnership between both the city and Miltown sports and uh it will take both of us to make sure that the colise say it's a success. Any other final thoughts? Councelor Naene. Yes,

I would just want to correct the record. The the the current owner is in uh a financial position to keep the building in good shape even if he's paying taxes on it. And so it's not a question of whether or not the building decomposes at the location. It's a question of the use. um the current owner has not uh left the building in disarray and so I just want to point that out as we're talking about this. Uh are we all set to vote? Councilors. Madam clerk, please call the vote. Council from W one? Yes. W two? Yes. W three? No. W four? Yes. W five? Yes. W six?

Yes. Word seven? No. Motion passed by vote of 5 to2. Thank you, Director Bl. Uh we are now uh that concludes our special meeting. Uh and now we are moving to our budget workshop and uh director, we're going to give director Roy a second to come to the front here.

Director Bla, we will continue this conversation later. Thank you. Sure.

Thank you. Oh, I do. Yeah. Yeah. I got a few extra. Director Roy, I see you're joined by our uh airport director, the honorable uh Jonathan Leante. Uh please uh kick us off. So, the airport is on our page 80 uh 68 and it's remaining flat at 205,000 for the city's contribution. So, I will let the director of the airport go through some um points on the airport budget.

Uh good evening, uh Mr. Mayor, members of the council, um if if you would uh give me a a moment for a quick tangent. Uh I do have the great fortune to coach uh some kindergarten and first grade basketball at our local YMCA. Uh, and we play those games at the armory. Um, and I want to so I want to commend the council administration, the rec staff, the custodial staff. That facility is in great shape and it's a phenomenal venue for for youth sports. So, thank you guys for for what you do there. Um, uh, there's a memo I think um, Director Roy circulated yesterday. Um, I brought you some hard copies. Um, I think it it would be valuable um, especially for those who may not have been able to make our uh, workshop that we hosted in in January uh, to highlight um, some other elements that that kind of drive the current state of the airport. And I'll I'll work through some of those highlights and then I'm happy to happy to field questions and of course I'm always happy to host group or individual tours and discussions if it would be helpful for counselors to to see the asset up front. Um, Director Roy did mention we're not the airport is not asking for any additional uh local operating funding. Um, we did submit our our capital program, our 5-year capital program in November. Um, I think it's important in any discussion about the airport to understand the significant evolution that has been occurring there uh going back three years now. Um, when there uh there was a significant turnover that began in the both the management and the staffing at the airport. Um uh what was inherited was significant deferred maintenance across critical infrastructure that included fencing for wildlife ex uh exclusion uh management of obstructions to the approach surfaces of all four runways and the maintenance of airport buildings and capital equipment. Uh there were

significant FAA compliance risks. In fact, the FAA came in in 2022 and did an audit of the airport against the federal uh requirements that the two cities need to meet uh and found some significant violations of those uh of those grant agreements uh that we spent uh a couple of years and have now closed out. Um there was a much smaller aviation ecosystem. Uh there was only one aircraft maintenance business uh and there were no flight schools at the time. um significant financial exposure associated with hanger number five. That was the hanger built for Lufansza. Uh Elite Airways was not making payments, had not for months. Uh so we needed to navigate uh their eviction uh and then uh tackling the deferred maintenance on that building and then shifting all of its utilities uh to the airport. Um at that time there were 39 aircraft based at the airport. Um so since that time uh we have resolved the FAA uh compliance matters. They closed out their land use inspection. We do have a couple of items that we are uh we are still working through. Uh based aircraft is now just short of 110 aircraft. So we've nearly tripled the number of based aircraft over that time. Uh after Samford uh that makes us uh the the busiest airport in the state for general a aviation traffic in 12th in New England at this point. Um, some items that I want to let's see here we go. Um, we we've spent a lot of time reasserting our role as a reliever to the Portland Jetport. Uh, there was a lot of discussion in previous years of of trying to secure commercial scheduled service that this airport is not positioned for that. Portland still has capacity to add additional uh additional trips with the commercial providers there. But our role as a reliever means that the uh charter private jet traffic

for example, especially in the summer, we're positioned to be able to host that traffic. So business people, tourists that are flying in on private aircraft, we're positioned in the national airspace system to take that traffic on. Um in fact, we have more of that traffic than Augusta or Brunswick uh airports. Um we have just finished a new master plan. Um, if you folks have have not seen that, I can make sure I circulate a link. Um, so you can see really in detail the analysis that went into the state of the airport and setting a direction for the future. Um, there was significant reduction in headcount. Um, the airport had 13 employees back in 2023. Uh, there are currently two direct airport employees. Uh, and then other management and uh, aviation service activities are managed through contracts. So we're we're not having to hold year round headcount. So we're not holding a headcount in the winter when things are slow just so we can make sure during peak season in the summer we're fully staffed. Uh and that certainly made a difference. Um there are three maintenance businesses now based at the airport and two flight schools. So more based aircraft, they want services. Flight schools are creating new pilots who buy aircraft and they're choosing uh to base here. Um we actually have more aircraft based here at Lewon uh than Augusta Brunswick and the Oxford County Airport combined. Um so we've really worked aggressively to reposition ourselves. Um uh hangar 5 is still a challenge.

Just move the mic a little closer to you, please. Thank you.

My apologies. Uh hangar 5 remains a challenge. Um that we are still losing significant money on that hanger. It was not built for the purpose that it's currently serving. Um, we still are working on the business development side to find an operator to be there. That's going to still take some time to rebuild the reputation of this airport for the types of northeast operators that may see value uh value there. Um, some drivers in the current operating budget. Um, and some of these are driven by the fact that the airport is not a city department. Um, for example, there's an audit that has to be done of the airport's books. If we were a city department, it would be rolled into a city's audit. Um, health insurance premiums. The airport sits in a different pool with main municipal health trust. Our premiums go up, but our premiums are 20 to 25% higher than the two cities pay for their employees health insurance premiums because of the size of the operation that we are. Um, snow and ice control. Um, we've committed to being more aggressive getting the airport open after winter events so we could try to be more predictable for not only the flight school and businesses but for visiting air traffic. The product that we can use on our surfaces for aircraft is 25 times more expensive than what you use to put on the roads. Um, we don't have a budget to be putting a lot of that products. We have to be really strategic. Uh, but that number has continued to grow and um, uh, we've had to manage for that. um legal and compliance that there are some still some items that we're working through and there's a number of policies and administrative systems that should have been in place uh that were not. Um and we're going to need to spend some time creating those uh to make sure that if there's ever turnover again on the administrative side, systems are in place to not allow the airport to uh to go off the rails. Um with respect to the approach to the taxpayer impact um you know the board

has been very deliberate and and Mark Ble who's your citizen representative on the board is here and councelor Chidum uh as well um we we are trying our best to generate the revenue to support those increase costs. Um we know you're in a challenging budget situation so we're trying to avoid asking for taxpayers to fund on the on the operating side um if we can. Um, what that means though is that there are things that aren't in the 2027 budget that we're required by the FAA to get done. So, we have a what's called an exhibit A. It's our property map. Um, that property map has not been properly maintained for decades. Um, properties were acquired or released or there were easements acquired. Uh, and the airport did not properly document them. I can't explain why it wasn't caught before, but the FAA has said we must get it done. they want it done in the next fiscal year. Um, that could uh require expensive title work and expensive survey work. Um, I'm working to try to find a creative solution right now, but I knew I was not going to be able to ask the two cities for a hundred to $200,000 in additional funding to solve that. So, that's a risk because the FAA expects it to get done. We're going to try to figure out how we solve that. Um, I mentioned obstructions. So, in particular, trees that have grown over the decades, we have an obligation to maintain clear approaches. There are nearly 3,000 trees that now penetrate those approach services. Um, the FAA is giving us uh through 2030 to remove those. Uh, in fact, they they told us it's conditional on the most recent grant to help deliver that tea hanger project that we had to sign an agreement that we were in fact going to remove those trees. There is nothing in this budget that funds us removing those trees. Um we are going to try to find creative solutions uh to be able to make those trees go away. Uh but there is a

there's a liability ticking there. Um wildlife management um the FAA uh expects us to be proactively managing for wildlife. The current fence at the airport has not been properly maintained. We've been chipping away at areas where wildlife could enter the airfield. Um the FAA has an expectation that we're going to continue to advance making fence repairs. Um we're not budgeting to fully repair those fences in this budget. Um there's a little bit of text in in the memo with respect to the five, you know, it's been five fiscal years now since the airport to ask for more funding. Um this is not a a crime river reality uh for you for you folks, but inflation is what it is. So that that $25,000 today uh is not going to buy what it could buy in 2023. Um so we're we're we're doing we're doing our best with those limited resources. Um there are over 3,000 airports in in the National Airspace System. Um we are in a a very small group of what they call regional reliever airports. So, um, while many community members may have not been out to the airport and we're always happy to, we're actually going to be doing a community event here this summer trying to ramp back up the community, you know, being able to see this facility. There are only 150 airports that are both regional airports in terms of the number of uh based aircraft that also serve uh as a reliever to a commercial service airport. Um, so we are a very important part of the national airspace system and the FAA has reaffirmed that. Um, I list a number of the types of of users. Um, you know, you often hear with an airport, well, isn't that just where rich people go and play with their airplanes? Um, and I I won't read through the text, but just on the record to be able to share some of some of the uses that are regular uh at the facility. Uh, emergency response and public safety. Lifelight of Maine is based there. The main state police come

through there. game wardens, forest service, marine patrol, um medical access, uh and human services, um obviously lifellight. Um if anyone on their driver's license says they're an organ donor, um we regularly will get a call middle of the night. We send our team in to be able to support uh arriving aircraft uh and medical vehicles for organ harvest because if someone's an organ donor, there's that that that clock is ticking. and we'll we'll have aircraft arriving from all across the country and even in the reverse if there are organs coming in for someone who's taking a donation. Um people may not think that the airport serves that role, but we're we are large enough to accept that. Um we also have a number of pilots. Mark is among them. Uh Jim Plattz is among the leaders in that that host um or deliver what they call Sky Hope flights. So these are uh patients predominantly in Maine for the pilots based out of Lewon uh that need access to unique and specialized care uh that the the time and the cost to travel to greater Boston for care um is is too much and they volunteer their time in their aircraft um to be able to fly from Lewon to Eastport to Frenchville uh and then back to bring them to medical appointments. Um that's a that's a critical uh value that we deliver. Um we serve as a hub for the humane society to bring in rescue uh rescue animals. In fact, we had some kittens and dogs come through uh on Saturday. Um so folks that that that adopt rescue animals. Um there's a chance some of those may have flown in uh to the community and not driven. Um UPS has overnight flight uh overnight uh uh packaging that comes through. Corporate and business aviation. Uh you know, we'll regularly have uh say technicians that are working at the Walmart distribution center. They're flying in, they'll they'll they'll borrow our courtesy car, which is the old airport manager's car. They'll go do some work at the distribution center, come back, get in their aircraft, and head back to say

Pennsylvania. Um, that happens every day, multiple times a day. Um, and of course, aviation, uh, business and workforce development. Um, I mentioned the five businesses that we have there now with the three maintenance shops and the two flight schools. We're in regular conversation with LRTC and the leadership of the Lewon public schools, with Edward Little, the community college. How can the airport support career pathways that connect kids to aviation? Um, both for their opportunities to build their careers here, uh, but also for them to get exposed to careers they could they could pursue elsewhere. Um, and how can the local schools work with the airport to do that? Um, let's see. I'll try to wind down here. Um, competitive context. I I think this may be one of the most important things like where are we going next? How long do the cities have to subsidize the airport? Um you know the reality is only 5% of GA airports are self- sustaining. Those tend to be reliever airports in much larger metros. They're in metro Chicago. So it's a it's a it's a predominantly jet activity that's not going into Chicago O'Hare. They're there. They can generate significant ground leases. There's significant industrial development um uh around them. One of our challenges here is uh we're in this we're in southern Maine. We're in greater Portland. Um folks have choices if they're not going into the Jetport. They could come into Lewon, they could come into Augusta, they could come into Brunswick. Um obviously there's a there's a limit. Folks that are flying say private probably want to travel 30 to 45 minutes. Um while the two cities are generous in supporting the airport and the airport's working to generate revenue, the Augusta State Airport is gets no contribution from the city of Augusta. It is fully subsidized by main DOT on the operating side and it's fully subsidized from by main DOT on the capital side. Um and that that that agreement for Augusta around that airport includes no performance measures. So we have more base aircraft. We have more turbine traffic. We're selling more fuel. Um that that's a

challenge when the state has its hand on the scale. Um similarly with Brunswick landing and the Brunswick Executive Airport. Um that airport was opened. DOT provided an open line of credit that that was rung up to maybe $1.2 million, no interest, no requirement for payback. Um, layered on top of that, um, as Lewis and Auburn have industrial parks, uh, the state committed to 25% of the payroll taxes from employees uh, in that area being returned to Brunswick Landing to support their infrastructure development in the airport. So, as we continue to grow, I I would say we are outperforming those facilities. We've got assets that we can promote. The freight interotal, the airport owns uh freight uh freight rail fronting properties. The LA railroad is there. Um but we're one of our challenges in projecting those assets is the state has their hand on on the scale and at some point we'll we'll need to have some strategic conversations about how do we get to the next level. um because it is certainly difficult to be paddling up up against that that type of current. So, uh I'll stop there. Um I I went a little bit longer than I I wanted to. Um there's a lot happening. It's it's all very very positive even in these challenging fiscal times. So, thank you, Mr. Mayor.

Thank you. Um director, uh quick questions for me. Uh you mentioned hanger number five. Was that the Lufansa hanger? It was. Yes. Yeah. Okay. And then uh how many students like the combined number if you know it between both flight schools? I don't know. I I' I'd probably I'd probably guess 30 30 to 40 students. Um so yeah, not like five. No. Yeah.

No. I mean the fuel sales um it's a good measure that the the aviation gas or 100 lowled both cities supported um the uh investment in the self-s serve system where councelor Chidam's always asking at meetings you know wanting to reaffirm you what are we doing for fuel sales outside of business hours and we're doing 15 to 20% of our fuel sales outside of our 8 to5 we're open every day by Christmas um uh but we have uh we have more than tripled the fuel sales um over the last couple years and having a flight school is is a is a major driver in that. Gotcha. Thank you. Uh Council on Long Tramps,

thank you for presenting. Um I just have a quick question. The aviation school, is that something new here in Auburn? Is that uh so there's two flight schools. um uh Chickity Aviation. They were originally at the Portland Jetport uh and they relocated uh to the airport um about two years ago now. Um and the newest flight school, Tail Fin Aviation, um is a is a new flight school. Um uh so gentlemen, it's just it's a startup business and he opened in November. Okay. Yeah. I sent my son to a pilot school, but he had to go to Augusta. So that's great. Yeah. Thank you. Councelor Nene.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, thank you, director, for the presentation. I I just want to state that, um, under your leadership, um, the airport has, uh, turned a more profitable page, and I think that's a positive for both cities, uh, uh, finances, and so that's great. Um, and uh, I'm glad that um, you're willing to try to figure out uh, creative solutions to some of these FAA requirements that otherwise would cost the taxpayers considerable money and it, you know, it's one of those gifts that keeps on giving when the FAA gives you an airport. So, um, thank you.

Our comments, questions from counselors. Thank you. Or did you have something, director? Yeah, I've got one more thing that I I just I just want to put out there and it relates to where we're going next. So, I've started work on a business plan for the airport. You know, let's lock in a strategic direction, ensure that the two cities who are responsible buy in and the airport board is then stewarding that through their airport director, right? That the decision should come this way and not this way. Um, one of the challenges we have is that right now I don't believe the airport's 5-year capital program, which was submitted in November, was included in Lewis's CIP. Um, and I know it's a it's a difficult time time to be thinking about what might be invested for FY27. Um, but given given that we just created a new master plan, some of the capital some of the capital items are business development related. How do we keep growing and become more sustainable? Some of them are directly related to federal obligations to maintain the airfield. And I what I want to avoid is when the FAA looks at our CIP and says, "Wait a minute, are both sponsors committing to their obligations to the airport." Um, we just came out out of compliance risk, but they're still watching because they want to ensure that just because things are okay now, are are we going to step back? So, at some point, I think we we we will need to have a conversation about what the future looks like for capital and how we can try to be predictable in that capital because if we're going to attract investment, they're going to want to know, okay, if I'm willing to build a hanger here, are the two cities on board, they've built a master plan, they've got this strategy, are they really committed to it, or is it just marketing material and I make a commitment to invest or bring an a larger aircraft and then the cities retract? Um, I mean, ultimately the city, it's your decision, uh, and Auburn's council decision, um, in terms of those investments, but I, it, the future of business development is going

to rest on the investment decisions that the two councils want to make. Understood. Thank you. Um, thank you. Come visit. Thank you, Director Roy. Uh, what's up next? Next is the nonprofit ask. So, I'm going to remove myself from the table so that they can come up and speak to the council.

Mr. Mayor, uh, yes. Um, you have two sections in front of you, the nonprofit cash request and the inind. Um, we were recently contacted by the Main Strong Foundation. They were asking for a $360 cash donation for portaotties. However, they have had those donated, so we can remove that request off the list. They still have an inkind request. That is the uh the softball tournament they do at the Ron Morren Fields. I'm not sure if anybody's here from them tonight.

Okay. So, uh All right. I guess we're going to go uh in order here. Do we have somebody from the Girl Scouts of Maine? Please join us. It says here that you've requested 10,000. Yes. Okay. If you can both introduce yourselves and then briefly tell us about that. My name is Dearra Clifford. I am the vice president of development for Girl Scouts of Maine. Uh my name is Megan Maine. I am the community program manager for Girl Scouts of Maine

and we're seeking um funding for our community programs which are troops that operate in Lewon um in areas where we're unable to find a volunteer and we have reason to believe that the girls are not able to um find their own membership fees. So Megan um and other staff members will run troops in these areas. Um we have had one functioning at the Hillview Apartments for many years. It's a huge success. It has 30 girls attending um in all ranges kindergarten through high school um and experiencing all of what Girl Scouts has to offer. Um and then recently across the state we've been starting after school programs with the same model having a staff member. Um they're covering the fees for the girls and giving the full Girl Scout experience. This is specifically to fill in the gaps in afterchool programming that many schools are facing. Um, currently we're at McMahon and we're hoping to expand that in the future because this program is going really well. Um, and the girls are benefiting.

Okay. I would just like to add that um, as Dear noted that we are providing this opportunity in areas where we believe there is some financial restraint. Um, in addition to removing that barrier, we also aim to remove the barrier of transportation that we see commonly for these programs um, at our school-based programs. A lot of times the schools including um what one that's running at McMahon um provides a bus ride home for these girls um the uh Hillview the ride out a um program operates within their community building. So there's no need for girls to be dropped off by an adult um or picked up. We walk the girls home uh after meeting. So thank you. Questions, comments from the council. Councelor Naene.

Uh thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um quick question. So, it's McMahon and Hillview that the two programs are being run. Is that the only two programs that we're talking about? Those are the ones that are currently running. Um, we're talking with other schools in the area hoping to start something in the new academic year, but currently those are the two that are running. And how many um uh area youth uh are currently involved in both of the programs? Yeah, I would say

sorry, can both of you just move the microphones closer to you just Yeah, perfect. Thank you. Um I would say the McMahon one um was a recent startup um in the beginning of 2026. Um I don't have an official number registered. Um we are operating within the 21st century program at that school. Um last year we ran a program there that had about seven girls participating. Um we would like to run more within the school systems. The 21st Century program actually reached out to us this year looking to have us back. um but we were unable to find staffing for it. Um we're hoping that we can have a partnership with uh Bates in the future with um some sport study students. Um as far as Hillview goes, there are currently approximately 30 girls registered for that program who are participating. Um uh and that as dear just said is across uh grade levels K through 10 currently. And I'll just add that in all of Lewon there's including those programs there's um about a hundred girls participating in Girl Scouts. So this is a lot of girls who are in need of these programs.

Understood. And just for my understanding and the public's understanding. So the Girl Scouts of Maine is a separate organization than than the national organization. How does the funding model work is basically what I'm asking. Yeah. Um we do not receive funding from Girl Scouts National Girl Scouts of the USA. Um there are occasional grant opportunities including this grant opportunity that we received to start nine programs in schools this year. Um these were very small grants and we like I said we're doing this across the state. So actually um the one at McMahon is not covered by that um national structure but most of our funding comes from um local community fundraising. and then um operating

and I take it dues as well. Is that correct or no? Yes. Yeah. Yeah. We have um a portion of the membership dues and a portion of our um product program which includes Girl Scout cookies. My neighbor is Girl Scout and I believe her mother is a troop leader. So,

yes, I and it's it's incredible what these troop leaders are able to do. Each troop requires two troop leaders because we don't have any adults alone with the children. It takes hours and hours of um training to learn all of the mental health things that they need to know, to know the signs of abuse and neglect that are required when you're around children, and then of course learn all of Girl Scouts programming, which covers STEM, life skills, entrepreneurship, and the outdoors. Um so it's really understandable that we're not always able to find these two volunteers who um can run these troops, which often takes hours a week. Um, so having these programs where we're not able to find those volunteers is essential, but that's wonderful that your neighbors doing that.

Those were my questions. Thank you, Councelor Chidum, did you have something? Yes, I do. Thank you. This is a statewide organization, correct? What's in round numbers, what's your annual operating budget? Um, we have an annual operating budget of around 5 million. Um, and we serve uh around 4,500 girls across the state in every county. Um and that's about 400 troops. Okay. And do you ask each municipality that you serve for uh donations, contributions every year?

Um we do not. No, this this initiative is relatively new. So we've received funding from um whatever we call these programs a place for girls. Um and we have several running throughout the state. Um the one at Hillview is our longest and most successful. Um we've gotten uh funding from various United Ways. In the past we've received funding for this program from United Way of Andrewskogen County. Um but costs are going up, need is going up and we are trying to diversify um community support. All right. Thank you. Well, good luck to you. Thank you very much. Further questions? Thank you so much for being here. Absolutely.

Uh do we have someone here from the Dempsey Challenge? Denica, I thought I recognized you. Yes. Come on down. Thought I'd wear my sweatshirt for you. Hi, I'm Denica Delatki. I'm the events and sponsorship manager for the Dempsey Challenge.

All right. Um, yes. So, um, new this year, we are asking for a cash contribution of $10,000 in addition to the amazing inkind services that you already do provide for the Dempsey Challenge. Um, and this has been sort of a culmination after over a year of discussion um about our electrical equipment essentially is what it is. So, um, backstory, the Dempsey Center owns electrical equipment, the equipment that is currently used and installed to make everything happen at the Dempsey Challenge. Um, we pay to install it. Um, we've tried several different um, ways to get that cost down. Essentially, um, volunteers. You can't always count on volunteers. You need master electricians involved. Long story short, it is one of our largest bills. Um, currently we are paying $24,000 to get that installed for the week um and for the weekend events. And so we've been trying to get creative about how we can help offset some of those costs. One of the things um we do we do by the way um lend the electrical equipment to the balloon festival um to use as well. So, originally our first ask was, well, could the city potentially install for us the way um it's installed for the balloon festival? Um, that wasn't a possibility. So, the ask came at the suggestion of, well, let's ask for a $10,000 ask to help offset that cost. So, that's where the ask is coming from. Um um as far as like budget for the Dempsey Challenge, we have since I had this role in 2019, we've actually had to cut our costs down nearly $100,000 after losing our presenting title sponsor. So I'm constantly looking at every line item of our budget on how we can continue to create the amazing event that we do have. And uh thankfully the

city has been um so supportive across the board um for this event. Um, and this just comes as another ask. What we do, we value, we we're looking at the package um, of what already is provided as far as inind value and support from the city. Um, and we're going to value that at $10,000. So, between the cash ask at $10,000 and the incind um already support that we do have, we would like to value that as a sponsorship at $20,000. Um, so in return, we would give all of those benefits to the city and really spotlight the city throughout the event weekend. Is Patrick coming this year?

You know, he is. Uh, further questions, comments from the council. Councelor Herman. Thank you. Um, this is more of a question for staff, I think, and you touched on it a little bit, but I was wondering as you were speaking, you know, the city has an electrician, at least one. I'm I'm sure he's very busy and has a lot to do, but I wondered if that could be if that connection of that equipment could be an inkind contribution. I don't know, maybe that's already been talked about and there are issues with that.

Yeah, we've had discussions council with public works and they just don't have the bandwidth to do that. It's it's such a long setup um that they just can't accomplish that and still do the other tasks that they want to. But I will point out I I don't know if Danica has seen this amount, but actually their inind request is now a little over $12,000 um with public works and police officers that work that event. Okay. Thank you. Um yes, and I would uh that is probably due to the um extra security we've asked for um in regards to recent events and with Patrick coming in. So that's probably where that increase is coming from. Uh councelor Nijene. Yes.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Hi. Thank you for coming. Um and I just for uh the folks at home and in the audience um the um Dempsey Challenge is set up as a fundraiser, correct? And and the and the funds go to

Yes. Um exactly. Because of our sponsors, we can say 100% of the funds that are raised by participants go directly to programs and services at the Dempsey Center. Um we are a holistic program um for our our mission is to make life better for people impacted by cancer. Our founder Patrick Dempsey loves to say we treat the person not the disease. You have your oncology team and our um our organization provides that wraparound care, holistic care, um counseling, therapy, um Reiki, massage, oncology massage, nutrition classes, um for not only the person directly impacted by cancer, but also care partners, family, um anybody who might need the services. And it's 100% free. Um I I always like to say we don't ever even ask for insurance information. And it's it's 100% funded by donors.

Thank you for that. And uh you mentioned the weekend. So is it a two-day event this year? It's not a two-day event. We do have um Friday night event um that celebrates our top fundraisers and then the event day will take place on Saturday, September 19th. Okay. And I think this question is probably more for staff, but if we could get an idea of like the economic impact of having uh the Dempsey Challenge in the community um each year if we if we have an idea um from possibly the economic development department um I would appreciate that. Thank you. Uh further questions, comments? Councelor Chidum.

Thank you, Mr. Deatesky. I appreciate your work for the Dempsey Challenge uh and being here tonight. Um same question I asked the Girl Scouts. What's your annual operating budget for the um challenge itself or for the Dempsey Center for the challenge? For the challenge right now, we have a $325,000 operating budget. It used to be $425,000. So, it's cut down uh quite a bit. Thank you for that. Uh thank you for being here. All right. Thank you. Uh, Administrator Kra, do we have someone to speak on the balloon festival?

I can take that, Mr. Mayor. Um, we have begun the process again of the balloon festival. We've had a couple meetings with staff. Um, we're uh reaching out our specialty balloons. You know, it's going to I don't want to give the theme away yet. I know our marketing our communications director I know is going to be working on that, but we've begun the process of um assembling the team, reaching out to get donations. So, we're looking for $10,000 in cash um towards this event. Uh and do we have any questions? Yes, councelor Chidum. This is this is the Lewis and Auburn Balloon Festival. Uh has Auburn participated financially in this venture? Uh no, they have not.

Thank you, Councelor Naene. Um the funding would that come from TIFF funds or would that come from uh the general operating budget? General operating budget. Is this coming from the marketing budget or No, this is in your um the donations line and it is in your budget already um in the donations. So if you choose to to keep it in there, it will fund it. If you choose to remove it, the the funds will be removed out of the budget. Councelor Nene. Yes.

And for last year's um balloon festival, could we just get uh a breakdown of of both the fundraising and costs sent to us just so that we can take a look at it as a council. Thank you. Uh uh Kathy McDonald uh you're here in some official capacity for the balloon festival. I'm part of the committee, but I just wanted you to know that on our application, our tearown date is incorrect. It's August 25th. If that makes a a difference to everyone. That's it.

Thank you. Uh further questions for from the council about the balloon festival. Uh, Mr. Kenra, do we have someone here to talk about Lon Live?

Yeah, I can take that, Mr. Mayor. Uh, so as you know, Luc Live is our new uh, busking festival. A pilot was launched last fall. We're looking at a number of dates this spring to continue and grow the festival. Uh, this is a number of uh, at least five uh, street performer stations um, stationed around Drain Plaza and on Lisbon Street. Um, again, anticipating to grow attendance uh through uh the events taking course uh this spring. Um any specific questions? Happy to take a stab at those. Councelor Ning.

Um just gen so we're talking about 10,000 for the budget, but that doesn't cover and I think this comes back to the LA Balloon Festival as well. Um it doesn't cover the marketing uh costs. Is that correct? like the So, when I'm asking for like when I was asking for a breakdown of the LA Balloon Festival, would the marketing cost be included in that?

Yes. Last year, we applied for actually we've got the last two years of main tourism grant for $60,000, excuse me, um from the state that we used for the marketing for the uh the event. So, we're applying again. I don't know if we're going to receive it. Um we may, we may not. I do not know. And that would be the same question for the the what I'm asking is $10,000 seems to be a small amount of money um including marketing the the event and so does that include do we have a breakdown of last year's budget and and and what it looked like. Could we have that? Yeah, we can get that. And um Director Roy, this is out of the marketing budget, correct? Correct. Correct.

This is out of the marketing budget. Correct. Okay, perfect. Thank you. Uh further comments about loose and live and then uh is somebody here from the is it the public health committee committee that runs the rally for recovery? I don't think there's anybody here for that but this is our yearly event. We take that $1,500 comes out of opioid funds. It's event that occurs in Kennedy Park. I see Katherine Ryder is here but um I think she's been part of the planning in the past but this is just a continuation of that event that we've done for several years. And there's there's money in the opioid uh correct. Yes. Okay. All right. Questions, comments about that.

Okay. And now we're up to Is there anyone here to talk about summer fun and films? Good evening. And this microphone, I'm usually used to standing and holding it, so this is gonna be kind of difficult for me, but I'll do my best. Hi, my name is David. Oh, sorry. Do I I'm Yeah, I know. Little nervous. Take it away, David. You're

Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh, good evening. Um, my name is David Palazole and I'm a Len Lewon resident and the owner of Paulo Entertainment, uh, the DJ, uh, sponsor for Summer Fun and Films for the past 5 years. I am here tonight because I've seen firsthand the impact this program has on families, especially kids who may not otherwise have access to experiences like this. Uh, thank you for the opportunity for me to speak tonight. And I am asking for continued support of the summer fun and films, a longunning community program that provides free, accessible, and safe events uh for our community, both children and adults. Each event brings hundreds of residents, families, kids, and community members from all backgrounds in a safe and welcome environment for many families, especially those facing financial burdens. Um, some parents have personally come to me and discussed uh the Disney-like experiences this for their kids over the summer. U many who would not normally have access to these types of events. Beyond entertainment, these events create a safe space where schools, nonprofits, and communities can connect directly with residents, sharing resources, building relationships, and strengthening community trust. The request for $10,000 goes directly into the program operations, including audiovisisual setup, activities like uh face painting and inflatables, and event logistics. The program is voluntarily led, so those funds go directly into creating that experience for families and keeping it free to the public. At this point, the program has grown beyond any one individual. It is something the community has come to expect and rely on, and the value stands on its own. This is a proven program that brings people together, removes barriers for families, and strengthens our community. For many, it's one of the few chances to

experience wonder and joy during the summer vacation. Something very special or truly special as it enters into its 10th year. The question isn't whether if it works, it's whether if we choose to sustain this program moving forward. And in anticipation and some questions, um the annual operating budget is $38,000 with an expense of $77,000 last year. Uh the gross margin uh sit to be about 69 or $6,900 that carried which obviously will go towards the expenses for this year. Mr. Mayor,

uh yes, questions. Uh, councelor Chidum or wait, sorry, councelor Nene, I was looking at you. We're good. Go. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, quick question. Two questions. One, how many events would would the 2026 uh season be? Do you know how many movies would be delayed? Yeah. Um, I believe it's scheduled for six with possibly a seventh. One, two, three, four, five. Actually, sorry. I have currently five pending. Um I know that they're in talks with the schools and the community leaders to kind of secure that. Um but I believe it's five, possibly six.

Okay. And in the past um there was a um presence from city departments including the police department. There there's no reason why city departments cannot uh participate as community. I would invite all those to participate including the city or any other department. And in fact, a selfish plug, I've heard a lot of great organizations already talk. I'd love if you'd guys come and participate as well. So, it's a great community uh program. Okay. Thank you, councelor Chidum. Yes. Thank you. I'm sorry I didn't get your last name, David. Um you said $38,000 is your operating budget, but last year you spent 77,000.

Yeah, that is correct. The numbers that I was provided, uh mind you, as I flip through my papers really quickly, the estimated uh Yep. So estimated uh operating budget for 2026 is $38,450. Last year's our expenses um totaled at 77,000. There's a m there's a problem there. Well, they uh obviously over uh estimated their operating budget. Where did $39,000 come from?

The current profit and loss, which you might have received or not, doesn't specifically uh state where the difference is. I am happy to report though through uh both income and donations they were able to have a a net uh $6,000 um profit. I mean it's a nonprofit so obviously carried but you know so they're definitely u maintaining net revenues of 6,000. Well that's that's good for you especially coming out of a $39,000 hole. So congratulations on that. Thank you councelor Nene. One thing just to speak to really quickly, I think last year there was either seven or eight movie nights and so I think that accounts for maybe a higher operating cost as well, but

yeah, it could. I'm I'm not privy to that to that information. So, we surely find out and send it to you, I'm sure. Thank you. You're welcome. Uh, thank you.

Thank you for your time. Uh, Katherine Ryder, I'm under the impression that maybe discussion about the mobile unit might take a a few minutes. So, if you'll bear with me, we're going to do the Liberty Festival next. I'm saving myself a few steps. I'm going to stay right here. So, I'm Kathy McDonald. I am the chair of the Liberty Festival and Marcus Telerico is my co-chair. Uh so we again this year are asking uh for $15,000 as well as community support. Uh we are trying to or we're trying to organize three days this year uh being on Friday night and be just an open community type event in Veterans Park with just some music and some children's activities. Saturday is the 4th of July. Uh that will be starting in the evening as well, not until about 4:30. um fireworks going off at 9:30m and we'll have again music, entertainment, children's activities, food booths um and the variety uh as we usually do. And then we're hoping on Sunday to have more of a an American salute and tribute to our country and our 250th anniversary. So, um, we're kind of in the talks of trying to make a a very large, um, copy of the United States Declaration so that members of the community can just come and be part of it and sign the Declaration and hopefully create a little bit of pride in our history of of our country. I've talked to uh, a couple of members of the historical society that also have some interest in doing some presentations um, as well. Um, so we're, as always, we're excited. We're happy to be doing it. Um, there are a couple of mistakes

on our application as well. Uh, one being on, um, page two, uh, parade is not checked off, but it is on page five. So, we are trying to, um, create a parade. It's very difficult on the 4th of July, but we are working very hard and trying to come up with a parade. Other than that, um, we look forward to celebrating the 4th of July and our country's 250th anniversary. And I'm ready for any questions. Director Roy, uh, what was the amount that we funded at this uh, last year? Was it 15 or was it a different amount?

Last year we funded 15. Um, removed 5,000 from the budget this year. So 10,000 is in your donation line for Liberty Festival for fiscal year 27. Okay. We did 15 last year. Correct. Okay. And then our our buddies across the river, um Kathy McDonald, what did they do? They did 10,000 last year and listen did 15. Uh we have requested 15 from them for this year as well. Do we have an answer from them yet? I do not. Okay. Uh questions, comments from the council. Councelor should have

Mrs. McDonald, thank you so very much for all the work that you've done over the years on this Liberty Festival. I'm I'm fully in favor of it, but I will continue to urge you to minimize the fireworks. Thank you. Uh further questions, comments? Uh thank you very much. I can tell you that the money that the city uh does give us goes directly to fireworks. the rest of the money for entertainment, the portaotties, all those other things. Uh we work really hard to fund raise to um to pay for all of that so that the community benefits 100% from what the city gives us.

Thank you for that. Uh yeah, we're we're good if you are. Yeah, thank you. Um yes, we have spur rink here. If they can join us up at the front, that'd be lovely. Good evening. You were going to say pull the mic up close, weren't you? Yeah. You know, people are getting the people are um getting the message. Appreciate that. Uh if the three of you could please introduce yourselves and then kick us off here.

We can. Um, good evening, Mayor Shelene and esteemed council members. Katherine Ryder, senior director of strategic initiatives for Spurwink. Feels a little bit like old home week. Hi, Rebecca Patus. I'm a vice president of outpatient and community services at Spurwink.

Hello, I'm Ernestine Peralt and I'm the community outreach program supervisor. So, we spent many hours in front of council over the past year as we were working to help build an ordinance for the city of Lewon by offering information about the services that we provide and how we provide those services and the care we offer to the people in our community who are the most at risk. Um, many who may be struggling with addiction, unhoused, perhaps untreated mental health. and all of that becomes part of the package. In our conversations, it became very clear to all of us that one of the issues with the um program that we currently run at 1155 Lisbon Street is that we sit out on the outer edge of the city and that many of the people who may need our care may not be able to get to us. And even though we have seen an increase in foot traffic coming into our program, we firmly believe and I believe some of the council members did as well, if we could establish a mobile unit that would go out into the community to places that fell within a buffer zone that the council would identify for us, that we would be able to bring that care to people most in need in a way that we could not otherwise. and we've provided you with a full proposal that outlines the services, the staffing, um the unit that we would like to purchase for the purpose of doing this. It's a two-year budget that we've presented to you, and Rebecca will go into that in a bit more detail, but this would allow us to kick off the program to collect data to report back to the city about the progress that we're making. In the executive proposal, you'll note that I've included data about state of Maine overdose deaths, and it's quite compelling. I think that Maine can be proud of the work it's done, and I will say to you that given my work at the state level and then back here in the

community, I'm especially proud of the work that we've done here in Lewon as well as over in Auburn. um our programs like options and project support you which um work alongside of law enforcement uh fire and rescue and travel out with emergency medical services have made a tremendous impact. I believe that we have succeeded in building trust and hope where there may not have been trust and hope prior to and that the education that we provide along with pathways to recovery and not always back to our own services to be clear. People have choices about where they would like to receive treatment when they're ready. But all of that work is the larger package of what we do. And so there is data in here um talking about the numbers of people that we serve. When I spoke to you previously, I had mentioned to you that I was formerly the CEO of Tri County Mental Health Services, which has joined with Spurwink. We celebrate two years today. Um April 1st was the date that we crossed over and so here we are two years later with a very very robust uh set of services that we can provide. And some of the services that will couple with this potentially if folks choose to um work within the walls of Spurwink include um we'll have a crisis receiving center that will operate 247 365 days that will be opening in dare I say June

June July um and it will receive all comers and so we are very excited to offer that opportunity. We also have a number of services as I've mentioned that are boots on the ground out in the community. We have agency based services and so along with other providers in the community, our relationships with those providers, uh the collaborative work that we are doing with Maine Family Planning and also with our local hospitals. We believe that we could have a very comprehensive thread. we could weave through the fabric of our community to ensure that there is a safety net under the people again who are most at risk and who we may not be able to reach otherwise. So I will stop there for a moment and pass it over to Ernestine who is going to talk a little bit more about the specific services that we could offer. The services that we can offer through mobile unit um mimics a lot of what we do in our brick and mortar that's located 1155 Lisman Street. Um we have comprehensive harm reduction services there currently. Um and we would be uh obviously doing this through mobile. Uh the unit would offer nolloxxone, sterile syringes, fentanyl test strips and same day initiation uh to reduce overdose risks. We would integrate PR primary and behavioral health care services include wound assessment, emergency first aid, HIV, HCV screening and teleaalth behavioral health support for holistic care. Uh we would also continue to offer peer support and community connection uh peer specialists company staff to build trust and link clients to housing recovery and social services. They're uh the roots would be determined obviously

by uh the overdose data uh and community input ensuring targeted and adaptive service delivery. mobile health uh units generally are going to places where um you know uh our folks that we're serving currently are um you know they're in pockets of the cities that um are safe for them in their in their manner that they decide um they may not come to a brick and mortar for a variety of different reasons. So a mobile health uh service would obviously come to them and uh be able to connect them to important resources and and health care services. Um you know it uh mobile historically helps to continue continue to build the model of healthier communities um by reducing overdose fatalities uh improving public safety, community resilience, uh cost savings obviously and uh a gateway to comprehensive care. Uh yeah, sure.

Um so we included um our budget documents in the packet you received um outlining the 2-year budget. Um this is something that would be a shared um cost between the cities of Lewon and Auburn um and covered through opioid settlement funds. So happy to answer any specific questions anyone might have. One other comment that I'd like to make. One of the things I'm aware of is that our current ordinance does not include language around mobile unit, but I do recall that there was conversation about could that be an addendum to the ordinance if we were able to successfully um craft the ordinance and get it passed. And so we would just like to offer that now with CDC rule having recently been promulgated. We have the current language from the state that we could utilize. We would also be happy to come to workg groupoups and work with um city of Lewon to help draft language for a mobile unit. And so just raising awareness that we know that that currently does not exist.

Uh yes, councelor Herman. Thank you. Thank you for presenting. Um, so I see that you you do plan to if if this does go forward u to split kind of between Lewon and Auburn and Yes, we have already had conversations with Auburn. They are in receipt of the same proposal with the split that has been indicated in the budget documents. Okay. And that's where I was going. Um, do you have a like a final or a preliminary answer from them yet or are they kind of at the same stage we are? same stage you are at and I believe we have a date pending for next week. Okay. We're waiting for final on that date.

All right. And then my next question I think is probably for director Roy. Um do you have the current balance or approximate balance of our opioid settlement funds? Currently there's 528,499. And is any of that um is any of that already allocated for for other uses? I I remove that from the total. So the total is 696,521. There's an incumbrance in there for 168. Okay. Thank you, Councelor Nene.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Thank you all for coming. Um I've got a couple of thing. One, I believe Auburn still has a moratorium in place for uh syringe exchange. Is that correct? That's a great question. I know that there are council discussions about a syringe exchange that we have been part of. So,

so they're probably crafting some sort of ordinance. We were going to have a separate uh ordinance for mobile units and I don't know exactly where we're at right now as far as any of those discussions are concerned. I know this is more about the allocation of the funding um versus the other pieces, but I think that this is going to require a workshop with some of the proposals concerning the the underwritten um you I mean you've got some great slides in here for instance, right, that nobody can see. Um and I think there's a lot going to be a lot of questions from the community. So I think at some point we need to have a workshop around what this look program looks like. And then absolutely

also I would ask that um if um you could possibly have a representative come to uh the Lewis and area public health committee uh meeting to speak to uh this program specifically just so that um uh we could get some feedback from those folks as well. We would be more than happy to be present. Okay. And uh that that's basically all my questions at this moment. Thank you, Council Martell.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor, and thank you for your presentation. Um, I'm just curious, do we think it's a a good use? So, it's opioid settlement funding and we're going to use a mobile unit to bring needles to addicts so that they can abuse opiates. Is that the plan?

I would suggest that we probably see that a little bit differently. And for us, it's much bigger than just bringing people needles. And Ernestine can speak to the work that her staff does. That is one service out of many services that happen in harm reduction. And I would also suggest to you that our experience over the years and you're looking at someone who has a reformed experience of that is that when you meet people where they're at and you can start with harm reduction, you can most often move folks onto a pathway of recovery. And when you see someone reclaim their life and reintegrate with family members, reintegrate into the community, go back into the workforce, it is really a remarkable experience. And so yes, that is what we are hoping to do.

It I just struggle. So because what what what we have is an illegal drug trade that's thriving here in Lewon and all the negatives that go with it. The crime, the property crime, the violence, um the destruction of lives and the family members of the people that are addicted to these drugs. And it seems counterproductive to me at least to give money that was rewarded as the I don't know funding because of all the damage that opioid did just to to to go back and help people abuse more opioids which only contributes to criminal enterprise enterprises and black markets that are thriving and taking over many parts of our city right now. And um I don't think that helping people get clean is done by delivering needles to them where they are uh so that they can inject potentially lethal drugs. I I don't know how that is healthcare or um life-saving or beneficial at all. And I understand that we're likely going to agree to disagree on that. But um what percentage of of of this do you think do you have any idea is going to be used for driving around delivering needles to people so that they can use it and what part of it is going to be delivering mental health services or wound care like you said or or do you have any idea what the breakup is of the the use of this mobile unit should it get

do you want to take that

I would equate that to what our percentage is in our brick and mortar Currently, um the syringe exchange for us is actually a very small portion. It's probably our smallest portion of delivery service in our brick and mortar. Um predominantly folks are coming in for wound assessment and they also are coming in for hygiene uh products and recovery support services. We have peers there that are have lived experience and they're um offering coaching and support and there's lots of referrals to treatment connections and and other kinds of healthcare needs that people have. Um, you know, I think one of the best, um, examples that I've actually received from a client that receives our services is, um, I was, um, working with a client for quite some time and they were struggling with staying clean and sober, but they kept coming into the clinic to receive supplies, but there it wasn't so much about the syringes. It really was about being able to connect with someone who's had lived experience and being able to kind of guide them through that this is a process. Um, and one day this young lady said to me, "I know what you've been doing all this time." And I said, "What is that?" And she said, "You've been holding hope for me until I can find it for myself." And for me, that's what we do this for every day is to be able to supply that for them. Um, sometimes it comes by way of supplies, but predominantly comes from connection with individuals that are struggling that just need a bit of a light to kind of guide them, you know, towards wellness. And that's that's the highest percentage of the work that we're doing and that we also hope to continue to do through our mobile.

You you sound very passionate about your work and and I appreciate that. Um, I'm going to ask you a difficult question. It's not meant to be insulting or rude. Um, it sounds like you care about the people that you work with and the examples that you just gave. Absolutely. How would that affect you if one of the needles that you gave them caused them to overdose and pass away and they never got the opportunity to get I'm sorry, that's not an appropriate question. Don't answer that. Why not?

Yeah. No, we're we're not we're having we're not having discussion about ideology right now. We're simply having a discussion about the ins and outs of their presentation. So, thank you, counselor. Do you know the conversion rates of the percentage of people that come get needles from you that end up actually in treatment and getting better? Do you do you know say out of the 100% of people that come to you to get needles, how what percentage of those individuals end up converting into treatment and actually being successful in that treatment?

Sure. We have data collection that supports, you know, a lot of these findings and whatnot. uh predominantly we are obviously trying to get people to go towards any kind of level of care and treatment and whatnot. Um you know I think our percentage is actually pretty high. Uh you know you're you're probably looking at it probably about half of the people. Now that's over a course of time. Uh it could take months for someone to get to the point where they decide that today's the day. And uh and that's the typical progression of people entering recovery. Um, and the point is for them to continue have access to people that can lead them towards those directions. And that's what a mobile as well as a brickandmortar harm reduction service does provide is that continuence of providing access to talking about recovery and their options and the support for that and taking that next step to do that. So there is a very high percentage of folks that are taking steps every day. And if your measure is um that they are successful in recovery and that they're longstanding, you know, in in sobriety, then I'm sorry that you're missing the point really of of, you know, harm reduction services, which is really to get them to survive another day, to have another chance. Is there a city bus stop at the brick and mortar location currently?

Yes, there is. Those are all my questions for now. Uh, councelor Chidum, thank you. Uh, thank you for presenting. Um, you've already pointed out the fact that we have a disconnect between our ordinances and your desire here to operate a mobile unit. Does Spurwink operate any other mobile units in the state of Maine? We do not. Okay. Thank you. Uh, Miss Patkas, I I you you stopped by talking about the budget and I've noticed there there's a 4% increase in here. Is this through the calendar year from now to December 1st and January 1st? Because there are two sections in here. Um, yes. So, there's two pages. The first page is the

Just move the mic closer to you can just Yeah, there you go. Um, so year one is the first page and year two is the second page. Is that okay? That answers the question. All right. So, those aren't those are full years, correct? Um, in the first year, however, the Lewon share is $29,000. In the second year, if I'm reading this correctly, it's $85,000. Yes, that's correct. Capital is that capital cost to get the Okay. Exactly. The purchase of the vehicle is in the first year budget and not in the second year budget. So that's represents that difference.

Uh thank you for that. Now the tough question. If we move forward a year, you you all appreciate that this is an exceedingly difficult year for the for every municipality in the state. Um particularly for Lewon because we have another complexity that's been thrown into our budget process. If this is deferred for a year, there will obvious obviously be detriment and harm um because it hasn't been put in place immediately. Can you talk to that? What happens if this program is deferred for a year? I I think it's fair to say that

the rates of overdose deaths were escalating, escalating, escalating until services like Project Support You Options, distribution of Narcan came into being. And now we are seeing significant reductions in overdose deaths. And some of you know because I've testified in front of you before. I lost a son, a combat veteran who came back from combat theater and could not tolerate the moral wounds he experienced and fell into a spiral. And I will tell you, I am grateful for the access he had for the period of time that kept him alive because it kept him with us longer. He ultimately succumbed to his addiction and died in December of 2021. And at that point, my commitment was sealed to continuing to provide outreach, connection, the building of trust, the offering of hope so that people could live another day and move towards recovery. And we see it over and over and over again. And I will tell you, it does not discriminate. There is no discrimination in addiction. You would be amazed at the people that we see and when they get their lives back and their families are reconnected, there is a beauty in that that I can't even put into words.

I appreciate that. Thank you. Uh I I should have perhaps phrased my question a little more. Um, sorry I kind of clearly um if this program were delayed a year, would there be a backsliding in the progress that's been made with your brick andmortar establishments in in your and that's a open-ended question.

I think what's what's missing is that our colleague agency closed and they were central in Lewon, right? And so there was a lot of conversation around can people get to us and yes there's a bus route but not everybody is even in the center of the city to connect to the bus to get to where we are. There are places that people are trying to live that are not going to get them to where we are. So we wanted to be more accessible to the community and working closely with city of Lewon with law enforcement who we are already corresponding with. We're mapping. We know where overdose deaths are take taking place. So we are able to zone in on all of that and we will have technology on the unit if we are successful in purchasing it which will alert us if there's a spike in overdose deaths in any particular area.

Thank you. One final question. Uh could you speak a little bit to the coordination with the homeless shelter? Your coordination with the homeless shelter. Shall I give you that one? Do you want to take everyone? Um, so we are, as Katherine had mentioned earlier, we are um getting ready to launch our crisis receiving center, which this maybe sounds like a tangent, but I'm going just move the whole apparatus.

Sorry. Um, so a lot of collaboration there. those conversations that we are already um have been having in the course of the work we're doing are deepening in the context of the work we're expanding as we're getting ready to launch our crisis receiving center. So this is work that happens right now and I can Ernestine can maybe add some detail to what her team is currently doing in terms of collaborating but I would see us you know continuing to sort of deepen that work in partnership to make sure we're sort of meeting all the community needs. anything you want to add? Sure.

Um, part of my role as a community outreach supervisor at Spurwick um is that I have um the pleasure of working with 15 individuals that do um provide community outreach daily um to um to Lewon to Auburn uh and throughout Anderson County as well. some of the programs expand into the rurals and uh they're predominantly um going everywhere where people are um and and connecting with them and offering support and trying to get them obviously um you know to consider options for treatment and uh you know any kind of health services and whatnot as well. So it mimics a bit of what we're doing in the brick and mortar. Um but predominantly their job is um out in the streets, encampments, the jail, the ED, you know, beed, you name it. Um there there really is uh no barrier to where they're able to go and access people. Um and um and there's there it's all grant funded and so it doesn't uh a person is not required to participate in these services and they're not required to have insurance or um you know or even they can be anonymous as well. They can continue to work with someone anonymously until they're ready to um you know say their official name so they can connect to services and whatnot. So it's very low barrier way of of delivering service to the community.

Thank you. Do you have somebody that's at the homeless shelter on a regular basis? And do you have a seat on the board? Um, I do not have a seat on the board. Spinking. Spurwing does have a seat on the board. Yes. So, as far as uh all of my staff that are doing community outreach services, they do regularly attend and go to the warming center and and whatnot and to provide support and care. As I understand, it's going to be a homeless shelter as of tomorrow. Yes.

Counselors. Yeah. keep this focus on the actual u topic here, the mobile facility. Uh one second, councelor Roy, um Director Roy, uh I don't know if this has been touched on or not, could the amount that's requested be wholly funded by the opioid uh fund or certain parts are excluded? So, if the request for 294 is approved by the council, it could be funded from the opioid fund. Like it would meet all the requirements for the opioid fund use.

I'd have to look at every single thing, but I think as long as it's for recovery, I know that they have other services, but the the bulk of it recovery, then it should pass. I'd have to look at your detail and then look at the paperwork for the opioids requirements. Okay. Thank you, Councelor Roy.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. That was my question. However, however, let's say I mean, I know what this would do to the community and I know how important this is to a lot of people. Um, if it were not to pass, you did say that you have outreach services now. Would there be a plan to maybe ramp those up? No. Okay. Um, but I am glad that it could possibly uh get in there. So, thank you, Councelor Herman.

Thank you. So, um, we touched on the fact that the first year budget is a little higher because of the capital expense. Um, so you have about $85,000 for the second year and then would you presume that that that amount would stay around there, you know, probably going up slightly due to inflation in further years?

Um, sure. So, one of the things that we have been talking about in the planning for this just relates to that sustainability plan and how we would be able to continue to offer these services postear 2. Um there's a number of different sort of pathways for that. I can start and then Katherine you can um add. Um, one of the things we've um talked about is now that the CDC um the regulations do um support mobile units as well, there are possibilities of where our brick and mortar overlap and and this exchange. So, one of the things we're looking to collect data on if we are to proceed with this is, you know, how does that influence um our traffic in the building? Maybe we can maybe we don't need to be open at the exact same hours if we have times that we're in the community. Maybe we can share resources between our CDC funding. Now granted that there's moving parts with that funding as well, but thinking about sort of how we look at this um as a whole um towards sustainability. Uh Katherine, I'll let you speak to some of the other sort of opportunities for funding coming down the road. The other places that we're fairly confident that we would be successful in applying for grants is with the main recovery council who are also recipients of um state opioid settlement funds as well as the AG's office which has established a protocol through the Moss Institute at USM. We have both of those things tucked away in folders ready to go when the time is right. But as Rebecca said, we're hopeful that there will be some translation of CDC dollars that would follow the mobile unit by the time we get to year three.

Okay. Thank you for that. And then I also want just wanted to remind counselors that this proposal is for opioid settlement funds which are limited to specific uses and are not part of the general fund don't impact the tax rate as well. Councelor Naene. Uh just quickly to touch on this one one well two subjects. Uh first one is the HIV testing that is rapid testing. Am I correct? Yes, it is.

Okay. Um we're definitely going to need another workshop so we can go over um some of these pieces. But um I just want to highlight that I realize that we're trying to meet people where they're at. Um and I appreciate that. Um, but I want to I want to point out that the encampments that we're currently seeing in the city are conditions that no one should be living in. Um, ultimately the city allowing these encampments is to the detriment of the people who are staying in those encampments. And it's it's it's a very big challenge for the city um as well as the uh neighborhoods that these encampments are located in as well as the people who are staying in these encampments. And so um you know at the end of the day I support the mobile uh concept. I I do not support um encampments in the city. So thank you.

Understood. Further uh questions, comments for uh Spurwing team here. Yes. Councelor Long Champs. Good evening. Um I would just like to know Long Champs, please use the mic. Will these vehicles just be um used in Lewon and Auburn or will they go elsewhere?

Strictly Lewon and Auburn for those first two years at least. If we see that there's a need elsewhere and there is funding that is made available to and I don't think it would be the entire county of Androskagan. I think that may be unreasonable but if we're currently serving in Lisbon with our options um program so it may be that a stretch out in that direction would be possible. But I think we know the bulk of the work will be right here in Lewon Auburn and definitely only in Lewon Auburn in the first few years. And um my next question um kind of goes with what councelor Naene was bringing up the concerns about encampments. Would you guys go to those encampments

to provide services? that I I I believe that um that would be something that we would discuss with you all in a future session in regards to you know the the um the ordinance and the proximity of you know of of where to go what would be appropriate within what what distance from certain structures and um you know facilities and all of that. So, um, that would have to be discussed obviously separately. And I think we could add that historically our staff have gone along with law enforcement when they have gone to the encampments to work with folks to try to connect them to services and have had some success with that.

Wonderful. Wonderful. Yes. So my concern would be um we need to try to get people out of those encampments. And I I just feel as much as we want to bring services and bring them items and food and and do all of those wonderful things to care for our neighbors, I also believe we need to do a better job at trying to provide the resources to get them out of there uh for many reasons. So, I I would be a little concerned that um if we did agree to this, uh having you guys go out there and provide it's one of those things, you know, too much services uh meeting them where they're at uh may be uh damaging as well.

And and I would suggest and may I offer something, Mayor Charlene, please continue. We'll be showing another viewing of the documentary film Building Hope over in Auburn in May at the drop-in center. And so I would invite all of you to come to that so that you can get to meet some of the people who have lived in encampments. And it is not a happy place to be, right? And people are not comfortable there. So a lot of our work really focuses on what would life look like if it were different and how could you get there? A lot of mo motivational interviewing. resources to keep them alive today, but with a goal to move them along to something different. Thank you.

Uh thank you for being here. Thank you for having us. Director Roy, uh are you coming back to join us? Uh Mr. Mayor, we have the inind request. Uh well, yes, but um I I think in the past I think we've uh director Roy has uh our director of finance has simply gone over those and if there's questions for individual projects uh the counselors can ask them or were you anticipating going over every single one?

Well, we have a group of folks here. I mean, I can we can go through the list that's there. Um but some of the folks here are not asking for cash. They're just asking for inkind requests. Right. Okay. Uh, who is here from the Alzheimer's Association? Come on down. Or yes,

we just used I'll stay here so it maybe is a little quicker. I'm Chris Baker with the Alzheimer's Association. I'm development manager for the state of Maine. I oversee the Walkand Alzheimer's that is based here in Lewon Auburn. We are October 3rd this year at Samard Payne Park and we are just asking for inind for the permit coverage and I do understand from Chief Conley from last year that the um police coverage comes from that. We do not close down any streets. We just ask for an officer to be manned at our registration table in the case that people bring donations the day of um and then follow a staff member to the banks or to the post office so that can be shipped off to our um funding source. questions for I'm sorry, your name again.

Chris Baker. Chris Baker. Thank you, mayor. Thank you. Thank you so much. Do we have someone here from the Greater Anken Humane Society? Good evening. I'm Donna Richie, uh development director and interimm executive director at the Humane Society. Um, and we're asking for support for next April for our Dash for Dogs 5K. And it's really just to set up with the cones to keep every all the runners and walkers safe. Questions? Uh, councelor Niji,

is that is it? It's not this April, it's next April. We have one this April, but that was on last year's budget. Okay. And and what date is that on this April? April 26th, I believe. It's a Sunday or 28th. The The reason 26th 26th. The reason I ask, I live really close to the Riverwalk and it's always nice to be able to go out and like pick up a little bit before the run comes through. Yeah. Yep. Perfect. That's great. Thank you. Thank you. Thanks.

Uh do we have someone here from the American Lung Association? Trek across Maine. Good evening. George Eastman with the Trek across Maine for the American Lung Association. We're not asking for any money. We're just asking for uh the inkind donations that you've been providing us with for the last well probably six years since we've been coming here. That's usually like police officers for intersections and uh barricades, electronic traffic control devices, things like that. Questions? Thank you.

You're welcome. Uh administrator Canrath, I'd like to, you know, move the city of Lewis in uh as a block to the bottom. And uh so do we have anyone here from the YMCA? come on down or step on up.

Good evening. Marcy Herd from um the Triple Crown LA Triple Crown. So the Y um fist fistfest fitfest is um on June 6th this year um on Sunday and we were also um we have the bridge run that's in August and so each year we um ask for inkind services for police and for um uh maintenance public works for um road closures. They're actually just partial road closures. Any questions for Marcy? Right. Councelor Nine.

Uh in the past you've you've had a um I believe David David Hedigger's on the um on the committee. Committee, correct? And he's notified us of uh different organizations of uh when the road closures will be coming through. That that's still going to happen, right? Yes. Perfect. Thanks. Yeah. You're welcome. Thank you.

Thank you. Uh, do we have someone here to talk about Taste of Harvest? Taste the harvest. Hello everyone. I'm Susan Ruland. I'm the CEO and president of the LA Metro Chamber. And I'm joined by Hello. I am Justin. I am the events coordinator for the LA Metro Chamber. Woohoo. Please continue. Describe that.

Sure. So, Taste the Harvest, uh, what we're asking for is a road road closure of Lisbon Street. This is going to take place uh, September 30th. So, we'll need barricades. We'll need public works to help clean up around there. Um, we asked for some porta potties. Um, it's all listed in our um, in kind request. Um, we've been doing this for the this will be our eighth year uh doing this and we're hoping to make it um a little more accessible to those around the uh downtown Lewon area. Uh we had a high price point last year and so we're trying to make it a little bit more accessible uh for a bigger outreach um for people to attend.

Questions about taste the harvest. Uh and then I assume that you guys are going to touch on kickball. Yes. Please talk about that now. Great. So, that's going to take place uh July 14th um at the Randall Road Fields. Um what we're asking for is uh public works to assist in creating a beer tent. So, we'll need um some barricades for that. Um some portaotties for that. Um minimal minimal asks for that event. Questions about kickball? We're good. Or counselor Nene, did you have a question? Uh in the past it was at Smart Pain.

Uh yes, it was when it was uh connected to the Riverfest, but we are no longer pursuing Riverfest and uh the fields at Randle World have three fields, so we can have three games uh happen happening at the same time. And you won't lose balls in the canal. Yeah, correct. And I believe the city of Lewon is a team. So excited for that. Public works makes a strong showing. We love public works, don't we all? Uh, okay. Further questions for the chamber. We're good. Thank you. Uh, I think our Liberty Festival people have left. I think we mostly know about that. Uh, somebody here from the wine. Uh, did

Marcy, did you already talk about that? Okay. Went over that. Okay. We're making such great project, such great progress. Uh, Denica, did you want to talk about Dempsey? You would like me to? Uh, did you have anything else to add or do we have any questions about the inkind donation request for Dempsey? I guess we're good. Great. All right, moving right along. We're going to turn the page. Uh, I know that we have uh President CEO Hogan here from Community Credit Union. Uh, can you talk to us about the block party?

Yes. Um, thank you. Um, so Susan Longamps and I are looking to bring back the Pine Street Community Block Party again this year. So looking for inkind donations for permits, public works and Lewon Police Department. Please questions about the block party. Councelor Nene, just a comment. It was sad to see it not happen last year and looking forward to seeing it happen this year. So yes, thank you.

Uh thank you. Uh is David still here from Lucen Summer and Fun Films? I think or Oh, okay. Anything else you'd like to add? Yes, just real quickly, the ink kind donation just includes the uh various inkind donations from previous years, including uh support dropping off and picking up trash cans, unlocking gates, public uh parking spaces. Also for counselor, and I apologize chidim, am I saying that correct? Um the variance and difference for the budget for clarification was uh capital expenses um for one time including buying uh new trailers, wraps, other different uh type of uh um assets. So that's why it's it's the the $39,000 have has been found.

Good. I'm glad. Thank you. Thank you. I would like to mo note that we've made substantial progress this evening. Uh, okay. I guess that's that. Do we have uh who's here from LA Arts? Okay, we mostly know about that. Anyways, uh healthy neighborhoods. Amy, thank you for joining us.

Thanks for your Amy Smith, thanks for your time. I'm representing Healthy Neighborhoods tonight and we're looking for inkind donation to continue our successful bulky trash removal efforts uh down in the tree streets. Um we've been collaborating with public works on this since 2019. And we do four events a summer, May, June, September, and October. And across the four events, we generally move between remove between 12 and uh 15 tons of bulky waste from the neighborhood. And the ink kind request is we've collaborated with public works to make it as efficient as possible. They drop off and pull the dumpster throughout the event on Friday and Saturday. Saturday during regular business hours so there's no overtime.

Questions for uh Amy Smith. Thank you. Okay. Uh do we have someone here from the Mainstrong Foundation? Have a seat. Hi, I am uh Chase Cody. I'm here on behalf of the Mainstrong Foundation or Memorial Foundation and our ask is the same as last year. Um additional field maintenance and upkeep, painting lines, uh checking the fences, posting the road on the inside uh for no parking. Um and happy to answer any questions that any of you might have. I'm sorry, did you say your name was Chase? Yep. Okay, thank you. Uh questions for Chase. I guess we're good. Awesome. Thank you.

Thank you. Thanks for being here. Uh, gather to grow. Is that uh Sherry?

Director Blumenthal maybe. Good evening, Mayor Counselors. Uh, just to clarify, uh, I'm actually here for the Lewon Farmers Market Association. We put gather to grow just because the association is only a state nonprofit and not a 501c3. Oh, I see that here. Yes. Thank you. Please proceed.

Yeah. Um so that is the hat I'm wearing tonight. I'm the treasurer on the board and we um uh our inind request is to help finish a project we started last year with public works to continue to improve um the market space. Uh we're at 75 uh Lincoln and to Oxford. Um we made some substantial improvements last year thanks um in large part to LPW um where we removed boulders, we added signs, we added um trees and uh garden beds and to create a more continuous space with the with Lincoln Street and just a more beautiful and accessible space. And so now we want to carry that over into to Oxford and to try to both green and improve both accessibility of what is uh more or less a gravel parking lot. So it won't be the whole area. It'll be a part of the area to provide a continuous uh market from the Lincoln and the Oxford Street.

Questions uh comments from counselors? Yes, councelor Niji. Uh just really quickly, can you speak to how many markets uh are held uh a year? Sure. We do around 31 markets a year. We see between we have a like 11 and 13 between 11 and 13,000 visits. Um we operate May through November and we have uh we support on average uh 20 to 22 um regular vendors. Thank you. A lot of turnups get sold. Uh councelor Chidam, did you have anything there? Okay. Uh I think we're good. Thank you so much.

And then uh who do we got here from McMahon? Okay, we're good. Uh, Director Roy, have I missed anything? Okay, I think we're doing Wreck. Yes, Director Welsh is here. So, we'll start with recreation on page 58. The overall increase of 167,772. Recreation administration is on page 58. Overall increase is 48,297. The increase in personal services of 18,512 due to salaries and um the steps and colas five employees in that department. Contracted services increased 18,15. This is mostly due in repairs to vehicle of 19,350. This is for public works rental of a 14 passenger bus which is new. Supplies increase 11,700. Office supplies 10,900 for folding chairs and tables for rentals and and for the large city events. Armory is on page 58. Overall increase of 119,566. Personal services increase 34,643. This is mostly due to in temporary RA wages is the transfer in for the aquatic of 62,000. Contracted services increase $85,523. This is mostly due to repairs to buildings of $67,80.

This is for roof repairs of 15,000, general painting of 10,000, the yearly gym maintenance for the floor of 8,500, and replacing the failed heating control valve of 36,000. Senior citizens is on page 58. The overall decrease of $91 is due to the age friendly reimbursement for the part-time employee in that department. Any questions for Director Welch on any of those before we move to recreation programs? Councor Jim.

Thank you, Director Welch. Thank you very much. Um, can you talk about the failed heating control valves? Are those part of the new improvements or um they're to remedy previous problems. I believe um Louis Turkot's here to speak on those.

Yeah. Over the over the years, the the control valves on the old radiators have failed or been vandalized, and we've lost control of the heating the temperature control of the heating system. We did do an interim uh fix on that. We basically have one thermostat controlling the heat for the whole building, which is, believe it or not, working out fairly well right at the moment, but it's not ideal. Um, so by replacing these valves, we would gain better control the way the system was intended to work. So it's not part of the new system, which right now appears to be a couple years away. Okay. Thank you.

Next, we'll go over recreation and programs on page 59 to 63. when you got um to your seats tonight, there are new sheets. Um correct. So, those of you who want to replace in your books, um there's some line items corrected. So, overall increase of 21,684. Um again, note this is a special revenue account, so it's no impact on the tax rate. Positive amounts in the recommended column equate to the program being self-supported and able to support START programs and aquatics. Fund balance at the end of fiscal year 25 was 331,795. I won't touch on every um program. I'll let you ask Director Welch on certain ones, but general had an overall deficit of 44,91. This is due to salaries. Even though you see salaries decreasing 3,531. Um this is projected for the uh new community sports aid. So the salary line total is 42,291. Day camp had an overall surplus of 8862. This is um due to an increase in projected revenues of 16,122 based upon anticipated demand of 115 summer camp registrations. Volleyball had an overall surplus of 9,79. Even though you see decrease in revenues, there still have a surplus. Um revenues are projected to decrease 5,160. Track overall surplus of 435. Revenues are increasing 500. This is due to the increase in the spring and summer track registration fees. Tennis has an overall surplus of $82.

This is the revenue decrease in $590 for the decrease in participations with a slight increase for fees from $95 to 99. Soccer overall surplus of 28,883. The revenues are increasing 20,650 due to the increase in adult teams from 20 to 38 bringing in 14,400 and summer camp registration fees of 6,250. Lego robotics overall 278 increase revenues increased 1,650 for Minds in Motion program for 20 registrations. Lacrosse has an overall surplus of 1,311 revenues are increasing by 1,200 for summer lacrosse programs. Field hockey overall surplus of 1,750 revenues increasing by 1,000. Youth basketball overall surplus of 6,759. Um that you'll see a decrease in the revenues of 1,675, but this will still be covered and have a surplus. Softball and baseball overall surplus of 821. Revenues for basketball decreased by 290 for reduction in registrations with a slight decrease in cost. While men's softball is increasing 1,300 due to the fall wooden bat league, chair overall surplus of 1,67 um 1,627. Theater overall surplus of 1,875. Revenues are increasing 37 um 3,750 due to registrations remaining flat with the cost of increase from 20 to 200 uh

200 to 250 age friendly overall surplus of 2700. Revenues are increasing 5,600 for general programs 2,300 and then chair yoga which is new 3,300. Table tennis overall 900 surplus aquatics overall um deficiency of 8,645. The donation that we saw earlier in the wreck um the general fund wreck department at the beginning is um entered into here for revenue of 62,000 which is a 10,000 increase from last year. Pickle ball overall surplus of 6507. The sport of course has become most popular. Revenues increase in 3,190 for an increase in the drop in fees. Child care overall surplus of $196. Revenues increased by $3,000 for Teen Adventure Day. Youth cross country overall surplus of $25. Revenues are decreasing 90 for registration fees and recreational supplies remain flat. Football overall surplus of 200. Roller skating overall surplus of 800 with revenues remaining flat. Recreational supplies remaining flat. Programs overall surplus of 7,700. This is a new program. In fiscal year 27, revenues are projected to be 9,800 in table fees, 6,000 in concession sales, 2,000 um and raffles, 1,800. Family programs overall surplus of 100.

This is a new program in fiscal year 27. Revenues are projected to be 750 and recreational supplies are projected to be 650,000. Any questions for director? Uh yes. Can you like uh in the brief amount of time that we have, can you just tell us what Lego Robotics is? I realize it sounds mostly self-explanatory, but

yes. Um we uh a couple years ago we had some uh grant money from the NRPA mentorship program. Through that program, we were able to purchase, believe we have either five or six iPads. Um, we have the wires, the gears, the bots, and the actual Legos. So, during this program, kids actually get to create robots. Um, and they get to test them and drive them. Um, and it's a really good part of like a introductory STEM program. You know, I realize that the kids come first here, but uh I I should have been called immediately. Yeah, I'll text you next time. Councelor Chidum, thank you. Uh, Director Welch, programs is a new program. Can you talk about what programs is?

So, looking that looking at that, I think the word uh craft fair was supposed to be in front of that. Um, so I know um, director Roy mentioned a couple minutes ago. So, we had a couple of larger accounts that were under those general miscellaneous accounts. We tried to break some of those out and part of that is um making the artisan and craft show its own program to better show the incomes and um expenses for the event. Okay. Thank you. Uh final question. What's the tuition to day camp this year?

Um early bird is $1,95. After April 17th it is $1,195. And we have launched our um twomonth via a summer camp champ sponsorship scholarship program where we're currently taking donations. Is that a significant increase over last year and the year before? It's only a hundred. Uh we held hard at 900 um until I believe it was either one or two years ago, but with the minimum wage increases and the general cost of transportation and field trips, we unfortunately had to go up. Okay. Thank you very much. Councelor Roy, did you have something?

Thank you. Um, I think I answered my question, but age friendly. I see chair yoga. What else is there for like trip expenses and stuff like that?

Yeah, sure. Um, so this is a relatively new program. Um, it started three years ago and our age friendly program coordinator, Stephanie Cody, oversees that. It's a 30-hour week position. Part of her responsibilities include being um uh administrative help to the Lewis and senior citizens. Um but Stephanie also has hours to create new programs that aren't covered under the Louiswis and senior citizens. For example, we have chair yoga. She's also started a walking program. Most recently, she started a cabin fever program where she has found uh donors from around the pro around the city who have paid for lunches and activities. So, every Tuesday since the start of the year, she's had uh free lunch opportunities for local senior citizens. Um we had our uh 14 passenger bus in February, and they did a uh mystery lunch trip to Brunswick, believe it's called Wild Oats. So, folks jump on the bus for $3. They know they get to go have a have some yummy food with some good company. Um, and they arrive at the destination and surprise, they get to find out where they're having for lunch. Um, so there's a a pretty good range of activities going on right now.

Thank you. That sounds pretty cool. Yeah, councelor Haramman, thank you for presenting and um I know you do a lot over there. There's more here than I even realized. Um, so a question about the fund. So it's kind of it's a special revenue fund. It's separate from the general fund. With all these programs, do they sort of all complement each other financially? Like if if you're running a deficit with one and a surplus in another, do they kind of all support each other?

Yes. Um so in the way we kind of develop uh like prices for programs, um it we have to look at what are the base costs, do we need temporary staff, um do we need to buy new supplies? So we look at what those needs are. And then we also look at what is the going rate for an adult program. what is the going rate for a uh a drop in pickle ball program? Um so a lot of variables kind of take into place. We always have a non-resident fee. So depending on the program if it's $10 or like a you know $1,195 um that expense will go up and down. Um believe since I've been here the the special revenue fund it's gone up maybe 10 to 15,000 over the last I want to say two or three years. Um I do have ideas in the future on ways to to use that money um either in the building um or for other other city programs. Um since we are now covering the salary of a full-time employee um having that reserve is very important um because we want to make sure that we can pay that employee um for now. So yeah, I hope that answers some of the question.

Yes. Thank you. You're welcome, Counc. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um I I just want to say director um that I'm exceedingly impressed with uh what you bring to the table. Um I greatly appreciate the programming that you're offering, the fact that you manage um your department manages so many uh summer youth jobs. Uh you know, all of these pieces that I think are uh really um um um impactful for the city and it's a pleasure that a lot of these programs are actually not running in the red. So that's that's fantastic, too. And yeah, I just wanted to comment that I appreciate it.

Yeah, thank you for the feedback. Um, our squad is so hardworking. They're so creative. Um, and they really put the passion into their jobs every single day. I'm really lucky to have such a strong team. Uh, Council Martell. Yes.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh, Councelor Nene stole my thunder a little bit because I wanted to say some of those same things. We got to meet when I was at the ELSAC meeting a month or so ago and get a the tour light. I look forward to returning and getting the rest of it. But hearing the place bustling with young children in the basketball court and the turnout that I saw there was very impressive. And then across the hall we were having our Lewon seniors meeting. So I know the things that are going on the the services that are being provided on that end too. So, uh, just commendation on a great job and thank you very much, councelor Long Champs.

Good evening. Um, thank you for the presentation and for all that you do for our city. Um, the question I have is about the day camp. Um, I do believe you guys have scholarships for families that may not be able to afford. Correct. Do you know about how many scholarships you

Yeah. Um, so last year the number we gave out uh $8,610 um and that was in scholarships uh in all of 2025. Um our scholarship fund right now it's funded strictly by private donors. Um and we have $1,000 that we take from that special revenue account that we can slide in there as well. Um it's a first come first serve. This year we've had more requests than we have uh the past two years since the fund was created. Um and we probably probably have about $4,000 left to give out uh over the next couple months for summer camp scholarships. But um it's definitely a resource that would be used more if it was funded a little more heavily.

So that's um basically given by private donors. Correct. So, I would encourage people out there that might and hopefully are listening to uh sponsor a child that uh would benefit from this day camp. I know there's people out there um with deep pockets to be completely honest and so I would encourage you to uh sponsor a child or two. Thank you. Thank you. And just to add that um as mentioned, we are doing a two-month um uh be a summer camp champ. It's basically a fund drive and if you go to lewisenrecation.com it's the second graphic down on the page that can give you all the ways that you can donate.

You should hit up the pickle ball players. They're there more than the kids are. Uh any anything else? Thank you, Director Welsh. We appreciate your service to our great city. Thank you so much. Director Roy. Am I to understand that that concludes our presentation portion of the budget budget process?

Correct. So there is no budget meeting scheduled for this Thursday. Um next Tuesday the school board will be in front of you for budget workshop before your meeting. Um and then there are other days set aside for general discussion um if need be. We have April 9th, April 14th, April 16th, um, and April 21st. The first the public hearing, there is a public hearing on Tuesday night, the first one, and then there's the last public hearing on May 5th.

Okay. Thank you. Uh, can you, uh, what was I going to say? Oh, yes. Can you recap, you know, based on uh what we know right now, where where's the city tax rate?

So, it's currently at 1968. Um looking at other items, um as we're going, we will be removing 106,666 for the homeless shelter. That's going to be covered under the tiff. um the health coordinator 102,792 will be removed. The county um 1,044 will be removed and then the um removal of the parking garage security of um 80,000 due to the due to um not being needed. So it will be removing 290,50266 from the expense accounts. Um, if you give me a minute, I can pull up the tax sheet.

And then if you could also um give us what the percentage increase is over last year. So the city operating budget was 7.1% as presented with that 290,000 of drop trace. Can we give you the number? Thank you, Administrator Kane Wrath. Um while we're waiting yes councelor Nene

so when we talk about a hypothetical mill rate um for for for the future um I think it's difficult for people to understand at home when they don't know what their valuations are and also how it compares to what the mil we should be talking I think also comparatively if we're talking about the mill rate now what it looks like uh with the increase so if it's 32 uh 32 to 50. What? Okay. If it's $32 now, what is it uh with the increase? Um so that people can, you know, picture that in their heads. And one thing that I just that just came to me, unfortunately the special meeting is over, but could I ask to have a breakdown of the amount of the 250,000 that we're loaning that is coming out of the general fund versus uh the the uh the money that we set aside uh for out of either the TIFF fund or the enterprise fund. From what I understand is that $250,000 is coming a portion of it is coming out of uh the general fund. And I want to know how much

that money was set aside last year. Um, uh, Administrator Krath pulled that out of the budget. I don't know if you recall the last couple years we were giving $250,000 to economic development to run that program. I believe the last time they used that you folks voted for Democracy Brewing. Got a large sum. So that money is not affecting the tax rate that we're using um for the colise. Uh, interim director um Blae had mentioned that that a portion of it was coming out of the general fund. I just want to make sure that that's not the case or if it is the case director Roy could make sure of that but that's yeah if we can get an email on it that would be helpful that's all

it is coming out of the economic reserve which is already in there from prior years. So, if you remember the night we went over the tiffs on the notes, I had given you like a screenshot of everything that's in that economic reserve. Um, there's about, I believe, 538,000 in just the economic reserve portion. That's where that would be coming out of. Okay. So, it's not coming out of the out of Okay, fine. Right. Thank you. Uh, yes, councelor Chidum.

Thank you, Council Nine. I want to second with emphasis that citing a mill rate of 1968 when people don't know what their valuations are and they won't know for a month or two is a meaningless number. I would very much like to have a comparison based on the current assessed values as of today not tomorrow so that we can see what our tax rate would be doing based on the budget as it stands today. Thank you. So with the removal of um the items that I mentioned, it would come down to 1962. And then we did do a calculation. Um let me just update the numbers to 1962. So, the assessor went through um and these are just estimates of course. Um so, if your home was valued at 100,000 council, yes,

I'm sorry, Mr. Mayor. I I I don't want to hear this again. I I really want to hear what the tax rate would be if there were no revaluation. I understand all the hypotheticals. I would like to know on a mill rate basis how much the tax is increasing based on the current budget. So if we take and put the valuation back to what it was last year remove the 4.4 million uh billion that's estimated your tax rate would be $3729. Thank you very much. So that would be an increase of $4.50 50 cents.

And then um thank you director Roy. Um thank you councelor Chidam. Uh so we as mentioned by administrator Kenrith we were at 7.1%. What what are we at now over last year given the calculations that you just made? 6.6 for um the city's operating

6.6. Okay. Um uh councelor Herman did you have your hand up a second ago? Yeah, I was just going to add sort of the to this conversation about the mill rate and the revaluation um on the school committee side. It's making it a little a little difficult and I know we're sort of in the same situation here uh without knowing what people's valuations are going to be. It's hard to it's hard to communicate how much the school budget is going to affect that. Um I think we're going to be receiving some communic communication from the school committee about this. Um, I realize it's maybe not something that we can that we can really help just given the timing of things, but it does make it it gives us less information to work with as far as what different pieces of the budget will what effect they will have on the tax rate and on people's tax bills. So, it's it's just a it's a difficult situation to be in without having all that information in front of us like we usually do.

Correct. And as I said, we do have estimates. Um we took three values of what they are currently and what they would be valued at for fiscal year 27 and their increase. So if you look at a home that's $100,000 right now has a homestead of $11,750 because of course we are not fully um at the valuation where the state so they don't give the full exemption. That person's net taxable value is 88,250 for the valuation times our current rate their bill currently this year is 289284. In their new valuation, their valuation would be 227,300. They would have the full homestead exemption of 25. So their net taxable valuation would be $22,300. So with the current tax rate of 1962, their taxes would be $3,969, which would be an increase of 1,76 annual. So, a home that's currently 150,000 with the homestead 11,750. Their taxable valuation is $138,250. Currently, their current bill is $4,531. Their new valuation in 27 is estimated to be 348,800 with the full 25,000 homestead exemption will be 323800 for a taxable rate making their tax current taxes for a fiscal year 276,352.96 which is an increase of 1,82112 on their tax bill for a year. If you have a home that's valued at 22

250,000 homestead 11,750, their net taxable was 238250. So their current taxes are 7,89.84. The valuation for fiscal year 27 is estimated to be 581,400 with a homestead of 25,000 making their taxable uh valuation 556,400 making their current their tax bill 10,91657. That's an increase of 3,10673 for the year.

Thank you, director. Uh, councelor uh Herman, did you have something else? Yes, just real quickly, and I realize this might be more of a question for assessing. Um, does that do those estimates translate fairly evenly across residential properties? Like, you know, not every home is the same. There's single families, multi-units. That translates pretty much question for the assessor and we can ask them that. But we were looking at, okay, give us three examples. Um, a small, a medium, and a large. um so that we could get some kind of estimate out to you. Okay. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Councelor, uh administrator Kra, did you have something?

Yeah, I just want to say first of all, if if it is easier as far as you know, consideration and deliberation for the council. I think we can talk about using the existing mil rate and existing valuation. I think we're hearing that kind of across the council. So, uh just number one, message heard on that. We'll talk about that. Uh and two, um I just want to say also we are looking at options for implementation of the reval. Um obviously these are some big numbers that we're hearing. So um we're going to be coming back at the appropriate time with uh just some options to maybe consider with implementation. Um we don't have all the answers yet, but um just know that we're working on that. Also, thank you. Uh councelor Roy, did you have your hand up?

Um thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, I I believe uh administrator Kenrath just kind of answered it. I was just going to say, you know, I don't understand why I mean, we've gone how many years now without an increase and why all of a sudden we're going 100% full boore instead of doing like a third of it, a third of it, a third of it, you know, just to ease people in because we've got some real problems here. We've got a lot of money that people are going to be paying and and I don't see how we can we can sustain this. I mean, it's not going to be sustainable for a whole lot of people and I just we need some relief in this. So, I'm just thank you for looking into that and hopefully we get some some good answers soon.

Uh yes, we await uh information from our assessor and administration. Uh councelor Long Champs, did you have something?

Yes. Um yeah, it just seems like it's doubling, right? Uh something that was worth 100,000 is now even more 250,000. That's a lot. Um it's much needed. I understand that. But uh it's a lot to ask for um from the taxpayers and I I want to thank you for looking into that. Um, Councilman Eene and I were speaking today in regards to this and I think if there's some way we could do it over two years or three years or I don't know exactly how that would look but but I think it's critical for our families um given where we live. Um so thank you.

Councelor Naen, did you have something?

Yeah. So, I just want to say really quickly, uh, one, um, whether or not we Brunswick rolled out a reaval that they paused, um, because of the impacts, whether or not we, um, either don't put the RIAL in place for the following year, um, or we stage it in in pieces. There are people who live in my community, who live in our community that are living on fixed incomes. And when we announce uh valuations that um that people don't even actually know their valuation yet, but they but when they do get that bill in May, um they're going to be expected to pay it in September. And I've got folks in my neighborhood who I I got a I've got a family that has a water heater that's broken and they've been boiling water because they don't have the extra money to buy a water heater. So like what I'm saying is that the the the offset cost can put people in a really bad spot. We need to think about how we do this in a way that that doesn't put people out of their homes. I understand that their valuations are higher. I understand that that these homes are worth more, but also a lot of folks can't tap into that equity, especially if you're retired. You're not going to be like, what method do you use in order to tap into the equity of your home when all you have coming in is social security? And so, we just need to think about how we roll that out. And I'd also like to say that we pretty soon should start talking about some cuts as well. Um so

uh thank you to respond quickly. One second administrator Krath. Uh council I just want to hear from the rest of the council really quick and knowing uh or acknowledging that the council that we've also heard concerns from residents um and administration will be looking to into that. But uh yes, councelor Martell.

Thank you Mr. Mayor. Um, I recognize that this is going to be difficult and it feels like it's coming in one fell swoop, but I'm going to be uh universally against rolling this out in pieces. We've known I've known about this for years just from watching city council meetings. Um, the over-the-top spending, bloating, funding programs, cuts have to get made. This kind of circles back to uh a point I would have liked to make during uh nonprofit presentations was uh we're looking at cutting or at least I will be staffed positions services within the city and I I think if if those are things that we're going to consider and we also need to maybe consider as a city just saying we can't fund nonprofit missions like we understand that these are things that people are passionate about and they all I don't want to sit sit up here and parse one's um value to the community more than the other. Uh I think that uh charitable giving is supposed to be voluntary and taxation is compelled. Uh a good place to start before we start cutting staff positions or services to taxpayers would be uh to start to cut off some of this spending. And I think just a blanket line in the sand saying the city is not going to fund um charitative charitable foundations or donate to nonprofits I think would be a good place to start that. Um there is a way around this evaluation is to really tighten our budget. This spending and the COVID money that was falling from the sky and the positions that were created. uh the money isn't here and we got used to spending money that we didn't have and drastic cuts is how we uh can also lessen the blow to our community and our taxpayers. Uh, I understand that that is is going to get

ugly in some places, but um rolling this out slowly when we're already years and years past state mandates for RIALS uh is just continuing to kick the can down the road. And I feel like it's just going to enable continued spending and justification of continued spending when I think the real answer needs to be to tighten our belts and make some difficult cuts and start living in in spending as a city like a normal budget does at home. Uh my colleague mentioned a resident that couldn't afford a water heater right now. Uh so they're not going out and buying a water heater. that that's unfortunate. But if we don't have the money to do things, we we shouldn't be doing them. And we've been doing it for far too long. So, uh I think that the other the better way, the more fiscally responsible way, the way that a family home budget would do it is you've got to find a difference between wants and needs. And I know that line gets blurry sometimes, but uh we're going to have to make some of those tough decisions. There is a way to alleviate some of this increase, and that's by getting our spending in line. Uh, and I and I stand by that. And as difficult as this may be, uh, it's time for this reaval to happen. And we can't blame all of the impact on the re-evaluation. The spending has been happening for years, if not decades, over administrations from both sides of the aisle. And this is a a problem that's been brewing. Uh, no one on this dis is directly responsible. Uh but if we wanted to roll this out in parts, this should have been something we looked at a couple years ago when we knew this was coming. Uh not a last second uh bail to to save our spending and I just can't see it any other way.

Uh thank you councelor Martell. Councelor Chinam, did you have something or did uh councelor Long Champs, uh final thoughts from you?

Yes. Um I do agree with uh some of what councelor Martell uh has shared. I do think um in some areas we definitely have over spent, but it is not uh the homeowners uh fault that we did not do this two or three years ago. Um, so there are a lot of people here that are on fixed incomes. And I'm really talking about our elderly people um that will not be able to afford this in one shot um that I could imagine. It's it's tough enough uh to live on the budget that that they are living on. So although I do agree with some that some of the statements that he has shared, um I do think we do need to make some tough cuts, um I think it has to be done. Um and I I do think the nonprofits uh I do agree with with some of that. Um but again, these homeowners and taxpayers did not ask for this. They didn't say, "Hey, put a pause on it or don't do it for x amount of years." So, we're going to literally drive people out of their homes um because they're not going to be able to afford it.

I think uh Council Roy, did you have a final thought here? Try to be quick with this one. Um this budget that we have in front of us that is up um we'll say like 5.29 or 6.1 or whatever it is. 6.6. Okay. So, at this point, um, is that only an increase in steps, colas, medical prices, all that stuff? There's nothing else in here like that's it.

I would say pretty much. Tracy, you can add your two cents. Obviously, we we've our goal was to get this down as lean as possible without impacting current staff in positions. Um, and that's largely uh what we have here. I think there are a couple uh small areas for additional savings um with some you know initiatives this year. For example, the the take-home cruisers proposal, but everything else beyond this point uh we're going to start cutting out current people in positions.

And I would also well uh sorry, Director Roy, you you first then I'll say something or did you have anything else to add to that? Nope. Just the take-home vehicles are the only thing that's left on the the sheet that we had um when we were looking at the the cuts and and what remind me what we're looking at for an increase, please. Just just kind of like a rough number percentage. Yeah. For the operating at 6 point um 6.6. Well, just for those vehicles, like what are we looking at? If we took that out, we would go from 6.6 6 to what? 6.3 6.

So there is um the amount of 44 490 um 490,948. However, you need to decide whether you're going to put any vehicles back in. Um, you don't have to put the full 14 in, but I would say take a look at the list that the chief sent you um today. And uh because the all the other items within that um amount that if the take-home vehicles don't pass are already in the budget except for the vehicles and the other um the radios, the two last numbers at the bottom, those are not in the budget. all the other numbers are already in the budget. So your your budget wouldn't increase that 93 I think that was sent out um 93,908. It would just be for the vehicles and the radios and cameras and that's on a decision on the council whether they want to put the full amount of vehicles back of 14 or if you want to take a look at what she gave you for a list and then add that back in. Um or you could not add it back in. It's all up to um city council what you want to do with your budget.

All right. So, if we just said, you know, take that out and we're not going to add anything, you'd probably see maybe a decrease in maybe point I'm just asking, you know, I'm just trying to Yeah. Uh counselors, uh sorry, um councelor Roy, are you are you finished? Yeah, that's that's all I want. see how much it would go down. Right.

Thank you, counselors, if I may. Uh, so we're waiting to hear back from uh the assessor and administration about uh possible ideas for uh implementation of the reval. I think once we once we hear that back, uh then we can have a discussion about where we want to go with this budget, if we are looking at uh further cuts and so on and so forth. But at this point, um I I would say we call it a night, right? Councelor Nene, did you have a final thought?

I did. Um, so just to speak um concerning the water heater analogy, the city can't be the broken water heater. The the broken water heater is a situation where you didn't budget for it and now it's an unexpected cost. And so ultimately when we're talking about uh the periods in which we need to right now you couldn't apply for a homestead exemption if you haven't already. right now you can apply for the tax credit fairness act if you haven't already. Um so these these are these are serious things and then we when we also talk about uh community organizations as opposed to nonprofits. Seniors plus is a community organization. Seniors Plus could work with us in order to get the messaging out to seniors concerning what's going to happen with their tax rates. Ultimately what we're going to see no matter what is a reduction in services with an increase in costs. That's what's going to happen. And so the question is how impactful is that going to be as we go through it. But I just wanted to name those things. There's a thousand ways to skin a cat. Um but at the end of the day, like the cat is the taxpayer right now. So okay, on that note, thank you. Uh

I was just going to move to adjourn. Uh we're in a workshop, so we don't need to move to although did we need madam? Uh, council Martell, you bring up an interesting point. Did we need to move to adjourn the special meeting that we had? Uh, no, you essentially did once you started the workshop. Oh, okay. We'll look at that. We're incredibly efficient this evening. Uh, counselors, I appreciate you all. Staff, thank you very much. Uh, we will uh see everyone back here. Yeah, not on for this Thursday, but we'll be back next Tuesday and Thursday. And Thursday. Yes. Yeah, we we'll be here a lot. Just look on the city's website. Thank you. Good night, Loen.