City Council - Regular Meeting

We're live on the recorder when you're ready. Good evening everybody. Um the city clerk will take nominations for council president this evening for calendar year 2023. I'd like to nominate Billy. I second.

Are there any other nominations? ready for roll call and council Boon, you willing to accept before I do the roll call? I will. Okay. Council Dana Cummings. Yes. Council Mang, yes. Council Stevens, yes. And council, yes. Thank you. Now I'll turn the meeting over to the council president.

First of all, thank you counselors. I appreciate the opportunity to serve you again and I enjoy working with each and every one of you. Um second, we before I go on to nomination of an appointment of vice chair, I would like to just say it is truly a pleasure to have our city clerk back here tonight. Yes. Um, and this community is very thankful, uh, Ella, for everything you do. And thank you. Thank you. I appreciate everybody's patience and and keeping things simple.

And I'm sorry she's hiding from you all tonight, but that's the way it goes. You can hear her. She's here. All right. Item three, nomination and appointment of vice chair of council calendar year 2026. I'll make a motion for Rhonda Stevens. Been moved and seconded. Any further nominations? Hearing none, I'll have nominations closed. Roll call, please. Jane Cummings, yes. Morang, yes. Stevens, I lost it for a moment. Yes.

And yes, thank you. Item four, adjustments to the agenda. You have a couple. I have a couple.

Um I would like to add item um make sure I've got the letters right here. Uh VU to schedule a public hearing for a liquid license renewal for the old SA that came in after we published. Um and item 8V to accept the resignation of Don Bailey uh from the budget committee and that was V right and W oh no we'll do that separately I'll just say then we have uh when we get to the committees uh the lists of names were not quite right um the list that Ella had I had not been updating since she's been out um so uh with your permission I'll correct those names, the list of names when we get to those motions rather than do those as separate adjustments. Uh but I did I left off Sarah. We we need the W appointment of Sarah Mor as deputy treasurer. So those are three changes. The old south scheduling, resignation from the budget committee, and appointment of deputy treasurer.

I'll make that motion. I'll second. Any further discussions on the motion of prime? What is B? I got pulses resignation of Don Bailey is V. Okay. Deputy treasur is W. Yeah, too. Those are the ones we added. Okay. Those three. Okay. Yeah. I tried to get that but I didn't have a copy of it. I told that you All right. Any further discussion on the motion hearing? None. Roll call, please. David yes. Morang, yes. Stevens, yes. Yes.

And

yes. Item five is public forum. It's open to the public. There's a chance to speak. Anybody like to speak? Wow. Quite a bunch. Hearing none, we'll close public open forum. Item six, public hearings. 6A is liquor license renewal for MA Truck LLC doing business as Happy Crab, 35 Water Street. Anybody in the public like to speak for or against? Carrying no comment. We'll go on to 6B. New liquor license for Jeffrey Gothier. Doing business as Blackbeards, 171 Water Street. Anybody in the audience like to speak for or against hearing? None. We'll close the public hearings. Item seven is action on public hearings. I know a lot of calls come in about the crab.

A lot of calls come in about the crab, but it seems to be more about the clientele getting into scuffles. Have we got a police report? Did I miss it or something? No, just I don't know. Yeah, just um though when I spoke with the chief um we did have an issue. It was a year and a half ago. Um so not this past 4th of July, the previous 4th of July. Um it was they there were too many people in the building. Um, but they cleared it and although I I think Rhonda, you're confident that there occasionally there is some activity there, it has more to do with the clientele than with the management and we've been happy with how they've been responsive since then.

I make a motion to approve the liqu.

I'll second it. Been moved and seconded. Any further discussion on the motion hearing? None. Roll call, please. Don Cummings, yes. Morang, yes. Steven, yes. Yes. Boom. Yes. Any other action from the public hearings? I make a motion to approve the new book of license for Jeff doing business as Blackbeards. I'll second that. Moved and seconded. Any further discussion on the motion hearing? None. Roll call, please. Dannon yes. Morang, yes. Stevens, yes.

Yes. Yes. Action. We're on eight. New business. Aa, appointment of city council members for signing of warrants year 2026. How do we state it that any three can do it? All of us are able to sign. All council members. I move that all council members be what do we say? Officially official signatures be authorized. Authorized to sign warrants. Supposed to I'll second that. Thought that was at the end.

Oh, we're at the end. Uh, it's been moved and seconded to authorize all council members. Correct. Any further discussion on the motion? Hearing none. Roll call, please. Dana Cummings, yes. Morang, yes. Stevens, yes. Yes. And yes. 8B is established depository banks for city funds, the first in Bangalore savings for year 2026. This is continuing our current holdings. Correct. I move to establish the banks for city funds of the first and the Bangor savings. I'll second it.

Been moved and seconded. Any further discussion on the motion hearing? None. Roll call, please. Daniel Cummings. Yes. Morang. Yes. Stevens. Yes. Sorry. Yes. Yes. HC. Staff appointments for calendar year 2026. See attached.

There was one blank one at the bottom, wasn't there? Fair hearing authority. Oh, I wonder is an adjustment at the very end. So um do we typically read this out or as presented? I would just for I'll you go ahead your meeting. You want I've got it right here. No, you got it. Yeah. If I Okay, why don't I read it? Go for it. Go for it.

Um city manager Brian Shu appointed overseer for GA administrator. City Manager, emergency ma management director at MIMS um representative, city manager, health officer, city manager, cola officer, city manager, uh treasurer, Cammy Duchaine, purchasing agent, Cammy Duchaine, city clerk, Ella Cowell, deputy clerks, Lita O'Brien, Hannah Wicker Hill, and Sarah Motor, tax collector, Ella Cowell, Deputy Tax Collectors, Leto O'Brien, Hannah Wicker Hill, and Sarah Motors, Ella Cowell, Deputy Registar Hannah Wicker Hill, Motor Vehicle Agent Hannah Wicker Hill, Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Agent Hannah Wicker Hill, Plumbing Inspector Steven Cox, Tax Assessor Kenneth Carly, Code Enforcement Officer Tabitha Young, Police Chief Mark Bachi, Fire Chief Richard Clark, Harbor Master Richard Clark, Assistant Harbor Master Mark Emory, U Marine Shellfish Warden Reed Krosowski, Deputy Marine Shelfish important Loren Small, animal control officer Razowski, airport manager Pete Lane, fair hearing authority to city council, sealer of weights and measures is the state of Maine.

So do we have to add one on the bottom or is that just stating that it's us the fair hearing authority? That that means that should we have cause for a fair hearing authority as stated in the city charter, you you the city council will function as that body. So there's nothing also appointed. Yes. So I move that we accept the staff appointments for calendar year 2026. Seconded. It's been moved and seconded. Any further discussion on the motion? Is there any reason why we cannot move um the deputy treasurer up to this right now? Sure. So I just since I went through that um if if you're willing to modify your motion to add Sarah Motor as deputy treasurer

and that will cover and add Sarah Mod R. Am I pronouncing that correctly? You are as deputy treasurer. Correct. We won't have to do it under EW. just seems like it would be time to do it. So, didn't I just do it? Well, did you guys amend your motion to add that? Yes. It's been amended to add it. Thank you for that willingness, Sarah. Sure. Any further discussion on the motion? Hearing none. Roll call, please. Danny Cummings, yes. Morang, yes.

Stevens, yes. Yes. And yes 8 D appointment of auditor. RHR Smith is our current auditor. Make a motion that we approve RH R Smith as our auditor for 20 26 no 2025 right 26. Well it be this calendar year but it would be for the audit the prior two but it's a it's the auditing firm. What year are we? They're the one. So, correct me if I'm wrong.

I mean, they act as auditors during this period of time. They have been assigned the 23, 24, and 25 audits. And quick update, we are still waiting on their final report in 23 and 24. And they have taken information from us on 25. But should we have issues with the audits or questions that that we can go to? I don't think it needs to hear. Okay. Take the arrow, please. Thank you. Was a move. I second. Okay, it was moved and seconded. Any further discussion on the motion hearing? None. Roll call, please. Dana Cummings, yes. Morang, yes. Stevens, yes. Yes.

And Boom. Yes. Item 8E, appointment of legal counsel/ city solicitor. Recommended Rodman and Winchill. Do I have a motion discussion? Everybody, I move to accept legal counsel of Redmond and Winchell. I'll second that. It's been moved and seconded. Any further discussion on the motion? Um, Dennis, you're sitting here in front of us. you have been our city attorney for a number of years,

about 25. Yes. And as I had indicated to Brian, um I would like to be able to retain both, but I can't have two, but I would like to be able to keep that working relationship with you um on behalf of the city. I'm speaking more for for Brian or the cities because you have a lot of history here. Um I I I I don't I don't mean to open this up to a floor discussion, but are you acceptable to that those kind of terms?

Yeah. Uh although you know I guess I'd have to say that that discussion probably should have been held before right now. Um I was under the assumption it was. Uh no. So was I.

Okay. Um this this you know by your charter is a is an office that you feel um you know that has to come that that appointment has to come through you typically when there's been changes in offices like that that are uh you know outside professionals like uh like an auditor if there's going to be a change in that you do an RFP Um and and there there's a discussion with people who are interested in uh in that and um you know that's it my uh learning of of this was a phone call uh of of 3 minutes from Brian one day last week. you know, how how to respond to that is is, you know, I'm not quite sure what to what the issue is. Um, you know, and all of a sudden that causes um, you know, a desire for change. Um, you know, certainly your prerogative to do that. Um, and and I'm certainly open to having discussion for doing uh, the local stuff. um because I'm fairly confident that uh you know when Ella or uh or any of the department has has a question um and and meets into some fairly immediate and maybe even onsite stuff not coming from Bangalore.

So you weren't privy to this then? Uh no ju just I called Dennis um probably last week um and told him that I was requesting that we would be going in this direction. I do recall then as I said if it was possible that you know revolution was not required to be exclusive and it might be possible to work together but we did not discuss that in detail. I I merely said that I went no further and I did not attempt to engage. Well, first of all, I'd like to apologize to you, Dennis. I don't um I I didn't I I guess I didn't get that from our discussion. I got the the phone call was made and you were willing to work with us. um which I was thankful for because I do put a lot of trust in your history um

because you've been here for so many years and I don't want to sever that tie. Um however, I think that we are facing some issues and and I'm not going to belver the point. I mean some of the issues that we've done uh I haven't been totally happy with but that doesn't mean that you haven't done a good job. That's not the the point. The point is the manager is requesting to use different legal counsel to do his job and I as council president and going to work with him and I want him to be happy with who he's chosen. Um but I I don't want to separate the tie. So I don't know how else I can say it. um other than I would appreciate your willingness to continue working with us if on an on an as needed basis but to I don't know whether I can I I don't know whether the charter says I can have two legal firms. If I can if I can then maybe I should just try to reward the motion. It it it does um you know it it allows for there to be you know additional council if you don't wish for that to occur. Would you be objective to being two councils?

No. Okay. I don't know whether the council would support that but I would ask that the council amend the motion or leave it as stand. And I think Rhonda Rhonda made the motion and Colleen seconded. So are either of you interested in amending a motion or do you want to leave it as it is? Do we have a budget to have two legal councils? We have a lump sum. So run uh

we have been over. Correct me if I'm wrong. Um it's a it's a according your last the last it's a $3,000 a year retainer that you bill on a full monthly basis um plus $200 an hour. Run Mitchell is 295 for lawyer 225 for a parillegal with no retainer. So it's a question of my managing hours. Well the the retainer part of things basically covers my attendance at the meeting. Um yeah, but my my point is by by having I don't I'm not I'm not incurring additional cost just by naming two people, right?

How do you guys feel? I've already stated how I felt. I'd like to retain both, but if I if we can't, we can't. I think we should retain both. Well, I do. I don't like how this was handled, be honest with you. I I think we should retain both if we're going to do this. I I got a letter January 5th this was going to happen and it was dated December 10th. So, I wasn't happy in the first place. So, so do I resend the nominee? Do I just add or you can amend your motion to include?

Okay. Amend the emotion to say I move that we accept legal counsel and city solicitor of both RDman Winchell and Dennis Mahar. Mahar. Yes. Yes. when you call someone the first name all the time. You see, you're willing to accept the amended motion? Yes, I'm I'm okay with that.

And again, Dennis, I'm going to apologize for this council and this that it came to this position. I I I I truly do apologize for that. Any further discussion on the motion hearing? Roll call, please. Dana yes. Morang, yes. Stevens, yes. Sally, yes. And Boom. Yes.

And Dennis, I'm going to ask since that you are part of our council that you come back and sit at this table with us because that's your rightful seat. Um hopefully we don't call on you too much, but if we do, we do. But thank you again, Dennis. Um 8F approve city treasurer camel to change and negotiate and execute quick claim deeds. Can can I ask a question? Yes. Should that be worded um city treasurer and the deputy? I don't think in the past had two

this the city treasur gets to name deputies um as they wish. So and then they can determine what they Okay. So it's that's not am I correct there? Well, this for executing those deeds, um, it generally does need to be the treasurer. Well, in which case, I wouldn't recommend modifying it at this point because although we have deputy treasures to back us up, we wouldn't be handing any of our deputy treasures a quick claim de execute at this point. Okay. I'll make a motion to approve the city treasurer Camela Dashing to negotiate and execute quick claim deeds. I seconded. Moved and seconded. Any further discussion on the motion hearing? Done. Roll call, please. Danny yes. Morang, yes. Stevens, yes.

Yes. Yes. 8G. Council liaison appointment for county year 2026 C attached. They've had some fun with that up here. I can tell you that. Check off what they don't want. No, I I I want to know discussed it already that I am currently the liaison to the ambulance. I'm fine if someone else wants to go, but um I've been attending. When do they meet? It's quarterly and med events. And is it at night? 4:30. Do they meet by Zoom?

I'm sorry. Do they meet by Zoom? No. No. events 4:30. I might be able to do that one. I think you should. Oh, shut up.

Um, I can do the ambulance one. Let's just start at the top. Airport Advisory Board. I'm currently on that. I I don't mind continuing. Okay. Um Rhonda's willing to try the ambulance one unless you really want it. Brian, I'm willing to give you a break. Um no, I I every board I'm serving on right now. You may wonder why, but um I'm very attent trying to become very attentive to financials. Um uh and I haven't had the chance to do it this year. I'd like to keep kept in the loop on that, but I don't feel the need to be at the meeting in person. Okay. Thank you. And if you can't make it on, Brian can step in for you if it's a if it's now, but are they still giving out reports?

Oh, yeah. Okay. Is that something we can get? Sure. Make copies. I haven't seen one in a while. Budget committee. I'm not sure who Colleen was last year. Did you still want it? No. Unless somebody else wants it. What time do they meet? At night. Typically, I mean, the budget committee hasn't been formed yet, but uh it has historically been an evening meeting. Yeah, it's like six. Yeah, five and six. Yeah, I'll take that one. No one else wants it. Nobody's pounding down the door.

No, it's it's a good committee. Uh cemetery committee. I I've been on it. I guess I'm still on it. I don't know. We have Do they meet? We haven't met in quite a while. Uh, so should it be disbanded? I I don't see any reason why. What was the purpose of it?

Well, the purpose was to help guide the cemetery supervisor in um what the committee wanted to see happen in the cemetery like and Taff is a city superintendent up there. She's doing fine by herself. So, she really doesn't need any guidance. Uh, I guess the only time that it ever really come an issue was when they were using the interest off of the monies that set aside for the cemetery. There's a certain criteria um for perpetual care. There's there's a certain amount of money in a count. you can use the interest to purchase mowers, purchase loan seed,

and you've done a we've done that a couple times. Um, but I mean, nothing's out of the hand. So, the cemetery committee hasn't had to meet to say, "Look, you can't do that or we don't have enough funds for it or this is what we'd like to see done." She's she's doing a good job. So, So, should we disband that committee? I think maybe you might want to ask the members of the committee. Who are the members of the committee? No, no, there's a there's a few. Carolyn Davis, Janice Sutherland was the last president of the committee. Billy, if you feel like to speak to them and and then if there's no purpose for you, disband it everywhere.

Yeah, I I think we should hold off on that because I I don't really see a need for it. Charter review committee. I don't know that that's not active. It's not active, but it's in the charter. It's a standing committee or it has to be formed to modify the term. You know what? Let's we can clarify that in February. I don't have a big investment in it. I'm sorry. I'm going down a rabbit hole just thing, wasn't it? Ed you Edward Edward Edward was on it. And to to begin with it was actually a committee. Um

budget planning, comprehensive zoning, historic petitions and school are in the charter. So that's one. It's only if they have something active before them that council wishes for them to say nothing may or may not come off, but you would address that. It's as needed assigned by the council. I think and be I have no objection to it. I just was unclear if it had to be a standing committee. I'll take that one since it doesn't really meet. Oh boy. I'll talk to Ed. No. Dear committee, uh Dave, David, I'll take that one.

Thank you. Economic development committee. I like that one. I don't know who's on it or when they meeting, but that's as far as I know has been not at all active. Not since I've been here. Well, if somebody wants to bring it up, I'll Yeah, I'm on it. Energy committee. That one is meeting still, right? Yep. Yes, Jean's on that. I was never at 1:30. Probably won't make it again, will you? On it again. Huh? I can't meet at 1:30. I know. Yeah, they meet at like 1:30 in the afternoon.

Fiber committee. Do they even meet? I thought they didn't meet but the there was a subcommittee under them the digital clarify that one they haven't said they haven't put out any they were active like once in the last 12 months I thought they were closing out a grant or something yeah they closed out of that after that fidium fiber or something yeah I there's no other once fidium came in there was some right there was some subcommittee that had digital equity dig um I don't think I'm not aware of activity recently though. Yeah, we can check with Ken on that. Harbor, sorry, Harbor Committee. Yeah, I' I'd like to do that one.

Who's doing it? Right Dave. Yep. Historic review board. I'll stay on that. Eastport Housing Committee has done away with. Right. Marry and transfer, city manager, uh, microloan committee. I'd like to do that one. How many times did you meet last year? Exactly. I think that's why she said I hope they did. Did they meet? No. I mean, cuz I know it's only for ones that can get acquire loan. Yeah. But it is a good program. I do know that, too. It is.

Yeah. I do mean to say about Yeah. Okay. Well, let Colleen stay on it then. Yeah. Planning board. I'd like to do that. Okay. Port authority is myself and Brian. Recycling committee. I'll stay on that. School board. I'd like to senior citizens. That's me or it has been. Nobody objects. I'll stay on it. I'm getting pretty close to it now. Marine shellfish. Who do they meet?

That was a warm small. Yeah, it's not a regular. It's sporadic throughout the year as they call the meetings. And I would think that would be an evening meeting. I can't speak to that personally, but Lorian typically said no. Yeah, I don't know when they meet. They meet, yeah, a couple times, usually in the spring, just as they get ready for doing things again. And I don't remember when they met this past. He's working on the annual review which is due April 1st. So, we can certainly tell them that you've been appointed and that that means an evening meeting. And if that prohibits them from meeting across that bridge, we don't do it. Who wants who wants?

I'll take it. You take it. Board of appeals. Me and you, Brian. Well, to be clear, actually, port authority is not an appointment, right? That's that's actually in the port chart. I I just make sure we're clear on that. And I don't actually I don't know the CBA well enough. I'm assuming we're named there as well. Go ahead and put it in there. But I don't think we have any option. Okay. Well, I think we got down to we got four that we need to check on and the housing committee is removed. I have only one the fiber committee, but we weren't sure if they were existing. Colleen was going to wait. Oh, I thought she didn't want it. Oh, yeah. Can't have one.

Nobody. Nobody timing cuz they meet in the afternoon. In the afternoon committee. We don't even know whether still even exist. Cemetery committee we're going to check on. I had a charter review committee that branch review. I said I'd be on. You did? Yes. Oh, okay. You're going to leave me on cemetery and we'll see if we're going to continue. Mhm. Energy committee is timing. Private committee is disbanded, I think, or we're going to check on We're going to check.

Okay. And then housing committees. Housing committee we dismanted.

Been moved and seconded. Any further discussion on the motion? Hearing none. Roll call, please. Dana yes. Morang, yes. Stevens, yes. Yes. And boom, yes. 8H, establish a 0% discount rate for prepayment of fiscal year 2027 taxes. How can you have a 0% discount? Discount for prepayment. So, you don't get any benefit to pay early. If you pay 3 months early, we don't give you interest in the 3 months before it's due. So you're getting zero. Okay. Yeah, I always like that one. I'll make that motion. I'll second it.

It's been moved and seconded. Any further discussion on the motion? Hearing none. Roll call, please. Daniel Cummings, yes. Morang, yes. Stevens, yes. Sely, yes. And yes. 8 I. Approval of sewer commitment third quarter fiscal year. Well, before we do that one, um I I think you need to move also to accept prepayments of taxes. That's correct. We usually have that on there. I move to accept prepayment of taxes for 2027 for 2026. 2027. 2027.

I'll just keep adding years. I think what we did in the past, we made that as part of the bundle package when we did the budget process, but but if you're setting a rate for 4, you're probably probably ought to be able to do it. Yeah. So, I'm just going to call it HA. Uh, and the motion is to accept prepayment. To accept prepayments. Do I have a second on that motion? Yeah, I'll second it. Okay. Any further discussion on the motion? Is there a discount when you prepay? Just thought I'd ask. You know, there used to be years ago. I know. Cuz I used to cash in on that.

Perry does it. That's That's for That's actually not prepayment. That's uh if you pay Pepper and Perry both do that and it's like 3% if you pay within 30 days and Yeah. 2% if you pay within 60 days. Then it goes away. Yeah. And then after 90s it goes the other way. Yeah. Probably that's what we want to try today. I think we only I think adding complexity to that process is something I'd like to avoid. Not this year anyway. And the same thing the 0% prepayments. We're not a bank. I prefer not to be in that business. Yeah.

Well, either way, we have a motion on the floor. Any further discussion on the motion hearing? None. Roll call, please. Dan Cummings, yes. Morang, yes. Steven, yes. Sally, yes. And Boom, yes. 8 I approval of sewer commitment third quarter fiscal year 2026 for January 12th, 2026 billing.

So, we actually don't have a motion here because we don't have a number. Uh, but it gives me a chance at least say. So, Lita has been quite ill. Um, she's had the flu for about three weeks. Um I spoke with her today. Um so I just there's no motion here. I'm just going to say I I'll tell you guys and we're going to there sewer bills will be probably at least a month late. Um she was not able to start the billing process before she got sick. She's on antibiotics. She says she feels a whole lot better today. Um I think I told you I hope we're going to be crossraining Tabitha into this now. Was supposed to start with this billing cycle and this is when she got sick. But uh you will get this number in the next uh the next uh at the next meeting. So it will just be late or we going to skip and just do a double

no it will be late because it will be late. Uh and of course the we will advance the the due date by the same amount. But I mean I'll put it this. That's my plan. God forbid Jeep remains sick or we have trouble moving forward with that. I may have to come back to you with another plan. But at this point um we hope to be no more than a month late. Um, and having said that in public, then we'll put this on the website and go from there. Table it at this point, right? We really can't take action without the number. So, it's not even tableabling. There's just no motion at this point. We'll carry that to the next agenda. Because it only because it has to have the number.

Okay. 8J, appointment of election clerks and ballot clerks for 2026. Donathyer, Teresa Meley, April Terot, Leo O'Brien, Camela Duchaine, Judith Peters, Christine Cox, Julie Lein, Cindy Mitchell, Vicky Morang, Peter Fuin, Jean Shield, and Jeannie Perram. I'll make that motion. I'll second. Moved and seconded. Any further discussion on the motion hearing? None. Roll call, please. Dana Cummings, yes.

Morang, abstain. Stevens, yes. Staley, yes. And Boon, yes. AK council approval of reappointment and/or new members to boards and committee. K I reappointments of Chris Bartlett, Chris Greg Bis, George Butch Harris, Lee Harris, Angus McFale, Dean Pike, and Earl Small to Harbor Committee. I'll make that motion. I'll second. Any further discussion on the motion? Hearing none. Roll call, please. Don Cummings,

yes. Morang, yes. Steven, yes. Yes. Yes. 8. What the heck? 8K 2. Yeah, I have an adjustment to this one. Um, these are all reappoints. So, the motion should be reappoints for Ed French, Katherine Lee, Jean Reese, Dean Shield, and Alton Chandler. Got to say that. Oh. Oh. All in all to reappoint. Okay, I'll make that motion. Second it.

The motion is to reappoint Ed French, Katherine Lee, Jean Rise, Jean Shield, and Alden Chandler to the historic review board. Any further discussion on the motion hearing? None. Roll call, please. Dana Cummings, yes. Morang, yes. Stevens, yes. Singing, yes. And Boom, yes. K3 reappointments of Michael Morris, Bob O'Hara, Steven Collins, Hugh French, Greg Gordon, Dan Ranga, and associate members of associate members to the planning board. Dan Rang is an associate. Okay, I got that confused. All right.

What qualifies an associate member? It's like a backup. I think it's a spare. If something happens, somebody else going to step in. That associate member is essentially a secondary. Yeah. Yeah. Do I have a motion? I'll make that motion. I'll second. One of you is going to be first. One's going to be second. Colleen's first. I'm second. Okay. I know. We're trying to put Ella to a test here. We're doing pretty good. She stay with us. Roll call, please. David Cummings, yes. Lorraine, yes. Steven, yes. Yes.

And yes, this one's very different. Uh because there were a lot of changes that we missed here. So, here's here's the names. We have reappoints of Sarah Kusi, Beth Clifford, Sally Claron, Becca Hammond, Chip Hammond. Um I had it right in front of me. I'm sorry. Uh Dave Denine, Stephanie Thomas, and James Overly to the recycling committee. So what happens to the other two? So Laura, Pat, Laura Kger, and Martha Floyd are removed. Okay. Dave Denise, Stephanie Thomas, and James Overly are added.

Okay. And these are reappointments. Yes. Okay. Oh, I'm sorry. You've written add here. Ella, Dave, Denine, Stephanie Thomas, and James Overly. They can't be those are new. That's because I didn't have Okay. No, they're all reappointed. Okay. Okay. All right. I'll make that motion. I'll second it. Been moved and seconded. Any further discussion on the motion hearing? None. Roll call, please. Dave Cummings. Yes. Morang. Yep. Stevens. Yep.

Sely. Yes. And yes. On the next one, Chris Garlet resigned in Don Dunick's past. So those two are not being reappointed. It starts with Karen Ferris. Reappoints of Karen Ferris, Leah Cole, Greg Noise, and Robert Peacockout to the zoning board of appeals. I'll make that motion. I'll second. Been moved and seconded. Any further discussion on the motion? Hearing none. Roll call, please. Dana Cummings, yes. Morang, yes. Stevens, yes. Yes. Boom. Yes.

86. Reappoints of Lauren Small, Gary Small, Willott, and James Young to the Shellfish Committee. I'll make that motion. I'll second it. Moved and seconded. Any further discussion on the motion hearing? None. Roll call, please. Dana Cummings, yes. Morang, yes. Steven, yes. Sally, yes. And Boom. Yes. We are on 8 L. Appointment of Jeannie Smith, Rachel Williams to the budget committee, three-year terms.

Yes. So, just to clarify, um the budget committee is set up in charter as having staggered three-year terms. Somewhere along the line, we we lost track of who had what terms. We haven't been able to put all of that back together. Um the one Victoria Gans is certain she is on the third year of her term, so she's still on the committee and she will need to be reappointed or she'll move on next year. Jenny and Rachel both uh did not know where they were in their term. Actually, Jenny thought she might need to be reappointed. Rachel wasn't sure. they both were willing to take start off with three-year terms. So, we're trying to keep them staggered again. Um, under V, we mentioned Don Bailey has

resigned. We could potentially pick that up here. And I do have a letter from Aaron Weston, who if you wanted to adopt him, I would recommend taking as a two-year term. Do you want me to try to phrase that for you as one big motion? Yes, please. Okay. So, you would be looking to appoint Jenny Smith and Rachel Glitch to the budget committee for three-year terms running from July 1st, 2026 to June 30, 2029. To appoint Haron Western to a two-year term beginning July 1st, 2026, ending Jul uh June 30th, 2028. And to accept the resignation of Don Bailey. I make that motion.

I'll second it. Any further discussion on the motion? I have a question. So that date 712026 that they do all their work. You are supposed to be naming people at the beginning of the fiscal year. We've been missing that. Oh, and our fiscal year begins in July. So that's why I'm doing it this way. If we're going to get the terms right, we might as well get them right to the day. And we're going to start doing oath of offices. I'm sorry. Oath of office. Taking the oath of the office. Yeah, we'll have to get them to take the oath. Yeah, they just didn't have the terms on them. We were filling positions because it was such a turnover. Coming off, going on, coming on, going off and just we just got a little loose with it.

Okay. Okay. So, we have four people on the budget committee. That gives us four people on the budget committ. And are we supposed to have five? We are supposed to have five. We can have up to nine. Um, we would want to have Right. So, but the council can appoint after five, right? after five then you can appoint people for single year terms at that point. Um we did advertise in the December 26th budding tides. Uh Heron was the only response I received. Um

and it's not going to stop till February process begins. I'll present the budget in February and the work will begin at that point. uh clearly the intention we've talked about this and I haven't been able to follow through of letting the budget committee you know be part of the finance process you know starting in July keeping it on and just too many things going on but I I do think that's a good idea and that's clearly the intention of the charter so um I would recommend you know if there are people who are interested in serving or you know that um get the word out so that we can have them on board when we start February that they come to city hall and make that request or I I've asked that they They send a letter. Actually, I did not.

I have a letter from sorry, which I did not. Let me read Harold's letter since he he did this. So, we requested that they submit a letter to Billy as the council president with care of me. So, it comes through me. Um, and Haron's letter read, "I'm writing to you today to communicate my interest in serving as a member of Eastport's 2027 budget committee. I feel the city's administration has been moving in an exciting direction in recent years, and I'm looking for ways to help support this progress. I have experience in municipal budgeting in my current role as Washington County unorganized territory supervisor. I'm happy to accept any term of office the council deems appropriate. I forgot that's what his job was. Yeah.

So, um if anyone else and that's what we've asked for. Basically, a letter of intent stating your interest and any what you bring to the table. Yeah. Any further discussion on the motion? Um, please if you know of anybody or if anybody in the audience would like to step up, we can take it. Um, hearing none. Roll call, please. Daniel Cummings, yes. Merang, yes. Stevens, yes. Stanley, yes. And Boom. Yes.

8 M. Council approval of perpetual care lots. 8 M1 Lenor Buunner Bayside West section E lot number 19 for $300 and M2 Patricia Goodwin Bayside West section E lot 6C for $150. I'll make that motion. Seconded. Moved and seconded. Any further discussion on the motion hearing? None. Roll call, please. Damn. Yes. Morang. Yes. Stevens. Yes. Sing. Yes.

Yes. 8N. CD rollover with Bangor Savings Bank. The amount is $12,5728 9 months at 3%.

And so, uh, the council has to approve investments. I will tell you, we've actually already done this. We missed the, uh, we missed the rollover date on this. And this was the highest rate on a CD we could obtain at Angler Savings to keep it simple. Um Cammy and I have discussed we really need an investment policy and some discussion about how we want to handle this uh going forward. We get um we I won't go into the details. We get a a pretty good interest rate actually on our general fund. Um I don't know and I don't know if Ella, you know, if there was a particular reason this money was set aside in the CD. Um

that's what I was going to ask. just going to roll it forward and we're going to sit down and and talk about um you know the best way to ensure we're getting the return on the on the funds we're keeping on deposit. But as far as we know, this was not earmarked for anything in particular. We we have plenty of earmarked funds, but they're they're handled through the accounting system, not through separate financial instruments. I move the CD rollover at Bangor Savings Bank 12,2728 for 9 months at 3%. I'll second that. Been moved and seconded. Any further discussion on the motion?

Roll call, please. Damning. Yes. Morang. Yes. Stevens. Yes. Sing. Yes. And yes. 8. Council approval for event airport community days on June 20th, 2026. I'm pretty sure it's 11 to 3. I'll make that motion. I'll second it. Been moved and seconded. I don't know whether I can get council marine to do traffic control this year or not, but we'll try. You did a good job, by the way. Any further discussion on the motion hearing? None. Roll call, please. Ben yes. Morang, yes. Stevens, yes. Yes.

And Boom. Yes. AP. Approval of renewal for VES vessel liquor license. Yes. Thank you.

SU October 12th and 13th. Times to be determined. So, I'll point out this is this is an approval, not a scheduling of a public hearing as we discussed back in the the summer that we were doing this with the cruise ships. Um, public hearings are not required. Um, we'll be I sent you out the liquor license policy which kind of sets up what your degree of freedom is there. So, just pointing out that in fact that is what we're doing. Uh, they'll be here 2 days. It's a small ship. They've been here before. They're just way early on their planning. Didn't Chris talk about or maybe it was just because I was in the office one day. I don't know. Um he talked about trying to get approval for the ship company almost.

Well, so we don't have that's kind of what happened. So long as it's the same provider. Um the vessel I actually got talking with the guy at the alcohol board to make sure I understood all the vessel details and I don't right now. This one was small enough that was just those two days. But for example, not this year but next year. Right now, the plan is to have a ton of Norwegian ships in and the question is, do we just approve all of them through one license or not? We're going to have to cross that bridge when we come to it. Um, the one thing we did, you know, at least determine and no, the court had actually been approving these before. We they found the board figured out that wasn't appropriate. Um, we talked about not necessarily having you guys approve it. Turns out we can't do that either. So, it does have to come to you. Um, we're just at this point uh not requiring a public hearing, which again is actually not required by statute. That's at your choice to do it. But we had agreed earlier we wouldn't

just for those two days. Yeah, just for those two days. And again, it's for their service on the ship. Uh they do not serve anyone from the public, only their own customers. I'll make the motion to approve the renewal for the vessel liquor license for the that thing for 12 and 13. You are not. Okay. Do I have a second? Seconded. Moved and seconded. Any further discussion on the motion hearing? None. Roll call, please. Danny Cummings, yes. Morang, yes. Steven, yes. Yes. Boom. Yes. AQ. Discussion.

Council have any objection to going to our I realize Allen's here and we've made him sit through all of our housekeeping and I have another this whole taxpayer policy may we may talk at for a while. So, I'm happy to let him bring his issue forward if that's all right. I'm Objection from council. I'm good with this. Okay. So, um Al consider it a bump. Yeah, you got bumped.

So, before hear what you have to propose, let me tell you what I understand about the way our ordinances are right now and then we can talk about whether um we have we have business today or not. We haven't been um enforcing the mobile vending unit ordinance in the last few years and that's on me. just more than I was able to figure out. The way it's currently set up, if you're looking to run um a food truck, and Chrissy, you and I have talked about this as well. Um there is, you have this mobile vending, I keep saying unit, is that correct? I've got it here. Well, it's you can find it on the website. The idea behind it is that to be able to operate a food truck, um, you have to, if you're going to do so out, if you're going to do it within a special event, the ordinance says you still need to apply, but there's no charge and you are not required to also have applied for a fixer's license. There are, however, quite a long list of bullets of things you have to do having the state and you have to have garbage cans and all this other stuff that has to be there. There's also a question of where you can be located. As it's currently set forward, the only city property that that ordinance permits food trucks to be set up on um are the two parking lots uh between um between Washington Street and um Oak. Thank you, Sullivan. I want to say Mitcher. I knew that was wrong. Um you can set up on private land. Um, it has to be in a B1 or B2 district. Um,

how do you find out if it's a B1 or B2 district? You have to come to us and look at the zoning map. Most of the stuff most of the places you'd want to be doing this are are that right in town. So, where I'm going with all of this is um we can I'm not sure that the council I' if the council me sit down, I'm not sure I'm not sure you would all be equally happy with the ordinance as it currently stands. It's quite restrictive. If you want to operate outside of an event. I'm sorry. Yes. Go ahead. Now, but there's one other ornament, the vendors and peddlers ornaments, right? So, if you're not, but if you're not serving food, you could be under vendor and peddlers, but it doesn't say food.

It it vendor and peddlers does it, but mobile vending unit says if you're serving food, you're mobile vending unit. And so, you're covered under that ordinance. That's my reading at least. Um, and we could clarify that. I to be clear, I have no horse in this race. Um, I just want to make sure I'm telling you what we're having to do right now and we might want to make some changes going forward. This trailer, uh, it's a pizza trailer, wood fire, propane, I felt that for William. Yeah. And it's going to be Williams business. Okay. So, that's why I was talking sometimes with the bears and everything, bring it downtown. Yeah.

But maybe a couple days a week doing it where we are park cuz we got electricity and water and he's 14. I can take it down to Pemrook or some place else, but then I have to drive away every Yeah. And it's not like a seven day a week thing. It's a couple days a week and where the kids could, how can I say it? Some of his friends come learn business every day and stuff like that. But there's always going to be an adult in there because you're working with hot stuff and different things and stuff like that. So it was almost putting us together for him. Sure. Can't wait to do it

and get back together like that. So I know B1 B2, but to me that looks like and this is a food trailer, not a food truck. It looks like it's set up so nobody can come in town and just park out of their front yard. But there are people doing it, you know,

and but we I've not been enforcing it the last two years. I just it was too much to deal with, but I wanted to this year because it wasn't fair. Um, what I might want to suggest because Chrissy, I wasn't also clear because your situation was a little bit different the way you're you're set up and actually right now it is it is um we actually may have a problem that we have to change. The mobile food the mobile vending ordinance says you can't be set up with 150 ft of an existing restaurant. the um so that would rule out the fisherman's parking lot where people are except for on festival days. What? Except for on festival days, isn't it?

It's unclear if it's accepting festival days or not. It's It's just not really well written. What I what I was going to suggest is perhaps if I could get you guys and Chrissy and me together and we go through and so you you'll get to see how ordinances get made uh and try to figure out how the ordinance might best be to permit this kind of activity if the council feels like. Do you need a workshop? Uh, well, you would need a workshop to discuss it. And if you wanted to do it that way, we could certainly just call a separate workshop, sit down and take it apart. Sorry, Colleen. I I'd also like to see something about um the the where the fisherman statue is. We just spent what $12,000 to upgrade.

I'd like to see us make sure we utilize that for people. Not $12,000, but yes, we spent a lot. We spent a few thousand. I'll let you know. I think it was three or four. Did you get that whole electric redone? Yeah. Yeah. We didn't spend 12,000. You know, Chrissy and uh Allen are residents of Esport. They they should have first dibs on on this before we let someone from these are someone come in here. You would have to hold the public hearing whatever changes, right? So, we have to figure out what changes you want and we determine the changes public hearing.

So, it' be possible to get this all cleared up by March, but Um, and I lived in a town before I where the city had a license, let's say, for the year, not for professional people coming in with trucks from all over the place, but people that did stuff like this, let's say it would be $500 a year, but you did two or three days a week to pick different spot. They bring revenue for the city. Uh, because everybody had to be registered with the city. that's bringing a food trailer. Even that's a thing. That is that is actually in the ordinance. I hadn't gotten to that. I only spoke about special events, but there is a a 365 day license. Yeah.

Which if you're set up on city property is 400 bucks. If you're set up on private property is 100 bucks. Yeah. Yeah. That's another thing.

So, I I think we can work this out. I just think the way it stands right now is is ugly and messy. Yeah. Andy, I it would be good to use this opportunity to I I my guess is going to be when it was first put together, maybe you remember, Ella, that there's may have been a specific request and a lot of concerns and they structured it right about that and then the world has changed quite a bit. There's way more of them. because I went through this whole thing before we started my call down and asked a couple questions. I was told yes, but it wasn't, you know, to the city and then I talked to William and I said, "This is going to cost us a good amount of money. I know you have $2,000 saved up. Do you want to chip that in?" And he was he didn't his face turned red about this for a while and then he said, "Yeah, I'll do it." because this guy went out and sold his business and now nobody has woodf fired pizza. But I tell them all the kid I don't want you 200. I just wanted to make sure you committed. So it's been a thing over there.

Yeah. Yeah. All right. So the other thing I would speak to Brian and Mr. Skinner is you had mentioned about going out of the sport also. you would need to inquire with the other towns to see what their policy is. Yeah, supposedly because I didn't like taking a line all the way out there to pick up a couple pizza

and a lot of people say the same thing. I think the big thing is just to have answers what can be done so we know like I've been doing the donuts for what 15 16 years but it's one of those things you go big of a home you know like if I were to go and buy a trailer and then found out I couldn't set up you know I just wanted to have an idea what could be done before making decision

and I've given Chrissy some irritating answers some of the time because I I'm just trying to read the letter of the law to make it clear and it's it's not fitting that well Um, so it's it's I guess what's council's pleasure. We could certainly just jump to trying to schedule a workshop, call them in, work with text ahead of time. If you would like me to sit down with them and do some, it's it's your call. Yeah. Do the leg work. Right.

Um I I think if if Al and Chrissy and Brian could get together and try to come up with what they need or how how they can accomplish what they're trying to do, the goals, and then Brian can check with the state, make sure everything's okay. I I tend to agree with Dave. Uh your Eastport residents, let's let's promote that. Let's let's try to work with you and let's get you going. And I and I commend the young man for doing it. I'm glad he didn't have to spend his $2,000, but um No, and I and I think it's he he sees a need for a void that needs to be filled and he's going to try to fill it.

He spent over the summer doing stuff with his trike and his car with his corn, you know, and he's he's made good money doing that. Good. And now it's time saves everything. And now we're going through the health department like I did with the last trailer I built a couple years ago. Yeah. Going to the health department getting everything certified. I'm certified food and whatever and getting the trailer and everything done. So everything's up and So So are you both willing to work with Brian and trying to get this? Yeah. I I think this this is obtainable.

I'll be on vacation until the 26th, but I've made it I'll make a note by calendar to reach you right at the beginning of that week. Feel free to reach out to me if you think I should have gotten to you already and we'll we'll find a common time and we'll we'll thrash it out. In the meantime, it sounds like you've already got the ordinances in hand, but if you don't, read them through, see what bugs you about them, and and we'll be ready to go when I get back. Sound good? All right. Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you. Thanks. Have a good night, guys. All right. So, we are back to 8 Q discussion of proposed policy for marketing and sale of foreclosed tax acquired properties. I've given you a draft which I just kind of pulled out of my head. Um, I did ask uh Senator Cavi to give a quick quick put a quick item just as a realtor to say is there anything that makes no sense at all that would there but um the intention here is if we're the when we spoke about this last time we said you know the idea of essentially giving it letting there be kind of a lottery for the properties you because the other option is indeed just you could put out an RFP you could try to select a single agent whatnot but we said we might go this direction. Uh I know uh Billy thought perhaps it's a bit elaborate. Um but I wanted to I thought it was good that he clear exactly what the expectations are. Um and of course it's important to me there's a provision in there if they don't want to accept the property that we get it in writing so that that happens three times. We can justify going to bid. Um this has not been vetted legally yet. I didn't want to run through that until I knew that it uh satisfied you. So it's it's at this point it's just a discussion and this is a policy not an ordinance so it doesn't require public hearing

and didn't we pass a policy about this we ordinance on sale of city property. So that's a little bit that is that the reason we actually did that is because that was that one was a illegal state because it was allowing bidding and b it had those provisions that forced us into repayment agreements. So, we just kind of re-edited that and the the what we came out with there is essentially the first thing it says is if it's a foreclosed property, we follow state statute and that's all that really says. This is how we're going to follow state statute with respect to funding.

Why do you think it's too long? Um, well, as I told Brian, I I just didn't think that honorable about the beginning of the calendar year, the city will advertise that it is seeking licensed real estate agents. I I think it's the real estate agents should let us know if they're interested in selling. I don't think we have to wait till the count first of the year. Um to me to be honest with you I think I almost read it as at the beginning of every year we will advertise that we're taking applications for real time.

The idea was kind of starting clean each year uh we could talk about that that people you know once they see the process may or may not be interested. They may or may not be in the business anymore. Um and and that you want to give everyone a chance to say hey it's you can put your name in in the hat. Um, we did do an RFP that was directed to firms and did not get any response. Um, I had West do a very unofficial poll of basically every real estate agent with body ties in one issue to say would you be interested and like twothirds said they'd be interested. That doesn't necessarily mean they'd participate. So, I thought there was enough interest out there that you'd want to put it out. I mean, we could talk about um, you know, you could just from time to time the city will advertise um, and that way it's you know, not it then we don't get down to the calendar year sort of thing. Again, this is a a policy. The intention is the intention with all this is so everyone knows what the ground rules are. You know that that they know what they're getting into. Um

and frankly, so that 3 years from now, somebody else is in this seat and things else have changed and somebody says, "How do we do that again?" We've written it down. Yeah. I mean, when a real estate agent comes in, you're just going to hand them this sheet. Basically, hand them the sheet. There's If you want it, fill out there's a form in there, fill out a piece of paper. We'll put it in there. We'll put essentially business cards in a fishbowl. and pick what we need to andce once a year something will go in the paper or something that we are going to be just to say that it's happening so that you don't you don't have to know a guy to know that that's how we do yeah right

that and I do have I I mean I haven't really read the the law totally from the state but I I do know that when they kind of force your hand to sell it for fair market value, also giving a quick clean deed, which is not a crystal clear deed. Um, by no means. Um, I think things may change. I I shouldn't say that they won't, but I think we get to a point where now nobody wants to list it because it's costing them money and they can't get nowhere near what the fair market value is. Well, my understanding of fair market value, what the intention there is, they don't want you to listen to the real estate agent and sell it for $5,000 if there's a house, right?

You know, you don't get out easy. You don't get to punish people for having done this and that sort of thing. However, a house that's only quick claim duty will have a lower fair market value than one that has a clear title. So, that that can be factored into what the amount is. And it mostly has to be it can't be an unfair or unreasonable amount because you will you are we're obligated to return the value apart from costs to them. Um you know in here I also spoke about you know we can talk about what the commission rate would be you know 3%. Do we think it's going to be hard to find people at 3%. You can name a higher rate. It it so long as we get enough money to pay our expenses, it will come out of the value of the of the there. And to be clear, everyone in the state is learning how to do this. So,

um, great. It's not like our policy. We're stuck by law. This is what we No, this is our policy. Can change it at any time. Again, it's about making sure we've said this that we know what the grounds rules are so we can stick to them and if they suck, we can change them. Pardon me. I'm very tired. Yeah. I teach middle school. I hear much worse. Yeah. And I guess in in some cases uh much like I think we're going to run into, we're not even going to be able to recoup what we got into them. That's right. It's it's so I mean it's No, I mean hopefully some of the properties have got price tag of 20,000 on them. We'll be lucky if we get two.

That's going to be the next that's going to be the next set of hoops we have to jump through. At at the moment we have a handful of recently foreclosed properties. because I'd like to move on. Yes, we have some in payment plans and some other things for which uh we may be happy just to get them off our books. Yeah. Liability and everything else. Yeah. Yeah. Uh so those are some of my concerns but I I mean honestly it's the state is really tying our hands and I understand the reasoning why but nonetheless I'm okay with whatever council would like aside from changing the not locking us in right to the

if you want to say from prime time to time make that alteration and accept it as it stands. Um if you do so that does make it possible for me to move forward on this. If you would like to have more time to look at it, it only means we have to go another month before we we do this. So, I don't you shouldn't feel like you're being cornered into passing it tonight if you'd like more time with it. I'm good with it. I'm good. I am as well with that change that we don't lock oursel in. Yeah. What number was that? The first one just on the time span of when we advertise from time to time periodically with amendment to be to Yeah. Um So,

I mean, I guess that that just gives you um I guess trying to look at it in a different light. It just gives you a structure January along with everything else. Let's add this in there pretty much. And it gives you that it gives you that option right then and there. I mean, so if you want to leave it the way it is, I'm fine with it. I mean, it's it it I I don't see it's going to be a big issue either way, but How much wiggle room do you want? Sorry. How much wiggle room do you want?

There's nothing worse than the only thing that that's the only thing that that's doing is it's basically telling us that we will advertise somewhere along that line, but I mean nothing says that the city may also shoot. So the So if a real estate agent comes in and says, "Look, I'd like to put my name in the bucket." They can. It's just they don't have to follow the advertisement. That's all. But it's making people aware that that process is available to them. Yeah. I I think I'd leave it. I think it's it's okay unless you want to feel strong against it. I mean, I'm okay with it the way it's written.

One or both. The beginning. I'll make a motion to accept the policy of marketing and sale foreclosure and tax acquired properties as is. I'll second. Moved and seconded. Any further discussion of the motion hearing? None. Roll call, please. Dan yes. Morang, yes. Steven, yes. Yes.

Yes. We're on 8S, proposed liquor license application policy. So, this one I don't expect you to act on today, but it came up because we ran into uh some timing issues. When an application is received by the alcohol board, and and I didn't know any of this until 2 weeks ago when I went back statute, you have 60 days to approve or deny. If you don't act in 60 days, it's implicitly approved. Oh, yeah.

I didn't know that either. Um, we have this process where when we receive an application, we then go to schedule a public hearing and we do it all the time. Even if um, if someone has had a license for 5 years without complaints, they can request a waiver to not have a public hearing. Um, and then after we schedule it, the next month, we go ahead and do it. So, it's a little tight to get on the 60-day period. And I actually think the the crab is past 60 days right now, but we're we went ahead and did it anyways because their application came in like the day after our council meeting.

Uh so the public hearing is not required. Um and I don't know how council feels about requiring it or not requiring it. Um but I felt that um because we the way we've always done it, we do it that way because that's the way we've always done it. There was no written policy. There's no attitude. So, I just went read through the statute and took a shot at saying what should the policy be? And as you'll see, I have it in there right now. I don't require that you should hold a public hearing. I actually wrote in there, you automatically wave if they've had 5 years without a complaint on the public hearing. So, you can just act on it. Um, it gives us some wiggle room, not wiggle room, it gives a place for us to discuss for things like a vessel license that we say we won't require as as a matter of course, we won't require a vessel license unless the council insists on it or something like that. So, I just wanted to state that I was giving it to you um and give you some time to look at it. But I think uh this is one of those many things I think it's better that we write it down uh so we know why we're doing things and and what we're about to do. So, if you have questions for me today, that's fine. Otherwise, I I won't ask for a motion today. Um we'll continue as we normally do things and uh pick

So, we tabled it to February. Yeah, I tabled it because I certainly haven't read it. Fair enough. I'll be honest. Without objection, we'll table 8s till February. 18 discussion of proposed HR policy.

This one doesn't even have a piece of paper for you, but you're going to get it in a week or two. Um, this has been going on for a year. I just haven't had time to go through it. Our existing HR policy is missing things. It's got stuff that's no longer accurate. We had a new policy uh drafted about this time last year. I think we started it and um and I am just now finishing review of it. Uh I'm going to be sending it your direction. It will require legal review as well, but I want everyone to have a chance to look at it. It's 40 pages long. I'm also going to send you the current one just in case you wonder what's different. Um and uh I expect maybe at the next meeting I'll ask for another discussion item and we'll hope to pass it the following week because then there are things I would actually like to change in our policy. I won't go in it right now, but we've got to get this one done. So, this is just me committing to saying you're going to get something, please be prepared for it and so we can talk about it at the next meeting and then maybe act after that. And it is a policy, not an ordinance. So, no action required there either. Okay.

So, table 8 to further discussion. I guess we are on 8US. Was that a Yes, we need to schedule a public hearing for the old saler license renewal. Oh, when is our next meeting? Yeah, the same thing. Indeed, sir. Indeed. The 11th. I move to schedule a public hearing for the Old South liquor renewal license for the February 11th city council meeting. I'll second that. Moved and seconded. Any further discussion on the motion hearing? None. Roll call, please. Dana Cummings,

yes. Morang, yes. Stevens, yes. Sally, yes. Yes. Believe it. We are moving on to number nine. We are minutes of previous meeting. Should have your packet. A uh from November 12th, 2025 regular meeting and B December 10th, 2025 regular meeting. A motion to approve the minutes from November 12th, 2025. Second.

Okay. Been moved and seconded on November 12th meeting minutes. Any further discussion? Hearing none. Roll call, please. Damon yes. Morang, yes. Steven, yes. Yes. Yes. Make a motion to accept the minutes from the December 10th meeting. I'll second it. Moved and seconded. Any further discussion on the motion hearing? None. Roll call, please. Dana Cummings. Yes. Morang. Yes. Stevens, yes. Yes. Yes.

Yes. For item 10, city manager report. So, a couple of things. The uh you should have my finance report. I don't I just want to give you a chance to ask questions. There's nothing dramatically different from last month. Um we've been on track. Um as I said, if you look at some of our numbers, uh overall expenses are a tiny bit hot, but that's because we've got capital and county budget and other things that are swept out. Um it's still it's close, but it should be. I feel like we're not either underbudgeted or overbudgeted. Um, and if anybody has any detailed questions, I'm happy to what is going on with programs

program? That's senior center. Oh, actually I did want to talk about that. So, we should talk about the expenses on the senior center um are are accumulated in that line. Um, at this point um I am not planning to ask for any assistance in covering that outside of the budget. Um, in a perfect world, we wouldn't have sent all of our capital reserve to the county and I would be asking for us to do a transfer out of capital reserve. That's that all we have in there um is enough to cover the sidewalk grant and ask grant

um we do have we are still have some cushion in our unassigned uh but it's close and that's based on weeks of taxation. So that those numbers will actually go up. The county the the local budget will probably go up a little bit and so the amount we need to hold will go up. So but that's what that is. That's uh 30 whatever it was. I forget what the number was but quite a bit. And that that's what came through there. That's the only one that jumped out at me.

Yeah. you know, little things. Animal control is going to go through the roof, but that's because we had uh an animal we had to um hold on to for quite some time and uh was the an animal that was not accepted by pause. So, we had to go back and forth to Perry and eventually take it down state to get it out of here. So, that's all done. But yeah, and why is city debt? Uh oh, cuz we paid off.

Those are just payments. So, everything all of our payments have have been processed. So, okay, we paid we paid all of our debt. Same thing with the capital. That's just a sweep account. So, we just we've already transferred that into capital reserve and then sent it out. Okay. Um uh to that ender, I'll just uh yes, I am producing I will be presenting um my draft budget uh at the February meeting. Um, absent any other direction, I am not intending to propose any significant changes to services and the intention is to bring a budget that provides those services as efficiently as we can. I will point out that with the county budget increase um 3%

and it looks like we might be so the county budget is allocated on valuation um and the state valuation for each of the communities and that kind of rolls around. They don't all get around there. We might be on a side where we are getting more revalued than other people. Right now we paid 400,000 this year. The guesstimate we don't have final value that it'll come in at 500,000 which is 20 25% even though it was a 17% increase. I'm hoping our prepayment will end up being more than was needed and we'll get something back on that. But I'll just point out that just by itself is 2.5% increase on t. Yeah, we'll at 2 and a4% increase on taxes. Um, so, uh, I think we're going to do a good job keeping things tight on the municipal side, but it's it's not it can't be lower than that number. So, that's where we'll be and I'll be prepared to talk about that and work with the budget committee on the county budget. Just quick update. Um, you know, we we we approved our prepayment. Um, that process is still going on. I am helping out with that, but I don't that's on my own time and my own mileage at this point. I've met East Machias and Leslie. Um, as of right now, about $5 million has been committed and $3.8 million has been paid in that direction. So, that's going on the way we want to. Um, the new website is up. It's not that different from the old website. Uh, we are continuing to do lots of work. I fixed up some things today. We have all our minutes posted now or Oh, wait. Hannah would know. What are you doing?

Most for 2020 for this year because we I fell behind on posting them. We approved them, but I fell behind. Uh I cleaned up a couple of ordinance things that had changed but hadn't been done there. So we that's an ongoing prog program but we'll we can about it. And um I did have uh I'm going to sorry to announce that our treasurer Cammy has will be leaving us on April 30th for personal reasons. It's just no fun at all. It's hard for her but that's where she's at and we'll be talking about that going forward. Uh how we'll deal with that.

When are we going to start advertising for new treasury? Uh, well, we're good. We're after my vacation. After my vacation, but we'll be working on that. Yeah. I'm sorry. I thought I heard a question. Um, I believe that's everything I wanted to bring to you today. Is there anything you wanted me to talk to that I did not? I have a question as far as time. I know there's a budget committee on county. You were heavily committed to that. And what's it look like this year?

Well, I am hoping. Right. So, part of the reason it was such a big deal this year, a we we confronted the bond in the tan hole. That should never happen in the tan hole. I'll just keep telling it that. Um, we uh how it was also a mostly new budget committee. So, we made a point this year of of spending an awful lot of time learning and making sure we knew what we were talking about. Although the committee passed a budget and the commissioners accepted and the commissioners have quite a bit of leeway in how they choose to actually implement the money they've been given and I anticipate we'll see some changes based on on their decision. So I would like to think they the draft budget in my opinion that they presented this year didn't really represent necessarily what they wanted. It represented what they thought everything we have right now cost and they kind I think they wanted some changes. So they'll be doing that.

I'm sorry I wasn't clear. I wanted to know what your time looks like. So, while I'm getting to that, I'm trying to say, so I think the scope of the problem should be smaller. Uh, here's the thing. The the members of the county budget committee are actually supposed to be elected officials. Um, that's who's supposed to be caucus. I didn't actually know that until this September. Uh, and the caucus that's held in June or July is supposed to be elected officials where they nominate among themselves people to serve. So, it's elected officials who should be sitting on that. Now, they can name someone to serve in their place, but it has to be a legend there. So, I just want to put it out here. I feel like a I think this is now this is just Brian talking, not not speaking on behalf of the city or even my office, uh that it's important for Eastport to have a voice there. I think we have a leadership role and it's important for some someone to serve there. Um I believe I have enough invested in it right now that it makes sense for me to continue in that role if I can manage the time,

right? My feeling right now is that you know here's here's hoping keeping in mind right keeping in mind that at the time this process started was September Hannah had been working for us for two weeks and we hadn't brought on Sarah yet and we hadn't done some other stuff assuming we retain some stability here that doesn't take time in other directions I would like to think it would be a much easier and much faster process but for me to even be considered one of you would need to get elected so we need to get we immediate name to the budget committee. So, we'd have to go to that caucus in July and then go, "Thank you. I give it to Bud."

And hopefully that will happen. I've been to two caucuses. The one where I went in because Bud had held the seat. I don't know how he got named. I don't know if it was given to him, but Bud had held the seat. So, I showed up and there was supposed to be a caucus talk with the seat. I was the only person who showed up for the caucus part. Um, this past when they named uh Dan Dailyaly, there were two people and they were both and I I'm not sure they were both officers. So, we're going to do it right this year, I'm told. It's up to the county the executive to get that right. But, um, keep that in mind and we can talk about what's appropriate at that point. But, I do feel I mean, obviously, I feel invested in the work we've done and it's critical that it continue to be done properly going forward.

We just don't want it to take too much out of you. No, this was rough. This was It's been a It's been a long year. This has been a long year for a number of reasons. And uh I'm still here. I'm going on vacation. Um are you going on vacation? I'm going on vacation. So uh you mentioned that earlier, I think. So So uh let's talk about that. Let's see where we are. It's I mean we've talked about it's probably going to be a noisy budget year, too. So let's see where we are in in May. I have one more. Um what So city hall hours are what now? Have they changed or

No, for Monday to Thursday uh with the closed for an hour for lunch from 12:00 to 1. We're closed to the public on Friday. Uh we are still the only thing so we are requiring appointments for uh BMV. We're doing it for dog licenses too. Correct. Dog licenses I'm sorry it sounds foolish but dog licenses with the new state system are just a mess. They take a very Yeah. Um, I'd like to think and u I believe for vital records and for vital records. Um, I'd like to think maybe we'll be able to loosen that a bit, but um, my belief right now is appointments for BMV are working for us. Um, I get it if you've got a renewal and it might feel, you know, it's a 5 to 10 minute thing and what's the big deal? But, um, it is not unusual in the summer months particularly to have three or four people show up at once. A new registration can take 10 to 20 minutes, particularly if people don't have all their paperwork. We have things like out of town lease transfers. Those can take an hour uh to get all the paperwork and everything done. It's just it it and we have one machine that can do BMV cuz it has special printers and stuff attached. So, in the short term, I'd like to remain doing that, but u we're keeping those hours and we intend to keep those without change.

All right. I I'd like to get the word out somehow better. It's listed on the website, but we do have uh the option of going online to do renewals. It's on the website. I know, but we I'd like for us to get the word out better somehow. If Katherine maybe could put that in her um Yeah, renewals can be done online. Many vital records things can be done online, even with certified copies. um you can't do a marriage license online and there are some other things why you might want to be there and and obviously there are people if you need a bunch of death certificates I understand why you don't want to wait to do it through the through the online and I also understand doing things on it's nice to come into town

and we don't mind doing it but it does it makes our life it makes everybody's lives easier if we schedule those I get that I was just talking to somebody today that's lived here for a long time and they didn't know they could go online to renew so I don't know I want to get it out there. But one last

we first when you accepted to do the when council, excuse me, accepted to do the electronic registration, we did put that up there because that was one of the options. So that it would be something accessible to someone who couldn't get into the office and now where, you know, they were c accustomed to being able to do all this just walking through the door. So, you know, it is a bit of an adjustment, but as the calls come in, I do know that Hannah and his all the staff at city hall make them aware that their options are to do this, that, or the other online as well.

That's good. So, I got one last thing. Sorry. Do you use like Google calendar? Do I mean do it? We're not doing No, we're not. We don't have anything that the city's doing right now. No, for your own personal uh Well, we use Outlook uh Microsoft 365. So, that's what I use. Uh I don't know if there's something you can share with us so that we know what that you're out on vacation. Yeah, I've probably not done the best job of uh communicating all of that. I don't know what how it is. Yes, I'll take a look at it. We'll see what I can do.

Absolutely. I have no problem with that. Thank you. Anything else? That's good enough for me. I think on to item 11, council leaison updates and issues. We had a deer committee committee meeting last week. um going to send a survey out um here soon to all the residents of Eastport and about you know the dare. How's that going to go out Dave? It's going to be mailed. Um ask

Chris is was going to talk to Eller or someone at city hall about sending out the sewer bill. Yeah, Chris has inquired very nice aware of it. And I believe the last time we did this, that was one of the alternative resources that we used as well as the website, the paper where they could get one in at city hall. In fact, I believe we left something by the dropbox outside the door as well. So, yeah, that's we talked about that so you wouldn't get overwhelmed at the desk. We talked about leaving the survey at the dropbox outside so people could pick it up.

Yeah. And you know where you want them to submit them. So there's one gathering location. I would make that suggestion. Yeah. I think they're going to come here to Chris. So anybody else? um airport uh community day we already took care of. Um the only other one that I have is the uh senior center and John is in the audience to help me. I know the 28th is the annual meeting which we'll be doing regular agenda plus elections. So we won't be meeting the second Tuesday of this month.

Normally we would have met today. Okay. But we're not. Okay. That's at one I believe. Yes. Okay. Um the center is coming along quite well. We did have some water issues and we're still trying to track them down in the basement. Uh but it's getting a lot more use. Um Don has been doing a great job as treasurer and keeping us up to date with how many meals are going out and um what happening out there. So, I'm glad to see that it's being used quite a bit and and and more um pretty much every day.

Yeah. Um which is good. Um I guess as I was looking at the water issue, I said today yesterday I said, "Well, at least somebody's in there every day." So, they can tell us that something's wrong. That's better than every once a week. I mean,

yeah. And and I think we kind of got that summarized where that's coming from. So, we're hoping to get that taken care of in the spring, but and it hasn't been too too bad. It just seems to be on heavy rains. That's what we're getting at. So, uh but nonetheless, um that's kind of been quiet. Um I I don't I don't want to belabor the issue, but I I want to say it now because if I don't, I'll forget it in February. But Colleen, you're on the budget committee. Um I've worked hard with Brian. I thought somebody else took it. I did that. Oh, way to go. He's much stronger. I can get him to do it.

Maybe they both should. Um and and I and I'll I'll continue to work with Brian, but um this year, and I know budgets are going to be extremely rough. There's no doubt about it. But I would rather see us start working on city hall, getting things taken care of before we get into a pickle and say, "Oh crap, now what do we do?" That roof that roof needs to get done. Number one. Number two, city hall needs to get done. It is. It looks like I I don't I don't want to use I'm going to say it looks like when you go in there that something exploded. Yeah, I know. And it never got fixed.

And it did. Yeah. Fair enough. And I I and I appreciate all the employees that work there, but um and I guess and I wasn't aware that Cammy was leaving us, but nonetheless, Cammy normally does a lot of the new hires. And she says, you know, it's not polite to sit here and ask people personal questions in a wide open room. Yeah. And I'm just saying, why can't we put a couple walls up and a couple doors in and make it look like an office? Um, and I know I I understand and I appreciate your hesitancy on spending the money, but we need to spend it to make it presentable and fair and and to maintain it

and we can so I would so a couple things if we want to make so if the request is to make sure we cover this in the budget, I will say I have raised uh in my draft budget uh the what we call the infrastructure amount, but for me I just consider generic capital um by about uh $35,000. Um, that's not enough to do what you just asked for, but it's enough on top of that 93 that we may be able to talk about making that part of what we do capital next year.

Um, yes, if we're talking about boy, is there any way we can get it done sooner? I I was going to make a call back in December right before we went on this to get an estimate and then I said, I don't know when we're going to pay for this. I will say I'm hoping I'm waiting to hear back from Sunrise County. We have a grant to get me to write our capital plan. The one big thing that's hanging over my head for capital right now is revaluation. Okay. And we add those two of those together and we get more something north of $200,000. And um so in any case, I'm just sorry just to just to have it out there on the table so AJ's aware. I agree I agree with you that that's that's to me of our of our capital things that's the number one thing

and I definitely want to get it done. I agree with you um on everything you said. I don't need to go through it again. We need to make it so that it's better for the employees and uh we just have to go that will cost and how we're going to pay for it. No, and I'll certainly try to make some of those meetings. I I have in the past and just sometimes nights just don't add up. But nonetheless, thanks AJ. Or sometimes three of us show up at the meeting without knowing

and that and that's fine. Three of us can show up. It used to be that three was a quorum, but it isn't. As long as you're not talking and making boats, you all can sit there and you can all listen. Nobody's going to say anything. So, um, and the more the better, I think. Uh, the more informed you are, the better it is. But, so other than that, I have nothing else. Uh, we are on item 12, executive session. I guess I'm going to need a motion to go into executive session. Really good.

Yeah. Thank you. 7:39. I make a motion that we go into executive session for personal matters, title 1, MRSA456A, and real estate property or economic development, title 1, MRSA 40563. C41 has been moved and seconded. Any further discussion on the motion? AJ, thank you. Hearing none, roll call, please. Don County, yes. Morang. Yes. Steven. Yes. Yes. And yes. Thank you everyone.

That was William. That was William. Yeah. Brian, is that shut? Do I shut down this one? Uh, no. Can we make you wish to come back in? So, everyone's on. We're on item. Going to put that in there, too. 12A. Um, motion to come out of executive session. 8:27. I make that motion to come out of executive session. Seconded. Moved and seconded. Any further discussion on the motion? Hearing none. Roll call, please. Danny Cummings, yes. Morang, yes. Stevens, yes. Sely,

yes. And Boom. Yes. Thank you. Item 13, action from executive session, if any. I make a motion to approve the purchase repurchasing agree repurchasing agreement for 12 Chapel Street, tax lot 70013730 for all taxes and sewer. I'm sorry that lot number can't be right. I didn't think so. Ella, can you get that lot number correct for uh for this is I'm sorry. You're doing 12 chapel. Yeah. 12 is I7 0 B1 I7 14 0 B14.

No dash 14. That's what got it right. Say 0 I7 0 B14. So motion to approve the repurchasing agreement for 12 Chapel Street tax number 17- OB1-14 for all taxes and sewer. Yes.

I'll second it. Been moved and second it. Any further discussion on the motion hearing? None. Roll call, please. Dana Cummings. Yes. Morang. Yes. Steven. Yes. Staley. Yes. and Boone. Yes. Any further action from executive session? I make a motion to approve the repurchase agreement for two Chapel Street Tax Clark Street. Clark Street tax lot number H7-04-17 for all taxes and sewer. I'll second it. Further discussion on the motion hearing. None. Roll call, please. Dana yes. Morang, yes.

Steven, yes. Sely, yes. V, yes. Before we go to the last item, Ella, it's been a pleasure having you back. Thank you. I appreciate everybody's patience back. I'm trying to wake up for the full day. By doing great and so is staff. I I can't say enough. And these girls, um, they're awesome. He's on vacation starting tomorrow. So, for me. I'm on the last item. Motion to adjourn. Second. Second. Any further discussion? Hearing that? Roll call, please. Coming.

Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Thank you. She need signatures on the lot. I do.