City Council - Regular Meeting

Hancock County
Monday, September 21, 2026

The Ellsworth City Council approved multiple license renewals, local road and sidewalk paving bids, and an engineering contract for the Bayside Road reconstruction project.

About this meeting

Government Body
City Council
Meeting Type
City Council
Location
Ellsworth, ME
Meeting Date
September 21, 2026

Published excerpts

Only published remarks appear here. The full transcript is not published.

127 sections (from 128 segments)

0:00 – 1:03•Patrick Lyons

this monthly meeting of the Ellsworth City Council to order first on the agenda it's the call of order second on the agenda is the Pledge of Allegiance Agenda item number three, rules of order. The City Council operates under its own rules of procedure and also the Roberts rules of order. Agenda item number four, adoption of the Ellsworth City Council minutes from the following meetings. August 17th, 2026 regular meeting. August 31st, 2026 special meeting. And September 8th, 2026 special meeting. I have a motion from the board, the council.

1:05•Tabatha White

I'll move to approve the minutes from those said meetings.

1:13•Nancy Smith

Simply that I wasn't here for August 31st, so I would make note and vote on the three. Okay.

1:19 – 2:12•Patrick Lyons

Anything further from the council? Seeing none, all those in favor? Adopted. Agenda item number five, presentations of awards. We have one award to hand out tonight. The recipient is not here, but we'll recognize him anyways. The city of Ellsworth proudly presents this certificate of service to Zachary Chandler in recognition of five years of service in the police department. His devotion to duty and loyalty to the community have contributed to the improvement of the city of Ellsworth. Presented this 21st day of September 2026. Agenda item number six, the city manager's report.

10:45•Patrick Lyons

Thank you, Charlie. Agenda item number seven, committee reports. Any reports from various committees, work, councillors? Councillor Smith?

10:56 – 13:18•Nancy Smith

Thank you. I'll offer an update from the cemetery commission. Excuse me. First related to Juniper Cemetery and then to the larger cemeteries across the town. have landed on pricing for the beginning to offer plots for sale and have also confirmed where there are plots that are available. In addition, for Juniper, they worked with city staff. We have a contractor for lawn care who had not been performing. We dealt with it earlier this year. That did not fix the problem, and so city staff has canceled that contract. And our thanks to Parks and Rec and Facilities. They are picking up that work in

13:26 – 14:01•Tabatha White

I just have an update on the tree planting event that will happen Second year of our IRA grant volunteer planting event that'll happen at Harbor Park and the Union River Estates the last two weeks of October. So that's October 19th through October 30th. And it'll just be days of rolling volunteers. So new faces every day out in the parks planting shrubs and trees. in those places, so we'll have more on Facebook and an actual event that people can sign up for soon.

14:01•Patrick Lyons

Great, thank you. Is that the right time of year to plant trees?

14:04 – 14:17•Tabatha White

It's a great time of year to plant trees in the fall. Trees are cheaper at the nursery, and they can get established a little bit in the fall and wake up in the ground in the spring. So, yeah, great time.

14:54 – 15:29•Patrick Lyons

Great. Thank you. That's wonderful. Any further committee reports? Seeing none, we're on to agenda item number eight, citizens' comment. This is the opportunity for citizens to provide comments on city business for matters that are not otherwise noticed for public hearing. We ask that if you would like to provide public comment on city's business that you approach the DS, provide your name and town of residence for us, and that you keep your comments to three minutes or less. Thank you.

16:27•Patrick Lyons

As we discussed last year, politicking is not a matter of city business and is not appropriate for public comment.

16:45•Patrick Lyons

I just want to note, John, that I've asked you to please not politic. It's part of the city council's policies. I'm not politicking.

17:10•Patrick Lyons

John, I'm just noting that this council voted on policy. So it was a split vote on the last year round.

18:19•Patrick Lyons

I did not want you to politic, John. I would ask that you not do that again. It is against the city's policy.

18:46 – 19:08•Patrick Lyons

Anyone else like to provide public comment? Seeing none, I will close the public hearing. Move on to agenda item number nine, councilor's comments. Councillor Smith?

19:54•Patrick Lyons

Thank you, Councilor Smith. Any other councillors? Councilor Hallam?

21:55•Patrick Lyons

Any further, any other councilor comments? Councilor White?

22:02 – 24:49•Tabatha White

Yeah, as many of us know, it has been getting more expensive to buy groceries at the grocery store, and also with a lot more dangerous with a lot of recalls and stuff on our fruits and vegetables so I think it's really amazing that here in Ellsworth we have so many incredible volunteers and nonprofits that are working to help make our community a more sustainable and more sustainable and more resilient by starting a Everybody Harvest community garden. Our partners Green Ellsworth actually have a organic garden that the residents of Ellsworth can go and visit behind the trade winds on the Bango

24:49 – 25:25•Nancy Smith

So I encourage everyone to go and check it out Thank you, I'll just I think add a little bit to that I was able to go out and visit when Mary Blackstone was there. It's on Hannaway. Thank you. That's the go across the railroad tracks and you can park where there's parking for the multi-use trail as well and But Mary pointed out this is prime farmland. This is land that we want available for farming and food production and not for development. So just adding a little bit to what you had said about this. Thank you. Opportunity, absolutely.

25:26•Patrick Lyons

Thank you, Councillor Smith. Councillor Martineau?

26:23 – 29:41•Patrick Lyons

Thank you. Any further councilor comment? So I'd just like to note or to Council Halloran accusing the city of a lack of transparency. In my experience over the last three years there couldn't be anything farther from the truth. This city staff in this council takes its responsibility to the laws of the United States, the state and our local ordinances very seriously. They conduct themselves with the highest standards of ethics and Councillor Halloran is treated like just every other councillor here and I have as chair this past year I've been privy to a variety of requests from Councillor Hal

29:44 – 30:13•Patrick Lyons

Any further discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor? Unanimous. Agenda item number 11, council order number 092600, discussion and potential action on the public comment question process, sponsored by Councilor Lyons. Which is me. I I'm happy to step in Charlie on this one.

30:43 – 35:41•Patrick Lyons

Sure. So for folks at home or in the room that haven't been following along, back in, I believe it was May, maybe, I presented proposed revisions to the City Council's Rules of Order. The revisions I presented were based entirely on materials provided by the Maine Municipal Association. And everyone in here maybe silenced phones if you haven't checked. We'll do a double check. The last year, there have been some contentious meetings, some difficult meetings, and that's all okay, to a point. You know, the city's business, people have strong passions and opinions, and it's good to facilitate a r

35:48•Nancy Smith

A question for you to that point. Have we gone over that 30 minutes before? I don't recall.

35:52 – 36:22•Patrick Lyons

I don't think we've ever gotten maybe closer around it a few times. That's why I thought 30 minutes was a good amount of time. Right. And again, if we hit 30 minutes, the chair could say, I'm going to suspend public comment until the end of the meeting. and then provide for additional public comment. And then I also put in language there that if the council wants to extend that period further, they can by a vote. So the chair doesn't have unilateral authority over that. It can be a council decision.

36:23 – 36:35•Nancy Smith

But the idea is, again, where we have the entire agenda and people are here for specific items to allow some continuity in how we flow through the meetings over the course of the evening.

36:35•Patrick Lyons

Yeah. And I think on that note, I don't know, is Amy going to provide?

36:48 – 37:03•Patrick Lyons

I think also I'd like to, on that note, Amy, maybe if you're able to provide a little overview of this, our public comment questions process that we're proposing in addition to updating our rules of order.

43:22•Patrick Lyons

I think so. But if any counselors have any questions for Amy regarding the Ask Ellsworth initiative,

43:59•Patrick Lyons

And that's receiving alerts on your phone and information?

46:33 – 47:02•Nancy Smith

It's a process question. I love the outline of this. I love the clarity and the accountability in it. When we get inquiries, or I know through your email or other staff, they get these inquiries, are they forwarded so that they get into that workflow stream? Should we respond to the person we've received it and then forward to that email address so that they're aware that it's now in, rather than us, trying to follow it up on our own.

48:16•Nancy Smith

So then to be clear, if we get one of these inquiries on a specific item, we can just forward it to the Ask Ellsworth and then copy the person so they know?

55:23 – 57:11•Patrick Lyons

Just to that point, I believe the Ask Ellsworth initiative does include public comment at council meetings. It would include anyone with a phone call or a question to staff, and that information would still be entered into this. I agree. The faster we can respond to questions, the better. But we have to balance that with making sure that we can get done what we need to get done for the city's business. And I think, again, we've been working at this since May, talking to Amy and Charlie. It's been very important for me to make clear that the city values and wants to respond to citizens' comment

57:15 – 57:26•Patrick Lyons

Well, I hear your position, Councillor Howland, and unless there's other comments, I would entertain a motion to adopt these rules of procedure.

57:36 – 58:03•Patrick Lyons

Second. Further discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor? Opposed? Motion carries, five to two. Council order, agenda item number 12. Council order number 092601, public hearing and action on the request of the Public Works Director toward the contract of the Bayside Road Municipal Partnership Initiative Design and Engineering Contract.

1:07:46•Patrick Lyons

City councillors, any questions for staff on this?

1:07:49 – 1:09:02•Nancy Smith

Councillor Smith? Sarah, three questions. I'll just give them to you and you respond as you can. So to be sure I understand it, would this 267-540 be a 50-50 split between Maine DOT and the state? Secondly I'd love to hear a little bit more I was you know looking at what that 48 000 differential buys us and you mentioned community engagement as part of that if there's anything more you can share about what they're planning to be sure that we're hearing from residents and business owners in the in the city and also I think in the area since more than just Ellsworth residents drive it. Anything

1:12:17•Patrick Lyons

Any other questions from council? Councilor Halloran?

1:15:36•Patrick Lyons

Any further questions from council before we open this to public hearing? Councillor Shea.

1:16:56•Patrick Lyons

Any further questions before we go to public hearing? Councillor Harlan?

1:21:07•Patrick Lyons

Well, at the end of public comments, if we're able to answer questions, we will as our normal practice.

1:21:17•Patrick Lyons

Any further public comment on this matter?

1:22:37•Patrick Lyons

Sir, when you provide public comment, can you address them to the council, please?

1:23:12 – 1:23:23•Patrick Lyons

Any further public comment on this matter? Seeing none, I'll close the public hearing. Sarah, are you able to answer any of the questions or whatnot?

1:25:27•Patrick Lyons

Stop being a bully, Steve. Why don't you just stop bullying city staff?

1:27:09 – 1:28:02•Nancy Smith

Thank you. Sarah, my understanding is... We use RFPs and RFQs, request for proposals, request for qualifications. What I've seen here and elsewhere is a request for a proposal is for a finite project. We need you to do this thing. What is your price to do this thing? And then verify they're a qualified vendor. Then an RFQ for qualifications is we have this big project. There are multiple layers to it, probably multi-year. This is really big. We're looking for a partner. Who we can work with what are your qualifications? What are your experience? Experience is relevant to that so that we know w

1:28:34•Nancy Smith

So what is the downside to going with the lowest cost bid, as has been the motion to be made right now?

1:28:53•Nancy Smith

What will that look like to the people of Ellsworth or to the final outcome of the project?

1:30:07•Nancy Smith

I appreciate the clarification. Thank you.

1:33:28 – 1:33:57•Patrick Lyons

because it was done the way it was supposed to do is most egregious cheaper is not always better ask a dentist or you know someone's gonna you know asking people's qualifications scope of work and oftentimes when you go with the cheapest option you end up paying more in the long run we have a motion and a second on the table I think that entertain a vote on the motion and second the

1:35:20 – 1:35:40•Patrick Lyons

Thank you, sir. We have a motion and a second on the table. Seeing no further discussion on this, all those in favor of the proposal, they'll award it to Sewell. Opposed? I'll entertain a motion from council toward this bid to Sebago.

1:35:46 – 1:36:10•Nancy Smith

Okay. Moved to award the professional engineering services contract for the Bayside Road reconstruction project from Washington Street to Beachland Road to Sebago Technics Incorporated in the amount not to exceed $267,540 with funding from the fiscal year 27 general obligation bond and to authorize the city manager to execute the final agreement

1:37:03 – 1:37:49•Tabatha White

Exchange rates it's always different I just want to thank staff for the work put into this and especially you Sarah for your expertise here Given that we don't have an engineer to do this work And to help us in that aspect and I do believe I think the public comment or the public part is going to be incredibly important for the widening of the road aspect. We're going to be cutting into people's front yards, cutting down their trees. That can be incredibly difficult for people to kind of deal with and accept. So I think the more public engagement we can get with this, the better. So thank you.

1:37:51 – 1:38:51•Patrick Lyons

Yes, and I just likewise thank the staff. I know how hard staff works on this. We're blessed to have the folks we do and the experience they have, and I have full faith that this is the right choice, so I'll be voting in favor. Seeing no other comments, all those in favor of the motion? Opposed? Motion carries. Thank you. Council order, agenda item number 13, council order number 09262, 092602, public hearing and action on the request of the Public Works Director to award the contract for the Merrill Lane Extension, the Hancock County Judicial Center project. that we have a memo from public wo

1:44:33•Patrick Lyons

Thank you, Pat. I appreciate you noting that. And, yeah, so if you'd like to abstain from deliberation, that would be great.

1:44:49 – 1:45:08•Patrick Lyons

Thanks, Pat. Yeah, so I think on this matter tonight and moving forward, if it is tabled, we have our public hearing specifically on this. Just note that we believe you have a conflict and you should abstain not just from voting but discussion in entirety. But thank you for bringing that to the forefront. Councilor White.

1:45:08 – 1:45:27•Tabatha White

I'd like to make a motion. I'd like to move to table the award of Maryland construction contract pending the solicitation and review of amended proposals from the three lowest proposers responding to the original RFP and schedule a special city council meeting for October 5th, 2026 for consideration of the revised proposals and potential contract award. Second.

1:45:41 – 1:45:55•Patrick Lyons

So we have a motion and a second to table. All those in favor? Motion to table. All those in favor? Opposed? Abstain?

1:46:18 – 1:46:36•Patrick Lyons

Council order, we're in agenda item number 14, council order number 09-2603, public hearing action on the request of the public works director toward the bid for local roads and sidewalks. We have our public works director here.

1:48:21•Patrick Lyons

Excellent. Any questions from council for Public Works Director, Councillor Smith?

1:48:30•Nancy Smith

Obvious question you may not have an answer to. Why do you think they came in at less than half of what?

1:56:18 – 1:56:31•Patrick Lyons

This matter is noticed as a public hearing, so I'm going to open it as a public hearing. If anyone would like to comment on this matter, they may approach the DS. Please give your name and town of residence for the record and keep your comments to three minutes or less.

1:59:22•Patrick Lyons

Any further public comment on this matter? Seeing none, I'll close.

2:01:32 – 2:02:39•Patrick Lyons

Yeah, I mean, I'm just, some of these points are just absurd. I don't know how people do business. Like, I go out and I get bids for work for my company and I get to negotiate and I say, hey, A has a better price, B, what can you do for me? And that's how business is done. So to impugn or to imply that this isn't a proper procedure or it's unfair is just foolish and absurd. This is how business is done. This one for the roads is simple. Pave the roads. If someone's going to come mow my lawn, I say, okay, you did the lowest price, mow my lawn. If they do a crappy job, then I'm not going to hire

2:04:13•Patrick Lyons

Thanks for that clarification. Trying to imply anything other than, yeah, personal. Yeah. Councilor Shea.

2:05:01•Patrick Lyons

I'll fourth it. Any further discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor? Motion carries. Thank you, Mike.

2:05:10•Nancy Smith

Quick note before we move on. Is there consensus to try to move down but lower the temperature in this room? I'm seeing lots of flush faces.

2:05:28 – 2:05:44•Nancy Smith

Literally or figuratively. I thought she meant figuratively. I would be in favor of that as well if we're trying. But in the meantime, when people are physically overheating. That's really funny.

2:05:44 – 2:06:21•Patrick Lyons

All right, let's see if that works for temperature and doesn't crack some windows. We're on to agenda item number 15, council order number 092604. Excuse me, sir. 604, request of the public works director to accept 6 million in drinking water state revolving funds to be put towards the water treatment plant project. Charlie, we've got some memos from the finance director, but we also have a procedural question we need to address on this one.

2:08:45 – 2:10:32•Patrick Lyons

Great. And I just want to note again, so the, the matter was properly noticed for a public hearing. Both orders are in our packet materials. So the public's had opportunity to review it. The council's had the opportunity to review it. All we're asking the council to do is to, if we're going to add an agenda item, our rules require unanimous approval to do that. What that will allow us to do is address both of these here tonight as they're related and be more efficient for the city. Again, there's no issue with notice and awareness that everyone has noticed that we were going to take these all

2:10:52•Patrick Lyons

So the agenda is the only thing that didn't have it as a public hearing, but everything else otherwise did? Correct. Okay.

2:10:58•Nancy Smith

And it is 604, not 603, if I'm following along?

2:11:02 – 2:11:20•Patrick Lyons

Okay, yeah, 604, agenda item rule 15. So we'd have a public hearing here tonight for both matters, and we'd be able to vote on them both tonight. We just need the council to approve adding the second half of it to the agenda here tonight so we could work through it.

2:17:58•Patrick Lyons

Thank you. Thank you. Okay, so unless the councilors have any further questions, I think before we get further into the merits,

2:19:05 – 2:21:03•Patrick Lyons

Well, I think, on that note, Steve, again, as I understand it, that this meeting has been noticed as a public hearing, or this agenda item, both agenda items, noticed as a public hearing. So the only misstep here was the, as I understand it, was how the agenda was written so otherwise we've done everything properly and I think rather than for that one minor clerical error come back and have to have a special meeting and expend the city resources and time I think it's a simple motion here to amend, and then we can get into the public hearing on both and have robust discussions and get the work

2:21:06 – 2:21:17•Patrick Lyons

Second. Any further discussion or questions from council? All those in favor? Opposed? Reasons? Why, Steve?

2:21:23 – 2:21:54•Patrick Lyons

Okay. So, I think... What we can do to move forward here is have a public hearing on one of the orders, on both of the orders, but then only vote on the one because we only have one agenda item. And then we'll have to vote on another in October. but I believe only one of these requires the October 1st deadline.

2:23:52•Patrick Lyons

Just vote to postpone it? Yes. Or table it?

2:24:15•Patrick Lyons

I don't know. Why would we not just split the agenda item into two agenda items, Steve, and do it all here tonight?

2:24:24•Patrick Lyons

Yeah, something's fuzzy. All right. Let's just proceed with the... Chris, I don't know.

2:24:58•Nancy Smith

Before most of us were on council or on staff.

2:25:06 – 2:25:32•Patrick Lyons

So how we're going to proceed then is that I'm going to move for a vote to bifurcate the single order into two orders. number 092604A for the 2024-27 matter and number 092604B for the 25-06 matter. Do I have a second?

2:25:35 – 2:26:14•Patrick Lyons

Second. So again, we're now, this is a vote to bifurcate the order into two orders. which we don't need unanimous consent to do. So the agenda item we needed unanimous consent, but the orders we needed, we don't need unanimous consent. So all those in favor to bifurcate the orders? Opposed? So bifurcated. So now we're going to hold a public hearing just on the matter that requires us to be... And I hate to interrupt, but before we get there, I saw that Woodard and Kerr and Brent had something.

2:26:19•Patrick Lyons

Oh, please. We're here to listen to you.

2:28:59•Patrick Lyons

Councilor Howland, do you consider your vote to split the agenda item?

2:29:37 – 2:30:55•Patrick Lyons

So my understanding is now that we bifurcated, we are going to hold a public hearing solely on what we've deemed 092604B for the 2025-06 matter, as that is the one that has the, we know for sure, and that's the October 1, 2026 deadline. So on that, so that in your packet counselors you should see that as because there's two memos. It's the one that's 2025 dash zero six. Before we go to a public hearing specifically on this matter, does council or council have any questions for staff or our experts that are here tonight? Seeing none, I'm going to open this matter for a public hearing. If anyone

2:30:56•Nancy Smith

And clarification, this begins on page 56 of the packet. Correct. This is the one on page 56.

2:31:18•Patrick Lyons

Can I see it real quick? Kind of takes the fun out of it.

2:31:35 – 2:32:09•Patrick Lyons

Okay. So, yeah, Tavi, you want to move the first motion? I think it's just further detailed than the original motion that I provided.

2:32:10 – 2:32:55•Tabatha White

Motion number one here? Yeah. Okay. So I make a motion pursuant to section 2.05B of the city charter, move to revise, no. Is this the one I'm supposed to be doing or here? If the motion is bifurcated. Okay. So, got you. I move to adopt Council Order No. 092604A, authorizing a $6 million loan from the Maine Municipal Bond Bank Drinking Water SRF Program, DHHS-DWSRF No. 2024-17, and issuance of the city's bond... No, this is not the right motion.

2:32:59 – 2:33:27•Tabatha White

So I'm going to redo this again. So I move to adopt Council Order Number 09-2604B, authorizing a second, authorizing a $6 million loan from the Maine Municipal Bond Bank Drinking Water SRF Program, DHHS-DWSRF, number 2025-06 and issuance of the city bonds and bans therefore to finance a portion of the costs of the new water treatment project plans.

2:33:34 – 2:34:04•Patrick Lyons

Okay, further discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor? Opposed? Motion carries. We have a motion to table agenda item number 092604A to be brought up at a later date. So moved. Second. All those in favor? Opposed? That carries.

2:34:28 – 2:34:50•Patrick Lyons

Great. Thank you, Charlie. All right. Moving on to agenda item number 16. Council Order Number 092605, Discussion to Convert the City of Elser from a Weak Mayor Form of Government to a Strong Mayor Form of Government. The first election of mayor in November, 2028, sponsored by Council of Elser.

2:37:47•Patrick Lyons

Do any other municipalities in Maine use a strong mayor system?

2:40:21•Patrick Lyons

My understanding is if you have a strong mayor, that's a full-time job. Correct.

2:42:31 – 2:42:46•Patrick Lyons

And does a strong mayor, so let's say it's a full-time mayor, they have their salary and then they'll also have a like a chief administration officer? Is that typical how this works?

2:43:07•Patrick Lyons

So this proposal would add another high paid city employee on top of paying the mayor as well?

2:43:50 – 2:44:33•Patrick Lyons

And I don't know what his reasons are. I think it's a horrible idea. And I think it would just bring more politics into our small town. And that may be Councilor Halloran's intent. That wouldn't surprise me. But I think it's a horrible idea for our small community. It would disenfranchise, to a degree, the other councilors. We are growing, but we're not Boston. We're not any of these communities that have a strong mayor. I don't think this is a good fit at all for the city of Ellsworth, and I have no interest in directing the staff to pursue it any further. Councillor Smith.

2:45:11•Patrick Lyons

Whenever you'd like, Steve, you can put your hand.

2:48:44 – 2:49:41•Tabatha White

Yeah, thinking and doing some research on this, I think Ellsworth, the biggest issue that Ellsworth would have here is that we lose, I would assume that in a strong mayor situation, a resident of Ellsworth would have to be the one running. So we don't have many people here in Ellsworth that would be... qualified and even age-wise to do it, we lose half the population there. And I think we lose just the ability to get someone that is actually qualified to do such a difficult job, really. And I just... I get how a strong mayor works in the cities. I've voted in those cities for strong mayors, bu

2:49:48 – 2:51:08•Nancy Smith

Thank you. Looking at the comparison of the two systems, I would not support this method because the description of the strong mayor aligns more closely with that person being the governor and the rest of the counselors being the legislature, that you have someone with veto power and you have someone who sets the agenda for the area that's being governed. And that is much more... Effectively done through collaboration even when there's conflict of seven people rather than one who's the boss with that much power and the rest of the people on the council trying to advance good policy with very l

2:52:25 – 2:53:08•Patrick Lyons

Yeah, I don't see how this would improve Ellsworth. I think it would just make it more political and bringing big city proposal to a small Hancock County town. And I have no interest in advancing this. So unless anyone else has anything further on it, I think we can just move on to the next agenda item. We have Council Order Number 092606, Discussion and Potential Action on the Creation of a City of Ellsworth Food Sovereignty Ordinance, sponsored by Councillor O'Halloran.

3:01:06 – 3:01:40•Tabatha White

I have a question. Maybe you can answer it. Maybe somebody else can. Where is the line drawn when you, let's say, I'm going to use Momo's Cheesecake for example. Like I start selling some cheesecakes in a little refrigerator at my place. When do I cross a line where I actually have to get a commercial seat, commercial kitchen? Is there like the amount of product that you're...

3:04:46 – 3:07:44•Nancy Smith

So I'm going to dive in here. I love this conversation. When I saw your email to the counselors, by the time I got to it, Counselor O'Halloran had already said he wanted to sponsor it. And I thought, OK, I don't need a sponsor to dive in. I want to start by saying I support the motion that's being proposed, which isn't to pass a food sovereignty ordinance tonight. It's to answer all of these questions. and see what's a fit. So let me, my thoughts are in five different categories here. First, what I bring to this, I was a farmer for 17 years. I included some of this in my email to you asking mo

3:07:45 – 3:08:30•Nancy Smith

The baked eggs, too, okay. The baked goods, it is complicated because you really can make somebody ill with things that aren't cooked, or you made the ketchup, it sat out for six hours, and then you put it in the fridge. There are ways that you can really hurt people. So there is a level there. I've heard different things about the licensed kitchens. I have a friend who makes... vegan burgers, and he said you can have cats and dogs in your house, you just need to have them not in the kitchen while you're working. And you have to have impermeable surfaces, which means painted, so that you can c

3:09:09 – 3:12:21•Nancy Smith

So these are things I think for all of us to, or those of us who are interested as we move forward to understand better. And again, we were clear, meat and poultry are not included because the stakes are so high. Custom processing being the exception. You could buy a half a pig or a quarter of a cow. You buy it live and I transport it to the butcher for you, and then you get it back in packages. That is allowed when you're buying bulk. So there's a lot to this. Raw milk, I have caution about. When we were dairy for about 12 years, I drank raw milk. I would not recommend someone go to the groce

3:12:50 – 3:13:15•Nancy Smith

Sorry, the tension that I had was we were licensed for the chicken, and we had chicken. And we were friends with bakers who had a bakery, and I thought, this is great. They make amazing pies. They can make us chicken pies. And we found out, no, that's not what their license covers. So that ended very quickly when we had that set up. But to be able to do something like chicken pie that people can just put in the oven when they get home has great potential.

3:14:34 – 3:15:12•Patrick Lyons

Yeah, I don't know. Well, so just, I think this is, these conversations and these questions are great, and if the council wants to vote to advance this, then I think we're going to need, you know, to go through the various process of vetting. My one question for you is if, If the council does approve this, would your family and other folks be willing to help council advance an ordinance like this? 100%, absolutely. Because, you know, again, limited resources, the more we can, as the city can rely on interested constituents.

3:15:44•Patrick Lyons

Sir, if you're going to speak. Sorry. Just say your name for the record, please.

3:16:32•Patrick Lyons

This means more chicken pies in my life.

3:16:39•Patrick Lyons

Hang on. I'm just going to go in order. You haven't spoken yet.

3:19:02 – 3:19:31•Nancy Smith

Nancy, you had a... Yeah, as we move forward, others that have come to mind that I think should be involved are Green Ellsworth, the Ellsworth Farmer's Market. I see Twyla in the back. There's a connection with the food systems folks. There are probably people there that would be interested. And to your point about giving away loaves and fishes as just a starting point for what barriers are they seeing and how could an ordinance hit those three points of the informed consent, grow your business, and access to... local foods.

3:25:20•Patrick Lyons

Great. Thank you, Charlie. Good stuff to know. Councilor Howland?

3:26:10•Patrick Lyons

Well, I think this is much more, it's not just growing produce. There's a whole host of considerations.

3:26:25 – 3:26:39•Patrick Lyons

Maybe we'll, I think my advice is someone make a motion and we see if the council supports it and then folks can figure out how we get this through the process. Would anyone like to advance a motion?

3:27:18•Patrick Lyons

I wouldn't support that. I'm sorry? Which word?

3:27:53 – 3:28:07•Nancy Smith

So what is the current motion? Move to authorize the city manager to authorize staff. And then the rest gets written. That is not my amendment.

3:28:31 – 3:29:25•Nancy Smith

And return the matter to the city council for further consideration before any ordinance is formally introduced or adopted second any further discussion council yeah I think just reflecting on some of the other things we said I don't think it has to be part of the motion but again with the intent that we reach out to we being the city the organizations I mentioned and then others that this can be a large collaborative effort And there's no timeline to this, that it is about sinking it in with, in my mind, the RV park. We have a six month moratorium. People on both sides of that issue are waiti

3:30:17 – 3:31:00•Patrick Lyons

Okay. Why don't we just move to the, we've got a lot to do here. I would ask we move to the motion to vote. All those in favor? Opposed? Motion carries. Thank you. We will proceed to the next. Thank you very much for coming. Thank you very much. We will proceed to the next agenda item, number 18, which is an executive session for discussion of labor contract negotiation matters regarding a proposed side agreement to the Clerks Collective bargaining agreement between the City of Ellsworth and the Laborers International Union of North American pursuant to one MRS section 405.60.

3:31:03 – 3:57:54•Patrick Lyons

Second. Second. All those in favor? We are in executive session. Thanks, folks, for everyone coming tonight. Council Order Number 092607. There, Jason's with us here. Action on the proposed side agreement to the Clerk's Collective Bargaining Agreement between the City of Ellsworth and the Laborers' International Union of North America, LUINA. So we just discussed in executive session the proposal with the council and our legal council and HR and the city manager. Do I have a proposed motion regarding this agenda item? Councillor Smith.

3:57:55 – 3:58:08•Nancy Smith

Thank you. I move that the City Council approve the side agreement between the City of Ellsworth and the Ellsworth City Hall Clerks Unit Local 327, authorize the City Manager to execute the agreement on behalf of the City.

3:58:09 – 3:58:20•Patrick Lyons

Second. Second, Councilor Shea. Motion to second. Is there any further discussion from council on this matter? Seeing the city manager?

3:59:28 – 4:00:03•Patrick Lyons

Thank you, Charlie. Motion to second. Further discussion from council? Seeing none, all those in favor, unanimous. Agenda item number 20, council order number 092608, discussion and potential action on the request of the city manager to make a budget reallocation from the city manager's FY27 payroll line to the city clerk's FY27 payroll line. And we'll make the motion. Charlie, any further elaboration on that?

4:01:09•Patrick Lyons

Do I have a proposed motion? Councilor Smith.

4:01:52 – 4:02:22•Patrick Lyons

Any further discussion from council? Seeing none, all those in favor? Any animus? Agenda item number 21, executive session for consultation with the city attorney concerning the city's legal rights and duties pending or contemplated legal matters involving main organics, including potential continued enforcement or legal action pursuant to one MRS 4056E.

4:02:29 – 4:33:10•Patrick Lyons

Second. All those in favor? Anonymous? Jason, we are in executive session. Executive session now. There's no action coming out of the executive session with legal counsel. So we are going to proceed to agenda item number three, adjournment.

4:33:12•Patrick Lyons

All those in favor? It's unanimous. All right. Adjourned.

These excerpts are remarks by officials whose identity a person confirmed, from a transcript generated automatically from the official public meeting video and presented unedited. Accuracy may vary; view the original recording for reference.