City Council

CITY COUNCIL MEETING WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12 th, 2025 PORT AUTHORITY BUILDING - DOWNSTAIRS – 6:00 p.m. Those In attendance: Council President William Boone, Councilor Colleen Dana-Cummings, Councilor David Morang, Councilor Rhonda Stevens, City Manager Brian Schuth, City Legal Counsel Dennis Mahar, City Clerk Ella Kowal, Deputy Clerk Don Peters, Vicki Morang, Catherine Lee, Michael Morse, Lucinda Markman, Sue-Ellen Hendrix, Cammie Deschene, Lindy McClellan, Donna Murphy, Joan Lowden, Chester Jenkins, and the attendees via: Zoom. Councilor A. J. Seeley was not present at the start of the meeting. I. Call to Order (Recording: 00:11) Council President William Boone called the meeting to order. II. ADJUSTMENT(s) to AGENDA (Recording: 00:15) To move item VI. SUBMISSION of FY2026 BUDGET by the CITY MANAGER to after V. e. Council Approval for Transfer of Funds - $26,521.88 (as of 12/31/24) [From Acct. G1-101-00 To Acct. G3-101-00] MOTION: Stevens SECOND: Dana-Cummings (Passed 4-0) To update item V. d. to: From Acct. G6-101-00 to G1-101-00 To update item V. e. to: From Acct. G3-101-00 to G1-101-00 MOTION: Stevens SECOND: Dana-Cummings (Passed 4-0) III. To approve “2025” Community Events listed below (Recording 02:59) • Down East Pride - June 28, 2025 - 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. • Mermaid Festival & Parade - August 2, 2025-8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. • Eastport Salmon & Seafood Festival - August 29-31, 2025 • Witches of Eastport - October 25, 2025 - 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. MOTION: Dana-Cummings SECOND: Morang (Passed 3-0, Stevens abstains) IV. SUBMISSION of FY2026 BUDGET by the CITY MANAGER Moved to item V. e. 1) V. NEW BUSINESS (Recording 07:16) a. Appointment of "Council Liaison” to Digital Equity Committee (Recording 07:21) Tabled to later date. MOTION: Stevens SECOND: Morang (Passed 4-0) Page 1 of 4 of Council Meeting Minutes for Council Meeting of 03/12/2025  b. To approve the Re-appointments and/or New Members to Boards/Committees listed below (Recording 09:46) 1) “Re-appointments” to Digital Equity Committee [Subcommittee of the Fiber Committee] Elaine Abbott, Birdy Velveteen, Joshua Nicholson, and Laura Prati 2) "New" Appointment to Eastport Energy Committee - Pat Christopher 3) "New" Appointments to Eastport Housing Committee - Andrew Jeffrey Laurie Stone, Sam Brittany Pottle, & Gunther Valentine 4) "Re-appointments" to Budget Committee - Don Bailey, Victoria Ganz, David Grieco, Jenie Smith, and Rachel Williams MOTION: Dana-Cummings SECOND: Stevens (Passed 4-0) c. To accept Resignation of Lora Whelan from the Recycling Committee (Recording 10:59) MOTION: Stevens SECOND: Dana-Cummings (Passed 4-0) d. Council Approval for Transfer of ARPA Funds - $145,179.90 (as of 1/12/25) [From Acct. G6-101-00 To Acct. G1-101-00] (Recording 11:21) To approve Transfer of ARPA Funds - $145,179.90 (as of 1/12/25) [From Acct. G6-101-00 To Acct. G1-101-00] MOTION: Dana-Cummings SECOND: Stevens (Passed 4-0) e. Council Approval for Transfer of Funds - $26,521.88 (as of 12/31/24) [From Acct. G3-101-00 To Acct. G1-101-00] (Recording 12:27) To approve Transfer of Funds - $26,521.88 (as of 12/31/24) [From Acct. G3-101-00 To Acct. G1-101-00 MOTION: Dana-Cummings SECOND: Stevens (Passed 4-0) 1) Submission of FY2026 Budget by the City Manager (Recording 13:24) Council Seeley arrives at the meeting (Recording 24:30) No action taken. f. Schedule & Set Date for the Following Public Hearings: (Recording 37:31) 1) Sale of City Property Ordinance 2) Remote Participation Policy To set public hearings for the Sale of City Property Ordinance and Remote Participation Policy for March 12th Council Meeting MOTION: Dana-Cumming SECOND: Stevens (Passed 5-0) Page 2 of 4 of Council Meeting Minutes for Council Meeting of 03/12/2025  3) City of Eastport Motor Vehicle Ordinance Tabled to next month MOTION: Stevens SECOND: Dana-Cummings (Passed 5-0) g. Discussion of "2025-2026” AOS77 Budget (Recording 01:00:40) No action taken. VI. To accept January 8th, 2025 meeting minutes (Recording 01:15:07) MOTION: Dana-Cummings SECOND: Stevens (Passed 5-0) VII. CITY MANAGER’S REPORT (Recording 01:15:33) No action taken. VIII. COUNCIL LIASION UPDATES/ISSUES (Recording 01:17:02) No action taken. IX. PUBLIC/OPEN FORUM (Recording 01:19:17) X. EXECUTIVE SESSION (Recording 01:19:32) _x_ Personnel Matters Title 1 MRSA §405(6)(A) _x_ Real Property or Economic Development Title 1 MRSA §405(6)(C) ___ Labor Negotiations Title 1 MRSA §405(6)(D) _x_ Consultation with Legal Counsel Title 1 MRSA §405(6)(E) ___ Poverty Abatement Application Title 36 MRSA §841 To go into executive session for Title 1 MRSA §405(6)(E) at 7:19 p.m. MOTION: Stevens SECOND: Dana-Cummings (Passed 5-0) To come out of executive session at 7:34 p.m. (Recording 1:20:28) (Passed 5-0) MOTION: Dana-Cummings SECOND: Stevens (Passed 5-0) To go into a second executive session for Title 1 MRSA §405(6)(A) at 7:34 p.m. (Recording 1:20:55) MOTION: Stevens SECOND: Dana-Cummings (Passed 5-0) To come out of second executive session at 7:52 p.m. (Recording 1:21:22) (Passed 5-0) MOTION: Dana-Cummings SECOND: Stevens (Passed 5-0) Page 3 of 4 of Council Meeting Minutes for Council Meeting of 03/12/2025  XI. ACTION from EXECUTIVE SESSION (Recording 01:21:49) To approve a rate of $25.00/hour for Megan Barrett on the Energy Grant To approve a $1.00/hour raise for Public Works employee Jonathan Erb MOTION: Stevens SECOND: Dana-Cummings (Passed 5-0) XII. ADJOURNMENT (Recording 01:22:28) To adjourn at 7:54 p.m. MOTION: Dana-Cummings SECOND: Stevens Page 4 of 4 of Council Meeting Minutes for Council Meeting of 03/12/2025