City Council

CITY COUNCIL MEETING WEDNESDAY, MARCH 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. Catherine Lee/Quoddy Tides, Christina Vizcarrondo, Laurie Stone, Clark Duff, Michael Morse, Victoria Ganz, John Morton, Melissa Boyd, Birdy Velveteen, Sarah Gormady, Andrea Linton, Laura Prati, Suellen Hendrix, Lindy McClellan, Deborah Gillespie, Greg Ortega, Jeanne Peacock, and the attendees via: Zoom. Councilor A. J. Seeley was not present at the meeting. I. CALL TO ORDER (Recording 00:14) II. ADJUSTMENT(s) to AGENDA (Recording 00:22) To remove Heron Weston from item IV. c re-appointment to the housing committee MOTION: Stevens SECOND: Morang (Passed 4-0) To table item VII. approval of the minutes MOTION: Stevens SECOND: Morang (Passed 4-0) III. ISLAND INSTITUTE REPORT on the ENERGY GRANT (Recording 02:51) IV. PUBLIC HEARINGS (Recording 09:05) a. Proposed Amendment to the Sale of City Property Ordinance (Recording 09:08) b. Proposed Remote Participation Policy (Recording 14:46) V. ACTION ON PUBLIC HEARINGS (Recording 37:17) a. To adopt the Proposed Amendment to the Sale of City Property Ordinance MOTION: Stevens SECOND: Dana-Cummings (Passed 4-0) b. Proposed Remote Participation Policy MOTION: Stevens SECOND: Boone (Passed 4-0) VI. NEW BUSINESS (Recording 53:36) a. Council Approval of “Public Participation” Policy (Recording 53:37) MOTION: Dana-Cummings SECOND: Stevens (Passed 4-0) b. Appointment of Don Peters as the Assistant General Assistance Administrator (Recording 55:14) MOTION: Morang SECOND: Dana-Cummings (Passed 4-0) Page 1 of 3 of Council Meeting Minutes for Council Meeting of 03/12/2025  c. Council Approval of Re-Appointments and/or New Members to Boards/Committees (Recording 55:49) To re-appoint Birdy Velveteen, John Morton, Melissa Boyd, and Laura Prati to Eastport Disability Committee (Recording 55:55) MOTION: Dana-Cummings SECOND: Morang (Passed 4-0) To re-appoint Birdy Velveteen, Tobi Wuchter, Caryn Chahanovich, Heidi Holley, April Mullins, Emilia Fullerton, and Heron Weston, to Eastport Housing Committee (Recording 56:20) MOTION: Dana-Cummings SECOND: Stevens (Passed 4-0) To re-appoint Michael Morse, Dale Devonshire, Marlene Russ, Victoria Ganz, Chester Jenkins, Chris Carroll, and Pat Christopher to the Eastport Energy Committee (Recording 57:28) MOTION: Stevens SECOND: Morang (Passed 4-0) d. Resignations from Boards/Committees (Recording 57:58) To accept “Resignation” of Sarah Gormandy from the Budget Committee and to accept “Resignation” of Sam Whitmore from the Airport Advisory Committee MOTION: Morang SECOND: Stevens (Passed 4-0) e. To appoint Reid Kosloski as Deputy Shellfish Warden (Recording 58:27) MOTION: Morang SECOND: Stevens (Passed 4-0) f. Versant Request – Permit Application – Replacement of Utility Poles on Clark Street (Recording 58:48) MOTION: Stevens SECOND: Morang (Passed 4-0) g. To approve the Write Off of “FY2024” Personal Property Tax to Acct. #30 - $2,391.67 (Recording 59:43) MOTION: Dana-Cummings SECOND: Stevens (Passed 4-0) h. Schedule & Set Date for the Following Public Hearings: On a “Proposed” City of Eastport Motor Vehicle Ordinance (Recording 01:00:13) To set for the next meeting April 9 th, 2025 MOTION: Dana-Cummings SECOND: Stevens (Passed 4-0) VII. MINUTES of PREVIOUS MEETING(s) – February 12, 2025 Tabled under item II. Adjustments to the Agenda Page 2 of 3 of Council Meeting Minutes for Council Meeting of 03/12/2025 VIII. CITY MANAGER’S REPORT (Recording 01:00:59) No action taken IX. COUNCIL LIAISON UPDATES AND ISSUES (Recording 01:06:49) No action taken X. PUBLIC/OPEN FORUM (Recording 01:08:32) No action taken XI. EXECUTIVE SESSION (Recording 01:18:13) _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 the above noted purposes at 7:19 p.m. MOTION: Stevens SECOND: Dana-Cummings (Passed 4-0) To come out of executive session at 7:56 p.m. (Recording 01:19:33) MOTION: Stevens SECOND: Morang (Passed 4-0) XII. ACTION from EXECUTIVE SESSION (Recording 01:20:15) To authorize the city manager to enter into a purchase of sale for the Youth Association building MOTION: Stevens SECOND: Morang (Passed 4-0) XIII. ADJOURNMENT (Recording 01:20:45) To adjourn at 7:58 p.m. MOTION: Dana-Cummings SECOND: Morang (Passed 4-0) Page 3 of 3 of Council Meeting Minutes for Council Meeting of 03/12/2025