City Council

Recordings: CM\Docs\Council\20250520-special-meeting\20250514-regular-council.mp3 Filename: CM\Docs\Council\20250603-special-meeting\cc.min.5-14-2025 CITY COUNCIL MEETING WEDNESDAY, MAY 14th, 2025 PORT AUTHORITY BUILDING – DOWNSTAIRS – 6:00 P.M. Those in attendance: Councilor William Boone, Councilor Dave Morang, Councilor Rhonda Stevens. Also in attendance City Manager Brian Schuth, City Clerk Ella Kowal, Deputy City Clerk Donnie Peters; members of the public. I. Call to Order. Council President Boone calls to order the meeting at 6:00 p.m. (Recording 00:10) II. Adjustments to Agenda. (Recording 00:15) To add IV.a.3, scheduling of a hearing for victualler’s license for Eastport Coffee Roasters, LLC; and to add IV.k, to advertise for two full time members and one alternate to the zoning board. MOTION Morang SECOND Stevens (Passed 3-0) To table the minutes of April 9th, 2025, under item V. MOTION Morang SECOND Stevens (Passed 3-0) III. Public Hearings (Recording 2:10) For: New liquor license, Look Lobster Co., 7 Sea Street; Renewal of victualler license, Look Lobster Co., 7 Sea Street; Renewal of liquor license, Eastport Arts Center, 36 Washington Street; New liquor license, Eastport Area Chamber of Commerce (Water St) for Eastport Salmon and Seafood Festival, August 30th and 31st, 2025; Renewal of liquor license, Phoenix Fine Wines, 73 Water Street. There was no comment. a. Action on Public Hearings (Recording 3:20) To approve the following: new liquor license, Look Lobster Co., 7 Sea Street; Renewal of victualler license, Look Lobster Co., 7 Sea Street; Renewal of liquor license, Eastport Arts Center, 36 Washington Street; New liquor license, Eastport Area Chamber of Commerce (Water St) for Eastport Salmon and Seafood Festival, August 30th and 31st, 2025; Renewal of liquor license, Phoenix Fine Wines, 73 Water Street. MOTION Stevens SECOND Morang (Passed 3-0) IV. New Business a. Scheduling of Public Hearings for 6/11/2025 (Recording 4:00) i. FY2026 budget. City Manager Schuth presented the budget he intends to bring forward for public hearing (presentation attached). To direct the City Manager and City Clerk to work with the Council and Budget Committee to schedule a workshop on the presented budget. MOTION Morang SECOND Stevens (Passed 3-0) 1  ii. Other hearings. (Recording 41:23) To table the public hearings for a new victualler license for Richard Sullivan for a Bakery/Café at 82 Water Street, and for a victualler’s license for Eastport Coffee Roasters, LLC until the proposed budget workshop. MOTION Morang SECOND Stevens (Passed 3-0) b. FY2026 Municipal Fuel Bid (Recording 47:20) Two bids were received, one from R.H. Foster and one from V.L. Tammaro. To accept the bid from V.L. Tammaro for heating oil and propane for one year at $2.689/gal for heating oil for municipal buildings and for general assistance; and $1.50/gal for propane for municipal buildings and $1.80 for general assistance. MOTION Morang SECOND Stevens (Passed 3-0) c. FY2026 Municipal Trash Bid (Recording 54:55) One bid was received, from Moose Island Solid Waste. To accept the bid from Moose Island Solid Waste of $5400 for three years of trash collection ($1,800/year). MOTION Stevens SECOND Morang (Passed 3-0) d. Moonlight Movies (Recording 58:00) To approve the proposed 2025 Moonlight Movies: Wicked (7/25), The Little Mermaid (8/2), Breakfast at Tiffany’s (8/30) MOTION Morang SECOND Stevens (Passed 3-0) e. Request for abatement on Sewer Account #702 (Recording 1:00:00) Request for an abatement of $110 for water used from a hose left connected to house. To deny the requested abatement. MOTION Stevens SECOND Morang (Passed 2-1, Morang dissenting) f. Update on CANCAG2024-5 Community Action Grant Grant of $50,000 to be used for capital planning and stormwater mapping has been awarded. No cash match is required. To accept the grant. MOTION Stevens SECOND Morang (Passed 3-0) g. Approval to expend up to $12,000 from the Airport Reserve to pay for furniture at the new Terminal Building. (Recording 1:09:30) To approve the expenditure of up to $12,000 from the Airport Reserve to pay for furniture at the new terminal building. MOTION Stevens SECOND Morang (Passed 3-0) h. Approval to carry forward $8,435 from FY24 for Parks and Recreation. (Recording 1:11:00) 2  Motion to table this item. MOTION Morang SECOND Stevens (Passed 3-0) i. Discussion of High Street Sidewalk Grant (Recording 1:11:45) The grant now requires a commitment to $167,000 of local match in order to go to bid. Motion to table this item. MOTION Stevens SECOND Morang (Passed 3-0) j. Discussion of Water Street One Way Proposal (Recording 1:22:30) No action. City Manager instructed to meet with Highway Director to discuss necessary signage. k. Advertising for Board of Appeals Members (Recording 1:28:20) To advertise for two full-time and one alternate member for the zoning Board of Appeals. MOTION Morang SECOND Stevens (Passed 3-0) V. Minutes of February 12th, 2025 (Recording 1:29:30) To approve the minutes of February 12th, 2025 MOTION Stevens SECOND Morang (Passed 3-0) VI. City Manager’s Report (Recording 1:29:52) No report. VII. Council Liaison Updates and Issues (Recording 1:30:10) Councilor Stevens reports on behalf of Parks and Recreation that the new fence is going up and that a local citizen will volunteer do the work to bring the backstop and dugouts into shape. Also looking to expand beach access at cemetery. Councilor Boone reports on behalf of the Senior Citizens Committee that the Youth Center has been obtained and Ryan Newell is beginning work on necessary renovations. Councilor Boone reports on behalf of the Airport Advisory Committee that the PALS dinner is coming up on June 5 and that the Community Day at the new Terminal Building will occur on June 14. Councilor Morang reports that a new 80’ ramp is going into the inner basin, so it will not be as steep. VIII. Public Open Forum (Recording 1:35:01) Richard Adams asked about the status of the veteran’s display that had been installed at Peavey Library and was moved to the Public Works Garage. The City Manager stated that the display was in very poor shape and would need to be completely rebuilt. Victoria Ganz stated the Airport Terminal building is almost finished. The money for the airport furniture will include appliances. Ground is about to be broken on new hangars. Paving is about to begin on new parking lot. Airport tractor has gone down and needs repairs. 3 IX. Executive Session (Recording 1:40:00) To go into executive session at 7:40 p.m. for Personnel Matters, 1 MRSA §405(6)(A); Real Property or Economic Development, 1 MRSA §405(6)(C); and Consultation with Legal Counsel, 1 MRSA §405(6)(E). MOTION Stevens SECOND Morang (Passed 3-0) X. Action from Executive Session (Recording 1:41:47) To come out of executive session at. 7:58 p.m. MOTION Morang SECOND Stevens (Passed 3-0) No action from executive session. XI. Adjournment (Recording 1:42:11) To adjourn at 7:59 p.m. MOTION Stevens SECOND Morang (Passed 3-0) Minutes prepared by Brian Schuth in the absence of City Clerk Ella Kowal. 4