City Hall·Westbrook City Council
Westbrook council: PFAS tests clear three athletic fields
The Westbrook City Council heard results of an 18-month PFAS investigation showing three city-owned athletic fields are safe for continued recreational use, with levels well below state guidelines. The council also confirmed a new finance director and approved several purchases and expenditures, all by unanimous votes.
Key points
- Consultants reported that PFAS testing at Cornelia Warren Field, Fraser Field, and the high school baseball fields found levels well below Maine DEP remedial action guidelines, and the Maine DEP wrote that the fields may continue to be used and pose minimal risk.
- The council confirmed Bruno Innacio as finance director in a 6-0 vote; he previously served as Director of Finance and Administrative Services for the Maine Secretary of State.
- The council approved the purchase of two portable traffic signals for $64,891.31, with Public Services estimating about $15,000 a year in saved flagging wages.
- The council adopted the annual General Assistance Ordinance and maximums for fiscal year 2026-2027, skipping Appendix C on housing maximums to preserve leverage with landlords.
- The council approved $50,000 for Millbrook Preserve improvements and $10,000 for the Portland Trails Rock Row connector, both recommended by the Recreation and Conservation Commission.
- The council accepted $5,433.05 in federal asset forfeiture funds tied to a Westbrook officer's work on an FBI Safe Streets Task Force meth investigation.
Next steps
- Final PFAS Phase II environmental assessment reports will be submitted to the EPA and Maine DEP for review, with finalization expected in early November.
- A city PFAS webpage and FAQ, along with a press release, were set to launch the day after the meeting.
- Absentee voting is open at City Hall during regular business hours, with extended hours on October 21 and October 28 and Saturday hours on October 17.
- The city will review new student council representative applications and hopes to seat representatives in the coming weeks.
Where this came from
City of Westbrook (Vimeo)
The summary and transcript were made by software from the public meeting video, with names checked against the official roster, then reviewed before publishing.
Watch the meeting ↗The summary and transcript were made by software from the public meeting video, with names checked against the official roster, then reviewed before publishing.