Kennebunk Select Board approves election plans, general assistance administrators

The Kennebunk Select Board approved its consent agenda for the November 3 election, adopted the updated MMA General Assistance Ordinance, and confirmed two behavioral health liaisons as general assistance administrators. The board also heard department overviews from the town clerk and the community development director, covering absentee voting logistics and long-range infrastructure and housing planning.

Key points

• The board voted 7-0 to approve the consent agenda, including September 8 meeting minutes, the town clerk's appointment of Merton Brown as warden, polling hours of 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Town Hall Auditorium, and extra voter registration and absentee balloting hours on October 24, 25, and 29.
• The board voted 7-0 to adopt the Maine Municipal Association General Assistance Ordinance, September 2026 edition, including appendices A through H and recovery residence maximums, after a public hearing with no comment.
• The board voted 7-0 to confirm the town manager's appointment of Catherine Fisher and Amy Green as general assistance administrators, with terms expiring June 30, 2027, as general assistance administration moves to the police department.
• Town Clerk Merton Brown said in-person absentee balloting begins October 5 on the third floor of town hall, and noted absentee ballots grew from 302 in 2016 to 5,854 in 2024.
• Community Development Director Chris Osterrieder gave a department overview covering permitting, planning, code enforcement, and engineering, including the Rosewood, Glenwood, and Longwood neighborhood road project and the roughly $1.5 million beach wall project near the Narragansett.
• Board members discussed future beach infrastructure decisions, with Osterrieder saying the town needs vulnerability data and cost-benefit analysis before weighing options, and member Leslie noted environmental impacts and the town's climate action plan should be part of the conversation.
• The finance subcommittee reported it discussed disposing of eight town assets, mostly vehicles and parts, through the auction site Auctions International.

Next steps

• Absentee balloting opens in person October 5 on the third floor of town hall; extended registration and absentee hours are set for October 24, 25, and 29.
• Voter registration drives are planned at Atria, Huntington, Bradford, River Ridge, and Kennebec Nursing Home on October 21, 22, and 23, and at the Waterhouse Center during Oktoberfest on October 17.
• The planning board will receive information over the coming months on state housing mandates with a July 1, 2027 implementation date.
• The first installment of property taxes is due Friday, October 2, 2026; the second is due Friday, April 2, 2027.

Read the full transcript