Winterport Council Advances Grant Center Ramp, EPEC Talks

[0:03] Council Chair / Presiding Officer: I'd like to call Winnipeg Town Council meetings October 6th, 2026, 7 p.m. to order. Roll call. Steve? Here. Kelly? Here. Ann? Here. Corey's here. Clisham is excused. We all stand for the Pledge of Allegiance, please. I [0:23] Speaker B (unidentified): pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, of liberty and justice for all additions [0:43] Council Chair / Presiding Officer: subtract additions and subtractions of the agenda so [0:48] Town Manager: victoria grant center ramp is need very much needed replacement leslie tried to get a grant for it was the main redevelopment lightning grant unfortunately the applicants were a lot and we did not get it so i'm requesting to go out with it at this point i'm guessing it's gonna run roughly 16 to 20 000 ish and i'll find out where to pull the money from at that point but we get it we gotta get done it's a safety issue go [1:37] Councilor making motions: ahead i like to make a motion to authorize the town manager to prepare and issue a request for proposals for the repair and replacement of the ada accessibility entrance ramp to the victorian grant center a second [1:56] Speaker B (unidentified): is the ramp still usable or should we close it off i had public works secure it as best as [2:04] Town Manager: as possible i would say it's usable but i would i would want to get it replaced as soon as possible [2:15] Speaker B (unidentified): yeah i was just worried about someone using it yeah heard on it i think it's okay i can [2:24] Town Manager: obviously i can't guarantee anything because i'm not a specialist when i go to the bid i can ask them to assess that as well okay and if you want to pop by too you're going to know more about construction than i will i mean i from my perspective some of the rails themselves have snapped like the mid bars there's a lot of raw underneath on the main sides not the actual boards but okay and i also will make sure that it's paved underneath that's one of the big issues is you have a lot of water puddling underneath and it has nowhere to go and so it's just sitting there [3:06] Council Chair / Presiding Officer: and deteriorating the wood with that being said it's going to go to bed for three weeks yeah i think three weeks so i'll get it in tomorrow yeah because we'll be running close on time by time to [3:19] Speaker B (unidentified): close the hot top plants down yeah okay i could even try two weeks two to three i'll i'll it out tomorrow [3:30] Town Manager: on b municipal we need to vote sorry got a motion in the second we need to vote [3:37] Council Chair / Presiding Officer: oh yeah sorry i missed that we had a motion in the second all in favor unanimous thank you thanks [3:45] Town Manager: Wendy, our municipal consulting group is no longer going to be doing code enforcement effective January 1st of this year, so I'm going to be starting the search for replacement, and I'll bring to you guys once I find a replacement for our appointment. And there is a grant manager update added to your packet. Would you like me to read it, or do you guys just want to review it? I think okay. [4:16] Council Chair / Presiding Officer: Approval of agenda. Make a motion we approve the agenda as presented. Second. Okay, we've had a motion and a second, all in favor, unanimous. Reports, town manager report, it's one page. [4:39] Town Manager: Public works, the public works department will begin a winter work schedule on October 19th, 2026. This schedule will be Monday through Thursday 6 30 a.m. to 3 30 p.m. with a 30 minute unpaid lunch, and Friday 6 30 a.m. to 12 30 p.m. with no lunch. This schedule maintains the 40 hour work week while providing regular Friday coverage. The schedule, this schedule will be implemented on a trial basis for the winter season, and is anticipated to continue through April 15th, weather and operational needs. Dependent give or take fiscal year 27 paving work awarded to Bon Tibideau is moving forward. Staff will continue to monitor project completion and address any outstanding items as work progresses. The town is also moving forward with the sand and plowing services awarded to Wellman Paving, contract details including payment schedule and all that associated with it, the sand salt shed are being finalized. The sand salt shed repair project should be done any day, sometime this week, I'll have it file so. That'll be complete, and then you guys can put in the sand like whatever you put in there. Solid waste recycling, staff continues to work with legal counsel regarding the town's existing EPEC agreement and its relationship ship to the town's current solid waste operations. Discussions between council are ongoing. This matter will continue to be addressed with the council as additional information becomes available. Staff is also monitoring costs and revenues under town's current solid waste agreement. To evaluate actual performance against prior year operations. Comprehensive plan work continues toward the development of a new comprehensive plan for Winterport. The town has received interest from residents wishing to participate in the process, and organizational work is underway. Additional updates will be provided to the council as the committee and planning process develop. I have received a few applications so far. The town continues to receive interests from residents wishing to serve on municipal boards and committees. Current vacancies and interested applicants will be brought before the council as appropriate for consideration. Staff is continuing work on the consulate board committee and commission governance policy. Feedback received from the town's various boards and committees is being reviewed and incorporated where appropriate, with the goal of establishing a consistent governance policy applicable across the town's appointed bodies. I am learning some new things. So this is going to change finance. The first fiscal year 2027 treasurer quarterly report will be presented at the October 20th council meeting. September bank balances are not expected to be available until then. I actually just got them in today's mail. Waiting until the October 20th meeting will allow the report to include complete quarter and balances and provide the council with a more meaningful financial update, and staff continues to work through ongoing contract policy personnel financial and operational matters while preparing for upcoming fall winter municipal activities. I do also want to recognize October is municipal officers of army municipal officials appreciation month, and I would like to take a moment to recognize and thank all of our town employees. Municipal government is very much a team effort, and our staff works every day to provide services to the residents of winterport, often doing work behind the scenes that may not always be seen or recognized. This year's municipal officials appreciation month includes special recognition of public work employees, so I'd especially like to acknowledge our public works team for the work they do maintaining our roads and infrastructure and responding to the needs of the community throughout the year. To all of our employees, thank you for your hard work, your dedication, and the service you provide to the town of winnipeg is very much appreciated. [8:26] Council Chair / Presiding Officer: And then I'm done. Thank you, denise, and thank you to the public works and all municipal employees. Committee reports. Chairport is not one because the chair is not here. Reading of the record if requested. Appointment and resonations of boards commissions and committees. Appointment request of to add mike wellman to the solid waste and recycling committee. [9:06] Councilor making motions: Let them take a motion that we appoint Mike Wellman to the solid waste recycling committee. [9:12] Council Chair / Presiding Officer: So we've had a motion and a second, all in favor, unanimous, and we have an appointment request to add Jenny McNulty to the planning board alternate opening, make a motion that we accept the alternate. [9:33] Councilor making motions: Appointment of Jenny McNulty to the planning board, thank you, we've had a motion and a second. [9:42] Council Chair / Presiding Officer: All in favor, unanimous consent. [9:48] Speaker B (unidentified): Agenda motion to accept consent agenda is presented, second. [9:52] Council Chair / Presiding Officer: Second, motions made and seconded, all in favor, yeah. [10:05] Speaker B (unidentified): Yeah, that's what I was, I was. [10:13] Council Chair / Presiding Officer: Trying to make sure I didn't miss that, so we need a motion to amend the correct verbiage for. [10:24] Town Manager: Denise will tell you it's basically MMA requested certain verbiage to be added to the minutes to implement the domestic partnership policy, so we had to actually type that verbiage into the minutes before they would accept it, they didn't like it as an attachment, so I'm asking you to amend those minutes with the corrected information into the minutes for the. [10:50] Council Chair / Presiding Officer: September 1st 2026 maybe, so I'll make a motion to amend the correct verbiage for September 1st 2026 meeting, second, okay, it's been a motion made and seconded, all in favor, you. [11:08] Speaker B (unidentified): Know, was that some discussion before that, there wasn't any, okay. [11:20] Council Chair / Presiding Officer: We don't have any quick claim deeds or discharges. [Councilor (asking about Eagle Point Energy obligation): New.] Business abatement request for R-04-174, 175 and 176 Lindsay, consideration of 2024 tax abatement in the amount of 302 dollars and 50 cents, the homestead exemption had been removed from the account in the previously granted abatement was inadvertently reversed as the accessories abatement deadline has passed, council action is required, motion. [12:05] Town Manager: To approve the FY 2024 tax abatement for zero four one seventy four, zero four one seventy five, zero four one seventy six. [12:15] Speaker B (unidentified): And total amount of three hundred two dollars fifty cents, second, there's been a motion made. [12:21] Council Chair / Presiding Officer: And second, it is, there any discussion, all in favor, still unanimous. [12:31] Speaker B (unidentified): Do you want me to read the table and a billion quotes, we just need to table that the still of the attorneys, okay. [12:44] Council Chair / Presiding Officer: Josh at DM and J has offered to remove the motion to table, thank you, I make a motion to table for more research for one Pine View Drive, motion made and seconded, any discussion, all in favor, unanimous, Josh with DM and J has offered to remove the old recycling container that is no longer being used and in pretty bad shape, this is the one we were looking at replacing and was becoming close to unusable and willing to pay $60 a ton for scrap metal. We went and looked at that this afternoon, and we're wondering, should we offer that bolster to see if it's something that they might be interested in buying? It could be fixed for a little bit of work. It's not complete scrap. [13:45] Town Manager: That is up to you guys. I'm limited in my knowledge on that. I just came back with a different offer. [13:54] Council Chair / Presiding Officer: Anything got us more. I have to reach out and ask them, right? Yeah, I'll make a motion to reach out to Bolsters and see if there's anything they're interested in and what they'd be willing to offer for it. Second. Motion made and seconded. Any discussion? All in favor? Unanimous. So you're [14:17] Town Manager: saying offer to purchase? Yes, and [14:25] Council Chair / Presiding Officer: if it isn't Josh's way where it's on that pad, we could always pull it out by the sand shed or something. That okay if it was hindering his operation, okay, because I think they could drag it out with the skid steer. Okay, old business, EPEC solid waste agreement, direction and authorization. [14:56] Town Manager: Proposed motion. A little background on that is I've forwarded you the communications between the Peck and me and the attorney. He needs your okay to do negotiations on behalf of the town. That's what this really is. I can't just say yes, go ahead. I want your approval in motion to do so, and you'd be doing negotiation with EPAC and attorney to come to an agreement regarding [15:26] Council Chair / Presiding Officer: regarding that contract. Okay, so I moved to authorize the town manager and consultation with the town council to pursue negotiations with Eagle Point Energy for a mutually agreement termination, release, substantial modification of the town solid waste Disposal agreement, with any proposed settlement or agreement to be brought back to the town council for review and final approval. Second. We've had a motion made and seconded. Any discussion? All in favor. [16:02] Councilor (asking about Eagle Point Energy obligation): Mr. Chairman, may I just ask a question on this agenda item? Go ahead. So I'm just curious, are we still obligated financially to Eagle Point Energy? In other words, are we paying them for doing [16:20] Town Manager: you nothing right now? It goes through Bolsters, so Bolsters bring stuff to EPEC and Bolsters adds it to their bill. You're welcome. Ah. [16:37] Council Chair / Presiding Officer: Public forum for items on non-agenda items. Oh. [Speaker B (unidentified): Go ahead. It's] nothing scary, just the ambulance. Oh, I recognize your face. [16:56] Speaker B (unidentified): thank you yeah thank you 're very welcome thank [17:08] Councilor (asking about Eagle Point Energy obligation): you. Thank you. Okay, she can, she can take. [17:17] Alexander Garman, President of Winterport Fire Rescue Association: The mission. All right, so my name is Alexander Garman, president of Winterport Fire Rescue Association. With our ambulance update, we're doing two updates on this one for August and September. So this is a letter from Chief Billy Hawks. Dear members of the council, we're pleased to provide the council with an update on our activity and community engagement for August and September 2026. During August, we responded to a total of 46 calls, with 31 resulting in billable runs. The remaining 15 calls were non-billable and included lift assists and refusals. This represents a slight increase in overall call volume compared with August 2025, when we responded to 44 calls. In September, we responded to 42 calls, with 26 resulting in billable runs and 16 being non-billable runs, again, including those assists and refusals. By comparison, September 2025 saw 46 calls. With September now complete, our total runs for 2026 now stands at 419. I'm happy to announce that we've had 100% shift coverage for this year, and looking ahead to October, we had no open shifts. We'd also like to recognize and thank our mutual aid partner, Searsport, for their continued support. Over the past two months, Searsport has assisted us on three calls, and we greatly appreciate their willingness this to work alongside us when additional resources are needed. As we move into October, we'll continue our efforts to be involved and visible within the community. Our outreach, excuse me, our outreach efforts will include participation in the trunk retreat in Frankfurt hosted by the Frankfurt Recreation Department, as well as the trunk retreat being held at Ferdinand Field driveway on Halloween. These events give us an opportunity to connect with residents and families in a positive setting, build relationships within the community, and to promote safety and preparedness outside of emergency situations. We remain committed to providing compassionate, professional, and dependable service to our community. We are grateful for the continued support of the council and appreciate the trust you place in our organization. Your ongoing support allows us to continue serving our residents, strengthening our community partnerships, and being there when [19:12] Town Manager: Our community needs us most. Thank you, thank you very much. Clarification to our EPEC to Marianne, just a fair clarification. I found this out because the tickets that bolster submits have the EPEC on it, so it's not going to waste up then some does like, so it just depends on whether trucking. Yeah, it's working out. We're working on, yeah, we're not, we're not in, what's the word, I'm on non-compliance. [19:46] Councilor (asking about Eagle Point Energy obligation): On September 18th you all received an email from Sean Kearns and I subject request for legal authority. We did not receive an acknowledgement of you having received that email, so I am here tonight to make a formal request that the email be included in tonight's minutes for the public record. And I'm not going to read the whole email, it's available to the public through a FOIA request if they would like to see that. I assume you all have read it, but for the audio record I would just like to read two paragraphs from that email and I did say was from me and Sean Kearns, right? Yes. Good. So the charter commission was established for the purpose of revising the municipal charter or establishing a new municipal charter by a vote of the 2024 town meeting. Windyport's existing charter defines the respective powers and duties of the town meeting and the town council. And it expressly provides that the council shall carry out mandates of the annual and special town meetings. In addition it provides that all affirmative action of the qualified voters at the town meeting is required to exercise all powers of the town of Winterport not specifically delegated to the town council or other town officers. So the question that we have raised, Sean and I have raised, is that we believe this warrants legal review. The question is that we're asking is what authority under the existing charter or main law did the town council have to decide not to send the proposed charter revision to the voters and to terminate the Charter Commission process rather than carry out the statutory procedure following submission of the final report. So and we also asked in the email that whatever response is received regarding that legal authority that it be presented at a meeting of the town council so it's publicly PROBABLY AVAILABLE TO INDIVIDUALS. PROVIDE THIS COPY OF THAT E-MAIL FOR INCLUSION [22:22] Speaker B (unidentified): IN THE RECORD. NEW SPEAKER THANK YOU, [22:28] Council Chair / Presiding Officer: MARIANNE. [22:30] Councilor (asking about Eagle Point Energy obligation): NEW SPEAKER THANK YOU. NEW SPEAKER ANYBODY ELSE? [22:34] Speaker B (unidentified): GO AHEAD. NEW SPEAKER I JUST HAVE A QUICK QUESTION. IN REGARDS TO THE ROADS THAT HAVE BEEN LISTED FOR REPAIR FOR PAVING, IS THAT A SPRING OR [22:48] Town Manager: A summer project. When does that? I think they're going to be starting some until they can't this year, and then finish up in the spring and summer, spring. So there's still to be. [22:57] Speaker B (unidentified): Something that will be in springs. Okay, yeah, they're going to get what they can. [23:02] Town Manager: Until October, whatever it is, 15th, and then they'll re-start. Yeah, and then they'll start in the spring. [23:08] Speaker B (unidentified): All right, thank you. Okay, no council comment. All [23:34] Council Chair / Presiding Officer: right, motion to adjourn. We have a motion made and seconded with no discussion. All in favor. [23:44] Speaker B (unidentified): Wait for you to fail on that one. Yeah, I know you were. Good job.