Speakers labeled via automated voice-based diarization + AI name-matching against the city's official roster. Automated transcription can still mis-hear a name during fast speech (e.g. a rapid roll-call vote) -- clear near-misses are auto-corrected, but this is not manually verified line-by-line. Treat names as a strong best guess, not an official record.
[0:36] Mark Dion: I'd like to call the City Council to order. Will you please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance? To the Pledge. Clerk will call the roll.
[1:00] City Clerk: Councillor Fournier? Here. Councillor Grant? Here. Councillor Sykes? Here. Councillor Raleigh? Absent. Councillor Pelletier? Absent. Councillor Michniewicz? Here. Councillor Bullett? Absent. Councillor Phillips? Here. Mayor Dionne? Here.
[1:20] Mark Dion: Chair will now welcome public comment on unagended items. items.
[1:27] Speaker C (unidentified): Mr. Mayor, members of the council, city manager, city clerk, corporation council. Just here to present two quick thank yous, if that's okay. Putting on my metro hat, a lot of people say, they don't do it though, I'm actually doing it. I really want to thank our mayor, as well as council appellateer, as well as assistant city manager Jordan for coming to Scarborough. Mr. Mayor rode the bus with me over there to launch the service between Portland, South Portland, and Scarborough. It was great to have their support representing the city. And one of the real pluses I just wanted the councilors to know, because several of you have contacted me over the years, this new service enables Metro to now serve the VA clinic down on West Commercial Street. So thanks to this regional expansion, funded in large part, at least temporarily, through the Turnpike Authority, MDOT, our federal partners, and Don Scarborough, this will enable us to serve as a VA clinic, which has been on our to-do list for quite some time. So thank you for that. Putting my main marathon hat on. Got to keep all my multiple personalities separate. No comments. Again, I want to thank the city. Yesterday was the annual running of the Maine Marathon. We had over 5,500 runners from 49 states. If anyone knows a runner in North Dakota, tell them they get a free lobster roll if they come next year. And 15 foreign countries. Over 5,500 runners came, had a tremendous day. We estimated annual economic impact over $3 million to the good for the city of Portland, with so many people from out of state out of country coming in. Last year, we don't have the numbers for this year, but last year with 5,000 runners, which was a record at that time, we donated just shy of $1 million, which is $940,000 to local not-for-profits. Unlike some other races, none of us take a salary. Every penny that we raise goes back to local not-for-profits, including a lot of local athletic sports teams from the public, like Deering High School, Portland High School teams that volunteer. So it's a really great event. And I really want to thank the city departments, public assembly and facilities for their permitting, public works for filling some potholes on a last minute notice, Parks and Rec, Portland Parking Division, which supplies staff for traffic control, Portland Fire Department. I see the chief is here. We had excellent EMS coverage. I also want to say we have about 100 medical volunteers, by the way, from Maine Med and the local medical community that volunteer and I really want to single out the port in the police department I know they're critically understaffed still and several of the officers that staffed the marathon were held over after working all night they then had to stay on and staff traffic control points for the main marathon we had 12 13 14 officers on duty and you'd never know that they had been held over their professionalism their commitment to customer service we get positive comments from runners about how friendly our police officers are as they're running by so really just wanted to say thank you thank you also to councillor Bullitt and the residents of district 4 whose district is severely impacted by 5,500 runners running out and back through district 4 Sherwood Street Vanna Street West Kidder East Kidder too and so we really appreciate your support your district support because it's a tremendous event. I look forward to being back here next year with even a better report. So thank
[5:07] Mark Dion: you all. Thank you very much for your comments. Next speaker.
[5:12] Deidre St. Lewis: Thank you. My name is Deidre St. Lewis. I live at 46 Ridge Road in Portland, Maine. And I'm just going to read the letter that I wrote to Consular Bullitt. And here I go. Dear Ms. Bullitt, I live in District 4 at 46 Ridge Road in Portland, Maine. Central Maine Power has applied to the Maine Public Utilities Commission for a certificate of public convenience and necessity for a transmission line upgrade that runs through my neighborhood, which is the Ocean Ridge Condominiums. The state is still reviewing it. Nothing is final. What concerns me most is clearing of trees up to the edge of my subdivision's common recreational area, which would leave no screening between the line and multiple homes as well as the common area, damage to a trail that is a part of the Portland Trails, steel structures up to 110 feet tall, about the height of a 10-story building, across our property, and years of construction noise and disruption to the enjoyment of our property. I support public or support Portland getting the reliable power it needs, including for our clean energy goals. The question is what the real need is. It should be independently assessed and the solution designed to fit it. It's possible that there are better ways than a high voltage line through neighborhoods and natural areas, and I'd like to see CMP, the city, and residents work those out together. I've been working with the Alliance for Responsible Infrastructure, a group of neighbors and landowners across Greater Portland. ARI is working with an independent technical expert who is examining whether CMP has shown the need for a project this size. I'm asking for three things from the city council. First, to put this project on an upcoming agenda with time for a technical briefing. Second, ask the PUC to require an independently assessed need before anything is approved and to look at real alternatives that meet Portland's needs with less disruption to neighborhoods. And finally, perform an assessment of what costs Portland ratepayers would bear from the proposal and any alternatives. Thank you. Next
[7:28] Mark Dion: speaker. Hello.
[7:33] Rita Claire: I'm here to supplement what D just said. My name is Rita Claire. I live in the Ledgewood Condos in North Deering in Portland. I'm very privileged to be living there and have access to miles of forest trails that run along the powerline corridor from Ocean Avenue up to the landfill and quarry run area. I'm on these trails nearly every day, no matter the season. I'm walking my dog, birding, observing, and just enjoying access to wildlife. I spend so much of my free time there, and it's enabled me access to the outdoors and time away from my computer and phone, and I think that to say that this area provides me with immeasurable value would really be an understatement, and I know that I'm not the only one that feels this way about this area. It really provides crucial access to hundreds of residents to nature, and the proposed CMP powerland expansion project is really threatening to destroy and impact a lot of this area and access to these trails, in addition to the noise and the air pollution that will negatively impact many lives. I have personally observed more than 70 species of birds here and more than 200 species of fungi, animals, and plants, including critically endangered in American chestnut trees. The power line corridor itself has dense blueberry and huckleberry patches that would be completely destroyed by this project and take decades to return to what they are today. They take a very long time to regrow, and most alarmingly, part of the power line corridor runs through a wetland area west of the landfill that I believe is fed by pollution runoff from the landfill itself. You can look at it on satellite and Google Maps, and this really raises some concerns about the safety of even like drilling into this area and disrupting the land around here. There's a lot of things I haven't listed, but clearly there are a lot of potential consequences to think about with this expansion project. Despite living there for over a year and a half, I found out about this yesterday. My landlord Lisa is here with me, and she is part of the Ledgewood Condo Association, and none of the property owners in Ledgewood have been informed of this. She contacted the property management company today. They have not been informed of this, and there are condominiums at ledgwood that are within 200 feet 30 seconds corridor, so please consider putting this on your radar for something to consider and put it on the agenda and ask the utilities commission to do independent assessment, because there are a lot of things to consider here and we need viable alternatives. Thank you. Good
[10:36] Joshua Leonard: evening. My name is joshua leonard. I'm a resident of District 2 and operate a recovery housing program in District 1. I've worked, volunteered, and served in the recovery community in Maine for quite a while now. I'm someone in long-term sobriety after nearly two decades of addiction and in a few days celebrating nine years of continuous recovery. I also operate this recovery housing program, Portland's Overliving. Recently, the mayor is receiving backlash over comments he made about his views on the homelessness and addiction crisis Portland is facing, and I found myself having an incredibly hard time disagreeing with him. I want to address the social implications of drug use, open-air drug market, and the community impacts. Please note that these implications do not mean that people with substance use are bad or evil people. They're suffering. But these problems do have global impacts, and they're real, and they can't be ignored. A vast array of scientific evidence shows that proximal social and environmental conditions drastically alter the safety and well-being of people with substance use problems. The closer drug use and availability of drugs are to us, the greater risk we are in, whether it's in early recovery or active use. Every day open-air drug use is happening right outside my silver house, even on our front porch, and I've lost count of how many people we've lost as a result. Many advocates across the nation promote things like drug decriminalization, citing the Cato Institute study on Portugal's policy as a possible approach to be considered in the US. But the Obama administration dove into this data and found no compelling evidence that decriminalization had as much of a profound effect as advocates say. Other methods tried through harm reduction and SSPs, but those programs, even promoted with the best of intent, undeniably fall short of the solution-based approach we need. The vast expanse of drug use on the streets of Portland, can we really expect people who are out there using to overcome those influences in a meaningful way while every day they're in the middle of it? How about a person in early recovery, stepping out of their recovery home, heading to work, and trying to head on the right path, but having their past displayed in front of them everywhere they go. With these problems, I hope to promote potential solutions, whether it's opioid settlement funds used to break the financial barrier of entry and recover housing costs and recovery programs and recovery housing, expand working cooperations with the public sector working alongside the private sector to streamline transitions from program to program, bed to bed, reducing gaps in the process that open people up to dangerous insecurity regarding where they'll end up. But we'll also have to have tough conversations like involuntary commitment, which had a very positive recovery community and legislative support in 2022. That was LD 2008 to eight in the 130th legislature. I will be back for more. I know I don't have any more time, but thank you for yours today. Thanks anyone.
[13:52] Mark Dion: Else wishing to provide a comment on an unagended item?
[14:03] Jamie Batista: Mayor Dion, members of the council, my name is Jamie Batista. I'm a resident of Falmouth at 26 Stonecrest Drive. I'm here on behalf of the Alliance for Responsible Infrastructure, a Maine-based 501c4 social welfare organization representing residents along the route of CMP's proposed Greater Portland transmission upgrades, now before the Public Utilities Commission. I want to start here, where the council is. Portland needs reliable power for the growth of the city and for electrification. We support that. Portland needs more power, and CMP is letting you down. They're letting all of us down. Just as in the ongoing rate case, CMP is bringing forward poorly thought-out proposals that impose steep rate increases on ratepayers, then stall out while the public advocate and the Commission work out what they would really mean. This overhaul would also inflict severe economic and environmental destruction on neighborhoods along the line and on towns north of Portland. Those towns will see little to no benefit of the project. Under this process, no one wins. So where do we go from here? Start with the real need and how best to meet it, then design solutions. That is why September 14th of this year, landowner interveners filed a motion asking the Public Utilities Commission to settle the need question first and only then design a solution that fits that need. Three parties filed in support. The Office of the Public Advocate, the Conservation Law Foundation, and the Town of Falmouth. CMP opposed it. So the public advocate wrote that several of CMP's forecasting practices raise concerns that the Portland area forecast of load is overestimated, potentially leading to unneeded capital investment. And ISO New England's 2025 forecast cut 115 megawatts from the 2030 summer peak, and yet CMP says that it did not change its design. If we lower the need, we bring out more favorable solutions for all of us. What CMP proposes is permanent steel monopoles up to 110 feet tall, 30 seconds, a cleared corridor of 100 to 150 feet, herbicide treatment near homes, wells where children play. That is along 1,000 residential properties that sit along the line. There are better ways to meet the real need: alternate routing, alternate technologies. And with that, we ask the council to support our motion, enforce a consideration of need. Thank you for your time. Anyone else
Public Comment
[17:08] Mark Dion: wishing to provide public comment on an unagended item? Seeing none, public comment period is closed. ANNOUNCEMENTS, ANYTHING FROM, GO AHEAD, COUNCIL BULLET.
[17:26] Speaker H (unidentified): THIS IS NOT AN ANNOUNCEMENT, BUT THIS IS ALSO THE FIRST I'M HEARING OF THIS. SO THE FOLKS THAT CAME TODAY AROUND THE CMP ISSUE, IF YOU DON'T MIND SENDING ME AN EMAIL TONIGHT SO THAT WE CAN SCHEDULE SOME TIME TO MEET, I'LL COME OUT TO YOU AS SOON AS POSSIBLE SO THAT THEN MY COLLEAGUE HERE COUNCILOR PHILLIPS AND I CAN SEE IF THERE'S ANYTHING ON S&T THAT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO MOVE.
[17:48] Mark Dion: Councilor Bullett, on that item, I'll join you. I have some additional information, but I won't do it here right now. Is there any other comments? I have an announcement to make to the council as well as the general public. I would book all your Mondays from here until the end of the year here, because all these demands for workshop are bearing fruit. So if we're not in City Council proceedings, I just want you to know that you'll be in workshop proceedings here on end, and if we have a free night, we should rejoice. Not that I'd be against such a happening, but I just want you to give time to consider your calendar moving forward. And also time for the public, when you ask for a workshop, we're booking into 27, and that'll be a new council and new priorities. So that's the summation of my announcement. Moving on to recognitions, presentations. Councilor Phillips.
[19:05] Speaker I (unidentified): Thank you, Mayor. I just want to know if there's an end date to all the time that we'll be spending together on Mondays. Would that be December 31st? December 31st.
[19:17] Mark Dion: Okay, thank you. Just wanted clarification. What do I always tell this council? It'll last as long as you want to talk about it. I prefer get to the point so we can get to the end. So a lot of control falls to all of you, but I'm just doing it as a courtesy. So when Max calls you to schedule something, which is a special assistant to the city manager, as she coordinates workshops with the public. I just want you to be aware of that. So, any other comments? All right, then. Chair, we seek a motion to recess the meeting of the City Council and convene the annual meeting of the Corporator of the Portland Development Corporation. Moved. Moved by Councillor Phillips. Is there a second? Second. Second by Councillor Pelletier. All those in favor, please vote by hand. It's unanimous. Clerk will now read the motion, and we'll get a comment from myself and the public.
[20:31] City Clerk: Annual Meeting of the Corporator of the Portland Development Corporation.
[20:45] Mark Dion: The comment is that there is a report attached in the packet having to do with the commercial loans that were granted to nine businesses by the PDC for an amount of $740,000, two Brownfield loans in the amount of $2,886,424, three Brownfield grants in the total amount of $1.135,750, and three interest-free storefront loans in the total amount of $48,000. The PDC is currently managing an active loan portfolio of 45 active loans for a total principal amount of 7.4 million leveraging over 200 million in private investment the leveraging amount is 31 to 1 that is for every public dollar invested another 31 dollars has been invested by the private sector so with that I will turn to
[21:40] Beverly Werber: public comment hi my name is Beverly Werber and I'm the recently elected President of the Portland Development Corporation and I'm here to present the annual report the mayor has highlighted some of the important elements of our work our goals which is are to accelerate housing production and strengthen affordability productions strengthen economic vitality and support LOCAL BUSINESSES. I can also note some of our recent brownfield cleanup funds, 89 Elm Street, closed a $2.1 million loan with a Vesta Housing, 331 Cumberland Avenue, which provided for Youth and Family Outreach, Brownfield's grant of just under $300,000 to build 60 units of affordable family housing, along with extended childcare facilities, and a number of additional brownfield grants which are key to the health of our city. We provide commercial loans and have a leverage $31 for every dollar lent by PDC. And that have created jobs as well as contributed to the Portland tax base. One of the things I'd love to highlight is PDC loans have enabled longtime employees of Tony's Donuts and Health Resonates to buy out their existing owners, ensuring that the business stays in Portland. We have a new interest-free downtown storefront improvement loan where nearly $50,000 have been loaned to support street level vibrancy and facade SOD improvements, the local businesses like Bad Neighbors, Another Round, and Morning Cloak. Those are interest-free loans. And in closing, I'd like to thank the city council and staff who support the PDC in its work. The staff provide exceptional professional support, and their good-natured interactions with us make our job enjoyable.
[24:06] Mark Dion: Thank you for your report. Is there any comments from the council? Seeing none, thank you. Clerk will now read Order 482627.
[24:20] City Clerk: Order 482627, appointing Nathan Henry to the Board of the Portland Development Corporation, sponsored by Legislative Nominating Committee, Mark Dion, Chair.
[24:31] Mark Dion: No comment from the Chair other than this was considered by Councilor Sykes, council grant and myself which has resulted in the proposed nomination of Nathan Henry to the PDC. Is there any public comment on this nomination? Seeing none chair would seek a motion a second for passage moved by council grant second by councillor Sykes council comment Seeing none. All those in favor of the appointment of Nathan Henry, the Portland Development Corporation, please signify by hand. It's unanimous. Chair would now seek a motion to adjourn the Annual Meeting of the Corporator of the Portland Development Corporation and convene the Special Meeting of the Corporator for Creative Portland Corporation. So moved. Moved by Councilor Sykes. Second. Seconded by Councilor Phillips. Clerk will read Order 49-2627.
[25:41] City Clerk: Order 49-2627, appointing directors to the Board of the Creative Portland Corporation sponsored by Legislative Nominating Committee, Mark Dion, Chair.
[25:51] Michelle Peacock: Point of order, Mayor. I think we have to vote on that last...
[25:56] Mark Dion: You're right, I checked it off as if it already happened. Efficiency, hard at work. All right. All those in favor of the motion to adjourn, so be it. Thank you, Councillor Sykes. We still have a motion on 49-26-27. It was moved by Councillor Sykes.
[26:29] City Clerk: Read the title, then. Order 49-26-27, appointing directors to the board of the Creative Portland Corporation, sponsored by Legislative Nominating Committee, Mark Dion, Chair.
[26:42] Mark Dion: These are individuals that are being nominated to the Creative Portland Corporation, a body that considers what the cultural plan should be for the city and manage those processes. These individuals were elected for consideration by Councilor Grant, Councilor Sykes, and myself. Is there any public comment on the nominees? Seeing none, Chair would accept a motion for passage in a second. Second. Moved by Councillor Forney. Second. Seconded by Councillor Sykes. Council comment? Seeing none, all those in favor, please signify by hand. The order passes. The Chair would now seek a motion to adjourn the meeting of the Creative Foreland Corporation and reconvene the regular meeting of the City Council. Moved by Councillor Phillips, seconded by Councillor Sykes. No discussion. All those in favor, please signify. Aye. It's unanimous. Chair would now seek a motion to approve the minutes of the September 21st, 2026 City Council meeting. Moved by Councilor Phillips, seconded by Councilor Sykes. Any comments from the council? Seeing none, all those in favor? Passes. Clerk will now read Proclamation 11-26-27.
[28:25] City Clerk: Proclamation 11-26-27, recognizing October 12th, 2026 as Indigenous Peoples Day, sponsored by Mark Dion, Mayor.
[28:34] Mark Dion: Chair would yield to Councilor Fornia.
[28:37] Speaker L (unidentified): Thank you, Mayor. Whereas the City Council of the City of Portland recognizes that Portland was founded and is built upon lands first inhabited by the Indigenous people of this Occo-Cisco Bay, Casco Bay region, the Maliseet, Wala-Sto-Kuik, Mi'kmaq, Penobscot, and Passamaquoddy tribes, known collectively as the Wabanaki Confederacy or People of the Don Land. And whereas the city of Portland recognizes that the indigenous peoples of the lands that would later become known as the Americas have inhabited these lands since time immemorial. And whereas the history of this nation includes the forcible removal of indigenous peoples from their ancestral lands, forcing assimilation and nearly erasing the vibrant cultures of our first environmental stewards. And whereas the City of Portland recognizes that confronting our past requires strong self-reflection, honesty, and accountability to do better than those who came before us for the benefit of the next seven generations. And this work is done in partnership with our sovereign Indigenous nations. And whereas the City of Portland is proud to be included in a growing number of cities and towns in the United States to have recognized the second Monday of October as Indigenous Peoples Day, thereby creating an opportunity to reflect on our past, learn about and celebrate Indigenous peoples, their resiliency, and their very real modern presence in our community, not just a relic of the past. And now, therefore, be it resolved that Mark Dion, Mayor of the City of Portland, Maine, and members of the Portland City Council do hereby recognize Monday, October 12th, as Indigenous Peoples Day, and encourage residents to acknowledge and honor the First Nations members of our community, past and present, without whom the creation of this country would not have been possible. Signed and sealed this fifth day of October.
[30:20] Mark Dion: Thank you, Councillor. Clerk will now read Proclamation 12-26-27.
[30:25] City Clerk: Proclamation 12-26-27, recognizing October 2026 as Domestic Violence Awareness Month, sponsored by Mark Dion, Mayor.
[30:33] Mark Dion: Chair will yield to Councillor Boyle.
[30:36] Speaker H (unidentified): Thank you, Mayor. Proclamation recognizing October 2026 as Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Whereas domestic abuse and violence is a serious injustice that affects people and family of all races, ages, genders, and income levels, and whereas one in four women and one in seven men has experienced abuse and violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime, and trans and gender non-binary people experience abuse from partners at disproportionate rates, and whereas each year nearly half of all homicides in Maine are related to domestic violence and abuse, and whereas support and help is available in our community 24-7 to anyone affected by domestic abuse at Through These Doors, our local partner who has been supporting victims of domestic abuse and violence in Cumberland County since And whereas all people in our community have opportunities to support people experiencing abuse and violence, challenge the behavior of abusive people, and transform the belief system that allows abuse to thrive. And whereas together our individual actions are what will end domestic abuse. Now therefore be it resolved that Mark Dion, Mayor of the City of Portland, and members of the City Council, do hereby recognize October 2026 as Domestic Violence Month, and urge all citizens to recognize this observance and to learn more about the local services available to support victims of domestic abuse and violence in our community. Signed and sealed this fifth day of October 2026 by the Mayor. Thank
[32:06] Mark Dion: you, Councillor. Clerk will now read Order 50-26-27.
[32:11] City Clerk: Order 50-26-27, appointing members to various boards and committees, sponsored by Legislative Nominating Committee, Mayor Mark Dion, Chair.
[32:21] Mark Dion: Chair appreciates and thanks all the residents who submitted application and sat through interviews for a variety of positions on our boards and commissions. We can't function without citizen input and citizen participation. Even if you weren't selected, we recognize your effort to try and join the team, and I would encourage you to apply again, because we never know what might happen on various committees or boards, and we would welcome the opportunity to invite you into that effort. Is there any public comment on the nominees listed in the boards to which they've been appointed. Seeing none, Chair would seek a motion for adoption and a second. So moved. Moved by Councilor Sykes. Second. Second by Councilor Grant. Any comment from the Council? Seeing none, all those in favor of the slate proposed signify. It's unanimous. Thank you. Clerk will now read orders 51 26 27 in order 52 26 27. Order 51 26 27 granting
[33:39] City Clerk: municipal officers approval of veranda kitchen and bar application for class 1 fse with outdoor dining on private property at 425 forest street suite 1 103 sponsored by danielle west city Manager. Order 5226-27, granting municipal officers approval of the Velvet Dog application for indoor entertainment at 24 Preble Street, sponsored by Danielle West, City Manager.
[34:06] Mark Dion: City Manager's comment?
[34:10] Speaker M (unidentified): Nothing additional than what's been provided in the backup materials, but Zach is present from Permitting and Inspections Office if you have any questions.
[34:19] Mark Dion: All right, then. Any public comment on either order or both? Seeing none. Oh, you do? Okay.
[34:34] Travis Pham: Good evening. My name is Travis Pham.
[34:36] Deidre St. Lewis: My father was originally supposed to be here representing the restaurant, but he was- Is he all right?
[34:42] Speaker M (unidentified): Yes. Okay, good. I'm here regarding the liquor license for the restaurant. We operate. You
[35:06] Mark Dion: Can move the mic. I'm short, too. I would have to move it.
[35:10] Michelle Peacock: I'm Michelle Peacock and I represented High in his lease for his new restaurant. It is a seven
[35:17] Speaker H (unidentified): year lease that he's already committed to, so liquor license is successful. Thank you both.
[35:27] Mark Dion: Anyone else wishing to provide comment? Seeing none, Chair would seek a motion for adoption and a second. So moved by Council Sykes, second by Council Bullet. Discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor of items on the consent items, please signify. Passes unanimously. Go to your father now. Alright, is anyone here from the Velvet Dog? Thanks for making the decision to realize your dream here in the city of Portland, and I hope moving forward, if this council or departments can be of assistance, please reach out to us. Alright, I like that. As a dog owner, I like the name. Okay, good. I do, I'll check it. No, I'll stop by. I like to visit the new places. All right, soon. Thank you, clerk.
[36:41] City Clerk: Will now read order 43 26 27. Order 43 26 27 granting municipal officers approval of Shea Bistro, BISO, apologies, application for Class 11 restaurant lounge with outdoor dining on private property at 11 Brown Street, sponsored by Danielle West,
[36:59] Speaker M (unidentified): City Manager. City Manager. I'm going to defer to Corporation Council.
[37:06] Danielle West: Thank you, Danielle. Mayor, just a couple quick things. This item was originally on the agenda on September 21st, but it was postponed due to some issues related to possible uses of the space that the applicants lease. Since then they've gone back and amended. I see Zack is here and he's got more information than I do, but they have gone back and amended their application and are switching from a class 11 restaurant lounge to a class 1 full service establishment. There is in the backup an amendment, Mayor, that I'm hoping you or one of the other councillors will move that will just amend the order to reflect the change in the license. Happy to answer any questions about that, and I know that Zach will be able to answer questions better than I can.
[38:04] Mark Dion: Thank you. Chair would inquire if the councillor from District 1 would want to sponsor the amendment. Is that a yes? Yes, I would. All right. Can Council lay out the
[38:21] Danielle West: amendment for her? Yeah, the amendment is included in the backup. It's simply, the only change is that it changes, it deletes the words Class 11 Restaurant Lounge to Class 1 FSE. All right, then.
[38:41] Mark Dion: Council has adopted the amendment. Is there a motion? We've got to vote on them. We got to do a motion on the main amount. I have to take public comment. Is there a public comment? I'm
[39:03] Miley Buecher: Miley Buecher. I live at nine Brown Street in district one. So dear Mr. Mayor and esteemed city councillors, I'm commenting for two reasons, both related to the liquor license application submitted by Shea Bistro, located at 11 Brown Street. This space is part of the Eastman Black Condominium Association and is bound by the association's established condominium declarations, including restrictions for the commercial space. First, as board president for Eastman Black, I want to commend the postponement of the application to this evening, and I want to commend and also thank the applicants for resubmitting a new classification of liquor license. What was originally class 11 moved to class 1. This is more consistent with the licenses held by previous restaurant occupants and has the potential to be more compliant with condominium declarations while being more conducive to coexisting in harmony with our quiet residential block. Eastman Block has four residential units directly above Chez Buso, while the adjacent Kimball Court condominiums have 23 residential units. Second, it's our expectation that Chez Buso upholds all city ordinances with respect to operating the restaurant under a Class 1 license. This includes a closing time that is consistent with Chez Buso serving of their full menu. Our research of restaurants serving dinner in the arts district shows that all but three restaurants close between 8 30 and 9 30 p.m. serving their full menu until closing time, complying with the class one license. Three restaurants that hold a class 11 restaurant lounge license are open much later, but they do not have residential units above them. This is an important distinction point two, compliance with the City Code Chapter 4, Section 4-42.3, which prohibits the playing of background music without a permit. For additional context that the City Council should be aware of, Eastman Block's condomium declarations explicitly prohibit bar, lounge, nightclub, or other place of recreation and amusement serving or selling alcohol except as an ancillary part of their business in the commercial space. Less than 45 percent of Shea Biso's gross revenue is allowed to come from the sale of alcoholic beverages. The condo declarations also explicitly point out that noise is that is determined to be a nuisance or disturbance by Eastman Black residents at any time of day. So I respectfully ask the city council to help educate and reinforce the importance both on the city side with ordinances and code and also in respect of our condominium declaration. So thank you for your time and your consideration.
[42:09] Mark Dion: Anyone else wishing to provide public comment on this order? The people up there, I have a hard time seeing them in the floodlights. All right, then. Public comment is closed. I seek a motion and a second on the main motion. I move to approve. Second. Moved by Councilor Phillips, seconded by Councilor McNavidge. There's a pending amendment. Can I have a motion for that? So moved. Okay. Moved by Councillor Michniewicz, seconded by Councillor Phillips. Discussion on the amendment. Any additional information from corporation council? Nothing additional from me. All right, then. All those in favor of the amendment proposed, please signify by hand. All right, we will now move to the main item as amended. All those in favor, please signify. It passes. All right, then. Do you understand? I'm I'm directing this question to council. Do they understand that they've been it's been approved? Yes, we have. Okay. And they clearly, and they've been explained the conditions and expectations as delivered to us by the president of the condo association. Chair will allow you a minute to do that. Well then, you've been granted your license. Congratulations. Thank you so much. All right. Clerk will now read Resolve 326-27.
[44:43] City Clerk: Resolve 326-27, amending council rules sponsored by rules committee. Counselor Pious Ali, chair. Thank you. The chair
[44:52] Mark Dion: is going to ask for a second on a motion to well not a refer postpone this item until the next meeting because the chair believes it's important that the chair of the rules committee also be here to provide his input onto the discussions. Is there a second?
[45:16] Speaker M (unidentified): That was beat to October 19.
[45:20] Mark Dion: Who did second come from? I was looking to the left. We both tried. Okay. Aunswer Phillips and I. I think it was a tie. Aunswer Phillips. It's second. All right. Any discussion of the motion? Seeing none. All those in favor of the motion, they 'll be on the next meeting. Clerk will now read Order 46-2627.
[45:50] City Clerk: Order 46-2627, approving Modification 3 to the York Street Bicycle Pedestrian Safety Project between the Maine Department of Transportation and Portland, sponsored by Danielle West, City Manager.
[46:03] Mark Dion: Comments, City Manager?
[46:05] Speaker M (unidentified): Nothing additional from what's in the backup. I think it's pretty explanatory, but Mike Murray is present if you have any specific questions.
[46:13] Mark Dion: Is there anyone from the public wishing to comment on this proposed order?
[46:20] Travis Pham: Stephen Scharfer, Brackett Street in Portland. I'm just looking at the backup material quickly. This project goes back all the way to 2020 and before, and we still haven't started building it. This is an ongoing issue with the projects in the city of Portland that they go on forever and ever and someday might get built. built. Just note that the original Franklin Street was approved and built in like three years, the original piece of it, with a plan to revisit it in ten years and finish the second phase, which never happened, but they had a design, approved design and built in about three years. But that doesn't happen anymore in the City of Portland, which is not a good thing we need to be building and getting our infrastructure in place much more quickly the bike head committee has been supportive of this project all along and i we actually did a walk audit of it a couple years ago and submitted a report regarding it I believe most of our comments regarding stuff is incorporated in what I've seen of the design. And I just want to make sure some pieces are attended to. One, there are some narrow strips on both sides where sidewalks are very narrow. And I just want to make sure that those are addressed specifically in front of one apartment building on the north side. And then by the bridge, it's a very narrow and it's a curve, so it's hard to see there. But those two sidewalks are definitely sidewalks we want to make sure get tended to. And the last piece is just that this is all then has to be integrated into the state and high two-way conversion. and we've got to figure out how to make that all happen seamlessly there are different projects but they are all matched together so fully support this and look forward to a redesign York Street
[48:43] Mark Dion: in the near future anyone else wish to provide public comment on this proposed order seeing none And chair would seek a motion and a second. Move by Councilor Forney. Is there a second? Second. Councilor Sykes. Discussion? Seeing none. All those in favor, please signify by hand. It's unanimous. Clerk will now read Order 472627.
[49:21] City Clerk: Order 472627, accepting and appropriating funds from the Seymour Becker Trust, sponsored by Danielle West, City Manager. City Manager. City Manager.
[49:30] Speaker M (unidentified): The Chief is here this evening, but we were lucky enough to receive a $1.6 million bequest, and we want to thank the Becker Trust for that. And I know there are specific uses that are outlined in those materials, and the Chief can answer any questions about how those funds will be used and appropriated.
[49:52] Mark Dion: Is there any public comment on this proposed order? Stephen
[50:00] Travis Pham: Sharper, Brackett Street, along with the rest of the city, will fully appreciate this funding. I would like some clarification as to how this will be managed. Is it the intent to create a city trust fund, which to me would make sense, a perpetual a perpetual trust fund, and just use the proceeds for use for equipment and stuff? At $1.6 million that would be, I did the math and I don't remember, at $2 million it would be about $80,000 theoretically. And so that's my first question specifically is, you know, are we intending this to be a perpetual gift, or are we going to just spend it all next couple of years. Separately it references a $2 million total which is there more funds coming, and part of that is there is an amendment in the backup material. The amendment is actually the first part says for use for training and equipment. The amendment just says for the Portland Fire Department, that amendment should also say for training and equipment. It looks like it's two different items, and so it just should be clarified that both are, the point of the trustee was that it would be for one purpose not to go directly to the fire department. So that should be clarified in the amendment, the wording of the amendment is all. So I fully support this and hope we can use it to fund our fire department more thoroughly. I, you know, certainly 80,000 in equipment and training every year would be more useful than just spending all in the next couple of years.
[52:02] Mark Dion: All right, then. Chair's going to move to Corporation Council as there's a potential amendment that may be attached to the order. I'd like him to comment, so if the public wants to respond or react, they could. Corporation counsel. Thank you, Mayor.
[52:21] Danielle West: The amendment, the original order deals with the funds from the revocable trust, $1.6 million from the revocable trust. It's the first distribution that the city will be receiving. What we didn't include in the initial order was the acceptance and appropriation of additional funds outside of the trust for which the fire department is the beneficiary, namely a Raymond James IRA and then two life insurance policies from Principal and Nationwide. Nationwide, the proceeds of those totals approximately $195,000, so that is what the amendment does, that it accepts and appropriates those funds as well as the $1.6 million. There will be next year, probably late spring, early summer we expect, a final distribution from the trust with whatever is left over after all the obligations of the estate have
[53:31] Mark Dion: been paid. Thank you, Corporation Counsel. Certainly. With that added information, is there any other public comment? All right. Now, seeing none, the Chair would seek a motion and a second for passage of the order proper. So moved. Moved by Counsel Fornia. Second. Second by Counselor Sykes. The Chair would also put forward an amendment as described by Corporation Counsel. Is there a second? Second. Second by Councillor Bullett. Discussion on the amendment? Seeing none.
[54:14] Danielle West: Mayor, if I may, I want to respond to Mr. Scharf's comment. He raises a good point, which is correct. I'm just looking at the beneficiary designation under the life insurance policies and the... Actually, give me one minute to just confirm. That second, the paragraph in the amendment that deals with the proceeds from the life insurance and the IRA does not specifically mention that it's for MedQ and for training and for equipment. The Nationwide policy does include that specification as does the Principal policy. Bear with me one minute. And I believe that Raymond James does as too. I just wanted to confirm that. And so I would recommend just to clarify the amendment so that it includes that additional language that the funds are for training and equipment for the medical crisis unit. I
[55:30] Mark Dion: would have to do two amendments to the amendment.
[55:33] Danielle West: Has the amendment been moved yet?
[55:36] Mark Dion: I can call to have the motion and second withdrawn.
[55:41] Danielle West: I think you could do that and include this additional language in it.
[55:48] Mark Dion: Okay. Chair would ask the sponsors of the amendment if they would engage in a friendly withdrawal of their motion.
[56:00] Speaker H (unidentified): Was that me? Withdrawn?
[56:03] Mark Dion: We just want to withdraw the amendment. We'll incorporate this language.
[56:08] Danielle West: It's really just an amendment to that amendment, which will incorporate the training and equipment for the med cue into the amendment.
[56:16] Speaker H (unidentified): Super. Do that. So moved. You say?
[56:19] Mark Dion: So moved. No. So there's no more sponsors to the amendment. You've withdrawn the motion and the second. Now, as drafted, the amendment is a motion and a second for passage. So moved. Second. Okay. Moved by Councillor Bullett, seconded by Councillor Sykes. Any discussion? Councillor Phillips. So
[56:45] Speaker I (unidentified): the amendment right before us is the additional language on the amendment, right?
[56:52] Mark Dion: The amendment is referring, and I'm going to say it so that corporation counsel can correct me. It actually addresses the benefits that flow from certain financial instruments not outlined IN THE PRINCIPAL MOTION AND LIMITS THOSE BENEFITS TO A CERTAIN MANNER OF EXPENDITURE MEG-Q EQUIPMENT
[57:16] Danielle West: TRAINING. AM I CORRECT? YOU ARE CORRECT, MAYOR. ALL RIGHT.
[57:22] Mark Dion: DOES THAT ANSWER THE QUESTION?
[57:23] Speaker I (unidentified): IT DOES ANSWER ONE OF THE QUESTIONS. SO I WOULD LOVE FOR THE CHIEF TO COME UP AND JUST, I'M HOPING THIS IS TIME, TO EXPLAIN
[57:30] Mark Dion: TO US. IT'S NOT, BUT I'LL GRANT IT TO YOU.
[57:33] Deidre St. Lewis: I CAN WAIT. NO,.
[57:35] Mark Dion: GO AHEAD, CHIEF. come on up mr
[57:38] Speaker Q (unidentified): mayor thank you counselor counselors so yeah just quick explanation around this we learned this about six weeks ago obviously dr becker has been extremely gracious to our city specifically the fire department aimed around our ems equipment and ems training so there are some guardrails on it which we intend to be very good stewards of this and remain within that we're working with legal and the city manager's office along with finance to come up with a system as to how we can do the things that this gentleman said around pointed in the right direction make it noticeable for the citizens and the fire departments specifically but also make it so that it's not just a one or two year tenure that we can you know hopefully have this last five ten years maybe hypothetically forever so that 's our intention around it
[58:35] Speaker I (unidentified): so anything like specifically I guess my thing is I want to obviously we want to accept this money and I understand it's for training in the EMS and it's also for equipment to me I'm not sure what that means and so it to me it seems like we're giving this money before we have a budget but it sounds
[58:54] Speaker Q (unidentified): Like you have a budget in your head, so we really don't have a big, you know, I, my intention was to have something drafted for tonight, but again, in a short six-week period, we haven't had the staff time to really augment that to come up with exactly what we want that to look like. I do expect it to look like very much in those guardrails of training and equipment, and hopefully doing things that, as you guys could imagine, in the medical fields today, the stuff that's happening around us is so fast that most of the times our given budgets can't begin to keep up with that, and that's what we're hoping that we can use it for some good progress that we might otherwise not have been allowed to do. So Chief, is there a time limit as to when we can accept these funds, to be quite honest, when they called six weeks ago, I think they wanted to drop the check off that day, which we then had to explain to them it was going to tell us the time. May I?
[59:50] Mark Dion: Please. I think the proposed language, both in the amendment and the principle, allows us to take the money into our possession and assign it for future disposition. I think the concerns raised in your questions as to how specific a purchase must be is reasonable, understandable. The language is sufficiently broad that when the Chief works with the City Manager's Office in Finance and Legal, that you could fit different things underneath. But I would expect that when such a trust is established, the guidelines will be much more specific in their content than the enabling language, which is the acceptance of the trust, us, and it's not like we have the final word per se tonight. If through the process of establishing those guidelines, this Council decides to be more specific in certain categories, they could work with the Chief on that.
[1:00:53] Speaker M (unidentified): And Mr. Mayor, I think a way to address this would be to have us just accept the money now, we need to accept it, and then bring back individual appropriation orders, so those specific appropriations would come back to you within the specified time frames and whatever sort of specifications that the Chief puts forward. So I think we would just, in this amendment, want to clarify that, and I'll defer to Corporation Counsel on what that would look like.
[1:01:20] Danielle West: Yeah, we could further amend the amendment to essentially remove the words and appropriated well in the in the first paragraph. It would be require moving the words and that amount appropriated and remove that from the second paragraph as well, and then the appropriation of the funds can be done at a later date or through the budget process. I'll defer to the city manager and the chief and the finance director on how that's best accomplished pushed.
[1:01:56] Speaker I (unidentified): So do I need to make that motion in order to do what you just said, or is that?
[1:02:02] Danielle West: Yes. You would want to amend the... Have we voted? Yeah. So you would want to offer an amendment to that amendment to do what I had just described, which is removing the appropriations provision from the first two paragraphs of the amendment.
[1:02:25] Speaker I (unidentified): I would like to do that.
[1:02:29] Danielle West: I don't think you have to. I think you can just do this amendment, and you would vote on that. You would vote on Councillor Phillips' amendment, and then you would...
[1:02:39] Mark Dion: And people wonder why lawyers exist.
[1:02:42] Danielle West: I see Danielle's nodding at me, and she knows this stuff better than I do. All right. I must be right.
[1:02:50] Mark Dion: So, in Councillor Phillips' amendment to my amendment, which is an amendment to the main motion, correct? She is. I know, but I'm just trying to get the logistics here so the person who's going to second knows which level they're buying into. All right. So that language will say what specifically, Coverage and Council?
[1:03:19] Danielle West: So if you look at the amendment that's included in the backup, we're going to remove, we're going to, it's going to say that first paragraph is going to say that $1.6 million from the Seymour Becker Revocable Trust is hereby accepted to be used for training of and equipment for the Portland Medical Crisis Unit and be it further ordered that the proceeds from Seymour Becker's principal and nationwide life insurance policies and his Raymond James IRA in the aggregate amount of approximately $195,000 are hereby accepted to be used for training of and equipment for the Portland Medical Crisis Unit, and that is what the amendment will say. The last paragraph will remain the same. [Mark Dion: Counselor Phillips, right?] Counselor Phillips' amendment will, yes.
[1:04:22] Mark Dion: All right, then. Are we all clear on that? Is there a second to Councillor Phillips' proposed amendment? Second. Second.
[1:04:34] Michelle Peacock: Discussion? Councillor Sykes. This is highly unusual. Why are we accepting but not appropriating, and what is the difference between accepting and appropriating?
[1:04:49] Speaker M (unidentified): We're taking the money in from the trust so that we can hold it, and we'll hold it until we have specific appropriations, like we do with a lot of different funds. And then we'll come to you with specific appropriation orders, which will specify the specific use that we're going to use the funds for. So the chief described like a list, and he'll say, I want, I don't know, $100,000 for this, $50,000 for that, and you guys will appropriate, take money out of that over time to fund those activities.
[1:05:18] Michelle Peacock: Okay, so when we accept the money, where does it go?
[1:05:22] Speaker M (unidentified): Into our bank accounts, and we sort of separate it as like we do with our other funds. We have a variety of trusts, including one for Baxter Woods and many other functions, and those are monitored by our finance staff and sort of segregated separately. So this gets to the question that
[1:05:42] Michelle Peacock: was raised in public comment, which is, are we going to be investing these funds? I mean, this is a lot of money, right? So are we going to be investing these funds in order to be able to earn interest on them and grow the trust as it is? And if so, is that an acceptable use of the funds, given that it has to be given to MedQ?
[1:06:02] Speaker M (unidentified): I believe so, and I think that Brendan would continue to do that. He does that with all of our funds and collects interest and so on for the city for a variety of purposes. And then it would continue to have to be used for those specific purposes as specified in the trust documents. So specifically for med cue training equipment, and then each time we want to spend that, will come to you with a specific appropriation request. Okay. Thank you
[1:06:29] Mark Dion: All right, all those in favor of amendment to sponsored by Elsa Phillips, will signify by hand. Okay, that's unanimous. As to the amendment put forward by the mayor, I had to take a breath. My God. The mayor's amendment, as amended, by Amendment 2, all those in favor of that amendment, okay, it's unanimous. Now, Order 472627, as amended, my sponsor Councilors Fornier and Sykes were there, now as amended, any discussion, seeing none, all those in favor of that order as amended, please signify, strike
[1:07:47] Danielle West: that it doesn't, because the roll call would be required for an appropriation, not for the receipt of monies, right
[1:07:58] Mark Dion: Daniel's nodding, so I know I'm right. Well, you know, it is, it is listed as a roll call, however, but it's not an appropriation. You're correct, and I was right, because I was really wrong. You can always do the roll call. I can make some of that. Yeah, sooner or later I'm going to be right. This was one of those moments. Alright, then all those in favor of this order, please signify. It's unanimous. Go on. The clerk will now read Order 53-26-27.
[1:08:43] City Clerk: Order 53-26-27, setting the time for opening and closing the polls on November 3, 2026, regarding state and municipal elections, sponsored by Abby Lombard, city clerk.
[1:08:56] Mark Dion: I know I never do this, but I have to ask the clerk for a comment on this.
[1:09:01] City Clerk: This is just an order setting the time of opening the polls on election day for the November 3rd, 2026 election. The polls will be open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. Currently, we have in-person absentee voting happening in the state of Main Room, which opened today, Monday to Friday from 8.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. The last day to vote absentee is Thursday, October 29th, and the city's clerk's office is open until 7 p.m. that night. Thank you. Is there any public comment on
[1:09:27] Mark Dion: this proposed order. My
[1:09:35] Karsten Reese: name is Karsten Reese. You can pull the mic closer. There you go. Hi, my name is Karsten Reese. I live out on Peaks Island. The only thing I wanted to note about the election day hours, kind of miscellaneous, but I was in the city clerk's office recently talking to Paige, who was at one point the election supervisor. She mentioned that with the retirement of Bill Patnode, who was the island services coordinator for public works, that at least at that time there wasn't a plan for getting ballots physically to some outlying islands. So Peaks Island was not included because we have our own polling place. But I guess I just wanted to take the opportunity to mention that was a detail that was up in the air and just ask that the outer islands that are still in the city of Portland are receiving their ballots so that there's a good plan in place, which I'm sure there is, but I just wanted to flag.
[1:10:28] Mark Dion: Anyone else wishing to provide public comment on this order? Seeing none, does the clerk have a comment?
[1:10:39] City Clerk: Yes, just that we are, we do have a place, a plan in place. I apologize, we haven't sent the notice out yet because we were just waiting for confirmation to use the locations that are on the islands, but we will be going out there for in-person absentee voting. Thank you, Madam Clark.
[1:10:58] Mark Dion: chair would entertain a motion for passage in a second so moved by counselor bullet seconded by Councilor Sykes. Any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor, please signify. Passes. Clerk will now read Order 54-26-27.
[1:11:18] City Clerk: Order 54-26-27, authorizing the deaccession of the Jewel Box Bus Shelter from the Portland Public Art Collection, sponsored by Danielle West, City Manager.
[1:11:29] Mark Dion: Comments, City Manager?
[1:11:31] Speaker M (unidentified): I see that staff is present for any questions, Kevin Kraft as well as I believe a member of the Public Art Committee. So if you have specific questions, the back of materials described that the committee voted unanimously to, I can't even say the word, deaccession, I had to look it up, deaccession, and make the Jewel Box able to be moved and replaced by Metro. But I know that they went through a lot of discussion and have a lot of information and backup if you have questions.
[1:12:08] Mark Dion: Is there any public comment? Seeing none, Chair would take a motion for passage in a second. So moved. Second. Moved by Councilor Michniewicz, seconded by Councilor Bullett. Discussion by the Council. Any questions of staff or the committee representative? All right, then. All those in favor of the deaccession of the Jewel Box? It's unanimous. I think they were intimidated by the word. They didn't even want to go there. Clerk will now read title only first readings. Order
[1:13:01] City Clerk: 55-26-27, approving an amendment to the Boyd Housing and Cumberland Housing Affordable Housing Development and Tax Increment Financing District and adopting an amended municipal development program for the district, sponsored by Housing and Economic Development Committee. Councilor Pius Ali, Chair. Order 562627, approving an amended credit enhancement agreement for the Boyd and Cumberland Housing Affordable Housing and Tax Increment Financing District sponsored by Housing and Economic Development Committee. Councilor Pius Ali, Chair. Order 572627, appropriating $375,000 from the Jill C. Dusen Housing Trust Fund to preservation of affordable housing regarding Lambert Woods North 622 Auburn Street, sponsored by the Housing and Economic Development Committee. Councilor Pius Ali, Chair. Order 582627, approving Modification 3 to the Pedestrian Crossing Improvements on Forest Avenue, project between the Maine Department of Transportation and Portland, sponsored by Danielle West, City Manager.
[1:14:22] Mark Dion: Chair poses a question to Corporation Council. I recognize that our business is complete. As reflected in the agenda, I will call for a motion to go to an executive session. My inquiry is whether or not I can adjourn the meeting and then reconvene for purposes of an executive session, or can I go into executive session and adjourn the meeting within that confine?
[1:14:58] Danielle West: I know you've done it in the past where the council has adjourned the meeting, gone into executive session now, adjourned the meeting, or at least indicated that you don't plan on coming back. Obviously, no decisions can be made during the executive session, so any orders coming out of the executive session would have to be brought forward at a council meeting at a later date.
[1:15:22] Mark Dion: I appreciate that, but I just, there's not like a the end. Usually I have the end of the city council meeting. We don't have that this evening.
[1:15:31] Danielle West: Essentially, when you end the executive session, that will end the meeting. Okay.
[1:15:36] Mark Dion: You're going to deal. See, that's the danger. Once they find a new word, they're going to look for a place to use it. All right, then. If that be the case, the chair would seek a motion in a second to adjourn the regular meeting and go into executive session for discussed compensation for the Corporation Council. So moved. Wait a minute, I'm not done. Pursuant to 1 MRS Section 405, Subsection 6, Subsection A, is there any public comment on the chair's move to go into executive session? Mr.
[1:16:20] Joel Baker: Mayor, my name is Joel Baker, a Portland resident,
[1:16:27] Mark Dion: Mr. Baker, just to give you some advice, your public comment is limited to whether or not we should go into executive session.
[1:16:38] Joel Baker: Not on this issue. What is the executive session discussing? [Mark Dion: We're discussing...] Are you going to go forward with this program? Excuse me? Are you discussing if you were going to go forward with this program?
[1:16:49] Mark Dion: Which program are you referring to?
[1:16:51] Joel Baker: The adjustment to the Woodford's Corner.
[1:16:53] Mark Dion: No, that would have been entitled for discussion during public comment on an unagended item. This has to do with the salary of the city's lawyer.
[1:17:06] Joel Baker: I really don't. No, I know. I don't care about being a customer of you and being affected by this.
[1:17:12] Mark Dion: You're going to have to come to the next meeting to express that. Why? Because I don't take public comment at this period of time.
[1:17:19] Joel Baker: For this particular matter?
[1:17:20] Mark Dion: For this particular matter. There are two ways. Let me explain it this way. There are two ways for you to come to the podium to comment. One, every meeting, right after the Pledge of Allegiance, I invite public comment on any item that's not on the agenda. In your case, that's your commentary about the Woodford's Corner issues, generally speaking. speaking. That's when you should have spoken. The next time you can speak again is if we have a proposed order, and after the clerk reads it, city manager makes comment, then I always turn to the public and say, does anyone have comment on this specific order? So they can only talk about that. They can't talk about some other matter. So both those periods have passed. One, we didn't have any order or final decision about Woodford's Corner tonight, so that wasn't even on the agenda. Had you wanted to talk to us, as you have talked to at least one councilor and myself, you were free to do that during the public comment period right after the pledge.
[1:18:28] Joel Baker: Thank goodness I haven't been there enough.
[1:18:31] Mark Dion: So the next meeting, if that is your intent to talk about that, I am pretty sure we won't have anything on the agenda having to do with Woodford's Corner. Then you're free. I welcome you to come in and comment and share your opinions with us.
[1:18:49] Joel Baker: Fair enough? Really? Whatever the game has to be played, I'll play it. All right.
[1:18:56] Mark Dion: Anyone else wishing to provide public comment on a motion to go into executive session? Seeing none. Any council comment? Seeing none, all those in favor of going into executive session, please signify. It's unanimous. You can shut off camera and sound. Is this confidential?