Biddeford City Council Regular Meeting - February 3, 2026

Mayor LaFountain convened the meeting at 6:00 P.M. in City Hall Council Chambers and via Teams. Council President Beaupre, Councilors Lessard, Vadnais, Woods (virtual), Doughty, Kurtz, Pierson, and Cote were present; Councilor Boston was excused. The meeting included an opioid settlement update, several unanimous approvals, a contested vote on a business parking pilot program expenditure, referral of mobile home lot fees to the Policy Committee, and two executive sessions before adjournment at 8:04 P.M.

Consent Calendar

Although no formal consent agenda was used, the following items were approved unanimously:

• 2026.17 and 2026.18: Approved mayoral appointments to citizen committees, including Lauren Cripps (Ward 2) to the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, and the mayoral appointment of a councilor to a committee.
• Approved the January 20, 2026 Council minutes.
• 2026.21 Code Enforcement Fees: Councilor Doughty asked about the $5,000 minimum assessed value for a fee waiver; staff explained that structures similar to sheds and demolitions valued at $5,000 or less only pay the $60 application fee. The motion passed unanimously.
• 2026.22 Shellfish Ordinance: Council discussed the absence of a fee schedule, annual state approval of fees, and removal of the long-unused 62-year commercial license. The first reading passed unanimously.
• 2026.20 Cartmill Trust: Staff explained that the Clayton and Virginia Cartmill Trust is a private charitable trust held in custodianship by the city, created through Virginia Cartmill's 2001 will and accepted in 2004, providing supplemental assistance to elderly, disabled, and working-poor residents. Trustees Bill Southwick and Jay Camera were in attendance. The motion passed unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Kathy Griffin (Ward 7) expressed disappointment that the Council had not passed a 90-day moratorium on mobile home park lot rental fee increases, noting similar actions in Auburn, Old Orchard Beach, Saco, Sanford, and Waterville, and connected the issue to affordable housing. She also asked the city to clear sidewalk crossings and handicap ramps during snow clearing.
• Ken Griffin (Ward 7) commended Economic Development Coordinator Brad Favreau and the Sustainability Commission for securing a $72,000 Maine Community Resilience Partnership grant for building efficiency audits.
• Randy Seaver (Ward 7) described paying a $60 demolition permit fee for an unsafe shed that was assessed at $600 and urged the Council to apply common sense in fee-setting.
• Sam P. (Ward 7) suggested the Council review fee structures and consider exemptions for sustainability or electrification improvements to help achieve policy objectives.

Discussion Items

• Opioid Settlement Status: General Assistance Supervisor Jake Hammer presented the 2026 update. He noted settlement payments to Biddeford began in 2022 and are expected to continue for about 16 years. Allocations received included $195,000 in 2023, a smaller amount in 2024, a larger amount in 2025, and $94,000 so far in 2026. Calendar year 2025 expenditures were $97,603 against a $100,000 target, leaving a fund balance of about $590,000. Funds supported recovery residences, sustained recovery costs, treatment, and transportation. Four new recovery residences opened in 2025, adding 95 total beds. Among 58 applications, there were 51 unique applicants; 44 identified as men, 45 as white, 3 as Native American, and 2 as Black or African American; 14 identified as employed at the time of application. Hammer said no administrative costs were charged to the fund and that the next strategic action plan could consider more outreach, prevention, and education in response to a question from Councilor Doughty.
• Business Parking Pilot Program and Expenditures (2026.23): The Council considered a $20,000 expenditure for a downtown business parking permit program that was implemented without Finance Committee or Council approval. Staff explained that the payments were coded to a TIF fund but should be recoded to a miscellaneous expense account. Councilor Cote voted no, describing the vote as a protest against an improper process. Council President Beaupre said the pilot idea originated from traffic committee discussions in May 2025 and should have gone through official approval. Councilor Lessard raised broader concerns about fund management and said correct coding was needed for future audits. Councilor Pierson said the issue was a mountain out of a molehill because the money would have been paid anyway. Councilor Doughty supported retroactive approval for transparency and audit protection while criticizing the process. The motion passed 7-1, with Councilor Cote casting the sole no vote.
• Mobile Home Lot Fee Ordinance Referral (2026.24): The Council voted unanimously to refer the mobile home lot fee ordinance to the Policy Committee. Councilor Lessard said the committee should consider options such as longer notice periods, for example 90 or 120 days, rather than revisiting the previously rejected moratorium. Councilor Doughty noted the earlier moratorium vote and supported the policy route. Councilor Vadnais said a Saco moratorium expired without results and mentioned state legislation. Councilor Woods supported the referral and called for broader affordability work.

City Manager Report

• City Manager Truc Dever reported that, with assistance from Senator Collins' office, both IRS penalties for late tax filings were abated and a $241,000 tax overpayment would be refunded to the city.
• Biddeford's Wastewater Infrastructure Improvement Project received a $6 million award with the help of Senator Collins' office.
• City Assessor Deanne Vale has resigned; her last day is February 26, 2026, and the position has been posted.

Council President & Mayor Updates

• Council President Beaupre said the Policy Committee will prioritize the mobile home park ordinance, review ordinance changes and fee schedules, and consider grouping committees together. He encouraged public attendance at Winterfest.
• Mayor LaFountain congratulated York County Community Action on its 60th anniversary, said a request to rename the 315 Main Street park would be placed on a future agenda, and asked councilors about interest in partnering with the Cultural and Heritage Center to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the nation's founding.

Key Outcomes

• All routine appointments, minutes, and ordinance amendments passed unanimously, except the parking pilot program, which passed 7-1.
• The parking pilot expenditure was approved retroactively with direction to recode the payments to the correct account.
• The mobile home lot fee ordinance was referred to the Policy Committee for review and recommendations.
• The Council entered executive session at 7:12 P.M. for contract negotiations and personnel matters, exited at 8:04 P.M., and adjourned without returning to public session.