Biddeford City Council Meeting - July 28, 2026

The Biddeford City Council met on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, at 6:00 PM in City Hall Council Chambers and via Teams. All council members were present. The meeting covered appointments, a presentation on the city manager search, public comments, approval of carryover funds, forfeiture assets, an interlocal agreement, a rule amendment, and extensive discussion on immigration enforcement following a recent tragedy.

Consent Calendar

• Appointments: Bill Amheiser (Ward 1) to the Biddeford Housing Authority and Samuel Picore (Ward 7) to the Recycling and Solid Waste Commission were unanimously approved after Councilor Kurtz confirmed no conflict of interest.
• Approval of Minutes: The minutes from the July 7, 2026 City Council meeting were unanimously accepted.
• Approval of FY26 Carryover Requests (8a): Unanimously approved. The city manager corrected a typo ("community center generator" to "communication center generator") and explained carryover items, including unallocated CIP, Main Street pump station, commissions, planning consulting, mobile radios for a new ambulance (three radios total, $20,000), and contingency balances for building repairs. The unallocated CIP balance was $451,422, consistent with earlier estimates.
• Acceptance of Criminal Forfeiture Assets (8b): Unanimously approved. Chief Fisk confirmed the assets are from a 2020 state criminal drug trafficking case, not federal civil forfeiture; the listed weapon will be destroyed.
• General Assistance Vacation Coverage MOU (8c): Unanimously approved the memorandum of understanding between Biddeford and Old Orchard Beach.
• Amendment to Council Rules on Executive Session (8d): Unanimously approved. The item was removed from the table. Councilor Kurtz proposed an amendment adding: "No motion to extend a meeting is required while the council is in executive session." The amendment and the amended order were both unanimously adopted.

Public Comments & Testimony

• First Public Comment Period (3-minute limit): Catherine Crowley (Ward 4) thanked council members who responded to her follow-up email and praised Councilor Brad Cody for meeting with her. She expressed ongoing community fear following the killing of Johan Sebastian Duran Guerrero by federal agents, urging the city to collaborate with other cities, seek transparency, independent investigation, and accountability. She asked for action to keep residents safe from aggressive ICE enforcement.
• Second Public Comment Period (5-minute limit): Ken Griffin (Ward 7) requested updates on the timeline for the city's outstanding fiscal audits (two fiscal years behind and one upcoming), noting that bonded projects (sewer separation, parks) depend on completed audits.

Discussion Items

• City Manager Search Presentation (5a): Consultant Don Gerrish presented a search update. He summarized input from department heads, the public, and the council, noting strong alignment on needs. Key discussion points:

  • Residency Requirement: The charter requires the manager to move within six months unless exempted by the council. After debate, the council agreed to include the charter language as-is, preserving flexibility for exceptional candidates. Councilors Dowdy, Lassard, Kurtz, and Boston supported this approach.
  • Advertising Locations: Gerrish recommended placing ads on the city website, Maine Municipal Association, International City/County Management Association, and Massachusetts/New Hampshire associations. No objections.
  • Salary Range: Gerrish proposed $185,000–$215,000, noting recent comparable hires. No objections.
  • Candidate Experience: Councilor Pearson raised concerns that the ad's language on minimum experience (five years municipal executive management or similar) was too open-ended and that the ad lacked specifics on immediate challenges. Several councilors (Woods, Dowdy, Council President) supported keeping the ad general to attract a wide pool, with Gerrish noting that a public document on city issues is available and that good candidates will research and ask tough questions. Councilor Lassard urged trust in the professional consultant's judgment. Councilor Woods questioned whether "proven background in economic development" was necessary given the separate economic development director, but the council did not revise it. No vote was taken on the ad text; Gerrish will make minor corrections and run it.
  • Timeline: The schedule was shifted one week due to the prior meeting being canceled; Gerrish will send weekly updates on applicant numbers.

• Council President's Address: He announced that the Biddeford Police Department had been re-accredited for four more years by CALEA (Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies). Biddeford is one of only three nationally accredited agencies in Maine (with Auburn and South Portland). He also reminded the council to develop a standard nonprofit application and review process before the next budget cycle, placing it on the policy committee agenda.

• Mayor's Address: The mayor thanked residents who attended the previous meeting. He outlined city actions since increased immigration enforcement in January: regular meetings with police, superintendent, and community partners; advocacy for an independent investigation into Johan Sebastian's death; consultations with national organizations and mayors from Minneapolis, Houston, Portland, and Waterville. He announced a forthcoming fact sheet from the city solicitor explaining municipal authority limits under state and federal law. He clarified that the city cannot block federal enforcement but can limit voluntary cooperation (Biddeford Police already do not voluntarily participate). He encouraged residents to contact federal and state legislators and support organizations like the Maine Immigrant Rights Coalition. He stressed that the victim's family's voice must remain central.

• Other Business:

  • Councilor Kurtz welcomed the new executive director of the Biddeford Housing Authority. He thanked residents for their comments at the last meeting and noted he had reached out to organizations for ordinance ideas to protect immigrant residents but received no responses yet. He added that Johan Sebastian may not be the first death related to federal immigration enforcement, citing high mortality in detention facilities and deportations despite credible asylum claims.
  • Councilor Boston reported that the Eastern Trail Management District completed the "Close the Gap" project connecting Saco to South Portland ahead of schedule, with a ribbon cutting on August 6.
  • Councilor Woods urged residents to continue reaching out via email and thanked them for their presence.

Key Outcomes

• Appointments approved unanimously.
• FY26 Carryover Requests approved unanimously ($451,422 unallocated CIP, plus specific items).
• Criminal Forfeiture Assets accepted unanimously.
• General Assistance MOU approved unanimously.
• Council Rules amended unanimously to remove the requirement for a motion to extend a meeting during executive session.
• City Manager Search: The ad will be finalized and published with agreed parameters; next steps include reviewing resumes.
• Executive Session: The council unanimously voted to enter executive session (1 MRS §405(6) – Legal Matter) with no further votes contemplated afterward. The meeting then adjourned.