Biddeford City Council Meeting – August 4, 2026

The Biddeford City Council met on August 4, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. in City Hall Council Chambers. The meeting covered employee recognitions, acceptance of a councilor resignation, a combined sewer overflow (CSO) update, a bond market presentation, public hearings on liquor licenses, public requests for a permanent memorial and support for a local business, and approval of a DEA-compliant medication safe purchase.

Consent Calendar

• None explicitly listed; meeting minutes for July 21 and July 28, 2026 were considered separately and approved unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

• First public address period (3-minute limit, 15 minutes total): Multiple residents spoke about the fatal shooting of Johann Sebastian Duran Guerrero at Hill and Pool Streets on July 13, 2026. Speakers requested the city install a permanent memorial at the intersection. Some expressed grief, frustration with the city’s response, and called for accountability and transparency. Other speakers advocated for The Rift arcade, a small local business facing financial challenges due to fees, and urged council to help keep it open.
• Second public address period (5-minute limit): Residents continued calls for a memorial, justice, and transparency regarding the shooting. One speaker detailed specific questions about law enforcement actions during the incident.

Presentations

• Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Update – Public Works Director Jeff Demers and retiring engineer Tom Milligan The city’s 2025 CSO report shows a dramatic reduction: from 146 overflows in 2012 to 8 in 2025, and from 141 million gallons discharged to 3.6 million (a 99+% reduction). Biddeford had the lowest CSO volume on record among comparable communities. The Elm Street storm-drain project removed 5.3 million gallons of overflow. Over $10 million in grant funds have been received.
• Bond Market Update – Bond Counsel Joseph Cutera Cutera explained bond-salling options (negotiated vs. public bid), the importance of timely audits for bond ratings, and the current state of Biddeford’s credit. Moody’s withdrew the city’s rating in 2024 due to lack of current financial information. He warned that without the 2024 and 2025 audits, the city cannot access the bond market and is currently relying on a third one-year bank note extension, which expires in July 2027. He urged the council to prioritize audit completion.

Key Outcomes

• Resignation of Councilor Dylan Doughty (Ward 4): Approved 7–1, with Doughty opposing his own resignation. The mayor outlined an appointment process: applications due, interviews, and a nominee to be presented on September 1, 2026.
• Administrative Items:
  • Minutes of July 21 and July 28, 2026, approved unanimously.
  • Liquor licenses for Hakuna Matata and Martini’s on Main approved unanimously (7–0).
• Fire Department DEA-Compliant Controlled Substance Management System (Order 2026.114): Approved unanimously. The $29,899.55 system, funded through opioid settlement money, is required by the DEA’s Protecting Patient Access to Emergency Medication Act. The city’s solicitor initially questioned eligibility but later confirmed it is defensible.
• No formal action was taken on the public requests for a permanent memorial or support for The Rift arcade. The council president raised the need for a parks ordinance governing memorials, and the mayor shared that the victim’s family has not requested a permanent memorial at this time.

Other Business and Council Reports

• Councilor Woods noted ongoing housing affordability concerns.
• Councilor Lassard raised differing opinions about the temporary memorial at Mechanics Park and asked for a policy decision.
• Council President Beaupre recommended establishing an ordinance for temporary and permanent memorials in public parks, noting that the current code is silent on the issue.
• Mayor LaFountain provided extensive updates on the city’s response to the July 13 shooting: working with the Attorney General’s office, coordinating with the Public Rights Project, reaffirming that Biddeford does not cooperate with ICE for civilian immigration enforcement, and preparing a public memo for the council. He also announced that the victim’s family has asked that no permanent memorial be placed at this time. The mayor invited residents to submit information to the family via a secure online link.

Committee Updates

• Councilor Boston reported that the Institutional Zone Review Committee has nearly completed its draft ordinance, which will next go to the Planning Board and then to the City Council.
• Councilor Lassard praised the committee’s work, emphasizing that the ordinance is not specific to the University of New England but applies to any future institution.
• The mayor reminded residents of the Charter Commission public hearing on August 11, and the Lester B. Orcutt Workshop on beach access on August 12, 2026.