Brunswick Town Council Inauguration & Organizational Meeting – January 5, 2026

This meeting served as the inauguration and annual organizational meeting for the Brunswick Town Council and School Board for the year 2026. The council administered oaths of office to newly elected members, elected leadership, made annual appointments, set the schedule for regular meetings, and approved a consent agenda item.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No public comments were heard during this meeting.

Discussion Items

• Oath of Office: Town Clerk Fran Smith administered the oath to new Town Councilors: District 1 Richard Ellis, District 2 James Ecker, District 4 Corrine Peralt, District 6 Ramona Teamy; and new School Board members: District 1 Elizabeth Kettner, District 2 Elizabeth Bisson, District 6 Elizabeth Sokolov. All raised their right hands and repeated the oath to support the Constitution and faithfully discharge their duties.
• Election of Chair: Councilor Wilson nominated Nathan McDonald for Town Council Chair. The nomination was unopposed, and the roll call vote was unanimous (9–0).
• Remarks by New Chair: Chair McDonald noted that to the best of his knowledge he is the youngest person and the first openly queer person to serve as chair, and that this council is the first to have a majority of women. He stated his goal is to ensure an approachable, respectful, and efficient town government.
• Election of Vice Chair: Councilor Wilson nominated Jennifer Hicks for Vice Chair. The vote was unanimous (9–0).
• Appointment of Town Attorney: The council voted unanimously to appoint the firm Preti Flaherty with Kristen Collins as lead attorney for 2026.
• Appointment of Council Representatives to Boards & Committees: Chair McDonald presented a slate of appointments, including: Appointments Committee (Ellis, Anderson, Teamy); Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (Ecker); Brunswick Development Corporation (Peralt, Weems); Cable TV Advisory Committee (Hicks); Conservation Commission (Ecker); Finance Committee (Ellis, Ecker, Weems); Gross Town School Committee (Wilson); Hawthorne Task Force (Teamy, McDonald); Housing Committee (Peralt, Teamy); LC4 Landing Community Center Committee (Ellis, Hicks); McCoy Bay Water Quality Task Force (Hicks, Weems); Mayor Brad Mir Brook Watershed Steering Committee (Anderson); Mirror TIFF District Committee (Ecker, Hicks, Weems); Parks and Recreation Commission (Anderson); Rivers and Coastal Waters Commission (Ellis, Wilson); Shellfish Committee (Wilson); Social Services Committee (Anderson, Peralt, McDonald); Sustainability Committee (Teamy); and Trust Fund Advisory Committee (McDonald). No vote was required.
• Setting 2026 Regular Council Meeting Dates: The town clerk presented a schedule based on first and third Mondays, with adjustments for holidays (including July 6th after Independence Day). The council unanimously adopted the proposed dates with a motion by Councilor Wilson and second by Councilor Ecker, confirming the meeting time remains 6:30 PM.
• Consent Agenda: A utility permit for Central Maine Power (CMP) was approved unanimously by show of hands.

Key Outcomes

• The council elected Nathan McDonald as Chair and Jennifer Hicks as Vice Chair, both unanimously.
• The town attorney was reappointed (Preti Flaherty, Kristen Collins lead) unanimously.
• Council representatives to all listed boards and committees were appointed as presented.
• The 2026 regular council meeting dates were adopted unanimously.
• The consent agenda (CMP utility permit) was approved unanimously.
• The meeting adjourned by motion, with no further business.