OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Brunswick Town Council Meeting - January 20, 2026

Town Council — Tuesday, January 20, 2026
BodyBrunswick, Maine
SessionTown Council
DateTuesday, January 20, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:44:53

Transcript — Verbatim
0:06

Good evening, everybody.

0:08

I'm going to officially call the meeting of the Brunswick Town Council of January 20th, 2026 to order.

0:16

And it looks like we have all counselors currently present.

0:20

Town Clerk, has this meeting been properly noticed?

0:22

Yes, it has.

0:23

Perfect.

0:24

I ask that you all uh silence your electronic devices or turn them off.

0:29

Um and please rise if you are willing and able for the Pledge of Allegiance.

0:35

I pledge allegiance to the United States of America and to republic for which it stands.

0:43

One nation under God.

0:47

Liberty and justice.

0:54

Just wanted to make a note that as chair uh in this space.

0:58

I ask that we while we hold this space together, we treat everyone here with respect and compassion as we kind of continue to work to serve our town here.

1:07

So are there any adjustments to the agenda?

1:13

I know there's the one about the consent agenda.

1:15

We can do that, we can pull it out during that line item.

1:18

So I got that one.

1:19

Any other adjustments?

1:22

Not seeing any.

1:23

Any announcements from the council.

1:26

Councillor Weems.

1:28

Yes, I have a brief announcement.

1:30

Um there is a very interesting art show at Curtis Memorial Library in the Moral Room, sponsored by the library and Brunswick Public Art.

1:43

And it has a single topic, which is the to commemorate the Frank J.

1:48

Wood Bridge as it's about to come down.

1:52

Uh these are mostly uh photos, paintings, poems, some mixed media, uh contributed by 50 artists, 70 works of art, um provided by people from the ages of seven to undisclosed.

2:14

It wasn't juried, so all entries that were submitted are installed.

2:19

It's great fun.

2:20

The reaction is but very positive because it allows for freedom of expression as expressed by the artist and those that enjoy the artwork, both.

2:32

Uh it definitely engenders a sense of community, so it will be installed until the end of January.

2:39

So you do have a week and a half to get in there and enjoy this.

2:43

And um, so come on and enjoy this community experience.

2:49

Thank you.

2:50

Question for you, Counselor Williams.

2:52

When is it running?

2:54

It it opened on the 6th and it will run through January 30th.

2:57

Got it.

2:58

Thank you.

2:59

Any other announcements of council?

3:02

I'll make one brief one just so the audience knows and the public at large.

3:06

Um we met as a official body this past Saturday for our town retreat.

3:12

Um this is something that happens annually where we uh meet here in town office.

3:17

We spend 9 a.m.

3:18

to 2 uh where we get to know each other, have a little bit of uh understand the protocols and kind of our roles uh in this work that we're doing together, and we set out the priorities for the year.

3:30

Um and just as a brief overview, I just want to say that um we gather the priorities of all of our counselors here.

3:36

Um we had nine kind of overarching themes in which we dwindled down to a top four of sorts.

3:42

Um, not saying that we won't address some of these other ones, but our top four for this year uh were housing ranked uh as the top priority overall, followed by growth management zoning and the comprehensive plan.

3:55

Um infrastructure transportation and facilities was closely behind that, and fiscal sustainability placed forth around long-term planning and uh budgeting.

4:05

So uh that's kind of where we're at, I guess, as a council is where our priorities are set for 2026.

4:12

Granted, you know, things fluctuate, things happen, um, but I just wanted to make sure that folks knew that that happened, and that's kind of what came out of that process.

4:21

I will now uh move us to public comment if no one else has an announcement.

4:27

Not seeing any.

4:28

So public comment is the time to talk about non-agenda items only.

4:32

You get three minutes.

4:33

We'll do 30 minutes now and 30 minutes after if we need it.

4:36

Please follow the code of conduct and something that we are implementing this year to try to make us a little bit more efficient and approachable as a council is if you would like the town to follow up with you based on your public comment today.

4:51

There is a small uh like sign-in sheet that's right bes on the table behind that column right there, and if you fill that out, we'll make sure that somebody reaches out to you.

5:01

So go ahead.

5:02

Jim Truzzani, 149 Main Street Department 208.

5:07

Um first comment I have that retreat that you had last Saturday.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Works██████████████████18%
Environmental Protection█████████████████17%
Procedural███████████11%
Public Comment██████████10%
Engineering And Infrastructure██████████10%
Public Engagement█████████9%
Public Safety█████5%
Transportation Safety████4%
ADA Compliance████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Brunswick Town Council Meeting - January 20, 2026

The Brunswick Town Council held a regular meeting on January 20, 2026. Key topics included the annual priorities for 2026, public comments on immigration and the Tedford shelter, the Restorive Advisory Board report on PFAS contamination, approval of police forfeiture funds and towing policy, a discussion on the Lamont Block sidewalk redesign, and setting a public hearing for changes to Town Hall Place. All votes were unanimous.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved the minutes of December 1 and December 15, 2025. Three new councillors abstained.
  • Approved the remaining consent agenda items: January 5, 2026 minutes, Knights of Columbus cribbage license, and shellfish committee closure authority.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Jim Truzzani (149 Main Street) criticized the council's fiscal priorities, questioned police cooperation with federal agencies, raised concerns about cost overruns on Main Street sidewalk project ($3 million over budget on a $4.3 million project), and asked about delayed armored vehicle and fire engine purchases.
  • Judy Melter King (Mariner's Landing, member of Brunswick Area Indivisible) expressed concern for immigrant neighbors.
  • Alice Basky (Brunswick resident) voiced support for immigrant community and urged the council to ensure safety and dignity for all.
  • Remy McEchan (Maple Street) seconded support for immigrant communities, noting they improve the town.
  • Jennifer Navarro (Brunswick resident, near Tedford site on Thomas Point Road) argued that Tedford is operating as a low-barrier 24/7 shelter without proper disclosure or conditions in the planning board approvals, citing due process failures and observable impacts (liquor/beer cans on the trail). She requested information on how to challenge the state comprehensive plan.

Discussion Items

  • Manager's Report: Town Manager reported December 2025 financials: excise tax above budget by $19,000, state revenue sharing below budget by $30,000. The annual comprehensive financial report received a clean audit opinion. Dog licensing deadline is January 31. Short-term rental registration deadline extended informally to end of January. The comprehensive plan has been accepted for state review with a consistency determination expected by March 5.
  • Restoration Advisory Board (RAB) Report: David Page presented the annual report. He noted ongoing PFOS/PFOA contamination from the former Naval Air Station, the slow pace of the remedial investigation (expected to take years, possibly beyond 2030), and frustration with communication from the Navy. The Navy states residential properties generally have no soil land use restrictions if there is no groundwater contact. A letter of concern regarding construction at Brunswick Landing was sent in November 2025. The town is working with Maine DEP and MIRA on enhanced oversight.
  • Lamont Block Sidewalk Redesign (Discussion Only): Town staff explained the need to widen the sidewalk to improve ADA compliance and provide more outdoor space for businesses. The redesign would reduce on-street parking from 9 angled spots to 5 parallel spots, but add 5 new spaces on Town Hall Place for a net gain of one parking space. Estimated cost is $584,769, to be funded from downtown TIF revenues (up to $600,000). Construction planned after Labor Day 2026 to minimize business impact. Councillors discussed financial implications, lessons learned from previous streetscape projects, and outreach to local property owners.

Key Outcomes

  • Police Forfeiture Funds: Approved transfer of $4,700.99 to the Brunswick Police Department from three completed court cases for drug enforcement use. (Unanimous)
  • Towing Policy Update: Adopted updated town towing policy and guidelines, including increased insurance requirements and adjusted fees. (Unanimous)
  • Public Hearing Setting: Voted to set a public hearing for February 2, 2026 to amend Chapter 15 (Traffic and Vehicles) to make Town Hall Place one-way, relocate a loading zone, and designate 2-hour parking on the north side. (Unanimous)

Meeting Transcript

Good evening, everybody. I'm going to officially call the meeting of the Brunswick Town Council of January 20th, 2026 to order. And it looks like we have all counselors currently present. Town Clerk, has this meeting been properly noticed? Yes, it has. Perfect. I ask that you all uh silence your electronic devices or turn them off. Um and please rise if you are willing and able for the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the United States of America and to republic for which it stands. One nation under God. Liberty and justice. Just wanted to make a note that as chair uh in this space. I ask that we while we hold this space together, we treat everyone here with respect and compassion as we kind of continue to work to serve our town here. So are there any adjustments to the agenda? I know there's the one about the consent agenda. We can do that, we can pull it out during that line item. So I got that one. Any other adjustments? Not seeing any. Any announcements from the council. Councillor Weems. Yes, I have a brief announcement. Um there is a very interesting art show at Curtis Memorial Library in the Moral Room, sponsored by the library and Brunswick Public Art. And it has a single topic, which is the to commemorate the Frank J. Wood Bridge as it's about to come down. Uh these are mostly uh photos, paintings, poems, some mixed media, uh contributed by 50 artists, 70 works of art, um provided by people from the ages of seven to undisclosed. It wasn't juried, so all entries that were submitted are installed. It's great fun. The reaction is but very positive because it allows for freedom of expression as expressed by the artist and those that enjoy the artwork, both. Uh it definitely engenders a sense of community, so it will be installed until the end of January. So you do have a week and a half to get in there and enjoy this. And um, so come on and enjoy this community experience. Thank you. Question for you, Counselor Williams. When is it running? It it opened on the 6th and it will run through January 30th. Got it. Thank you. Any other announcements of council? I'll make one brief one just so the audience knows and the public at large. Um we met as a official body this past Saturday for our town retreat. Um this is something that happens annually where we uh meet here in town office. We spend 9 a.m. to 2 uh where we get to know each other, have a little bit of uh understand the protocols and kind of our roles uh in this work that we're doing together, and we set out the priorities for the year. Um and just as a brief overview, I just want to say that um we gather the priorities of all of our counselors here. Um we had nine kind of overarching themes in which we dwindled down to a top four of sorts. Um, not saying that we won't address some of these other ones, but our top four for this year uh were housing ranked uh as the top priority overall, followed by growth management zoning and the comprehensive plan. Um infrastructure transportation and facilities was closely behind that, and fiscal sustainability placed forth around long-term planning and uh budgeting. So uh that's kind of where we're at, I guess, as a council is where our priorities are set for 2026. Granted, you know, things fluctuate, things happen, um, but I just wanted to make sure that folks knew that that happened, and that's kind of what came out of that process.

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