OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Brunswick Town Council Meeting – February 17, 2026

Town Council — Tuesday, February 17, 2026
BodyBrunswick, Maine
SessionTown Council
DateTuesday, February 17, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 2:04:45

Transcript — Verbatim
0:07

Okay, good evening, everybody.

0:09

I am going to officially call our meeting here of uh February 17, 2026 to order.

0:17

I will say that we do have every counselor present.

0:20

We have one currently on Zoom.

0:21

Can you hear us all right, Counselor Perult?

0:26

Yes.

0:27

Cool.

0:28

So we've got everyone present.

0:30

Was this meeting properly noticed, Town Clark?

0:32

Yes, it was.

0:33

Thank you.

0:34

I want to remind you all to please silence your electronic devices.

0:37

However, you do that is fine, turn them off, put on airplane mode, all those good things.

0:41

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

0:47

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Great Public for which it stands by nation under God, indefinitely with liberty and justice for all.

1:07

Thank you, everyone.

1:08

Just as a note, um, as chair, I ask that while we hold this space together, we treat every person here with respect and compassion as we work to kind of do the work of our town.

1:19

Are there any adjustments to the agenda that anybody needs to make?

1:25

Not seeing any.

1:26

Are there any announcements of council?

1:31

Did you have no seeing any announcements?

1:35

The one announcement that I will make is just to remind folks that if you haven't participated yet, the um we have a survey going on the town website that is for the redevelopment of the Hawthorne School Building.

1:46

Um we have a task force that's been working for I don't know, six months almost at this point.

1:50

Um and the survey is gonna be closing uh at the beginning of next month.

1:55

So if you haven't had a chance to uh fill out the survey as to what's going to happen to that property, please take the time to do so.

2:02

Um it is right under the news alert section.

2:05

There's a section that has a picture of the school, and you can click the link to the server there.

2:08

It's only like 10 questions.

2:10

It's very, very quick and easy.

2:12

So if you have the chance, please do.

2:15

Any other announcements?

2:18

Not seeing any.

2:19

I'm gonna go ahead and open public comment period.

2:21

So public comment period is a time for non-agenda items only.

2:25

So if there's a spot that you wanna talk about something that is on the agenda, you'll have time to do so then.

2:30

Three minutes per speaker, 30 minutes for this session.

2:32

If we need another session at the end, we'll do another 30 minutes.

2:35

Please follow the code of conduct that's posted on either side in blue.

2:42

And if you want to follow up after this, uh, after your comment, there is a sign-in sheet that is over by that pillar.

2:49

Um there's a table over there.

2:51

Please put your name and your contact information, and we'll have somebody from the town follow up with you.

2:55

So without further ado, our first speaker.

2:58

Good evening, Sean Hogan Town Resident.

3:00

I'd like to share uh some observations I had um following last week's school board meeting.

3:06

Larry, if we could show the video clip first, please.

3:10

They're discussing the school population.

3:14

Enrollment has not declined.

3:16

It stayed rather flat.

3:18

We've had some populations of students go up and down, meaning particular cohorts of students, but we have not seen a decrease, whereas like I just heard another district today is has 35 less high school students, etc.

3:31

etc.

3:31

We've stayed flat.

3:32

So that that I just want the public to hear that because we're not losing enrollment.

3:37

Flat, but we're not losing enrollment.

3:39

We're like perfectly level since 2014.

3:41

We really have to do that.

3:42

When you graph it, and like uh we are I grabbed it.

3:46

I sent it to the town council during one of their meetings because they were saying thank you, Larry.

3:50

And if you could put up the PowerPoint for me, please.

3:53

So what they were saying was that school enrollment since roughly 2014 has been basically been flat more or less.

3:59

Uh the first thing I want to show you, however, is and and while we're waiting to get it up.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Engagement███████████████████19%
Procedural████████████████16%
Zoning Regulations████████████████16%
Public Health Awareness█████████9%
Arts And Culture█████████9%
Water And Wastewater Management███████7%
Affordable Housing██████6%
Public Safety████4%
Public Works███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Brunswick Town Council Meeting – February 17, 2026

The Brunswick Town Council met on February 17, 2026, at 5:00 PM (EST) with all councilors present. The session included public comments, a manager’s report, presentations, public hearings, votes on zoning amendments, grant applications, a resolution on state housing legislation, and annual shellfish license renewals. Key topics included PFAS contamination at Brunswick Landing, school budget concerns, federal ICE activity, and a proposed sculpture using bridge steel.

Consent Calendar

  • The council approved the consent agenda (three items) by unanimous voice vote.

Public Comments & Testimony

Public comment opened for 30 minutes, with an additional session offered after business. Speakers addressed non-agenda items. Key points:

  • Sean Hogan (Town resident) presented data showing school enrollment has remained flat since 2014, while the proposed 2027 school budget of $62.1 million has increased 54.5% (21.9 million) since 2020. He argued that achievement scores in English, math, and science have declined over the same period and urged the council to rein in school spending.
  • Ralph Keys (Brunswick resident) raised concerns about PFAS contamination from soil piles at Brunswick Landing, noting that test results for water have shown PFAS and comprehensive soil results are pending. He asked for ongoing oversight.
  • Peggy Siegel (Sandpiper resident) expressed hope that the town council would continue its vigilance on PFAS contamination and citizen engagement following the August 2024 spill.
  • Brenda Day (Durham Road resident) urged councilors to consistently stand for the Pledge of Allegiance, emphasizing the importance of unity and respect for veterans.
  • Caroline Eklund (Douglas Park resident) requested that Brunswick police act as de-escalating witnesses during any ICE actions, citing Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s letter on just laws.
  • David Webbert (neighbor of Eklund) argued that the police chief’s public statement that he has no authority to intervene with federal agents is inaccurate; he asked the council to follow up and seek a correction.
  • Bruce Cantner (temple resident) recommended public workshop on PFAS contamination at the landing and urged better education of planning and economic development staff.
  • Max Burtis (clam digger, oyster farmer, Vice Chair of the Shellfish Committee) introduced himself and expressed readiness to work with the council.
  • Donna Sheale (Brunswick area indivisible) thanked public works for snow removal and asked that police prioritize community safety should ICE operate in town.
  • Judy Melcher King (Forest Hill Drive resident) asked police to document any ICE actions that may violate constitutional rights.
  • Jennifer Navarro (Brunswick resident via Zoom) expressed confidence in police and ICE, noting her family of color has not experienced discrimination. She also criticized the Capital Improvement Program for assuming ongoing tax increases and reliance on Tax Increment Financing (TIF) that does not relieve the tax burden.

Discussion Items

Manager’s Report

  • January financials: Excise tax slightly below January 2025 but still above budget; state revenue sharing lower than budget (by $575,000 through January 2026) due to reduced state income/sales tax collections, not legislative changes. Public works overtime is 90% expended due to snow events.
  • Announcements: Hawthorne School redevelopment survey closes early March; neighborhood meeting on February 19 and open house on February 21.
  • Upcoming budget/CIP workshops; draft two of CIP due next Monday.
  • Acknowledgment of former State Senator Stan Grozowski’s passing.

Bridge Remembrance Project (Presentation by Sarah Brayman)

  • Brunswick Public Art has been planning a sculpture using steel from the Frank J. Wood Bridge, located on the Brunswick side near the new park. A team (Laura Haddad and Tom Drogan) was selected after a multi-step process including a regional call and finalist review. Proposed project budget: $250,000–$350,000, to be privately fundraised. The sculpture will have internal and/or colored lighting. The steel will be abated for lead, repainted a color close to the original bridge. The town will own the sculpture, which will be installed on MDOT land. The council expressed support.

Resolution on LD 1829 (State Housing Density Bill)

  • Principal Planner Dillman presented a draft resolution expressing concerns that LD 1829 imposes a one-size-fits-all density mandate without regard for existing municipal infrastructure capacity, removes growth caps, restricts impact fees, and places administrative burdens on towns. The resolution requests legislative corrective action. Councilors Ellis, Weems, Ecker, Hicks, and Teemey voiced support, emphasizing the need for local control and better state funding. The council adopted the resolution unanimously.

Key Outcomes

  • Zoning Amendments (Public Hearing and Vote) : After a public hearing with no comment, the council suspended rules and voted unanimously to adopt amendments related to minimum height requirements, off-street parking along Main Street (GM6 district), facade materials in the village review overlay, and continuance period for non-conforming uses/structures (sections 1.6.3 and 1.6.4).
  • CDBG Grant for Blueberry Fields Sewer: Council set a public hearing for March 2, 2026, to consider applying for a $1 million Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) for sewer infrastructure to Blueberry Fields Cooperative. The total project cost is about $7 million; a 25% match is required but not yet secured. The grant application deadline is March 13, 2026.
  • Zoning Amendments for Off-Premises Signage: Council set a public hearing for March 2, 2026, to consider amendments allowing off-premises business directory signage at development entrances (serving three or more businesses) under specific conditions.
  • Shellfish Licenses 2026–27: Council approved the recommended license numbers and limits: 68 commercial (60 resident, 7 non-resident, 1 bushel limit), 9 student (8 resident, 1 non-resident, 2 bushel limit), 2 student apprentice (1 resident, 1 non-resident), unlimited recreational (10% to non-residents), and unlimited day licenses (no residency restriction). This is a net increase of one license over last year.
  • Consent Agenda approved without discussion.

Meeting Transcript

Okay, good evening, everybody. I am going to officially call our meeting here of uh February 17, 2026 to order. I will say that we do have every counselor present. We have one currently on Zoom. Can you hear us all right, Counselor Perult? Yes. Cool. So we've got everyone present. Was this meeting properly noticed, Town Clark? Yes, it was. Thank you. I want to remind you all to please silence your electronic devices. However, you do that is fine, turn them off, put on airplane mode, all those good things. And please rise if you are willing and able for the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Great Public for which it stands by nation under God, indefinitely with liberty and justice for all. Thank you, everyone. Just as a note, um, as chair, I ask that while we hold this space together, we treat every person here with respect and compassion as we work to kind of do the work of our town. Are there any adjustments to the agenda that anybody needs to make? Not seeing any. Are there any announcements of council? Did you have no seeing any announcements? The one announcement that I will make is just to remind folks that if you haven't participated yet, the um we have a survey going on the town website that is for the redevelopment of the Hawthorne School Building. Um we have a task force that's been working for I don't know, six months almost at this point. Um and the survey is gonna be closing uh at the beginning of next month. So if you haven't had a chance to uh fill out the survey as to what's going to happen to that property, please take the time to do so. Um it is right under the news alert section. There's a section that has a picture of the school, and you can click the link to the server there. It's only like 10 questions. It's very, very quick and easy. So if you have the chance, please do. Any other announcements? Not seeing any. I'm gonna go ahead and open public comment period. So public comment period is a time for non-agenda items only. So if there's a spot that you wanna talk about something that is on the agenda, you'll have time to do so then. Three minutes per speaker, 30 minutes for this session. If we need another session at the end, we'll do another 30 minutes. Please follow the code of conduct that's posted on either side in blue. And if you want to follow up after this, uh, after your comment, there is a sign-in sheet that is over by that pillar. Um there's a table over there. Please put your name and your contact information, and we'll have somebody from the town follow up with you. So without further ado, our first speaker. Good evening, Sean Hogan Town Resident. I'd like to share uh some observations I had um following last week's school board meeting. Larry, if we could show the video clip first, please. They're discussing the school population. Enrollment has not declined. It stayed rather flat. We've had some populations of students go up and down, meaning particular cohorts of students, but we have not seen a decrease, whereas like I just heard another district today is has 35 less high school students, etc. etc.

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