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Record of Proceedings

Brunswick Town Council Meeting – June 1, 2026: DPW, Data Centers, Mobile Home Park Ordinance

Town Council — Monday, June 1, 2026
BodyBrunswick, Maine
SessionTown Council
DateMonday, June 1, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 4:21:41

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it
0:19

Good evening, everybody, and welcome to the meeting of February second, twenty twenty-six.

0:24

Uh February.

0:31

Of June first, twenty twenty six.

0:34

Good catch.

0:35

I'm officially calling this uh meeting to order.

0:37

Was this meeting properly noticed on clerk?

0:40

I think the February one was in this one.

0:42

Thank you.

0:44

Um I'll remind folks to silence your electronic devices.

0:47

Uh and then we are looking at executive session, uh, one MRSA, uh section four oh five six D labor negotiations.

0:56

Do I have a motion to go into executive session?

0:59

Motion by Counselor Ellis, seconded by Councillor Wilson.

1:03

Um discussion on the motion.

1:07

Not seeing any.

1:08

Uh I will call the vote.

1:10

Uh Counselor Ellis.

1:11

Yes.

1:11

Counselor Eckers.

1:12

Counselor Anderson.

1:13

Yes.

1:13

Counselor Perl.

1:14

Yes.

1:15

Counselor Hicks.

1:16

Yes.

1:16

Counselor Teamy.

1:17

Yes.

1:17

Counselor Weams.

1:18

Yes.

1:18

Counselor Wilson.

1:19

Yes.

1:19

The chair is a yes.

1:20

The motion passes.

1:21

We'll go into executive session.

1:22

We'll be back at 6 30.

1:24

Thank you, everyone.

31:45

Good evening everybody and welcome back to the June first, 2026 town council meeting.

31:54

Uh I will remind folks to please silence your electronic devices if you have not done so far.

32:00

Airplane mode, silent and whatever's your your flavor.

32:04

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

32:10

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

32:17

One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

32:26

Thank you everyone.

32:29

As chair I ask that while we hold this space together, we treat every person here with respect as we work to do the functions of our town, serve our town here.

32:39

And uh to the council, are there any adjustments to the agenda.

32:45

Not seeing any.

32:54

Yeah, uh, it's the first day of Pride months.

32:59

True.

33:01

Uh any further announcements.

33:05

Not seeing any, I will open the floor to public comment.

33:10

As a reminder, public comment is for non-agenda items only.

33:14

You'll have three minutes.

33:16

Uh we'll have thirty minutes at the beginning of the the night here and thirty minutes at the end if we end up needing it.

33:22

Um please follow the code of conduct that's posted on either side of the rooms.

33:25

Oh, okay.

33:32

Setting up some technical things.

33:34

It's counting up for some reason.

33:37

Um as a reminder to share your name, your town pronouns if you'd like to share them, and if you want to follow up after your public comment today, um over on the table we have a little sign-up sheet where you can put your contact information.

33:48

So uh without further ado, come on up.

33:52

Chair, I make sure that it's not on the agenda already.

33:56

Yep, non-agenda items only.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Mobile Home Parks██████████████████████████26%
Procedural████████████████████20%
Data Center Regulation███████████11%
Public Engagement█████████9%
Public Works█████████9%
Arts And Culture███████7%
Stormwater Management██████6%
Environmental Protection█████5%
Transportation Safety█1%
Summary of Proceedings

Brunswick Town Council Meeting – June 1, 2026

The Brunswick Town Council met on June 1, 2026, to discuss and vote on several major items, including a public works expansion plan, a data center moratorium, a mobile home park ordinance, and other administrative matters. The meeting began with an executive session on labor negotiations, followed by public comments, a manager's report, public hearings, and new business. Key decisions included unanimous approval of the Mayorbrook compensation fee utilization plan, a 180-day data center moratorium, and setting public hearings for the mobile home park ordinance and fire engine funding.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved the consent agenda (items not specified) unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Public Works Expansion (Phase 1A): Several residents, including Paul Woodcombe, Kate Burns (Build the Better Brunswick Coalition), Jackie Cutford, Molly McGrath, and Patricia Porell, urged the council to pause and reconsider the proposed DPW expansion. They cited conflicts with recreational use, environmental impacts, loss of community gardens, safety concerns on Water Street, and the need for a more sustainable, community-aligned plan. A petition started by the coalition gathered 69 signatures in 24 hours. Linda Nesbitt and Jody Newcomb raised specific concerns about traffic safety and the placement of a 24-hour fueling station near homes and a daycare.
  • Curbside Collection Contract: Tyler Frank (Garbage to Garden) urged the council to put the curbside collection contract out for competitive bid, arguing it would lower costs and improve recycling and sustainability outcomes. He noted the current contract has been held by the same provider for over 20 years without a public procurement process.
  • Speed Study on Spring Street: Hillary Shenday requested data from a speed study conducted last fall, stating residents had not received a response.
  • Other: Marika Gaiason thanked the housing committee for their work. Hannah Steffian noted the petition for the DPW pause.

Discussion Items

  • Mayorbrook Compensation Fee Utilization Plan (Item 67): Planning Director Erdman presented the plan, which allows developers of large projects to pay a fee in lieu of meeting additional stormwater mitigation requirements for the urban impaired Mayorbrook watershed. Funds will be used for priority restoration projects. Council discussed the benefits of strategic targeting and matching grants. Robert McEwen spoke in opposition, arguing it delays necessary environmental compliance. The council voted unanimously to approve.
  • Data Center Moratorium (Item 68): The council considered a 180-day moratorium on data centers with electrical capacity of 1 megawatt or greater. Public comments strongly supported the moratorium, with concerns about energy consumption, water use, PFAS, noise, and impacts on local resources. Speakers included Robert Howe, Ralph Keyes, Tucker Favreau, Carolyn Eklund, Sarah Woodbury (Maine Conservation Voters), Catherine Whitaker, and Representative Poppy Arford. Council noted the statutory limit of 180 days and the need to develop a permanent ordinance. The moratorium passed unanimously.
  • Mobile Home Park Ordinance (Item 70): Economic Development Director Costello presented a draft ordinance regulating mobile home park lot rents and conditions, developed over two years with input from landlords, tenants, and the housing committee. Extensive discussion focused on definitions of lot rent, utility costs, the composition of the Rent Review Board, submission requirements, and mediation. Council made several amendments, including removing the word "public" from utility cost language and adjusting board membership. The council voted unanimously to set a public hearing for June 15, 2026.
  • Fire Engine Funding (Item 71): Chief Brilliant presented a proposal to fund a new fire engine (pumper) for up to $1.25 million via bonding. He explained the option of a demo unit available sooner (October 2026) versus a new build (12-14 months). The council set a public hearing for June 15, 2026, unanimously.
  • Union Contract Ratification (Item 72): The council unanimously ratified a three-year contract for the Emergency Communications Officers Association (dispatchers), effective July 1, 2026.
  • Appointments (Item 73): The council approved appointments to the Conservation Commission (Sandy Stott, Marco Melindi, Jan Mocros) and Rivers and Coastal Waterways (Jeff Bush) for three-year terms.

Key Outcomes

  • Approved Mayorbrook Compensation Fee Utilization Plan (unanimous).
  • Approved 180-day Data Center Moratorium (unanimous).
  • Set public hearing for June 15, 2026 on Mobile Home Park Ordinance (unanimous, with amendments).
  • Set public hearing for June 15, 2026 on Fire Engine Ordinance (unanimous).
  • Ratified dispatchers union contract (unanimous).
  • Approved appointments to boards (unanimous).
  • Approved consent agenda (unanimous).

Additional Notes

  • The manager reported on a successful mattress collection event (56 residents, 7.66 tons collected) and upcoming road construction projects.
  • Councilor Ecker thanked staff for integrating bike and pedestrian improvements into road projects.
  • During the second public comment period, Sean Hogan questioned why the town had not considered property near the airport for DPW facilities. Staff responded that the land is deed-restricted for recreation and located in an aquifer protection overlay zone, making it unsuitable.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening, everybody, and welcome to the meeting of February second, twenty twenty-six. Uh February. Of June first, twenty twenty six. Good catch. I'm officially calling this uh meeting to order. Was this meeting properly noticed on clerk? I think the February one was in this one. Thank you. Um I'll remind folks to silence your electronic devices. Uh and then we are looking at executive session, uh, one MRSA, uh section four oh five six D labor negotiations. Do I have a motion to go into executive session? Motion by Counselor Ellis, seconded by Councillor Wilson. Um discussion on the motion. Not seeing any. Uh I will call the vote. Uh Counselor Ellis. Yes. Counselor Eckers. Counselor Anderson. Yes. Counselor Perl. Yes. Counselor Hicks. Yes. Counselor Teamy. Yes. Counselor Weams. Yes. Counselor Wilson. Yes. The chair is a yes. The motion passes. We'll go into executive session. We'll be back at 6 30. Thank you, everyone. Good evening everybody and welcome back to the June first, 2026 town council meeting. Uh I will remind folks to please silence your electronic devices if you have not done so far. Airplane mode, silent and whatever's your your flavor. Um 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 Republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Thank you everyone. As chair I ask that while we hold this space together, we treat every person here with respect as we work to do the functions of our town, serve our town here. And uh to the council, are there any adjustments to the agenda. Not seeing any. Yeah, uh, it's the first day of Pride months. True. Uh any further announcements. Not seeing any, I will open the floor to public comment. As a reminder, public comment is for non-agenda items only.

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