Brunswick Town Council - October 19, 2026: Warming Center Funding, Contract Zoning, and Grants

The Brunswick Town Council met on October 19, 2026, with all nine councilors present, including Councilor Ecker on Zoom; the Town Clerk confirmed the meeting was properly noticed. The agenda included a Tedford Housing report on the 2026-27 Winter Warming Center season and a $25,000 security funding request, adoption of updated General Assistance maximums, a contract zoning application for 53 Main Street, a public hearing setting for a CDBG phase two application for Brunswick Bay Cooperative, an MDOT Business Partnership Initiative grant agreement for the Allagash Drive/Admiral Fitch connection, Social Services Committee grant recommendations totaling $45,000, and the consent calendar. All votes were unanimous except the contract zoning application, which passed 7-2.

Announcements

• Councilor Hicks announced a Brunswick Landing community meeting on Thursday, 5:30-7 p.m., in council chambers, available on Zoom and recorded.
• Councilor Peral reported that two of her three campaign signs had been stolen and reminded that stealing campaign signs is illegal.
• Councilor Ellis promoted the annual Goblins Parade on October 31st.
• Councilor Teamy reminded that campaign signs on town-owned land or the public right-of-way violate local ordinances.
• Councilor Peral announced a free car seat inspection station on Saturday, October 24th, 9-11 a.m., at Cook's Corner fire department, noting that an estimated 75%-90% of car seats are misused.
• Chair McDonald reminded candidates not to campaign at the council meeting.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Bruce Cantner urged councilors and citizens to watch the recording of the October 16th candidate forum, available on YouTube, the town website, and Facebook; he highlighted themes including transparency, communication, proactive planning, and housing challenges, and noted only 60 people attended the live forum despite 19,000 registered voters.
• Louisa Hart, a 35-year Brunswick resident, urged better understanding of how development affects neighborhoods, traffic, wildlife crossings, and the natural environment, and said the town cannot continue exploiting its natural capital.
• Paul Whitcomb suggested the town consider filing a suit, possibly a class action lawsuit, against the U.S. Navy and hangar owners over PFAS contamination in the New Meadows River.

Town Manager's Report

• September revenues: state revenue sharing was about $24,000 below last year but about $18,000 above the September budget; excise tax was about $22,000 below last year; both remained above year-to-date budget expectations.
• Absentee ballots are available through October 29th and are due by 8 p.m. on November 3rd; over 5,500 requests had already been made, compared with 6,150 total four years ago.
• The Midcoast Regional Redevelopment Authority board meets Wednesday, October 28th, at 4 p.m. at Tech Place, 74 Orion Street, Brunswick Landing.

Tedford Housing Winter Warming Center

• Andrew Lardy, Tedford Housing executive director, presented the 2026-27 plan for the Brunswick Winter Warming Center, joined by program director Michelle Baldwin and partner organizations.
• Statewide context: a Maine Housing study found the state's homeless prevention and response system is roughly half as large as needed; annual spending of about $125 million would need to double. The Midcoast hub (Hub 3) ratio of available funding to assessed need is 23%.
• Lardy pushed back on the idea that Brunswick is a magnet for people experiencing homelessness: 2025 data shows the median Maine shelter serves people from nine counties and nine states, with out-of-state guests over 10% of those served. Brunswick residents make up about 15% of the 25-town catchment population but about one-third of Tedford shelter guests, more than double their population share.
• Last season, the warming center sheltered 200 people, over 50% more than the prior season; 80% of guests had zero recorded incidents; 30 guests accepted case management; 20 were placed into Tedford's adult shelter; 4 moved into stable housing or residential care.
• Impacts: 338 police/fire deployments to Tenny Way over the calendar year, with the in-season rate four times the off-season rate. Goals this season: cut medical-type calls by 25% and 'red' calls (disturbance, trespass, harassment) to the off-season baseline (a 75% reduction), totaling about 100 fewer deployments, saving roughly 180 person hours and $20,000 in staff pay and benefits.
• Program changes: hard cap of 30 guests per night; no off-campus movement during the night; more security; overflow assistance; two-week staff onboarding; a new clinical supervisor; a shared good neighbor agreement among the Tenny Way agencies; weekly office hours; and on-site health supports from Oasis, Mid Coast Hospital, and Sweetser.
• Funding: the Maine Housing grant came in at about 70% of program costs instead of 90%, leaving a $94,000 fundraising need; expanded nightly security adds about $13,000. Lardy requested $25,000 from the town to underwrite security, with the goal of reducing calls to police. The season opens November 15th.
• In Q&A, Lardy and partners said state legislators had been contacted about regional funding, the overflow plan is still being developed and is a 'gray area,' and police will participate in staff onboarding training. Councilor Ellis suggested adding a goal for managing spillover into other public spaces such as the library.

General Assistance Maximums (Item 118)

• Staff explained that the state annually calculates General Assistance maximums using HUD fair market rent and area median income. Heating oil was flagged as this year's challenge: 100 gallons is allowed for October/November, but clients must qualify within dollar limits; applicants are connected to LIHEAP, CMP programs, and payment plans.
• After no public comment, the council unanimously adopted the updated General Assistance maximums on an emergency and regular basis.

Contract Zoning - 53 Main Street (Item 120)

• The Planning Director explained that the project at 53 Main Street, called the 'J' (formerly the JJ Cleaners site), needs a contract zone because the proposed redevelopment cannot meet downtown parking requirements. The Planning Board voted unanimously on September 22nd to recommend approval based on comprehensive plan consistency, allowed uses, and public benefit.
• The proposal: a 34-unit residential building over three floors with about 9,000-10,000 square feet of ground-floor commercial space and basement parking. The applicant, 53 Main Street Associates, asked to reduce the parking requirement from 87 to 38 spaces; 41 spaces are currently on the plans, and parking spots include conduits so residents can purchase lifts for a second space, allowing up to 72 cars. The applicant also referenced a 54-space required-parking figure that the design could exceed with lifts.
• Benefits cited: remediation of contaminated soil from the former gas station/dry cleaner site (excavation to about 16 feet, roughly 10,000 cubic yards, over $1.4 million), a gateway building fitting the downtown streetscape, and alignment with the comprehensive plan and climate action plan. The applicant said there is no federal or state requirement to preserve the chimney used by swifts but that he is willing to work with the town on options.
• Public testimony: Paul Whitcomb opposed, questioning the 16-foot excavation depth, whether phase two environmental testing had been done, and the relationship between the environmental engineer and the applicant. Phil Carey, chair of the Village Review Board, spoke in favor, citing unanimous VRB approval and calling the project a 'repair in the fabric' of downtown that addresses housing needs. A third speaker expressed skepticism about parking and lifts, doubted that residents would buy lifts, and suggested developing another downtown lot for parking.
• Council positions: supporters (Weems, Ellis, Anderson, Ecker, Hicks, and Chair McDonald) cited brownfield cleanup, housing supply, tax revenue rising from roughly $23,000-$25,000 to about $500,000 annually, and a local developer tackling a difficult site. Opponents (Peral and Teamy) cited inadequate residential parking and spillover into downtown commercial spaces, the TY Lin study's findings of near-capacity parking on Main Street north, and gentrification concerns. Councilor Anderson suggested the town separately study a parking solution rather than loading it onto this project.
• The motion passed 7-2 (Ellis, Anderson, Hicks, Weems, Wilson, Ecker, and Chair McDonald in favor; Peral and Teamy opposed). A brief recess was taken to verify procedural requirements, and the vote was confirmed.

CDBG Phase Two - Brunswick Bay Cooperative (Item 121)

• The council set a public hearing for November 2nd, 2026, to approve phase two of a housing assistance Community Development Block Grant for Brunswick Bay Cooperative. The project addresses 16 failing septic systems and a leaky drinking water system; phase two covers project development and CDBG compliance.
• Staff confirmed that two units near the road may be required to connect to sewer, but the project is not in jeopardy and has a funding buffer; CDBG program staff are aware.
• The motion passed unanimously.

MDOT Business Partnership Initiative Grant (Item 122)

• Staff presented a resolution to accept a $1.355 million Business Partnership Initiative (BPI) grant from the Maine Department of Transportation for a project creating a public roadway connecting Admiral Fitch Drive to Bath Road by realigning Allagash Drive and improving the access road connection. Total project cost is about $1.827 million, with an estimated town share of approximately $761,000.
• Funding partners: town $451,000, MDOT $451,000, Mira $451,000, plus a land donation and equity from Pinnacle Group LLC (Jim Howard). Mira is paying for design and construction drawings; staff recommended TIF revenues for the town share.
• The project includes a 10-foot multi-use path, demolition of the Allagash Drive S-curve, driveway reconfiguration, and PFAS coordination with the Navy, EPA, and DEP. Sampling results are expected in early December, with EPA background levels in February. Construction is anticipated around 2028; a future ordinance with public hearing will be required for the project.
• Q&A clarified that access to Dunkin Donuts, Bar Harbor Bank, and the medical building will be preserved via the unnamed Irving road; the access road will be rebuilt to town standards; and Councilor Teamy suggested including a bus stop structure.
• The resolution passed unanimously.

Social Services Committee Grants (Item 123)

• The committee received 12 applications requesting a total of $78,000; the approved budget is $45,000. Recommended grants: Day One $2,500; Independence Association $6,250; Jane's Team (First Parish Church) $6,250; Midcoast Hunger Prevention Program $6,250; Tedford Housing $6,250; Emergency Action Network (TEEN) $6,250; Gathering Place $6,250; Through These Doors $5,000. Not recommended: Bath Area Family YMCA, Bath Brunswick Respite Care, Midcoast Literacy, and United Way of Midcoast Maine.
• Public comment: Faith Barnes thanked the council; Dana Bateman (TEEN board) described TEEN as a tiny, all-volunteer nonprofit serving Brunswick school children pre-K-12, citing food insecurity, toiletries, and children without beds; Jackie Yellis applauded the grants and urged a larger budget next year.
• Councilors expressed pride in the program and said they hope to increase funding in next year's budget.
• The motion passed unanimously.

Consent Calendar

• The consent calendar was approved unanimously after questions on item D (election official appointments) and confirmation that enough Republican election workers have been recruited for the November election, though more are always welcome.

Key Outcomes

• Unanimous: adopted updated General Assistance maximums on an emergency and regular basis.
• 7-2: approved the 53 Main Street contract zoning application, including the parking requirement reduction from 87 to 38 spaces; Councilors Peral and Teamy dissented.
• Unanimous: set a public hearing for November 2nd, 2026, for CDBG phase two for Brunswick Bay Cooperative.
• Unanimous: authorized the MDOT BPI grant cooperative agreement for the Allagash Drive/Admiral Fitch/Bath Road project.
• Unanimous: approved Social Services Committee grant recommendations totaling $45,000.
• Unanimous: approved the consent calendar.
• No formal action: Tedford Housing's $25,000 request for Warming Center security funding was presented and discussed but was not brought to a vote.