Brunswick Town Council Meeting - November 2, 2026

The Brunswick Town Council met on November 2, 2026, at 5:00 PM UTC. Vice Chair Jen Hicks presided over the meeting, which included a significant study on the health of Maquoit Bay, funding for the next phase of the MARC project, and setting public hearings on a zoning amendment and data center moratorium. An executive session preceded the open meeting.

Consent Calendar

• The council approved the consent agenda, including meeting minutes, a new special amusement license, and an American Legion game of chance license.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Paul Whitcomb (Brunswick Resident): Expressed concerns about the redevelopment at 53-69 Main Street, citing an EPA estimate that dry cleaners produce 560 gallons of waste liquid per year and noting that soil sampling by TRC Environmental identified PFAS and VOCs. He urged the council to monitor where 700 dump trucks of contaminated soil would go and called for more scrutiny of potential air, water, and soil impacts.
• Kristen Brewer (Technical Assistance Provider, Brunswick Bay Cooperative): Thanked the council for supporting a $500,000 CDBG grant application.
• Steve Walker (Brunswick Resident): Urged the council to accept the Maquoit Bay report and adopt stronger land use controls, specifically recommending a 100-foot no-disturbance setback and activating a previously approved wetland ordinance.
• Blaine Lund (Commercial Shellfish Harvester, Brunswick): Criticized the Maquoit Bay study for not including core samples of the bottom under the oyster farm. He stated a recent die-off decimated $7 million worth of clams and argued the farm's contribution to the nitrogen load needs further investigation.
• Resident of Maquoit Bay (Unnamed): Expressed concern over rapid growth on septic systems and supported the report's recommendations, specifically praising those made by Steve Walker.

Manager's Report & Environmental Updates

• Town Manager Henzi provided election updates (8,069 absentee ballots returned out of 8,348 issued), a reminder of the Public Works Task Force public meeting on Dec 17th, and an update on the UECA process for MERC parcels.
• Conservation Commission Working Group (Jan Mocros, Abby Sewell): Presented the framework for a watershed protection ordinance. They noted that 6 of 10 Casco Bay towns have a pesticide ordinance. A town-wide survey on values, preferences, and support for the ordinance will be launched on November 3rd.

Maquoit Bay Water Quality Study & Task Force Sunset (Item 125)

• Presentation: Environmental Planner Ashley Charleston and consultant Bina Scortis (FBE) presented findings of a two-year study. The study identified nitrogen as a chronic, year-round problem entering the bay from land-based sources (septic systems, fertilizers, runoff) via groundwater. Bacteria spikes occur after rain. The bay's flushing time of 5-15 days makes it vulnerable to algal blooms and anoxic events, documented since 1988. The study found the oyster farm is not the primary cause of the problems based on the available data.
• Discussion: Councilors Ecker and Weems favored retaining the task force to prioritize the report's recommendations. Councilors McDonald, Teamy, Wilson, Anderson, and Hicks argued the task force had completed its charge and staff should use the report to inform the comprehensive plan recode.
• Vote: An amendment to retain the task force failed (4-5). The original motion to accept the study and sunset the Maquoit Bay Water Quality Task Force passed 7-2.

Midcoast Athletic and Recreation Center (MARC) Phase 1D (Item 126)

• Proposal: Economic Director Sally Costello proposed a $1.4 million phase including a playground, splash pad, shade structure, and natural grass field. The immediate request was for $180,200 to fund design, construction administration, and environmental services.
• Funding Source: The funds were transferred from the cancelled Stanwood/Mechanic Street project that had reverted to general fund balance.
• Discussion: Councilors questioned the fund transfer process but ultimately supported the pivot toward a water feature and the new phase.
• Vote: The resolution authorizing the transfer passed unanimously (9-0).

Zoning Amendment for Municipal Facilities (Item 127)

• Proposal: Planning Deputy Director Jimmy Dieleman introduced a proposal to allow the planning board to waive the maximum impervious surface coverage requirement for municipal facilities, provided the town engineer verifies stormwater can be managed and an alternatives analysis is completed.
• Discussion: Councilors Ellis, Ecker, Weems, and Perl expressed philosophical concerns about a two-tiered system that exempts the town from rules applying to private businesses.
• Outcome: The council voted 8-1 to set a public hearing on the amendment for November 16, 2026.

Data Center Moratorium Extension (Item 128)

• Proposal: Planning Director Julie Erdman requested an extension of the 180-day moratorium on data centers 1 megawatt or larger. The town has had difficulty retaining a consultant to perform the required impact analysis.
• Outcome: The council voted unanimously (9-0) to set a public hearing for November 16, 2026 to consider extending the moratorium.

Appointments to Boards & Committees (Item 129)

• Councillor Anderson presented a slate of appointments. Blaine Lund made a public comment questioning why he was not re-appointed to the Shellfish Committee despite being the only commercial harvester regularly attending meetings.
• Vote: The slate was approved unanimously.

Key Outcomes

• Approved: Phase 2 CDBG application for Brunswick Bay Cooperative (Unanimous).
• Vote: Accepted Maquoit Bay report and sunsetted the task force (7-2).
• Approved: Transfer of $180,200 for MARC Phase 1D design costs (Unanimous).
• Set Hearing: Zoning amendment for impervious surface waiver (8-1, hearing Nov 16).
• Set Hearing: Extension of data center moratorium (Unanimous, hearing Nov 16).
• Approved: Appointments to various boards and committees (Unanimous).