Saco City Council Meeting – February 9, 2026: Moratorium Extended, Blue Haven Update, and Policy Approvals
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Saco City Council Meeting – February 9, 2026
The Saco City Council met on Monday, February 9, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. with all six councilors present. The meeting focused on extending the temporary emergency moratorium on mobile home park rent increases, receiving updates on the mediated agreement between Blue Haven Mobile Home Park and its residents, and approving several policies, including an electric vehicle charging pilot, a recreational vehicle ordinance amendment, and a memorandum of understanding with the University of New England for a wave gauge installation. All votes were unanimous.
Consent Calendar
- Confirmed the mayor's reappointment of Andrew Bracey to the Historic Preservation Commission and Melissa Field to the Conservation Commission (passed 6-0).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Sarah Giles Gardner (17 Pine Street, Blue Haven resident) described her experience during the January 26 mediation, stating she felt misled, pressured to sign an incomplete agreement, and that her disability-related needs were ignored. She requested the council put a strong, enforceable ordinance in place to protect residents from rent increases and predatory practices.
- Lisa DeRozers (18 Pine Haven Street) asked the council to keep the emergency ordinance in place and make rent stabilization retroactive, noting that Waterville and Biddeford have passed similar measures.
- Linda Daniels (31 Pheasant Road, Blue Haven) thanked the council for their support, described her partner's disability and fixed income, and stated that a $145 monthly rent increase would be unaffordable.
- Hope Lambert (14 Pleasant Row, Blue Haven) explained she did not sign the mediated agreement due to unclear language, a mismatch between the summary and the agreement, and a provision that appeared to allow a rent increase on or after January 1, 2027. She requested the council extend the moratorium and work toward rent stabilization.
- Richard Bryant (attorney for Blue Haven MHP LLC) updated the council on the mediated agreement, clarifying that the August rent increase notice was on hold due to the moratorium. He stated that the agreement includes a series of credits to lower and stretch out the increase, and that three conditions must be met by March 1: 51% of households signing the agreement, the moratorium being rescinded, and no other municipal or state law blocking implementation. He noted the committee's attorney had achieved a substantial number of signatures.
- Brian LaRoche (19 Reserve Circle) provided an update on state-level mobile home park initiatives, including the governor's supplemental budget (funding for oversight moved to Maine Office of Community Affairs, a new assistant attorney general for housing, and a pilot program for park financing), Pine Tree Legal's new full-time fellow for mobile home issues, and a potential rewrite of mobile home statutes by the housing and economic development committee.
- John Veid (1 Gallant Drive, Blue Haven) voiced support for the residents' committee, expressed concern about the $145 monthly increase and the hurry to sign an agreement, and questioned the logic of a rebate that could be taken back.
Discussion Items
- Action Item A – Emergency Moratorium Extension (Councillor Johnston): Motion to enact a third temporary emergency moratorium on mobile home park lot rental increases, effective until April 10, 2026. Councillor Johnston noted the residents and Blue Haven LLC had not yet reached the 51% signature threshold. Councillor Doyle supported the extension, adding that the city should consider a broader rent stabilization ordinance. Councillor Gale also supported the extension but noted underlying issues need long-term solutions. The motion passed 6-0.
- Action Item B – Electric Vehicle Charging Pilot Policy (Councillor Onan): Adopted a one-year pilot policy for EV charging at the Saco Community Center, starting July 1, 2026, with a fee schedule to be brought forward in the FY2027 budget. Passed 6-0.
- Action Item C – Recreational Vehicle Ordinance Amendment (Councillor Edwards): Final reading of amendments to Chapter 169, allowing temporary RV occupancy for up to 14 days with conditions (electrical system, zoning compliance, solid waste plan). Councillor Johnston noted that enforcement should allow a learning curve for residents. Passed 6-0.
- Action Item D – Memorandum of Understanding with University of New England for Wave Gauge (Councillor Onan): Approved an MOU for wave gauge installation to study wave action, particularly at Camp Ellis. Councillors Doyle and Johnston highlighted the value of the data for future coastal projects. Passed 6-0.
Key Outcomes
- Emergency Moratorium Extended: The council voted 6-0 to extend the temporary moratorium on mobile home park lot rental increases until April 10, 2026, with the possibility of revisiting on February 23 if the mediated agreement is finalized.
- EV Charging Pilot Policy Adopted: Approved for one year beginning July 1, 2026; fee schedule to be developed in FY2027 budget.
- RV Ordinance Amendment Approved: Final reading passed 6-0, allowing temporary RV use in residential areas under specific conditions.
- UNE Wave Gauge MOU Approved: Partnership with University of New England for wave monitoring at Camp Ellis passed 6-0.
- Next Meetings: Scheduled for February 23 and March 2, 2026; City Hall closed on February 16 for President's Day.
Meeting Transcript
Hello, and welcome to the Sarkov City Council meeting for Monday, February 9th, at 630 p.m. Let the record reflect that all members council are present this evening. Let the record also reflect that City Administrator Ryan Pellateer is also in attendance. Please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance. Thank you. Moving on tonight, under general, I see none. Next up, agenda item five, committee correspondence to council. Would any counselor wish to speak? Deputy Mayor Parks, I just want to point out that uh I have not been told what my committee assignments are to date. And uh if that could be generated and sent to me an email, that'd be great. All right, City Administrator Hellateer, do you have that down? I do, and we actually have it. I'll give it to you after the meeting if you'd like. All right, would any counselor wish to speak on counselor Hewitt? Thank you. The Dyer Library wants everyone to know they have a new online platform that if you want access to the general tribune and some of the other media that you can use it for free without any um web page or subscription um pop-ups at the higher library. If you ask someone at the circulation desk, they can inform you. And they have all kinds of activities coming up for February vacation, so definitely check out their website. Thank you. Thank you, Councillor Hewlett. Would any other counselor like to speak on committee correspondence? All right, moving on to public comment. First up tonight is Sarah. Yes, that's right. Giles Gardner, that's okay. I was I wrote down Madam Mayor, but what do I call you? Mr. Deputy Mayor. Mr. Deputy Mayor. Okay. All right. Let me see. Okay. Um, hello, counselors and deputy mayor. My name is Sarah Giles Gardner. I live at 17 Pine Street. I'm here today because of what happened during the Blue Haven mediation was um was not just a misunderstanding. It was an experience that left me feeling misled, unprotected, and taken advantage of. At best just someone with a disability. Um January 26th, we spent nearly eight to nine hours in mediation with a hungry and trying our best to negotiate in good faith. But the end of the night, we were told we had to reach an agreement on the rent numbers, and what the paperwork we were at the time was rest incomplete and did not match what we had discussed all day long. I was told repeatedly, don't worry, we'll fix the language later, but I'm a visual learner with my brain disability, and I cannot process complex legal language behaving it read out loud to me. And I said that multiple times, and they told to ignore that. I asked for my ATA contact to be involved, and he would never contacted, even though the attorney of the media knew this was required for me to fully understand what it is that I'm signing. And they said, don't worry, go ahead and sign, we'll fix it later. Have the media department attorney added new language that we never agreed to. The wording I objected to from the original offer was still there. Nothing but promise would be fixed later was actually fixed. Instead, more was added, more restrictions, more of language, more ways for residents to lose there, but I cannot find something legally binding.
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