The Saco City Council met on Monday, May 18, 2026, at 6:30 PM. All councilors were present except Councillor Doyle (excused). The meeting featured recognition of the Thornton Academy Drama Club, public comment on the 2027 municipal budget, approval of the OASIS Club lease, authorization for an enhanced project scoping initiative, and updates on traffic safety projects and speed studies.
Good evening, everyone, and welcome to the Saco City Council meeting for Monday, May eighteenth, twenty twenty-six at six thirty PM. Would like to make note of all members of the council present this evening, with the exception of Councillor Doyle, who has been excused. All right, moving on to item number four tonight under General, we do have a very special recognition this evening. The Thornton Academy Drama Club took first place in a one-act play competition at the main drama festival. It was held at Windham High School March twentieth and twenty-first. The casting crew of twenty-five students performed The Dancers by Horton Foot, our heartfelt story about a timid young man whose life changes when a local schoolgirl introduces herself. Thornton edged out eight other regional winners after earning a spot in the competition. In all, thirty-seven schools across the state competed in a one-act play competition. The performance, co-directed by Thornton Academy, instructors David Hanwright and Katie Patrazi included ten scenes. The drama club then traveled to the New England Drama Festival in Rutland, Vermont on April 30th through May 2nd. There they performed the dancers for the last time. The students received special commendations from other students, participating in the workshop, and they met other high school performers from across New England. The directors were David Hanwright and Katie Betrazi. Chaperones for the trip were Emma Campbell, Heather Euchris, Sarah Carrier, and Nicole Duby. The students involved, who we have a good portion with us here this evening, Preya Bloom, Addy Berman, Calla Berman, Lauren Carrier, Claire Cochran, Emma Euctis, Sophie uh Sophie Fergo Dunch, Toby Fidalgo, Quinn Fisher, Alex Gagne, Alie Handa, Andy Hooper, Jack Jones, Lila LeVary, Gia Libby, Amelia Lourdrow, Emma Mardin, Avisha Mondak, Loudoin Mondak, Sarah Nightingale, Robert Pollock, Tessa Rosignal, Noah Satre, Nate Shepard, and Ruby Whitman. So I, along with the members of the City Council, would like to congratulate these students for their tireless work and dedication, and that your Socco community is proud of you. So with that, I'd like to invite you guys up here to the uh dais, and we'll get the counselors and we'll take a quick photo. Always a good night when we get to recognize our students. All right, next up, item five is committee correspondence to council. Are there any committee members wishing to share? Counselor Redwoods. Yes, I have uh two, uh, Madam Mayor. Uh one is I believe that there's a meal, a luncheon uh at the Elks Club for age-friendly SACO on June 11th. And you can go to their site to find out more. Um, also, uh, this past Saturday night, there was a gala celebrating the twenty-fifth anniversary of Sacco Main Street. It was wonderful. Uh I had never been to a gala before, but now I uh have done that. So uh you look pretty sharp. Thank you. Check check off that bucket list. And um the Socco Main Street is so appreciative of the support that they've gotten, not only from their um contributors and sponsors, but also the people of SACO and the businesses on Main Street. And um you can see uh Angie Presby, the uh executive director uh give her thanks on Facebook, but um it can't be said too often. Thank you, Sacco. Thank you. Anyone else? Okay, moving on to item number six, that is public comment. And we do not have anyone signed up, so if there are any members of the public wishing to speak, please step forward, state your name and address for the record, and you will have three minutes to address council. Good evening, Mayor. Members of the council, setting administrator, Bob Hamblin, 347 Ferry Road. Uh decided about 30 minutes ago that I needed to come down. Uh, and a lot of it had to do with uh the council's action on the 2027 municipal budget. Amendment one. Uh Councilor Johnston moved and counselor Edwards seconded to a lot $300,000 from unassigned fund balance to an account for affordable housing. Three chairs. Amendment two, Johnston moved, Edward seconded to transfer 200,000 from the unassigned unassigned fund balance to the committed fund balance infrastructure to support future active transport transit human-powered projects. Three chairs. Congratulations. I I thank you sincerely uh for taking the action on both of those items. Uh SACO is a great town to live in, and it can be better. And with uh renewed attention on both of these issues, it will be better.