The Sacco City Council met on Monday, June 8, 2026, at 6:30 PM. All seven councilors were present, along with City Administrator Pelletier. The meeting included public comments, approval of prior minutes, a financial report, authorization for speed studies, discussion of a utility easement, and administrative updates. The meeting adjourned at 6:59 PM.
Good evening, everyone, and welcome to the Sacco City Council meeting for Monday, June eighth, twenty twenty-six at six thirty PM. I would like to make note of all counselors present this evening, including City Administrator Pelleteer. And with that, would you please join me for the Pledge of Allegiance? Item number five, committee correspondence to council. Are there any committee members wishing to share? Not seeing anyone. Moving on to item six, that is public comment. And it looks like we do have two members already pre-signed up. We will get to those two members, and then any other members wishing to speak may have the opportunity. So first up, we do have Anik, and I do apologize for the last name. Nikki Mana. Yes. Please step forward, state your name and address for the record, and you will have three minutes to address the council. My name is Annik. I live in Sacco, three country Woods Street. Jenkin, near Jenkin Road. My name is Zanik, and I'm part of 2026 Natural Helpers cohort. I'm originally from Burundi. And I came to the United States eight years ago with very young children. I'm proud to say I currently work at Prebo Street, where I assist young and adults who are survivor of human trafficking. I'm here today to speak about the urgent issue of child care and how it affects families in our community. Just six months after arriving, I had my third baby. Like many new families, my integration was not easy. One of the biggest challenges I faced was access to child care. At the same time, I searched for child care options, but I quickly realized how expensive they were. For a family of five with only one income, it was nearly impossible to afford. Child care remain extremely expensive, especially for families who are just starting their lives here. Even for those who qualify for assistance, the support is limited and often comes with long waiting lists that can be two years or more. This create a serious barrier for families. Some parents are forced to delay or give up employment opportunities, not because they do not want to work, just because there is no affordable child care available. In most cases, it's more maths who are most affected by staying home instead of being able to contribute economically. This situation does not only affect individuals' families, it affects our entire community. It limits economic growth, increases reliance on public assistance, and reduces the ability of many capable people to fully participate in the workforce. Access to affordable child care is not a luxury, it's a necessity. It supports families. Strengthen our workforce and help our community thrive. As a solution, I recommend increasing government subsidies for child care so that more families can afford safe and reliable care. Expanding eligibility and reducing waiting time would make a real difference for working families like mine and many others in the city council to continue prioritizing solutions that expand affordable accessible child care for all families. Thank you for your time and for listening. Thank you very much. Okay, and next up on the list, we do have Kitzia Kabala. Good evening. State your name and address for the council, and you will have three minutes to address. Good evening, Mayor and City Council members. My address is 141 Beach Street, apartment 21 in Saco. My name is Katia Cabella, and I work closely with children and families in Maine. Today I want to bring awareness to children in foster care and remind us that they are still regular kids. Too often, foster children are only seen through their trauma, behaviors, or difficult circumstances. But behind every placement, every court date, and every case file is a child who still wants to laugh, feel safe, make friends, celebrate birthdays, and dream about their future. This issue is personal to me because I was in foster care myself.