Sacco City Council Meeting - June 8, 2026
Sacco City Council Meeting - June 8, 2026
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.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Annik (address: 3 Country Woods Street, near Jenkin Road) spoke about the urgent need for affordable child care. She shared her personal experience as an immigrant from Burundi and a mother of three. She stated that child care is extremely expensive, with limited assistance and waiting lists of two years or more, forcing many families to give up employment. She recommended increasing government subsidies, expanding eligibility, and reducing waiting times. She urged the council to prioritize expanding affordable accessible child care.
- Katia Cabella (address: 141 Beach Street, Apt 21) spoke about children in foster care, drawing on her personal experience as a former foster child. She emphasized that foster children should not be defined by their trauma but seen as regular kids with potential, talents, and dreams. She called for patience, compassion, stability, and support from the community. She highlighted issues such as instability, multiple moves, and lack of foster homes.
Discussion Items
- Approval of Minutes (June 1, 2026): A motion was made by Councillor Edwards, seconded by Councillor Parks. Councillor Dorr requested a roll call vote. The minutes were approved 6-0 with one abstention (Councillor Doyle).
- Fiscal Year 26 Quarter Three Financial Summary Report: Finance Director Ballanger presented the report, noting that at 75% of the fiscal year, revenues and expenditures were tracking well. Key points: motor vehicle excise tax revenues totaled $4.8 million (90% of budget), with year-to-date collections of $6.1 million. Cable franchise fees were trending lower, with $149,000 collected year-to-date and a projected shortfall. Rebates from city credit cards (P cards) brought $47,000. On the expenditure side, most departments are on target; general assistance shows a shortfall but is 70% reimbursable by the state; property and liability insurance is over by $55,000 due to new assets and rate increases. Councillor Johnston asked about snowmobile and veteran exemption revenues—Director Ballanger noted snowmobile revenue was combined with other motor vehicle accounts, and veteran exemption needed further review. Councillor Arnold asked about licenses and permits lagging—Director Ballanger attributed it to some school-related projects not generating fees and seasonal revenues expected in the last quarter.
- Authorization to Request Speed Studies with Maine DOT: Councillor Johnston presented the item. The Traffic Safety Committee on March 19, 2026, recommended a three-step process: committee review, council authorization, and Public Works submission. The committee voted unanimously to approve the process. The council was asked to authorize speed studies for: Jenkins Road (Route 112 from Foss Road to Jenkins Road) and Route 1 (from Elm Street to Ross Road). Councillor Johnston expressed support, noting long-standing speeding issues, particularly near Socal Middle School and on Jenkins Road, and a discrepancy on Route 1 between state-authorized speed and posted speed. The motion passed 7-0.
- Request for Utility Easement (Map 97 Lot 2-1 off Buxton Road): Deputy Administrator Prescott and Deputy Assessor McCarthy presented. The request came through the assessing department in fall 2025. The city owns a right-of-way on the parcel, but it does not include utility rights. City staff (public works, parks, wastewater, Mainewater) determined that hooking up to water is required due to proximity to the old landfill and transfer station; water stub already exists. The easement would allow installation of 2-3 telephone poles for power and delineation of the pond boundary. No cost to the city, but insurance requirements for the requestor will be in the drafted easement. Councillor Johnston asked about impact on future use—Deputy Administrator Prescott confirmed Parks and Rec Director Ryan Summers indicated the right-of-way could still be used for future access to Foss Road recreational complex. The item will return for final approval with drafted documentation. Councillor Edwards agreed to serve as council resource.
- Charter Amendments: City Administrator Pelletier explained the process and deadlines. The deadline for the last vote on proposed charter amendments is August 17, 2026, to meet ballot requirements. He asked councilors to submit any proposals by the first meeting in July (July 6) for review and potential second reading and final vote in August. Councillor Johnston asked for the timeline, and Administrator Pelletier confirmed July 6 deadline.
- Administrative Updates: City Administrator Pelletier announced: Election day (state primary and school budget referendum) on June 9, polls open 7 AM to 8 PM at Thornton Academy Lynnell Gymnasium; Maine DOT public comment period for Route 5/Spring Street intersection safety improvements (deadline June 17); SACO’s Communication Department won best newsletter award from GPCOG; Camp Ellis Harbor Fest on August 9, volunteer form available; upcoming council meetings on June 15 and July 6.
- Council Discussion: Councillor Hewitt congratulated Thornton Academy graduates, promoted the 2026 summer reading challenge at Dyer Library starting June 20, and announced the SACO Arts Festival on June 20 from 9 AM to 3 PM on Main Street.
Key Outcomes
- The minutes of June 1, 2026, were approved (6-0-1).
- The council authorized the Public Works Director to submit speed study requests to Maine DOT for Jenkins Road, Route 112 (Foss Road to Jenkins Road), and Route 1 (Elm Street to Ross Road) (7-0).
- The council discussed and moved forward with the utility easement request; final documentation will be brought to a future meeting.
- The council was informed of the charter amendment process and timeline.
- The meeting adjourned at 6:59 PM (7-0).
Meeting Transcript
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.
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