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Record of Proceedings

Sacco City Council Meeting – October 5, 2026

City Council — Monday, October 5, 2026
BodySaco, Maine
SessionCity Council
DateMonday, October 5, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:48:47

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.

Unassigned speaker

0:22

Good

Speaker 1

0:22

evening, everyone, and welcome to the Socco City Council meeting for Monday, October 5th, 2026 at 6:30 p.m.

0:29

Would like to make note of all counselors present with the exception of Councillor Parks this evening, who has been excused, and we do have City Administrator Pelletier with us.

0:38

Would you please join me for the Pledge of Allegiance?

0:55

Thank you, everyone.

0:56

Moving on to item number four.

0:58

There is no general this evening.

1:00

Item number five, committee correspondence to council.

1:02

Are there any counselor members wishing to share?

1:08

Not seeing anyone.

1:09

Moving on to item six, that is public comment.

1:13

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 the council.

1:25

Not seeing any members of the public seeking recognition.

1:28

Moving on to item seven, that is the approval of the minutes.

1:31

Is there a motion to approve the minutes of September 14th, 2026?

Speaker 2

1:36

So moved.

Speaker 1

1:37

Motion made by Councilor Edwards.

1:39

Is there a second?

Speaker 3

1:40

Second.

Speaker 1

1:41

Second by Councillor Gale.

1:43

Any discussion or comment on the minutes?

Unassigned speaker

1:47

Okay,

Speaker 1

1:48

roll call vote.

1:49

Counselor Edwards?

1:50

Yes.

1:50

Counselor Gay?

1:51

Yes.

1:52

Counselor Onnan?

1:53

Yes.

1:53

Counselor Gale.

1:54

Yes.

1:54

Counselor Hewitt?

1:55

Yes.

1:56

Counselor Johnston.

1:56

Yes.

1:57

Motion passes 6-0.

1:59

Moving on to item eight under consent items.

2:02

We do have three items this evening.

2:04

Item A is the notice of election for the general and referendum election of November 3rd, 2026.

2:10

Item B is the confirmation of the mayor's appointments to the Lucia Kimball Deering Trust Board of Gene Saunders and Joseph Moorehead.

2:17

And item C is confirmation of the mayor's appointment to the planning board of Eric Bermeister.

2:22

Is there a motion or any items that you wish to move?

2:26

Councilor Johnston.

Speaker 4

2:28

Could we pull item B.

Unassigned speaker

2:33

Yep,

Speaker 1

2:33

we will pull item B, which is the confirmation of the mayor's appointment to the Lucia Kimball Deering.

2:38

That will become action item A.

2:41

Remaining two items, is there a motion to approve?

Speaker 2

2:46

So moved.

Speaker 1

2:47

Motion made by Councillor Edwards.

2:48

Is there a second?

2:49

Second.

2:50

Second by Councilor Hewitt.

2:53

Roll call vote.

2:54

Counselor Edwards?

2:55

Yes.

2:56

Counselor Gay?

2:56

Yes.

2:57

Counselor Onan?

2:58

Yes.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Parks and Recreation██████████████████████████████████████████42%
Procedural███████████████████████████27%
Historic Preservation████████8%
Public Hearing███████7%
Public Engagement█████5%
Public Safety███3%
Financial Capacity███3%
Election Procedures█1%
Transportation Safety█1%
Summary of Proceedings

Sacco City Council Meeting – October 5, 2026

The Sacco City Council met on Monday, October 5, 2026 at 6:30 PM with all members present except Councilor Parks (excused). The meeting included routine approvals, public hearings for entertainment permit renewals, and an extensive discussion on the Pepo Park redesign project, including three design alternatives and funding strategies. No public comments were made.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved the minutes of September 14, 2026 (6-0).
  • Approved consent items A (notice of election for November 3, 2026) and C (confirmation of Eric Bermeister to the Planning Board) with a 6-0 vote. Item B (confirmation of appointments to the Lucia Kimball Deering Trust Board) was pulled for separate action.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No members of the public spoke during the public comment period or during the public hearings for entertainment permits.

Discussion Items

  • Pepo Park Redesign: Director Ryan Summers and Todd Richardson presented three design options with cost estimates: Plan 1 ($6–9 million), Plan 2 ($4.5–7 million), and Plan 3 ($3.5–5 million). Plan 1, recommended by the park committee (6-1 vote), includes a larger pond, amphitheater, pavilion, two restrooms, a through road connecting School Street to Beach Street, and enhanced walking paths. Council discussed cemetery protection (with a request for ground‑penetrating radar over the entire burial area), funding sources (impact fees, LWCF grants, bonding, private donations), and operational costs. Councilor Hewitt expressed fiscal concerns given other capital projects. Director Summers noted that Plan 1 would likely require a bond, while Plans 2 and 3 could be funded through existing sources. A public survey will be conducted, and the item will return in approximately one month with more precise cost estimates for the Fairfield School demolition and further public input.

Key Outcomes

  • Appointments to Lucia Kimball Deering Trust Board: Confirmed Gene Saunders and Joseph Moorehead to six‑year terms expiring October 5, 2032 (6-0 vote).
  • Special Entertainment Permits:
    • Bitterford Sacco Lodge of Elks #1597 – renewal granted, concurrent with liquor license, expiring November 6, 2027 (6-0).
    • Island Brewing LLC dba Run of the Mill – renewal granted, concurrent with liquor license, expiring October 8, 2027 (6-0).
  • Executive Session: Entered at 7:54 PM for real estate discussion regarding 12 School Street (Title 1, §4056). Exited without further action.
  • Administrative Updates: City Administrator Pelletier announced paving on Gooch Street and Beach Street, closure of Cascade Falls parking lot on October 8, seasonal beach bathroom closures, and absentee ballot availability for the November election.
  • Next Steps: The Pepo Park redesign will return for a council vote in about one month. A public survey will be distributed, and the city will seek cost estimates for abatement and demolition of Fairfield School.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening, everyone, and welcome to the Socco City Council meeting for Monday, October 5th, 2026 at 6:30 p.m. Would like to make note of all counselors present with the exception of Councillor Parks this evening, who has been excused, and we do have City Administrator Pelletier with us. Would you please join me for the Pledge of Allegiance? Thank you, everyone. Moving on to item number four. There is no general this evening. Item number five, committee correspondence to council. Are there any counselor members wishing to share? Not seeing anyone. Moving on to item six, that is public comment. 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 the council. Not seeing any members of the public seeking recognition. Moving on to item seven, that is the approval of the minutes. Is there a motion to approve the minutes of September 14th, 2026? So moved. Motion made by Councilor Edwards. Is there a second? Second. Second by Councillor Gale. Any discussion or comment on the minutes? Okay, roll call vote. Counselor Edwards? Yes. Counselor Gay? Yes. Counselor Onnan? Yes. Counselor Gale. Yes. Counselor Hewitt? Yes. Counselor Johnston. Yes. Motion passes 6-0. Moving on to item eight under consent items. We do have three items this evening. Item A is the notice of election for the general and referendum election of November 3rd, 2026. Item B is the confirmation of the mayor's appointments to the Lucia Kimball Deering Trust Board of Gene Saunders and Joseph Moorehead. And item C is confirmation of the mayor's appointment to the planning board of Eric Bermeister. Is there a motion or any items that you wish to move? Councilor Johnston. Could we pull item B. Yep, we will pull item B, which is the confirmation of the mayor's appointment to the Lucia Kimball Deering. That will become action item A. Remaining two items, is there a motion to approve? So moved. Motion made by Councillor Edwards.

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