Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Council Votes Summary topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Votes at a glance: council approves land purchase, VPI contract, commission appointments and license renewals
Summary
The Ellsworth City Council approved a package of routine and project items on March 18, including a 279.1‑acre land purchase for public forest expansion, a planning contract under the MaineDOT Village Partnership Initiative and several commission appointments and license renewals.
The Ellsworth City Council approved a slate of items by single motions or on the consent agenda during its March 18 meeting. Key approvals included a public‑forest land purchase, contracts and appointments intended to advance planning and community programs.
Land purchase: The council authorized the city manager to sign closing documents to finalize the purchase of 279.1 acres for the Branch Lake Public Forest expansion at a purchase price of $185,000 to be paid from the city’s Land for Maine’s Future fund and the Land and Water Conservation Fund grants. Staff said the target closing date is March 31.
Village Partnership Initiative (VPI): The council authorized the city to enter a VPI planning agreement with MaineDOT and Sewall (the selected consultant) and approved an additional $9,409 from surplus TIF funds to cover Sewall’s final proposed scope and cost. MaineDOT staff described a multi‑phase process that could take two years for feasibility and planning, plus several more years for preliminary engineering and construction depending on funding.
Appointments and commissions: The council populated the city’s (previously inactive) Cemetery Commission by appointing Dottie Vashon, Tiffany Tate and Albert Scott. Councilors cited applicant experience with local gravestone documentation, funeral‑services background and veterans’ services as reasons for the appointments.
Harbor commission membership rule: Council amended Chapter 3 of the City Code to change the harbor commission residency requirement so that a majority of members must be Ellsworth residents rather than requiring all members to be residents; the change aligns harbor commission membership rules with other commissions.
Business licensing: The council approved the renewal of numerous liquor and lodging licenses advertised for public hearing (listings include restaurants, inns and retail establishments) and separately approved a new city liquor license for Smokey Beer Tobacco and Beverage, a convenience store at 139 High Street.
Other property and administrative actions: The council approved a request from the Ellsworth Business Development Corporation to eliminate the city’s interest in a 100‑foot right of way in Commerce Park so the corporation may proceed with sale of an adjacent parcel. The council also accepted a contract ratification item and several consent‑agenda actions (special election date, Arbor Commission appointment).
