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Votes at a glance: Portland City Council actions on Jan. 6, 2025
Summary
Council approved a mix of appointments, appropriations, intermunicipal agreements and rule changes, including a $3.6 million grant for the Fish Pier storm drain project, rent board rules amendments, an RFP for Brighton Ave sites and a motion denying a poverty tax abatement application.
At its Jan. 6 meeting the Portland City Council approved multiple orders and motions. Below are the salient actions, outcomes and key details recorded during the meeting.
Key votes
- Order 1202425 — Appointment of Ronnie Wilson to the Portland Public Art Committee. Moved by Councilor Fournier, seconded by Councilor McNevett; roll‑call approved (unanimous).
- Order 1132425 — Municipal officers approval for a Class XI restaurant/lounge at 441 Congress Street (supper club). Moved by Councilor Fournier; roll‑call approved (unanimous).
- Order 1142425 — Municipal officers approval for a Class I food service with outdoor dining at 703 Congress Street (Hot Salve). Moved by Councilor Fournier; roll‑call approved (unanimous).
- Order 1082425 — Amendments to the rules of the Rent Board (public disclosure of application materials and a completeness check process). The Rent Board chair explained the rule would make application documents public and add a completeness check for applicants; an amendment to add a completeness check was moved by Councilor McNevett and adopted. The order as amended was then approved by roll call (unanimous).
- Order 1092425 — Accepting and appropriating a $3,600,000 Maine Infrastructure Adaptation Grant for the Commercial Street / Portland Fish Pier storm drain outfall project. City staff described separation of stormwater, new tide flexes to prevent tide inflow, and expected construction impacts on Commercial Street. Moved by Councilor Bullock, seconded by Councilor Fournier; roll‑call approved (unanimous).
- Order 1152425 — Approving an intermunicipal agreement with the City of Westbrook for Nason Brook watershed work to satisfy stormwater (MS4) permit requirements. Moved by Councilor McNevett, seconded by Councilor Fournier; roll‑call approved (unanimous).
- Order 1162425 — Publication of an RFP to develop up to two sites at 1111–1125 Brighton Ave (see separate article for full discussion). Moved by Councilor Fournier, seconded by Councilor Pelletier; roll‑call approved (unanimous).
- Order 1172425 — Agreement with the Portland Water District for a fire service line at Monjoy Hill Fire Station; approved by roll call (unanimous).
- Order 1182425 — Acceptance and appropriation of a $62,610 U.S. Department of Justice Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant for police equipment and small capital purchases. The council waived second reading and passed the appropriation as an emergency to meet timing constraints. Chief DuBois described planned purchases including laptops and an all‑terrain vehicle used for events and trail response. Motion to waive second reading moved and adopted; appropriation passed by roll call (unanimous).
- Minutes: The council approved the minutes of the Dec. 16, 2024 meeting by roll call.
Executive session outcome
Following an executive session under MRSA Section 405(6)(E) and 36 MRSA Section 841 concerning a poverty tax abatement case, corporation counsel proposed a motion to deny the application “based on consideration of the applicant’s income, expenses and assets and our finding that the applicant has the ability to pay the property taxes due on their primary residence.” A motion to adopt that language (with a friendly amendment authorizing corporation counsel to send the decision letter to the applicant) was moved and seconded and carried by roll call. The council directed corporation counsel to send correspondence to the applicant.
Notes: All roll calls recorded in the transcript show unanimous yes votes from Councilor Fournier, Councilor Grant, Councilor Pelletier, Councilor McNevett, Councilor Bullock, Councilor Phillips and Mayor Dion unless otherwise noted. If the record here omits an individual clerk annotation, the formal minutes should be consulted for member‑level attendance and any absences.
