Votes at a glance: Gardiner council approves land-use changes, fireworks code, licenses and other routine items

The Gardiner City Council approved a slate of motions on Feb. 12, 2025. Actions included second-reading approvals of land-use changes, adoption of revisions required by state legislative LD 2003, updates to the city fireworks code, a victualer's license renewal, acceptance of park recommendations, approval of a boundary-line agreement and funding to remove contaminated soil from the former T.W. Brownfield site, letters of support for two state and federal projects, and the confirmation of a wastewater superintendent appointment. All recorded votes were unanimous.

Key approved motions recorded at the meeting:

- Land use ordinance, section 6.5.4 (bonding roads). Motion to approve changes; motion by Tim Cusick; second by Rusty Greenleaf. Vote: unanimous.

- Off-site cannabis sales, land use ordinance section 10.29.9. Motion to approve changes; mover: Tim Cusick; second: Debbie Kimball. Vote: unanimous.

- Adoption of LD 2003 changes, land use ordinance sections 10.23.0.5 and 11.4.0.5. Motion to approve; mover: Gay Grant; second: Veronica Babcock. Vote: unanimous.

- City code chapter 13.8 (fireworks) changes. Motion to approve; mover: Rusty Greenleaf; second: Gay Grant. Vote: unanimous.

- Victualer's license renewal for Gerard's Pizza. Motion to approve; mover: Tim Cusick; second: Rusty Greenleaf. Vote: unanimous.

- Acceptance of Parks Committee recommendation (Dearborn Park ash trees removal). Motion to accept; mover: Gay Grant; second: Mark Cohn. Vote: unanimous. (See separate coverage of the parks decision.)

- Approval for City Manager to sign a boundary line agreement for 1 Summer Street. Motion to approve; mover: Gay Grant; second: Veronica Babcock. Vote: unanimous.

- Authorization to spend $105,000 to remove soil from the T.W. *** Brownfield property and haul to the Augusta landfill, paid by $90,000 from lot-sale proceeds and $15,000 from the tax-acquired property special revenue fund. Motion by Tim Cusick; second: Mark Cohn. Vote: unanimous. (Developer to pay transport costs.)

- Letter of support: City Manager to submit a letter supporting the recommendations of the Lower Road Rail Use Advisory Council (rail-to-trail interim trail). Motion by Rusty Greenleaf; second: Veronica Babcock. Vote: unanimous.

- Letter of support: City Manager to submit a letter supporting MaineDOT's request for congressionally directed spending for the downtown sidewalk project. Motion by Gay Grant; second: Debbie Kimball. Vote: unanimous.

- Confirmation of appointment: Steven Avioli as wastewater superintendent. Motion to confirm; mover: Gay Grant; second: Rusty Greenleaf. Vote: unanimous.

- Delegation of authority to the City Manager (annual delegation) — council approved previously and signed the form at this meeting.

- Dedication of the annual report to Councilor Terry Berry. Motion by Tim Cusick; second: Rusty Greenleaf. Vote: unanimous.

- Appointment of Matthew Cusick to the budget committee. Motion by Veronica Babcock; second: Debbie Kimball. Vote: unanimous.

- Approval of council minutes (Jan. 8, 2025) with one correction noted (Councilor Cohen abstained on the city manager contract vote). Motion by Veronica Babcock; second: Rusty Greenleaf. Vote: unanimous with correction noted.

Why it matters: The votes finalize procedural and regulatory updates (land use, fireworks), advance city projects (parks, boundary and brownfield remediation), and confirm staffing and administrative actions. Several items include follow-up implementation steps and budgeting actions described by staff during the meeting.

Provenance (selected): each listed item was proposed and adopted during the Feb. 12 council meeting; see the transcript segments below for the first and last references related to the primary group of votes.