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Eastport council elects Boone president, Stevens vice chair and approves licenses, appointments
Summary
At its Jan. 14 meeting the Eastport City Council elected William Boone council president and Rhonda Stevens vice chair, approved two liquor licenses, appointed auditors and counsel, set depository banks and made multiple committee appointments. The council also scheduled an Old Sow liquor hearing for Feb. 11.
Council President William Boone was chosen by the Eastport City Council as council president for 2026 after Councilor Colleen Dana-Cummings moved his nomination and Councilor Rhonda Stevens seconded the motion; the vote was recorded as passed 4-0. Councilor David Morang nominated Rhonda Stevens as vice chair; the council recorded that motion as passed 4-0.
The council front-loaded several routine organizational items. Councilor Rhonda Stevens moved and Councilor A. J. Seeley seconded a motion authorizing all council members to sign warrants and to designate The First and Bangor Savings as depository banks for city funds; both motions passed 5-0. The council accepted staff appointments for 2026 as presented, amended to add Administrative Assistant Sarah Mutter as Deputy Treasurer, and appointed RHR Smith as auditor. The council also accepted Rudman Winchell as city solicitor and retained Dennis Mahar as legal counsel; those actions passed unanimously.
Licenses and event approvals featured on the agenda. The council approved the renewal of MA Trott, LLC d/b/a Happy Crab (35 Water St.) and granted a new liquor license to Jeffery Gauthier d/b/a Blackbeards (171 Water St.); both licensing motions were moved by Councilor Colleen Dana-Cummings, seconded by Councilor David Morang and recorded as passed 5-0. The council also approved Airport Community Day for June 20, 2026, and approved a vessel liquor license renewal for Compagnie DuPonant, SASU for October dates to be determined.
The council confirmed multiple board and committee appointments, reappointing members to the Harbor Committee, Historic Review Board, Planning Board, Recycling Committee, Zoning Board of Appeals and Shellfish Committee. The council appointed Jenie Smith and Rachel Williams to three-year terms on the Budget Committee and appointed Heron Westin to a two-year term; the council recorded acceptance of Don Bailey's resignation from the Budget Committee.
Votes at a glance: - Appoint William Boone as Council President: motion (Dana-Cummings), second (Stevens), passed 4-0. - Appoint Rhonda Stevens as Vice Chair: motion (Morang), second (Dana-Cummings), passed 4-0. - Authorize all council members to sign warrants: passed 5-0. - Establish The First & Bangor Savings as depository banks: passed 5-0. - Approve Happy Crab liquor license renewal: passed 5-0. - Approve Blackbeards new liquor license: passed 5-0. - Appoint RHR Smith as auditor and accept Rudman Winchell as city solicitor (retain Dennis Mahar): passed 5-0. - Approve Airport Community Day (June 20, 2026): passed 5-0. - Approve vessel liquor license renewal for Compagnie DuPonant, SASU: passed 5-0. - Appoint election clerks: passed 4-0 (Councilor David Morang abstained).
Why it matters: Organizational votes set the city’s leadership, legal and financial vendors and committee liaisons for the year, which shapes administrative continuity and who represents the city on interagency and community boards. Liquor licenses and event approvals affect local businesses and seasonal tourism planning.
The council scheduled a public hearing for Old Sow’s liquor license renewal on Feb. 11, 2026, and tabled a proposed liquor license application policy and a proposed HR policy to February for further consideration. The meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m.
