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Westbrook City Council approves series of first-reading orders, schedules Millbrook Estates hearings for July 6
Summary
At a June 15 special meeting, the Westbrook City Council approved a slate of first-reading orders including grant acceptance, fleet and equipment purchases, and two Millbrook Estates affordable housing items that will require public hearings July 6; minutes record one inconsistency on a tennis-court vote.
Westbrook — The Westbrook City Council on June 15 held a special meeting at Westbrook High School and approved multiple first-readings of orders that authorize grant acceptance, equipment purchases, contracts and two related affordable-housing actions that were set for public hearings on July 6, 2026.
Councilors moved and carried motions by show of hands on Orders 2026-67 through 2026-77. The measures approved in the first-reading stage included acceptance of a Bulletproof Vest Partnership grant (Order 2026-67); Recreation and Conservation Commission expenditures for the Beaver Pond Beautification Project (Order 2026-68); amendments to public safety health and wellness screening expenditures (Order 2026-69); purchases of two zero-turn mowers (Order 2026-70), three one-ton trucks with upfits (Order 2026-71), and a single-axle plow truck (Order 2026-72); the FY 2027 animal shelter contract with the Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland (Order 2026-73); expenditure for tennis court repairs (Order 2026-74); the FY 2026–2027 General Fund and Sewer Fund annual vendor lists (Order 2026-75); and two Millbrook Estates items (Orders 2026-76 and 2026-77), both of which require public hearings on July 6.
Votes at a glance (as recorded in the minutes):
- Order 2026-67 (Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant): moved by Councilor Victor Chau, seconded by Councilor Gary Rairdon; motion carried by show of hands; minutes state none opposed.
- Order 2026-68 (Beaver Pond Beautification Project): moved by Councilor Amy Faulkingham, seconded by Councilor Gary Rairdon; multiple speakers commented; motion carried by show of hands; minutes state none opposed.
- Order 2026-69 (Public Safety Health & Wellness Screenings): moved by Councilor Brian McCambridge, seconded by Councilor Gary Rairdon; motion carried by show of hands; minutes state none opposed.
- Order 2026-70 (Two replacement zero-turn mowers): moved by Councilor Gary Rairdon, seconded by Councilor Victor Chau; motion carried by show of hands; minutes state none opposed.
- Order 2026-71 (Three replacement one-ton trucks): moved by Councilor Gary Rairdon, seconded by Councilor Victor Chau; motion carried by show of hands; minutes state none opposed.
- Order 2026-72 (Replacement single-axle plow truck): moved by Councilor Victor Chau, seconded by Councilor Gary Rairdon; motion carried by show of hands; minutes state none opposed.
- Order 2026-73 (FY27 Animal Shelter Contract with the Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland): moved by Councilor Gary Rairdon, seconded by Councilor Victor Chau; Vice President Michael Shaughnessy commented; motion carried by show of hands; minutes state none opposed.
- Order 2026-74 (Tennis court repairs): moved by Councilor Brian McCambridge, seconded by Councilor Amy Faulkingham; Councilor Turcotte, City Administrator Angela Holmes, Councilor Rairdon, Councilor Chau and Mayor Morse spoke. The minutes record that the motion "carried by a show of hands" and say "None opposed," but elsewhere in the same line the minutes also note "Rairdon opposed." The minutes are internally inconsistent on whether Councilor Gary Rairdon opposed this vote; this article reflects the minutes’ discrepancy rather than resolving it.
- Order 2026-75 (FY 2026–2027 General Fund & Sewer Fund annual vendor lists): moved by Councilor Victor Chau, seconded by Councilor Brian McCambridge; the minutes state City Council President Jennifer Munro opened the floor for comments though the roll call earlier records President Munro as absent; several speakers commented; motion carried by show of hands; minutes state none opposed. The minutes therefore contain an inconsistency about who presided for that portion of the meeting.
- Order 2026-76 (Amend Millbrook Estates Affordable Housing Development District Program No. 20): moved by Councilor Victor Chau, seconded by Councilor Brian McCambridge; multiple officials and members of the public spoke (including City Administrator Angela Holmes; Tyler Norod of the Westbrook Development Corporation; resident Beth Paulson-Olmstead; Marc Fournier via Zoom; Director of Economic Development Monique Cornett; and Director Rebecca Spitella). The minutes record the motion carried by show of hands and set a public hearing for July 6, 2026.
- Order 2026-77 (Millbrook Estates III program and credit enhancement agreement): moved by Councilor Victor Chau, seconded by Councilor Gary Rairdon; minutes record no public speakers on the motion and that it passed by show of hands; a public hearing is scheduled for July 6, 2026.
Council procedure and next steps: Several items approved were first readings (require a second reading or additional hearing where specified). The two Millbrook Estates items (Orders 2026-76 and 2026-77) were specifically scheduled for public hearings on July 6, 2026. The minutes also list a number of committee items that remain under committee consideration.
Minutes inconsistencies: The meeting record contains two internal inconsistencies the minutes do not resolve — (1) Order 2026-74 is simultaneously recorded as "none opposed" and also shows "Rairdon opposed," and (2) Order 2026-75’s comments are said to have been opened by President Jennifer Munro though the roll call records Munro as absent. The minutes do not explain these contradictions.
The Council adjourned at 8:45 p.m.
