Eastport meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Eastport boards weigh data center moratorium, airport grants, window build funding

Eastport's boards and committees met over the past week to take up a range of items, from a proposed moratorium on data centers to federal grants for airport snow equipment. None of the meetings have published minutes yet, so all actions remain pending until official records are released.

City Council

The City Council met Aug. 12 and had several items on its agenda. Councilors held public hearings on liquor license amendments and renewals, and considered a temporary moratorium on data centers and associated infrastructure. In new business, the council was set to consider accepting two Federal Aviation Administration grants totaling $335,062 for airport snow removal equipment — $185,062 and $150,000. Also on the agenda were a $10,000 Community Impact Grant and a $5,000 Versant Power grant, both for the Eastport Community Window Dressers Build. The council also planned to vote on appointments, the purchase of a used police cruiser from Fort Fairfield, and a contract adjustment for a sidewalk project.

Planning Board

The Planning Board met Aug. 10 to discuss two voter-proposed ordinances concerning data centers and an amendment to shoreland zoning. The board was also set to set a time and place for a public hearing on those proposals. The agenda included a report from the Code Enforcement Officer and an open forum.

Airport Advisory Committee

The Airport Advisory Committee held a special session Aug. 11 to discuss and potentially vote on a recommendation regarding ground lease renewal terms. The committee heard input from Mr. Trieber, representing interested parties, and from community members. If appropriate, the committee was to vote on a recommendation to the City Manager.

Energy Committee

The Energy Committee met Aug. 12 to plan the WindowDresser build, pending City Council acceptance of $10,000 from Island Institute and $5,000 from Versant. The committee considered subcommittee recommendations including establishing the number of windows, rehiring Meg Stark as measurer and build coordinator, scheduling the build for the first week of November at the tribal office gym (pending Passamaquoddy tribe approval), limiting grant-funded inserts to 10 per household, and soliciting applicants from those with energy audits. The committee also accepted the resignation of Secretary Victoria Ganz and planned to elect a new secretary. Minutes from June 10, 2026, were reviewed.

School Committee

The School Committee met Aug. 13 to review and potentially adopt school policies, including first readings of policy DN (School Properties Disposition) and new policies DID (Inventories) and DJA (Purchasing Authority). The committee was set to award bids for bus and van repair, heating fuel/propane, plowing/sanding/shoveling, and trash removal. Facilities and heat pumps were discussed, and the committee entered executive session for union negotiations.

Coming up

No upcoming meetings are listed for the next 14 days. Residents should check the city's official channels for any newly scheduled meetings or updated agendas.

Eastport meetings: Council to weigh sewer rate hike, data center ban; airport panel eyes ramp fee

Eastport's advisory and governing bodies met earlier this month to take up items ranging from a proposed 3.3% sewer rate increase to a possible ban on large-scale data centers. Because minutes have not yet been published for any of the meetings below, the items reflect what was on each agenda — not confirmed outcomes. Readers should treat figures and proposals as pending until official minutes are available.

City Council — July 8

The City Council agenda listed several consequential items for Eastport residents, including:

• A proposed **3.3% sewer rate increase**.
• A proposed ordinance **prohibiting large-scale data centers**.
• A proposed ordinance that would **require voter approval for commercial and industrial developments**.
• Consideration of a **cannabis caregiver retail store at 9 Dana Street**.
• A **transfer of FY2026 boat excise tax to the Harbor Account**.
• Changes to bank signatories.
• An informational update on cruise ship matters.
• Old business including a memorial bench request and street vendor ordinance discussion.

The agenda indicates public hearings were to be scheduled on the two proposed ordinances. No vote tallies or final actions are available, as minutes have not been published.

Airport Advisory Committee — July 7

The committee's agenda called for discussion and votes on:

• An **overnight ramp fee**.
• **Land lease renewals**.

Members were also set to receive updates on fuel sales and inventory, facility conditions, deferred work and inspections, budget status, and the 2026 SRE project and past project close-out. Committee membership status and a community event report were also listed.

Recycling & Solid Waste Committee — July 13

The committee agenda included review and approval of minutes from June 24, 2026, plus:

• An update on city funds.
• Completing the **Veolia Light Recycling Program** for bulb collection.
• Planning an **electronic waste event** in partnership with **North Coast Services**.
• Status and a completion date for a **ramp for the container**.
• Volunteer coordination, business pickup updates, and information for the recycling center website.

Digital Equity Committee — July 13

This committee was scheduled to approve minutes from June 29 and discuss descriptions and scheduling for upcoming AI workshops.

Coming up

No upcoming meetings are listed for the next 14 days. Residents who want to confirm what was decided at the July sessions should watch for published minutes from the City Council, Airport Advisory Committee, Recycling & Solid Waste Committee, and Digital Equity Committee.

Eastport Council Tackled Sewer Rates, Data Center Ban, and Cannabis Store on July 8 Agenda

Eastport's City Council, Airport Advisory Committee, and Digital Equity Committee all held meetings in the past two weeks, but minutes have not yet been published for any of them. What follows is based on the published agendas only — residents should watch for official minutes to confirm what was ultimately decided.

City Council — July 8

The City Council's July 8 agenda included several items with direct financial and land-use implications for residents:

• **Sewer rate increase of 3.3%** — listed under new business.
• **Cannabis caregiver retail store approval at 9 Dana Street** — also under new business.
• **Transfer of FY2026 boat excise tax to Harbor Account** — another new business item.
• **Proposed ordinance prohibiting large-scale data centers** — scheduled for a public hearing.
• **Proposed ordinance requiring voter approval for commercial and industrial developments** — also scheduled for a public hearing.

The agenda also listed an informational update on cruise ship matters, a memorial bench request, and a street vendor ordinance discussion under old business, plus changes to bank signatories.

Because minutes are not yet available, it is not confirmed which of these items passed, what the vote tallies were, or whether any were tabled or postponed.

Airport Advisory Committee — July 7

The Airport Advisory Committee's July 7 agenda called for votes on two items:

• **Overnight ramp fee** — discussion and vote.
• **Land lease renewals** — discussion and vote.

The committee was also scheduled to receive updates on fuel sales and inventory, the status of catch-up work for deferred inspections and documentation, the 2026 SRE project, and past project close-out. Committee membership status and a community event report rounded out the agenda.

Minutes have not been published, so the outcome of the ramp fee and lease renewal votes is not yet confirmed.

Digital Equity Committee — June 29

The Digital Equity Committee met June 29 to review the status of the Shead laptop program and discuss future programming. The agenda described the meeting as primarily informational, with no formal votes scheduled. Other business was also listed.

Minutes from this meeting are not yet published.

Coming Up

• **Digital Equity Committee — Monday, July 13 (today):** The committee will approve minutes from the June 29 meeting and discuss descriptions and scheduling for upcoming AI workshops. Residents interested in digital access programs may want to attend.

No other public meetings are listed on the town's published agendas for the next 14 days. Residents should check the city's official postings for any additions or schedule changes.

Eastport roundup: Recent meeting outcomes unconfirmed; council to weigh sewer hike, data center ban July 8

Eastport residents have several consequential items heading to the City Council on July 8, including a proposed 3.3% sewer rate increase and a proposed ordinance prohibiting large-scale data centers. Meanwhile, official minutes from three late-June meetings have not yet been published, so outcomes from those sessions cannot be confirmed.

Recent meetings: agendas only, no confirmed votes

The Recycling & Solid Waste Committee met June 24 with plans to review May 14 minutes, hear an update on city funds balance, discuss a ramp quote for the recycling center (amount unspecified in the agenda), finalize a light recycling program with Veolia, and set a date for an electronic waste collection event with North Coast Services. Because minutes are not yet published, no decisions are confirmed.

The City Council held a special meeting June 26 to consider appointing Brian Schuth as BMV Agent and Sarah Mutter as Deputy Registrar of Voters. The agenda lists these as appointment items, but without published minutes, the outcomes are not confirmed.

The Digital Equity Committee met June 29 to review the status of the Shead laptop program, discuss future programming, and handle other business. The agenda described the meeting as primarily informational with no formal votes scheduled.

Coming up: Airport Advisory Committee — July 7

The Airport Advisory Committee will hold a public meeting July 7 with two items scheduled for discussion and vote: an overnight ramp fee and land lease renewals. The committee will also receive updates on fuel sales and inventory, the status of catch-up work for deferred inspections and documentation, the 2026 SRE project, and past project close-out. Committee membership status and a community event report are also listed.

Coming up: City Council — July 8

The July 8 City Council meeting carries the heaviest agenda of the week. Items include:

• A proposed ordinance prohibiting large-scale data centers, scheduled for a public hearing.
• A proposed ordinance requiring voter approval for commercial and industrial developments, also scheduled for a public hearing.
• A sewer rate increase of 3.3%.
• Approval of a cannabis caregiver retail store at 9 Dana Street.
• Transfer of FY2026 boat excise tax to the Harbor Account.
• Changes to bank signatories.
• Old business including a memorial bench request and street vendor ordinance discussion.
• An informational update on cruise ship matters.

No dollar figures beyond the 3.3% rate increase are specified in the agenda. Vote tallies will be available once minutes are published.

Coming up: Digital Equity Committee — July 13

The Digital Equity Committee meets July 13 to approve minutes from June 29, discuss descriptions for AI workshops, and schedule upcoming AI workshops.

Note on sourcing

All recent meeting details above are drawn from published agendas only. Minutes confirming what was actually decided, including any vote tallies, were not available as of this report. Readers seeking confirmed outcomes should watch for posted minutes from the City of Eastport.

No decisions reported from recent meetings; council to consider sewer rate hike, cannabis store, data center ban

Recent Eastport city meetings yielded no publishable votes, while the July 8 City Council session will take up a slate of consequential items including a proposed 3.3% sewer rate increase, a cannabis retail store, and an ordinance that would ban large-scale data centers.

Recent meetings

Recycling & Solid Waste Committee (June 24)

The committee convened to plan an electronic waste collection event with North Coast Services and finalize a light recycling program with Veolia, according to its agenda. Members also reviewed minutes, heard updates on volunteer hours and recycling center operations, and discussed a ramp quote for a recycling center container. No final actions were documented as minutes were not yet published.

City Council special meeting (June 26)

The council met in special session to consider the appointments of Brian Schuth as a BMV Agent and Sarah Mutter as Deputy Registrar of Voters. The agenda listed only those two items, and meeting minutes were not available at the time of writing.

Digital Equity Committee (June 29)

Committee members received an update on the Shead laptop program and discussed future programming, per the meeting agenda. No formal votes were scheduled.

Upcoming meetings

City Council (July 8)

The council’s next regular meeting includes several high-profile items for discussion and possible action:

• A proposed 3.3% sewer rate increase.
• Approval of a cannabis caregiver retail store at 9 Dana Street.
• A proposed ordinance prohibiting large-scale data centers.
• A proposed ordinance requiring voter approval for commercial and industrial developments.
• A transfer of FY2026 boat excise tax to the Harbor Account.
• Old business on a memorial bench request and a street vendor ordinance.
• An informational update on cruise ship matters.

The council will also schedule public hearings for the two proposed ordinances.

Digital Equity Committee (July 13)

The committee is expected to approve minutes from its June 29 meeting and plan upcoming AI workshops, including setting descriptions and scheduling dates.

Coming up

The July 8 City Council meeting and July 13 Digital Equity Committee meeting are open to the public. Agendas are posted on the city website. All times and locations are available at eastportme.gov.