Brewer public meetings in 2024
13 substantive meetings from 2024, with official agendas or minutes and plain-English summaries.
City Council
The Brewer City Council is holding an emergency meeting with a single agenda item: convening in executive session to consult with legal counsel about City Council rights and duties. No other business is scheduled. The closed-door session is authorized under Maine law to discuss legal matters.
- Order 2024-A225: executive session with legal counsel under Title 1 M.R.S.A. §405(6)(E)
City Council
The Brewer City Council is holding a special meeting to receive a presentation from Jim Dunning, Market Area Manager of Casella Waste Systems, followed by discussion. No other business is on the agenda.
- Presentation by Casella Waste Systems representative Jim Dunning
- Discussion regarding Casella Waste Systems
Culture and Arts Committee
The Brewer Culture and Arts Committee will decide on adopting November meeting minutes, amending its bylaws to change city council reporting from monthly to bimonthly, and adopting the updated bylaws. They will also receive updates on the Wreaths Across America event, discuss the Tree Lighting Ceremony, and hear an update on the Riverwalk Festival. Public comments will be accepted.
- Adopt minutes from November 18 meeting
- Amend committee bylaws to report to city council bimonthly instead of monthly
- Adopt amended and updated bylaws
- Finalize volunteers for Wreaths Across America events on Dec 13-14
- Review and discuss Tree Lighting Ceremony/Holiday event
City Council
The City Council will vote on awarding a $250,000 contract to Hughes Bros. for road reconstruction, paving, and stormwater work on Pleasant Street, Central Avenue, and Glenwood Avenue. They will also consider waiving foreclosure on three mobile homes, approving fiber optic cabling contracts, extending landfill hours, and purchasing a dump truck/plow. Unfinished business includes amendments to the purchasing ordinance and land use code, and creation of a new ethics ordinance.
- Award $250,000 contract to Hughes Bros. for Pleasant Street Reconstruction Project including repaving Central Avenue and Glenwood Avenue and a plow turnaround
- Waive foreclosure on three mobile home properties (25 Black Bear Road, 7 White Tail Road, 6 Balsam Drive) with unpaid 2023 taxes on leased land
- Authorize contract with Hawkeye Fiber for installation of fiber optic cabling from Hayes Treatment Plant to pump station
- Unfinished business: amend Land Use Code (Sections 306, 307, 413) and create Chapter 53 Code of Ethics Ordinance
- Authorize extended Landfill hours for compost, brush, metals and non-freon containing appliances
City Council
The Brewer City Council will hold a special meeting to discuss the Fiscal Year 2026 budget and a recap of the 2024 National League of Cities City Summit. No votes or formal actions are scheduled; the agenda consists only of discussion items.
- Discussion of the Fiscal Year 2026 budget
- Discussion of the 2024 National League of Cities City Summit held November 13-16
Planning Board
The Planning Board will hold a public hearing and review proposed amendments to the City's Land Use Code, specifically adding a new section to Performance Standards and updating Definitions. The board will also consider an extension of site plan approval for a project on Wilson Street and review a site plan application for a parking lot expansion at 15 Dirigo Drive. Recommendations on the ordinance amendments will be forwarded to the City Council.
- Extension of site plan approval for Legacy CP Holdings at Wilson Street (Tax Map 13 Lot 20)
- Site plan review for parking lot expansion by Keeper Bay Real Estate at 15 Dirigo Drive (Tax Map 13 Lot 28D)
- Public hearing on proposed amendments to Chapter 24 (Land Use Code): adding Section 445 to Performance Standards and updating Article 14 (Definitions)
City Council
The City Council will hold a regular meeting and the 2024 Annual Meeting. The regular meeting includes a public hearing on changes to the Remote Participation Policy and a consent calendar with numerous orders and resolutions. Key new business items include the appointment of a city manager, creation of a Code of Ethics Ordinance, and amendments to the Land Use Code and Purchasing Ordinance. The annual meeting will swear in elected officials, elect a mayor and deputy mayor, and establish committee liaisons.
- Public hearing on changes to the City Council Remote Participation Policy
- Appointment of a new City Manager
- Adoption of a new Code of Ethics Ordinance (Chapter 53)
- Amendment to zoning districts (Chapter 24, Sections 306, 307, and 413)
- Authorization of payment to Hopkins Landscape and Paving for milling and paving on North Main Street
Culture and Arts Committee
The committee will meet to adopt previous meeting minutes and review committee bylaws. Members will provide updates on the Wreaths Across America event, the Tree Lighting Ceremony, and the Riverwalk Festival.
- Review of Committee Bylaws
- Update on Wreaths Across America event
- Update on Tree Lighting Ceremony/Holiday event
- Update on Riverwalk Festival
Planning Board
The Planning Board will hold a public hearing and review proposed amendments to the Brewer Land Use Code, specifically Articles 3 (Zoning Districts) and 4 (Performance Standards). The board will then make a recommendation to the City Council. Other agenda items include approval of October meeting minutes and designation of an associate member to vote if needed.
- Public hearing on amendments to Chapter 24 (Land Use Code) – Article 3 sections 306 and 307 (Zoning Districts) and Article 4 section 413 (Performance Standards)
- Review and recommendation to City Council on the proposed ordinance amendments
- Approval of minutes from October 7, 2024 meeting
- Possible designation of an associate board member to vote in place of an absent member
City Council
This special meeting includes an order to authorize the city's participation in a net energy billing tariff program for larger electrical accounts, potentially saving on over $700,000 in annual electricity costs. The council will also vote on a resolution confirming Christine Lamson as election warden for the November 5 election. Additionally, the council plans to convene in executive session to consult with legal counsel regarding council rights and duties.
- Order to authorize net energy billing tariff program for large commercial accounts (2024-A197)
- Resolution confirming Christine Lamson as election warden (2024-B045)
- Executive session to consult with legal counsel on council rights and duties (2024-A198)
- City spent over $700,000 on electricity in FY2024
- 20-year subscription agreement with nonappropriation clause
City Council
The Brewer City Council will hold a special meeting to vote on several consent calendar items, including a contract for pump station generator installation, a change of vendor for Capri Street Park improvements, and acceptance of a grant for the fire department. The council will also consider an ordinance to restrict parking on Vista Way to improve emergency vehicle access, and will enter executive session to consult with legal counsel.
- Authorize $34,790 contract with Hampden Electrical for generator installation at Water Department Pump Station
- Rescind prior order and approve up to $40,000 gravel purchase from Gardner Construction for Capri Street Park improvements
- Accept $11,970 grant from Gloria C. MacKenzie Foundation for Brewer Fire Department
- Amend Traffic Code to restrict parking on Vista Way (420–560 feet south of Wilson Street) for emergency access
- Convene executive session to consult with legal counsel on City Council rights and duties
City Council
The City Council will consider amending the Environmental Ordinance regarding sewer rates. The agenda also includes authorizing a flood prevention wall at the Brewer Cove pump station and a five-year contract for police cameras. Additionally, the council plans to recognize the Army National Guard for their work on the police shooting range.
- Construction of a flood prevention wall at Brewer Cove pump station
- Amendment to sewer rates in the Environmental Ordinance
- Five-year contract with Motorola Solutions for police cameras
- One-year extension of Frost Septic wastewater hauling contract
- Recognition of Army National Guard contributions exceeding $130,000
City Council
The City Council is considering the $19,802,281 City and School budget appropriation for Fiscal Year 2025. The meeting also includes a public discussion regarding proposed water rate increases and the approval of several department budgets.
- $19,802,281 City and School budget appropriation for FY 2025
- Proposed 3% increase in residential water rates
- Public hearing for Smokey’s BBQ liquor license at 500 South Main Street
- Ratification of Brewer Police Department collective bargaining contracts
- $4,462,811 budget for the Water Pollution Control Facility