AI data center, airport hangars top lively city council meeting

The May 13 meeting of the Eastport City Council was a lively and sometimes contentious affair, with a capacity crowd and an agenda featuring a couple of controversial topics – the proposed underwater AI data center and the eviction notices sent to airport hangar owners.

The tone was set at the beginning of the public open forum when City Manager Brian Schuth offered an apology for "leaving the [April] meeting angrily." While he stated that he welcomes public comments, he also expressed concern "with a public forum that turns into 'ask the city manager.'" He said he was leaving the meeting during the public open forum, but if there were questions people were welcome to come to city hall to speak with him.

The main topic addressed in the public forum was, as expected, the proposed AI data center in Western Passage, which drew five speakers. After two of them spoke, council President Billy Boone noted that those speaking must make new points about the project, as the council did not "need to hear everything over and over." Someone from the audience claimed that this was unconstitutional.

Birdy Velveteen noted that the requested moratorium on the AI data center is not from Diversity Downeast as noted on the agenda but is a community effort by local residents. She asked the council to enact an ordinance that would prohibit undersea construction, as the council is the governing body responsible for regulating the undersea area around Eastport up to three miles offshore. She also stated, "No matter how this happens tonight, we have a lot of avenues. I believe in us. I think people power wins the day."

Deborah Gillespie stated that the moratorium is needed and that Western Passage is "critical for our fishermen and the business owners and the viability of this city." She presented the council with an emergency ordinance she had prepared that she said is aligned with state law and the city charter. She said that a proactive approach is needed and that this cannot be put on the back burner.

The council was also presented with a copy of a letter written by county commission Chair David Burns on behalf of the Washington County commissioners, who oppose the AI data center project, which they felt would be "too risky for this region and its waters and the people of Washington County who live and work here."

Later in the meeting, when the council took up the question of enacting a moratorium, someone from the audience alleged that the city manager had said there would be no vote on a moratorium. Councillor Rhonda Stevens stated that, while she understood the concerns were not unjustified, it might be premature to enact a moratorium at this time. She suggested the council write the developer a letter similar to the county commissioners' stating their disapproval of the project, which the four councillors present voted unanimously to do.

Airport hangar leases debated

Another controversy concerned the recent letters sent to six airport hangar lessees who were told they were not in compliance and had 30 days to remove their hangars and restore the land to the original condition, with a deadline of 30 or 60 days.

Former airport manager Steve Trieber noted that the lessees did want to pay their leases but they had not gotten notices and no one knew how much they owed the city. He said he talked to the airport advisory committee and they did not know about the letter. He asked that the city rescind the letter, let the lessees know what they owed and issue them the same 20‑year lease as newer lessees received.

Boone noted that no one wants to see the tenants leave and that they should have come to the airport committee meeting to express their concerns. He said he was unaware of the "breakdown" on this matter at city hall and that everyone needed to work together.

Schuth apologized on behalf of the city for the clumsiness of handling this. He noted the frequent turnover in city managers and that he has not been in the job long enough to run everything efficiently. Also, no written process exists for dealing with the airport. He further stated, "If you are one of the five leaseholders on the six hangars, all you need to do is talk to me to negotiate what happens next. If you choose not to negotiate with me, those dates are the boundaries I've set." He added, "So long as we're in negotiation, the dates" for removal of hangars are not in effect.

As further disagreement seemed imminent, Boone proposed a 15‑minute recess, then "it's up to the public. We can conduct the meeting or adjourn the meeting. Let's try to communicate and work things through."

Trieber and Schuth continued to talk, and after the recess Schuth stated that he now understood the issue and thinks the lessees and the city can come to an agreement. They will negotiate but not during the public forum.

Archery season expanded

Walt Cummings and Chris Bartlett, respectively chair and secretary of the deer committee, reported on the recent survey concerning deer in the city. A total of 257 responses were received, with 65% opposed to allowing people to feed the deer and 60% saying the population of deer had increased too much. Of those who responded, 48% supported bow hunting, 40% opposed hunting and 12% were undecided but might support it. Cummings noted that any other control practices are costly.

The deer committee unanimously recommended that the archery season be expanded to September 12 through December 12, essentially adding a month on either side of the current season. Only bow and arrow or crossbows can be used, and hunters must take a course and show proficiency. The council voted unanimously to expand the season with those requirements.

Other business

In more routine business, the council renewed liquor licenses for Seaview Events, the Eastport Arts Center, Phoenix Fine Wines and Look Lobster. Look's victualer's license was also renewed. The council unanimously denied a "temporary extension of premises" license application from Ye Ole Hookers for June 1 to October 31, due to uncertainly about the exact extension on Water and Sullivan streets.

Rita Harman was appointed as city treasurer and Tahirih Aaronsohn was appointed as deputy clerk, deputy tax collector and deputy registrar.

A total of $4,500 was transferred from the capital account for the purchase of a 2017 Ford Explorer for the animal control officer, with councillor David Morang voting against. Bids from V.L. Tammaro were accepted for heating oil at $3.509/gallon and the same for general assistance, and propane at $1.45/gallon and $1.55 for general assistance. Heating oil was $2.679/gallon for FY 2026.

Public hearings were scheduled for the next council meeting on Wednesday, June 17, on the FY 2027 municipal budget and on a new victualer's license application for William Skinner's pizza food trailer. At 5 p.m., a public hearing will be held on the street vendor ordinance.

The council voted unanimously to support a nomination for Maine Preservation's Most Endangered Historic Places listing for the Hillside Cemetery tombs. This is a way to draw attention and may lead to the receipt of grants for restoring the tombs.