At the Town Council Meeting on Monday, May 12, 2025, the council voted on the agenda items listed below.  All seven counselors attended the meeting.

Approval of Draft Minutes; Vote 7-0.
The following minutes were approved unanimously:

• April 14, 2025 – Regular Meeting
• April 28, 2025 - Special Meeting
• May 5, 2025 - Special Meeting

Item #61-2025 Consider Thomas Memorial Library Policy – Library of Things (LoT) Collection Development and Borrowing Policy; Vote 7-0.
Thomas Memorial Library Director Rachel Davis explained that the library is circulating a collection of non-traditional items designed to complement the library’s mission to connect people, information, and ideas, enrich lives, and foster community engagement.  The LoT aims to provide access to resources that community members may not otherwise have, promote experiential learning, reduce waste consumption, and encourage creativity. 

The concept is “increasingly popular” nationally, and the library wants to “have a policy in place before more items are added,” Davis said.

Item #62-2025 Fiscal Year 2026 Municipal General Fund Operating Budget Approval; Vote 7-0.
The Town Council, having held a public hearing on May 5, 2025, voted unanimously to adopt the Municipal General Fund Operating Budget for Fiscal Year 2026, in the amount of $22,021,930, with estimated non-property tax revenues of $9,159,584 and estimated property taxes of $12,862,346.

Item #63-2025 Fiscal Year 2026 Special Revenue Funds Budget Approval; Vote 7-0.
The Town Council, having held a public hearing on May 5, 2025, voted unanimously to approve the proposed FY 2026 Special Revenue Funds and CIP Budget for the Town of Cape Elizabeth, Maine with proposed expenditures and revenues of $5,374,153.

Item #64-2025 Fiscal Year 2026 School Department Budget Approval; Vote 7-0.
Town Council, having held a public hearing on May 5, 2025, voted unanimously to approve the School Department budget as recommended by the School Board for Fiscal Year 2026 for a total appropriation of $36,318,456 and estimated revenues of $3,654,644.

Having been approved by the Town Council, the School Department proposed Fiscal Year 2026 Budget next goes to the voters of Cape Elizabeth on Tuesday, June 10, 2025.

Item #65-2025 Fiscal Year 2026 General Fund Budget Summary Motion Concerning Property Taxes; Vote 7-0.
The Town Council, having held a public hearing on May 5, 2025, voted unanimously to adopt the following items concerning property taxes:

Fix October 15, 2025, and April 15, 2026, as the dates upon each of which one-half (1/2) of such tax is due and payable 36 M.R.S. §505 (2);
Interest to accrue upon taxes due and unpaid after each date at the interest rate of 7.5% per annum 36 M.R.S. §505 (4);
Authorize the Tax Collector and Town Treasurer to accept or decline prepayments of taxes not yet committed or prior to any due date, and pay no interest thereon 36 M.R.S. §506, and fix the interest rate for taxes paid in excess of the assessment 4.0% per annum 36 M.R.S. §506-A.

Item #66-2025 Proposed Amendments to the Fee Schedule; Vote 7-0.
The Town Council voted unanimously to adopt the proposed Fee Schedule changes, as suggested by the Town Manager and Department Heads. The approved Fee Schedule is effective July 1, 2025.

Item #67-2025 Consider Referring to the Ordinance Committee Contract Zoning Enabling Amendment; Vote 6-1.
The Town Council voted to send the Planning Board’s recommended Contract Zoning Amendments of April 15, 2025, to the Ordinance Committee.  Councilor Tim Thompson voted against the motion.

On October 16, 2024, the Town Council referred to the Planning Board a Contract Zoning Amendment for review.  The Planning Board reviewed contract zoning on four different dates.  Following a Public Hearing on April 15, the board voted 4-2 in favor of the recommendations sent to the Town Council.

Item #68-2025 GPCOG Delegate Appointment of Jonathan Sahrbeck; Vote 7-0.
GPCOG, on which Chair Penny Jordan and Town Manager Patrick Fox currently serve as delegates, has nominated 11 people to serve on the GPCOG Executive Committee.  The nomination committee has nominated Councilor Jonathan Sahrbeck to serve on the Executive Committee.  However, Executive Committee members must be one of the two community representatives to the general assembly.  In response, Manager Fox has recommended that he serve as an alternate and appoint Sahrbeck as a delegate to the GPCOG Assembly for 2025. Appointments are for one year.

Motion to Adjourn; Vote 7-0.

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