Rockport Select Board will set its annual June Town Meeting warrant April 14 in preparation of presenting a $12.6 million budget before voters, along with several municipal questions, including the comprehensive plan update. 

The Select Board will also vote on whether to enter a lease-purchase agreement for a Mini-Pumper Fire Truck with associated accessories and attachments, for $409,449.98. The town plans to borrow from Androscoggin Bank at an interest rate of 6.15 percent, with a "bank qualified tax-exempt obligation” of the Town for the 2025 calendar year.

Additionally, the Select Board will discuss creating a new Sewer Ordinance Task Force to review and update Rockport's current legislation over its wastewater collection system.

"Operation and management of the sewer system in Rockport has taken on a more significant role from when the current Sewer Ordinance was developed, one that is essential to support current and future economic growth, and ensuring that the health, safety and welfare of Rockport residents and our waters are protected by eliminating existing pollution, preventing further pollution and controlling the sewer system through regulation," wrote Town Manager Jon Duke, in an explanation of the need for the task force.

"The current sewer ordinance should be reviewed and revised so that it addresses the current and future needs of the Rockport sewer system, as well as ensuring that the resulting ordinance is clearly written and enforceable as written. This evaluation should consider the design, installation, operations and maintenance of the sewer system to protect public health and welfare, as well as the economics and allocation of the costs of the sewer system among its users and other beneficiaries of the sewer system. This includes consideration of incentives and requirements for residents to hook up to the sewer when it is available, extension of the sewer system, evaluation of allocation of debt service among equivalent users, fair sewer rates for all users, and consideration of mechanisms to support affordable housing and economic development.

"Given the technical and legal nature of the sewer ordinance it is desired that the members of the Sewer Ordinance Task Force have technical or legal backgrounds to assist the Town in developing an updated sewer ordinance. This Task Force shall be assisted by the town Planning and Community Development Director and consist of three or five members."

June Town Meeting warrant

The articles Rockport citizens will consider at the polls on June 10 include the $12.6 million municipal budget and three municipal warrant articles.

They are:

1) Article 3: Approve or reject the 2025 updated Comprehensive Plan. Maine's Planning Office determined it is complete and consistent with state requirements.

Article 4:  To authorize the Town Manager to apply for funding from the Land and Water Conservation Fund to support construction of the new park at the former RES property. Grants from this fund are up to $500,000 and the funds would be used to construct the park and assist in the development of the conservancy which will fund the park’s ongoing maintenance and upkeep. To gain funding, the Town must dedicate the use of that parcel for park needs in perpetuity. 

Article 5 would amend the Harbor Ordinance to increase the allowable size of piers and wharves as recommended by the Harbor Committee. 

Articles 6 and 7 pertain to the proposed $12.6 million 2025-2026 municipal budget. The Budget Committee did not recommend any changes to the Town Manager’s budget and there was unanimous consent from all involved to remove funding for the basketball court reconstruction from this budget, according to Town Manager Jon Duke.”

At the April 7 Budget Committee meeting, there was frustration expressed by its members at not having capacity to recommend systemic changes to the budget system, such as lowering health insurance rates across the board for town employees. At that meeting, the Budget Committee learned that Rockport currently pays 90 percent of health insurance costs for employees and 90 percent of those costs for employee's family members on the plan.

That practice started in 2022 after the town negotiated contracts with police and public works unions, and then applied the formula across to all municipal employees for the sake of parity. According to Rockport Finance Director Megan Brackett, a third of the municipal employees are in the two unions.

At the meeting, Duke told the Budget Committee that new union agreements will be under discussion in 2026.

Committee member Stephen Bowen noted that salary and benefits represents 54 percent of the proposed budget.

“I get that we are backed into a corner here, it is just frustrating,” said Bowen, about any potential modifications to reduce that budget.

"Somehow we have to get into the record that this is unsustainable to for a town of this size to absorb those kinds of expenses going forward," he said. "I do not know how to signify to the Select Board."

The Budget Committee suggested it changes practice and gets to work earlier in the budget process, convening in July after Town Meeting to determine how to do so.

Members also suggested they convene later in April to talk about the process.

"Hopefully, the general public is staying engaged," said Budget Committee Chair Clayton Tolman, at the April 7 meeting.

The full agenda for the Rockport Select Board meeting follows:

Monday, April 14, 2025 GCPR – Opera House - 6 p.m.

Premeeting packets are available review.

Meetings are streamed live on YouTube.

AGENDA

1. Call Meeting to Order
2. Amendments to the Agenda
3. Public Comment on Non-Agenda Items
4. Town Manager’s Report/Updates
5. Consent Agenda
   1. Accept Donations for Library Parking and Marge Jones Basketball Courts
   2. Approve Meeting Minute(s):
      • ➢  March 10, 2025
      • ➢  March 25, 2025
      • ➢  April 7, 2025
6. Action Items

a. Act on Committee Application(s):
➢ Susie Laidlaw – Rockport Parks and Beautification Committee

1. Act to create a mission and structure for Sewer Ordinance Task Force
2. Act on Warrant for June 2025 Election
3. Act on Lease for Mini Pumper
4. Act on Town Office Solar Panel Purchase
5. Act on Committee Bylaw(s):
   • ➢  Budget Committee
   • ➢  CR Pathways Committee
   • ➢  Conservation Commission
   • ➢  Comprehensive Plan Committee
   • ➢  Recreation Committee
   • ➢  Economic Development Committee
   • ➢  Rockport Parks and Beautification Committee
   • ➢  Zoning Board of Appeals
6. Act on Committee Workplan(s):

➢ Economic Development Committee

VII. Discussion Items

a. Town Professional Consultation discussion

VIII. Select Board Liaison Reports

1 Select Board Agenda April 14, 2025

IX. Executive Session

a. Contract Negotiations

X. Adjourn
Future Meetings, Office Closures, Etc.

Monday, April 21, 2025 – Patriot’s Day
Monday, May 12, 2025 – Select Board Meeting
Monday, May 26, 2025 – Memorial Day
Tuesday, June 10, 2025 – Election Day
Wednesday, June 11, 2025 – Select Board Organizational Meeting Monday, June 23, 2025 – Select Board Meeting
Monday, June 30, 2025 – Town Office Closed – Year End
Friday, July 18, 2025 – Employee Barbeque