ROCKPORT — The Rockport Select Board is meeting the night before the 2026 Annual Town Meeting, June 8, to address an agenda that includes setting the wastewater budget and proposed new fees for sewer system users, as well as discuss and possibly approve the union contracts for Public Works and police department employees.

The agenda also includes a maintenance and operational agreement with the Lesher Foundation, Town of Rockport and Friends of Rockport Common for the new six-acre Rockport Common park, at the site of the former Rockport Elementary School on West Street.

And, the meeting also includes an executive session to discuss a personnel issue. The Police Union contract requires an executives session, according to the pre-meeting notes. The proposed union contracts have not been included in the meeting packet as of June 6.

The Select Board's calendar as posted earlier in 2026 had scheduled a June 11 organizational meeting following annual town meeting, but the calendar has been adjusted to add a June 8 meeting, 5 p.m., in the Parker Meeting Room at the Rockport Opera House.

Rockport Common

The proposed agreement between the Lesher Family Foundation, which has funded the new Rockport Common park and the Town of Rockport is detailed and rests on a set of guiding principles. 

"Due to the Town’s status as property owner, the Town must remain as the responsible party to ensure basic levels of maintenance must be followed however, as noted within the agreement, the Friends of Rockport Common will donate funds annually to offset Town expenditures that are beyond current minimal levels of maintenance on that parcel," according to premeeting notes submitted by Rockport Town Manager Jon Duke. "Further this agreement reaffirms the support Rockport voters gave to the park with over 80% support for the 2023 warrant article which authorized the creation of the park without additional cost to the taxpayers."

The purpose of the agreement is to define the roles of each party and propose a simple, streamlined process by which Rockport Common will be designed and planned, funded, and built, and operated and sustained and in accordance with the “Guiding Principles” for the Park, the agreement reads.

Wastewater Budget

Rockport's proposed 2026-2027 wastewater budget is $2,159,535, in increase of 5.0% over the current $2,056,846.

Rockport currently serves 749 wastewater customers, according to the meeting packet. The wastewater department operates as an Enteprise Fund and the users pay fees to financially support the system.

In a letter to the Select Board, Town Manager Duke wrote:

"The Wastewater Department operates as an Enterprise Fund, meaning all operating expenses, debt obligations, and capital investments are funded through user fees and related revenues rather than local property taxes.

"The largest component of the budget is Operations, totaling $1,453,229, or approximately 67% of total expenditures. These funds support the operation and maintenance of the wastewater collection system, contractual services provided by Woodard & Curran, treatment costs paid to neighboring municipalities, system monitoring, equipment maintenance, and regulatory compliance requirements.

"Debt Service and Capital Maintenance account for $499,702, or approximately 23% of total expenditures. These funds support existing debt obligations associated with wastewater infrastructure projects and provide funding for long-term maintenance and replacement of critical system components.

"Administrative expenses total $206,604, representing approximately 10% of the overall budget.

"These costs include financial management, billing administration, insurance, legal and auditing services, and other support functions necessary for the operation of the wastewater utility.

"A significant focus of the FY 2026-2027 budget is continued investment in the Town's Capital Improvement Program (CIP). The proposed capital budget totals $313,800 and includes both above-ground and below-ground infrastructure improvements. Planned projects include replacement of pumps at the Mechanic Street Pump Station, ongoing pump station repairs and upgrades, SCADA system maintenance, inflow and infiltration investigations, sewer lineinspections, manhole rehabilitation, and other system-wide improvements designed to extend the life of the Town's wastewater infrastructure.

"To help stabilize future rates and prepare for larger infrastructure needs, the Town will continue utilizing its capital reserve strategy. This approach allows the Wastewater Department to smooth annual capital expenditure and reduces the impact of major projects on user rates.

"To fund operations and capital needs, the proposed usage rate will increase from $20.90 to $22 per 100 cubic feet of wastewater flow, an increase of approximately 5.3%. At the same time, the quarterly Debt and Capital Maintenance Fee is proposed to decrease from $72.50 to $68.75, a reduction of approximately 5.2%. As a result, the impact on a typical customer is expected to be minimal. For a customer using approximately 700 cubic feet of wastewater per quarter, the total quarterly bill would increase from $218.80 to $222.75, or approximately 1.8%.

"The FY 2026-2027 budget is projected to generate revenues of $2,175,752, resulting in a modest operating surplus of approximately $16,217. This balanced approach supports ongoing operations, addresses critical infrastructure needs, maintains adequate reserves, and promotes the long-term financial health of the wastewater system."

The meeting's full agenda follows:

AGENDA

I. Call Meeting to Order

II. Amendments to the Agenda

III. Public Comment on Non-Agenda Items

IV. Action Items

a. b. c. d. e. Act on Rockport Common Operations and Maintenance Agreement

Act on FY 27 Wastewater Budget

Act on Personnel Policy Amendments

Act on Public Works Union Contract

Act on Police Union Contract

V. Executive Session

a. Discussion of a Personnel Matter pursuant to 1 M.R.S. Section 405 (6) (A)

VI. Adjourn

Future Meetings, Office Closures, Etc.

Tuesday, June 9, 2026 – Election Day

Wednesday, June 10, 2026 – Select Board Regular and Organizational Meeting

Friday, June 19, 2026 – Juneteenth

Friday, July 3, 2026 – Independence Day observed

Monday, July 13, 2026 – Select Board Meeting