 Town Council Adopts Goals for 2026
Each year, the Town Council discusses and adopts a set of goals for the current Council to work towards. Several past Council goal statements could be considered ongoing best management practices and include communicating property value data clearly; conveying short- and long-term impacts of budget decisions; proposing and leveraging alternative or new revenues beyond property taxes; and reporting on the function and work of boards and committees. The draft goals were established at the December 10, 2025, Town Council Workshop and approved at the January 6, 2026, meeting.
The goals prioritize the following topics:
- Asset Management and Capital Planning
- Environment
- Community Driven Projects
- Housing Diversity
- Informed and Engaged Citizenry
- Economic Development
- Property Tax Relief
- Communications Infrastructure
- Transportation Safety
Town Manager Report
The following report was provided to the Town Council at the January 5, 2026, council meeting by Town Manager Patrick Fox.
Manager Remarks:
Town Staff is well underway in preparing a draft fiscal year 2027 budget for Council consideration in the coming months. Through January, Department Heads will be updating all operating cost projections for the coming year to maintain service levels across all department functions. In February, the Finance Director and I meet with each Department Head to review line-item budgets, collaborate on potential cost savings, and make sure our budgets reflect the Council goals and community service level expectations. Asset Management and capital planning work is ongoing as well to provide a draft 5-year Capital Plan to accompany the annual department operating budgets. All of this will be presented to Council beginning on March 16th, worked through a 5 to 6 meeting public process, and adopted by the Town Council on May 6th. Keep an eye out for the FY 2027 Budget page on the Town website to stay informed throughout the process.
Councilor Requests and Follow ups:
Regarding LD 1829- The Maine Office of Community Affairs (MOCA) has prepared draft rule amendments to implement LD 1829, 997, and 427. These bills generally amend earlier legislation commonly known as LD 2003. MOCA is expected to finalize the rule sometime in January. Drafts of the rule are currently available for review, and once they are final this item will appear on the following Council Meeting agenda.
Bids, Events and Special Announcements:
The Town Center Intersection Improvement Project has been awarded to Labrecque Construction. The project is scheduled to begin as soon as weather permits in the spring, and should be completed by mid-summer.
Council Approves Fenway Rd. Amendments
Drawing from issues addressed by the Traffic Safety Working Group and developed by the Ordinance Committee, the council voted to approve Chapter 13 Parking Amendments related to Fenway Road. The amendments eliminate street parking on the “inbound” side of Fenway Road in favor of encouraging use of the cul-de-sac instead of three-point turns.
Town Manager Fox, a member of the Traffic Safety Working Group, explained that the seasonal popularity of the trails at Great Pond restricted traffic flow on Fenway, as trail users parked on both sides of the street, which impeded the safety vehicles' ability to pass in an emergency. Rather than relying on reactionary responses, the amendments proactively address the concerns.
Library to Launch "Build A Better World" Summer Reading Program
Inspired by a public library in Montgomery County, Maryland, Thomas Memorial Library Director Rachel Davis explained to the council at their January 5, 2026, meeting, that her staff wished to reward summer readers in more socially impactful ways. Instead of rewarding readers with small, disposable tokens, the "Build A Better World" Community Spotlight benefits nonprofit organizations that seek to improve the lives of the people, animals, or ecology of Maine.
In order to do so, library staff and the Thomas Memorial Library Committee had to develop a policy and application process for selecting and receiving donations for featured nonprofits. The Town Council voted to approve the policy, which Davis said was modeled after the Recycling Committee's Bottle Shed Grant.
Photo courtesy of CEHPS
Council Prepares to Establish Ad-Hoc Committee for the 1934 Building at CEMS
The Town Council is developing a draft charge for an ad hoc committee to explore, study, and gather information on reuse or discontinuation options for the 1934 Building, currently occupied by Cape Elizabeth Middle School. The new middle school is scheduled to open in Fall 2028, at which point the 1934 Building will be vacated.
The draft includes 9 committee members: 2 Town Councilors, 1 School Board Member, and 6 community members. The council is expected to vote on the draft at its January 21 meeting, and an advertisement for committee members will be posted soon afterwards.
 Cape Elizabeth Fire/Rescue 2025 Snapshot
In 2025, Cape Elizabeth Fire and Rescue responded to 1,448 calls for service, which is approximately 150 fewer than the previous year. While the overall call volume declined, primarily due to a lack of major storms, the year nonetheless concluded with a three-alarm fire at Custom House Wharf in Portland on Friday, December 26, 2025. Cape Elizabeth Fire Department's Ladder 65 assisted Portland's Munjoy Hill Fire Station and then the North Deering Fire Station during the event.
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Mutual Aid Received:
- Portland - 3
- South Portland 27
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Mutual Aid Given:
- Scarborough - 29
- Portland - 14
- South Portland - 116
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