BRUNSWICK

The Brunswick Town Council on Monday will consider adopting a resolution acknowledging Maine’s indigenous people.

The MidCoast Indigenous Awareness Group has asked the council to adopt the resolution, which recognizes the second Monday in October — the date on which Columbus Day falls — as Indigenous Peoples’ Day.

The group described a national movement for celebrating native culture “and all that’s offered by native understandings of our connection with the natural world” in a Times Record guest column.

“Instead of celebrating Columbus Day, which remembers a time of cruel colonialism and oppression, many communities across the country are taking formal steps to re-imagine our October holiday and, instead, celebrate all that can be learned from Native peoples,” MIAG wrote.

MIAG was formed this year to raise awareness to provide education “about the true history of native people in Maine and to celebrate the rich culture, resilience and endurance of the Wabanaki Nation.”

Communities such as Bangor and Belfast have already changed Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples’ Day.

In a memo to the council, Belfast Indigenous Peoples Day Planning Committee member Diane Oltarzewski noted that a smooth transition to the holiday in her community, and a belief that the name would eventually be changed at the federal level.

Shellfishing matters

Also Monday, a hearing will be held on proposed changes to the town’s shellfish ordinance regarding marine activities, structures and ways. There are several proposed changes that, according to a memo from Marine Resource Officer Dan Devereaux, will bring the local ordinance into compliance with state laws and Department of Marine Resources regulations, “as well as enhance the progression of the local shellfishing industry as new species emerge.”

Under consideration are changes to the opening and closing of coastal waters, allowing for more advance public notice and removing the emergency closure clause and public hearing process required for closures. Instead, the town would rely on evidence collected by the Marine Resource Office on BMRC proposed closures and openings — all of which must be approved by the DMR before enacted by the town.

The automatic openings and closings section has also been removed and replaced with “harvest areas” that will allow the BMRC to place restrictions on bull raking in areas along the coast not conducive to this type of harvesting.

According to Devereaux, the quahog fishery has exploded since the ordinance was last amended, and most harvesters are using the long handled rakes known as bull rakes to harvest the hard clams from the ocean bottom instead of waiting for the tide to go out to harvest them with a traditional clam rake.

Bridge talk and other business

The Brunswick-Topsham Bridge Design Advisory Committee’s chair and vice chair will update the council on its preliminary design suggestions for a new bridge to replace the Frank J. Wood Bridge. While the Federal Highway Administration and Maine Department of Transportation have identified replacement as their preferred alternative for addressing structural problems with the bridge, no final decision has been made as a federal environmental review process continues.

The council will also consider sending a letter of support to the governor for the appointment of Lenora “Lennie” Burke of Brunswick to the Midcoast Regional Redevelopment Authority board of trustees, and also discuss a possible property tax relief program for the elderly.

The council will also be updated on three special permits granted Tuesday by the planning board. The council has 30 days from that approval to exercise authority over the special permit applications if it wishes, review them itself and possibly ratify, reverse or modify the decision of the planning board. In addition to an art gallery and eyelash extension salon, a special permit was granted to a medical cannabis storefront.

Prior it the meeting, the council will meet in a closed session to discuss the town attorney’s evaluation.

dmoore@timesrecord.com