Benjamin Grant
No biography on file yet.
Voice
- Meetings spoken in
- 6
- Total speaking time
- 8:04
- Avg per meeting
- 1:21
- Segments
- 71
Want every word Grant has said?
The OpenCity MCP for Claude.ai answers questions like “what has Grant said about housing this year” with one prompt — full speaking history, with YouTube timestamps.
Top issues during term (20)
Winter warming shelter funding ($1.25M opioid settlement funds)
Affects how the city's opioid settlement funds are allocated.
CMP Greater Portland Transmission Upgrades
Residents worry ratepayers could bear significant costs and that alternative solutions may be cheaper; a ratepayer cost assessment was requested.
Forest Avenue Pedestrian Crossings
City match of $56,250 for York Street design, with the state paying $168,750.
Rent Board Rules of Procedure revision (Article XI)
Unknown — enforcement changes could shift compliance and administrative costs between tenants, landlords and the city, but no figures are on record.
Proposed changes to Creative Portland
The presentation covered the return on the city's existing investment in Creative Portland; specific figures were to be outlined in the workshop.
Rent control enforcement and tenant protections
City Manager West flagged likely budget, staffing, and consultant costs — the IT director estimates an online registration database will require hiring a consultant.
Boyd/Cumberland Affordable Housing TIF
TIF and credit enhancement tools shift future tax increment toward affordable housing development.
2026-2027 Winter Warming Emergency Shelter
Seeds of Hope got $360,000 of the city's $688,000 request from MaineHousing.
New buyer at the Portland Fish Exchange
A new buyer could increase auction competition, though no dollar figure was attached.
Peaks Island Council Rules
Small-business grant program changes
Up to $85,000 in PDC loan funds were under consideration for the two businesses.
Rent increase applications at four Portland buildings
Approved increases add roughly $115 to $180 per month to affected units, with tenants at 439 Congress dodging an $18.64 increase for now.
Council rules and Peaks Island Council
The assessment was already reduced from $812,200 to $651,100, saving roughly $1,930 in taxes; the denial means no further reduction.
Hearts of Pine stadium rezoning at 92 Cassidy Point Drive
The applicant cited a $16.5 million annual economic impact and 145 jobs from the club's first season; the Port Authority countered that the Port of Portland handled $3.8 billion in trade in 2025.
Northeast Air jetport lease extension
$10.1 million comes from Jetport unrestricted funds, not the general fund.
Service Pier 1 closure
Up to $8,000 for the second opinion, with a temporary shoring fix once estimated at $302,000.
First Light Commons parking fees
$151,000 budgeted for the First Light Commons commission from FY26 funds.
Jewel Box bus shelter deaccessioned
Lambert Woods North Funding Gap
$375,000 from the housing trust fund.
Civilian Police Review Board Training
A labor challenge could cost the city in litigation and further delay the board's launch.
Decisions during term (355)
Recorded while Grant was in office — not necessarily decisions they moved, spoke to, or voted on.
Endorse updated Debt Management Policy and Chapter 2/Chapter 14 amendments
Adjournment
Major Site Plan approval — 43 St. Lawrence Street (PL-003653-2026)
Conditional Zoning Agreement Amendment C-58 — 76 Congress Street (ZN-003712-2026)
Workshop item tabled — 41 Ashmont Street (PL-003618-2026)
Suspension of rules to eliminate non-agenda public comment
Motion to enter executive session
Postponement of Order 70-26/27 (winter warming shelter funding)
Adjournment
Approval of minutes from the September 21 meeting
Recommendation of Reimagining Franklin Street design to City Council
Postponement of Vision Zero update and median strip ordinance
Minutes from September 21
Approval of September 16, 2026 Meeting Minutes
Conservation priorities: Acrobatic Dogs and Hadlock Field Family
Relocation of Glimpse sculptures at Portland Jetport
Recommendation to Maine Historic Preservation Commission — National Register Nomination for Harvey Gamage
Motion to adjourn
Approval of October 6, 2026 meeting minutes
Approval of October 5, 2026 Council Minutes
Voting record (63)
Oldest to newest — hover a bar for the item.
Endorse updated Debt Management Policy and Chapter 2/Chapter 14 amendments
Adjournment
Motion to enter executive session
Postponement of Order 70-26/27 (winter warming shelter funding)
Order 57-26/27 — $375,000 for Lambert Woods North
Order 64-26/27 — FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grant
Order 65-26/27 — DHHS Drug-Free Communities Grant
Table items 2, 3 and 5 to November 19
Recommend re-amendment of Job Creation Grant Program Guidelines
PDC Award Event nomination — Seaport Credit replaces Holy Donut
Reprogram $30,000 in job creation grants to Calmbrook, Top Care and Bad Neighbors
Commercial loan of $30,000 to Garden Concerts, LLC (Portland House of Music)
Procurement Ordinance bid threshold increase to $50,000
Adjournment
Order 38-26/27 — EPA Brownfields Assessment Cooperative Agreement ($500,000)
Order 39-26/27 — EPA Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund Amendment ($1,000,000)
amend
Order 24-26/27 — $225,000 for ADS-B Transponders in 57 Jetport Vehicles
Order 31-26/27 — Amendment to City Code Re: Entertainment Businesses in B-3 and WCZ Zones
Order 12-26/27 — Accept $2,380,250 Portland Parks Conservancy donation for First Light Commons
Order 13-26/27 — UNE subaward, $383,262 for Nourish ME rural health program
Order 15-26/27 — Emergency amendment exempting single-day event permits from 100-foot buffer
Motion to enter executive session
amend
passage
Order 139-25/26 — PILOT Policy ( FAILED)
Cried uncle under nonprofit lobbying pressure; expects solidarity on future shelter and legislative asks.
Sykes Amendment 1 to PILOT Policy ( FAILED)
Amendment needs further development in the Finance Committee.