Bangor City Council: Mike Beck’s January 2025 Summary

Disclaimer: The views I express here are my own and should NOT be construed as speaking for the City of Bangor or the City Council of Bangor.

January 6, 2025

Finance Committee

The agenda contained a pest control contract, a contract for a fill station and contaminant wash for the breathing apparatuses the firefighters use, and a resolve to accept and appropriate money from the National Guard Bureau for the Airport Runway Rehabilitation Project.

The issue of the audit was raised. Previously City Council had been told we would have the audit statement issued in January. What we learned tonight was the grant testing had been completed, but further delays were caused by having to get files from the currently-being-renovated City Hall. We also learned that the Request For Proposals for auditing services for Fiscal Year 2025 would be posted this month. The overall theme of the update from the Finance Director was Bangor is “still dealing with staffing issues.”

Business & Economic Development Committee

The agenda included a couple of items that I get asked about often: The Commercial Kitchen and Street Plus, which was part of the Downtown Bangor Partnership’s update.

Commercial Kitchen Update:  

• The committee received an update on the commercial kitchen project.  
• The initial plan to renovate the existing building was found to be significantly over budget ($1.5 million needed for roof, HVAC, and wiring upgrades to meet code).  
• The current funding includes $1 million in Congressional spending, with an application submitted for an additional $3 million.  
• To stay within budget, the architects (Paul Designs) proposed demolishing the existing building and constructing a new, pre-fabricated metal building.  
• This new approach saves approximately $1.5 million while maintaining the project’s original program, size (around 13,000 sq ft), and goals, including incubator space and honoring the site’s history.  
• The new design offers opportunities for energy efficiency, potentially using sustainable materials like Timber HP wood fiber insulation.  
• The proposed layout includes public areas (lobby, multi-purpose community room for various uses like demos, classes, pop-up shops), kitchen core with equipment, semi-private sub-kitchens, storage, washing areas, and loading dock.  
• An option for adding “cold banking” (freezer space for rent) is being considered as an alternate to manage budget constraints.  
• There was discussion about whether the current site is the best location, with suggestions to consider a site closer to the airport to potentially serve airport needs for cold storage.  
• Concerns were raised about the time and money spent on the initial design, though much of the interior planning and programming work translates to the new design.  
• A member of the public questioned the location choice and the modern architectural design in relation to the surrounding area.  

Downtown Partnership Update:  

• The Downtown Bangor Partnership provided a mid-fiscal year update.  
• Marketing efforts, particularly targeting tourism, have shown early success, with increased website traffic from cities like Boston and New York.  
• The new Safety and Hospitality Ambassador program launched, with patrols starting mid-October (after initial delays due to COVID).  
• StreetPlus Ambassadors have been active in cleaning up needles (over 1200), conducting wellness checks, collecting litter (22 bags), cleaning up former encampment sites (42), and performing business checks.  
• Feedback from businesses has been generally positive, though engagement varies.  
• The committee requested monthly reports on the Ambassador program’s activities to track trends.
• You can learn more about Bangor’s StreetPlus Ambassador Program by clicking here.

City Council Workshop

This was a meeting between Bangor’s representatives to the Maine State Legislature and Bangor City Council. Click here for the materials distributed before the meeting.
Here were the top topics of interest:

Budget and Property Taxes

• Both the city and state anticipate budget challenges with potentially lower revenues and higher costs, which could affect services.  
• Property taxes remain a significant concern for residents. State legislators discussed potential relief measures, such as for seniors and homeowners, but emphasized that state reimbursement is needed if tax exemptions increase, to avoid shifting the burden.  
• Funding from the state, like revenue sharing and aid to education, is crucial for keeping local property taxes down. Councilors thanked the delegation for past efforts that helped mitigate tax increases.  
• There’s some worry that Bangor’s recent property revaluation could lead to less state revenue sharing in the future.  
• County jail funding also impacts Bangor property taxes, as the city contributes over $4 million annually. Increased state funding for jails could provide relief.  
• I suggested the city could explore using its reserve funds for targeted property tax relief for residents.  

Homelessness and Social Services

• Addressing homelessness is a priority. Discussions included the need for more funding for emergency shelters and a proposal to require at least one general emergency shelter in every Maine county. However, state focus might be shifting towards permanent housing solutions rather than just shelters.  
• The issue of people experiencing homelessness being sent to Bangor from other towns was raised. Ideas discussed included making General Assistance a county-run program for more uniformity or strengthening laws to prevent towns from shifting responsibility.
  • This has since come to fruition. I suggested language to give General Assistance more teeth, and it was submitted as a bill, LD 1178: “An Act to Expedite the Process Involving Municipalities That Illegally Move a Person to Avoid Responsibility for General Assistance Support”
• The delegation was praised for securing funding to keep Hope House open.  And rightfully so.

Public Health and Safety

• Concerns were raised about the strain on first responders and the healthcare system due to difficulties accessing mental health and substance use disorder care.  
• Expanding street outreach programs for medical, mental health, and substance use support was discussed as a potential solution. Funding has already been earmarked for a 24/7 mental health crisis unit in the Bangor area.  
• The city expressed a desire for more input on where mobile syringe services operate on public property. There was discussion about balancing municipal input with the need for statewide public health expertise in licensing these services. A state grant program specifically for syringe cleanup is being proposed.  
• Continued support for Bangor Public Health was highlighted as important.  

Housing and Development

• Creating more affordable housing is a key goal.  
• Redeveloping the Bangor Mall area, potentially including housing, was discussed. The City Council has already updated ordinances to allow housing development there.  
• The high cost of construction makes building moderately priced (“missing middle”) housing difficult. State and local investment in infrastructure could help make these projects more feasible.  
• Progress was noted on securing funding for the Cedar Falls mobile home community.  
• Finding new uses for the Dorothea Dix property and grounds remains an interest, though the state currently seems focused on potential state uses for the land.  

Other Topics

• Improving public transportation, including buses and potentially exploring train service to Bangor, was discussed, although funding and state priorities remain challenges.  
• Legislators are working on issues impacting rural and Northern Maine, such as funding for veterans’ homes and healthcare.  
• A bond issue to support Bangor International Airport is being proposed again.

January 13, 2025

City Council Workshop

The main part of the agenda was discussing the process by which Bangor City Council would select a new City Manager. City Manager Debbie Laurie had previously announced her retirement.

City Manager Search Process  

• Consultant Introduction: Don Gerrish, from Eaton Peabody Consulting Group and a Bangor native, introduced himself and his extensive experience in municipal management and conducting city manager searches.  
• Search Philosophy & Process: Gerrish emphasized the importance of involving all councilors in the process. He outlined his standard process:
  • Develop and approve a timeline.  
  • Post job advertisements (resumes come directly to his office).  
  • Provide weekly updates on application numbers to the council.  
  • Review all resumes, conduct preliminary discussions with candidates, and provide recommendations to the council.  
  • Council selects candidates for interviews (Gerrish strongly feels council should see all resumes).  
  • First round of interviews (likely via Zoom for out-of-state candidates, live if possible) using standardized questions drafted by Gerrish and reviewed by the council.  
  • Selection of finalists.  
  • Conduct thorough background checks (education, criminal, financial) and reference checks on finalists.  
  • Second round of interviews, potentially involving candidate spouses/partners.  
  • Optional contract negotiation assistance.  
• Public and Staff Input: Gerrish proposed meeting individually with department heads and holding a public meeting (and accepting email input) to gather feedback on desired qualities in a new city manager and key issues facing Bangor. The council agreed this input was valuable.  
• Timeline: A draft timeline was presented aiming to name a candidate by the first week of April, acknowledging that the start date would depend on the candidate’s notice period (often 30-60 days).
  • Public/Staff input collection: Proposed for the week of Jan 20th-23rd.  
  • Ad placement: Target Jan 28th, running for four weeks. Recommended advertising includes ICMA, Maine Municipal Association (MMA), New England states, National League of Cities, and minority administrator groups. Estimated advertising cost: $2500-$3000.  
  • Application deadline: Feb 25th.  
  • Resume review meeting: Week of Mar 3rd-6th.  
  • First interviews: Week of Mar 10th-13th.  
  • Finalist selection & background checks.  
  • Second interviews: Proposed week of Mar 24th-27th (adjusted slightly for council chair availability). Council agreed department heads should interview finalists, but decided against a public meet-and-greet to avoid potentially losing candidates.  
  • Contract negotiation/Decision: First week of April.  
• Candidate Pool & Salary: Gerrish noted the market is tighter than previously, citing fewer applicants for similar positions recently (e.g., Lewiston received 8, then 12 after reposting; Bar Harbor went from 60 to 15 applicants over 8 years). He recommended increasing the salary range for the position from the current $123k-$166k to $160k-$190k to attract quality candidates, citing ranges in comparable or smaller Maine communities.  
• Council Discussion: Councilors discussed the importance of meeting the timeline, potentially using a separate workshop for resume review. The possibility of needing an interim manager if the timeline slips was acknowledged, as happened previously. The use of scoring rubrics was discussed, with Gerrish offering to provide one if desired. The importance of finding the right “fit” for the community, not just the most experienced candidate, was stressed.  

City Manager Updates  

• Encampment Services: The manager provided data on which organizations were working with individuals in the encampment: 27 with the PATH team (Community Health and Counseling), 7 with the HOME team (PCHC), and 16 with Crossroads (case management, potential overlap). There was discussion about tracking services provided by other community/volunteer groups and potential liability issues, particularly concerning an instance involving a church group and horseback riding. The City Solicitor advised that the Maine Tort Claims Act provides significant immunity for the city regarding activities on public property unless specific exceptions apply.  
• Special Election: The special election to fill the vacant District 24 representative seat (due to Joe Perry becoming State Treasurer) is scheduled for Tuesday, February 25th.  
• National League of Cities (NLC): Councilors Beck and Haws will represent Bangor at the NLC conference.  
• Upcoming GovOps Topics: Updates on the FixStop program, driver training, and emergency preparedness (from the new Fire Chief) are planned for future meetings.  
• State Budget & Legislature: The Governor released the biennial budget proposal; updates will follow as analyses become available. Anticipated legislative updates at council workshops. Discussion on potential legislative rule changes to limit bills and improve transparency around “concept drafts”.  

Meeting Conclusion

• The workshop concluded with motions to enter executive sessions regarding the disposition of real property/economic development and consultation with the city solicitor.

Government Operations Committee

The agenda had four main topics.

1. Public Health Update: Presented by Public Health Director Jen Gunderman.
   • Maine Continuum of Care (CoC): Bangor Public Health participated in restructuring the Maine CoC, which addresses homelessness statewide. A new governance structure with a board of directors and committees was established, and Bangor helped set this structure.
   • Harm Reduction Health Center Working Group: Bangor has representation on this state-level group evaluating harm reduction health centers (also known as safe injection/consumption sites). The group is researching models from other states (like New York, Rhode Island, Vermont) and will provide a report to the legislature outlining considerations for Maine, not a direct recommendation for or against establishing sites. Municipalities would likely need to authorize or approve such centers locally.
   • Community Health Leadership Board (CHLB): Local health entities (like St. Joseph’s, Northern Light, PCHC) have been collaborating to address the HIV cluster in Bangor. They met with state officials (Maine CDC Director, DHHS Commissioner) to discuss the extra resources needed and have requested state guidance, on-the-ground CDC presence, and financial support.
   • Syringe Waste MOU: The previous MOU with HEAL for syringe cleanup is not being continued. Conversations are underway with Wabanaki Public Health for a potentially higher-quality, though more expensive, program funded by opioid settlement funds.
   • Programmatic Updates:
     • The “Milk and Cookies” lactation support group has grown significantly and provides important community and mental health support.
     • Successful flu and COVID-19 vaccine clinics were held in schools and municipal departments.
     • The WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) program celebrated 50 years in Bangor and continues to be strong, including its farmers market program.
     • A new tobacco/vaping cessation treatment program is being offered to students at Bangor and Brewer high schools in partnership with the Center for Tobacco Independence.
     • Naloxone distribution data was shared, and trainings on cannabis use during pregnancy/lactation were developed.
     • The Healthy Eating Active Living (HEAL) program established physical activity clubs in three Penobscot County elementary schools.
   • Opioid Settlement Funds: A plan for community listening sessions to get feedback on using these funds will be developed by the end of January, with sessions likely starting in the spring.
2. Maine Health Access Foundation (MeHAF) Grant Letters of Intent:
   • Primary Care Bridge Program: The committee approved submitting a letter of intent to MeHAF for a potential grant. The idea is to create a program using a public health nurse role to help patients navigate healthcare during the long wait times (3-6 months) for primary care appointments in the area.
   • HIV Medical Case Management: The committee also approved submitting a letter of interest to Lubec Medical Center. This explores the possibility of the Bangor Public Health department taking over Ryan White HIV medical case management services (currently done by Health Equity Alliance via Lubec) for Penobscot and Piscataquis counties, as this is often a function of local health departments.
3. Council Meeting Time Change: An ordinance to change the regular City Council meeting start time from 7:30 PM to 7:00 PM was moved forward to the council meeting that night. If approved, the change would take effect for the January 27th meeting.
4. Draft Public Comment Policy: The City Solicitor presented a draft policy to clarify rules for public comment at council and committee meetings.
   • Purpose: To ensure the public has a fair opportunity to be heard on city business without interfering with the council’s agenda.
   • Proposed Structure: 15 minutes at the beginning of council meetings, with the option for the Chair to reserve 45 minutes at the end if needed.
   • Suggested Changes: The solicitor suggested edits, including explicitly stating the Council Chair’s discretion to alter time limits, clarifying residency requirements for speaking priority, and adding language about interrupting obscene, threatening, overly repetitive, or disruptive remarks.
   • Discussion: There was discussion about the Chair’s discretion to alter time limits, with some concern about potentially reducing time below three minutes, while others supported the flexibility for the Chair. It was also suggested and agreed upon that committee chairs should have similar discretion regarding public comment at committee meetings.
   • Next Steps: The draft policy will be revised based on the feedback and brought back to the committee for further review.

Regular City Council Meeting

There were a couple of notable things on this agenda.

City Council Meeting Time officially moved from 7:30pm to 7:00pm.

Order 25-049, “Declaring the 2024-2025 City Council Year’s Priority to be the ‘Year of Building’, a Commitment to Housing, Economic Development, Relationships and More”, was assigned to me.

It was my honor to read this order before City Council and move for its passage. When I ran for City Council in the fall, part of my campaign was about strengthening the city’s relationships with the public, organizations, businesses, and our legislative delegation. Improving communication and transparency was key. Housing and economic development were also part of my platform. I am pleased that this order and commitment by the City Council captured those ideals. Throughout the year it will be incumbent upon all members of City Council, including myself, to ensure we’re keeping the “Year of Building” in mind as we drive our city forward.

January 22, 2025

Finance Committee

The agenda had two items on it: a contract for commercial realtor services and a contract for a historical preservation survey.

What was the main take away for me, was the update on the audit. To this point we had been told that the audit would be completed by the end of January. This meeting we learned that wouldn’t be the case, and it’s still ongoing. (And of April 14, 2025 it’s still ongoing.) The RFP process for potential new auditing services would be going out that week.

Business and Economic Development Committee

I’m not a voting member of this committee, but there were a couple of big topics I was interested in on this agenda.

Volunteers of America CDBG Award Amendment

During the meeting, the committee discussed a request from Volunteers of America (VOA) regarding Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds previously allocated for a new housing construction project. VOA was unable to secure additional necessary funding to proceed with the new construction at this time.  

They proposed redirecting $240,000 of the CDBG funds to make essential repairs and upgrades to their existing housing units on Center Street.  

Given Bangor’s current housing crisis, preserving the existing housing stock is critically important. While new construction is a goal, ensuring that current units remain safe and habitable prevents the loss of vital housing resources. Therefore, using these CDBG funds for repairs and preservation at the Center Street properties represents a necessary and practical step to support housing stability in the city, even though the new construction project is currently stalled with no guarantee of proceeding later.  

The committee voted 4-1 to approve this redirection of funds, allowing VOA to use the CDBG money for the immediate needs of their existing properties. It will go before the full City Council for approval.

Cedar Falls Mobile Home Park Purchase

The committee discussed the funding for the Cedar Falls Mobile Home Park, where residents were organizing to purchase the park they live in. This initiative represents a significant effort to preserve affordable housing through resident ownership.  This opportunity was made possible by a law recently passed by the Maine State Legislature that gave mobile home park residents right of first refusal over their parks when they’re being sold.

The discussion highlighted that HUD had confirmed the project’s eligibility for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds. The city staff proposed a funding structure combining these CDBG funds with previously allocated ARPA funds (from the Quality Housing Provider program) to support the residents’ purchase. The plan involved structuring this assistance as a 10-year deferred, 0% interest loan, potentially forgiving the ARPA portion later to reduce the financial burden on the residents.  

At the time of the meeting, the project was awaiting final income documentation from residents. Some councilors requested a more detailed breakdown of the complete financial package (including other loans the residents were securing) before giving final approval. The plan was to provide this detailed information at an upcoming pre-council workshop so the committee could formally recommend approval to the full council ahead of the residents’ February 14th closing date.  

This project was viewed as a positive step and a solid investment by the City of Bangor. By supporting the residents’ purchase, Bangor helped secure and stabilize an affordable housing community. I fully supported this investment. Not only does it preserve affordable homeownership for the current residents, it also opens up affordable ownership for future residents as part of the plan is to development additional lots on the property. We don’t get many opportunities like this, and we need to seize them when we can. My full thanks and appreciation to all of the city staff who worked tireless to find a way for Bangor to be a part of this.

Amending Bangor’s Downtown Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District

The committee reviewed a proposed amendment to allow TIF funds—which capture a portion of new property tax value within the district—to be used for a broader range of community projects.  

This change was prompted by updates in state law that expanded how municipalities can use TIF funds. To ensure Bangor has the flexibility to address key priorities, the proposed amendment included adding several new categories for potential TIF funding. Crucially, this includes using funds for:  

• Housing: Supporting both market-rate and affordable housing projects.  
• Transit Services: Funding public transportation initiatives.  
• Other related areas like recreation, public safety, and workforce development were also added.  

By proactively amending the TIF plan to include these state-allowed uses, the City of Bangor is positioning itself to better utilize TIF funds to address critical community needs like the availability of affordable housing and accessible transportation. While specific projects still require future budget approval, this amendment provides the city with valuable tools and options to invest in Bangor’s future using the TIF mechanism.  

The committee discussed these changes, which would next require full council and state DECD approval. This step demonstrates the city’s commitment to exploring various funding avenues to meet the needs of its residents.

January 27, 2025

Business & Economic Development Committee

The agenda had one item, a follow-up to the Cedar Falls Mobile Home Park discussion from last week.

Following up on earlier discussions about the city potentially investing in the purchase of the Cedar Falls mobile home park, the Business & Economic Development Committee met to review the financing details. This project is particularly exciting because it aims to secure the park for its residents and opens the door for much-needed new housing in Bangor.  

Key Updates:

• Securing the Park: The committee reviewed the funding plan that makes the purchase possible. This includes support from Bangor Savings Bank, MaineHousing, the Genesis Fund, and a proposed loan from the City of Bangor. This collaborative effort helps make the $8 million purchase achievable.  
• Potential for New Homes: A significant highlight is the potential to build on 41 additional empty pads within the park. This means dozens of new manufactured homes could be added, providing more affordable housing options in our community.  
• City Support: The committee discussed the city’s role, including using specific government funds (block grants) to help with administrative tasks like confirming resident eligibility, which is a standard part of managing these types of funds.  
• Next Steps: Having reviewed the financial details requested, the committee voted to send the proposal to the full City Council for consideration.

City Council Workshop

The agenda had 3 items on it.

1. City Manager Search Update

• The consultant provided an update on the search process, having met with staff and the public.
• Key issues identified for Bangor: Homelessness, substance abuse, crime, affordable housing, density, staff hiring/retention, infrastructure maintenance, long-term planning, economic development, and technology upgrades were frequently mentioned concerns.
• Desired Manager Qualities: Respondents seek someone preferably from Maine who will live in Bangor, is transparent, forward-thinking, fair, honest, has municipal/financial/economic development experience, works well with staff, listens, communicates effectively, and is not a micromanager.
• Job Advertisement Discussion:
  • The council debated whether residency in Bangor should be mandatory or preferred for the new manager. Concerns were raised about potentially limiting the applicant pool versus ensuring the manager has a vested interest in the city.
  • A motion to keep the residency requirement as “preferred” rather than mandatory passed 5-4. The consultant confirmed he would clarify residency expectations with candidates early on.
  • The proposed salary range was accepted.
  • The job ad was approved for posting, with the consultant planning to provide weekly applicant updates.

2. Resolve on Being a Welcoming Community

• Council Chair Cara Pelletier proposed a resolve to reaffirm Bangor’s commitment to being a welcoming community, citing requests from concerned citizens. Originally this was to be a Proclamation, however after receiving an objection from 1 councilor, it was decided to change it to a resolve so it could be discussed.
• Debate: Some councilors questioned the necessity, worried about potential negative interpretations or setting a precedent for numerous future resolves on potentially political topics. Others supported it as a timely reassurance, stating the language was general, reflected city values, and the council retained control over future requests.
• I supported this resolve. I will likely write a more detailed blog post about this later, but in short, what I appreciated about this resolve is how it did not name a single class or group of people. Yet so many people saw themselves in this resolve and felt reassured in these turbulent times. During this meeting I stated that if there are people who are actually offended by the wording of this resolve, that’s a matter for introspection, not Council debate.
• The motion to advance the resolve to the next council meeting passed 5-4.
• That vote set up an interesting situation, as the Chair had already stated that she would not be able to attend the City Council meeting where this would be officially voted on. If nobody else changed their vote, it would result in a 4-4 tie, which is the same as a defeat.

3. City Manager Updates

• Assistant City Manager Courtney O’Donnell provided updates.
• Future meeting agendas will include overviews of TIF and CDBG processes.
• HUD representatives canceled their participation in upcoming local Fair Housing workshops, citing new executive orders preventing involvement in DEI events. The workshops will proceed without HUD.
• Council members were reminded to schedule a tour of the MRC facility in Hampden soon, before construction limits access.
• A reminder was issued that the evening’s council meeting would begin at 7:00 pm.

Regular City Council Meeting

The agenda had 3 special amusement license renewals and formalized a number of decisions made during committee meetings.

I was assigned Resolve 25-057, “Ratifying Staff Action to Submit a Letter of Interest for Funding through Lubec Regional Medical Center for the Purpose of Providing HIV Medical Case Management in Penobscot and Piscataquis Counties.” This was read during the consent agenda, so I did not actually have to present it.

The highlight of the evening for me was Order 25-061 which officially authorized Bangor’s $500,000 piece of the funding stack for the Cedar Falls Mobile Home Park purchase. I am so happy for the people who live in the park, and I am grateful to them as their purchase will eventually add desperately needed affordable housing to Bangor’s stock.

January 2025 Concludes

The end of the month marked 11 weeks as a City Councilor. I continue to be grateful for the opportunity given to me by Bangor voters. At this point I had started to hear from more residents wanting to meet and discuss their issues. I’m always happy to connect and enjoy a cup of coffee while I learn how I can serve you better.

Don’t hesitate to reach out to me. You can email me at michael.beck@bangormaine.gov.