Meeting summaries of the Bangor City Council Workshop and Regular Meeting. Unofficial account published by Mike Beck.
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.
City Council Workshop
You can read the agenda for this meeting by clicking here.
This City Council workshop covered several key topics:
- “Friends of Together Place Housing” ARPA Request: The council discussed a request from “Friends of Together Place” to purchase a 4-unit building using ARPA funds, instead of the previously authorized 6-unit building. This was due to difficulties in finding a 6-unit property within the allocated budget. The motion to allow the purchase of the 4-unit building was approved by a roll call vote.
- City Manager Updates:
- Maine Public Health Association Letter: The city received a request to sign a letter to Senator Collins and the Senate Committee on Appropriations, supporting investment in evidence-based public health programs, due to proposed cuts in the fiscal 2026 federal budget. The council showed no objection to supporting the letter.
- Bangor Water District Presentation: The Bangor Water District is expected to give a presentation on their operations to the council within the next month.
- City Hall Update: City Hall is in the final stages of construction, with an anticipated reopening in August. There may be a 1-2 day interruption to city services during the move. An open house for the public is being considered for August. New audio and visual systems will be in place for council chambers, allowing for tablet control of meetings.
- Tax Rate: With the proposed budget amendment, the final mill rate would be reduced by 85 cents from the current fiscal year, going from $18.55 to $17.70. This would result in an average increase of $147 (3.61%) for the average property owner.
- Cooling Centers: Information about general heat safety and local cooling centers was shared, including the aquatic center, waterfront sprinklers, and the Bangor Housing Authority splash pad. An updated list of cooling centers will be posted. The possibility of waiving bus fares on emergency-level heat advisory days was discussed for future evaluation.
Regular City Council Meeting
You can read the agenda for this meeting by clicking here.
Key actions and discussions from the meeting include:
- Proclamation of Pride Month: June was proclaimed Pride Month, commemorating the Stonewall Riots and recognizing the fight for equal justice and opportunity for LGBTQ+ individuals. The proclamation also acknowledged the 41st anniversary of Charlie Howard’s murder and highlighted Bangor’s non-discrimination protections for the LGBTQ+ community. Bangor Pride’s main event, the Pride Parade and Festival, is scheduled for Saturday, June 28th.
- Consent Agenda: Multiple items were passed, including authorizing the city manager to accept state criminal forfeiture funds, adopting a memorial recognition policy, authorizing contracts for sodium chloride rock salt and hot mix asphalt, approving the sale of property, extending a paving contract, authorizing a collective bargaining agreement, and executing lease amendments and renewals for passenger transport services to the airport.
- Unfinished Business:
- Ordinance amending commercial property assessed clean energy program (25-192): Passed, creating a program for commercial property owners to access financing for energy-saving improvements via property tax assessment.
- Ordinance amending vacant buildings (25-193): Passed, revising the vacant buildings ordinance to allow for temporary deferral of registration fees in certain circumstances (fire/casualty or active building permit), eliminating interim permits, clarifying permit duration, and updating maintenance standards.
- Resolves related to Bangor School Department Budget:
- Total School Budget Appropriation (25-194): Passed (6 yes, 3 no) after an amendment by substitution, appropriating $62,043,968.
- School Department’s Trust and Agency Budget (25-195): Passed, approving $3,624,735.
- School Department’s Enterprise Fund Budget (25-196): Passed, approving $2,590,727 for food services and adult education enrichment.
- School Department Special Revenue Fund (25-197): Passed (6 yes, 3 no) after an amendment by substitution, approving $3,401,919.
- Adult Education Appropriation (25-198): Passed, appropriating $451,792.
- Vocational Education Region Number Four Appropriation (25-199): Passed, approving $5,603,413.72 for the operating budget and $18,022.96 for adult education.
- Non-State Funded Debt Service Allocation (25-200): Passed, appropriating $2,380,000.
- Appropriation in Excess of Minimum Spending Target (25-201): Passed (6 yes, 3 no) after an amendment by substitution, authorizing $11,756,656 of local funds for special education, transportation, activities, technology, and employee benefits.
- School District Contribution to Total Cost of Public Education (25-202): Passed, appropriating $19,520,915.
- Appropriation from Municipal Year 2026 (25-203): Passed (5 yes, 4 no) after an amendment by substitution, appropriating funding for the fiscal year 2026 municipal budget, reflecting changes recommended by the city council and city manager.
- Appropriating Funds for Various Capital Purposes (25-204): Passed (6 yes, 3 no) after an amendment by substitution, appropriating funds from various reserves and accounts for capital and operational needs, totaling $3,081,000.
- Appropriating Downtown TIF Funds (25-205): Passed, appropriating $4,079,615 for downtown and parking, waterfront, infrastructure improvements, arena debt services, and river cleanup.
- Appropriating Community Development Block Grant Funding (25-206): Passed (7 yes, 2 no), appropriating $833,082 in CDBG funds and $250,000 in anticipated program income.
- Authorizing City Manager to Accept Grant Funds for Rental Assistance Program (25-207): Passed, authorizing acceptance of $1,543,120 from HUD to fund the Bangor Rental Assistance Program.
- Authorizing City Manager to Accept Additional Grant Funds for WIC Program (25-208): Passed, authorizing acceptance of an additional $27,801 from the Maine CDC for the Women, Infants, and Children’s program.
- New Business:
- Special Amusement License for Blue Sky Lounge (Bangor Grande Aviators, LLC): Public hearing opened and closed, and the license was granted.
- Special Amusement License for Las Palapas Mexican Restaurant LLC (8 Bangor Mall Boulevard): Public hearing opened and closed, and the license was granted.
- Order Authorizing Transfer of Funds for School Construction Projects (25-222): Passed, authorizing transfer of $350,000 in savings from Mary Snow School masonry restoration to other approved school construction projects.
- Order Amending Schedule of Fees for Fire Services (25-223): Passed, amending the fee structure for excessive use of emergency medical services (EMS) to a flat rate of $550 per request to deter non-emergency lift assist calls.
- Order Authorizing City Manager to Renegotiate Development Agreement for 8 Harlo Street (25-224): Passed (6 yes, 3 no), authorizing renegotiation of the development agreement to change the name, replace a revert clause with a letter of credit, and modify deadlines.
- Resolve Expressing Support for the Penobscot Job Corps Center and Urging Continued Federal Funding for the Job Corps Program (25-225): Passed, expressing support for the Penobscot Job Corps Center and urging continued federal funding.
