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.
Finance Committee (Special)
You can read the meeting agenda here.
The meeting’s purpose was to authorize the city manager to sign a contract with Forge Fire Company for the construction of a new live-fire training building at a cost of $679,000. The city council had previously voted in June to accept and appropriate the $679,000 for this facility, which is a joint partnership with the Maine Fire Protection Services Commission and the Maine Fire Service Institute.
The committee was asked to waive the standard bidding process and approve the contract because there is a tight deadline to get in line with other departments receiving the same grant funds for the same purpose. As part of the grant terms, the city is required to choose from two pre-selected vendors. The other vendor’s bid was for $820,000, and the city chose the less expensive option from Forge Fire Company. The council order to waive the bid process was on the agenda for the night. The motion to waive the bid process was seconded, and the motion passed by consensus. The meeting was then adjourned.
City Council Workshop
You can read the meeting agenda here.
HIV Outbreak
- Director of Bangor Public Health and Community Services provided an update on the HIV outbreak, stating that there have been 26 confirmed cases over a 20-month period, whereas the Bangor area typically sees about two new cases a year.
- It is believed there are more than 26 cases in the community due to challenges with testing, such as stigma, fear, and the difficulty for people in survival situations to accept and navigate a diagnosis.
- The Regional Medical Center at Lubec has stopped providing HIV medical case management services, which is described as a “significant blow” to the community. This means there is no Ryan White Part C provider for five counties in Maine, affecting approximately 140 to 150 people who had previously received these services.
- The federal government allocates Ryan White funds, and it is currently unknown how they will address the lack of a provider for the five counties.
- The Director also mentioned that the federal reconciliation budget eliminated SNAP education, which will result in the loss of three staff members who provided nutrition education in schools and the community.
Teresa’s Place
- The Homelessness Response Manager gave an update on Teresa’s Place, a project with 41 units that has been approved for a certificate of occupancy.
- The project was not conceptualized as a “true housing first model” and requires tenants to have a pristine rental history, which presents a challenge for people experiencing chronic homelessness who were the intended population for the housing.
- Despite these challenges, the Homelessness Response Manager still considers the project a “win” as it will provide 41 much-needed units with supportive services.
- Nineteen applicants have already been approved by the housing foundation and are awaiting final review from Maine Housing, which is the current barrier to opening.
Airport Grant Request
- The airport director presented a request to accept and appropriate an FAA grant of $480,853 for the initial design of the rehabilitation of taxiway alpha. The state will provide an additional $12,654, with the same amount coming from the airport.
- To meet the deadline for signing the grant contract by the 28th, the council was asked to waive two readings for the appropriation.
City Updates
- City Solicitor: The City Solicitor, reported that the legal department has moved back to the newly renovated City Hall. He also gave an update on the vacant building registration ordinance enforcement, noting that the number of properties no longer vacant has increased from 31 to 47 since his last update, and the number of unregistered properties has decreased from 28 to 15. He praised the work of city staff, including the Director of Bangor Public Health, as well as the Homelessness Response Manager, for their compassionate efforts in addressing homelessness and housing issues.
- City Manager: The City Manager, announced that first-round interviews for the public works and finance director roles have been completed with good candidates, and second-round interviews are being scheduled. She also provided an update on the City Hall move, stating that City Hall is scheduled to reopen to the public at its permanent location on August 11th, with city services being unavailable on August 7th and 8th to accommodate the final move. She also mentioned a new state task force created to study real estate property tax relief, which she will be monitoring closely. Finally, she initiated a discussion about whether to reinstate a standalone airport committee. (No new committee will be created at this time.)
City Council Meeting
You can read the meeting agenda here.
The Council approved several measures, including:
- Authorizing the city manager to execute a contract with CNC Lynch Excavation LLC for the 14th Street Walkway and White Pathway Project.
- Authorizing the city manager to execute a contract with Forge Fire Company for a new live fire training building, for which the city received a grant of $679,000.
- Accepting and appropriating a $480,853 grant from the FAA and a $12,654 grant from the Maine Department of Transportation for preliminary design and rehabilitation of taxiways at Bangor International Airport. This resolve (25-236) was moved for passage after a procedural discussion and a roll call vote.
- Referring several items to various committees for first reading, including ordinances to rezone properties and resolves to accept grant funding for overdose prevention and public safety wellness.
