July 21, 2025 Bangor City Council Meeting Summaries

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

You can read the meeting agenda here.

Naloxone Kits

• Staff requested approval to award contracts for naloxone kits in various dosages (4 mg and 3 mg nasal spray, and 4 mg/1ml intramuscular injections).
• The city received eight bids for the kits, and contracts needed to be awarded to multiple vendors because no single vendor could supply all the requested items.
• The program is part of a Maine DHHS distribution initiative, funded by grants available since 2019, with a budget of $754,000.
• The cost per kit was $24 for 4 mg, $34 for 3 mg, and $195 for intramuscular injections. The resolution to accept the grant funding for this program was the first item on the Government Operations (Gov Ops) agenda.

Urban Forestry Management Plan

• The Public Works Forestry Division was awarded a $75,000 grant in August 2024 for an urban forestry management plan.
• The city received five bids, with prices ranging from $53,960 to $137,000.
• Eocene Environmental Group, the lowest bidder at $53,960, was chosen for providing the most comprehensive response.

Fire Department Purchases

• Fire Engine: The fire department requested to purchase a new fire engine from Pierce Manufacturing for $1,158,294, which is under the budgeted amount of $1.2 million. The department maintains a fleet of four fire engines, three of which are frontline engines, and the fourth is a spare. All of the department’s engines and ladders are from Pierce Manufacturing. The purchase would be made under a Houston Galveston Area Council (HGAC) purchasing agreement, a nationwide consortium that bids for fire apparatus. Staff noted that this sole-source procurement is allowed under the city’s purchasing policy because fire trucks are specialized equipment with few suppliers. The last time the city made a purchase under the sole-source policy was in 2023, and it had been done twice before that.
• Ambulance Stretchers: The fire department also requested to purchase three new power ambulance stretchers from Stryker Medical for a total of $191,463, a purchase for which staff is seeking to waive the bid process. The department’s five ambulances are all equipped with Stryker brand power stretchers, which are nearly 10 years old. The power load system in the ambulances is only compatible with the Stryker brand. It was clarified that the request was actually for five stretchers, not three, and that the funding is split between capital improvement funds and a Maine EMS stabilization grant.

Financial Resolutions

• School Department Appropriation: The committee addressed a resolve to amend a previous council resolution to reduce the appropriation for the Bangor School Department. The council had originally authorized $11,756,656, but a change was discovered in the employee benefits section of the school budget, approved by the school committee before June. The new amount is $10,610,573. This was an administrative change that did not affect the school’s overall budget or the tax mill rate.
• Airport Grants: Two resolutions were presented for grants related to the Bangor International Airport.
  • A grant from the FAA ($31,650) and MaineDOT ($831) was accepted for the runway rehab precision approach path indicators. The local share of $831 was already budgeted.
  • An Airport Improvement Program Grant was accepted, providing $4,275,136 from the FAA and $112,530 from MaineDOT for the final 1,580 feet of runway reconstruction. The local match of $112,530 was also already budgeted.

Finance Department Update

• The finance department has hired a new payroll and accounting specialist who started on June 30th.
• A new purchasing coordinator will begin on July 28th.
• The audit for fiscal year 2024 is nearing completion, with the auditors now starting on the fiscal year 2025 audit.
• The department has moved to city hall and is in the process of unpacking and organizing.

Government Operations Committee

You can read the meeting agenda here.

Key Agenda Items:

• Naloxone Funding: The committee discussed accepting and appropriating a $1,706,934 grant for naloxone. This funding is part of an overdose prevention program that has been in place since 2008, with naloxone being added in 2020. The funding is intended to cover two years. The committee recommended that the council approve this item.
• Public Safety Wellness Program: The committee referred a request to accept and appropriate $160,045 from the Maine Department of Public Safety’s State Fire Marshal for a public safety wellness program. This pilot program, described as new, would allow police and fire departments to apply for reimbursement for specialized wellness visits, including cardiac and metabolic screenings. The committee approved a motion to recommend this to the council.
• Reestablishing the Airport Committee: A discussion was held about amending the standing committees to reestablish an airport committee. The committee was last disbanded in 2023, and its responsibilities were assigned to the Business and Economic Development (B&ED) committee.
  • The airport director stated that a separate committee would provide a dedicated platform for communication but noted that the airport’s relationship with the B&ED team is beneficial because the airport is an economic engine.
  • Several councilors expressed that the current system is working well and that the quality and amount of information they receive have not significantly changed since the committee was disbanded.
  • A councilor suggested a compromise: keeping the airport under the B&ED committee but scheduling a comprehensive quarterly update to ensure the airport director has enough time and attention.
  • The consensus was to continue the current arrangement but work on giving the airport’s reports more precedence in B&ED meetings.
• City Clerk Update: City Clerk introduced the new customer service manager and deputy clerk. The City Clerk provided updates on several topics:
  • TRIO System: Modifications are underway to the TRIO software to implement online payments, a process expected to be ready for testing in the next few weeks.
  • Elections and Appointments: Nomination petitions for upcoming elections will be available next week and must be returned by August 26. Advertisements for boards and committee appointments will also begin in August.
  • Office Hours: To address staff overtime and burnout due to a busy lobby at the end of the day, the clerk requested to close the office to the public at 4:15 PM instead of 4:30 PM. This would allow clerks to finish their work by the end of their shift. The committee approved a motion to try this change, noting that the doors would reopen at 4:45 PM for evening meetings.
  • Tax Bills: Tax lien filings have significantly increased to around 600, and the collection rate has dropped from 98% to 95%. Tax bills are scheduled to be mailed on August 6th and will include the new city hall address. The committee also discussed adding information about the tax club and monthly payment options to the tax bill inserts.
• Assistant City Manager Updates: The assistant city manager announced that the first meeting in August would include a comprehensive update on the community connector and a discussion on public restrooms. She also confirmed that staff would provide any available information on the restrooms, including contracts and vandalism reports.

Infrastructure Committee

You can read the meeting agenda here.

Sewer Abatement

• The Director of Water Quality Management presented the sewer abatement summaries for quarters four of 2024 and quarter one of 2025.
• Sewer abatements are granted when water is billed for sewer but does not make it to the treatment plant.
• The most common cause for abatement requests is a leaking toilet, which can leak over 5,000 gallons a day without the resident’s knowledge.
• To be approved for an abatement, residents must show the cause of the water loss has been remedied.
• The committee reviewed and approved three abatements over $3,000.
  • A $13,412.72 abatement for 18 North High Street due to a leaking expansion tank.
  • A $7,294.20 abatement for 1343 Ohio Street (Rainbow Mobile Home Park) caused by a broken water line.
  • A $6,266.74 abatement for the Cross Insurance Center at 515 Main Street because of a faulty pressure relief valve.

Emerald Ash Borer Management Plan

• City of Bangor Forestry Manager provided an update on the city’s plan to manage the emerald ash borer, an invasive beetle that targets and kills ash trees.
• An assessment of over 8,500 city-maintained trees found that more than 20% are ash trees.
• The city is seeking to adopt a management plan created by a Masters of Forestry graduate from the University of Maine.
• The plan’s first phase, which involved injecting 85 ash trees in western Bangor to prevent the spread from a confirmed case in Herman, has already begun.
• The committee unanimously approved a motion to accept the plan.

Other Updates

• Water Tower Lease: The committee approved a motion for a temporary lease agreement between the City of Bangor, the Bangor Water District, Verizon, and T-Mobile for the new water tower at 50 Cleveland Street.
• Traffic Improvements: The city plans to install curb bump-outs at Union and 13th streets and Buck and Third streets to improve pedestrian safety and calm traffic. The project is funded under FI25 and is expected to be constructed in the fall.
• Pickering Square Project: The Pickering Square project, awarded to Streets Landscape, is now underway after significant delays. All underground work was completed last year, and the remaining work includes pavers, benches, lighting, and art panels. The project is expected to be completed by early September.
• MaineDOT Stipend Program: The Maine Department of Transportation has a new pilot program that will provide the city with a $140,000 stipend ($2,000 per intersection) for the maintenance and operation of its 70 traffic signals. The committee referred the agreement to the full council for approval.
• Valley Avenue Speed Study: In December 2024, the engineering department conducted a speed study on Valley Avenue near Bruce Road in preparation for it being used as a detour for a bridge project. The study found that while the average speed is 34 mph, the 85th percentile speed is around 40 mph on the 25 mph road. The department is looking at ways to improve the intersection at Bruce Road by removing a ledge and utility pole to improve sight distance and at the top where it meets Kenduskeag Avenue to force drivers to slow down.
• During the Valley Avenue speed study update, residents expressed concerns about the dangers of the road, particularly the combination of speed and poor visibility for cars coming around the corner at the intersection of Bruce Road. One resident described a personal experience of almost being hit while pulling out of their driveway and noted that the posted “speed 25” sign is often ignored. They emphasized that the area is a “really dangerous spot” and mentioned that a life has already been lost on that road.
• Residents suggested implementing speed tables to slow traffic. The City Engineer confirmed the city had previously tested a similar product on Kenduskeag Avenue, but studies showed it did not make a significant difference in speed. However, residents believed that using multiple speed tables in conjunction might be more effective. Another suggestion from a council member was to make the intersection at Bruce Road a three-way stop to slow traffic and increase safety. The City Engineer responded that stop signs are not generally recommended for speed reduction.
• To address the issue, the City Engineer stated that they would work with the Maine DOT to develop a better plan for Valley Avenue. He suggested that the first priority should be fixing the Bruce Road intersection and the top of the road where it meets Kenduskeag Avenue, as these areas will be impacted when the road becomes a detour. The engineer also mentioned that during the detour, there might be more speed enforcement. He expressed interest in seeing a report from Portland about their success with speed tables, as he and the DOT haven’t seen enough data to be “in love with” them.