July 28, 2025 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.

City Council Workshop

You can read the agenda here.

• New Consolidated Facility:
  • A special committee presented its recommendation for a new consolidated parks and recreation facility. The committee confirmed that the current facilities are no longer adequate for long-term use and that a new facility should be built on the Griffin Road property.
  • The proposed facility, which includes a larger ice arena, childcare spaces, multigenerational spaces, basketball courts, and a walking track, is estimated to have a total project cost of $68 million.
  • The committee’s recommendation was to place a ballot initiative for a bond for the project in the November 2025 election.
  • My primary concern was the lack of a detailed financial model that would show the direct impact of the bond on the average taxpayer. I felt that this information was necessary before Council asks the public to vote on such a large financial commitment.
  • The council ultimately voted to have city staff draft the ballot language and provide the requested financial modeling for a future workshop discussion.
• Opioid Settlement Funds:
  • The Opioid Settlement Funds Advisory Committee presented its first recommendation for funding. The goal is to address an HIV outbreak in the greater Bangor area, specifically among unhoused people with co-occurring substance use and Hepatitis C.
  • Bangor Public Health proposed the city hiring two intensive case managers for a two-year period to connect these individuals with treatment and services. The total budget for this plan is $550,200 and includes a component for transportation to help staff reach individuals and get them to appointments.
  • I raised a concern about how the city would build trust with this population, given that many had been displaced by the city itself as a result of closing the Camp Hope homeless encampment. The committee members acknowledged that trust is difficult but explained that they and their community partners are working to build it daily through direct, on-the-ground services.
  • I also suggested partnering with groups like Needlepoint Sanctuary, who already have established relationships with these individuals, to make sure our efforts are effective.
  • The council approved the recommendation, which will now be placed on the next council agenda.

City Council Meeting

You can read the meeting agenda here.

Most notable items from the agenda:

• A motion passed to accept an agreement with the Maine Department of Transportation for the operation and maintenance of all traffic signals in Bangor in 2025.
• An order passed to amend city hall hours to 8:00 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., effective August 11, 2025.
• A resolve passed to accept and appropriate funds from the Maine Department of Health and Human Services to support an overdose prevention and naloxone distribution program. The grant totals $1,076,934 and will be used from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2027.
• A resolve passed to accept and appropriate $160,045 from the Maine Department of Public Safety for a pilot program offering specialized cardiac and metabolic screenings to public safety employees.
• An order passed to authorize the purchase of a new fire truck from Pierce Manufacturing for $1,158,294. All fire trucks purchased since 1982 have been the Pierce brand to maintain fleet consistency, improve safety, and reduce downtime for service.