Bangor City Council Meeting Summaries for November 10, 2025

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 Workshop agenda by clicking here.

❄️ Winter Parking Plan

The council revisited the winter parking plan to ensure clarity after a previous meeting led to different interpretations. The Interim Public Works Director confirmed the following rules for the upcoming season:

• Daytime Parking: Follows the same rules as the rest of the year.
• Overnight Parking: On-street parking is allowed all winter unless a citywide parking ban or snow clearing order is announced. When a ban is in effect, all residents must find off-street parking.
• Downtown: A downtown-specific parking ban only requires vehicles within that district to move.
• Odd/Even: Odd/even parking rules remain in effect, including during the day and at night.
• Communication: In response to concerns about timely notification, the city will heavily promote its automatic alert system, calling it the “most surefire way” for residents to receive ban information. The city also notifies all local radio and TV stations of bans.

💻 Remote Meeting Participation Policy

The council discussed a staff recommendation to discontinue remote public comment via Zoom due to ongoing disruptions.

• The Problem: Staff reported that they cannot effectively prevent these comments, even with registration tools, due to the use of AI, voice filters, and fake identities.
• The Recommendation: The proposal is to end Zoom public comments “at least for the time being”.
• What’s Still Allowed:
  • Public comment would still be accepted in person, via email, letter, or phone call.
  • The public could still attend and watch meetings remotely via Zoom (in a muted capacity) or YouTube.
  • The policy would permit individuals to request remote comment as a “reasonable accommodation”.
• Context: State law does not require public comment, only public attendance. A survey of other large Maine cities (Lewiston, Auburn, Saco, Biddeford) found they have all discontinued remote comments for the same reason.
• Next Steps: The policy change was placed on the regular agenda for a vote. (The result is discussed below in the regular meeting summary.) The council also discussed procedural options for the night’s meeting, such as moving the agenda item up or passing a motion to suspend remote comment immediately.

🏨 Warming Centers

Director of Public Health provided an update on funding for overnight warming shelters.

• Background: The city received an unexpected one-time General Assistance (GA) payment from DHHS for approximately $157,000. The council previously approved $60,000 of this for warming centers.
• Applications: Two organizations, the Brick Church and Together Place, applied for the funds, and both requested the full $60,000. Their applications showed that the total cost to run their shelters is “well in excess of $100,000” each, covering heat, supplies, and staff stipends.
• New Proposal: Staff recommended allocating an additional $60,000 from the one-time payment, allowing the city to give both organizations the $60,000 they each requested. This would help fund approximately 110 beds.
• Council Action: The item was on the agenda for a first reading. Due to the cold weather and urgency, the council expressed consensus to waive the second reading and hold a final vote to approve the additional $60,000 during their main meeting.

🏛️ Manager Updates: Federal Shutdown Impacts

The city manager reported that the ongoing federal shutdown is impacting Public Health and the Airport.

• Public Health:
  • SNAP: It appears about 95% of recipients will receive their full benefits. The city’s Public Health department can use GA funds to assist the small number who may experience a gap.
  • Heating Assistance: Federal funds have not been released to the state. Bangor residents needing assistance are encouraged to call Public Health to make a GA appointment, as staff can connect them with several city and non-city funded programs.
• Airport:
  • Staffing: TSA employees and air traffic controllers are working without pay. This is causing a “significant morale issue,” and the FAA has seen a spike in daily retirements, from 1-3 up to 15-20.
  • Flights: A 10% capacity reduction at 40 major airports is causing delays and cancellations for flights heading to and from Bangor, as 8 of its destination airports are on that list.
  • Projects & Operations: The shutdown has created critical bottlenecks:
    • An application for Passenger Facility Charges is on hold and set to expire soon, as the required FAA employees are furloughed.
    • A required quality assurance flight check for the newly completed runway has not been done. Without it, the airport may be unable to accept certain flights in severe weather.
    • Background check processing times have doubled.
    • The parts division for the airport’s snow removal equipment (run by the Main National Guard) is laid off, risking equipment downtime.
  • Financials: A prolonged shutdown could significantly harm airport revenues from fuel sales, parking, and landing fees.

Regular City Council Meeting

Click here to see this meeting’s agenda.

🏛️ Key Actions & Decisions

• Warming Shelter Funding Approved: The council waived a second reading to immediately pass a resolve (26-010). This action appropriates an additional $60,000 to support warming shelters. This was done because the city’s original $60,000 appropriation received two applications, both from organizations that needed the full $60,000 to operate. The additional funds will allow the city to fully fund both applicants.
• Remote Public Comment Policy Suspended: The council voted to pass Order 26-011, which amends the city’s policy to no longer allow public comment via remote means (Zoom). This decision was made in response to “recent disruptive behavior”.
• WIC Program Grant Accepted: The council accepted $3,045,785 in grant funding from the Maine Department of Health and Human Services for the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program.

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🗣️ Debate on Remote Public Comment

The council’s decision to end remote public comment (Order 26-011) was the most discussed item of the evening.

Public Opposition:

Several residents spoke strongly against the order:

• It punishes the entire community, including those with disabilities, transportation limits, or work schedules, for the actions of a few “trolls and racist callers”.
• It “rewards the bad actors” by giving them a “win”.
• Residents suggested alternatives, such as mandatory pre-registration, requiring a Zoom account, or simply using the “hangup button” more effectively.
• One resident noted that not embracing technology is a “step backwards”.

Council Discussion & Vote:

• Some Councilors described the policy change as a temporary measure.
• Councilor Leonard stated he would vote yes for now to give staff time to develop a secure, registered system.
• I echoed this, and said I didn’t want to “build the airplane while we’re trying to fly it”.
• Councilor Faloon noted that reasonable accommodations could still be made for those with accessibility issues.
• Councilor Mallar suggested this policy should have an expiration date.
• In response to concerns, the council agreed to place the item on the first workshop agenda in January to revisit the policy.
• The order passed without objection.

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🌙 Closing Remarks

During my closing comments, I wanted to focus on gratitude.

First, I extended my personal gratitude to our City Clerk and her entire team for running such a wonderful election. I heard from many residents about what a positive experience it was, thanks to the friendly volunteers. To see that level of service, combined with an impressive 41% turnout, is a testament to the amazing work our city staff does.

Second, I expressed my deep gratitude to all the staff involved in the decision to increase funding for our warming centers. It has been a great worry of mine, and I am so thankful that we were able to pass that funding tonight. This ensures we have warming center capacity so that nobody is left outside this winter.

Finally, I offered a heartfelt congratulations to our newly elected councilors. I am excited they are here, and I look forward to working with all of them.

Everything on the agenda had passage or was referred.

🏛️ Consent Agenda

• MINUTES: MINUTES OF: Bangor City Council Meeting of October 27, 2025
• ORDER 26-002: Authorizing the Execution of a Municipal Quitclaim Deed for Real Estate Located at 41 Eighteenth Street
• ORDER 26-003: Authorizing the Execution of a Municipal Quitclaim Deed for Real Estate Located at 237 Fourteenth Street
• ORDER 26-004: Authorizing the Execution of a Municipal Quitclaim Deed for Real Estate Located at 256 Grove Street
• ORDER 26-005: Authorizing the Execution of a Municipal Quitclaim Deed for Real Estate Located at 299 Ohio Street
• ORDER 26-006: Authorizing the Execution of a Municipal Quitclaim Deed for Real Estate Located at 748 Kenduskeag Avenue
• ORDER 26-007: Authorizing the City Manager to Execute a Collective Bargaining Agreement between the City of Bangor and AFSCME Council 93, Representing Aircraft Dispatchers
• RESOLVE 26-008: Acknowledging Receipt of the Official Results of the November 4, 2025 Referendum and Municipal Elections

📥 Referrals to Committee and First Reading

• RESOLVE 26-009: Accepting a $7,500 Donation from Fidelity Charitable on Behalf of the Lise and Myles Striar Charitable Fund to Provide for Bangor Residents In Need of Assistance through the Department of Public Health & Community Services
• RESOLVE 26-010: Authorizing the City Manager to Appropriate An Additional $60,000 from a One-Time Payment of $156,970.96 of General Assistance Funding to Support Warming Shelters During the 2025-2026 Winter
  • This item was removed from referrals, received passage of a waiver of the second reading, and then passage of the item itself.

⏳ Unfinished Business

• ORDINANCE 25-294: Amending Chapter 165, Land Development Code, District Map to Re-zone a Property Located at 69 Perry Rd from Industry and Service District (I&S) and Contract Urban Industry District (UID) to Non-Contract Urban Industry District (UID)
• RESOLVE 25-311: Authorizing the City Manager to Accept and Appropriate $3,045,785 in Grant Funding from the Maine Department of Health and Human Services for the Women, Infants, and Children Program

🆕 New Business

• PUBLIC HEARING: Application for Special Amusement License Renewal of Dysarts Service d/b/a Dysarts Service, 1110 Broadway
  • No one from the public wished to speak. The item received passage.
• ORDER 26-011: Amending the City of Bangor’s Remote Participation Policy