Bangor City Council Committee Meeting Summaries December 1, 2025

Summaries of Bangor City Council committee meetings held on December 1, 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.

Finance Committee

You can read the meeting agenda by clicking here.

Bids and Purchases: Tandem Axle Plow Trucks

Staff presented a bid recommendation for two tandem axle dump plow trucks.

Selection: The department recommended purchasing two fully outfitted trucks from Freightliner of Maine. The purchase includes two different configurations: one dump side body and one hook lift body.
Pricing and Tariffs: Freightliner was the low bidder because they did not add a tariff to their price, whereas two other vendors added a $7,000 tariff.
Budget Adjustments: The capital purchase budget was approved for $529,866. To cover a shortfall of $16,163, the department will reallocate funds from a project completed under budget and postpone the purchase of a large loader steel plow and a stump grinder.
Timeline and Model Year: The Fleet Director clarified that while 2026 models are currently available, the trucks will be built as 2027 models, which are released in the spring. The turnaround time for the build is 12 weeks.
Outcome: The Committee voted to move the recommendation to the City Council.

Legal Orders: PCHC and Maine State Housing Authority

The Assistant City Solicitor presented an order authorizing a leasehold mortgage and security agreement between Penobscot Community Health Center (PCHC) and Maine State Housing Authority regarding the Hope House land.

Context: PCHC leases the land from the City. To secure funding from Maine State Housing Authority, PCHC is required to enter into this mortgage agreement.
Liability and Terms: If PCHC defaults, Maine State Housing Authority would step into PCHC’s position. The City retains the right to consent to any transfer to a third party, and the usage of the property must remain consistent with the original lease conditions.
Outcome: The Committee voted to move the recommendation to the next Council meeting.

Administrative Updates

RFP Documentation: Councilor Mallar requested that completed bid forms and proposals be included in future agendas. It was agreed that providing digital access to these documents is sufficient to avoid printing large volumes of paper.

Business and Economic Development Committee

Click here to read the agenda for this meeting.

Land Development Code Adjustments

The committee discussed and voted on specific changes to the land development code presented by the City Planning Officer.

Arterial Definitions & Farm Sales:
- The committee reviewed changes regarding “major” and “minor” arterial definitions, specifically affecting lots on Ohio Street.
- Currently, active farm sales are only permitted on major arterials; this change allows “working farms” on non-major arterials to sell products directly to consumers.
- This change effectively makes existing non-conforming properties conforming regarding sales and allows the use to transfer to new owners.
- Action: A motion to approve the changes was moved, seconded, and passed.
Buffer Requirements:
- A proposal was introduced to remove the requirement for off-street parking to be buffered when adjacent to the Government and Institutional Service District (G&ISD) zones.
- The rationale is that G&ISD is an intensive zone (hospitals, offices) where buffering is less critical than it is for residential zones.
- Action: A motion to forward the buffer requirement request was moved and seconded.

State Housing Law Updates (LD 1829, 427, 997)

Staff briefed the committee on three state laws passed regarding housing affordability. Draft changes to local ordinances are expected next month.

LD 1829 (Density & ADUs):
- ADUs: Municipalities must allow Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) on both multi-family and single-family lots.
- Density: Residential districts must allow at least three units per lot generally, and four units per lot if inside the growth boundary.
- Planning Board Review: Projects creating four or fewer units can no longer require Planning Board approval; they will undergo staff review instead.
- Training: Planning Board members are now legally required to attend land use planning training. Training cost paid for by the city.
LD 427 (Parking):
- Municipalities cannot require more than one parking space per unit.
- Allowable distance for off-site parking is increased from 500 feet to 0.25 miles.
LD 997 (Commercial Zones):
- Requires allowing residential uses in commercial zones. Bangor likely already complies due to existing mixed-use allowances but is awaiting final rulemaking.

Division Overviews & Updates

Planning Division

Current Projects: The division is updating the historic preservation ordinance and the land development code (first draft expected this winter).
Climate & Grants: Active projects include installing bike racks and EV chargers (recently installed at Pickering Square) and finalizing an EV for city use.
Historic Preservation: An architectural survey is near completion, with a presentation for developers planned for January.

Economic Development Division

Scope: The division focuses on business support, property management (city and airport owned), and managing the Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ).
Education Partnerships: The city is collaborating with Husson University and the government of Aruba to attract international students to the region.
Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ): The division is onboarding its first FTZ operator, who is projected to save approximately $100,000 annually through the program.
Bangor Central Kitchen: The project is approaching the construction phase, with bid proposals currently under review.

Challenges Identified

Warehouse Space: There is a shortage of warehouse space, which hinders the attraction of larger businesses.
Financial Literacy: A primary hurdle for small business growth is a lack of financial literacy; the committee discussed the possibility of the city offering or facilitating finance courses.

Labor and Workforce Development

Councilor Leonard requested that future agendas include discussions on labor relations and connecting the unemployed (specifically utilizing resources like Job Corps) with open positions.
Staff noted there is an active regional committee working on workforce development with the Federal Home Loan Bank, which will be presented at a future meeting.

Government Operations Committee

Note: I serve as the Chair of the Government Operations Committee.

Click here to read the agenda for this meeting.

1. Grants and Financial Resolves

Community Paramedicine Program: The committee approved a resolve to accept $243,225 from the Cole Foundation. This program, in collaboration with St. Joseph’s and the Fire Department, will launch in January to support patients post-discharge, those with chronic conditions, and those impacted by social determinants of health.
- Question: Future Funding and Expansion I asked if the funding organization (or the state) would be interested in expanding the funding to continue the program if this pilot proves successful.
- Answer: The Public Health Director confirmed there would be interest in expansion. They highlighted two key factors for the program’s future:
  1. Data Collection: A researcher has been brought on board to work with the data to prove the program’s efficacy.
  2. Sustainability Model: A portion of the grant funding is specifically allocated to hire a person to build a “financial sustainability model.” This person will determine how to bill insurance providers (like Anthem and MaineCare) so the city can financially sustain the program itself after the grant ends.
- Follow-up Question: Billing Application to Other Areas I followed up by recalling a previous mention that the education regarding medical billing would “spill over” to other roles, such as the HIV case management program.
- Answer: Yes. Public Health is currently looking into billing for other areas, including case management and lactation services, to diversify their funding sources beyond just grants.
Wabanaki Public Health MOU: The committee ratified staff action to enter a memorandum of agreement for office space for the intensive case management program at a rate of $395/month. Funding for this will come out of the funds awarded from the opioid settlement, and was included in that original proposal for intensive case management for HIV.
Nurse Practitioner Integration: The committee authorized an application for up to $50,000 in Opioid Settlement Funds to place a Nurse Practitioner within the “one-stop shop” for one year. This aims to provide higher-level care (wound management, triage) and establish a sustainable billing model for future revenue.
Authorizing the City Manager to Apply up to $2,200,000 in Grant Funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s FY2025 Continuum of Care Competition and Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program Grants for Permanent Supportive Housing and Support Services
- HUD Funding Crisis: The Public Health Director reported a significant change in the Maine Continuum of Care (CoC) funding process, which now caps permanent supportive housing at 30%.
  - This may result in a funding cut from the usual $1.5 million to approximately $500,000.
  - To mitigate this, the City will apply for “support services only” (street outreach) funding to bridge the gap.
- This item was approved by the committee.

2. Other Committee Business

Opioid Settlement Advisory Committee: The committee voted to extend the authorization of this advisory group through June 30, 2026, to allow them to complete grant scoring and evaluate their process.
- Extension Timeline: A councilor asked if the proposed June 30, 2026, date was sufficient, expressing openness to authorizing a full year if needed. The City Manager explained that the June date was chosen to give the committee time to complete their current recommendations and then evaluate whether the committee process itself worked well before extending it further.
- Committee Vacancy: I asked if the Council should appoint a new member immediately to replace a member who recently resigned. Council Chair (and Opioid Settlement Advisory Committee Chair) Hawes advised against this, noting it would be difficult to bring a new person up to speed in the middle of the current grant scoring process, and suggested adding a new member only after the current round is complete.
- Future Governance: I also raised a question about how future tranches of settlement funding will be decided, emphasizing that the committee should have input on those funds. I also suggested that the Council should eventually discuss making this a standing committee to manage the issues ongoing. No actions taken on these suggestions at this time.
Municipal Waste Hub Board: The committee authorized the City Manager to cast votes for the three nominees for the Municipal Waste Hub board. It was noted that member Aaron Huotari (Bangor’s former Public Works Director) would be stepping down from their role on the board and a conversation about a replacement would need to be had at that time.

3. Homelessness Response & Railroad Encampment

The Homeless Response Manager Position
- Current Status: The position is currently vacant following the resignation of the previous manager.
- Hiring Strategy: The City Manager and Public Health Director decided not to rush to fill the vacancy immediately. Instead, they intend to “think and rethink” the position to ensure it is useful for the city and community going forward.
- Funding Challenges:
  - The funds for this position are grant-based and currently frozen; if not used for this specific role, the money cannot be used elsewhere.
  - The funding must be spent by the end of 2026 or it returns to the federal government.
  - The City Manager noted that recruiting for the role will be difficult because the short timeline (funding ending in 2026) makes the job less attractive to candidates.
- Refining the Role:
  - Councilors and staff agreed that the previous manager was forced into “crisis management” and “boots on the ground” work due to the sheer volume of need.
  - The Council envisions the future role as a “logistician” or system organizer who coordinates resources, appointments, and rehabilitation methodologies rather than performing direct case management.
The Advisory Committee Concept
- Strategic Planning: The Council discussed forming an advisory committee comprised of experts and community partners to move the city from “crisis management” to a “strategic plan”.
- Role of the Committee:
  - The committee would help advise the Council on what to look for in a new Homeless Response Manager.
  - They would gather evidence and best practices from other cities so the Council can make informed decisions rather than “throwing spaghetti on the wall”.
  - The committee could provide support to the new manager, helping with data and statistics so the manager is not overwhelmed.
- Funding and Resources: There was mention from one councilor about leveraging the “substantial opioid money” and the committee process used for those funds as a model or resource for this new housing initiative.
- Actions Taken
  - While there was no formal vote to hire a new manager or finalize the committee that night, the Committee gave specific directives to staff:
    - Committee Structure Proposal: The Council directed staff to bring back a proposal for what this advisory committee would look like to the next meeting for discussion.
Update on the Railroad Encampment
- The City Manager and Public Health officials provided an update on the current encampment located along the railroad tracks.
- Closure Date: The city has notified individuals living at the railroad encampment that the city intends to close the site with a target date of December 19, 2025.
- Current Statistics: The Bangor Community Action Team (BCAT) inventoried 37 sites at the location and spoke with approximately 18 to 20 individuals.
- Safety Concerns: The primary driver for the quick deadline is safety, specifically the risks posed by an active railroad, the difficulty for emergency responders to access the area, and impending winter weather. It was noted that trains require snow removal equipment that blows snow off the tracks, which creates a hazard for those living adjacent to them.
- The Housing Barrier: It was noted that many individuals at the site already possess housing vouchers. However, barriers such as a lack of available units, pricing limits, and landlords unwilling to rent to this population prevent them from securing housing.
- Public Opposition to the Closure
  - Health Risks: A representative from the Maine Recovery Action Project warned that displacing people disrupts access to harm reduction and medical care, which could exacerbate the current HIV outbreak and increase overdose deaths.
  - Lack of Plan: A member of the Advisory Committee on Racial Equity, Inclusion, and Human Rights argued that moving people without a destination is “kicking the can down the road” and severing their community ties.
- The Proposal: A Sanctioned Encampment
  - In response to the cycle of displacing people who have nowhere to go, the Committee discussed the creation of a sanctioned encampment.
  - Rationale: Councilors expressed that current methods are “insanity” involving repeated displacement. They argued that a sanctioned site would allow the city to set rules, regulations, and guidelines while providing stability.
  - Benefits: A sanctioned site could include dumpsters, hygiene facilities (bathrooms/running water), and easier access for social workers and logistics.
  - Economic Argument: It was argued that homelessness is economically draining on the city (e.g., high emergency room bills) and that investing in a stabilized site would be more financially responsible than allowing the issue to fester.
  - Potential Funding: The Committee discussed using Opioid Settlement funds to help support the infrastructure of such a project, as many affected individuals suffer from substance use disorders.
  - Location and Logistics
    - Site Selection: The Committee acknowledged they likely need to utilize city-owned land, as officials overseeing state properties (specifically the Dorothea Dix Psychiatric Center) have been unresponsive or unavailable.
    - Partnerships: It was emphasized that the city cannot run this alone and would need to form a coalition with community partners and organizations to manage the site effectively.
  - Committee Actions and Next Steps
    - While no formal vote was taken to create the camp immediately, the Committee reached a consensus on specific directives:
      - Directing Staff to Find Sites: The Committee instructed city staff to research and identify potential sites for a sanctioned encampment over the course of the current week.
      - Special Meeting: The plan is to hold a special Government Operations meeting on the following Monday to review the proposed sites and potentially move forward with a council order.
      - Maintaining the Deadline: Despite the discussion of a new site, the closure date for the railroad encampment remains set for December 19th due to the immediate safety risks.