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.
Every time I put together a summary I also create a new image to go in the header. I try to be clever and have the picture reflect the weather at the time. I’m ready to start posting pictures of grass and flowers! C’mon Mother Nature… enough with the snow!
City Council Workshop
Click here to read the meeting agenda.
Budget and Administrative Updates
The City Manager presented a tentative schedule for the city budget, proposing a series of 10 weekly meetings (one per department) beginning April 8th. While Wednesdays were selected as the primary meeting night to accommodate counselor schedules, Tuesdays remain an option if additional time is needed. Additionally, the City has issued an RFP for the next audit cycle and received at least two responses.
Public Health Grants
The Council discussed several grant-related items for the Public Health Department:
- HIV Case Management: The City decided not to apply for a standalone HIV grant due to its size but will support a statewide application by the Maine CDC. Separately, the Council agreed to retroactively accept supplemental funding from Maine General Medical Center for existing HIV services.
- Maine Cancer Foundation Grant: Despite concerns from Counselor Mallar regarding Bangor providing services for the entire Penquis Health District (Penobscot and Piscataquis Counties) without county-level reimbursement, the Council voted to apply for a $40,000 annual grant to enhance “Sober October” workplace programs.
- St. Joseph’s Hospital: The Council approved providing a letter of support for the hospital’s grant application regarding behavioral health and substance use disorder.
Parks and Recreation Facility Bond
A significant portion of the workshop was dedicated to the proposed $75 million bond for a new recreation center and ice arena.
- Cost vs. Need: While councilors generally agreed on the need for the facility, many expressed deep concerns regarding the high cost and current economic climate (e.g., rising heating oil prices).
- Alternative Funding: Suggestions were made to seek “funding stacks” including corporate sponsorships, booster clubs, and Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) rather than relying 100% on municipal bonds.
- Referendum Clarification: The City Manager clarified that even if the Council authorizes the bond, city ordinance requires a voter referendum for any amount exceeding $2 million. If voters approve a measure, the Council cannot amend it for three years; however, if it is voted down, there is no such waiting period to bring a revised proposal back.
National League of Cities (NLC) Debrief
Councilors Walker and Carson shared takeaways from the NLC conference in Washington, D.C.. Key topics included:
- The rapid development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its impact on the workforce.
- The national housing crisis and bipartisan federal efforts to address capital needs.
- Strategies for managing opioid settlement funds, which for Bangor totals approximately $2 million over 12 years.
The workshop concluded with a move into executive session to discuss labor negotiations with the transit union.
Regular City Council Meeting
Click here to read the meeting agenda.
Consent Agenda
These items were passed without objection.
- 26-111: Authorizing the Execution of a Municipal Quitclaim Deed for Real Estate Located at 50 Sidney Street
- 26-112: Authorizing the Execution of a Municipal Bill of Sale for Real Estate Located at 317 Cedar Falls Mobile Home Park
- 26-113: Authorizing the Execution of a Municipal Quitclaim Deed for Real Estate Located at 1973 Ohio Street
- 26-114: Authorizing the Sale of Property at 240 Grove Street in the Amount of $57,000.00 to Hai Xavier Nguyen
- 26-115: Authorizing the City Manager to Accept $9,530 in Funds and One Firearm, as Result of a State Criminal Forfeiture (Raines, Sawyer and Ventimiglia)
- 26-116: Authorizing the Execution of a Contract with C & C Lynch Excavation LLC for Sewer System Maintenance and Repair
- 26-117: Authorizing the City Manager’s Appointment of Richard Cromwell as Human Resources Director and the Execution of an Employment Agreement
Referrals to Committee and First Reading
These items were referred.
- 26-118: Amending Chapter 165, Land Development Code, to Comply with New State Laws, LD 1829, LD 427, and LD 997 (First Reading and Referral to Planning Board on April 7, 2026)
- 26-119: Authorizing the City Manager to Accept and Appropriate $426,533 for the Rural Health Transformation Program Nutrition Education Program from the University of New England (First Reading and Referral to Government Operations Committee on April 6, 2026)
Unfinished Business
- 26-094: Amending Chapter 165, Land Development Code, District Map to Re-Zone a Property Located at 26 Walter Street from Urban Service District to Urban Residence 2 District
- Passed
- 26-095: Amending the Code of the City of Bangor to Establish Chapter 46, “Employee Authority in Immigration Matters”
- Postponed until April 13, 2026 by my motion.
- I explained my reasoning for asking for the additional postponement. I have amendments to introduce on the ordinance and I wanted Council to have enough time to review them.
- 26-107: Amending the Code of the City of Bangor to Create a Standing Committee on Homelessness
- Passed
- 26-108: Authorizing Issuance of $75,000,000 of the City’s General Obligation Bonds for a Consolidated Parks and Recreation Facility and a Tax Levy Therefor, Subject to Approval of the Voters of the City of Bangor (Public Hearing)
- Failed, 0-9.
- Many members of the public came out to speak during the public hearing. This is in addition to the dozens of emails I had received over the past few weeks. I am grateful that so many residents took the time to make their thoughts known.
New Business
- 26-120: Submitting Consolidated Parks and Recreation Facility Order 26-108 to Referendum
- Since 26-108 failed, this item became moot. This item failed by the same 0-9 vote.
- 26-121: Referring the Issue of City Councilor Susan Hawes’ Actions During the February 2, 2026 Government Operations Committee Meeting to the City’s Board of Ethics for Advisory Opinion
- Failed, 0-9.
