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Home My WebLink About2024-12-23 City Council Minutes MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING BANGOR CITY COUNCIL—DECEMBER 23, 2024 Meeting called to Order at 7:30 PM Chaired by Council Chair Pelletier Councilors Absent:None Meeting adjourned at 8:04 PM PUBLIC COMMENT Scott Pardy would like to see the properry taxes for Fresh Start reconsidered He also would like to see more pressure to expedite the process for the Hampden waste facility. Hilari Simmons spoke regarding integrity.A copy of her statement is attached to the minutes. Jeremiah Titus welcomed the new Fire Chief. Doug Dunbar invited everyone to get more involved with the encampment and wartning shelters. CONSENT AGENDA ASSIGNED TO ITEMNO. COUNCILOR *Explanatory Note:All items listed in the Consent Agenda are considered routine and are proposed for adoption by the City Council by one motion without discussion or deliberation. Any member of the public may request that the Council remove an item fi•om the Consent Agenda for discussion. An item will only be removed if a City Councilor requests its removal to New Business. MINUTES O�': City Council Meeting of December 9, 2024, Government Operations Committee Meeting of December 2, 2024,Business and Economic � Development Committee Meetings of November I8,2024,December 2, 2024, and December 16, 2024 and Infrastructure Committee Meetings of October 21,2024,November 18, 2024 and Deceinber 16, 2024 Action: Approved 25-032 ORDER Authorizing the City Manager to Execute a Subco�tract FISH with Nortlzer�Light Mayo Hospital in the Amount of $236,409 to Provide Prevention Services in Piscataquis County as Part of the State of Maine's Maine Prevention Network Action: Passed 25-033 ORDER Terminating Health Equiry Alliance's State and Local MALLAR Fiscal Recovery Funds Award in the Amount of $307,646.SI Action: Passed 25-034 ORDER Authorizing Amendment to Cfiristine B Foundation's State LEONARD and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds Award as to Eligible Improvements Action: Passed Page 1 MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING BANGOR CITY COUNCIL—DECEMBER 23, 2024 CONSENTAGENDA ASSIGNED TO ITEMNO. COUNCILOR 25-035 ORDER Authorizing the Execution of a Lease Agreement with MALLAR Pramukh Bangor Suites LLC for the Hotel Parking Lot at 250 Odlin Road Councilor Tremble indicated he may have a conflict of interest as he owns the adjacent property. It was determined that he did not have a conflic� Action: Passed 25-036 RESOLVE Ratifying the City Manager's Actions to Accept a Grant FISH Award from the Maine Bureau of Highway Safety in the Amount of$8,687.I2 for Impaired Driving Enforcement Action: Passed 25-037 RESOLVE Ratifying the City Manager's Actions to Accept a Grant BECK Award from the Maine Bureau of Highway Safety in the Amount of$4,631.40 for Impaired Driving Enforcemenl Action: Passed 25-038 RESOLVE Ratifying Staffs Actions in Agreeing to be a Sub Awardee HAWES to Bangor Housing Authoriry's Application for an EPA Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grant in the Amount of$50,000 for the Expansion of the Public Works Tree Nursery and Compost Programs. Action: Passed REFERRALS TO COMMITTEE AND FIRST READING ASSIGNED TO ITEMNO. COUNCILOR 25-039 ORDINANCE Amending Article II, Section 9-19 of the Code of the City of FOURNIER Bangor,Regular Meetings, to Change the Time of Regular Council Meetings from 7:30 PM to 7:00 PM Action: First Reading and Referral to Government Operations Committee Meeting of January 6, 2024 Page 2 MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING BANGOR CITY COUNCIL—DECEMBER 23, 2024 UNFINISHED BUSINESS ASSIGNED TO ITEMNO. COUNCILOR 25-023 ORDINANCE Amending Chapter 217,Polystyrene,Section 217-4 TREMBLE Exemptions, by Adding an Exemption for Delays and Unreasonable Difficulty Action: Motion made and seconded for Passage Vote: 9—0 Councilors Voting Yes: Beck,Deane, Fish, Fournier, Hawes,Leonard,Mallar, Tremble,Pelletier Councilors i�oting No:None Passed 25-024 RESOLVE Accepting&Appropriating a$350,000 Maine State DEANE Housing Authority Long-term Solutions to Assisting People Experiencing Homelessness Grant - Action: Motion made and seconded for Passage Passed NEW B USINESS ASSIGNED TO ITEMNO. COUNCILOR PUBLIC HEARING: Application for Special Amusement License Renewal of HAWES Penobscot Theatre Company d/b/a Penobscot Theatre Company, I31 Main Street Action: Motion made and seconded to Open Public Hearing Public Hearing Opened Motion made and seconded to Close Public Hearing Public Hearing Closed Motion made and seconded for Approval Approved PUBLIC HEARING: Application for Special Amusement License Renewal of HAWES Timber Kitcherc LLC d/b/a Tirnber Kitchen &Bar, 22 Bass Park Boulevard Action: Motion rnade and seconded to Open Public Hearing Public Hearing Opened Motion made and seconded to Close Public Hearing Public Hearing Closed Motion made and seconded for Approval Approved 25-040 ORDER Authorizing the City Manager to Execute an Interagency BECK Agreement with Community& Economic Development Department to Support Housing Development Action: Motion made and secondedJ�or Passage Passed Page 3 MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING BANGOR CITY CO UNCIL—DECEMBER 23, 2024 NEW B USINESS ASSIGNED TO ITEMNO. CDUNCILOR 25-04I ORDER AuthoriZing the City Manager to Execute an Interagency HAWES Agreement with Water Quality Department to Improve Wastewater Capacity to Support Development Aclion: Motion made and seconded for Passage Passed 25-042 RESOL i�E Ratifying the Ciry Manager's Appointment of Geoffrey E. FOURNIER Low as Fire Chief Action: Motion rnade and seconded for Passage Passed ATTEST.• � Lisa J. Goodw' ,M , City Clerk Page 4 Bangor City Counsel Meeting-Public Comment December 23, 2024 Ladies and Gentlemen, Today, I stand before you to discuss a cornerstone of our democracy: integrity in the city council and the unwavering commitment to-serve our citizens above all else. Integrity is not just a word but the foundation upon which trust is built. As members of the city council, you are entrusted with the responsibility to represent our community's voices, listen, and act in the best interests of ALL citizens(not just the unhoused). This duty demands that you set aside your personal beliefs and biases and focus on the collective good. Our city is a tapestry of diverse backgrounds, opinions, and needs. It is our duty to ensure that every thread of this tapestry is respected and valued. When we make decisions, we must do so with transparency, honesty, and a commitment to fairness. This means engaging with our community, understanding their concerns, and making informed decisions that reflect their needs and aspirations. Standing up for the citizens of our city means being their advocate, their voice, and their champion. It means prioritizing their well-being over personal agendas. It means being accountable for our actions and decisions and being willing to admit when you are wrong. In these challenging times, integrity is more important than ever. It is the beacon that guides us through uncertainty and the anchor that keeps us grounded in our purpose. Let you pledge to uphold the highest standards of integrity, to serve with honor, and always to put the needs of our citizens first. Together, we can build a prosperous,just, and inclusive city—a city where every citizen feels heard, valued, and respected. Let us lead with integrity, and let our actions speak louder than words. I would like to commend Reece Perkins, Chair of the Planning Board, for adhering to the guidelines set forth by the city. During a recent city council meeting, I believe the council voted to overturn the Planning Board's decision regarding 12 Wiley Street. If you review the videos and minutes from both sessions, you will see that the applicant misrepresented facts to the committees. The city counci( should have supported the Planning Board's decision; otherwise, why was the matter brought forward for discussion? Respectfully, Hilari K Simmons Resident of Bangor , �