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Home My WebLink About2025-01-27 City Council Minutes MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING SANGOR CITY COUNCIL—JANUARY 27, 2025 Meeting called to order at 7:00 FM Chaired by Council Chair Pelletier Councilars Absent:None Meeting adjourned at 8:00 PM PUBL1'C COMMENT Scott Parry spake regarding the Hampden trash facility and was against landfilling trash, He was concerrzed that the City wouCd not Cower the mill rate when the revaluation was complete and he also felt there should be more time for public comment and that the Council should engage in the conversation. Adam Goode, Jack McKay,Brran Markie,DanieC Carson,Steve Santiago,Adrian Jarvis and Winter Woe spoke in support of the unions receiving the same vacution time as non-union employees. Suzette Furrow was not i,n support of the resolve spoken on at the Council Wprkshop and felt it was based out af fear and nat necessary. Hilari Srmmans requested clarity and reaffirmation of public engagenzent policies. CONSENT AGENZIA ASSIGNEZI TO ITEMNO. CQLTNelLOR *ExpZanatory Note:All items listed in the�ansent Agenda are considered routine and are proposed for adoptian by the Crty Council by ane rrtotion without discussion ar deliberatzan.Any metnber of the public»zay request that the Council remave an ztem,f'rom the C'onsent�4genda,for discussion. fIn itetn will anly be retnoved if a C`ity C`ouneilo�- requests its removal to New Buszness. MINUTES OF: City Cauncil Meeting of January 27, 2025, and Gavernment Operations C'ammitlee Meeting of January 13,2025 Action: Approved 25-OSO ORDER Authorixing the Execution of a Municipal Bill of Sale fvr BECK Real Estate Lacated at I9 Pray's Park 19A Action: Pussed 25-OSX ORDER Authorizing the Execution of a Municipal Quitclaim Deed FOURNIER for Real Estate Located at 67 El�n Street Actian: Passsrl 25-OS2 QRDER Accepting the 2024 Annual�teport.f'rom Historic FISH Freservation Commissiorz Action: Passed 25-053 QRDER Accepting the 2024 Annual Repart from the Planning HAWES Board Action: Passed Page 1 MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING BANGOR CITY COUNCIL—JANUARY 27, 2025 CONSENT AGENDA ASSIGNED TO ITEMNO. COUNCILOR 25-054 ORDER Accepting the 2024 Annual Report from the Penjajawoc MALLAR Marsh/Bangor Mall Management Commission Action: Passed � 25-OSS ORDER Accepting the 2024 Annual Report from the Commission on LEONARD Cultural Development Action: Passed 25-056 ORDER Authorizing a Contract with Epstein Co�nmercial Real TREMBLE Estate for Commercial Realtor Services for an All-Inclusive Commission Rate of Eight Percent Action: Passed 25-OS7 RESOL VE Ratifying Staff Action to Submit a Letter of Interest for BECK Funding through Lubec Regional Medical Center for the Purpose of Providing HIV Medical Case Management in Penobscot and Piscataquis Counties Action: Passed 25-058 RESOLVE Ratifying StaffAction of Submitting a Letler of Inquiry to HAWES the Maine Health Access Foundation for Grant Funds to Assist People with Accessing Primary Care Action: Passed REFERRALS TO COMMITTEE AND FIRST READING ASSIGNED TO ITEMNO. COUNCILOR 25-059 RESOL i�E Accepting and Appropriating$40,000 in Funds from HAWES Ejficiency Maine for the Purchase and Installation of Electric Vehicle Chargers at the Pickering Square Parking Garage Action: First Reading 25-060 RESOL VE Accepting and Appropriating$1 S0,D00 in Grant Funds DEANE from Maine Department of Health and Human Services for an Overdose Response Program Action: First Reading and Referral to Government Operations Committee Meeting on February 3,2025 Page 2 MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING BANGOR CITY COUNCIL—JANUARY 27, 2025 UNFINISHED BUSINESS ASSIGNED TO ITEMNO. COUNCILOR 25-046 RESOL VE Accepting and Appropriating$6,731,241 in Additional TREMBLE Construction Funds from the National Guard Bureau For the Runway Rehabilitation Project at Bangor International Airport and Execution of a Cooperative Construction Agreement Action: Motion made and seconded for Passage Passed 25-047 RESOLVE Accepting andAppropriating$35,698 in Fundsfrom the DEANE Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program for Purchase of an Electric Vehicle and Electric Vehicle Charger Action: Motion�rzade and seconded for Passage Passed NEW BUSINESS ASSIGNED TO ITEMNO. COUNCILOR PUBLIC HEARING Application for Special Amusement License of Fandon HAWES Group LLC d/b/a Seasons On Main, 427 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 of Bangor HAWES Lodge of Elks#244 d/b/a Bangor Lodge of Elks, 108 Odlin Road Action: Motion made and seconded to open Public Hearing Public Hearing Opened Motion made and secorcded to close Public Hearing Public Hearing Closed Motion made and seconded for Approval Approved PUBLIC HEARING Application for Special A�nusement License of Restco,LLC HAWES d/b/a Hilton Garden Inn,250 Haskell Road 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 Page 3 MINUTES OFREGULAR MEETING BANGOR CITY COUNCIL—JANUARY 27, 2025 NEW BUSINESS ASSIGNED TO ITEMNO. COUNCILOR 25-061 ORDER Authorizing Approval of a Community Development Loan FISH to the Cedar Falls Resident Cooperative for the Purpose of Acquiring the Cedar Falls Mobile Home Park at 666 Finson Road in Bangor in the Amount of$500,000 Action: Motion made and seconded for Passage Passed 25-062 ORDER Authorizing an Amendment to a Community Development FOURNIER Block Grant Fund Award to Volunteers of America New England for the Development of Supported Housing Action: Motion made and seconded for Passage Motion Doubted Vote: 8—1 Councilors Voting Yes:Beck,Deane, Fish, Fournier, Hawes,Leonard, Tremble,Pelletier Councilors Voting No:Mallar Passed ATTEST: Lisa J. Goo in, MC, City Clerk Page 4 Hilari K Simmons Resident of Bangor January 27, 2025 Bangor City Council Subject: Request for Clarity and Reaffirmation of Public Engagement Policies Dear Members of the Bangor City Council, I am writing as a concerned resident of Bangor regarding the recent restrictions on public input at workshops and changes to the public comment process at council meetings. These actions seem to contradict the city's stated commitment to being a welcoming, open, and supportive community for all. Public engagement is a cornerstone of transparent governance and critical to maintaining trust between residents and their representatives.While I understand that efficiency and order are important during council proceedings, limiting opportunities for citizens to share their perspectives undermines the very principles of inclusivity and openness that Bangor has pledged to uphold. Specifically, I would like to address the following: 1. Changes to Public Comment at Council Meetings: How do these changes align with the values of openness and transparency? Have alternative methods for community input been considered, such as written comments or designated fo ru ms? 2. Restrictions on Public Speaking at Workshops:What prompted this decision, and what steps can be taken to ensure that citiz�ns still have meaningful opportunities to contribute to discussions that affect our community? To reaffirm Bangor's commitment to fostering a supportive community, I respectfully urge the council to: • Reassess the changes to public engagement procedures with input from residents. • Provide a clear exptanation of the reasons behind these adjustments. • Explore alternative ways to facilitate public participation while maintaining meeting efficiency. ♦ As a resident who values Bangor's sense of community, I hope the council witl take this opportunityto demonstrate its dedication to inclusivity by restoring and enhancing avenues for public involvement. I would welcome the chance to discuss this matter further or participate in any efforts to improve the public engagement process. Thank you for your attention to this important issue. I look forward to your response. Sincerely, Hilari K. Simmons