The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About2025-02-24 City Council Minutes MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING BANGOR CITY CO UNCIL—FEBR UARY 24, 2025 at 7:00 PM Meeting called to order at 7:00 PM Chaired by Council Chair Pelletier Councilors Absent:Leonard Meeting adjourned at B:OS PM PUBLIC COMMENT Colleen O'Neal spoke regarding comments made at tlze last Ciry Council meeting and felt the City Council should be focusing on other things. Michael Furrow spoke regarding the ongoing drug problems in the city. Julie McCarthy, Jae Echevarria,Luke S. spoke regarding the planned sweep of the encampment. James Gallagher spoke regardi�g lhe general safery in the downtown area and wanted a meeting to discuss the issues. Suzette Furrow wanted the Committee on Racial Equity,Inclusion and Human Rights disbanded Trisha Quirk agreed that the comrnents made by the public at the last meeting should not be acceptec� She also commented that the drug problem needed to be addressed Doug Dunbar spoke regarding the problems surrounding mental hea[th. 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 from the Consent Agenda for discussion. An item will only be removed if a City Councilor requests its removal to New Business. MINUTES OF: City Cou�cil Meeting of February I0, 2025, Government Operations Commiltee Meeting of February 3, 2025,and Business and Econonzic Development Coinmittee Meetings oJ'January 6, 2025,January 22, 2024 and February 3, 2025 Action: Approved 25-075 ORDER Autlaorizing the City Manager to Accept�$S00 Donation DEANE from Carrot Top Corp to Assist with Supplies for the Milk and Cookies Postpartum and Lactation Support Group Action: Passed 25-076 ORDER Authorizing t{ze Purcfiase of Sports Field Lighting for t/ze FISH Union Street Cornplex from RL Todt[&Son,Inc. in tlze Amou►tt of$9I2,312 Action: Passed Page 1 MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING BANGOR CITY CO UNCIL—FEBR UARY 24, 2025 at 7:00 PM CONSENT AGENDA ASSIGNED TO ITEMNO. CDUNCILOR 25-077 ORDER Authorizing the City Manager to Execute an Agreement FISH with the Maine Department of Transportation, Overweight Construction Vehicles-MDOT Projects: 028224.00 US Route 2 Cyclical Pavement Resurfacing Aclion: Passed 25-078 ORDER Authorizing the City Manager to Execute an Easement lo LEONARD Bangor Savings Bank for a Pedestrian Access Right of Way to Properry Adjacent to 36 Pleasant Sfreet Action: Passed REFERRALS TO COMMITTEE AND FIRST READING ASSIGNED TO ITEMNO. COUNCILOR 25-079 ORDINANCE Amending Chapter 165,Land Development Code,District FISH Map to Re-zone a Property Located at 870 Broadway from High-Density Residential District(HDR) to Shopping& Personal Service District(S&PS) Action: First Reading and Referral to Planning Board Meeting on March 4, 2025 UNFINISHED B USINESS ASSIGNED TO ITEM NO. COUNCILOR 25-067 ORDINANCE Arreending Chapter 165,Land Development Code,District TREMBLE Map to Re-zone a Property Located at 86l Broadway from Contract Industry& Service District(I�FS) and Low- Density Residential District(LDR) to Shopping& Personal Service District(S&PS) Action: Motion made and seconded for Passage Vote: 8—0 Councilors i�oting Yes:Beck,Deane, Fis/z, Fournier, Hawes,Mallar, Tremble,Pelletier Councilors voting No:None Passed 25-068 RESOL VE Accepting and Appropriating Fiscal Year 2024 Homeland TREMBLE Security Grant Program Funding frorn the Maine Emergency Management Agency for t{ae Police and Fire Departments in tlae Total Amount of$96,247 Actio�z: Motion made and seconded for Passage Passed Page 2 MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING BANGOR CITY CO UNCIL—FEBR UAR Y 24, 2025 at 7:00 PM UNFINISHED B USINESS ASSIGNED TO ITEMNO. COUNCILOR 25-069 RESOL I�E Accepting and Appropriating a Grant Award from the FOURNIER Northern Border Regional Co►nmission in the Amount of $500,000 for the Construction Costs for the Bangor Central Kitchen Project Action: Motion made and seconded for Passage . Passed NEW B USINESS ASSIGNED TO ITEMNO. COUNCILOR PUBLIC HEARING: Application for a Renewal Casino Operator License of HC HAWES Bangor,LLC d16/a Hollywood Casino Bangor, S00 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 25-080 ORDER Authorizing the City Manager to Accepl a Donatiort from BECK Author Jessica Blood to Support the City's Canine Teams Action: Motion made and seconded jor Passage Passed 25-08I ORDER Establishing a Special Committee on the Future of a MALLAR Consolidated Parks&Recreation Facility Action: Motion made and seconded for Passage Passed 25-082 ORDER Accepting tlie 2025 Bangor Housing Study Prepared by FISH HR&A Advisors and to Add the Study as an Appendix Document to the Comprehensive Plan Action: Motion made and seconded for Passage Passed Page 3 MINUTES OFREGULAR MEETING BANGOR CITYCOUNCIL—FEBRUARY24, 2025 at 7:00 PM NEW BUSINESS ASSIGNED TO ITEMNO. COUNCILOR 25-083 ORDER Authorizing the Execution of a Consent to Sublease the HAWES Shelter Space at Hope House Health and Living Center, an Amendment to Lease with Penobscot Community Health Center,and Related Documents It was previously determined that Councilor Beck has a conflict of interest. Councilor Beck left the room. Action: Motion made and seconded for Passage Passed Council Beck returned to the meeting. ATTEST: Lisa J. Goodwi ,MMC, Ciry Clerk Page =� ' , G�v`n�� '�%��,�� //��,, l�,/�/.��./s ,�� d l e� I would be remiss if I didn't address an item from the Last meeting.This councit spent over 70 minutes debating a resolution an inclusion and equality. Once you passed the resolution,you all patted yourselves on the back. However, not ONCE did I hear any council member rebuke the comments made by members of the audience calling those who did not agree with the resotution, mainly councitwomen Carolyn Fish, a Neo-Nazi, among other disgusting and highly offensive names.This behavior is neither inclusionaty nor equal and your hypocrisy is palpable. How convenient this was done just before a special election. This Council needs to make a formal apology to Counselors Fish, Mallar, Fornier, and Hawes for allowing your own biases to cloud your judgement and not stopping the personal attacks against these individuals while the council was in session.Again, not very inclusionary and extremely hypocritical given the agenda item.Shame on every one of you who participated in this disgusting display. Instead of taking 70 minutes on a nonsensical resolution,why didn't you take 70 minutes to tatk about your failed policies on homelessness. Numerous NGO's received millions in . ARPA funds allocated by the city to address this issue. However, it's worse than it was before the funds were distributed. It's worse because you're not addressing the entire picture' .Your focus is on affordable housing but what about jobs?Do you expect the state to add to the nearly 3 BILLION dollars it spends on welfare?Do you want to keep people in poverty by giving them handouts or end poverty and homelessness by giving Chem a hand up. None of the ARPA funds went to tocal businesses. Instead, it went to NGOs with no accountability and communication between them to actually make a difference. OH, I forgot. You spent $250,000 on a toilet that can't be used because you didn't do your homework.Take 70 minutes to talk about economic development.What have you done to secure businesses in Bangor?Every week it seems like another business is shuttering its doors.Where are the tax incentives for businesses to move to Bangor.Where is the economic growth,the training,and the job retention?Bangor has lost more citizens in the last ten years than any other city in the state.Yet,you want to do a reevaluation of homes following#he post- COVID madness and increase taxes. Not because you need to but because the State Legislature allowed you to do so by releasing the cap on what municipalities can charge. How many more citizens do you want to lose because they can't afford to live here. If you want more affordable housing, lower the property tax. If I had a rental property,the increased tax woutdn't be eaten by me,that's just bad business. Instead, it would fall to the renter. I'm not an economist but that's simple math. Take 70 minutes to address the drug problem.Again, millions went to NGOs with no change.You paid half the salary to Home Equity Atliance for needle pick up. Now that Home equity Altiance has tast its ticense, i'm assuming the city is either going to fork over the ather hat€{at tax payers expense}or have no pick up of dirty needles at atl.Of note,it was mentianed at the last councit meeting the city manager woutd be looking at a program where the city takes over the nesdle pragram.Again,at what expense to the taxpayers. l.00k at solving the drug prablem, not condoning drug use at the expense of the citizens. it's not warking,The drug issue has not decreased.There is a 550°lo increase in HIVJAIDS in Bangor. Likewise,there are increases in Chtamydia,syphitis,and gonorrhea.Additionatly, after a 30-year absence,we are now seeing a resurgence of congenital syphilis in the state of Maine.These diseases are what the needle pragram and so-calked harm reduction was supposed to prevent. lt's not working.Why are we spendin�the money?I looked at the jail roster for the iast six weeks.Twenty percent of those arrested were on drug charges.The majarity were not just simple pt�ssession charges but aggravated trafficking. Don't you see that handouts are nat true solutions;you are inviting those with substance use disorders to came here and the t�affickers are taking advantage of; it making it even harder to get off iltegal substances and stay drugfree.You're keepingfalks with substance issues just above rock bottom where they would normaEly seek help.You're not helping them.Yau're torturing them. Take 70 minute�to come up with reat solutions. Take 70 minutes to look at what the city needs-not what a small minority wants Take 70 minutes to do your jobs, balance the budget and stop paying for things that do nathing but raise aur taxes and hetp no one February 24, 2025 Good evening, I stand before you today with a pressing question: Why did our city decide to stop issuing proclamations after approving one that declares us a welcoming and accepting community?And more importantly, why was Black History Month deemed unworthy of recognition through a proclamation? Proclamations are more than just words on paper; they are a symbol of our city's values and commitment to its people. They affirm the contributions of diverse communities, acknowledge our shared history, and help foster a sense of belonging. When a city chooses to recognize an issue or a celebration, it sends a powerful message that it values and respects those it honors. So, why, after adopting a general proclamation about being welcoming and inclusive, did the city council decide that no others were necessary? If we are truly an inclusive city, shouldn't we continue to affirm that commitment by recognizing events and communities that have shaped our history and continue to influence our present? One cannot help but wonder: was this decision made to serve the city as a whole, or was it an effort to serve the personal agenda of one council member? Did the chair of the council push forward a broad proclamation that satisfied her own interests and then dismiss the importance of other proclamations that celebrate individual groups and historical moments? This is not about politics or personal ambition—it is about principles. It is about recognizing that being "welcoming and accepting" is not a one-time statement but a continuous effort. It is about understanding that Black History Month is not just a celebration—it is a necessary acknowledgment of the struggles, achievements, and resilience of Black Americans who have shaped our nation and our local community. We must ask ourselves: if we refuse to proclaim Black History Month, what does that say about our commitment to diversity? If we refuse to acknowledge the history and contributions of marginalized groups, are we truly a city that welcomes and accepts all? I urge our city leaders to reconsider this decision. Inclusivity is not just about making one grand statement and calling it a day—it is about ongoing recognition, action, and affirmation. Let us ensure that all communities feel seen, valued, and celebrated. Let us make it clear that Black History, and all history, matters in this city. Thank you. Hilari K. Simmons-Resident of Bangor