Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-07-28 City Council Minutes (3) MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING BANGOR CITY COUNCIL—JULY 28, 2025 Meeting called to order at 7:00 PM Meeting Chaired by Council Chair Pelletier Councilors Absent: Tremble Meeting adjourned at 7:31 PM PUBLIC COMMENT Scott Pardy and Aimi Baldwin spoke regarding the need for property tax relief. Chris Hendricks, 401 Essex Street, wanted to speak with someone regarding the condition of his neighbors property to get it cleaned up. 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: Bangor City Council Meeting of July 14,2025, Finance Committee Meeting of July 21, 2025 and Government Operations Committee Meetings of June 16, 2025 and July 2I, 2025 Action: Approved 25-238 OR�ER Authorizing the City Manager to Execute An Agreement LEONARD With Maine Department of Transportation for 2025 Operation&Maintenance of all Traffic Signals within the City of Bangor Action: Passed 25-239 ORDER Accepting an In-Kind Donation of an Outdoor Gazebo HA WES [�alued at�950 for the Bangor Fire Department Action: Passed 25-240 ORDER Amending City Hall Hours from 8:00 AM-4:30 PM to BECK 8:00 AM-4:1 S PM Effective August Il, 2025 Action: Passed 25-241 ORDER Authorizing.the City Manager to Execute a Te�nporary MALLAR Lease Agreement with the Bangor Water District for Co�nmunication Devices to be Placed on the New Water Tower Located at SS Cleveland Street Action: Passed Page 1 MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING BANGOR CITY COUNCIL—JULY 28, 2025 CONSENT AGENDA ASSIGNED TO ITEM NO. COUNCILOR 25-242 ORDER Authorizing the City Manager to Execute Contracts with TREMBLE Padagis ITS,LLC and Remedy Alliance, LLC for the Purchase of Naloxone Action: Passed 25-243 ORDER Authorizing the Execution of a Collective Bargaining MALLAR Agreement between the City of Bangor and American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 926-09, Council 93-Representing Customer Service Representatives Action: Passed REFERRALS TO COMMITTEE AND FIRST READING ASSIGNED TO ITEM NO. COUNCILOR 25-244 RESOLVE Accepting and Appropriating an Airport Improvement FISH Program Grant in the Amount of$4,275,136 from the Federal Aviation Administration and$112,503 from Maine Department of Transportation for the Airport Runway Action: First Reading 25-245 RESOLVE Accepting and Appropriating an Airport Improvement DEANE Grant Under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Program in the Amount of$31,605 from the Federal Aviation Administration and$831 from Maine Department of Transportation Action: First Reading UNFINISHED B ITSINESS ASSIGNED TO ITEM NO. COUNCILOR 25-231 ORDINANCE Amending Chapter 165,Land Development Code, District MALLAR Map to Re-zone a Property Located at 509 Kenduskeag Avenue from High-Density Residential and Urban Residence 1 District to High-Density Residential Action: Motion made and seconded for Passage Vote: 8—0 Councilors T�oting Yes:Beck, Deane, Fish, Fournier, Hawes,Leonard,Mallar,Pelletier Councilors T�oting No:None Passed Page 2 MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING BANGOR CITY COUNCIL—JULY 28, 2025 UNFINISHED B ITSINESS ASSIGNED TO ITEM NO. COUNCILOR 25-232 ORDINANCE Amending Chapter 165,Land Development Code, District FISH Map to Re-zone a Portion of a Property Located at 1017 Union Street from Government&Institutional Service District to Shopping&Personal Service District Action: Motion made and seconded for Passage Vote: 8—0 Councilors T�oting Yes:Beck, Deane, Fish, Fournier, Hawes,Leonard,Mallar,Pelletier Councilors T�oting No:None Passed 25-233 RESOLVE Accepting and Appropriating$1,706,934 from the Maine LEONARD Department of Health and Human Services to Support an Overdose Prevention and Naloxone Distribution Program for Fiscal Years 2026 and 2027 Action: Motion made and seconded for Passage Passed 25-234 RESOLVE Accepting and Appropriating$160,045 in Funds from the HAWES Maine Department of Public Safety Office of the State Fire Marshal for Public Safety Wellness Reimbursement Action: Motion made and seconded for Passage Passed 25-235 RESOLVE Amending Council Resolve 25-201 To Reduce the DEANE Appropriation for the Bangor School Department in Excess of the Minimum Spending Target Established by 20 A MRSA Section 15671(A)(4) Action: Motion made and seconded for Passage Passed NEWBITSINESS ASSIGNED TO ITEM NO. COUNCILOR PUBLIC HEARING: Application for Special Amusement License Renewal of HAWES Pike&Peppard,LLC d1b/a Barliman's, 2 Hammond Street Action: Motion made and seconded to Open Public Hearing Public Hearing Opened Motion made and seconded to Close Public Hearing Public Hearing Closed Motion made and seconded for Approval Approvecl Page 3 MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING BANGOR CITY COUNCIL—JULY 28, 2025 NEW BUSINESS ASSIGNED TO ITEMNO. COUNCILOR PUBLIC HEARING: Application for Special Amusenzent License Renewal of HAWES Smoke&Steel LLC d/b/a Smoke c�Steel, 47I Stillwater Avenue Action: Motion made and seconded to Open Public Hearing Public Hearing Opened Motion made and seconded to Close Public Hearing Public Hearing Closed Motion made and seconded for Approval Approved PUBLIC HEARING: Application for Special Amusement License Renewal of Sea HAWES Dog [�entures,Inc. d/b/a Sea Dog Brewing Co., 26 Front Street Action: Motion made and seconded to Open Public Hearing Public Hearing Opened Motion made and seconded to Close Public Hearing Public Hearing Closed Motion made and seconded jor Approval Approved Councilor Mallar left the meeting. 25-246 ORDER Authorizing the Purchase of Fire Truck from Allegiance FOURNIER Fire& Rescue in the Amount of$I,158,294 Action: Motion made and seconded for Passage Passed Councilor Mallar returned to the meeting. ATTEST: � ' �, Li a J. Goo win,MMC, City Clerk Page -� - `` + l Ck.� �Ci �✓✓1✓l'l-2�{..� r r� ���0 :�� �� ;,. . Good evening. My name is Scott Pardy, and I am a resident of Bangor, I am speaking tonight about the relentless increase in property taxes and its devastating ripple effect throughout our community. We are witnessing a horrifying trend: the direct correlation between escalating property tax burdens and the tragic expansion of our homeless population. For many Bangor residents, especially those on fixed incomes, rising taxes are not just an inconvenience;they are a direct threat to their ability to keep a roof over their heads. When homeownership becomes prohibitive, families are forced into housing instability and, for far too many, outright homelessness. Our city is becoming increasingly unaffordable, and the human cost of this crisis is visible on our streets every day. Our tax policies are, in part, contributing to the very problem we are trying to solve. This leads me to a critical question: What is our current property tax collection rate?If that rate is indeed down, as many of us suspect, then we must confront the uncomfortable truth: our taxes have simply become too tugh for our citizens to bear. A declining collection rate indicates we are pushing our residents beyond their financial limits. If we are taxing our citizens to the point where the city cannot effectively collect,then the system itself is broken. I understand and appreciate the vital need for essential city services�ur poli�e, fire, public works, and schools are the backbone of our community. I also fully support the well-being and fair compensation of our dedicated city employees. These are non-negotiable necessities. However., a critical balance must be struck. If our drive to fund these services 1;hrough property taxes pushes citizens past their breaking point, leading to widespread distress and a diminished collection rate, we are failing our residents and jeopardizing the city's long-term fiscal health. Beyond essential services, we must scrutinize how our tax dollars are being spent. We cannot afford to fund unsustainable projects or take on bond issues we can't afford. We must ask: How much did the city go over budget because something as fundamental as wiring at city hall was forgotten?What was the additional cost to send those public outhouses back to be made ADA compliant after they were already installed?These are significant expenditures that directly impact our budget and, by extension, our property tax rates. These examples raise serious questions about oversight and accountability. Who is minding the store when these costly errors occur? Where does the buck stop? Our citizens deserve transparency and assurance that their hard-earned money is being�nanaged with the utmost care and competence. We need clear answers and a commitment to preventing such avoidable expenses. And let's not turn a blind eye to the direct consequences of these failures. We see the woman living in the public outhouse by the library. This is not just a statistic; it is a human being, a member of our community, forced into unimaginable circumstances. Her presence is a stark reminder of the urgent need for change and compassionate action. Councilors, we must re-evaluate our approach. We need a property tax strategy that is sustainable, equitable, a�irl c�mpassionate. One that ensures our city can provide excellent services without inadvertently creating more homelessness or forcing long-term residents out of - �.. . . . p � ; their homes. Let us find innovative solutions that protect our tax base by protecting our taxpayers, and let us ensure responsible stewardship of every dollar. Thank you for your time and your commitment to a stronger, more affordable Bangor. �'i N� ;{ �y (� , I,l.���6C' �t��e�� / � Q � !J�''�� Good evening Councilors and fellow residents. For thi record, my name is Aimi Baldwin, and I am both a proud resident and a local realtor here in Bangor. I stand before you tonight to address a critical issue that deeply impacts the fabric of our co�mmunity: property taxes and their profound effects on our most vulnerable citizens. Bangor is a wonderful place to call home, but the rising burden of property taxes is creating an " unsustainable situation, particularly for our fixed-inco�me and retired residents. For many, their home represents their largest asset and their most significant source of security. However, as property valuations climb and tax rates follow suit, these residents, who often live on static incomes, find themselves in an increasingly precarious position. They are faced with an agonizing choice: cut back on essential medications, groceries, or utilities, or risk being taxed out of the very homes they've lived in for decades. We are losing the wisdom and stability that these long-term residents bring to our neighborhoods, simply because they can no longer afford to stay. We must consider the human cost of these rising'taxes and explore avenues for relief, such as targeted tax deferral programs or expanded homestead exemptions, to ensure our seniors can i age in place with dignity. ) Furthermore, it is impossible to discuss the economic pressures on our residents without acknowledging Bangor's undeniable role as an epicenter for homeless people in the northern half of our state. While we are a city that offers vital services and support, this also means we bear a disproportionate share of the challenge. The connection between rising property taxes, escalating housing costs, and the growing crisis of homelessness is undeniable. When the cost of living becomes prohibitive for those on the margins, more individuals and families are pushed into housing insecurity. This, in turn,places immense strain on our emergency shelters, social services, and even our public safety resources. Addressing property tax burdens is not just about financial relief; it's a crucial component of a broader sUrategy to combat homelessness by ensuring more stable and affordable housing options for everyone. � Councilors, the issues of property tax burden and homelessness are intertwined, reflecting a systemic challenge that demands our immediate and co�llaborative attention. I urge you to consider the long-term implications of our current tax sitructure and to actively seek innovative solutions that protect our fixed-income residents and address the root causes of homelessness in our community. Let us work together to ensure Bangor remains a place where all residents, regardless of income or age, can afford to live and thri�e. Thank you for your time and consideration.