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Home My WebLink About2025-12-08 26-044 OrderCITY COUNCIL ACTION Council Meeting Date: Item No: Responsible Dept: Requested Action: Summary Committee Action Meeting Date: For: Against: City Manager City Solicitor Finance Director Map/Lot: Introduced for: Order Committee: Action: Staff Comments & Approvals Date: Item No: Assigned to Councilor: 26-044 DECEMBER 8,2025 � � � ,, �,.,d w m :.=. .m � CITY oF BANGOR CITY OF BANGOR CITY COUNCIL AND COUNCIL STANDING COMMITTEE PUBLIC COMMENT POLICY While under Maine law, neither the City Council nor its Standing Committees, with limited exceptions, are required to accept public comment, the City Council recognizes the value of ensuring that the public has a fair and adequate opportunity to be heard, and to express opinions and concerns related to the business of the City. Therefore, the intent of this policy is to allow for a limited public forum for public comment for members of the public to share information and opinions on subjects while ensuring that the time allowed for public input does not interfere with the business of the City Council and its scheduled agenda. All public comment should be directed to the Council or Committee Chair, and immediate response from the Councilors or staff should not be expected, as public comment periods are not intended to be an opportunity for a discussion. To carry out these purposes, the following rules and procedures shall govern public comment at City Council and Standing Council Committee meetings. City of Bangor Ordinance §9-8, Standing Committees, identifies the following Standing Committees: Finance, Government Operations, Business & Economic Development, Infrastructure, and Personnel Committees. 1. GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT A. City Council Meetings General public comment is the portion of the City Council meeting set aside for public comment for concerns related to City business not appearing on the regular agenda. Public comment,-��N��:�-1��r�:�-i�-1��=�- �.�aw��-�� w��-�"��rvi��,, requires a person to state their full name and whether they are a resident of Bangor. Those who live or own property in Bangor will have the opportunity to speak first. General public comment�rel�ted tca Citv bu�ines� will be limited to three (3) minutes per speaker. The general comment period rel�ted te� City business will be for u te� ��u�tl� �?"��,� ��:�:�� h� ��'�� minutes nearthe beginning of all City Council meetings. '��"��g�� °�°��°� norar�rJ od�.00�� c��+�e r�r�� g��oo�, �7�` ��a�� "�� .��The c�ener�l cc�rnrnent peric�d rel�ted tc� Citv business�vvill nc�t exceed sixt 60) rninutes in c�rder-to allow the Council to conduct its business out of courtesy for those attending the meeting for a specific agenda item. The Council Chair has the discretion to reopen the general public comment rel�ted tc� City business at the conclusion of the City Council business_ ��i�-��.��-��=��s��s��lw��=��ll�� -��-i�-ir�r�i��r��:�. The Council Chair�Ise� has the discretion to alter the above time limitations. B. Standing Committee Meetings, Council Workshops, Emergency Meetings, and Special Meetings No general public comment periods will be conducted at standing committee meetings, workshops, emergency meetings, or special meetings of the City Council unless it is required by law or contains a public hearing agenda item specifically. However, the Chair of the Standing Committee has the discretion to alter the above limitation on general public comment periods at standing committee meetings. 2. RULES GOVERNING GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT PERIODS A. Since meetings are broadcast live and recorded, persons wishing to speak must preface their comments by giving their full name and whether they are a resident of Bangor. Bangor residents or those who own property in Bangor shall have the opportunity to be heard first on matters directly relating to City business that are not included on the regular agenda. Public Comment Policy 1 26-044 DECEMBER 8,2025 � � � ,, �,.,d w m :.=. .m � CITY oF BANGOR B. Comments must be limited to issues or concerns directly related to Bangor municipal government business. Public comment on matters not related to City business is not allowed, so as to ensure that all meetings are carried out in a productive and efficient time and in keeping with the interests of all who attend and participate in a public meeting. C. Comments related to the following will be ruled out of order by the Chair: 1) Specific situations that are in litigation, including those in which the City is a party; 2) Individual employees and/or employee groups discussing matters for which complaint or grievance procedures are in place; 3) Personal disputes between the speaker and other private residents not germane to City business; 4) Support for or opposition to any candidate for political office; and 5) Personnel complaints pertaining to alleged misconduct of individual employees, as these are handled through a different, confidential process, per 1 M.R.S. §405. D. Individuals will be restricted to speaking once during the general public comment period. E. Individuals addressing the City Council shall direct their remarks exclusively to the Chair. The public comment period is an opportunity for residents to express their views on matters relating to City business, and is not intended as an opportunity for discussion. F. All statements should respect the dignity and seriousness of the proceeding. G. Obscene, truly threatening, and overly repetitive remarks will be interrupted and removed, as will disruption and disorderly behavior that interferes with the orderly conduct of the meeting. 3. ADDRESSING SPECIFIC AGENDA ITEMS Public comments will be allowed during regular Council or Standing Committee meetings on those items requiring a public hearing and on other items appearing on the agenda upon which the City Council or Standing Committee are taking action upon or where direction is being provided to staff. No public comments shall be permitted on informational reports or communications from boards and commissions, staff or other organizations or entities; or administrative action implementing prior action of the Council or Committee where that prior action had permitted public comments. 4. RULES GOVERNING ADDRESSING SPECIFIC AGENDA ITEMS A. Since meetings are broadcast live and recorded, persons wishing to speak must preface their comments by giving their full name and whether they are a resident of Bangor, and those who reside in or own property in Bangor shall have the opportunity to be heard first. B. Individuals will be restricted to speaking once for each specific agenda item unless otherwise authorized by the Chair. Public Comment Policy 2 26-044 DECEMBER 8,2025 � � � ,, �,.,d w m :.=. .m � CITY oF BANGOR C. Individuals shall direct their remarks exclusively to the Chair. D. All statements should respect the dignity and seriousness of the proceeding. E. Obscene, truly threatening, and overly repetitive remarks will be interrupted and removed, as will disruption and disorderly behavior that interferes with the orderly conduct of the meeting. Public Comment Policy 3 IN CITY COUNCIL DECEMBER 8, 2025 CO 26-044 Hilari Simmons thought the policy should stay as it is with 15 minutes at the beginning and then more comment at the end of the meeting if needed. Katie Coe appreciated extending the time. Motion made and seconded for Passage Motion Doubted Vote: 5 —4 Councilors Voting Yes: Beck, Carson, Leonard, Walker, Hawes Councilors Voting No: Deane, Faloon, Fish, Mallar Passed ��:,w�,��° '" .�� °,„�,��"��,°��*°.�� CITY CLERK