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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-06-09 Business and Economic Development Committee Minutes City of Bangor Business & Economic Development Committee Minutes Special Meeting June 9, 2025 Members Present at the meeting: Committee Chairman Richard Fournier, Joseph Leonard, Carolyn Fish Members on Zoom: Wayne Mallar Other Councilors present: Council Chair Cara Pelletier, Michael Beck, Dan Tremble, Susan Deane Staff Present: Anne Krieg, Director of Community & Economic Development; David Szewczyk, City Solicitor It is noted that this meeting was inadvertently not live-streamed and therefore, there is no recording. The Chair opened the meeting at 6:00 PM. Director Krieg reviewed the overall project for 8 Harlow Street. The current owners of the property purchased the property in order to avoid the city taking the property for taxes from the previous owner. The city's interest at the time was fixing code issues in the building and entered into a development agreement to ensure the work would happen. The request is to change the name on the development agreement to a new buyer, require a Letter of Credit in a specified amount to ensure the building is brought up to code and to adjust the timeline to complete the project. She also reviewed the contents of the packet for the special meeting. This topic had been previously reviewed by B&ED the week before, and staff responded to the request for more information. Information was shared related to the development agreement and the accompanying letter of credit proposed by staff to ensure the project will be rehabilitated. Additional information was provided as requested previously by Committee member Mallar. Discussion centered on clarification of code enforcement review and the letter of credit. The chair called for a motion. Councilor Fish moved to forward the item to the full Council for a vote. With no second apparent, the Chair seconded the motion. City of Bangor Business & Economic Development Committee Special Meeting June 9,2025-Minutes Councilor Tremble pointed out to the Committee Chair that the Chair may appoint a committee member from the members present to replace the missing committee member. Councilor Beck objected to the Chair doing so, and the Chair requested an opinion of the City Solicitor. City Solicitor Szewczyk indicated he was not aware of any provisions that would prevent a member from being appointed by the Chair to replace the missing member. Committee Chair Fournier appointed Council Chair Pelletier, who agreed to serve. The vote was taken as roll call: Councilor Leonard: No Councilor Mallar: No Councilor Fish: Yes Councilor Pelletier: Yes Councilor Fournier: Yes The motion passed, and the item would be considered at the Council meeting that evening, should Councilors pass a motion to suspend the rules to allow the item to be addressed which was not on the agenda. Councilor Leonard indicated his vote for the motion not to pass was because he was against the Council suspending the rules to consider an item that was not on the Council agenda. Councilor Beck agreed, indicating that he believed the requirement that items be on the agenda is an ordinance provision that can't be suspended. The Chair requested an opinion from the City Solicitor. City Solicitor Szewczyk indicated that a motion to suspend the rules is the vehicle which Council may utilize to take up an item that was not included on the agenda, if the Council sees fit to do so. Minutes prepared on June 10, 2025, by Anne M Krieg, AICP-Director of Community& Economic Development