HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-09-24 12-323 RESOLVECOUNCIL ACTION
Item No—.112--3-2-3
Date: September 24, 2012
Item/Subject: Resolve, Opposing the Referendum to Amend the Charter of the City of
Bangor to Place Conditions on the City Council's Authority to Borrow
Responsible Department: Legal
Commentary: This resolve if adopted, will state the Bangor City Council's opposition to a
November Referendum to amend the Charter of the City of Bangor to place conditions on the
City's authority to borrow. Under the Bangor City Charter, the City Council has the authority to
borrow money for the public benefit without seeking voter approval. Recently, a group of
citizens formed a Petitioners' Committee to place limits on the ability of the City Council to
borrow without voter approval. The Petitioners have secured the necessary 2,236 signatures
from registered Bangor voters, as required by the City of Bangor's Initiative/Referendum
Ordinance, to send the question to the voters in November, of whether to amend the City
Charter to require, under certain conditions, voter approval of borrowing authorized by the City
Council.
The proposed Charter amendment requires that all projects in excess of $1,228,325 would
require a vote with certain exceptions such as borrowing for projects where the debt service is
supported by an enterprise fund. Projects that do not meet the exceptions described in the
proposed Charter amendment, would require voter approval. In addition to new construction
projects such as the arena, fire station #6, and police station, this Charter amendment would
require voter approval for maintenance and replacement items such as replacement of the
downtown parking deck and the new roof at Bangor High School, all of which exceeded the
threshold borrowing limit proposed in the Charter Amendment.
The vote on this proposed Charter amendment is scheduled for November 6, 2012.
Introduced for
Passage
First Reading
Referral
Page _ of
Department Head
Manager's Comments:
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City Manager
Associated Information:
Budget Approval:
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Finance Director
Legal Approval:
City Solicitor
Introduced for
Passage
First Reading
Referral
Page _ of
12-323
SEPTEMBER 24, 2012
Assigned to Councilor Durgin
CITY OF BANGOR
(TITLE.) Resolve, Opposing the Referendum to Amend the Charter of the City of Bangor to Place
Conditions on the City Council's Authority to Borrow
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Bangor has the authority to borrow money for the public
benefit; and
WHEREAS, a group of citizens formed a Petitioners' Committee and secured the signatures of at least
2,236 registered Bangor voters as required by the City of Bangor's Initiative/Referendum Ordinance for
the purpose of sending the question of whether to amend the City Charter to require, under certain
conditions, voter approval of borrowing authorized by the City Council; and
WHEREAS, if in effect in 2012 the proposed amendment to the City Charter would require voter approval
for borrowing authorized by the City Council in excess of $1,228,325 for those projects that do not meet
the exceptions described in the proposed Charter amendment; and
WHEREAS, in the last several years the City has constructed the arena, a new police station, fire
department substation, replaced a downtown parking deck and the roof at Bangor High School, each
requiring borrowing in excess of the proposed threshold and all needed for the public's benefit; and
WHEREAS, the election for the referendum is scheduled for November 6, 2012; and
WHEREAS, it is not in the best interest of the City of Bangor to amend the City Charter to place
limitations upon the City Council for certain borrowings.
BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BANGOR:
BE IT RESOLVED, THAT the City of Bangor opposes the passage of the referendum seeking to
amend the City Charter to place limits and conditions on the City Council's authority to approve
borrowing for the public benefit.
IN CITY COUNCIL
September 24, 2012
Motion made and seconded for Passage
Roll Call Requested
Vote: 7-2
Councilors Voting Yes: Baldacci,
Gratwick, Longo, Hawes, Sprague
Blanchette, Durgin,
(TITLE,)
Councilors Voting No: Gallant, Weston
Pass d
CITY IMERK
Assigned to Councilor