Please stay on for the question.

Congratulations to the flag of the United States of America and which stands one nation and indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

It's seven o'clock.

This is a regular meeting of the city council.

I am the city solicitor David Sebcheck.

The chair is unable to make it tonight.

So I uh at this time would call for a motion to elect a chair pro ten.

I'll make that motion.

Who would you?

Oh, and that would be councilor Susan Dean.

Second.

Without objection, uh Councillor Dean, you are Chair Pro 10.

Thank you.

Well, good evening, everyone, and welcome to the regularly scheduled meeting of the Bangor City Council.

Today is Monday, July 14th, 2025.

It is 7 p.m.

We have already heard the Pledge of Allegiance.

So we will begin the meeting with a portion of the meeting that is set aside for public comment.

This is the portion of the meeting set aside for general public comment related to city business that does not appear in this evening's agenda.

Public comment, whether in person or via Zoom, requires a person to state their name and whether they are a resident of Bangor.

The City Council has adopted a public comment policy.

It will adhere to that governance topics, comments considered out of order or offensive or confidential, and a time limit of 15 minutes at the beginning of the meeting.

With the ability of the chair to reopen the public comment at the conclusion of the regular business meeting.

Each person is limited to three minutes during the public comment.

A timer will go off when your time is up.

The public comment period is for city council members to listen, not to respond or debate with persons during the public comment.

Although we may ask you questions.

If you do not live in Bangor or on property in Bangor, please allow those who do to have the opportunity to speak first.

If you'd like to offer comment on any item related to city business not appearing on the regular agenda, you may approach the podium.

On Zoom, the public can be recognized to speak by utilizing the hand raise function or on the phone by pressing star nine.

Obscene, truly threatening, and over-repetitive remarks will be interrupted and removed as will disruptive and disorderly behavior that interferes with the orderly conduct of the meeting.

All statements should respect the dignity and seriousness of the proceeding.

With that, we open public comment.

Good evening.

My name is Scott Party, and I'm a resident of Bangor.

And I'm here tonight to speak about an issue of vital importance to our city's democratic process.

The recent and drastic reduction in public comment time.

Several months ago, this council or previous iteration of it made a decision to significantly cut the time allocated for public comment, reducing it from a full hour at the beginning of the meeting to mere 15 minutes, with a balance relegated to the end of agenda items.

The stated rationale was to prioritize comments specifically related to items on the evening's agenda, ensuring that those directly impacted by current decisions had ample opportunity to speak.

While the intention may have been noble, the practical outcome has been has been far different and deeply detrimental.

We have consistently observed that comments on agenda items are more often than not quite rare.

Yet without fail, there is a consistent and robust desire for the public to speak on matters not on the agenda.

These are the issues that truly concern us.

The everyday challenges and observations that shape our city, city shape our lives in the city.

There are moments when we, the citizens, can directly bring our concerns, our ideas, and our frustrations to our elected representatives.

Furthermore, moving public comment to the end of the agenda has created a significant barrier to participation.

It is now much more difficult to get people to come to these meetings.

Residents feel their input is truly not wanted, and understandably.

Few are willing to wait through an entire agenda, often or sometimes late into the evening, just for a brief opportunity to speak.

This change has effectively discouraged public engagement.

Moreover, a significant portion of the city business is conducted in executive session or secret session.

This lack of transparency, while sometimes legally necessary, unfortunately leaves the public in the dark about many critical decisions, decisions, and discussions.

When so many, so when so much is held behind closed doors, the public comment period becomes even more essential.

Essential avenue for citizens to voice concerns, seek clarity, and hold their government accountable.

To disenfranchise the public by limiting this crucial avenue for direct communication is frankly abhorrent, abhorrent and the principles of open governments, governments.

This is not merely a suggestion.

It is a public complaint and a fervent plea for this council to reverse its position.

Restore the public comment time to its previous length of one hour and return it to the beginning of the meeting, where it truly serves as a welcoming and accessible forum for citizens' input.

Allow your constituents the full opportunity to engage with their government on all matters, not just those you deem worthy of the agenda.

I am well aware that some of you sitting on this council tonight were not part of that of the body when this decision was initially made.