Bangor City Council Meeting – September 8, 2025
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Bangor City Council Meeting – September 8, 2025
The Bangor City Council held its regular meeting on Monday, September 8, 2025, at 7:00 PM. The meeting began with a proclamation declaring September as National Recovery Month, followed by public comments, consent agenda approvals, passage of two ordinance amendments, and action on several orders including opioid settlements, appointment of a new finance director, property transactions, and referral of a council communication issue to the ethics board.
Proclamation: National Recovery Month
- Mayor Cara Pelletier (read by Michael Beck) proclaimed September 2025 as National Recovery Month in Bangor, citing 490 overdose deaths in Maine in 2024 (down from 606 in 2023) and an estimated economic impact of $1,400 per person annually in Penobscot County. Scott Party, president of Fresh Start Inc., accepted the proclamation.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Ricky Hall (property owner, 121 Fourth Street) raised concerns about an abandoned property owned by US Bank that is now in city hands, requesting the city clear the overgrowth and allow him to purchase the lot. He noted the overgrowth creates a rat habitat and described unsanitary conditions at an adjacent property.
- Scott Party (Bangor resident) urged the council to prioritize homelessness and substance use disorder, stating the crisis is a financial burden on taxpayers. He cited the decreasing number of overdose deaths but increasing overdoses, and called for investment in long-term solutions like supportive housing and treatment.
- Susan Falun (Bangor resident) thanked the council for the proclamation and urged education on substance abuse. She reported that the Bangor fire chief told her the department responds to five or six overdose calls daily. She also criticized a council member’s actions that she said cost the city about $100,000, emphasizing the need for fiscal responsibility.
- Hillary Simmons (Bangor resident) criticized the selective approval of proclamations under Council Chair Cara Pelletier, specifically noting that Black History Month was denied while Pride Month and other proclamations were approved. She argued this undermines the council’s role to represent all residents and urged a fairer process.
- Jamie Beck (Bangor resident, wife of Councilor Michael Beck) urged proactive action on homelessness and housing. She cited a Bangor Daily News article and expressed frustration that the council is reactive rather than proactive. She warned that people will die outside this winter due to the loss of a warming center, and called for the council to create housing solutions.
Consent Calendar
- Approved minutes of the August 25, 2025 meeting.
- Order 25-259: Authorizing the city engineer to discontinue a portion of Miller Street.
- Order 25-260: Authorizing a contract with CTR Maine for a new parking revenue control system ($283,559.10).
- Order 25-262: Authorizing partnership agreements with Bangor and Brewer school departments for school-based tobacco treatment.
- Order 25-263: Authorizing purchase of three police patrol vehicles from Darling’s ($151,527).
- Item 25-264 (custodial services contract) was removed from consent and moved to new business.
Unfinished Business
- 25-256 (ordinance to designate Taylor Field as a safe zone with elevated drug penalties) passed unanimously (9-0).
- 25-257 (ordinance amending land development code to allow private schools, training facilities, and recreational uses on major arterials in the rural-residential district) passed unanimously (9-0).
New Business
- 25-264 (custodial services contract with SJ Services/Star Janitorial) was postponed to the September 22 council meeting after a motion by Councilor Dean, seconded by Councilor Tremble. Councilor Tremble raised concerns about the company’s alleged labor practices in other states, including payroll and field labor standards issues. The motion passed without objection.
- Public Hearings (Special Amusement License Renewals)
- Cross Insurance Center (Global Spectrum LP) – license renewed unanimously.
- The Terratine (81 Park Street LLC) – license renewed unanimously.
- 25-265 (order authorizing settlement in opioid litigation with eight small pharmaceutical manufacturers, adding $1.1 billion nationally) passed unanimously. Councilor Beck confirmed that the advisory committee on opioid settlement funds will advise on these funds.
- 25-266 (order authorizing settlement with Sackler family and approval of Purdue Pharma bankruptcy plan, totaling $6.5 billion over 15 years) passed unanimously. Councilor Beck confirmed the same advisory committee will advise on these funds.
- 25-267 (order authorizing appointment of Stephanie Kimball as Finance Director, with a starting salary of $116,605 and a three-year term) passed unanimously. Ms. Kimball expressed gratitude and commitment to process improvements.
- 25-268 (order authorizing reassignment of lease at 110 Hildreth Street to Maine Recycling Corporation) passed unanimously (9-0). Councilor Mallor expressed concern about the below-market lease rate, but was assured by Economic Development Officer Begita Hernandez Smith that the lease would be renegotiated if the sale (next item) falls through.
- 25-269 (order authorizing sale of 110 Hildreth Street to Maine Recycling Corporation for $2,091,600) passed 8-1, with Councilor Mallor voting no. He reiterated his concern about the lack of earnest money deposit.
- 25-270 (order referring the issue of private communications between city councilors after the May 7 budget workshop to the Board of Ethics for an advisory opinion) passed 7-2, with Councilors Fournier and Tremble voting no. Councilor Leonard, who brought the order, explained he wanted a clear standard on what constitutes a walking quorum and private communications. Public comment from Scott Party supported transparency. Councilor Hawes and others noted the matter had already been reported in the newspaper.
Key Outcomes
- Proclamation for National Recovery Month approved.
- Consent agenda items approved (one item postponed to new business).
- Ordinance designating Taylor Field as a safe zone passed (9-0).
- Ordinance amending rural-residential district to allow private schools and training facilities on arterials passed (9-0).
- Custodial services contract (25-264) postponed to September 22, 2025.
- Special amusement licenses for Cross Insurance Center and The Terratine renewed.
- Opioid settlement orders with small manufacturers (25-265) and Sackler family/Purdue (25-266) both passed unanimously.
- Stephanie Kimball appointed as Finance Director (25-267) unanimously.
- Lease reassignment to Maine Recycling (25-268) passed unanimously.
- Sale of 110 Hildreth Street to Maine Recycling (25-269) passed 8-1.
- Referral of council communication issue to Board of Ethics (25-270) passed 7-2.
- Meeting adjourned after closing comments, including congratulations to Ms. Kimball and a report on a tour of American Cruise Lines.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening and welcome. This is a regular meeting of the Bangor City Council. Today is Monday, September 8th, 2025, and it is 7 p.m. We begin our meetings with the Pledge of Allegiance. I'd like to ask our economic development officer, Begita Hernandez Smith to lead us in the pledge. Thank you. Thank you, Madam Chair. Um proclaiming September as national recovery month, whereas National Recovery Month is a national observance held every September to educate Americans that substance use treatment and mental health services can enable those with a mental and or substance use disorder to live a healthy and rewarding life. And whereas recovery month celebrates the gains made by those in recovery, just as we celebrate health improvements made by those who are managing other health conditions, such as hypertension, diabetes, asthma, and heart disease. And whereas this observance reinforces the positive message that behavioral health is essential to overall health, prevention can work, treatment is effective, and people can and do recover. And whereas substance use disorders are a major public health problem that affect people of all ages and backgrounds due to a significant medical, societal, and economic costs. And whereas the economic impact of substance use disorders in Penobscot County is estimated at approximately $1,400 for every man, woman, and child each and every year. And whereas overdoses in Maine claim the lives of 490 people in 2024, down from 606 deaths in 2023. An indication that more people than ever before in Maine are accessing life-saving treatment, recovery housing, and peer support services that empower them to s to live satisfying, rewarding lives. And whereas Penobscot County is home to thousands of people in recovery from substance use disorders who are leading healthy, fulfilling lives, and are considered assets to the community. And whereas the city affirms that the people affected by substance use disorder are our children, parents, family, friends, and community members, deserving of our love, compassion, and support. Now, therefore, I, Michael Beck, on behalf of Cara Pelletier, mayor of the City of Bangor, on behalf of the City of Council, do hereby proclaim September as National Recovery Month in Bangor. And I like to invite Scott Party, president of Fresh Start Incorporated to accept this. Very impressive. Yes, go ahead. Do we need to pause for a technical issue? Sure. We are streaming and it is recording. So I think we can proceed. Okay. We just want to make sure if someone can't watch it live, then they can at least access it afterward. Okay. Okay. We will move on to uh the portion of the meeting set aside for general public comment related to city business that does not appear on this evening's agenda. Public comment, whether in person or via Zoom requires you to state your name and whether you're a resident of Bangor. The city council has adopted a public comment policy we will adhere to that governs 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 public comment at the conclusion of the regular business meeting. Since it is campaign season and we have a few candidates in the room, a reminder that our public comment policy does not permit statements for or against a candidate for political office. Each person is limited to three minutes during the public comment period. The public comment period is intended for city council members to listen, not to respond or debate with persons during public comment, although we may ask questions. If you do not live in Bangor or own 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. That's working, but the mic was muted before. Okay, is that microphone on? Can we double check, please? That would help. Council members, city officials, fellow citizens of Bangor. My name is Ricky Hall. This is my wife Christine. We own property at 121 Fourth Street. And we're at the corner of Warren. Immediately next door on 4th Street. That's an abandoned property. I've been conferring with code enforcement office. All the last couple of years or so.
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