Bangor City Council Meeting - September 22, 2025
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Bangor City Council Meeting - September 22, 2025
The Bangor City Council met on September 22, 2025 at 7:00 PM. The meeting included public comments on a range of topics, approval of a consent agenda, a vote on a custodial services contract, indefinite postponement of an easement item, renewal of a special amusement license, and two ethics referrals concerning council members.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Hillary Simmons (Bangor resident) urged council members to avoid using phones for personal distractions during meetings, emphasizing that divided attention erodes public trust.
- Chris Hendricks (homeowner and resident) reported that the Subway sandwich shop at 570 Stillwater Avenue has had broken heating and air conditioning for two years, affecting employees. He asked the council to investigate whether city ordinances require businesses to provide adequate heating/cooling.
- Justin Cartier (Bangor resident) spoke about recent events involving Charlie Kirk (apparently a controversial figure, though not detailed). He called for peace, unity, and avoiding divisive rhetoric, quoting Martin Luther King Jr.
- Joel Lawler (Hampden, but involved in Bangor) reported a neo-Nazi propaganda group (Patriot Front) distributing stickers downtown on September 14. He and others removed the materials and have since worked with Bangor PD, local officials, and community groups. He offered to help analyze data on disaffected youth and urged the council to form a task force.
Consent Calendar
- Minutes of September 8 and September 15, 2025 council meetings, and committee meetings from July 21, August 4, and September 15, 2025 were approved.
- Order 25-272 (quit claim deed at 194 Warren Street), 25-273 (Parks and Recreation partnership with Bangor Rotary for trail signage), 25-274 (agreement with Karen Gardner for HIV case management), 25-275 (subordination agreement for 21 Eaton Place), 25-276 (co-foundation grant for community care, $243,225), 25-277 (state grant for housing stability, up to $400,000), 25-278 (collective bargaining agreement with AFSCME for airport operations), and 25-280 (donation of 18 trees from Bangor Beautiful) were all approved unanimously.
- Item 25-279 (easement for Grangoromain 1 LLC on Gilman Road) was removed from the consent agenda at the request of Councilor Trumbull, after the director of engineering reported that the landowner now wishes to discontinue the right-of-way.
Discussion Items
- Custodial Services Contract (Order 25-264): The council debated a contract with SJ Services d/b/a Star Janitorial and Integrated Services for custodial services at Bangor International Airport, City Hall, and Public Health and Community Services Facilities. Councilor Trumbull opposed, citing concerns that the low bid (saving $40,000 over three years) would likely reduce wages for workers, who are already near minimum wage. He also noted the cleaning hours at the public health facility were cut in half, and preferred the incumbent local company. Councilor Dean supported the staff recommendation, noting the bidder was well-suited. The public comment from Hillary Simmons raised a past conflict-of-interest allegation (from 2005) that was resolved by court. The council voted 6-1 to pass the order, with only Councilor Trumbull dissenting.
- Easement on Gilman Road (Order 25-279): After removal from consent, Councilor Trumbull moved to postpone indefinitely, which was seconded and passed without objection. The item was postponed indefinitely.
- Special Amusement License Renewal (Main Tavern Inc., 152 Main Street): The public hearing was opened, no one spoke, and the hearing was closed. The council voted unanimously to approve the renewal.
Key Outcomes
- Ethics Referral 25-282 (Councilor Maller): The council voted 6-0 to refer to the Board of Ethics the question of whether Councilor Maller’s actions during the August 14, 2025 Historic Preservation Commission meeting violated the city’s code of ethics. The referral specifically asks whether he violated sections 33-13.1 B, C, or D (including improper communication with commission members during a recess) and section 33-1 (failure to maintain public confidence). Councilor Trumbull introduced the referral, citing public testimony from two weeks prior. Councilor Maller noted that he had brought a separate ethics referral against Trumbull later in the agenda, calling it “retaliation.”
- Ethics Referral 25-283 (Councilor Trumbull): The council voted 4-2 to refer to the Board of Ethics the question of whether a councilor violates the code of ethics by taking and circulating nomination papers for another councilor. Councilor Maller introduced the referral, though Councilor Trumbull was not named in the order. The public comment from a resident (Scott Party) urged the council to step back from infighting. Councilor Fish and Councilor Dean explained their yes votes: Fish said an independent review is good when there is a public question; Dean said he voted to send it to ethics to get a determination that no impropriety occurred. Councilor Trumbull and Councilor Fournier voted no. The order passed 4-2.
- Councilor Pelletier’s Resignation: Councilor Trumbull, in closing remarks, expressed sadness over the resignation of Councilor Pelletier (the former chair) and urged the council to set a positive, collaborative tone going forward. He noted that there are two more meetings left in his term.
- Announcements: Councilor Beck promoted two community events on Saturday: Recovery Palooza and Bangor’s first multicultural fair at the library.
Meeting Transcript
I hope I probably turn them on a speaker. Welcome everyone. Uh, this is a regular scheduled meeting of the Bangor City Council. Uh, today is September 22nd. It is 7 p.m. And as usual, we start off every meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance, and I'll ask uh assessor Phil. The United States of America, which stands one nation under God, individual with liberty and justice for all. Thank you, Phil. Um, so this is uh portion of the meeting set aside for general public comment related to city business that doesn't appear on the evening's agenda. Public comment, whether in person or via Zoom requires a person to state their name and whether they're a resident of bang or city council has adopted a public comment policy that we will adhere to the to that governs topics, comments considered out of order or offensive or confidential, and a limit of 15 minutes at the beginning of the meeting with the ability of the chair at the conclusion uh to add additional time. Um the public comment period towards city council members is to listen, not to respond or debate with persons during the public comment period. If you do not live in Bangor or own a 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 raised function or on the phone by pressing star nine. Um, when it's uh any comments to three minutes, as we have been doing for the last couple of years. With that, I will open it up. Hillary Simmons, resident of Bangor. Ladies and gentlemen, fellow residents and honorable council members. I rise today to address an issue that may seem small at first glance, but carries weight when it comes to trust, respect, and accountability in our community. When the public enters the chamber, they expect focus. It is people's business conducted in people's house. Yet too often eyes drift downward, screens light up, and thumbs begin to tap. That message this sends, whether intentional or not, is one of distraction and divided priorities. If a resident or a taxpayer is addressing this council, pouring their heart into a concern about safety, housing, or taxes, and sees a counselor scrolling on their phone, it can feel like their voice is being ignored. That damages trust. But there is a difference between using a device for council business and using it for personal distraction. The public knows the difference too. The solution is not to ban technology outright, but to exercise discipline and respect. When counselors are in session, the priority must be the agenda before them, not the notifications buzzing in their pocket. By modeling focus, we show residents that their concerns matter more than that text. An email or a social media feed. In closing, I ask this council to reflect. How do we want to be seen by those we serve as leaders fully engaged in the matter at hand, or as individuals too distracted to give them the attention they deserve? The answer, I believe, is clear. Let you keep your eyes where they belong, on the people, on the issues, and on the future of this community. Thank you. Thank you. Hi there, my name is Chris. I'm a homeowner, resident. Um City Bangor. Chris, your last name? Hendricks. Thank you. Sorry about that. Um, kind of a strange one. I'll try to be brief. Um love the city, bought a house here. Um my wife and I uh like to go to the subway on Stillwater, 570 Stillwater Avenue, um, right down the street. We went there in June, and the temperature had to be almost 100 degrees inside. We asked the employees um what's going on.
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