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Record of Proceedings

Bangor City Council Meeting - October 27, 2025 - Farewell & Public Health

City Council — Monday, October 27, 2025
BodyBangor, Maine
SessionCity Council
DateMonday, October 27, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

We're on the phone by pressing star nine.

0:02

Um, and as always, uh, for the last couple of years, uh, limiting it to three minutes per person.

0:12

With that being said.

0:16

Hi, my name is Richard Ward.

0:18

Just starting.

0:19

You want to uh hit your mic?

0:21

Oh.

0:22

Hello, my name is Richard Ward.

0:24

City Council candidate, live in Bangor.

0:26

First, I'd like to warn the city council that cutting public comments from public meetings is violating their constitutional rights.

0:32

The Supreme Court has ruled that even hate speech is protected speech.

0:36

A man in Los Angeles sued and won 215,000 when he was silenced by the city council.

0:41

Do you want Bangor to be held accountable for selling things speech they don't like?

0:45

I urge you to follow the law and honor speeches, speakers' constitutional rights.

0:49

To the callers that are listening on Zoom.

0:52

If the city continues to censor you, reach out to me and the Foundation for Individual Rights and Freedom and Expression.

1:01

I want to address a trembling trend and propose a path forward that prioritizes real solutions over weakness.

1:07

We've seen a rise in leftist violence, riots, vandalism, and intimidation tactics aimed at silencing the truth.

1:12

Witnessing the murder of Charlie Kirk and how the leftist cheered with glee proved to me that we are not the same.

1:17

He was a man that voiced his opinion, an opportunity for debate.

1:20

Well, I don't agree with everything he said.

1:22

I realized he was a mild-mannered intellectual.

1:24

They don't celebrate because they are strong, but because they are weak and have little in life to enjoy.

1:29

If they will take Charlie Kirk's life and celebrate, they'll do the same for you if you dare hold views that they offend them.

1:35

They know that so far their victims have been unarmed and willing to take a risk to stop their constant violence.

1:40

Charlie Kirk, your son, your daughter, your mother would suffice to these sick, mentally ill deranged demons.

1:45

Do you want to live in a society where leftist journalists, politicians, and activists can commit violence against you and dance with joy?

1:51

Where the police protect the criminals, the district attorney files charges against you for self-defense, and the media deems you a bigot.

1:58

This isn't progress, it's chaos.

2:00

If you're an anti-American scumbag, you back us into a corner where we suffer brutality daily.

2:05

And when someone lashes back, we're supposed to condemn it.

2:07

The left labels anyone who doesn't agree with them a racist, a Nazi, a homophobe, a transphobe, etc.

2:12

Can we truly live in peace with people who are willing to kill you over not wanting to castrate children, abort ninth month babies, and welcome an endless wave of third world invaders.

2:22

We must reject the less violence and demand accountability, not excuses, from those who stoke it.

2:27

I believe it's time for real Americans to stand up and stomp out woke leftist terrorists.

2:31

We must call for elected officials to use the full weight of the federal agencies to crush left-wing terrorism.

2:36

I'm calling for the city to acknowledge the threat that the progressive woke mob poses to everyday citizens that just want to live in peace.

2:42

My message to fellow patriots get ready, speak out now, and train like they want to kill you because they do.

2:47

Thank you.

2:48

Thank you.

3:05

My name is Scott Party, and I am a citizen of Bangor.

3:08

And I want to thank you.

3:09

Uh I want to thank first of all.

3:12

No timing yet.

3:13

Thank you, uh, Rick Fournier and Dan Tremble for doing this all this time.

3:18

And uh I'm sure you will see each other again here and there.

3:22

I'll see Dan somewhere.

3:24

And Rick, uh, I wish you the best in whatever you decide to do.

3:27

And um, I'm sure you'll miss seeing me up here.

3:30

Anyway, uh, thank you for allowing me to speak tonight.

3:33

I emailed you all this week to summarize this is a strategic solution to the human and public health crisis currently plaguing our city.

3:42

The immediate repurposing of the Bangor Armory as a centralized emergency shelter and social hub.

3:49

This move is a multi-layered intervention that solves numerous problems at once.

3:53

Morally, we provide a warm, safe day and night space for our most vulnerable citizens, addressing the moral imperative to care for every resident.

4:02

Publicly, we end the chaos of a decentralized, unhoused population by centralizing services in the Army, our public health department, and our homeless coordinator can finally and effectively locate, engage, and manage cases.

4:18

This is critical for Maine's controlling Maine controlling Maine's largest HIV outbreak and combating the nation the nation's highest rate of hep C among this population, saving lives and public resources.

4:32

Logistically, this solution instantly addresses downtown beautification and safety by drawing individuals away from scattered encampments and interstructured and supportive of our environment.

4:43

Financially, we demonstrate the cooperation the council desires.

4:47

We ask Parks and Rec to consolidate their office needs within the new YMCA, a legit logical and justified request given the significant ARPA funds the city invested in this new facility.

5:00

This interagency synergy minimizes cost to the taxpayers.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Health██████████████████████████26%
Drug Prevention███████████████████19%
Procedural██████████████14%
Homelessness███████████11%
Free Speech And Public Comment████████8%
Engineering And Infrastructure██████6%
Community Engagement██████6%
Public Safety███3%
Public Engagement███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Bangor City Council Meeting Summary - October 27, 2025

The Bangor City Council convened on October 27, 2025, to address several routine orders, grant appropriations, and a contentious rezoning request amid a severe public health crisis. The meeting was marked by a strong emotional farewell to outgoing Councilors Dan Tremble (15 years) and Rick Fournier (18 years), as well as a heated public comment section featuring polarized views on free speech, homelessness, and the city's response to an HIV outbreak.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of minutes from various committee meetings (Angkor City Council, Infrastructure, Business and Economic Development) dated between May and October 2025.
  • Orders 25-301 through 25-307: Authorization of municipal quick claim deeds and bills of sale for various real estate properties at addresses including 7 Shepherd Drive, 21 Hutchinson Street, and 100 Holiday Park.
  • Orders 25-308 and 25-309: Authorization to begin the process of discontinuing portions of Gilman Road and Bushar Road.
  • Order 25-310: Authorization for the city manager to enter into development and option agreements with Collaborative Pre-Development LLC for the former city nursery on Grandview Avenue.
  • Result: Unanimous passage (8-0).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Richard Ward (City Council Candidate): Expressed strong opposition to any restrictions on public comment, citing constitutional rights. He stated full support for his candidacy to protect free speech and urged the city to use federal agencies to combat "left-wing terrorism," labeling the "progressive woke mob" as a threat. He characterized leftist activists as "deranged demons" and called for "stamping out" such behavior.
  • Scott Party (Citizen): Expressed full support for the proposal to repurpose the Bangor Armory as a centralized emergency shelter and social hub to address the HIV outbreak and homelessness. He urged the council to place the proposal on the agenda immediately. He also expressed support for allowing Zoom participants to speak without time limits, noting disagreement with the sentiments of previous speakers but agreement on the value of free speech.
  • Michael Anthony Norton: Requested city intervention regarding an alleged illegal operation at M Power Credit Union involving unauthorized credit card numbers.
  • Hillary Simmons: Expressed full support and deep gratitude for Councilor Rick Fournier, praising his leadership and integrity.
  • "French Toast" (Resident): Expressed frustration with being removed from parks and stated opposition to police using physical force against the unhoused population. He asserted his rights to live in the parks and called for the city to acknowledge the rights of those with nowhere else to go.
  • Eric Palmer: Expressed support for Richard Ward's campaign but was interrupted and silenced for endorsing a candidate (citing council rules). He subsequently expressed full support for ICE and called for the deportation of illegal immigrants to protect white communities. He made a racial hate slur while promoting a website. Councilor Haas later expressed strong opposition to the hate speech, stating that defending such rhetoric violates First Amendment rights for others.
  • Doug Dunbar: Expressed concern regarding the reduction of Zoom access, advocating for increased democracy. He expressed opposition to the city missing $180,000 in potential state funding for warming centers and noted that Bangor currently has zero municipal shelter beds compared to Portland's 537.
  • James Gallagher (Business Owner): Expressed disappointment in the council's process, citing a lack of transparency and the need to stop the meeting due to a pen-throwing incident. He called for the removal of Councilor Leonard, though the context of the accusation was not fully detailed in the transcript.
  • Leon Locato (Pastor): Expressed strong opposition to the Needlepoint Sanctuary rezoning, stating that the location poses a safety risk and should be a rehab center instead. He argued that needle exchanges create more problems and encourage camping out.
  • Willie Hurley (Director, Needlepoint Sanctuary): Expressed support for the rezoning. He described the proposed location as a comprehensive community center for harm reduction and recovery, noting that they have helped over 30 people into detox this year and that the facility is fully prepared to open.
  • Multiple Speakers (Supporters): Including Kate Bailey, Ambrine Rana, Ellen Tarashi, Luke Sicara Flanders, Shelley Sacobi (Rosie), Tiffany Boisine, Susan Willing McKay, Jesse Archibald, Devin McGuire, Devin Ross, Josh, Amy Clark, Grace Nichols, Hannah Wonderly, Zach Campbell, Michaela Prentice, Justin Russell, Kelly Merrill, Mac Thompson, Katana Scannel, Abby Collins, Pat Kimball, Lundy, Ashley, Marrole Sean, and Betsy Lundy. All expressed full support for the rezoning of Needlepoint Sanctuary, citing the urgent need to combat the HIV/Hep C outbreak, the effectiveness of harm reduction, and the life-saving nature of the services.
  • Jeffrey Goldstein: Expressed strong opposition to the rezoning, arguing that the city should not facilitate drug use. He made a homophobic slur regarding Councilor Leonard and stated he would rather let addicted individuals die naturally than provide Narcan.

Discussion Items

  • Ordinance 25-293: Amends Chapter 165-11 to remove application fees for disability variances and Fair Housing Act reasonable accommodations to comply with the ADA and Section 504. Staff confirmed the fee removal is legally required.
  • Ordinance 25-295: Proposes rezoning a 0.42-acre property at 1009 Ohio Street from Neighborhood Service District (NSD) to Government and Institutional Service District (GISD) to accommodate Needlepoint Sanctuary. Economic Development Director Ann Krieg advised the council to evaluate the district's fit for institutional uses rather than the specific proposed development. Councilor Fish raised concerns about "spot zoning" and the precedent of approving a request that historically has been discouraged.
  • Resolve 25-297: Authorizes the acceptance of a one-time payment of $156,970.96 from the Maine DHHS to offset general assistance costs, with $60,000 allocated to support warming shelters.
  • Order 25-312: Amends the schedule of fees to remove the Board of Appeals application fee for disability variances and Fair Housing Act reasonable accommodations (duplicate of the agenda item discussed under 25-293).
  • Farewell Remarks: Numerous speakers expressed regret and gratitude for the service of outgoing Councilors Dan Tremble and Rick Fournier. Councilor Haas reiterated the necessity of protecting free speech even from hate speech. Councilor Trumbull expressed that while he values diverse opinions, he believes the planning board's recommendation is sound. Councilor Fish cast a dissenting vote based on zoning consistency concerns, despite acknowledging the need for the services.

Key Outcomes

  • Consent Calendar & Referrals: All items passed with a vote of 8-0.
  • Resolve 25-311 (WIC Grant): Passed 8-0. Authorizes acceptance of $3,045,785 from Maine DHHS for the Women, Infants, and Children Program.
  • Ordinance 25-293/25-312: Passed 8-0. Fee requirement for disability variances and reasonable accommodations officially removed from the City Code.
  • Ordinance 25-295 (Needlepoint Sanctuary Rezoning): Passed 6-2. Councilors Fish and Mallor voted against the measure. The vote authorizes the change of the 1009 Ohio Street property to GISD to allow the permanent operation of the Needlepoint Sanctuary syringe exchange program.
  • Resolve 25-297 (General Assistance): Passed 8-0. Authorizes the $156,970.96 one-time payment from Maine DHHS.
  • Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned with final farewells to outgoing councilors.

Meeting Transcript

We're on the phone by pressing star nine. Um, and as always, uh, for the last couple of years, uh, limiting it to three minutes per person. With that being said. Hi, my name is Richard Ward. Just starting. You want to uh hit your mic? Oh. Hello, my name is Richard Ward. City Council candidate, live in Bangor. First, I'd like to warn the city council that cutting public comments from public meetings is violating their constitutional rights. The Supreme Court has ruled that even hate speech is protected speech. A man in Los Angeles sued and won 215,000 when he was silenced by the city council. Do you want Bangor to be held accountable for selling things speech they don't like? I urge you to follow the law and honor speeches, speakers' constitutional rights. To the callers that are listening on Zoom. If the city continues to censor you, reach out to me and the Foundation for Individual Rights and Freedom and Expression. I want to address a trembling trend and propose a path forward that prioritizes real solutions over weakness. We've seen a rise in leftist violence, riots, vandalism, and intimidation tactics aimed at silencing the truth. Witnessing the murder of Charlie Kirk and how the leftist cheered with glee proved to me that we are not the same. He was a man that voiced his opinion, an opportunity for debate. Well, I don't agree with everything he said. I realized he was a mild-mannered intellectual. They don't celebrate because they are strong, but because they are weak and have little in life to enjoy. If they will take Charlie Kirk's life and celebrate, they'll do the same for you if you dare hold views that they offend them. They know that so far their victims have been unarmed and willing to take a risk to stop their constant violence. Charlie Kirk, your son, your daughter, your mother would suffice to these sick, mentally ill deranged demons. Do you want to live in a society where leftist journalists, politicians, and activists can commit violence against you and dance with joy? Where the police protect the criminals, the district attorney files charges against you for self-defense, and the media deems you a bigot. This isn't progress, it's chaos. If you're an anti-American scumbag, you back us into a corner where we suffer brutality daily. And when someone lashes back, we're supposed to condemn it. The left labels anyone who doesn't agree with them a racist, a Nazi, a homophobe, a transphobe, etc. Can we truly live in peace with people who are willing to kill you over not wanting to castrate children, abort ninth month babies, and welcome an endless wave of third world invaders. We must reject the less violence and demand accountability, not excuses, from those who stoke it. I believe it's time for real Americans to stand up and stomp out woke leftist terrorists. We must call for elected officials to use the full weight of the federal agencies to crush left-wing terrorism. I'm calling for the city to acknowledge the threat that the progressive woke mob poses to everyday citizens that just want to live in peace. My message to fellow patriots get ready, speak out now, and train like they want to kill you because they do. Thank you. Thank you. My name is Scott Party, and I am a citizen of Bangor. And I want to thank you. Uh I want to thank first of all. No timing yet. Thank you, uh, Rick Fournier and Dan Tremble for doing this all this time. And uh I'm sure you will see each other again here and there. I'll see Dan somewhere. And Rick, uh, I wish you the best in whatever you decide to do. And um, I'm sure you'll miss seeing me up here. Anyway, uh, thank you for allowing me to speak tonight.

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