Bangor City Council Organizational Meeting 2025-11-10
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Bangor City Council Organizational Meeting 2025-11-10
The Bangor City Council convened for its organizational meeting on November 10, 2025, to swear in newly elected members and elect the Council Chair for the ensuing year. Following the oath of office, the Council held nominations and a vote to determine leadership, ultimately selecting a Chair who emphasized transparency, civility, and institutional experience to guide the new board through the upcoming term.
Consent Calendar
- No specific consent calendar items were explicitly listed or approved via a separate routine process in the provided transcript excerpts.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No formal public comments or testimony from the general public were recorded in the transcript for this session; all verbal contributions were made by Council members during the nomination and election process.
Discussion Items
- Nomination for Council Chair:
- Counselor Leonard nominated Counselor Susan Haas. Leonard argued that Haas possesses essential institutional knowledge, having served for 14 years and managed critical past projects (e.g., the Cross Center, Hollywood slots, ARPA funds). Leonard expressed full support for Haas, stating she offers a "balanced, fair, and level-headed approach" and "unwavering commitment" to transparency, which the newly formed, inexperienced board needs. Leonard emphasized that while new vision is needed, the guidance of past experience is crucial for future complex projects.
- Counselor Dean nominated Counselor Michael Beck. Dean praised Beck's "much needed energy," deep knowledge of Bangor's history, and ability to push the council toward growth and healing. Dean expressed strong support for Beck, noting that citizens have requested "new blood" in leadership and that Beck's engagement as a citizen and his fire for the city make him the ideal candidate to drive accomplishment, contrasting with the previous perception of the council as stagnant.
- Statements of Qualifications:
- Counselor Haas stated that she possesses the "institutional knowledge" required to handle upcoming challenges while maintaining transparency, civility, dignity, and professional conduct. She expressed a commitment to guiding the council through difficulties with a clear vision.
- Counselor Beck highlighted his professional background in project management and deep knowledge of Robert's Rules of Order, specifically noting his record for "points of order" to demonstrate his commitment to procedural fairness. Beck expressed a vision of the Chair as a "conductor of an orchestra," aiming to unify the council, set a strong rhythm, and ensure the public receives a productive performance.
Key Outcomes
- Election of Chair: Counselor Susan Haas was elected as the City Council Chair for the ensuing year with a vote tally of 6 votes for Haas to 3 votes for Beck.
- Leadership Mandate: The newly elected Chair, Susan Haas, set immediate expectations for the council, calling for:
- Increased transparency in government operations.
- Restoration of civility, urging members to treat each other with respect and avoid talking over one another or discussing matters behind backs.
- Fiscal responsibility and a clear vision for the city's future.
- Moving away from past "back room" decision-making.
- Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at 10:20 PM.
Meeting Transcript
And uh at this time I would ask uh Chief Deputy Bushy to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance of Allegiance to the black of the United States of America and to the public stands one nation under God Liberty and Justice Crawl. And at this time I would ask the city clerk to swear in the uh uh the new council members. Over on this side of the hair, please written a line there and face me. Oh, please, yeah. Raise your right hand, please. Yeah, I take your hand. I stand the over to solemnly square. That I'll faithfully discharge. I will be discharged to the best of my ability. The best of the viability. The noties of the office. Of the office of Van Gor City Councilor. Bangor City Councillor. I have been duly elected. I take this obligation freely. I take this obligation freely. And without reservation. Without reservation. And promise to uphold. I promise the pledge. To serve until the end of the term. I have been chosen. I have been chosen. And until my successor. Has been elected. Qualified. Qualified and sworn into office. So help me God. Help me God. Congratulations. Congratulations. So for our first order of business, in a moment, the clerk will call for nominations to serve as a city council chair for the ensuing year. Each member of the council will be permitted to nominate one person from the council. And nominations do not require a second. Motion to close the nominations will follow. And as a body, the council will determine if the nominations should be voted on now or if the organizational meeting should be postponed for that vote until the 7 p.m. meeting tonight. Nominees must receive a majority vote of the counselors present in order to become chair. So at this time, I'd ask the clerk to call uh for nominations to serve as the city council chair for the ensuing year. 26-001 order to elect city council chair. Madam Chair, I'd like to make a nomination. Madam Clerk. The counselors have been sworn in, so I do not believe that counselor uh um I'm sorry, go ahead. Go ahead. I I'm just excuse me. Sorry about that. I didn't mean to interrupt. Go ahead. I nominate Counselor Susan Haas as chair. I feel it's important to consider Council Haas as chair, as we have a relatively young board with only new people just starting with no experience, and three at most, three years experience.
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