0:02 Resolve 26-203 has been moved and seconded.
0:06 Is there any discussion?
0:39 26-204 resolve appropriation for municipal year 2027.
0:46 Thank you, Madam Clerk.
0:48 The amended resolve will appropriate funding for the fiscal year 2027 municipal budget.
0:53 This amendment includes all changes recommended by the city council and city manager since the submission of the city manager's recommended budget.
1:00 The budget needs to be amended by substitution to reflect council requested changes made since April.
1:06 Madam Chair, I move passage of council resolve two six-204.
1:14 Resolve 26-024 has been moved and seconded.
1:18 Is there any discussion?
1:24 I have a couple more motions.
1:28 My name is uh Scott Party, and I'm a citizen of Bangor.
1:31 I want to talk about the silence coming from this council or council.
1:36 Earlier today, I sent you a formal letter breaking down the tax assessors' numbers, an 11% spike in single family homes, 15% for apartments, and 19% for mobile homes.
1:49 But what those numbers hide is the human cost.
1:52 You're looking at spreadsheets.
1:53 Our elderly and our renters are looking at financial ruin.
1:58 This isn't happening in a vacuum.
2:00 Over the last year, the city has watched basic utility, food prices, gasoline, little little literally everything balloon.
2:09 Every single arm of local government is taking a bigger bite out of fixed incomes.
2:14 And just recently, a citizen stood at this very microphone and spoke of a tax revolt.
2:20 You shouldn't dismiss that.
2:22 When proud hardworking people are backed into a corner where they have to choose between prescription medication, heating oil, or paying their property taxes, compliance stops being an option.
2:34 A tax revolt happens when the system breaks the people first.
2:39 You took an oath to protect the citizens of Bangor, not the budget of Bangor.
2:45 You are supposed to be our watchdogs.
2:48 If you sit on your hands and allow these soaring valuations to lock to lock in without aggressively cutting the mill rate to offset them, you're choosing the government over the people.
3:00 Read the letter I sent you.
3:02 Look at the data and drop the mill rate before you price your own voters out of the city.
3:12 Hillary Simmons, resident of Bangor.
3:14 I would like to address the question that many taxpayers may be asking as they review municipal budgets across Maine.
3:20 Why does it appear that some cities are making difficult decisions to control spending while Bangor continues continues to expand their budget?
3:28 When we look at Augusta and Lewiston, we see concrete examples of communities that have had painful but necessary conversations about budget constraints.
3:38 In Augusta, the city council agreed to cut 6.6 million from its proposed city and school budgets, arriving at approximately 91 million total budget.
3:59 This raises an important question for Bangor as infl inflation, rising property taxes, and increased costs continue to affect residents and businesses.
4:10 What step did Bangor take to identify efficiencies, reduce unnecessary expenditure, and prioritize core services before adding new spending initiatives?
4:21 Additionally, I would like to understand the rationale behind the city's decision to use approximately 10 million from its unassigned fund balance to support the budget.
4:32 Unassigned fund balance are a financial safeguard against economic turndowns, emergencies, and unexpected revenue shortages.
4:40 Augustine Lewiston exhausted every other option before touching reserves, cutting positions, freezing hiring, eliminating programs, and asking voters to weigh in directly.
4:51 If Bangor is drawing 10 million from its unreserves, residents deserve a clear explanation of why that approach was chosen, whether it is sustainable.
5:02 Many taxpayers are concerned that relying on reserve funds to support ongoing operations simply postpones difficult decisions.
5:10 If these funds are used today, what is the plan when those dollars are no longer available?
5:16 Will taxpayers face larger increases later, or will the city be forced into the kind of cuts Augusta Lewiston are making right now, but from a weaker financial position?
5:28 Taxpayers understand that certain investments are necessary, but public safety, infrastructure, economic development, and the quality of life improvements are all have value.
5:38 However, the residents also expect city government to exercise the same financial discipline that families and businesses must practice every day.
5:51 The issue is whether every existing expense has been carefully examined before asking taxpayers to support additional spending.
6:00 Have all departments been asked to identify efficiencies?
6:03 Have programs been evaluated for effectiveness?
6:06 There are reasonable questions, especially at the time when many residents are struggling with the costs of housing, utilities, food, and property taxes.
6:20 Madam Chair, I wish to amend uh council resolve 26-204 by substitution, replacing the budget here with appropriation for municipal year 2027, which is in the packet.
6:42 I wish to move passage of council resolve 26-204 as amended.
6:50 Resolve 26204 has been moved to second.
6:56 I think we have to make sure that the motion and the second to amend passes first.
7:05 I just said we had it, and we were gonna vote.
7:09 But we'll I don't want, but there's been another motion.
7:14 I just want to make sure we're all clear on what we're voting on, what you're voting on.
7:21 I wish to amend council resolve 26-204 replace by substitution.
7:27 Replacing the budget with appropriation for municipal year 2027, which is in the packet.
7:37 So it has been moved and seconded.
7:40 Resolved 26204 by substitution with the um 2027 that's in the packet.
8:00 Um, I have some comments on the budget, but should I make that now or after this vote before we vote on passing the budget?
8:09 I will hold off until after this vote.
8:13 Is there any other discussion on this item?
8:29 Just to clarify, we're voting on the amendment, right?
8:34 We're not actually voting whether or not to pass the amended version.
8:49 Okay, resolve 26204 has been um.
8:55 And it has been amended by substitution.
9:02 I move passage of council resolve 26-204 as amended.
9:12 Has been moved and seconded for passage as amended.
9:18 Thank you, madam chair.
9:20 Um, I can't in good conscience vote to approve this budget tonight.
9:26 Um, don't get me wrong.
9:27 I I think it includes a lot of really good investments that I support, including new positions that will add efficiencies that will likely pay for themselves over time, and it will provide some long overdue relief to departments that have been chronically understaffed and underpaid.
9:45 But when we started this process, we were told that the proposal was a starting point, and department heads were told to include everything they wanted, and then we would work through it, and that there would likely be some cuts.
10:00 But ultimately, only three positions didn't make it in, and one was already a part-time position that would have become a full-time position, and then $200,000 for the Bangor mile development.
10:14 So beyond that, the budget largely looks the same as it was when it was originally presented.
10:21 So while the overall tax burden was reduced from what was originally proposed, that largely happened by shuffling money, not by eliminating expenses.
10:33 So the average residential property owner is looking at roughly $540 more dollars a year.
10:40 That's for a property that's valued at about $280,000.
10:44 So that it looks better than what originally we were looking at, which was approximately $815, but I just don't believe taxpayers can absorb that right now, given given the state of the economy.
10:57 Throughout this process, I repeatedly asked where we could cut or delay spending.
11:02 And you know, we can't do everything in one year.
11:06 I know that we there were some things that we really really needed, but taxpayers I don't believe should be the only ones to make sacrifices.
11:14 There really has to be a balance.
11:16 So voting no tonight is not against our staff.
11:25 In our future, but I think we can do better by the people who pay for everything that we do.
11:37 Thank you, madam chair.
11:38 When this budget process started, I was not on board, came in skeptical.
11:43 I was ready to fight for a zero increase.
11:45 I believe, like many probably do, that if this council had just had the discipline to say no, we could hold the line and spare our residents a tax increase.
11:55 And then I started doing the math.
11:58 To simply collect the same total revenue as last year, we need to cut four million dollars from this amended budget.
12:04 That still amounts to a tax increase for the average homeowner to get to a zero increased tax bill for those same homeowners, we'd have to drop the mill rate to roughly 15.20, which means cutting eight million dollars from what we have in front of us tonight.
12:19 But here's what makes that number so striking.
12:21 A 15.20 mill rate would not just hold even with last year, it would put the city nearly $4 million below the revenue we collected in fiscal year 26.
12:30 That's not a freeze, that's a crater.
12:33 But let me go further than that, because the just cut it argument always skips one step.
12:38 What exactly do we cut?
12:40 I've heard a lot of frustration about this budget.
12:43 What I have not heard is a specific answer to that question.
12:46 People tell us our electric bills went up, their gas went up, their groceries went up.
12:50 They want their taxes to stay flat.
12:52 I understand completely my family's in the exact same boat.
12:56 But I want to point out the municipalities are not immune to those same pressures.
13:01 Energy, insurance, materials, wages, bangor's costs go up too.
13:06 And on top of all of it, county taxes increase by 911,000 this year.
13:12 That's not a decision this council makes.
13:14 Even if we simply maintain the exact same level of service as last year, that is still a tax increase.
13:20 Maine law also requires us to keep property assessments current, which means assessed values will move regardless of what we do with the mill rate.
13:27 There is no magic lever that freezes all of it.
13:31 What we can cut is staff and services, but I want to be clear about what that Bangor looks like.
13:37 Because this is not a matter of trimming a little fat here and there.
13:40 To find millions of dollars in cuts, every single department feels it.
13:44 You do not get to $8 million by shaving around the edges.
13:48 You get there by hollowing out the people who show up every day to keep the city running.
13:52 Whose sidewalk doesn't get ploughed?
13:54 Which streets fall off the paving list?
13:56 How much longer do you wait for police or fire response?
13:58 How many more potholes do you dodge because we couldn't get a crew out?
14:02 How many calls go to voicemail because there's nobody left to answer?
13:59 How much longer does it take to get a permit process, a payment posted, a problem resolved?
13:59 When the people doing that work are already stretched thin, and we just asked them to do more with less because we were already short before tonight.
14:19 Municipal positions were gutted during debt restructuring after the cross insurance center was approved by residents, and we never fully rebuilt.
14:26 We have been running short for over a decade.
14:28 This increase costs the average taxpayer about $546 this year, or about $46 a month.
14:35 That's down from the $813 figure we started with.
14:38 And for context, that's based on a taxable value of $285,000.
14:42 That is real money, and I am not immune to it.
14:45 It affects my family too.
14:47 Of that, the new positions we're approving tonight account for just 2.7% of the mill rate.
14:51 And I want to explain what that slice of your bill is actually investing in.
14:55 Eight firefighter paramedics and a training officer.
14:59 Better response times, less reliance on mutual aid, and crews that can sustain this work without burning out.
15:05 Two fleet mechanics kept in-house.
15:07 We stopped paying a premium to outside vendors and get our public works and community connector vehicles back on the road faster.
15:13 An administrative clerk in the treasury and one in the clerk's office.
15:17 We have all heard the complaints, shortened hours, backlogs, and wait times.
15:22 These positions restore service hours and get money processed faster so it earns interest for the city instead of sitting in envelopes.
15:28 An IT cybersecurity analyst and a finance staff accountant.
15:32 A single ransomware attack could bring Bangor to a halt and cost millions.
15:36 This analyst is insurance.
15:38 The accountant means tighter controls and better oversight of our tax dollars.
15:43 A code enforcement inspector, a second city assistant city solicitor, and a part-time paralegal.
15:49 I want to say something about these positions specifically.
15:52 They don't just cost money, they generate it.
15:55 Bangor is a backlog of properties not in compliance, not registered, not contributing what they owe.
16:00 Every property brought into compliance is revenue coming back to the city.
16:04 Everyone that slips through the cracks is money left on the table.
16:07 These positions close that gap and reduce our reliance on costly outside legal work.
16:12 A housing support navigator, a homeless response coordinator, and a housing rehabilitation coordinator.
16:18 And I want to address these directly because I know homelessness is a source of real frustration for many residents.
16:24 I hear the concern that Bangor is carrying too much of this burden.
16:28 I think that concern is legitimate.
16:36 Many of the people we are talking about have been in Bangor for years.
16:40 Many of them started here, were housed here, and because the support systems weren't there when they needed them, they ended up back on the street.
16:48 And here's the hard truth.
16:49 Looking away is not free.
16:51 The cost of managing this thoughtfully is a fraction of what we pay when we don't.
16:56 In emergency response and hospital diversions and police calls and the slow erosion of public spaces, everyone deserves to enjoy.
17:04 Choosing not to invest is still a choice and is the most expensive one.
17:08 This council is taking steps on both fronts.
17:11 We're investing in these positions to house and keep people housed, which is far less expensive than homelessness.
17:16 The housing support navigator alone is currently working to keep nearly 100 people housed and counting.
17:22 At the same time, we're building the infrastructure to make Bangor's voice louder on the statewide issue.
17:27 Our new legislative committee exists precisely to establish relationships in Augusta, put forward legislation, and advocate for the policy changes that no single city can achieve on its own.
17:37 Our advisory committee on homelessness, and soon our advisory committee on housing will develop the strategic plans we need and put actionable items in front of this council to pass.
17:47 And in the case of larger policy, the champion at the state level.
17:51 We're not just spending money, we're building a strategy.
17:54 A park ranger moving to full-time.
17:56 Bangor's parks are a source of real pride for this community.
17:58 Places where families gather, kids play, and residents decompress.
18:02 A full-time ranger means those spaces stay clean, safe, and welcoming for everyone who uses them.
18:07 That is not a luxury.
18:09 That is a quality of life investment for every resident in this city.
18:12 Full-time transit drivers.
18:14 Reliable Saturday service and protection against having to abruptly cut weekday routes when staff turns over.
18:19 An engineering inspector, which frees up our engineering director to focus on major infrastructure rather than spending his days in the field doing inspections, keeping us far or keeping us from farming that workout to expensive outside firms.
18:34 Before I close, I want to say something about where we go from here.
18:37 I see this budget as a floor, not a ceiling.
18:29 Holding the line on property taxes in the long run requires a real strategy.
18:44 And I believe we need to be explicit about what that strategy look like looks like.
18:49 And as I see it, there's four levers available to us.
18:51 The first, growing the tax base.
18:54 More taxpayers mean the burden is shared more broadly, and our business and economic development team is working on this every day.
19:00 We must support and encourage that work.
19:02 The second is reducing our cost trajectory.
19:05 And this budget actually takes that seriously.
19:07 Many of the capital items we are funding through the unassigned fund ballots pay for themselves over time by saving staff hours and avoiding outsourcing.
19:15 The new positions we're approving tonight are investments.
19:18 They reduce turnover, generate revenue through fees and fines and registrations, and they move us away from the expensive cycle of constantly backfilling depleted teams.
19:27 The third lever is diversifying our revenue away from property tax wherever we can.
19:32 We have enterprise funds, the airport, the golf course, cross insurance center, our property portfolio.
19:38 Right now they largely break even.
19:40 We should be asking harder questions about how these assets can start contributing to the general fund rather than simply sustaining themselves.
19:47 And as I mentioned, the compliance and code enforcement investments in this budget are part of that lever too.
19:53 The fourth and final lever is reducing service levels.
19:56 There's always room to use it thoughtfully, and we should, but pulling it as our only strategy before we have seriously invested in the other three, is not fiscal discipline, it's just making Bangor smaller and hoping for the best.
20:09 I want to close with this.
20:11 Some people say this council is not listening.
20:13 I want to push back on that directly.
20:15 Every position in this budget is a direct answer to something we have heard from residents.
20:20 Slow emergency response, short staff shortages, long wait times, unsafe parks, unreliable buses, housing instability.
20:28 We listened and we prioritized, and we heard you on taxes too.
20:33 The total tax levy started as an 18.1% increase.
20:38 That's not nothing.
20:39 And this budget reflects both what you asked us to fund and what you asked us to watch.
20:44 This is not a perfect budget.
22:59 Councillor Falloon?
23:01 Councillor Leonard.
23:13 Seven, yes, one no.
23:20 It does have passage.
23:26 I will be reading the amended.
23:33 It hasn't been passed as amended.
23:36 No, I need to read she's doing resolve.
23:39 Yeah, she's doing it now.
23:43 This resolve will make appropriations from various sources to fund programs or purchases identified in the fiscal year 2027 proposed budget.
23:52 Over the past two months, the city council has reviewed all requests for various capital and operational needs.
23:58 The attachment identifies the purchases and funding source to be used.
24:02 The following summarizes the recommended appropriations and the source from which they are to come.
24:08 State LRAP funding $350,000.
24:12 Unassigned fund balance, 10,838,099.
24:18 Community connector reserve, $300,000.
24:26 This item is being amended by substitution so that the capital and new program request attachment reflects all council recommended changes.
24:46 Okay, resolve two six two zero five has been moved and seconded as amended.
24:55 For any discussion?
25:06 Hillary Simmons, resident of Bangor.
25:08 I encourage city leaders to provide greater transparency regarding the use of this 10 million in unreserved funds, explain the long-term financial strategy behind the decision, and demonstrate that all reasonable cost saving measures have been explored the way Augusta Lewiston were forced to do before expend expending spending or heavily drawing on the city's unassigned funds.
25:34 And to me it's funny that councillor Beck talks about cuts that I believe is what the city addressed to the county to make cuts in here in the city.
25:44 There were no cuts made.
25:58 Any other discussion?
26:19 Five yes, three no.
26:30 It does have passage.
26:37 Appropriating downtown TIFF funds for expenditures to be made in fiscal year 2027.
26:43 Thank you, Madam Clerk.
26:45 I move to amend by substitution.
26:47 Council resolve 26-206 that is in this packet for the one that was before the council at the last council meeting.
26:59 Resolve 26-206 has been moved and seconded by substitution as what was presented at the last meeting.
27:08 Is there any discussion?
27:23 Councillor Leonard?
27:30 Eight yes, zero no.
27:33 Resolve two six-zero two six.
27:36 Eight yes, zero no.
27:29 It does have passage.
27:47 Did we have passage on the amended version?
27:49 Are we just amended the version?
27:52 I was under the impression.
27:53 We haven't yet voted.
27:55 It was substituted.
27:56 Okay, so now we have to vote on the subject.
27:57 Yeah, she's gonna do the wrap.
27:58 I just wanted to be sure.
28:03 This resolve will appropriate five million one hundred and ninety-five thousand one hundred and eighty-five dollars in funds for expenditures to be made from the downtown TIFF program during the fiscal year 2027 budget process.
28:16 The City Council reviewed all requests for various capital and operational needs, some of which were recommended for funding from the downtown developmental district TIFF funds.
28:26 These funds may only be expended for purposes identified within the TIFF application as previously approved by the City Council and the main Department of Economic and Community Development.
28:36 Allowable projects include those related to downtown and parking, the waterfront, downtown infrastructure improvements, for example, sidewalks, sewers, streets, parks, etc.
28:48 Arena debt services, cleanup for the Penobscot River, and allowable tier three costs.
28:54 This resolve was reviewed by the council as part of the budget review process.
28:58 This item is being amended by substitution.
29:02 I move passage of amended council resolve 26-206.
29:09 Resolve 26 206 has been moved and seconded as amended.
29:15 Is there any discussion?
29:28 Councillor Leonard?
29:42 Resolve two six-026.
29:46 It does have passage.
29:50 26-207 resolve appropriating special assessment funds for Bangor Center Development District expenditures to be made in fiscal year 2027.
29:59 Councilman Leonard.
30:00 Thank you, madam clerk.
30:02 This resolve will appropriate 285,600 in funds for the municipal development district special assessment for expenditures to be made for the Bangor Center Development District Program.
30:13 Budget highlights include marketing, $85,550.
30:17 Beautification, $40,250.
30:22 Networking and outreach, $3,750.
30:25 Safety and security, $340,000.
30:28 General and admin, $246,534 with a total of $760,084.
30:36 The balance of the funding beyond the special assessment funding of 285,600 is comprised of downtown TIFF funds in partial support of general and administration cost funds raised by the downtown Bangor Partnership through sponsorships, marketing, and events, and anticipated additional funds requested for the services from Street Plus.
30:58 Madam Chair, I move passage of resolve 26207.
31:04 Resolve 26-207 has been moved and seconded.
31:08 Is there any discussion?
31:33 Six yes to resolve twenty-six-207.
31:40 It does have passage.
31:42 Next res uh next resolve, please.
31:46 Uh, before we go to this item, I have a conflict of interest to disclose.
31:49 Uh, it's coming to my attention that design wall housing will be receiving if this passes $25,000 for an efficiency uh project.
31:57 Uh my wife serves as a volunteer member of their board.
32:04 The council feels that he has a conflict, madam chair.
31:59 I would move that councilor Beck has a conflict of interest.
32:10 Second second, it's been moved and seconded that council beck does have a conflict on this item.
32:25 We need to vote on that.
32:29 Was the conflict doubted?
32:34 I don't think it needs to be roll call on.
32:41 Thank you, madam clerk.
32:43 This result uh this resolve will appropriate $837,221 in community developed block grant funds for the federal fiscal year 2026, city fiscal year 2027, awarded through the U.S.
32:58 Department of Housing and Urban Development, as well as two hundred and fifty thousand dollars in program income from anticipated loan repayments.
33:06 Madam Chair, I would move passage of resolve twenty-six-208.
33:12 Okay, resolve twenty-six-208 has been moved and seconded.
33:16 Is there any discussion?
33:28 Councilor Dean, yes.
33:44 Okay, resolve 26208.
33:48 Um five yes, two no.
33:50 It does have passage.
33:54 26-210 order adopting municipal development program and financial plan for the Bangor Center Development District.
34:03 Thank you, madam clerk.
34:05 This order will adopt the municipal development program and financial plan for the Bangor Center Development District.
34:10 This is for the city council to consider the program to be implemented for the Bangor Center Development District.
34:16 The program has been prepared by the Bangor Center Management Corporation Downtown Bangor Partnership.
34:22 Budget highlights include again marketing $85,550, beautification $40,250, events, $44,000, networking and outreach $3,750, safety and security $340,000.
34:37 General and admin $246,534 with a total of $760,084.
34:45 Madam Chair, I would move passage of Council Order $26-210.
34:56 Order $26-210 has been moved and seconded.
35:00 Is there any discussion?
35:32 It does have passage.
35:35 26-211 order authorizing the city manager to enter into a contract.
35:45 Thank you, Madam Clerk.
35:47 This order authorizes the city manager to execute a contract with the Bangor Center Management Corporation Downtown Bangor Partnership for the purpose of providing management services and administration of the development program for the Bangor Center Development District for the period of July 1st, 2026 through June 30th, 2027.
36:08 The proposed budget is 760,084.
36:12 The revenue consists of 285,600 in special assessment funds, 43,746 in TIFF funds, and 200,738 from sponsorships.
36:25 Events and marketing, and anticipated additional funds requested of 230,000 for the services for Street Plus.
36:33 I move passage of Council Order 26-211.
36:40 Order 26-211 has been moved and seconded.
36:44 Is there any discussion?
36:57 Councillor Leonard?
37:07 Order two six two one one.
37:11 It does have passage.
37:14 Next item, new business.
37:16 Public hearing application for special amusement license of Darren Courier doing business as nocturnum draft house 56 Main Street.
37:24 Thank you, Madam Clerk.
37:25 Madam Chair, I move we open the public hearing for the application for special amusement license of Darren Courier.
37:31 Doing business as Nocturnum Draft House 56 Main Street.
37:38 Public hearing is open.
37:44 Seeing no one approach, Madam Chair, I move that we close the public hearing.
37:50 Public hearing is closed.
37:52 Madam Chair, I move passage of the application for special amusement license of Darren Courier doing business as nocturnum draft house 56 Main Street.
38:04 Okay, the application for special amusement license.
38:08 Darren Courier has passage.
38:14 Madam Chair, on this next item, I have the same conflict of interest because it also contains the same $25,000 for the efficiency project for uh design wall housing.
38:30 I think you should vote the just take the formality of voting the conflict on this item as well.
38:36 Madam Chair, I'll move the counselor back.
38:43 We moved and seconded that councillor Beck has a conflict in this item.
39:14 Uh, Madam Chair, I move that we open the public hearing on Council Order 26-226 authorizing the execution and filing of the fiscal year 26 annual action plan with the Department of Housing and Urban Development for Community Development Entitlement Block Grant Funding.
39:34 Okay, so moved and seconded.
39:35 Public hearing is open.
39:42 Adam Chair, seeing no one approach, I move that we close the public hearing for council order two six-226.
39:52 Public hearing is closed.
39:58 Madam Chair, I move uh passage of Council Order 26-226 authorizing the execution and filing of the fiscal year 26 annual action plan with the Department of Housing and Urban Development for community development entitlement block grant funding.
40:15 Order two six two two six has been moved and seconded for um for passage.
40:22 This order will authorize the city's community development block grant program for the coming year under Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 with the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
40:35 This order also has the effect of assuring and certifying upon signature of the city manager compliance with certain federal regulations pertaining to the use of these funds as described in the documentation attached to this order.
40:50 The city has been an entitlement community under this program since 1987.
40:55 The city expects to receive eight hundred and thirty-seven thousand two hundred and twenty-one dollars in federal community development block grant funds.
40:58 In addition, we estimate that approximately 250,000 will be available in program income, primarily as a result of repayments of outstanding property rehabilitation loans.
41:16 Among the projects eligible to be funded in the coming year are property rehabilitation, homeownership assistance, neighborhood and downtown public improvements, including parks, social service, and nonprofit funding, acquisition, demolition, and clearance activities, and aiding in the retention and or creation of affordable housing units.
41:38 This item was reviewed and unanimously recommended for the approval at the June 15th, 2026 Business and Economic Development Committee meeting.
41:58 Order 26-226 has been um moved and seconded.
42:06 Is there any discussion?
42:29 I'm sorry, he's gone, isn't he?
42:34 Councillor Falloom?
42:36 Councillor Leonard.
42:47 What was your vote?
43:05 It does have passage.
43:10 26-227 order amending the schedule of fees by amending sewer rates starting July 1, 2026.
43:19 Thank you, Madam Clerk.
43:20 This order will amend the city schedule of fees to increase sewer rates by 9% beginning July 1st, 2026.
43:28 The impact on the average residential user will be about $3.84 per month, and the impact on the minimum user will be $2.43 per month.
43:39 Despite this increase, Bangor's rates remain well below the rates of surrounding treatment plants.
43:44 The Department of Water Quality Management continues to invest heavily in ongoing infrastructure needs in order to continue to support replacement of aging infrastructure and expansion of capacity to support residential and commercial development.
43:59 These funds will be used to comply with state and federal environmental requirements, maintain aging infrastructure, and expand capacity in critical development areas.
44:08 This item was reviewed at the council budget workshop on June 3rd, 2026.
44:13 I move passage of council order 26-227.
44:19 Order 26-227 has removed and seconded.
44:23 Is there any discussion?
45:06 Other than there was no comment section on that one.
45:10 Um I'd like to know if I could give what I wanted to say to the council.
45:19 And who can I give it to you?
45:22 Sure, that was first reading.
45:24 Yeah, that was under first reading, so you can.
45:27 So she can speak next time.
45:34 She doesn't know that.
45:37 She shook her head last time.
45:29 I said, so the next time it comes up, she'll be able to.
45:44 Is there any other um closing comments back here?
45:55 Um, thank you, everyone, for coming and for sticking with us so late.
46:01 Um, Saturday is Pride Day and there are lots of activities.
46:05 Um, and if you support our pride community, show up.
46:11 If you don't, feel free to stay home, but please don't show up and be disrespectful because a lot of work has gone into it.
46:18 Um, and with that, I'll just say thank you again for showing up and for speaking and for all of your passion.
46:25 And good night, Bangor.
46:32 I appreciate everyone being here and for public comment.
46:36 Good night, Bangor.
46:47 Good night, Bangor.
46:49 I'll just say there's never a bad weekend to go to the waterfront, but I'm really excited this Saturday for Pride.
46:56 I look forward to uh celebrating with everybody down there.
46:58 Good night, Bangor.
47:01 Good night, Bangor.
47:03 I'll be really quick.
47:05 I want to thank our uh city clerk, Lisa Goodwin and her staff for facilitating another successful uh election.
47:14 Thank you so much for your due diligence.
47:16 I also want to thank the volunteers who also dedicated their time that day to helping residents making sure that they were able to vote uh not just uh effectively but in a very timely uh fashion.
47:31 And just really quickly, I do want to point out that we are one of the few states that uses ranked choice voting.
47:39 And I did see some discussion being had uh regarding the use of ranked choice voting, and one more that kept coming up was scam.
47:50 And the thing I just want to push back on that is please before you use words like that, make sure you are able to educate people on the mathematics as to why that is a scam, because this is very much uh sound uh uh policy for voting, and it's a big, there's a lot of reasons why we did move this uh um the this type of voting into this uh state.
48:23 So I really want to encourage caution when people accuse our election system as a scam.
48:33 It just causes a lot of unnecessary division.
48:38 Thank you all for staying this long.