Bangor council passes zoning changes, constables, remote comment policy

The Bangor City Council on Dec. 22 approved several rezoning requests, a slate of airport and public health items, and a return to remote public comment, while postponing a construction manager contract for the Central Kitchen project. Much of the meeting's public comment focused on the city's handling of homelessness and the recent clearing of an encampment. Councilors also offered holiday remarks and thanked city staff.

Key points

• Councilors voted 9-0 to pass three rezoning ordinances: 38 Blue Hill East from Urban Service District to High Density Residential, 195 Thatcher Street from Industry and Service District to Urban Industry District, and 557 Hammond Street from Contract Urban Service District to Urban Service District without contract conditions.
• Councilor Beck left the room for the vote on Resolve 26-043, a $150,000 state overdose response grant, after disclosing a conflict of interest because Together Place is named in the item; the resolve passed.
• The council approved a $243,225 Cole Foundation grant for a community paramedicine pilot program and a $625 payment from Maine Health Access Foundation for public health staff technical assistance.
• Councilor Faloon moved to postpone Council Order 26-050, which would have authorized the city manager to negotiate with Sheridan Construction for construction manager services on the Bangor Central Kitchen project at 50 Cleveland Street; the item was postponed to the Jan. 12, 2026 meeting.
• The council passed an order amending the city's remote participation policy to reinstate public comment via remote means with added procedures, after the council had discontinued remote comment in November over disruptive behavior.
• Public comment speakers urged the council to act faster on homelessness, including requests to authorize the city manager to act, create a temporary stabilization site, and protect personal belongings after an encampment was cleared; a business and property owner described safety concerns at Penobscot Plaza.

Next steps

• Council Order 26-050 on construction manager services for the Bangor Central Kitchen project was postponed to the regular council meeting on Jan. 12, 2026, at 7 p.m.
• The rezoning ordinance for 38 Blue Hill East and the ordinance on stormwater permit review were referred to committee and first reading, with a planning board meeting set for Jan. 6, 2026.
• Councilor Deane noted that dog licensing is cheaper in December and encouraged residents to license before January.

Read the full transcript