Bangor council advances immigration ordinance, approves casino and bar license renewals

[1:13] Angela Walker: Much today we are live good. [1:18] Susan Hawes: Evening, welcome to the regularly scheduled meeting of the Bangor City Council. It is February 25th and it is 7 00 p.m. We start each meeting with the pledge of allegiance. Would you like to lead it? Sure, thank you. [1:35] Michael Beck: By the weekends to the flag of the United States of America, the student republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank [1:53] Susan Hawes: you for doing that. Okay, this is the portion of the meeting set aside for general public comment directly related to city business. For matters that do not appear on this evening's agenda, public comment requires a person to state your name and whether you are a resident of Bangor. The City Council has adopted a public comment policy that we will adhere to. Statements during public comment should respect the dignity and seriousness of the proceeding and individuals we respect restricted to speaking once. Obscene, truly a threatening or overly repetitive comments will be deemed out of order and will be interrupted and removed. Excuse me, topics that are considered out of order also include matters that are in litigation, individual employees or employee groups, discussing matters for which complaint or grievance procedures are in place, personal disputes between the speaker and another resident not germane to city business, support for or opposition to any candidate for political office and personal complaints pertaining to individual city employees. There is a time limit of three minutes per speaker, and the total time allowed for general public comment regarding city business will be limited to no more than one hour. The public comment period is for city council members to listen and not respond or debate with persons. If you do not live in Bangor or own 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 directly related to city business not appearing on the regular agenda, you may approach the podium. Individuals who have appropriately pre-registered to give public comment via remote means will be given the opportunity to participate remotely. Alternatively, councillors may be reached via email at councillors at banguamaine.gov. A link to the adopted public comment policy can be found on the city's website and we're going to have Evangeline go first. I [4:26] Evangeline White: Don't have anything official prepared. My name is Evangeline White, and I'm a rural resident, but I'm a business owner downtown Bangor, and I'm here really speaking for my daughter Clover Kinney, who is an incredible hockey player. She loves hockey. She's making a transition from private school to public school this year, and it's been difficult. It's been really trying for her, and hockey is the one thing that's really given her a lot of confidence and something to focus on. I think that the rink has, it sounds like it has pretty much everybody's support, but I really wanted to also say that she's on the Black Bears team right now, but she wants to do the all-girls Inferno team next year. This kid really does, she eats, breathes, and sleeps hockey. She wants it, and we're not, as I said, I'm a single mother, we're not a wealthy family. And I don't know how I would pay for college for her education, and she knows this. Hockey is something that she would hopefully get a scholarship for to attend college. I think everybody's aware of what's happening in the public eye right now of the US Women's Olympic team won gold and they're still mocked and laughed at. That and I think there needs to be more public support around female hockey players and especially our young children whose future is really important, you know. She's going to be around for a while, so that's, yeah, that's, I just wanted to come speak for Clover. It was a super bright great future in hockey. Thank you. [6:43] Katie Coe: Anyone else? I didn't intend to speak on this, but since she spoke as a person that started playing hockey in 1988 and had it pay for my middle school and high school education, I just wanted to second what she was saying, and I'm really glad that women are still playing. It makes me very happy. [7:06] Susan Hawes: Can you just come back for a minute? You slid by [7:10] Katie Coe: us without telling us who you are. I'm Katie Ko, I am a resident and homeowner in the city of Bangor. [7:18] Susan Hawes: Thank you Katie. Oh jeez, anybody else, thank [7:31] Joe Garcia: you for the opportunity to speak. My name is Joe Garcia, my wife and I have a home here in Bangor, and we're very concerned about 26095. I am an immigrant, I came to this country in 1966. The state department gave my family a waiver to come into this country in 1962, and it took four years waiting our turn for the quotas to be allowed to come into this country. I came from Cuba. This, I guess, thing on the docket about not asking immigration status, to me, is an affront to all the legal immigrants who came here, to all the Bangor taxpayers who may be paying their hard-earned taxes to give out some benefits to someone who is legal. And thirdly, it's a disgrace, really, to the law enforcement officers. They have a job to do. And if the town refuses to help them with something like that, you know, that is not right. That doesn't sit well in my book. I read what was written in the ordinance here. I don't know the exact particulars of it, and I understand there are much greater priorities to spend the tax dollars on, the homeless people on the streets, some of the crime issues we have, the, you know, the kids making trouble all over the place. Those are what we need to be focusing on. It really is a disrespect to the taxpayer to possibly give out some assistance to someone who should not be in this country legally. You know, it really, I wish you would consider that when you decide on whether to approve this ordinance or whatever it is. I understand the police say, hey, you know what, we want people dropping dimes all the time, and they won't do that if they feel they're going to be arrested because they're illegal. But the thing is that there are other sources from the federal government I just read that make money available to towns who are willing to work with them. You know what, I came to this country from a communist country. I see this socialism creeping in the form of, hey, let's be good people, you know, let's allow, you know, let's help these people, they're having a hard time, that's nice, but this is how socialism works, and I saw this in Cuba, I've seen it in Vietnam, in fact I'm persona non grata in Vietnam, to be honest with you. So I travel quite a bit for my business, and I just see something creeping up here that I see is causing all sorts of problems in southern Maine. So please consider what I said. I'm not up to my date on the rule, the Roberts rules, so I don't know if this will be entered as testimony or whether it'll be put in the minutes or not, but I need to say this because I'm very concerned about what is going on with that ordinance. Thank you. Thank you. [10:45] Richard Chaucer: Richard Chaucer, Bangor resident, proud resident of the beautiful Schoolhouse Apartments that you, the taxpayers, renovated, put built millions of dollars into it, and we have a question here. We have, we have a no trespassing signs about the library, okay. We understand we have a new six month lease agreement with Will, who's busting his butt to help remediate, save lives. What can we do from exactly behind where the Schoolhouse Apartments are, there aren't any signs about no trespassing and no trespassing or private property. My understanding is part of that is owned by the city now. We still, we're having people, I have, I have neighbors, I speak for a lot of my neighbors. We have a lady who's graduated, she has a young child, she has a 3.90, she's two jobs, and you're afraid to bring your children out because people are coming down from the hill and coming up from that so-called porta potty across the street, going into our garbage area behind on our property. Myself and some other citizens have been telling them please don't, but they don't listen. So we don't need to, we need to trying to find out what do we need to do to stop this and possibly relocate that port-a-potty or needle exchange thing. It's across the street from the library in front of Diamonds. I can show you photographs I have from my neighbors of every hours of the night of activity going on in that place. That's not safe. We have safe places for people, for our peers to use. We have safe time zones. Guys have busted their butt to create this. Why are we doing this? It's hurting us. It's hurting us Bangor, giving us a bad name. People are afraid to drive their cars down and we see the same people, the same things over and over, getting back to what I said too about the influx. Remember that the bridge or twalkway we had to went from the library up to hill, that is the major area. I have photographs that I can present to you, needles and stuff that people like have cleaned up for areas, and now it's starting to reciprocate again. Thank you, I pass, I mean thank you, thank you [13:09] Susan Hawes: Anyone else before [13:15] Scott Pardee: you start? I have a question on the ordinance or on the docket or whatever tonight. There's the part about first reading of the what this gentleman was talking about. Can I speak during that too? No, okay, so I have to make my mind up on what I want to speak about. I'm ready now. I want to speak today regarding the proposed ordinance on municipal involvement in federal immigration enforcement. While the summary uses language about public safety and trust, we have to ask ourselves a fundamental question of governance. Is this an efficient use of this council's limited time and Bangor's limited resources? Our own police chief Mark Hathaway has previously pointed out that our police department already does not engage in federal immigration enforcement. We are already in compliance with the state and federal laws ensure we are attempting to codify a practice that is already the status quo when we spend our public sessions debating symbolic ordinances that don't actually change how our city operates on the ground we are losing sight of the city business that is currently crushing our residents right now Bangor is facing a cost of living emergency as we discussed earlier well no I didn't because I didn't get a chance to our neighbors are seeing double-digit increases in water bills, electricity rates, and that are 30% above the national average and a housing crisis that is driving people onto the streets. These are the issues that require the council's full undivided attention. Every hour spent debating a policy that draws a firm line where one already exists is an hour not spent advocating for utility relief, addressing the tax burden or solving the homelessness crisis in our parks. I believe the most responsible use of municipal resources, that is you folks, is to focus on the immediate, tangible needs of the taxpayers who are struggling to keep their lights on. Let's leave federal policy to the federal government and let's get back to the work of making Bangor affordable again. And I talk about that because what else, what I was also going to talk about was the incredibly increase of costs for our residents in Bangor since 2020. Electricity at 65% higher, 65%. I know we can't do anything about that, but we can do something to ease the burden when it comes to taxes. We have to keep our taxes to offset what's being done to us by the rubber stamping of the PUC. I'm sure they will rubber stamp the increase of 10.5% to the Water District that is already up 30% from 2020. Our wages aren't up 30% from 2020. Where does it end? The Pew Trust offers a much simpler, more sobering reality. Housing costs drive homelessness. Pew's research shows that the homeless rate correlate more closely with the cost of living than almost any other factor. In fact, in areas where rents and costs rise quickly, homelessness follows in lockstep. This is something that we really need to talk about. We really need to get a grasp. We don't have, we can't do anything about what with the PUC is rubber stamping with the electric bills, the water bill, etc. But we can do tax relief. Thank you. Thank you. [16:46] Susan Hawes: Thank you. Anyone else. I [16:59] Evangeline White: just wanted that my name is Evangeline Might. I was just up here, I just wanted to say that I support transparency and a clear distinction between our local police and federal enforcement. Local police need to be busy dealing with locals and I think that's a much better way to save money and resources than having them work with federal agents. I also believe in keeping all of our citizens, everybody who lives, all of my neighbors safe and from everything that we're seeing there's been in a huge erosion to our civil liberties, to our democracy and I think that our federal government needs to be held accountable and that this is a very healthy and important distinction. There's no area where transparency would be a negative one. Talk per person [18:17] Susan Hawes: we're we're allowed one speaker, one speech per speaker. Okay. Thank you. All right. Anybody else. Seeing none, we'll we have three people actually, we have only two people on remote so we're going to go there. Mr. Ward, do you hear us [18:51] Richard Ward: yes I can hear you. Great. All right. My time running, go ahead. All right Mr. Warder, Richard Ward, Bangor resident. Good evening. My name is Richard Ward, my resident of Bangor. I'm here tonight because I believe this council faces a crisis of moral and financial accountability regarding the organization Food Medicine and its influence on this very body. It's a matter of public record that a current member of the council was convicted of manslaughter for the 2002 death of Canadian and Tours. The details of that crime are horrific. A man was beaten and suffocated with sand. Reports indicate that violence was in response to an alleged slur word. I want to ask that Angela Walker directly, do you believe that violence is an acceptable solution for speech you find hateful. More importantly, I asked the council, is this the standard of conduct we want to endorse by providing hundreds of thousands of dollars to an organization that propelled her to this very seat. The organization Food Medicine, which was which is endorsed in canvas for Angela Walker and other Democrats. In Bangor is open about its ideology. Their own website states they must, and I quote, intentionally step away from the practices that often keep white males in position of power decision making in the very often. Well this is not a mission of inclusion, it's an admission of explicit racial and gender-based bias. Food Medicines owns words describe a goal of excluding the pacific demographic of Maine citizens from leadership based solely on their race and sex, yet the city recently awarded them over $260,000 in ARPA funds. By funding Food and Medicine, the city of Bangor is subsidizing an organization that holds an openly anti-white, anti-merit view of society. You are funding a political machine that rewards those who have committed violent crimes while actively working to displace law-abiding citizens based on their own identity. I'm calling for an immediate halt to all city contracts and grants with Food and Medicine. We must not use taxpayer dollars to fund bigoted, racist, left-wing agendas that priory's political activist over safety and equity of all Bangor residents. Thank you, thank [20:49] Susan Hawes: you Mr. Lance. Are you there Mr. Lance? Okay, apparently he has not joined us and that is all that is listed for. Let me just finish this. All right, so that's going to be the end of the remote participation for tonight, so we can go back to the regular screen. We do have one more [21:59] Tyler Shanahan: speaker for in the chambers. Hi my name is Tyler and I am a Tyler Shanahan. I'm a resident of Bangor and I'm reading on behalf of Scott Party. So good evening members of the city council. I am a citizen of Banglore. I'll skip that part. We often talk about homelessness as a complex puzzle of mental health or addiction, but recent data from the Pew Charitable Trusts offers a much simpler, more sobering reality. Housing costs drive homelessness. Pew's research shows that homelessness rates correlate more closely with the cost of living than almost any other factor. In fact, in areas where rents and costs rise quickly, homelessness follows in lockstep. In 2020 Bangor has reached a breaking point. We are seeing a perfect storm of financial pressure. Our electricity rates have surged by over 65 percent since 2020 and as of this year Here we are paying roughly 24 cents per kilowatt hour, nearly 30 percent above the national average. When you add the water district's proposed 10.5 percent hike on top of 30 percent increase since 2020 and rising property taxes, we aren't just adjusting budgets anymore. We are pushing people out. For a family on the edge, a tax increase of or a 30 jump in a monthly utility bill isn't a minor inconvenience. It is a difference between a roof and a tent. As the pew report highlights, when the rent to income ratio becomes unsustainable, even working families lose their footing. Today roughly half of those experiencing homelessness are employed. They simply cannot not bridge the gap created by these soaring fixed costs. I am asking this council to recognize that once upon once a pal yeah I don't know if I said that right, fiscal policy is a primary lever in homeless homelessness prevention. Every tax increase we pass in every utility hike we allow the PUC to rubber stamp directly expands our unhoused population. We all want thriving, safe Bangor, but a city is only as stable as its most vulnerable residents' ability to pay their bills. I urge you to prioritize affordability and utility advocacy in your upcoming decisions. Let's keep Bangor residents in their homes rather than spending 10 times as much trying to help them once they've lost them. All right. Thank you guys. [25:03] Susan Hawes: Okay, let's move on. Could I raise one more point of order? I just wanna make sure that to clarify that if someone wants to speak at the general public comment, we've always allowed them to also speak on a specific agenda item and I don't know if that was explained that way to one of the speakers. I'm not suggesting that a speaker should repeat themselves with respect to a specific item but was that Mr party yes did you understand that I understood you to say that I couldn't speak [25:43] Scott Pardee: speak about that. I understood you to say I couldn't speak about what was on the, isn't that right? Isn't that what I was told? [25:58] Susan Hawes: That's why I spoke up because I didn't want the wrong impression to be that someone, if someone wants to speak at general public comment, we've always allowed them to then speak on a specific item. item now this mr party spoke i believe about that item i did during general public comment so i'm not suggesting that he should be allowed to repeat himself i don't want to repeat myself but i just wanted to clarify on that okay thank you okay is that it okay [26:36] Lisa Goodwin: Madam Clerk, Minister Bangor City Council regular meeting of February 9th, 2026. 26-092, order authorizing city manager to execute an agreement with the Main Department of Transportation related to overweight construction vehicles on U.S. Route 2 for cyclical pavement resurfacing. 26-093, order authorizing the city manager to execute a contract with Aero Cloud Systems to expand the common use system for Bangor International Airport. I [27:11] Carolyn Fish: move consent agenda. Second. [27:14] Susan Hawes: The consent agenda has been moved and seconded. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the consent agenda will have passage, referrals to committee, and first reading. Madam [27:28] Lisa Goodwin: Clerk, 26-094, ordinance amending chapter 165, Land Development Code district map, to rezone a property located at 26 Walter Street from urban service district to urban residence 2 district, first reading and referral to planning board meeting on March 3rd, 2026. 26-095, ordinance amending the code of the city of Bangor to establish chapter 40. Madam Clerk, could you hold on? Yes, you have a [27:55] Susan Hawes: point of order. the legal department is in the process of reviewing are you talking about the second item yes yeah it's in the process of reviewing it 's not been finished the review [28:11] Wayne Mallar: Correct. Okay, I'd move this be removed from the from the first reading and brought back when the legal department has finished that review. Your mic, counselor. I'd move that this be not acted on until the legal department has reviewed it. So it should be, can we move to have it put at a time certain? It has to be, or does it have to? I've left it as when you complete the review, but I don't know what that, if we need a time period [28:50] Susan Hawes: certain, you can choose whatever you want your motion to be. Okay, well, I'll just say when you're [28:56] Wayne Mallar: finished reviewing, we'll bring it back. Is [29:01] Susan Hawes: there a second? That's been moved and seconded. [29:07] Michael Beck: That's an ordinance, so I'll have to wait to order myself. Can that motion be made? Because it's my understanding that you could certainly move to table it, or move to postpone it, or indefinitely, or date certain, but I guess I've never heard a condition like that, but I just want a little clarification on that. I [29:26] Susan Hawes: was just saying that counselor can make whatever motion he wants to make. I'm not saying that the motion should be passed, or make giving any kind of an opinion on the motion to be removed from the council agenda. You know, it could be there could be a motion to table it indefinitely, there could be a motion to table it to a date certain, and he's made his motion. So I [29:58] Wayne Mallar: I don't want to kill the item. I'm just saying I think we need, because the last time we had some issues with legal, and I think it needs to be reviewed by the legal department until we go forward so we don't have more issues. Chair, might I well participate, so the legal [30:19] Susan Hawes: department is prepared to talk with the government operations committee at the next committee meeting if this were referred, as would possibly be done with the these items that are on this part of the agenda. The legal department's review will be ready by that time to talk with the gov ops committee about the issues that the legal department sees in the proposed ordinance. Just wanted to let you know that. Is that satisfactory? Well [30:54] Wayne Mallar: yeah, I guess so. Basically you're saying that what I asked for in the motion you're going to be doing anyway, because it's only [31:01] Susan Hawes: a referral to committee, is that correct? I'm just saying that the legal department will be ready by the time of the next gov ops committee meeting to review the issues that are involved with [31:12] Wayne Mallar: the proposed ordinance, and then I can withdraw my motion if the second. So [31:22] Susan Hawes: done. So now it's that pen has been withdrawn. The main, the maker of the motion has withdrawn, so yes. [31:31] Wayne Mallar: I've withdrawn because it's going to be taken care of by legal and then presented to the government ops committee. Okay. [31:41] Lisa Goodwin: 26-095, ordinance amending the code of the city of Bangor to establish chapter 46 employee authority and immigration matters, first reading and referral to government operations committee meeting on March 2nd, 2026. 26-096, resolve authorizing the city manager to accept and appropriate 320,603 from the state of Maine Department of Transportation for the purpose of funding new mobile fare technology and electric ADA van and bike racks, first reading. I [32:18] Michael Beck: would move these items referred. Second. I think these items have been moved and [32:23] Susan Hawes: seconded to refer to committee and first reading. Is there any objections? Further discussion? Okay, we will have a roll call vote. Councilor Beck? Yes. Councilor Carson? Yes. Councilor Faloon? Yes. Councilor Fish? [32:45] Lisa Goodwin: Yes. Councilor Leonard? Yes. Councilor Malheur? Yes. Councilor Walker? Yes. Councilor Haas? Yes. Eight yes, zero no. [32:59] Susan Hawes: These items will be referred to the committee in first reading. Eight in favor, zero opposed. [33:10] Lisa Goodwin: Madam Clerk. 26-086, ordinance amending the land development code section 165-73, parking area location and screening, to remove the buffer requirement for parking lots adjacent to property zone GNISD, except where the adjacent property contains a residential cemetery or school use. Council of [33:32] Susan Faloon: Falloon. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Madam Chair, I move passage of item number 26-086. This ordinance would remove the requirement to create a vegetated buffer between off street parking and parcels in the G and ISD, or government and institutional service district zone, except where the adjacent property that zoned G and ISD contains a residential cemetery or school use. The reasoning for this change is that the G and ISD zone contains many intensive uses,, including some commercial uses, and does not significantly benefit from having a buffer between parking and these uses. The primary complaint heard from the public about parking is when parking lots are adjacent to residential areas. The code does currently require vegetated buffers between parking and all residential zones, and this would remain as is. Additionally, these proposed amendments would also require that a buffer remain for G and ISD properties that contain residential cemetery or school uses. However, the current requirement to provide a buffer from G and ISD in general seems excessive and can hinder commercial development in some cases. This item was reviewed and unanimously recommended for approval at the Planning Board meeting on February 17th, 2026. [35:00] Susan Hawes: Second. The ordinance has been moved and seconded. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, we will do a roll call vote. [35:16] Lisa Goodwin: Council Beck, yes. Council Carson, yes. Council Falloon, yes. Council Fish, yes. Council Leonard, yes. Council Mallard, yes. Council Walker, yes. Council Hawes, yes. Eight yes, zero no. [35:30] Susan Hawes: No. Ordinance 26-086 has passage eight to zero. Next item 26-087, ordinance amending the land [35:42] Lisa Goodwin: development code section 165-13, definitions, to remove State Street from the minor arterial [35:48] Angela Walker: street definition. Council Walker. Thank you, Madam Clerk. I move passage of 26-087. Executive summary, this ordinance would amend the land development code section 165-13, definitions, to remove State Street from the minor arterial street definition. The land development code currently defined defines certain streets as either major or minor arterial streets. The criteria for major material are materials are that they are highways of regional significance with average annual daily traffic in access of 10,000 vehicles and containing more than two lanes in at least some sections. State Street appears to be erroneously included as a minor arterial since it is also listed as a major arterial and it meets the definition of a major arterial. this amendment would remove state street from the minor material category this item was reviewed and unanimously recommended for approval at the planning board meeting on february 17 2026. [37:04] Susan Hawes: Second ordinance 26-087 has been moved and seconded. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, Madam Clerk. Councilor Beck? Yes. Councilor Carson? Yes. Councilor Faloon? Yes. Councilor Fish? [37:25] Lisa Goodwin: Yes. Councilor Leonard? Yes. Councilor Malheur? Yes. Councilor Walker? Yes. Councilor Haas? Yes. Eight yes, zero no. [37:34] Susan Hawes: Ordinance 26-087 has passed. It, eight yes, zero no. [37:41] Lisa Goodwin: Next item. item 26-088 ordinance amending chapter 165 land development code district map to rezone a property located at r23-003-b from rural residents and agricultural district rrna to government and institutional service district gnisd councillor carson thank you madam clerk [38:02] Daniel Carson: this ordinance would amend the land development code district map to rezone the property at Maplot, R23-003-B, located on Ohio Street, from Rural Residence and Agricultural District, RRNA, to Government and Institutional Service District, G and ISD. The total area requested to be changed is approximately six acres. The applicant or owner of record is the Rock Church of Greater Bangor. The area is within the growth boundary shown in the 2022 Comprehensive Plan, and the future land use map in the plan shows this property in the neighborhood residential area, which consists of medium-density residential with limited commercial and institutional uses that are complementary to the surrounding residential land uses. This was reviewed and unanimously recommended for approval at the Planning Board meeting on February 17th, 2026. Madam Chair, I move passage of Council Ordinance 26-088. [39:07] Susan Hawes: Second. 26-088 Ordinance has been moved and seconded. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, Madam Clerk. Councilor Beck? Yes. Councilor Carson? Yes. Yes. Councilor Faloon? Yes. Councilor Fish? [39:26] Lisa Goodwin: Yes. Councilor Leonard? Yes. Councilor Malheur? Yes. Councilor Walker? Yes. Councilor Haas? Yes. Eight yes, zero no. [39:36] Susan Hawes: Ordinance 26-088 has passage, eight yes, zero no. [39:44] Lisa Goodwin: Next item. 26-089, ordinance amending the code of the City of Bangor to create a standing legislative committee. [39:52] Daniel Carson: Councilor Carson? Thank you, Madam Clerk. This ordinance would amend the code of the City of Bangor by creating a standing legislative committee. Following City Council's annual meeting with the city's state legislative delegation, City Council expressed an interest in the creation of a new standing committee to discuss and coordinate responses to state-level legislation with an impact on the City of Bangor. The legislative committee will liaise with the city's state legislative delegation and other elected officials on legislative matters of city interest. Provide the city's state legislative delegation and other elected officials with input on legislative proposals and seek sponsorship of legislation that is in the city's interest. Madam Chair, I move passage of Council Ordinance 26-089. Second. [40:41] Susan Hawes: Ordinance 26-089 has been moved and seconded. Is there any discussion? [40:52] Scott Pardee: My name is Scott Pardee and I'm a citizen of Bangor and I just want to say that I agree with that this probably should happen but I also find it a little disturbing that our elected legislature that represents us in the state house is not already looking out for our interest and I think that should be addressed to them and they should that's what they were elected to do was to look out for the interests of the city of Bangor and if they're not capable of doing it then something's wrong thank you thank you if i can just say [41:25] Joseph Leonard: something counselor leonard yeah i do appreciate your word scott i do want to say that this committee it's it's not about our representatives not representing us or not it's it's more so the city itself has the ability to represent itself and to use this as a tool to coordinate with other municipalities and other counties in the area it's just another tool to help our local legislators to actually organize some pushes that can like bring benefit to bangor so i don't see this as at all an issue with what our legislators do i see this as a force multiplier in a lot of ways but i really do appreciate your comments because this committee has been needed for a long time and we've needed to do this for a long time but again thank you so much as always for speaking up and speaking your opinion Richard Chaucer Brangler resident I [42:29] Richard Chaucer: support this initiative we do need someone to represent that they works together the more bodies and minds we have the better outcomes we have thank [42:36] Susan Hawes: you thank you any other discussion seeing none madam clerk councillor beck yes carlson yes [42:50] Lisa Goodwin: Council of Balloon? Yes. Council of Fish? Yes. That's Leonard? Yes. Councillor Mallar? Yes. Council Walker? [42:57] Susan Hawes: Yes. Council Hawes? Yes. Eight yes, zero no. Ordinance 26-089 has passage, eight yes, zero no. New business. Madam Clerk. [43:11] Lisa Goodwin: Application for Casino Operator License Renewal of HC Bangor LLC doing business as Hollywood Casino Hotel and Raceway, 500 Main Street. [43:19] Michael Beck: Councilman Beck. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Madam Chair, I move that we open the public hearing for the application for Casino Operator License Renewal of HC Bangor LLC doing business as Hollywood Casino Hotel and Raceway, 500 Main Street. [43:34] Susan Hawes: Second. Second and moved and seconded, the public hearing is open. Hi. [43:45] Katie Coe: Katie Coe, City resident of Bangor. I'm sorry, I just wanted to double check, you had said that we would have the opportunity for public comment on Councillor Beck's ordinance, and I went right over that. Is there an opportunity that could do that a little bit after these, his ordinance, after that was discussed? [44:18] Susan Hawes: Right, I mean, there's, you want to take comments, it's not if I want to take comments, Chair, you can allow the comments, and even though it's first reading, people don't typically speak on a matter at first reading. I had checked in with the Chair before the meeting to verify [44:37] Katie Coe: that we'd have an opportunity, because I didn't want to go twice for the same item, so we would have spoken at public hearing regarding it. Right, I mean, [44:46] Susan Hawes: Calcio, you can allow public comment at the end of, okay, all right, I'm sorry to interrupt [44:51] Katie Coe: this other item, I just didn't want to get the end of the meeting, wait until [44:55] Susan Hawes: the two public hearings are done, we can do that. Thank you so much, I appreciate it. Where were we? Oh, public hearing. Counselor has, I just want to raise, I think that perhaps individuals who have registered remotely want to speak to this item at the public hearing. Well, we'll go back to the remote after on this item, I believe, I believe that they've registered to speak to this item as well, the one that the public hearing is open, yes, the one that public hearing is open for, so who's so we have to work, is there any buddy here that wants to talk about this? Mr. Lance, he's remote. Oh, I'm just asked if there was anybody here. No, he'll be next. Okay, seeing none, hear me there, okay, yes. [46:03] Speaker S (unidentified): It's a very clear that you don't want me to speak. That's fine, but I would like a little chance because it seems like everyone else has a chance to speak, and you guys do not get to use viewpoint discrimination. My thinking in on these committees is a lot of times we get more and more of these. And also it was kind of rude not to let me speak earlier. That's okay, but when we have these meetings and you cancel out the zoom comments and put them at the end because of your viewpoint discrimination That's a problem. Excuse me, please, the attorney would like [46:35] Susan Hawes: like to speak for a moment. I just wanted to clarify. And I think everybody in the room knows that, the chair gave Mr. Lance the opportunity to speak. He wasn't there. She waited and, so he did have an opportunity to speak. So, if he intends to, make public comment, it wouldn't be appropriate to talk about anything except the item that's open for public hearing right now. The chairs the chair can open up public comment at the end and I understand that the chairman comment may please so anyway that's the point I want to make sure. Okay I keep getting muted are you going to let hello [47:30] Speaker S (unidentified): I still am not muted you keep muting me I have the screen recorded on my side it keeps happening. So am I allowed to respond to the lawyer's comment legally or do you want me to move on and not have a chance to respond to what he said that was inaccurate? [47:46] Richard Ward: I have been waiting with hand up. [47:48] Speaker S (unidentified): Okay, I'll get back to my point in a minute, but I've been waiting with hand up and I signed up to speak and you guys are trying to gloss over the speakers. So I have an audio issue. I reappeared, you didn't let me speak. And that's obviously your prerogative. You think you could do what you want. I'm gonna get back to the point. When we let authoritarians control our committees and set up point of order. [48:11] Michael Beck: At this point, we're in a public hearing for a application for casino operator license renewal. And I would say that this is not germane to this hearing. [48:21] Speaker S (unidentified): OK, we were talking about the renewal of the license and the gambling coming from influences that are similar to Jeffrey Epstein, the Jewish pedophiles. We could talk more about it later. But you guys want to curtail your opinions. Gambling goes hand-in-hand with prostitution, it goes hand-in-hand with sex trafficking, it goes hand-in-hand with murder. Angela would know something about manslaughter. It goes hand-in-hand with all sorts of bad vices. Casinos are no good for anybody. You should get rid of them, just like you should get rid of the ADL and their influence on your curtailing of our free speech. Jeffrey Epstein would be very proud of you guys. You're working very well for your daddies. Thank you very much. [49:01] Susan Hawes: I'm [49:15] Michael Beck: sure seeing no one else approach would move that we close the public hearing for this application for the casino operator license renewal of the Hollywood casino. Second, it's been moved and seconded, the public hearing is closed. Madam Chair, I move that we approve the application for casino operator license renewal of HC Bangor LLC doing business as Hollywood Casino Hotel and Raceway, 500 Main Street. Second. [49:44] Susan Hawes: It has been moved and seconded to approve the application for the casino operator license of Hollywood Casino Hotel and Raceway. Next item. [50:00] Lisa Goodwin: Public hearing application for special amusement license renewal of Endwell LLC doing business as Patty Murphy's, 26 Main Street, Council of Beck. [50:09] Michael Beck: Thank you, Madam Clerk. Clerk, Madam Chair, I move that we open the public hearing for the application for special amusement license renewal of nwell LLC doing business as Patty Murphy's, 26 Main Street. Second, it's been [50:22] Susan Hawes: moved and seconded that the public hearing be open for the special amusement license for Patty Murray Murphy's. It does appear that one person on Zoom would like to give is that the same Mr. Lance, are you there? [50:48] Speaker S (unidentified): Yes. Unfortunately for you guys, it's the same, George Lance. I happen to have an opinion on this as well. And I don't think we should be renewing amusement licenses for liquor-related businesses. The youth are getting away from liquor. Maybe the boomers still like liquor and some drunks in town might like it. But I think better for our communities to have less of that sort of entertainment. It's a similar sort of stuff as the casino. You know, we don't need to use vices for revenues in the city. Maybe that's the kind of stuff that drives you guys, but when you think about what's good for families, it's really not a good idea, just like the same thing as promoting manslaughter or into city council. It's not good to show that sort of stuff, and Angela Squawker still hasn't really answered to what she did. Maybe you should send Angela down to the to the bars and make sure everybody's having a good time down there. She should wear a sign that said like I'd like to make a point. [51:45] Susan Hawes: This is supposed to be about the, okay, the application. It's not okay. It's also disruptive. And it's repetitive, overly repetitive. Mr. Lance has been a point of order that this is not about [51:58] Speaker S (unidentified): the actual application. No, the app, I am against the application and I was giving you various reasons. I was not repetitive. My conduct is completely under control. So everything your lawyer said is off base. Good luck with that one, champ. I am against this, ordinance. I think you guys should reel it back in and think about other people, and how this is going to affect them the same way as Angela should have thought man. She, it's a death. Thank you very much. [52:32] Michael Beck: Seeing no one else approach. Madam chair. [52:34] Richard Chaucer: The ordinance should be, this should be renewed. I'm, I have family members from around the state to come here. This has been on the map. This is an excellent quality establishment. The food is high quality. The employees are excellent. You go in every day you see the same type of work, the same type of service. This is a place where Bangor community meets. I thoroughly think we should approve it. Thank you. [53:01] Michael Beck: Madam chair say no one else approach. I move we close the public hearing. [53:06] Susan Hawes: Second. It's been moved and seconded that the public hearing be closed. Madam [53:13] Michael Beck: chair I move that we approve the application for special amusement license renewal of Nwell LLC doing business as Patty Murphy's 26 Main Street. Second. It's been moved and seconded for approval of the special [53:27] Susan Hawes: amusement license renewal of Endwell LLC doing business as Patty Murphy's. Okay so we now have to go back. Yep. Where'd you go Katie? Hi. [54:01] Katie Coe: I'm Katie Ko. I'm a resident of and home in the city of Bangor and I appreciate you taking the time and going back because I know that first reading is not traditionally where you have public comment but I appreciate you doing this. I just wanted to speak in favor of the ordinance 26-095 amending the code of the city of Bangor to establish chapter 46, Employee Authority and Immigration Matters. I support the substance of this ordinance and hope when it goes to committee, it's materially unaltered. It shows that we care about the members of our community and city staff, and it clarifies the city role and maintains our current positions in an uncertain future. These may be our current positions, having it in writing is something that is incredibly important to the citizens of our city. And I really appreciate you guys taking the time to review it and to hopefully send it back to council. Thank you so much. Thank you Adam. [55:11] Susan Hawes: [55:14] Adam Baker: Adam Baker, being a resident, I just want to say any words that I say reflect me and do not reflect any committee. I just want to quickly, just moving along, just echo what Katie said. I truly believe that bank board needs just to put in fine lining, but it is against 287g agreements with ICE as a city, so thank you. I [55:41] Joe Garcia: have a simple question I would like to ask everyone here. Look me in the face and tell me no taxpayer money is going to illegal aliens. Can you all say that to me? Kind of figured, thank you. I [56:09] Susan Hawes: think that's it. That was all. Okay, and remotely we are stuck. There's nobody else on the remote. It's never gone down. Seems like he's had his three minutes for general public comment. We're good. Good, okay, that brings us to the end of the agenda for this meeting. Do we have any good night's from staff? Do we have any staff left out there? Okay, Council Carson, good night Bangor. [57:04] Michael Beck: Just want to give a shout out to the grassroots tag team who reached out to about the parks and rec center, because civic engagement is very important, and there's a lot of people in this community who care about Soya Arena. It was great to hear from all of them, but what really touched me tonight is during the workshop, I believe there was a mother who brought children who wanted to speak, and in the workshop, you know, wasn't the place for that because it's our work session, but I do hope that as this progresses that, you know, we do get a chance to hear from the children on this issue, because, you know, hockey changes lives. I mean, it changed my family's life, and I know so many out in Bangor have a great story about what hockey has done for them, and I just hope that people just keep speaking up and letting us know your thoughts on this. So I appreciate everyone who took the time. We got a lot of emails, so I do appreciate everyone took the time to email us and share their thoughts. Good night. [58:04] Joseph Leonard: I just want to commend this council for pushing forward a legislative committee. Committee, we now have a tool that allows us to actually go to Augusta and continuously be annoying to the legislator and to the governor as much as possible until we finally actually get results. So good job on us. Okay, that's a really awesome win tonight. Have a good night Bangor. [58:33] Susan Faloon: Hold on, Council Flume. I just want to point out that in about a week and a half we set our clocks ahead, and the days are going to be lighter or longer, and that's always an encouraging sign. And so in the days are starting to get longer too, so I wanted to kind of end on a really positive night note tonight. So with that, good night Bangor Council Walker. Good night Bangor. [59:01] Susan Hawes: Councilman, good night Bangor Council Fish, the traveling lady, good night Bangor. But I do want [59:09] Carolyn Fish: to say that I also appreciate hearing from the people from the public. A lot of times we see the regulars not, and we appreciate those, like we appreciate Scott, he always contributes good content for us. And I especially like to hear from people that are new are coming in, especially with different points of view. So I really appreciate you coming in. I know sometimes you feel like maybe you're in the minority, you might be in the silent majority, it doesn't matter. What matters is that you come in and you voice your opinion and you let us all know, and we do appreciate that. We do want to hear from you. So thank you. Keep it up. Good night. Bangor. [59:51] Susan Hawes: Well, thank you all for coming. It was a interesting meeting at times, and we do appreciate your participation with that.