Votes at a glance: Bangor Council approves mobile-home cooperative loan, VOA CDBG amendment, airport runway funds and EV purchase

The Bangor City Council on Jan. 27 approved a series of funding and licensing items that city officials said will preserve affordable housing, repair supportive-housing properties, advance a runway rehabilitation project at Bangor International Airport and add an electric vehicle to the municipal fleet.

Key outcomes

Cedar Falls resident cooperative loan: The council approved an order authorizing a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) loan of $500,000 to the Cedar Falls Resident Cooperative to support the cooperative purchase of Cedar Falls Mobile Home Park at 666 Penobscot Road. Councilor Carolyn Fisch moved the order; it passed on the council floor. City staff said the cooperative has secured financial commitments from Bangor Savings Bank, the Genesis Fund and the State of Maine Housing Preservation Fund to complete the transaction. The city must certify that at least 51 percent of the 129 current occupants meet CDBG income guidelines; the city will impose a deed restriction and require recertification every five years, officials said.

Volunteers of America CDBG amendment: The council approved an amendment to a $325,000 CDBG award previously granted to Volunteers of America Northern New England. The amendment allows VOA to transfer the remaining $240,560 (after $84,440 in predevelopment costs) to make urgent repairs at 113 and 115 Center Street, where clients currently reside. Councilor Fournier moved the amendment; the item drew questions from Councilor Mallard about whether changing the award use required reopening competition. The city solicitor responded that the reallocation did not require reopening…