Committee moves to refer Taylor Field 'safe zone' designation to full council

Bangor’s Economic Development Committee on Aug. 18 considered a code change request to designate Taylor Field as a state-authorized “safe zone” that would allow enhanced criminal charges for drug and aggravated crimes committed in areas frequented by minors.

City Solicitor Grace presented the request and told the committee that municipalities may designate parks, playgrounds and recreational facilities as safe zones under state law. Grace said the city currently has 29 designated safe zones and that Taylor Field would be the 30th. She said the Bangor Blue League uses Taylor Field for practices and had asked the city to pursue the designation.

Committee members asked about signage and enforcement. Grace said the police department would post an informational sign explaining the heightened penalties that apply in safe zones. After brief discussion, the committee made and seconded a motion to forward the designation request to the full City Council. The transcript records a second and the chair’s remark that the matter would move on to the council; no roll-call vote or tally appears in the committee transcript.

No ordinance language or effective date for the designation was presented during the committee discussion. The committee did not adopt final legislation; the item was sent to the City Council for further action.

Next steps: the request will be considered by the full City Council; the committee did not record a formal vote tally at the meeting and did not set an effective date for the designation.