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City manager reports assessor review, paid-family-leave options, refugee office closure and calls to consider codifying non-participation in 287(g)
Summary
City Manager Deb Lohrey updated Bangor City councilors on April 28 about an assessor revaluation review, potential paid-family-leave insurance options, the closure of the Greater Bangor refugee resettlement office by Capital Charities, and requests from councilors to discuss codifying a non-participation stance on the federal 287(g) program.
During the April 28 City Council workshop, City Manager Deb Lohrey briefed councilors on several items affecting city finances and community services.
Budget process and assessments: Lohrey said the assessor was re-examining assessed values using sales activity from July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024 and that updated assessment work was expected to be available to the budget committee the following week. ‘‘He believes he'll be wrapping that up this week, so you can expect that that's likely on next week's budget committee,’’ she said. Lohrey framed the review as a possible source of modest property-tax relief depending on market shifts.
Paid family medical leave: Lohrey said commercial insurers are entering the market for paid family medical leave and that the city was exploring whether purchasing a compliant commercial policy could lower costs compared with other options. Any commercial solution would have to meet the state requirements in place.
Refugee resettlement office closure: Lohrey told councilors that Capital Charities of Maine had decided to close the Greater Bangor Refugee and Immigration Service office, citing recent federal suspension of refugee resettlement and loss of related federal funding; the Southern Maine office will remain open. She said this decision was made by Capital Charities and that city staff had learned of the closure through agency communications.
287(g) program and calls for codification: Councilors raised constituent concerns about the federal 287(g) program and asked whether the city should codify a non-participation position in ordinance. Lohrey said the city has never participated in the 287(g) program and does not anticipate participating, but that some communities have adopted ordinances to clarify their stance. Several councilors urged scheduling a discussion—either at the GovOps committee or as a full-council workshop—to consider drafting a local ordinance that would memorialize non-participation.
Theresa’s Place child-care site: Councilors asked about Theresa’s Place; Lohrey said staff would check with Code Enforcement and that the final inspection had not yet occurred. She noted interviews had taken place but did not confirm final licensing or an opening date.
Councilors did not take formal votes on any of these matters during the workshop; staff were directed to follow up with the budget committee, Code Enforcement and to schedule committee or council discussion on 287(g) codification if councilors wished to pursue that option.
