Bangor council approves consent agenda, multiple property takings and airport contract

The Bangor City Council approved a broad consent agenda Monday that included dozens of routine orders, several property takings by virtue of matured liens, contracts for municipal projects and appropriations for City Hall and emergency medical services.

Council voted to approve consent items after the clerk read a list of orders and motions. The consent package included orders authorizing the city to take possession of multiple parcels with matured tax or stormwater liens, an amendment to the Bangor Housing Development Corporation’s federal recovery funds, and contracts and appropriations that city staff said were necessary for ongoing operations and capital work.

Key items approved included: an order authorizing execution of municipal quitclaim deeds for properties at 37 Tyler Avenue, 42 Elizabeth Avenue, 53 Bowden Street and 424 State Street; an amendment to Bangor Housing Development Corporation’s state and local fiscal recovery funds; an order authorizing the city manager to execute a right-of-entry with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for remedial investigation at the former Bangor military branch; a $333,000 contract with ADM Mechanicals for data and security wiring at Bangor City Hall; and a $2,436,844 contract with Benchmark Construction for Gate 11 boarding bridge replacement at Bangor International Airport.

Council also referred and took first readings on several ordinance and resolve items, including proposals to appropriate $199,511 from the improvement reserve for City Hall audiovisual upgrades and to appropriate $413,000 from the unassigned fund balance for security wiring and system upgrades at City Hall. The council accepted a donation of three visitor kiosks and approved applying for $484,000 in Northern Border Regional Commission funding for two unmanned exit lanes for the domestic terminal’s sterile area.

Several items relating to city-owned parcels subject to matured liens were moved to direct the city manager to take possession for disposition under the city’s matured tax and utility lien policy. For each property order read into the record, staff noted attempts to work with owners had been unsuccessful and that the finance committee had recommended the actions.

Councilors posed few substantive questions on most consent items during the meeting; where questions were raised, staff responded that details such as owner names or parcel descriptions would be provided in committee packets or follow-up materials. The consent agenda passed without amendment.

Votes at a glance - Ordinance 25‑104 (amend consent agreement authority for code enforcement): Passed by roll call, 9 yes, 0 no. - Contract, ADM Mechanicals — $333,000 for City Hall wiring: Approved (motion read and passage noted). - Contract, Benchmark Construction — $2,436,844 for Gate 11 boarding bridge: Approved (motion read and passage noted). - Application to Northern Border Regional Commission — $484,000 for two unmanned exit lanes: Approved (motion read and passage noted). - Multiple orders directing the city manager to take possession of properties with matured tax/stormwater liens (see list in council packet): Approved (motions read and passage noted).

The council’s clerk advised that some consent items would be adjusted or researched further as requested by councilors; one item from the consent minutes was postponed for clarification and will return to the council at a later meeting.

City staff said several items had been reviewed by the appropriate committees (finance, business and economic development) prior to the council meeting.

The council moved on to public hearings and other agenda items after passage of the consent agenda.