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Residents press council on public comment limits, housing staffing and downtown safety
Summary
Multiple residents used the public comment period to raise concerns about changes to the council's public comment schedule, staffing at a proposed housing program (Teresa's Place), an overdose prevention center and downtown safety incidents.
Several residents addressed the council during the March 24 public comment period, raising issues about the council’s public comment policy, support for housing with on-site staffing, local overdose and HIV concerns, and downtown public-safety incidents.
Scott Pardee, a Bangor resident, criticized the recent restructuring of the public comment period that now provides 15 minutes at the start and 45 minutes at the end of meetings. Pardee said the change "effectively limits the opportunity for general public participation" and urged the council to reconsider and "restore a more accessible public comment period." He also spoke about Teresa's Place, a housing program discussed in a workshop that evening, and said from his experience providing housing to people with complex needs that "without consistent on-site staffing, especially during nights and weekends, a housing program like Teresa's Place is highly vulnerable to instability and crisis."
Pardee also raised public-health concerns, saying the rise in discarded syringes and a growing HIV problem make the case for being "open minded and courageous" about approaches, including an overdose prevention center, to address public health issues.
James Gallagher, a downtown property owner and business operator, recounted a recent assault outside his Salty Brick Market and said the episode and repeated trespass incidents have prompted staff safety requests and contributed to a perception that downtown is less safe. Gallagher said he has "over 25 active no trespassing citations for criminal activity at Salty Brook Market" and urged the council to acknowledge and act on rising criminal activity.
A separate speaker, Michael Norton, recited material referencing prostitution and said he observed two prostitutes outside a merchant store; his remarks were not connected to a specific council action.
The council did not respond during the public comment period, consistent with the stated policy that members listen without debating during that time. The council proceeded to the consent agenda and scheduled items after closing public comment.
