Council approves attendance rules and adds nonvoting councilor to racial equity advisory committee after public criticism

Bangor City Council on May 28 adopted ordinance 25-157 to add notice and cause-for-removal provisions to the Advisory Committee on Racial Equity, Inclusion and Human Rights and to create an annually appointed, nonvoting city councilor seat on that body. The measure passed 6-1 after public comment criticized the committee's conduct and attendance.

Councilor Trimble introduced the ordinance as an amendment to Chapter 23 that would establish a process to remove committee members who miss four or more meetings in a year or three consecutive meetings and would require the committee to meet at least six times annually. The change also authorizes the council chair to appoint a city councilor to participate on the committee as a nonvoting member. Trimble said the amendment aims to improve committee functionality.

Public commentators urged action on two fronts: improving attendance and addressing past inflammatory public remarks by a committee member. Hillary Simmons, a resident of Bangor, told the council that the committee had not addressed a reported incident in which a member, while representing the committee, called two councilors "white Christian neo Nazis," and that no public apology or leadership response had followed. "This is unacceptable," Simmons said during public comment. A different resident who identified themselves as from VanMoore also raised concerns about committee members failing to apologize and continuing to serve.

Council discussion included questions about whether the ordinance would be retroactive; the council clarified that the attendance rule applies prospectively, not retroactively. Council members and city staff noted the committee typically meets between eight and ten times per year and the ordinance sets a minimum of six meetings per year to balance flexibility and accountability.

The final roll-call vote recorded six yes votes and one no. Councilor Mallard cast the lone no vote. Supporters said the ordinance provides a clear process to ensure regular participation; dissenting councilors expressed concern about adding a councilor to the committee or about bundling two issues into one ordinance.

The council directed the City Clerk's Office to notify advisory-committee members about the new attendance requirements and removal process and to report membership status to the council. The ordinance text and the vote record are now part of the city's official minutes.