Council approves runway rehab funds, $500,000 mobile‑home cooperative loan and VOA CDBG amendment; several licenses granted

At its Jan. 27, 2025 meeting the Bangor City Council approved multiple funding and licensing items, including additional construction funds for runway rehabilitation at Bangor International Airport, a loan to a residents’ cooperative to acquire a mobile‑home park, and an amendment to a Community Development Block Grant award for supportive housing repairs.

The council unanimously approved a resolution to accept and appropriate an additional $6,731,241 from the National Guard Bureau for the runway rehabilitation project at Bangor International Airport. The two‑year reconstruction — started in spring 2024 with scheduled completion in September 2025 — includes a mill and overlay of the runway and shoulders. The city previously accepted $9,835,000; the new funds bring the project total noted at the meeting to $16,566,241. Meeting materials cited an estimated total construction cost of $47,000,000 and a funding summary that listed federal AIP grants, National Guard contributions, state funds and local match.

The council also approved order 25‑061, authorizing a $500,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) loan to the Cedar Falls Resident Cooperative to acquire the 227‑unit Cedar Falls Mobile Home Park as a limited‑equity cooperative. Councilors said the loan, combined with commitments from Bangor Savings Bank, the Genesis Fund and the State of Maine Housing Preservation Fund (totaling $8,372,000 with the city loan), will support the cooperative purchase. The council’s motion cited HUD requirements that at least 51% of current occupants meet CDBG income guidelines; the city will impose a deed restriction and require recertification of compliance every five years.

Councilors discussed and approved an amendment to a prior CDBG award for Volunteers of America, Northern New England, allowing $240,560 of the remaining $325,000 award to be reallocated to make critical repairs at 113 and 115 Center Street where clients currently reside. The reallocation followed delays on a separate Shepherd Drive development; councilors debated timeline, competitive grant process questions and whether the change required reopening the competitive process. The council concluded the reallocation was allowable and approved the amendment by roll call, 8‑1.

Other actions included acceptance and appropriation of $35,698 from the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program to purchase an electric vehicle and charger for city travel (order 25‑047). Councilors asked whether federal disbursement was certain; staff said some federal funds remained paused pending broader federal spending reviews.

The council granted special amusement licenses to Fandler Group LLC (doing business as Seasons, 427 Main St.), Bangor Lodge of Elks No. 244 (108 Godland Road), and Resco LLC (Hilton Garden Inn, 250 Haskell Road). Several consent‑agenda items and annual reports were accepted as part of the meeting’s consent agenda, and two referred items received first reading: accepting $40,000 from Efficiency Maine for electric‑vehicle chargers at the Pickering Square parking garage (first reading, referred to committee) and accepting $150,000 from the Maine Department of Health and Human Services for an overdose‑response program (first reading, referral to Government Operations Committee).

Votes at a glance - 25‑046: Accept and appropriate $6,731,241 from National Guard Bureau for runway rehabilitation and execute cooperative construction agreement — passed (voice vote). Moved by Councilor Trumbull. - 25‑047: Accept and appropriate $35,698 from Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program for purchase of an electric vehicle and charger — passed (voice vote). Moved by Councilor Dean. - 25‑061: Authorize $500,000 CDBG loan to Cedar Falls Resident Cooperative to acquire Cedar Falls Mobile Home Park — passed (voice vote). Moved by Councilor Fisch. - 25‑062: Amend CDBG award to Volunteers of America, Northern New England, reallocating remaining funds to repairs at 113 and 115 Center St. — passed by roll call, 8 yes, 1 no; mover and second noted in record. - Special amusement licenses (Seasons; Bangor Lodge of Elks No. 244; Hilton Garden Inn) — each approved (voice votes). - Referrals/first readings: 25‑059 (accept and appropriate $40,000 from Efficiency Maine for EV chargers at Pickering Square) — first reading, referred to committee; 25‑060 (accept and appropriate $150,000 from Maine DHHS for an overdose‑response program) — first reading, referred to Government Operations Committee.

Councilors did not adopt new ordinances or alter tax rates at the meeting; several items were routine acceptances of grant funds and licenses. Two items that generated council questions were the CDBG reallocation for Volunteers of America (councilors sought a more detailed explanation of timing and eligibility) and the EV‑vehicle grant (staff noted federal disbursement was not yet guaranteed).