Bangor committee forwards housing study, accepts $500,000 grant application and authorizes letter urging HUD to release homelessness funds

The Bangor City Business, Economic and Development Committee on Feb. 19 voted to forward a revised housing study to the full council, recorded acceptance of a $500,000 Northern Border Regional Commission grant application for a proposed central kitchen, and authorized the city to sign a letter asking U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development officials to continue processing fiscal year 2024 Continuum of Care (CoC) homelessness funding.

The committee’s action came during a regularly scheduled meeting that also included an executive session on real estate matters and a later motion to amend a lease and consent to a sublease, which the committee approved and said it will move to council for final action.

Committee members noted minor editorial corrections to the housing study before forwarding it. Councilor Rick Fornia said changes requested at the prior meeting were made, pointing to a swap of income categories on page 11 and remaining typographical items. Councilor Mallard called attention to two specific edits: a duplicated phrase on page 6 and a missing dollar sign before a 20,000 figure on page 12. After brief discussion the committee voted to move the study to the council for consideration.

On the central kitchen project, economic development staff reported that the city applied to the Northern Border Regional Commission’s Catalyst program and received notice of a $500,000 award. Staff said the award is being monitored while officials confirm details; the committee discussed possible site coordination with the airport and noted that state-level support also may be in play. The committee voted to move acceptance of the grant to the council for formal approval and directed staff to continue site coordination and provide an update at the next committee meeting.

The committee also considered a time-sensitive request from the statewide Continuum of Care network urging U.S. Sen. Susan Collins to ensure HUD completes processing and distributes FY24 CoC awards. Committee members were told that, according to the network’s message, a discretionary authority could permit agencies to pause awards or obligations and that without these funds "more than 1,200 households across Maine would be at risk of becoming homeless or would stay homeless longer," including families with children, people fleeing domestic violence and veterans. Committee members asked staff whether Bangor had experienced any interruption in access to federal housing funds; staff reported the city had not seen access problems to date. After brief discussion the committee voted to authorize the city to sign on to the letter and asked that the draft be circulated to members before final submission.

The committee went into executive session under the cited statute for disposition of real property and economic development matters. After returning to open session, the committee approved a motion to amend a lease and related documents and to consent to a proposed sublease; members said the amendment and consent will be forwarded to the council at its next meeting for final action.

Separately, several members raised constituent concerns about aviation safety after recent national staffing changes at the Federal Aviation Administration and asked staff to request an overview of aviation safety practices; staff said they would follow up with the named staff member.

Votes at a glance

- Forward revised housing study to council: motion moved and seconded; no roll-call tally provided in the transcript; outcome—forwarded to council.

- Acknowledge $500,000 Northern Border Regional Commission Catalyst award (central kitchen project) and move acceptance to council: motion moved and seconded; no roll-call tally provided in the transcript; outcome—forwarded to council.

- Enter executive session under "1 MRSA section 4,056 c" for disposition of real property/economic development: roll call recorded in the transcript with votes of yes from Councilor Fisher, Councilor Haas, Councilor Leonard and Councilor Fowler; outcome—executive session held.

- Amend lease and related documents and consent to sublease (result of executive session): motion moved and seconded; no roll-call tally provided in the…