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City staff recommends clearing large railroad encampment by Dec. 19, council agrees to begin messaging and planning supports
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Summary
City staff told Bangor City Council there are about 40–50 people camping along the railroad near Gunett's Furniture and Heroes Sports Bar and recommended immediate messaging that the site is unsafe and a target date of Dec. 19 for exit; council asked staff to pursue storage, transport and shelter options while exploring long-term plans.
City staff briefed the Bangor City Council on a sizeable encampment along the railroad corridor and recommended starting immediate public messaging that the railroad is unsafe and targeting Dec. 19 for people to vacate the site.
The recommendation, presented during the council workshop, said staff’s rough count is about 40 to 50 people camping along the tracks and noted 24 police calls to the area since Oct. 1 and roughly half a dozen fire responses. “The city’s recommendation is to begin somewhat immediately messaging that folks cannot continue to keep that space,” city staff said during the presentation. Staff said the Dec. 19 date was chosen to align with the planned opening of a daytime warming shelter.
Why it matters: council members said the encampment poses immediate safety risks to campers and first responders, and that winter weather will make access and emergency response more dangerous. Several councilors urged the city to pursue both near-term mitigation and a longer-term strategic plan for homelessness services.
What staff proposed and the challenges: staff recommended a dual path: (1) notify and message that the railroad is unsafe and that people should make alternative plans, and (2) concurrently work to resolve obstacles that would prevent people from using shelter options. Key obstacles staff identified were lack of secure storage for belongings, limited funding for day-site services, transportation between day and night shelters, and pet accommodation. Staff said public-health procedures exist for storing belongings and the city could expand that service, but funding for a dedicated day-center was not specified.
Business owners and outreach partners told the council the site had become a community, that some residents refuse housing because of program rules, and that the railroad company had been slow to engage. Staff said communications with the railroad have been inconsistent: railroad police with jurisdiction are based out of state and not regularly present. One business owner said the situation had affected local business operations and client safety.
Council direction and next steps: council agreed with staff’s plan to begin messaging and asked staff to return with a mitigation plan that addresses storage, transport and shelter gaps and potential costs. Staff said they will pursue outreach with the railroad, coordinate with local service providers (including the PATH team and continuum-of-care partners), and return with options and cost estimates. No formal ordinance or clearance action was taken at the workshop; the council recorded support for the approach and directed staff to proceed.
Community context: speakers raised concerns about where people would go if moved, noting limited shelter capacity and the need to coordinate transportation and belongings storage. Staff emphasized the city is balancing business-owner concerns, public-safety risk, and the needs of people experiencing homelessness.
The council did not vote on an eviction or enforcement action at the workshop; staff described the Dec. 19 date as a target tied to warming-shelter availability and said they would follow up to confirm that schedule and the logistics.
The council then moved on to other business.
