Bangor finance panel approves hardship abatement and one-year workout for 129 Bowling Drive, tables other cases

The Bangor City Finance Committee on Monday approved a hardship abatement following an executive session and voted 4–1 to accept a one‑year workout agreement for 129 Bowling Drive, while deferring two other property agreements for more information.

The agreement for 129 Bowling Drive, presented by staff, covers a two‑unit building whose owner is related to the resident. Committee members were told one unit is currently unoccupied and heavily damaged; the agreement increases quarterly payments by $100 to bring annual payments to roughly $4,400–$4,800 and runs for one year, after which the resident must seek a new agreement.

Why it matters: committee members framed the vote as balancing two priorities — keeping residents in their homes and protecting city taxpayers. Several members said the existing matured‑tax and utility lien policy lacks concrete thresholds for years or dollar amounts of arrears, and they asked staff to return with clearer parameters.

Councilor Dean, the chair, described the policy’s current orientation toward keeping people in their homes and noted the COVID-era pause in collections had left some long-delinquent accounts difficult to resolve. "The policy ... expresses a very, very clear preference to keep people in their homes," Dean said, arguing staff guidance should be clarified so taxpayers get realistic expectations about what will be accepted under workout agreements.

Councilor Beck said she was inclined to support the agreement because the city retains a lien and the property’s assessed value exceeded the debt. "I'm inclined to support this simply because, I think that the city is protected," Beck said, adding that the one‑year check‑in gives the resident a chance to make progress while protecting municipal interests.

A roll-call vote approved the 129 Bowling Drive agreement 4–1: Councilor Carson — yes; Councilor Bloom — yes; Councilor Beck — yes; Councilor Mallard — no; Chair Dean — yes.

The committee tabled proposed workout agreements for 88 Sydney Street (about 11 years of arrears; staff listed total outstanding near $20,500 and an assessed value near $122,000) and a Horton Road property (about 18 years delinquent and roughly $70,000 owed). Members asked staff to verify occupancy, confirm whether the account is truly the owner’s homestead, and return with financial information that would help assess whether offered payments are reasonable.

What’s next: staff will draft recommended changes to the matured‑tax/utility lien policy — including possible maximum years, dollar thresholds, and whether to require documentation of ability to pay — and return to the committee. The committee approved the single‑year agreement for 129 Bowling Drive and directed staff to bring the deferred items back when more information is available.

Notes: The committee announced the hardship abatement approved in executive session on the public record after returning from that closed session; no additional detail on that individual abatement was provided at the meeting.