Bangor committee approves HIV grant, homelessness committee, HR director

The Government Operations Committee approved a $500,000 grant application to support HIV care and established a permanent homelessness committee. The group also authorized funding for a new Director of Human Resources position and voted to recommend immediate city compliance with a new state law.

Key points

• The committee approved an order to apply for a two-year, $500,000 grant from NASDAQ to expand HIV case management and outreach.
• Councilor Wayne Mallar expressed concern about the cost-effectiveness of the HIV grant, noting a lack of clear data on service coordination.
• The committee voted to establish a permanent standing Homelessness Committee rather than a temporary task force, with a motion passing 3-2.
• The group approved a resolution to appropriate up to $50,000 from undesignated fund balance to create a standalone Director of Human Resources position.
• The committee voted 3-2 to recommend that the City of Bangor immediately comply with state law LB 1971, rather than waiting for its July effective date.

Next steps

• Staff will prepare an order for the full council to direct immediate compliance with state law LB 1971.
• The City Clerk will provide orders for the appointment of election clerks and voter registration appeals board members in April.
• The City Clerk's office will close for a staff development day on April 8 to complete training on the new state voter registration program.

Read the full transcript