Bangor Finance Committee approves paving, airport, and marketing contracts

[0:44] Susan Deane: All right, you're live. Good evening and welcome to the regularly scheduled finance committee meeting. Today is Monday, May 18th, 2026. Members of the finance committee are Counselor Michael Beck, Counselor Daniel Carson, Counselor Wayne Mallor. We have Counselor Susan Falloon joining us online. I am the chair, Susan Deane. Also around the table we have Finance Director Stephanie Kimball. We have Counselor Walker, Counselor Leonard, Counselor Fish. [1:15] Carollynn Lear: And first up we have some sidewalk projects to discuss. Yes, so the Main Avenue sidewalk project is ongoing. The engineering department is currently working on the artwork portion. It's a Main DOT UPI grant project with 50% state funding and local funding. So this piece involves constructing a new sidewalk along Main Ave starting on Hammond Street and extending to Texas Ave. The award recommendations for sidewalk paving portion of the project. The engineering department's elicited bids separately for the artwork and paving portions. Two bids were received for the paving, one for $79,000 and one for $79,350. Although the low bidder currently performs other work for the City, the bid difference between the two was only $350. In consideration of project scheduling, workload distribution, and the City's interest in maintaining contractor availability across multiple projects, staff recommends awarding the project to Precision Paving for $79,350. Do we have any questions? [2:32] Wayne Mallar: Councilman Malik. Well, I understand what you're saying in the thing, but it's very confusing as to overall project scheduling, workload distribution, what consideration, what were the factors that came into that? I mean, it seems to me if you get a low bid, and you've worked with them before, you don't go in and say, you know, what are these, what kind of problems do you have with your schedule? [2:59] Jeff Davis: It's Jeff Davis, Director of Engineering. It's contractor schedule and workload. They already have streets pavement was the other bidder. They're already contracted with the city. They have other projects that I want them to finish before I award them anything else. [3:18] Wayne Mallar: I understand what you're saying, but that's a little confusing in the bid process because usually we don't. Is that a major consideration? I don't know maybe it is a major consideration to get okay but when is this when are they [3:32] Jeff Davis: going to start paving we hope in a month or so he [3:38] Wayne Mallar: says 30 days the other one said when [3:40] Jeff Davis: the groundwork is done yeah so the groundwork will be done in less than 30 days and they can pave I [3:49] Wayne Mallar: still like to take the low bid I'm sorry I don't understand the other parts of it I hear what you're saying but I don't agree with it which is fine I don't typically [3:57] Jeff Davis: typically i would but for 350 difference that's no difference no i understand that but you [4:04] Wayne Mallar: know small amounts of large amounts it's the principle of the thing and i don't agree with it but no i understand what you're saying okay i think one could argue that by waiting for my [4:15] Susan Deane: current i mean sometimes your wait time costs you money so maybe by starting sooner even if [4:22] Jeff Davis: the work is held off another year it certainly could anyone [4:27] Susan Deane: balloon also has her hand raised [4:30] Susan Faloon: thank you council falloon thank you i just wanted to ask so there was some paving that was done last year i know on blackstone street and that there have already been some issues with that and i honestly i don't know who the contractor was and i don't i don't need to i just want to make sure that we're not going to face that same situation where like i guess the sidewalks are already cracking and my understanding was that was done last fall and those sidewalks are already cracking and there's grass growing up and i think they're i don't know if it was just the sidewalks but anyway i just wanted to raise that issue i think it's already been discussed but i just want to make sure that you know we're thinking about that going forward for projects like this that so we're not going to see that again yeah i don't think that was i think [5:28] Jeff Davis: that was maybe public works haven program not through engineering i don't think the same contractors okay but on this the sidewalk project thank you i [5:42] Susan Deane: walk that street quite a bit i know one of the issues with the sidewalks is the trees and the roads so some of it is nature Yep. But obviously we want to be prepared if it's better, something that doesn't happen. Other questions or concerns? Do we have a motion on this? It's under the threshold. Yes, we do. [6:09] Michael Beck: I would move the staff recommendation for precision paving on this contract. I have [6:15] Susan Deane: a motion. We have a second. Councilor Faloon? Yes. Councilor Kartham? Yes. I can call the roll, too, if you'd like. oh and take it you prefer whatever you prefer so i'll continue okay counselor mallor no yes and i will be yes for yes one no we have passage and next up we have a tank farm that related [7:00] Carollynn Lear: To airport, related to airport, yes, the airport recently bid the replacement of a tank farm back trailer. Only one bid came in because it is a specialized piece of equipment. That came in at forty six thousand eight hundred forty dollars. Safety Back Systems is the only bidder. The airport budgeted ninety thousand and fiscal year twenty six for the replacement of this, and the replaced back trailer will be sold at auction. So staff recommends purchasing a tank farm back trailer from Safety Back Systems. For 46 840 through the Notify Me system, this fell under equipment services and purchases, and 58 people were notified. Do [7:43] Susan Deane: you have any questions? You have a motion? You have a second? Roll call vote. Council Carson, yes. Council Beck, yes. Council Balloon, yes. And I will be yes. Five yes. And next up we have, so [8:20] Carollynn Lear: Public Works issued an RFP for paving services. Five responses for between 1.8 million and 2.7 million. It covers 400 plus miles of roadway, reduces long-term maintenance, reduces emergency repair costs, and extends the life of the roadways. The low bid was Streets Land, Streets Landscaping and Lawn Care at 1.8 million. The remainder of, oh I'm sorry, this will be funded with the fiscal year 26 budget, and the remainder will come from CDBG and other funds. Public Works recommends awarding the bid to Streets. Staff is available for comment. Hello staff. All right, hello. [9:02] Susan Deane: Have any [9:06] Michael Beck: questions for the part of the sidewalk that's going to be funded with the, or the land, this contract being funded with CDBG funds. Do you know, do we know yet what [9:18] Carollynn Lear: neighborhoods are gonna be affected by that? The list has been sent downtown. I'm still waiting on a result for that. Covered quite a bit of the LMI zone. They have to make a decision on what portion of it they'll provide to us. And then the other question I had was [9:33] Michael Beck: we don't have any experience with this vendor. Usually have we done any kind of [9:38] Carollynn Lear: a check-in references or anything? Absolutely. So they do BRRRS streets and they've been doing them for quite a few years. Actually they're milling a bridge in Old Town right now, so I got to watch them work over there also. So we had an interview process with them and B&B just to kind of go through and ask those hard questions about safety and protocols and equipment and availability, that type of stuff. Okay, thank you. Any [10:08] Susan Deane: other questions? No [10:14] Michael Beck: further questions. Could entertain a motion. I move staff recommendation for the contract to go to the Streets Landscaping Lawn Care. Second the motion. [10:25] Susan Deane: We have a second roll call vote. Also Carson, yes. Councilor Beck, yes. Councilor Meller, yes. Councilor Fluke, yes. And I will be yes. It's five yes. I'll go from council. [10:42] Michael Beck: She could stay here and she's not well set up to it yet came off on belly dumps with all three of [10:46] Carollynn Lear: these so we're good public works again go ahead issued an rfp for chip seal program and received one response at 397 000 from all states construction the operating budget for the chip seal maintenance program address addresses surface deterioration aging and heavy traffic this prevents potholes base failures cost reduction they also extend the payment by five to seven years this is funded by the budget just for your 26 budget we recommend awarding it to all states construction and staff is Available and sorry, 113 people were notified through the notify me system under the construction category. Do [11:36] Susan Deane: We have any questions regarding the chip seal program? Just [11:41] Wayne Mallar: A comment. I'm curious you sent out the 113 people were notified. [11:46] Carollynn Lear: Only one bid, a bid specialty costs all kinds of different things are going on. It just [11:54] Wayne Mallar: Seemed unusual. Yes, today's world. Yep, okay, thank you. Any [12:02] Susan Deane: Other questions? I understand a motion need staff recommendation. Second motion, we have a second roll call vote. Council person, yes. Answer back, yes. And I'll be a yes. Five yes, that's full council. We're moving on to another paving project. Yes, this is a season I guess paving marking and stencil services for this [12:35] Carollynn Lear: One. Public works is requesting funding to repaint more than 8 000 street stencils and pavements across the city of Bangor. This is for stop bars, crosswalks, directional arrows, etc. Many of the markets have faded so they need regular repainting. This is a scheduled maintenance investment that protects public safety, liability exposure, maintains a high standard of operations in Bangor. Funding will allow public works to complete a citywide refresh for the painting season. RFP was posted, we had three Bids come in ranging from 154,000 to 282,000. The lowest bidder was Elite Road Markings, they did not have capacity for the project unfortunately. So staff recommends awarding it to Pay Five Corporation for the 164 by 68 which [13:32] Susan Deane: Is budget funded. I have a question for you. Yes, we had started doing some etched lines and roads has [13:41] Carollynn Lear: That been productive and does that last it failed also we don't believe the etching was deep enough last year so we're going to hedge a little deeper this year and see if we can set that paint a little lower. The plows wreak havoc on the paint markings on all the streets so again we'll try to hedge a little deeper and set that a little better. What is the normal lifespan of markets like that in high traffic areas? Yeah with the plowing activities that we do especially this year with the amount of plowing we did doesn't so it's not going to last very long it's expensive. I'm back again Wednesday to talk about my budget and I'm asking for a lot of different things and we'll discuss all this in detail then. [14:20] Susan Deane: Unless you want to no that's okay I just wondered if it [14:23] Carollynn Lear: to the reason why we didn't select the low bidder is with all the research I could do it looks like a company of one. We had a three-year contract previously and they failed they were a larger company and they couldn't accommodate us. The company we're using I believe is out of Massachusetts gonna have three teams that will deploy here along with that because it's paving season we will tear up and pave roads and the company will have to return on our schedule and then paint those breath paved areas and then if there's problems with what they do they have to return and be able to freshen up work that they put down. Great the [15:04] Susan Deane: other questions much [15:11] Michael Beck: on this move that we take the staff recommendation to award this contract to k-5 corporation. [15:18] Susan Deane: Second we have a motion we have a second roll call vote Council Carson? Yes. Councilor Beck? Yes. Councilor Mallory? Yes. Councilor Calhoun? Yes. And I will be yes. Five yes. Thank you very much. Thank you, Council. We will now move on to the sewer. [15:42] Carollynn Lear: An R&P for sewer manhole frames, covers, and risers was put out the bid on March 26th. This resulted in four bids from 44,727 to 49,518. Staff recommends awarding it to fw web company of hamden maine which was the low bidder. Cities had a positive past experience with them funds are available and have been budgeted for fiscal year 26. So staff requests approval to purchase the material from fw web for 44 727. Any questions [16:24] Susan Deane: entertain a motion i'm [16:29] Daniel Carson: going to stop recommendation second motion we have a [16:32] Susan Deane: second through roll call vote council chrysan yes council back yes councilor ballard yes council falloon yes and i'll be a yes i guess that was staff recommendation fw well great and last up we are going to waive the bid process marketing yes [16:55] Carollynn Lear: The airport maintains an active marketing program focused basically on promoting passenger air service, commercial development opportunities, and awareness of services available to the public, tenants, and the corporate and aviation communities. One is for Airport One Route Builder 360 slash flymyairport.com for $28,000. This provides data and reporting tools that support broader air service development initiatives and demonstrates the airport's ongoing investment in airline partner success. So the cost is a one-time augmentation fee of $3,000 and a 12-month subscription fee of $25,000. The other marketing effort is the airport's been invited to participate in an episode of All Access with Andy Garcia, a documentary television series focused on infrastructure, transportation, economic development, and industries. This provides an opportunity to showcase Bangor International Airport and its role in tourism, economic development, military operations, cargo activity, and transportation and activity. The total cost consists of a 25,900 underwriting commitment and an estimated 3,400 travel production fee. So staff is asking to wage the bid process for both of these for marketing efforts. [18:27] Susan Deane: Do you have any questions on the marketing? You [18:31] Michael Beck: know, hard-hitting question. This documentary, is it gonna focus on or feature, rather, the library? [18:38] Speaker I (unidentified): It's definitely one of the things that we will probably bring up as one of the features of the terminal that should be some change along with [18:55] Michael Beck: recent construction and upcoming construction. Sure, and the other question I have is this documentary, so I'm not familiar with this, the show. Is it distributed a public television, you said? Did they also make it available on like YouTube? There are many things about public television [19:09] Speaker I (unidentified): that are also available on YouTube. They also have a streaming service that is no cost to subscribe to that has similar access. Okay, where I'm going with this is that, you know, once it's [19:20] Michael Beck: done, it's on YouTube and I don't know if it's set up where they can even share it on social media, but that would be really cool to put on our city side social media to say, hey, look at us. [19:29] Speaker I (unidentified): Yeah, there's ability to link it and a lot of the video that will be produced is going to be turned over to us to use in future marketing campaigns, a lot of what people call b-roll, just the action shots of things happening in the background, flying aircraft, taking different types of operations with loading, on loading, all of that's going to be something we can use for future. [19:53] Susan Deane: Sure, okay, that's [19:58] Daniel Carson: a person I just want to appreciate that added value a second. [20:06] Susan Deane: Motion we have a second, yes. Question? Oh, sorry, not sir. [20:12] Susan Faloon: Council Fuller, you have a question. Hi, thank you. So I like having worked in public relations for like 30 years, I've done some of these sort of documentary style things. I just have to say I'm not a huge fan of them. They're a pay-to-play, they look like kind of a journalist piece, but they're paid advertising, and I think that can be misleading leading, and I think that it's important to identify that it's paid advertising. So because I think that you know we need to be transparent about that, I think these things often sound a little bit too good to be true. I think I and I'm not saying you know that you know they might not produce a good piece, but I think we just need to be pretty transparent that this is a paid marketing piece. It's not just a documentary program that is done by a journalist. I think these can be really confusing. And I would love to know more about where it's gonna air, because when I looked into this like a little bit, I think the material that we received said that it would air on public television, but what I found was that this would air on shows like CNN, Fox News, CNBC, those sorts of news outlets. So I don't know, I guess I would just maybe want a little bit more information on these, on where it's going to air. So anyway, I'm not opposed to the idea, but I just think that sometimes these companies that produce these things are not always what they seem. And I just know that in my public relations roles, I always pass on these because sometimes they even go out and get sponsors on behalf of the company that they're representing in the documentary and i would want to make sure that 's not happening too because that can kind of seem like pressure if they're getting some kind of outside sponsorship so that didn't say this but i guess i would want to make sure that 's not something that's going to happen as well thank you [22:51] Susan Deane: Thank you. Have we run this by our legal department? Did we have any concerns about [23:00] Speaker I (unidentified): I will have to check with them. Currently both of the return solicitors are out, so I would be good to confirm that immediately. [23:09] Susan Deane: Do you have a time frame that this needs to be approved by? The [23:15] Speaker I (unidentified): brief that I had on this morning was about 15 minutes long, so I do not know what the timeline is. [23:21] Susan Deane: I believe I should have addressed Susan Fallone prior to the motion in the second, so we need [23:26] Daniel Carson: To figure out if we want to move this, I'm, I am still interested in moving up to waive the bid. [23:34] Susan Deane: Does it change anyone else? I [23:40] Michael Beck: mean, I've done it with more information. I just don't know the timeline on this, so if this is something that it has to be done soon, yeah, I guess [23:51] Susan Deane: that would be enough to oppose it. So I'll ask again for a motion just to be clear. [23:57] Daniel Carson: All right, move the process, yeah. [24:02] Michael Beck: I already seconded it again, so [24:07] Susan Deane: we have a motion and a second, so we'll do roll call vote. That's a person, yes. That's our Mallard, yes. That's our Bet, yes. No, and I will be a yes, but I don't see why we couldn't get a little more information just for our amendment, get some [24:26] Speaker I (unidentified): more information, two items that were raised, that would be great, thank you. [24:36] Carollynn Lear: So we have a workout agreement for 129 Bowling Drives for a Forzana, sorry if I pronounce that wrong, Con, after receiving a recent letter from the city's tax collector, Mr. Khan contacted city staff regarding the delinquent taxes for a sister's property located at 129 Bowling Drive. There are multiple tax and utility liens on the property, including multiple matured liens. The accounts currently total approximately $65,800. Ms. Kahn is interested in redeeming the property and Ms. Kahn has proposed to work out agreement on her behalf, calling for a minimum payment of $1,100 per quarter. The terms would also require all new charges to be paid on time and the agreement would be for one year. Year. If all terms of the agreement have been met at the end of the one year expiration, they may request a new agreement for the remainder of what staff recommends. Any questions? [25:38] Wayne Mallar: Is that tip? I mean, this is she's paying $4400 a year. It's going to take her 10 years to is that a typical? I'm not sure that agreement seems like that's kind of lengthy. Plus paying [25:54] Carollynn Lear: that we try to factor in and try to set a quarterly payment that would get it paid at least a tax year in one agreement sometimes they can't afford that so I try to work with them a little bit and try to figure out what 's the most they can do comfortably and still keep things paid that come due [26:19] Wayne Mallar: outside of the agreement, so the remainder of the money in the agreement is being by receiving interest on it, yes, interest continues to grow, yeah. [26:30] Carollynn Lear: It depends on the tax year that is owed, yep, that's [26:38] Susan Deane: a fish this committee, but [26:40] Carollynn Lear: on 65,800, how many years? So for tax years, they go back 13 tax years. [26:48] Susan Deane: You should have done something before this. [26:50] Carollynn Lear: And there was no action before this? No. So the mature property group that we meet, we concentrated on vacant buildings first, ones with code issues. We sent out a recent letter we met, there was a few properties we sent out that people are living in. So we're trying to work with them first before we move forward with taking that next step. He reached out to try to do an agreement with us. Thank you, but he does not own the property. No, his sister is. So [27:29] Susan Deane: The money that's being paid quarterly is going towards the back taxes or is [27:33] Carollynn Lear: That with workout agreements we start with the most recent and work backwards, so we leave the maturity losing tax. Does that pay for more than the current year? So the current year he, they were billed forty six hundred dollars, a little over that, so it's close but not quite over. He couldn't afford going any higher than the 1100 and keeping the 27 tax year that will be built this summer, paying that September installment on time and utility bills. He couldn't do both with it also. [28:10] Daniel Carson: Carson, after the one year expiration where they're able to arrange a new agreement that on the remainder of what's owed, is that what happens after that? Is it? So as long as you're [28:22] Carollynn Lear: Right, as long as we, he complies with the terms or she complies with the terms of the agreement, he can request a new one. I would come back and for approval and that would be each year. Yes, you can only do one for a one-year term. Yep, so [28:41] Susan Deane: Mr. Khan is actually going to be paying this [28:44] Carollynn Lear: For his sister? I believe he's helping her. From the conversation I had with him, is it contractors with her? It would be with the taxpayer. Yeah. Is it typical to have the payments less than [28:58] Susan Deane: The current year when that balance is so high from the previous years? This doesn't seem equitable. [29:05] Carollynn Lear: We try to get it as close to get that, but that sometimes they just can't afford to keep things currently and meet the workout agreement. So we try to get it as close as possible to set them up for success and continue in meeting the terms. Yes, it would extend these within itself many years. Answer [29:29] Michael Beck: Back to your question. Yeah, just so they never came in for any kind of abatement or in this time or anything? They're just so abatements, you know. [29:37] Carollynn Lear: So a poverty abatement, you have to, it has to be your residence at the homestead, so there's certain requirements. She does not currently have the homestead exemption, which is something that I'll have to look to see if this is her homestead or if this is a second one for her. I don't know that. [29:56] Michael Beck: I'd like to know, before I would approve this, I want to know if it's a second home. That to me is a deal breaker. I [30:07] Susan Deane: would agree. I'm sorry, forget to look up there. [30:14] Susan Faloon: Thank you. So what happens if they default on this? Like what's the next step? So if it's [30:24] Carollynn Lear: breached, we would send out a letter giving them 30 days to bring the workout agreement. If they don't comply with it, then the next step would for us to be taking, take possession. [30:37] Susan Faloon: Session. Thank you. Council [30:48] Daniel Carson: Carson. I'm, because this is 13 years, is that what you said, right? So I have to ask, how many other properties do we have in that range? We have, I don't [31:05] Carollynn Lear: know, they did send out a few letters that had some, a few years back, but we're just starting to get into the point where their people's homes and they're occupied, so we thought we could send out a letter first, see if we can get them respond, responding back to either pay a simple if possible [31:28] Daniel Carson: or a workout agreement. So are you saying, I'm sorry, that some of those are were vacant? No, we're [31:36] Carollynn Lear: just getting the, we're just getting to look at properties that are we concentrated with the vacant in ones that had code issues first, so we had, we didn't concentrate on ones that [31:49] Daniel Carson: had this many years because they were living there. Okay, I would be interested in hearing more information about that. I am concerned about the length of time, especially if it's occupied. I think, you know, it's, it's nice that we're working out agreements and taking into account people's circumstances to set them up for success, but I think the 13 years is also part of not setting somebody up for success, and I really think that we should be intervening far in advance of that amount of time because the earlier that we could do that 's where we're actually going to really be able to help set somebody up for success before it really gets this far so i'm hoping that we can make some movement on that list because that's i mean to me that's not really [32:39] Carollynn Lear: so taking properties, because that would be our only movement other than working with them for an agreement would be, yeah, if we started taking, so that's, that's not what I'm [32:51] Daniel Carson: saying, and what do we have to wait 13 years to do an agreement? No, but we didn't concentrate [32:59] Carollynn Lear: Trade on these first, so now we're getting to that and sending out those extra letters to say, okay, now we're looking at possibly taking possession. You know, do you want to work with the city, or would have to move forward with that? So we're getting to that point where we're working, sending those out. But yeah, if we definitely can send more, and I can get you a list if you [33:22] Daniel Carson: want here. I mean, I don't necessarily need a list. I'm just interested to sort of know, you know, what that, what that looks like. And I, you know, I'm not subject, I'm not thinking that we want to just take everybody's home. That's not what I'm suggesting. I'm just saying that length of time, that amount of money, when people are struggling to make ends meet, the longer that something accumulates and the bigger that number gets, in my brain it seems like that's a piece of not setting people up for success. You know, so is there a way besides taking a property that we can intervene earlier to, you know, is that possible? I [34:06] Carollynn Lear: mean, well, property would mature three years, so it takes three years to mature. We can certainly get to that point, but we're still cleaning up the list that we have of mature properties. So, you know, we do have a few that have more than 30 years, but yes, that would be our goal with the mature property group is to get this cleaned up and then concentrate and not let it get to that point, you know, three years, and we're starting this process versus yeah. [34:35] Daniel Carson: i think you know and that 's really helpful to know that three there's like a three-year time frame i'm trying you know trying to work out in my brain like where [34:42] Wayne Mallar: we can, but I appreciate it. Thank you. Yes. Okay, the valuation of this property is what probably [34:50] Carollynn Lear: Yeah, $292,600. [34:57] Susan Deane: Could you let us know what measures were taken prior to this? Were late notices sent? I mean, what was happening for the last 13 years on a property that wasn't paying taxes? [35:07] Carollynn Lear: So what we do for our process, so they would get a tax bill. The first installment is due in September. The second installment due in March. In April, we would do a past due reminder notice. May, we would do the demand. And then June, once a lien's filed, it takes 18 months before it matures, so every year that we, so each lien notice only pertains to the tax year in question, but the reminder notices that we do every year does list out every tax year that they are, so at least once a year they're getting the full list, and tax bills also didn't include. Did you have any correspondence with this person? Not until we sent this letter just recently. So now it is or it is not a rental property. I, from the conversation I had with Mr. Khan, it sounds like they do live there. I just don't know if it's a prominent residence, so I don't believe it's a rental. I think [36:15] Susan Deane: we're in agreement that we need a little more information before we can decide, so more information just to [36:26] Carollynn Lear: get their vision, just whether this is a second call for them, or do you have any updates for us? We are making steady progress on the audit. We have all of the cash rate counts done for fiscal year 25. We continue to work with the auditors to provide requested documentation and follow-up items as they arise. Obviously we're actively working on budget and related items. I'm personally playing catch up right now because I was out for two weeks, and the assistant finance director and I have focused on strengthening internal processes and procedures. So we're working on standardizing processes, making checklists, looking at workload and workflow restructuring within the department, and just implementing more procedures and new procedures and new deliverables for to present to everyone here so [37:41] Michael Beck: that's kind of where we're at. A couple questions. One, we hadn't gotten a spreadsheet from RKO in a while. They usually send out those updates that shows you where they're at, so I'll just do a reminder to them to send us one. Okay, and then the other question is the, I know that we've done the RFP for the new audit. Do we know when they'll come before Finance Committee? We have [38:04] Carollynn Lear: interviews scheduled with those companies. Okay, next week I think Friday. [38:10] Susan Deane: Friday, it's Friday, thank you, so it won't be long. All right, if you have any questions for my instructor, with that I believe we are adjourned. It is 5