BELFAST — The Belfast City Council will meet for its regularly scheduled meeting Tuesday, April 15, at 7 p.m., to address a variety of topics featured on Belfast City Manager Erin Herbig’s pre-meeting report. 

The first agenda item is a request by the Belfast Garden Club to adopt a proclamation honoring Arbor Day. The BGC is planning several Arbor Day events in the community, according to the report. Adopting a proclamation honoring the day would be part of the celebration, which highlights what the City of Belfast has done and will continue to do to support the City’s urban canopy, according to Herbig’s report. 

Facilities and Maintenance Director Norman Gilmore has requested the Council authorize required upgrades to the heating and cooling systems at City Hall. The report states that necessary upgrades or replacements of both the heating and cooling systems at City Hall have been discussed for over 10 years, but have been repeatedly delayed, due in part to project costs and tight City budgets.

The present cooling system at City Hall uses a R-22 refrigerant chiller, which was phased out in the United States due to its impact on the environment. According to the request, the system will not be operable this summer due to regulations and refrigerant availability. The new refrigerant is reportedly more environmentally friendly, but the lead times are 16 weeks as the industry switches. 

Over the last few years the City has reportedly improved heating and cooling systems at the former Superior Courthouse and City Library. These improvements were reportedly made possible with substantial assistance from Efficiency Maine. Replacing the heating and cooling systems at City Hall are reportedly not eligible for the same savings due to Efficiency Maine Grant Program requirements, Herbig’s pre-meeting report states.

If the City decides to move ahead with the most energy efficient project in City Hall, the estimated cost is currently over $477,000, and it would not be possible to complete the work ahead of the summer season. 

An alternative approach would be to replace the chiller with a more environmentally friendly chiller systems and replace the primary burner, which would cost the City $123,840 for the chiller and $28,560 for the boiler. After consulting City Facilities and Maintenance, Planning and Codes, and Economic Development to analyze the best path forward, it is the recommendation of City staff that this be the path taken. 

If approved by the Council, Gilmore requests a motion is made to authorize the required upgrades to the heating and cooling systems in City Hall, for a total cost of $152,400. 

Gilmore will be at the meeting to explain and answer any questions. Additional details can be read in Herbig’s full pre-meeting report. 

The Council will hear a request from Economic Development Director Thomas Kittredge to approve the April 1, 2024 - March 31, 2025, Tax Year Annual Reports for the Wight Street, School Street, and 115 Congress Street Affordable Housing Development and Tax Increment Financing Districts. 

According to Herbig’s report, tax increment financing is a flexible finance tool used by the City of Belfast to leverage new real and personal property taxes. Any portion of these new, additional taxes may be used to finance public projects identified in a development program for up to 30 years. 

Additional information on the annual reports is available in Herbig’s pre-meeting report and supporting materials. 

Kittredge has also requested approval to accept an awarded Assistance to Firefighters Grant and to authorize the issuance of one or more requests for bids. An application to FEMA’s Assistance Firefighters Grant was submitted by the City of Belfast in March 2024, for $330,742.86, to be matched with $16,537.14 in City funds, for a combined total project budget of $347,280, according to the Herbig’s report. The funds are intended to be used to purchase 20 self-contained breathing apparatus units; one rapid intervention team pack; one fit testing machine, and three power lift systems. 

In July 2024, the City was selected to receive a slightly reduced grant from the program, in the amount of $310,952.38, which would be matched with $15,547.62 in City funds, resulting in a combined budget of $326,500. According to Herbig’s report, FEMA’s rationale for reducing the grant amount was to reduce the expected cost of the RIT pack and the SCBA units, and to remove the fit testing machine, since it is a lower priority item. 

If approved by the Council, City staff recommends a motion be made to accept the awarded Assistance to Firefighters Grant; and authorize the issuance of a Request for Bids for the purchase and installation of two power lift systems to be installed in the Ambulance Department’s existing two ambulances; authorize the issuance of a Request for Bids for the purchase of 22 SCBA’s, 22 compatible face masks, one rapid intervention team pack, 1 60 minute bottle for the rapid intervention pack, 22 sets of storage brackets and hardware, and vendor approved training for appropriate use guidelines. 

Kittredge will be present at the meeting to answer any questions. 

Additional information about the listed agenda items, as well as a full pre-meeting report are available to view on the City’s website. 

Erica Thoms can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com