BELFAST — The Belfast City Council will meet for its regular meeting Tuesday, Sept. 3, to address agenda topics including: old business and City committee reports, permit, petition, and license requests, and a request from the City Clerk to accept the 202 Rural and Nonmetro Election Infrastructure Grant, among others. 

City Manager Erin Herbig’s agenda this week begins with clarifications of what is permitted during the ‘open to the public’ portion of the meeting. 

“Public comment is provided at the discretion of the Mayor and City Council. Each speaker will be allowed three minutes to speak unless waived by the Council. Comments must address topics relevant to the Council’s authority and must not be unduly repetitive. Any person who engages in name-calling or personal attacks, obscene or indecent remarks, or derogatory comments, may at the Mayor’s discretion  be ordered to stop speaking. Repeated violations of these restrictions may lead to suspension of speaking privileges,” the passage reads. 

Organization and department reports will be heard, along with old business and City Committee reports. This portion will focus on the consideration of committee appointments. 

There are two requests for permits, petitions, and licenses. The first is a request from an off-premises catering permit for Blue Spoon for the Mid Coast Charities fundraising event Sept. 22, lasting from 5-10 p.m. The event will take place at the Belfast Yacht Club & Event Center, located at 12 Front Street. 

The second request is for the Council to approve an off-premises catering permit for the Belfast Maskers for a haunted house event. The event is scheduled to take place Oct. 26, from 2-10 p.m.; it is located at 17 Court Street. 

In the business section of the agenda there are six requests and one presentation scheduled. 

These include an update from the cemetery superintendent, with regard to installing the City’s first columbarium within Grove Cemetery. A columbarium is a vault designed to hold urns holding the ashes of the deceased. Each niche within the columbarium can hold up to two urns, and no floral memorials or other decoration will be permitted. Funeral decorations will be removed after seven days of inurnment, though the decorations may also be taken down at the discretion of the superintendent or their representative.

Niches for urns are available for individuals or families to purchase. The total cost for a niche is listed as $2,500, which includes: $2,000 for the actual niche, $200 to open and close the niche door up to four times in order to place an urn, and a further $300 for the initial engraving, which includes full name, date of birth, and date of death. 

Habitat for Humanity of Waldo County has requested the Council approve an application for the use of Steamboat Landing Park’s patio area; the event is scheduled to take place Sept. 28, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

The Belfast Public Health Nursing Association has requested the Council consider waiving the Boathouse rental fee for their upcoming free flu clinics. According to the meeting’s supporting materials, there would be rental dates in September, October, and December. 

The 19th annual Belfast Poetry Festival organizers have requested approval for facility use of Belfast City Hall parking lot on Thursday, Oct. 17, from 6 p.m. through Friday, Oct. 18, following the end of the event. Food truck vendor Portable Pie Place will attend the event, which will include a haiku competition at the Colonial Theatre. 

There will also be a presentation and discussion with regard to 74 High Street as a public safety threat. Formerly Bradbury Manor, there is a judgment and order from Waldo County District Court to demolish the building. The City has reportedly tried through various means to get the owner of the property to take action to remedy the situation, despite a court order issued to demolish the building. The City also brought an $80,000 lawsuit, which came to a total of $126,900 when including civil penalties and legal fees. Despite these efforts, the building remains untouched, while continuing to deteriorate. 

The structure was officially condemned Oct. 20, 2020. In Jan. 2024, a structural engineer wrote a letter stating that given the extreme state of disrepair, the building will need to be demolished to safely complete abatement activities. 

For additional information, the meeting’s supporting materials, including pictures of the building formerly known as Bradbury Manor are available to view at the end of the posted agenda. 

Erica Thoms can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com