BELFAST — The Belfast City Council will meet for its regularly scheduled meeting Tuesday, March 3, at 7 p.m. Among the agenda items on City Manager Erin Herbig’s pre-meeting report are several requests for appointment confirmation of new City staff, and City Park playground and restroom improvements, among others. 

The first agenda item is a request to appoint Adrien Lumumba, of Scarborough as the Director of Belfast’s Parks and Recreation Department. The position was advertised beginning Nov. 19, with 18 applications received before the Jan. 7 deadline. 

Six well qualified candidates were chosen for first round interviews, while only two remained to take part in the second round interviews. The hiring committee for the Parks & Rec Department include HR Administrator Nancy Driscoll, Councilor Mary Mortier, Councillor Paul Dean, and Belfast City Manager Erin Herbig.

Lumumba has a bachelor’s degree in Recreation Management and Policy, and a master’s degree in Sports Management. According to the report, Lumumba will bring with him extensive experience leading facilities operations, most recently serving as Associate Athletic Director of Facilities, Capital Projects, and Event Management at Rice University. 

A request to appoint Carolyn Steves, of Belfast, as the Assistant to the Parks and Recreation Director and Pool Operator for the City of Belfast. Steves was hired last March, as the part-time seasonal pool operator for the Parks & Rec. Department. 

According to Herbig’s pre-meeting report, Ms. Steeves will act in a full-time capacity as the assistant to the parks and rec. director and pool operator. 

“Ms. Steeves will aid the new Director to better fulfill the needs of the Department, as well as the expectations of the community, by fostering active communication and coordination with local organizations and individuals. The Parks, Trails and Recreation Committee fully supports this request,” the passage states. 

A Request from the Fire Chief to promote Colby Robbins, of Montville, to the new assistant EMS chief for the City of Belfast Fire and Ambulance Department. This position was advertised beginning Jan. 8, with five applications received by the Feb. 4, deadline.

The Hiring Committee included Fire Chief Patrick Richards and HR Administrator Nancy Driscoll, and City Manager Erin Herbig. Following the interviews, the hiring committee unanimously selected Robbins, according to the pre-meeting report.

Robbins was initially hired by the City of Belfast in 2017, working as a per-diem paramedic, and was confirmed as a full-time firefighter/paramedic in January 2025. It is noted that in the last year, “Robbins has demonstrated his ability to be a highly responsible and collaborative leader, bringing with him to this role experience with overseeing daily operations, staffing, training, quality assurance, and interagency coordination though his leadership roles within multiple EMS organizations.”

The Housing and Property Development Committee will review their findings on the proposed amendments to the City Code of Ordinances Chapter 94 Subdivision, Chapter 98 Technical Standards and Chapter 66 General Provisions. 

The proposed amendments were presented at the regular City Council meeting Feb. 3, where there was a presentation, public hearing, and first reading of the suggested changes to the City Code of Ordinances. According to Herbig’s pre-meeting report, the proposed amendments represent a culmination of a months-long process undertaken to modernize the City’s subdivision regulations, which reportedly has not been substantially amended since the early 1990s. 

The Housing and Property Development Committee was told in February that the Planning Board intended to review the subdivision ordinance and agreed to assist. A subcommittee was reinstated in April 2025, tasked with looking at various aspects of technical standards, according to the report.

Additional details regarding the proposed amendments can be found in Herbig’s complete pre-meeting report and supporting materials. 

A request from the Deputy Economic Development Director to accept the Land and Water Conservation Fund Grant and to authorize City staff to begin a request for proposal bid selection process to upgrade and/or reconstruct the public restrooms and the playground at City Park. 

In June the City Council approved making a grant request to the LWCF to support the City Park playground and restroom improvement project. The City has been notified that their project has been selected for funding by the State’s review panel and is currently awaiting final approval - something that comes from the National Park Service. 

The full pre-meeting report and supporting materials may be viewed on the City website, in addition to any further details regarding specific agenda items. 

Erica Thoms can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com