BELFAST — The Belfast City Council will hold its regularly scheduled public meeting Tuesday, Feb. 1, at 7 p.m. and address an agenda that includes a discussion of a possible Covid proclamation, after the idea of an indoor mask-mandate failed to gain traction at the Council’s last meeting. 

Some of the topics scheduled for this week’s city council meeting include new patrol officer, Harbor Walk maintenance, and a possible Covid-related proclamation, according to Belfast City Manager Erin Herbig’s report. 

The first item on the agenda is the consideration of the proposed proclamation, which would urge “our community to get vaccinated and to wear masks indoors.” 

Mayor Eric Sanders will read a draft of the proposed proclamation at the meeting, where community members would be urged to get vaccinated, get their booster shots, and also to wear masks indoors given a recent surge of Covid cases in Waldo County, according to the agenda. It is noted the proclamation does not mandate masks for residents and visitors, instead encouraging everyone to wear one, according to the report. 

A discussion with the members of the Pedestrian, Biking, and Hiking Committee will be had regarding their 2022 priorities. Some of the listed priorities include an increase in funding to the rail trail, increasing maintenance on the heavily used section of the Harbor Walk, and rebuilding the Congress Street sidewalk as a multimodal path, among others. 

Belfast Police Chief Gerry Lincoln is requesting the council confirm a new full-time patrol officer, Andrew Chapman.

Chapman, who is originally from California, has a law enforcement career spanning nearly 18 years, primarily with the California Highway Patrol. Most recently he worked as a patrol officer for the Harris County Constable in Harris County, Texas, according to Lincoln. 

Chief Lincoln has two other requests listed on the agenda.

The first is a request to allow Belfast Police to accept $14,705 in drug forfeiture money. The funds come from two cases in which BPD provided assistance. Criminal forfeitures laws in Maine allow certain items involved during illegal cases to be subject to forfeiture, including funds suspected to be associated with illegal activities. Lincoln notes that the funds can be distributed to agencies that made a substantial contribution to the cases, stating that the funds will be used to help alleviate any expenses the agency incurred during the cases and in better equipping the agency moving forward. 

If approval is granted, Lincoln requests that the funds be placed in BPD’s K9 vehicle replacement account. 

The second request would allow BPD to purchase a new detective vehicle for the department. During annual inspection it was discovered there were several things that needed attention prior to approval. After consulting with a mechanic about the cost of repairs it was determined the best course of action would be to purchase a new vehicle. 

A quote from Wiscasset Ford is $26,290 for a Ford Escape SUV, with a $7,500 credit for trading in the current 2014 Impala, resulting in a cost of $18,790. If approved, the funding can be allocated from BPD’s capital reserve account for detective and K9 vehicles, which has a current balance of $44,000, according to Lincoln.

Another item on the agenda is a request to go into an executive discussion regarding a legal matter with the City Attorney. Additional details about the matter were not included in the manager’s report. 

The agenda concludes with a message from City Manager Erin Herbig, who began her job in March of 2020. 

In the missive, Herbig reflects about how her entire experience as City manager has been under the lens of the pandemic. The letter reads in part:

“I remember how concerned I was in those first few weeks and months about being able to handle and deliver the responsibilities of city manager during a worldwide emergency. I had no idea what the weight of that worry and responsibility would feel like,” she wrote in part, noting that she certainly didn’t anticipate that she would still be carrying the weight two years later, or the toll it would take on City staff and the community. . 

“When I reflect on the magnitude of all the challenges our City has faced and is currently facing, that weight is still tremendous. Multiple City staff have had to face the virus directly or have experienced hardships from the impact of the virus in one form or another. We have experienced an incredible amount of loss, both in our professional and personal lives. 

“And yet, despite an overwhelming amount of hardship, our City staff have persevered to consistently provide the services that our citizens depend on, every single day. Under the fierce leadership of our mayor and City council, we continue to be here for our citizens and businesses every step of the way….,” the letter reads, in part.  

“As we continue to face these challenges together, I am constantly reminded of the most perfect words of wisdom that former Fire Chief Jim Richards shared with me almost two years ago. He advised me that emergencies are not the time to doubt yourself, nor the people around you. He reminded me that I am surrounded with resourceful, knowledgeable, and dedicated hard-working people in this community whose experience I could lean on.

“He was right then, and he is still right to this day.” 

The full letter from Herbig can be read on the City’s website.

Belfast City Council meets on the first and third Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. Meetings are conducted online using Zoom and can be streamed on the City of Belfast website. They also air live on BEL TV and on Belfast Community Radio at WBFY 100.9. 

Comments can also be submitted by emailing the Council during the Jan. 18 meeting. Comments will be presented to the Council.

An oral comment can also be submitted during the meeting via Zoom webinar. Information for this method can be found on the City website.

Information and documents related to this meeting are available on the City’s website. 

Erica Thoms can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com