BELFAST — The Belfast City Council will hold its regularly scheduled public meeting Tuesday, April 19, at 7 p.m. and address an agenda that includes a request to eliminate future “flower funds” for cemetery, as well as operating the Waldo County YMCA city pool for the 2022 season, and attracting police officers to city employment/

Three executive sessions will be held prior to Tuesday’s meeting, with a real estate matter, a legal matter, and a personnel matter. Each are allotted 15 minutes prior to the 7 p.m. start of the regular council meeting. 

According to Belfast City Manager Erin Herbig’s report, a request from Cemetery Superintendent Leigh Wilcox will be heard regarding the conclusion of a longtime flower fund, originally set up by grieving families in the 1940s.

The funding was set up to earn interest to pay for seasonal flowers. It is noted in the request that: “back when this was started the interests were able to defray the costs. The original funds have reportedly long been expended, and currently an extra $1,200 is taken annually from the Cemetery Fund to pay for the arrangements. There is formal documentation within the Cemetery Trustee’s bylaws with regard to the flower fund, nor is there a method of accepting donations or funding.”

Wilcox and Cemetery Trustees, “are recommending that the City continue to honor those 36 existing purchasers of flower arrangements using funds from the Cemetery H.M. Payson account, which has a balance of $2,405,640, but to no longer accept new requests and advise future inquiries that they set up such an arrangement with a local florist.”

Wilcox will be at the meeting to present and answer any questions. 

A request that the Council approve a Memorandum of Understanding with the Waldo County YMCA to operate the Belfast City park Pool for the 2022 season is also scheduled to be heard. 

This would be the second season, with Parks and Recreation Director Norm Poirier feeling “that this arrangement worked well last year,” and recommending that the City of Belfast enter into an agreement for this summer.

The arrangement was reportedly created after Poirier had difficulty filling the seasonal positions over the last couple of years. 

“The Waldo County YMCA on the other hand has a full-time aquatics director, year-round aquatic staff, and can provide lifeguard training prior to the season as a method to attract staff,” it is noted in the report. 

If the request is approved, it is anticipated that the pool would open in late June, and would be open Wednesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to five p.m.

Poirier will also be at the meeting to answer questions, and has another request related to City Park this summer that will be heard. 

The request is that the City enter into an agreement for the City Park concession stand for the 2022 season. According to the report, three proposals were submitted, with one coming in after the March 29, deadline. The three proposals came from Shake-n-Spud, Belfast Shaved Ice, and Must Be Nice Lobster. 

Parks and Rec Director Poirier and the Parks and Recreation Commission has recommended that the city accept the late proposal from Must Be Nice Lobster. The concession stand would run from May 1 - Oct. 1, six to seven days per week, from 11 a.m. through six p.m.

The Council will also discuss the possibility of returning to in-person meetings. The addition of the item was suggested by Mayor Eric Sanders. 

Herbig concluded her report by discussing the devastating March 24 fire at the Penobscot McCrum facility. 

Herbig’s closing words read, in part:

“This destructive event further highlighted the intense need for public safety officers in our community and the incredible work that they do to keep us all safe. 

“The State of Maine is facing a police officer shortage, and Belfast is no exception. Last week, the City of Belfast announced a new incentive program to attract police officer recruits to become part of the Belfast Police Department. 

“The Belfast City Council voted unanimously to implement an incentive program on April 5, to attract and retain an excellent staff of well-trained and professional certified police officers. The City of Belfast is offering [a] $20,000 sign-on bonuses for new police officers and lateral transfer options as high as $34.48 an hour, with up to [five] weeks vacation time. We are implementing a four-day work week for our police officers and any certified officer who wants to join our team. 

“Incentive options also includes military and education stipends, advancement opportunities including K-9 positions and MDEA, and enrollment in the State Retirement 3C Plan. 

“We are also offering $2,000 retention bonuses for out current officers who bring in new talent to our department. 

Here in the City of Belfast, we are committed to strengthening our first responder workforce to be the leader in the delivery of public safety services not just here in Waldo County, but in the State of Maine.” 

If you or anyone you know is interesting in joining Belfast PD, it is requested that you contact the police department at 207-338-2020, or fill out an application online at cityofbelfast.org. 

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 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