BELFAST — The Belfast City Council will meet for its regularly scheduled meeting Tuesday, Feb. 18, to discuss a number of topics featured on City Manager Erin Herbig’s pre-meeting report. 

The first two agenda items concern the appointment of two new city workers, both selected to work with the City’s Public Works Department. The first, Mindi Peavey, of Thorndike, is expected to be appointed as a new truck driver/laborer; the second, Daniel Armstrong, of Northport, would also work for the PWD as a laborer, if appointed by the Council. 

PWD Director Kip Faulkner will be available at the meeting to provide additional details and answer any questions. 

There will be a presentation on the proposed ordinance amendments for Chapter 30, Marine Activities. The idea of adopting regulations for large passenger vessels carrying 50 or more passengers within the Harbor was discussed at a Nov. 16, Council workshop, where the Harbor Advisory Committee recommended the adoption of such regulations. 

The topic was discussed by the Council, stakeholders, and staff during the meeting, and the Council requested the HAC to prepare further specificity to their recommendation and that this additional information be presented at an upcoming meeting, according to Herbig’s pre-meeting report. 

At the Jan. 21, regular Council meeting, the topic of defining further regulations regarding limiting the number of large passenger vessels to embark and disembark, including by tender, at the City Landing or other City property or marine facilities. Following the discussion, the Council unanimously approved a motion to direct the Planning and Codes staff to draft Ordinance language to reflect the recommendations made by the HAC. 

The proposed amendments specify that any marine vessel with 50 or more people will not be allowed to embark or disembark passengers, including by tender, at any City properties or marine facilities. 

A public hearing notice was placed for two weeks on a local news site by staff in Planning and Codes, according to Herbig’s pre-meeting report. Additionally, notices of the meeting were sent to all property owners in the Waterfront Mixed Use-1 and Waterfront Mixed Use-2 zoning districts as well as other stakeholders. Stakeholders included local business groups and cruise ship industry contracts. 

Following the discussion, a public hearing on the proposed amendments will be held. 

City Planner Alexandra Sykes will attend the meeting to answer questions and explain in further detail. Harbor Master Kathy Given will also be present at the meeting. 

A first reading of the proposed ordinance amendments will take place after the public hearing. 

If approved by the Council, Sykes recommends that a motion is made to approve the first reading, and to schedule a second reading and hearing of the proposed amendments at an upcoming regular meeting. 

Later during the meeting, a request from the Economic Development Director and Fire Chief will be heard regarding submission of a grant application to the 2025 Live Fire Training Facilities Grant Program. 

The Maine Legislature appropriated $1.5 million in funding to Maine Fire Protection Services Commission to develop and implement the Live Fire Training Facilities Program. According to Herbig’s pre-meeting report, the primary purpose of the program is to repair, replace, or construct new live fire training facilities, with an ultimate goal of having a network of such facilities that meet and maintain NFPA standards and are within an hour of travel time for at least 90 percent of Maine firefighters. 

If the grant were awarded to Belfast, the City would be responsible for providing the land where the training facility would be located, ensuring that the site is geotechnically suitable for construction of a training facility, is properly cleared and prepared with a base layer of gravel, and providing all necessary permits. The City would not be required to match funding. 

It is suggested that if the City were awarded funding, the training facility could be located near the current Public Works facility. This site has reportedly been geotechnically validated and is within 100 feet of available electric infrastructure. 

The deadline for applications to the program is March 14, with award recipients anticipated to be announced in April 2025. 

Economic Development Director Thomas Kittredge will be present at the meeting to answer any questions. 

City Manager Herbig’s complete pre-meeting report is available to view on the City’s website.

Erica Thoms can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com