Special Committees

The City Council has the authority through the City Charter to create special committees as needed to review and provide guidance on specific municipal matters. Each committee is established through an official order that defines its purpose, responsibilities, membership, appointment process, duration, and reporting structure. Committees may include City Council members, City staff, community representatives, or subject matter experts whose knowledge and experience contribute to a committee’s work. These committees report to a designated standing committee, ensuring their efforts are aligned with broader city governance.

Special Committees established in 2025

Special Committee on the Future of a Consolidated Parks & Recreation Facility

Following a 2024 feasibility study, the City Council on March 24, 2025, appointed nominees to this committee to ensure that any future facility, whether new or existing, serves the entire community. The committee was responsible for assessing potential locations, identifying partnership opportunities, confirming cost estimates, and analyzing both the financial and community impact of developing, or not developing, a new Parks & Recreation center.

City councilors selected committee members with a variety of perspectives, including members of the general public, facility users and experts in finance, building design and construction. 

The committee provided a report to the Council in July 2025 and was discontinued that same month.

Opioid Settlement Funds Advisory Committee 

The City of Bangor has created the advisory committee to help guide how the City invests funds received through national opioid settlements. These funds are meant to support recovery, prevention and other efforts that address the lasting effects of the opioid crisis in the community.

The advisory committee will advise the City Council on how to use these funds in ways that are transparent, fair and equitable.

The opioid epidemic has deeply affected Bangor, leading to overdoses, loss of life, stigma, isolation and economic hardship for many individuals and families. The settlement funds offer an opportunity to support healing and reduce harm.

By forming the advisory committee, the Council is committed to using these funds responsibly and with input from those who have a lived experience or expertise in addressing substance use. The goal is to ensure that decisions reflect best practices and the needs of the community.

The creation of the committee was reviewed and recommended at the Government Operations Committee meeting on April 7, 2025, and the City Council Workshop on April 23, 2025. The full Council formally approved the formation of the committee on April 28, 2025.

The Council order had required that the committee be dissolved by Dec. 31, 2025, but the Council on Dec. 8, 2025, voted to extend the committee's term to June 30, 2026. The extension of the term was necessary to give the committee time to review applications for funding and provide recommendations to the Council.