BELFAST — The Belfast City Council will hold its regularly scheduled public meeting Tuesday, Feb. 15, at 7 p.m. and address an agenda that includes a discussion of Phase V of the Curbside Belfast application. 

Agenda items include a proclamation condemning anti-Semitism, a $3.5 million bond for the city’s Wastewater Treatment Plan and related systems, and browntail moths. 

The first item the Council will consider is a proclamation condemning anti-Semitism, noting recent “events in the news involving violence toward the Jewish community,” according to Belfast City Manager Erin Herbig’s report. 

Councilor Neal Harkness has requested that the Council reaffirm that Belfast is, and will remain, a welcoming community for people of all races, religions, creeds, and cultures. A draft of the proclamation submitted by Harkness will be read at the meeting, with a copy attached to Herbig’s report. 

The Council will hear a request from Herbig and the director of code to implement the 2022 Curbside Belfast (Phase V) program on May 1, 2022. 

“Curbside Belfast has provided businesses the ability to apply for a temporary permit, allowing restaurants to utilize City parking spaces in front of their businesses since May 19, 2020. In our kickoff season, the City of Belfast had 13 downtown businesses utilize this opportunity. We received much positive feedback from both business owners and citizens about how this opportunity has helped keep our downtown vibrant and bustling during a very difficult time,” the request said, in part. 

“In March 2021, City staff met with the Planning Board and the Intown Design Committee to get their feedback on the draft criteria and application program. Additionally, City staff held an information session with the Curbside Belfast participants from the previous summer to answer any questions and get their feedback. 

The application will be reviewed by the Council, who will provide any feedback needed, allowing staff to begin working with businesses in a timely manner. If approved, the application will likely become available March 1, with the 2022 Curbside Belfast Program expected to run from May 1 through Oct. 31. A copy of the application is available with Herbig’s report. 

Councilor Mike Hurley requested an update regarding browntail moth remediation in the City of Belfast. 

It is noted that at the July 7, 2020, City Council meeting, the Council authorized City staff to hire a consultant to provide an assessment of the trees infested with the moths, utilizing funding of up to $1,000 from the Undesignated Fund Balance. 

Item 10-E of the agenda is the, “presentation of an order pertaining to the issuance by the City of Belfast to a lender of Bonds and Notes in amounts not to exceed $3,500,000.”

“This is a Second Reading of an order pertaining to the issuance by the City of Belfast to a lender of Bonds and Notes in amounts not to exceed $3,500,000 for the purpose of financing all or a portion of the costs associated with the acquisition, design, construction, rehabilitation, upgrading and equipping of any or all improvements to the City’s Wastewater Treatment Plan and related systems, including but not limited to, the sewer located in Mayo Street in the City and facilities, equipment or both functionally related and subordinate to the foregoing.”

The City of Belfast Wastewater Treatment System consists of 31 miles of gravity sewer lines and force mains, 18 pump stations, and a 1,490,000 gallon per day secondary wastewater treatment facility, according to the City’s website.

 A public hearing will be held at the meeting for the purpose of taking testimony and comments from the public with respect to the proposed issuance of general obligation bonds and notes, according to the report. 

People wishing to participate in the public hearing will be able to do so online via Zoom, which is accessed via the web link on the City of Belfast’s website. When it is time for  a person to have their opportunity to speak, the host will accept them into the meeting, according to the report. There will also be a phone number listed for those who have trouble accessing the meeting. 

Comments can also be submitted in writing to: City Manager, Erin Herbig, Belfast City Hall, 131 Church Street, Belfast Maine; or via email to public@cityofbelfast.org. 

A second reading and possible approval of the order is scheduled to take place following the public hearing.

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