BANGOR, Maine — The day after a 10-minute verbal spat erupted between Mayor Cary Weston and Councilor Charlie Longo at Monday night’s City Council meeting, Weston apologized for the tense exchange.
“I had a human moment. I made a mistake,” Weston said late Tuesday afternoon. “We spend a lot of time in close quarters together and I was growing frustrated with the conversation. I reacted in a way that I should not have and the choice of words I used was unfortunate.
“I’m sorry to Councilor Longo, the council, and the people who witnessed it. It’s not what they should see or expect from the mayor or the council.”
The strident words resulted from Longo’s confusion over the proposed addition of three members to the Bangor City Council’s Dorothea Dix advisory committee. His four-minute discourse on the proposal turned into a dispute with Weston that prompted Longo to walk out of Monday night’s meeting.
“Councilor Weston and I have exchanged emails,” Longo said Tuesday afternoon. “We both realize the people’s work is too important to forget about and we need to keep that in perspective.”
The heated words between the two councilors came after Longo asked why the proposal for three more members — all of whom will be current or former patients of the Dorothea Dix Psychiatric Center in Bangor — was being made known to him for the first time at a full council meeting.
“I’m just wondering why it’s not on our agenda tonight, having never been discussed at a government operations committee meeting or anything at all,” Longo said on a video recording of the meeting reviewed by the Bangor Daily News. “If this happens, I would unfortunately have to vote against it because — I don’t know if this was a backroom deal or something like that. I’m not saying that either — I’m just wondering why it’s on our agenda. Maybe someone could answer that.”
Weston pointed out that the matter was on the council’s revised agenda.
“If you spent less time talking and more time listening during official business, you would understand most of the things that are happening,” Weston said to Longo.
City Manager Cathy Conlow then explained that city staff members met with the two councilors — Joe Baldacci and Nelson Durgin — who are the official council representatives on the committee and they decided to recommend that patients be added to the 13-member committee quickly. Time is of the essence, Conlow and some councilors said, because the Legislature may be a month or less away from holding talks on a proposal to close the facility, leaving Maine with just one public psychiatric facility — the Riverview Psychiatric Center in Augusta.
Councilor James Gallant said neither his nor Longo’s agenda packets included the revised agenda items. Both Weston and Councilor Pat Blanchette said Tuesday that the councilors discovered soon after the meeting that the packets actually did contain all the revisions, but some were attached in a different order.
After Weston made his sharp comment to Longo at Monday night’s meeting, he called on Longo to speak, and he did.
“Sure, I might have gotten elected in 2010 and sure I might’ve been, or might be, 23 presently, but for the chair of the Bangor City Council — and I don’t care if you’re chair or not — to address me in that manner is disrespectful and unbecoming of your office,” Longo told Weston. “Don’t you ever do that again and I demand an apology for your actions. It was very distasteful and it better not happen again.”
Longo added that Weston had insulted him as well as anyone who voted for him. He repeated his demand for an apology.
Weston then recognized Councilor Ben Sprague after saying: “Very good. Thank you, Councilor Longo.”
Longo bristled and repeated his demand. Weston said, “I heard you. Councilor Sprague.”
Longo repeated his demand twice more before Weston responded, “Councilor Longo, enough.”
“I’m not your son, OK! I ask for an apology,” Longo said. After Sprague said that this was a conversation that they should probably have “off hours,” Longo gathered up his materials, stood up and left the meeting. He did not return.
“I said I was sorry to the other councilors and city staff who were there because I shouldn’t have left,” Longo said Tuesday afternoon.
It wasn’t the first time a councilor has stormed out of the City Council chambers.
“I think Buddy Gass did it several times,” said Blanchette, who has been a Bangor councilor for a total of 18 years since 1989. “There will be disagreements, but you have to keep things behind closed doors and we need to remember we’re there to do the people’s business. I’m sorry the people of Bangor had to see that last night, but we will get through this and do the people’s business.”
Weston and Longo sparred last month over a potential conflict of interest brought up by Longo regarding the donation by Weston’s Sutherland Weston Marketing Communications business of software to the city for use with the city’s new website.
Both said Monday night’s spat won’t affect their ability to work together in the future.
“Oh, absolutely not,” Longo said. “Professionally we owe it to the people of Bangor to patch things up.”
“I think this 100 percent has nothing to do with any previous incidents or arguments,” said Weston.
“Their relationship is completely and totally up to them,” Blanchette said. “I just hope the council backs off and doesn’t pick sides in this. Those two need to sit down and settle this out. They’re both grown men.”
After Longo left the meeting Monday night, the council voted 8-0 in favor of expanding the Dix committee to 16 members.
Weston, you were outta line here.
“I don’t know if this was a backroom deal or something like that. I’m not saying that either — I’m just wondering why it’s on our agenda. ” Long said.Hmm…I guess he just likes to make insinuations and then walk them back eh.
This Longo guy sounds like a paranoid type to me. He always comes across as if he senses a conspiracy.
Reminds me of the old Houlton town council……
I’m glad we have younger members on the Council, but egad guys…some professionalism please?
Longo acts like a little child at every council meeting. I guess that’s what happens when you elect a child in a man’s body.
Nope, there was an addendum to the agenda, and they never got it to two members. An apology is due. That would be the classy thing to do.
I don’t disagree with that. I just think his behavior of repeatedly demanding an apology and then storming off when he didn’t get his way was very childish. It was exactly like taking your basketball and going home.
Agreed. That’s why it would be the classy thing to do would be for Weston to apologize.
These two have seemingly had it in for each other from day one. I doubt this will be their last confrontation.
Hopefully, one (or both) of them will read this forum and decide to behave less boorishly in the future. This could have been avoided if Weston had chosen to acknowledge the addendum hadn’t been provided and simply apologized. Instead, two guys face off. It’s like the Congress and the Senate writ small.
read the article, it clearly says the amended agenda information was included in all councilors packets, but attached in different locations. Does Longo need someone to tie his bib on before each meeting? He is supposed to be a grown man, look past your plate and find the information yourself! He sounds like a spoiled brat to me!
The article was edited to include that information after I made my initial comments.
Charlie is quiet as long as someone is spoon feeding him.
Classy and Weston, two things that one should never see in the same sentence.
Perhaps “Grownup” and “Longo” fit that same description …
Weston is like the School bully who is in charge of making a apology.. I’m guessing Weston has never been wrong. and has a selfinflated ego.
I think what was childish was THE CHAIR telling him to talk less and listen more.
Longo is making waves in the Bangor establishment, where more things get decided at the Sea Dog than they do at City Hall. I commend him for that and I think it’s about time. Keep it up Counselor Longo.
and don’t forget Heroes.
and Dysarts, drunk in the wee hours of the morning.
It figures that Mr. Longo would have YOUR support, Bangorian.
“the councilors discovered soon after the meeting that the packets
actually did contain all the revisions, but some were attached in a
different order. “
He was like that during in class too. I’m not saying he didn’t have the right to voice his opinion, but it’s not unique to this scenario. It’s definitely part of his personality.
You mean he’s an attention seeking cry baby?
Ok, now I get it.
Longo, call your mommy she has a hug to give you.
Haha, I’m glad you said it and not me.
This is a child and probably should have been listening at the meetings instead of playing nintendo or whatever.
That’s exactly what Weston said to him – someone that is supposed to be his equal… Someone that the people of Bangor voted in to represent them. Regardless of what you or I or Weston think of him, it was unprofessional and rude!
Let me put it to you this way. Watch three or four committee meetings and council meetings on the Public Access channel and you begin to get an idea. He doesn’t even know the basic things about how a homeowner interacts with city services. (trash sewer and water for instance) When he doesn’t know basic information that any homeowner knows it appears that he believes people are out to keep him ignorant.
Longo has a point and deserves an apology. Weston is an arse
“the councilors discovered soon after the meeting that the packets actually did contain all the revisions, but some were attached in a different order. ”
But then may-be that ” was a backroom deal or something like that” right, Longo ?
Longo uses the radical rules of demonizing and personal attacks, just like the President and Saul Alinsky. Where have we heard, “back room deal” before?
The council goes on to vote unanimously for the back room deal. Drama Queen.
that has absolutely nothing to do with Weston’s language and tone of voice. He was disrepectful, plain and simple…
I think it’s time to show the kiddo the door and let him come back when he gets a little older. Oops, maybe I should have put that more appropriately. Charlie, I’m sorry, but now’s not the time for you. Come back when you know how to not throw a fit.
And for a second I thought the Bangor Daily had finally come to its senses and realized that Weston isn’t the mayor… Reporters and editors covering City Hall should read the city charter.
And for a second I thought that you would be able to let this trivial little matter go. But then I knew better.
It’s not trivial, if we don’t have a mayor then he and others should quit calling himself that. And Carlson shouldn’t be referred to as Reverend either, speaking of unauthorized designations.
It isn’t trivial. It shows a lack of understanding of how Bangor’s government is set up and works. It also shows laziness and inattention to detail. Good journalists pay attention to details and accuracy.
Why not refer to the president as the prime minister? More or less the same thing, right?
or King!
or “honorable chairman”
….
How old are you anyway? Your comments are childish and perhaps you should be better prepared for forum comments. There was an addendum that was not provided to two members.
….
Just throwing your words back at ya!
What is childish about oleyane’s comment? Maybe I’m missing something…..
She edited it after she was called to task for acting like Cary Weston…
….
An example of youth , not being able to handle a conversation in an adult manner.
Mr. Weston, you should have just apologized and moved on. You are clearly in the wrong. As chair it is ultimately YOUR responsibility to ensure that the council has all that it needs to make decisions. You neglected to include a revised agenda in councilor Longo’s packet and he has adequate ground to criticize your lack of oversight. Publicly berating a fellow public official in the course of an open meeting is not only unprofessional conduct, it seriously calls into question your ability to provide meaningful leadership in the years to come. When the people you work with do not have the tools to do their job and it is a direct result of your inaction and poor attention to detail, it is unacceptable to blame them for your mistakes. Either apologize or get set to feel the burn on this one.
Bravo! Well said.
This never would have happened if Durgin were in either of their places. If it were Durgin, he would have politely apologized in a well-mannered and professional tone, and/or ignored any snubs and moved on. Instead, both of these guys acted stupidly, and it was started by Weston. Weston was also giving a very awkward third degree to Sprague when Sprague was trying to yield his order to another member whom he thought had a more pressing point, but Cary just kept repeating Sprague’s name. It was bizarre and immature.
Councilor Longo – I fully support your decision to leave. Mr. Weston should not have addressed you that way in public. Mr. Weston having watched all of the video above, we’re talking about more than just a moment. There are glimmers of it throughout the entire meeting.
Finally you and I agree on something – good post and on point.
Awful thinned skinned aren’t we? I agree that an apology in private might have been appropriate but Longo made a spectacle out of himself and the whole incident He made this into this into something it didn’t have to be and in the public eye.
Weston’s remarks were pointed but demanding an a apology? Is it really worth saying if it had to be requested? Is this the second grade? Grow up and get over it.
Charlie is an Obama voter. Being thin skinned, irrational and a self centered baby is a requirement. He’s an Occupier on the the council.
SO BRAVE
So true.
You think that if Longo told Weston he should “talk less and listen more and maybe then he’d understand what was going on” that Weston wouldn’t have gone apesh*t? Gimme a break!
And if he did, I’d have the same criticism of him. But he didn’t It’s not about parties, left or right. It’s about personal behavior.
Looks more like a student council than a city council. Actually, student councils are probably more mature than this spectacle.
Hurt feelings? Seriously? I’m sorry (yes I am apologizing upfont so I don’t hurt anyone’s feelings), but I think the kiddo is there a bit too early in his life. Part of being a big boy is understanding that you ain’t alway going to agree with someone and need to take care of things outside of the meeting time.
What does age have to do with anything?! He’s over 18-therefore a legal adult- and he was VOTED IN by the citizens–Concentrating on his age diverts the attention from where it should be–on the fact that Weston was out of line and should have apologized…If Weston had said what he said, in that forum, to a 7 year old, he still should apologize..it was uncalled for and wrong..if nothing else he could apologize for his complete lack of professionalism!
Legal adult and adult are two different things there kiddo. You are correct to compare Cary apologizing to a 7 year old and 23 year old in this case. My point here is that there is more things done offline than during a meeting. It should also be pointed out that another councilor had the same thing happen and he just let it go.
My point here youngster, is that, regardless of age and reaction, the initial offense of calling Longo out was wrong and unnecessary-and therefore deserves an apology.
The fundamental problem is that this happens all the time and everyone just lets it go. Mayor Weston was out of line and should have apologized. That he did after the fact is a political move.
The apology wasn’t about not getting the materials, the apology was for Weston telling Longo to “talk less and listen more and maybe you’ll understand what’s going on”. Longo is exactly right, it IS disrespectful and unbecoming of the entire council.
He was, apparently, elected.
Voters are entrusted with showing him the door.
So he demands to be treated like a grown up and then he acts like a child?
If you have ever met Longo he is a child.
I had the dishonor of meeting Longo a few years back just out of High School. A very arrogant young man. He should not have been called out in public like that but I am sure he must have gotten on Weston’s last nerve.
That’s my take also.
They should duel. “I demand satisfaction!”
Best comment yet.
Put it on pay for view.
Smack down.
Put the gloves on them and let them go at it for a few rounds at the Bangor Auditorium on a Friday night. Charge a few bucks admission and donate the money to charity. Let them take their anger at one another for one night for Charity.
Charlie would have to bring his mom or his cat, Meow Meow, to fight the battle for him.
We need to be at these meetings folks. Nothing better than actually seeing what’s going on, unless you believe what you read and hear lately.
An apology from Weston is due. Common courtesy is a virtue that is seen as somewhat lacking.
Come on Cary, act like you put yourself out to the public.. You know… I am humbled to serve this great City…. Cary are you having a hard time talking Parks and Rec’s into giving you the Marketing Contract to the Golf Course??? Just asking… I as a Citizen of Bangor will take great delight in closing that loophole. and making it retroactive 10 years, That council members can’t contract with the city for $$$
I cannot wait for the next election when we can continue to get rid of the “old” blood on the council. We need these younger people with a fresh outlook if we are going to keep Bangor going forward. If the so-called mayor can’t be civil, get out and let someone else take over. Remember WE didn’t elect you to be mayor. That was done by your cronies on the council who will be outa there next election.
yeah, get enough Longo’s on the council and they can move across the street and “Occupy the park”!
The Bangor City Council has come a long way from the days of citizen involvement, civility and non-partisan behavior. Unfortunately, it has been the wrong, long way.
I’m not putting down the mentally ill, but seriously, can’t all of the players already involved in this council figure it out…meaning need or no need? Funds to cover it or not? There is certainly a need. Here’s a proposal..can them all and get a new council made up of Dorothea Dix workers/patients with a moderator. I would have walked out, too. And the young one does deserve an apology if the paper regarding the agenda looked different than everyone else’s. DUH, like that wasn’t done on purpose with a chuckle in the office while preparing for the meeting.
“Hey, let’s trip him up.”
Seems you missed the details, waynorth — another councilor didn’t have the revised agenda and just assumed it was a simple error. Of course, the other councilor was probably a grown-up.
It wasn’t about the agenda, it was about the insult in the council chambers. I agree that Weston would never have dared try that response on some of the others there or he’d have had more than a walkout.
Yeah, I read it. What’s wrong with having an opinion when your notes don’t match the others at the meeting? Yeah, so someone else got the wrong agenda, too? What’s that got to do with anything? Let’s go to the person responsible for typing the agenda. Wish I was 23 again. Brains have nothing to do with age and common sense. Men talk about girl fights….this is a boy fight, literally. Check the testosterone pills at the door.
Subject: [bdn] Re: Bangor councilor walks out of meeting after verbal dispute with chairman
Longo pulled the youth card. WOW!
Mr. Weston might not be your father – but he was your “Daddy”
Weston acted like a putz and Longo acted like a baby…tough call on this one…
Couldn’t have said it better myself…no side to take here!
I’m no fan of Longo (or Weston for that matter), but Weston was clearly out of line with that comment. I know these two have a personality conflict, but they both need to bring their maturity levels up a notch or two.
Cary, you were out of line and you should apologies, stop thinking you are better then people..
I believe he already has…
Now I am curious. Does Longo talk a lot during the meeting? If he does, isn’t it the chairman’s job to ask him to “shut his yapper,” as Motivational Speaker Matt Foley would say during a break from his “van down by the river.”
Not saying Longo reminds me of him or anything
Not really. It is the chair’s job to polite remind him to stay within time limits during debate. However, I don’t think there were time limits here, and he certainly didn’t talk over his time. Omitting when Longo spoke when he wasn’t recognized, that was out of order.
LOL
Weston and Longo have been clashing for quite some time, this is not new.
That being said, Weston’s admonishing Longo during a meeting while Longo had the floor and was in order, was unacceptable. It disrupted the decorum and was directly personal. Regardless of Weston’s position on the topic itself, he offended the process that is the order of a meeting.
That also being said, Longo was out of line by demanding an apology over four times after he had given up the floor. That was out of order and inappropriate. He made his request (demand, actually, which was impolite) to the Chair and relinquished the floor. Weston then recognized another councilor, and Longo was out of order.
Basically, Longo had his comments pre-planned, and it was obvious, to me, that he wanted this to be a confrontation. He sat prim and proper, thinking he had Weston in a place; then Weston was a prick, and totally shot him down. Longo then impetuously lashed out and demanded an apology.
He deserved one, right then!!!
Most “student councils” operate with more maturity. Good luck Bangor.
These two already have history, Weston just breaths arrogance when he speaks anyways. Now throw in the history Longo has, plus some distrust he may have for the chair and you have this exchange. Longo simply took the missing paperwork the wrong way, everything after Weston’s snide comment I can just about understand. Weston is the Chair; he is supposed to control himself in that station. I question Weston’s ability to lead and surely wonder what it is like if he doesn’t get his way. Longo is learning in many different ways, that’s why he isn’t chair. Apparently Weston shouldn’t be either.
Amateur hour.
Weston has been rude even to guests. He’s full of himself.
I’m not sure that Longo hasn’t been marginalized from the start, for whatever reasons. Just sayin’.
All you need do is listen to some to the meetings and Longos comments on public access tv.
At one meeting he betrayed some real ignorance of simple water/sewer billing that anyone who has ever gotten a bill would know.
Council/committee meetings are always broadcast sometimes several times.
children!
It appears Mr. Weston is not ready for prime time.
It also appears he graduated from the Paul LePage School of Behavioral Science.
How one behaves under pressure is a measure of character.
Now is the time for some former old-school City Councilors to pull Cary aside and give him a lesson in leadership.
Mr. Stone? Mr. Crowley? Mr. Eames? Mr. Rohman?
Bueller? Bueller?….Bueller?
Why are Bangor citizens electing 22 (or 23) y/o’s to the City Council? Was this one of those deals where 2 people were running for 2 positions so both were in by default?
Longo put up a lot of signs. That’s about it that and he had the support of Dan Tremble operating as treasurer as I recall.
I see the Big Paulie method of government is filtering down to city council level. How soon before it spreads to school committees and classrooms. Exemplo Ducant.
and what grade are all these people in??
Weston acts like a school yard Bully!!! Has anyone ever questioned him and survived??? It appears that he has been the only Council Chair/Mayor to have never been question or grilled on any matter.. Are all the other council members frightened of him??? Has he privately bullied them into submission… Can other council Member have an opinion of their own?? or must they seek the approval of the Great Mayor Weston just to have a thought??? The other council members should have demanded Weston apoligize right then and there.. I guess they lack in the morals department also… Come on council have him do it humblely and in public.
If I had been there, I would’ve said something about civility, respect, and decorum in the council chambers.
It sounds like Mr. Longo made an issue out of a non-issue, and that he decided to pick a fight with Mr. Weston over a relatively mundane issue. Of all the ways to ask the question he chose to be confrontational. Well, sometimes you get what you ask for. I suspect Mr. Weston sent a zinger that hit the mark. Mr. Longo might want to consider how his emotions got out of hand and derailed any good points he might have made.
Making an issue just because you can doesn’t make you right. I think Mr. Weston’s comments were fine. He shouldn’t need to hand hold or placate to Mr. Longo’s inappropriate tirade or any other councilors in my opinion. Mr. Longo wasn’t elected to have a tantrum and walk off the job.
It was in no way appropriate for Weston to have made that snide, nasty remark to Mr. Longo especially in public. From what I understand, Weston has quite a history of this kind of arrogance and I’m glad someone is standing up to him.
I disagree with your characterization of the remark. I found it to be direct, and for all we know, spot on. I know Mr. Weston to be intelligent, motivated and caring.
What is less fine is the seething judgmental comments that spew from people in these comments sections. Saying what we think behind anonymity is most often not our best thinking.
Weston was wrong. They tabled the Waterfront Concert deal until all the Councillors were brought up to speed on the agreement. So this item should get the same attention. Glad someone called them on not having all the info. I wonder how many items get pushed through without anyone calling them on the items in question. Weston’s lack of respect for his peer in a public forum was awful. Did Longo go overboard a bit? Yes. But Weston should have apologized and moved on.
They were both acting childish and stubborn and it was not the place to have that argument. There are others in the City that act like children and throw tantrums to get their way.
Charlie Longo reminds me of Ralph Coffman of Old Town, they’re both masters at grandstanding.
I actually agree with the comments critical of my behavior. It was a long night and I was frustrated.
I slipped and made an inappropriate and disrespectful comment that I should not have. It was a mistake and I’m sorry.I have apologized directly to Councilor Longo and my fellow Councilors for the both the remark and the incident that it caused. It is indeed my responsibility to ensure civility and respect are adhered to at our meetings and my actions violated both.
By this apologetic rhetoric, many will have their belief in your Maketing ability reinforced..
Some advice that I heard from someone a llloong time ago. According to you, you made a mistake and apologized for. Good for you. Let it be that and not partake in blogs such as these…you just never will win with EVERYONE. Good luck in the future with all you do. You got my vote then and will again…
I wonder if Longo made any apologies after discovering that he did in fact have a copy of the revised agenda. No conspiracy there. He needs to grow up.
Thanks for stepping up to the plate. It was the right thing to do and allows you and the rest of the coumcilors to get back to the REAL work. And there is a lot of it.
Why don’t you get to the business of cutting government and relieving the people of their property tax burden!
CW – you are the better man in this one. Longo accused you of something you didn’t do, demanded an apology for his interruption to the harmony of the meeting, and then was totally outvoted by his peers? Why do you have to aplogize for that?
Longo has every right to be frustrated with Weston who obviously can’t lead correctly. I like the new , young blood that demands that meetings are run properly. That would mean everyone have the info to take a look at BEFORE a mtg so they can discuss it with some thought going into it. Weston owes Longo and apology and perhaps should take some leadership skill courses.
As Harvard Professor Richard Alpert once said “you are only as high
as your elected leaders. They can only take you to where their consciousness is”
example
A pickpocket standing in the middle of a group of saints only sees their pockets.
Cant believe it but I “liked” your comment. Who would have thunk it :)
Maybe Bangor city councilors should be required to attend the Maine Criminal Justice Academy, Police Officers usually can tolerate more than a 4 minute tirade.
He apologized. Lets move on.
There is a God ! His name is Cary Weston.
I raised two Marines , and would be happy to come down and have a friendly little Marine Mom Moment with the kids on the council. It is time to improve your behavior in public gentlemen! You two are going to be serving together for several years, find a way to get along. I am sure your home training is worthy of better behavior from you both.
Hey, look! A bunch of self-important egotists involved in local politics.
He’s the council chair, not the mayor. Bangor has not had a mayor since the early 1930s. Whatevever happened to accuracy in journalism?
Putting the inmates in charge of the asylum? sounds like bangor alright
Adding the perspective of people who have benefitted from Dorothea Dix – actually experienced the hospital – is a very positive thing. It’s an important, unique viewpoint.
Councilors shouldn’t just sit like dummies in a bland setting, nodding their heads. Engage each other in vigorous discussions. Charlie Longo did indeed show a bit of the old, but unfortunately lost – Buddy Gass spirit.
The “Mayor” or Chairman is not above reproach and his condescending “that’s enough…” was enough to trigger an outburst from any red-blooded councilor. No apologies to the public needed.
Thanks to Cary Weston and to Charlie Longo for both apologizing and moving on. Let’s hope they both remember that the good people of Bangor voted for them to serve this city and have high expectations for what they, and the other councilors, can achieve on behalf of the citizens. Time to move on and address the issues that really concern this city.
Maybe reading this wrong but is this the complaint? : >>“If you spent less time talking and more time listening during official business, you would understand most of the things that are happening,” Weston said to Longo. << Longa, seems like a fine meaning fella, just overreacting a bit to Weston's remarks. Don't think they were meant in malice just a little sharp meeting banter, no need to be so thin skinned Longo, carry on, carry on.
Annoying and childish twit who thinks he has done something really important because he was elected. Grow up — Longo!
Whats going on in the city of Bangor? The Sheriffs Department, High School, and city council continue to be front page news!
One guy gets beaten to death outside a local bar, a young girl gets murdered and put in a shed down by the river, a kid gets shot and killed in what some are saying a gang shooting, another guy gets beaten half to death in his own house, bath salts, bath salts, and more bath salts…need I say more?
Once upon a time Bangor was an attractive place for people of all ages. It was safe, school system was top notch, and people had confidence (at least more than they do now) in their elected officials, law enforcement agencies, and the legal system.
Now-a-days, with possible corruption, murder, large amounts of under age drinking, the introduction of bath salts, and the inability of the city council to get along and be in the same room with eachother for the benefit of the city…….Bangor is becoming a place that should be avoided!!!!
Councilor Longo was spot on asking for an apology and Mayor Weston should have apologized. Too many times I have witnessed some of the councilors belittle and badger other councilors as well as Bangor citizens who might disagree with them. I disagree with Councilor Sprague that the conversation should have occurred “off hours”. It is my opinion that all of the councilors should have been offended by the treatment of Councilor Longo and should have shown public support for his request for an apology. Councilor Blanchette commented, “you have to keep things behind closed doors”. That is part of what is wrong with all of our current governments. Mayor Weston insulted Councilor Longo in a public forum and he should have apologized in the same public forum. I encourage all Bangor city councilors to publicly discourage the kind of behavior displayed by Mayor Weston.
no your not my son, other wise i would give you a spanking,have another cheesburger and chill dude,now that i would pay to hear,and BTW if they aint no mayor ,then why has everyone used the term for years, from mayor frankel on,etc etc. ?
This looked like a good episode of “The View”. lol. Longo tried to embarrass Mr. Weston in public back when Longo was trying to put Mr. Weston’s company interests in the limelight. It was not very nice to do seeming Mr. Weston has done nothing wrong. Mr. Weston just got him back for that. Everyone is even now. Now let’s continue, together, moving forward for Bangor’s future. I’m sure they will get this worked out and can come together once again for the good of this great city. Let’s continue to do great things and we will always reap the benefits of those efforts. They do seem to respect the fact that they need to work together and that is a good thing. City Council is doing BIG things folks. Let them agree, disagree, agree, disagree… but let them do it themselves. I would much rather have a council, whose members are passionate about what they want, then a bunch of doormats who do nothing to change their city into something great. They are a big part of the circle of shakers, whom we call the Kings of Queen City, that are determined to pull us above all waters and make Bangor- the destination it has become. Fight, agree, and get it done!
Cary Weston has used every loophole he could find to funnel Bangor taxpayers money to his company through contracts. Ethical and Weston is a joke…Weston is an amatuer, If he was seasoned, he would seek more animontity, he wouldn’t need public pattings on the Back to fill the void in his ego.. You can’t learn to become one of the shakers and movers. You can be paid to be one(for a while) then discarded..
Longo seems to have a complex that everyone is out to get him and exclude him. He keeps coming up with these non-issues. did he not bother to look at the revised agaenda before complaining, obviously not. I made the mistake of voting for him once, never again.
Weston is just frustrated that his sumtin sumtin is moving to Boise, ID
I thought only women had “spats”. It is a good thing that this did not lead to hair pulling.
Where was Cary’s very, very good chummie and friend Tanya drurning all this. She most likely would have taken Longo down and pulled his hair for Cary
It’s Bangor Maine municipal government…nobody cares.
Was someone trying to be a bully?????//
You do know that bully is the latest craze in words….
Long story short…Weston got called out for his performance…painted himself into a corner…and had to make the political face-saving decision to apologize. As far as having a human moment…he actually had several during the exchange…and at each one made the decision to delve deeper into a bad decision. Of course Longo had his human baby moment as well….
Mr. Longo, can you spell i-m-m-a-t-u-r-e? If anyone deserves an apology, it is Mr. Weston, from you, for your childish behavior.
Childish Behavior is exactly how Weston acted.. Weston is the biggest baby, He doesn’t like being questioned and when he is he pouts.. Nobody ever comfronts Weston and they let him run around this city like he owns it. Take away one of Westons marbles and you will see some crying..
I am thinking you are Mr Longo and your name is the gist of where the problem lies. If you are, enjoy your one term.
What happened? Did he get called “Fat”?
It seems like Mr. Longo isn’t really interested in the business of the City Council. He wasn’t trying to understand the issue, he was trying to create another issue. These kind of egotistic little men like the spotlight, but aren’t very good at getting things done.
Egotistic is what most people think of Weston,, There are a lot of selfserving boys out there who like riding Westons shirt tail, Why are you and Cary so scared of Longo ??? I guess uncovering the mirrors to reveal or question what going on in the city scares you and Weston..
…
That is right, lets all forget and move on in the same direction!!!! I will move on but never forget the school bully!!!!
Interesting biblical reference. I wonder if there might be other references to people who throw stones in there?
Skid marks on the city’s underwear, each and every one of them.
It seems to me, after watching the tape and multiple other televised council meetings, that the older members of the council can, at times, be rather condescending and disrespectful to the younger members. I agree with Longo, he was elected by the people of Bangor as were every other council member. They have all been chosen to represent the people of Bangor, all of us age 18 to 118. The best way to ensure that every citizen is represented is to have a diverse, and varied council. Most of us wanted new blood in our council and are happy we finally have it. Let them do their jobs and don’t treat them any differently than you would the older members. They are there because they are qualified and they all deserve respect. Weston was way out of line!
The young councilman perhaps could have been less melodramatic. However, there is no question that Mr. Weston was out of line. For the record young politicians should be asking all the questions they can. They will someday lead our State, or represent us on a Federal level. Mr. Weston is short of patience at times. He was excited to see all the young new faces on the council! Maybe he should act as a teacher, not as a hothead.
Pat Blanchette said, “There will be disagreements, but you have to keep things behind closed doors…”
Yeah, that’s right, Pat. Keep things away from the voters…
There should have been no apology. Weston acted appropriatly – acknowledge and move on. Deal with this issue out of a public forum. Now, not only does Longo look like a moron he has dragged the council into it. Time for Longo to put his big boy pants on and act responsibly be a more mature. Theres no whining in council meetings.
Longo = spoiled kid with no life experience and Bangor should be ashamed for voting in this brat…I have personally deal with Longo and he is arrogant and annoying.
Weston = career hack in the making and another example of how Bangor keeps voting in the entitled lifer parasites..
Sounds like an honest exchange and a nice apology, end of discussion, on to new business.
Can we get rid of Carey Weston? Watch the video and learn how not to chair a city council meeting.
It is a shame that two men would act like children when this state is going through a lot. It is best before you start your meetings is check, double check what is written on paper and the agenda and be very clear of what you about to say to the people of Maine for what you say will come back and bit you.
Longo = spoiled kid with no life experience and Bangor should be ashamed
for voting in this brat…I have personally deal with Longo and he is
arrogant and annoying.
Weston = career hack in the making and another example of how Bangor keeps voting in the entitled lifer parasites.
Longo = spoiled kid with no life experience and Bangor should be ashamed
for voting in this guy…I have personally deal with Longo and he is
arrogant and annoying.
Weston = career hack in the making and another example of how Bangor keeps voting in the entitled lifer parasites.
okay just vote in your own pay raises and eat some more donuts and get over it.
Dear Bangor,
We made a mistake hiring Charlie Longo. He’s too immature. He’s too young and too in-experienced to take our city into the future. Clearly, his only intent is to get attention and then try to run for higher political office. His berating of the Mayor and whimpering is professionally embarassing for our city – and himself.
There is no excuse for this behavior from Mr. Weston-at all. I have had the misfortune to have had business dealings with Weston in the past and found him to be rude, arrogant, immature and the most unprofessional control freak I have ever met. This incident does not surprise me.
Do you know “professional control freaks?” MaineKat, would you make this same comment with your real name attached? If not, why make it at all?
Richard Greene and soon to be gone Cary Weston both use/used Bangor Taxpayer $$$ to profit from… I don’t see a difference here, both look alike.. except one found a loophole
Good for Charlie! Mayor Weston was a total tool at this meeting, pardon the term. Charlie is a great councilor and I am very happy that he is out there supporting those of us who put our trust in him. I am glad he spoke up. I support him even more now. Shame on you Mayor.