BANGOR, Maine — The Bangor City Council’s government operations committee on Monday evening will discuss the funding and scope of a comprehensive study on Bangor’s bus system and the potential relocation of hubs such as the one in Pickering Square.
Meanwhile, the Bangor Parks and Recreation Committee and the Public Health Advisory Board will present a proposal to the government operations panel to regulate tobacco use in public parks.
The government operations committee will discuss accepting and appropriating a Maine Department of Transportation planning grant for $31,250 to fund the bus study, which will look at alternatives to the current transit system hub at Pickering Square, which is no longer big enough to handle demand, as well as larger buses the city has incorporated into its fleet.
City officials and staff members have also voiced a desire to possibly relocate the Pickering Square hub in connection with a preliminary plan to add parking and redesign the square to make it more pedestrian- and motorist-friendly.
The joint committee on smoking at public parks unanimously recommended drafting an ordinance that would prohibit tobacco use in all city parks and recreational facilities, except for Bangor Municipal Golf Course.
Good news on the proposed smoking ban in parks.
For $30k I’d be happy to give them a better spot for the bus depot with all necessary infrastructure and signage improvements PLUS a plan to offer limited night hours on select routes without adding to payroll, it would take me one entire weekend afternoon to write it up but I’m not all about the money
This is one dumb way to spend a grant $31,250 to study a different place to relocate the Bat. The best place to put to relocate it is the old city dump. They lose money everyday they start them up. Be honest about it Pickering Square. It is big enough but the drives and some of management do not want to be down there anymore. Because of the crowd that hangs out down there. Scared of the homeless. So lets spend $31,250 of our tax dollars. Dunb Dumb Dumb and Waste Waste Waste thats what the BAT DOES BEST..
Why does the tobacco ban affect all parks except the Municipal Golf Course? Gotta have cigs with the booze after the 18 holes, Bangor Big Shots?
Cigars.
Of course. Cigars.
There is a concern that a smoking ban could hurt the city’s revenue from greens fees. I, for one, don’t think this possibility should be a consideration. However, for now, it’s best to address smoking in other parks, where children and others are more apt to be. (I am on the parks committee, by the way.)
Did ending smoking in bars stop people from going to bars? No. But bar owners fought it with that argument. It’s just hypocrisy. Sorry. The good ol’ boys network just wants it that way, is all it is. They want to tell other people what they can and cannot do but they don’t want anybody telling them and ruining their good time playing golf, which includes booze and smoking (cigars, as I was informed, and to which I agree).
Banning smoking in all public places is next(except the golf course). Brought to you compliments of Pat Blanchette.
It was disappointing to see the smoking ban get shot down by Weston and Blanchette. I’m actually reconsidering my vote for Blanchette at this point (I had planned to vote for her in order to keep some of the tea-bags that are running out).