[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of Bangor as Ch. VI, Art. 9, Secs. 1, 2 and 4. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Amended 4-13-1964]
A. 
The City Council or any person authorized by it shall have the power to make alterations in the sidewalks within the City as the public convenience shall require.
B. 
Installation of curbs. The City Engineer is authorized to lay down edge or curb stones for sidewalks on all streets that are or shall be graded, provided that the owners of land on said streets will complete the sidewalks to the acceptance of the City Engineer.
[Amended 4-13-1964; 1-27-1992 by Ord. No. 92-60; 9-14-1998 by Ord. No. 98-339; 12-26-2001 by Ord. No. 02-37; 8-27-2018 by Ord. No. 18-316]
A. 
Applicability. This section shall apply to any owner, tenant, firm, corporation, and/or other occupant of any property located on the streets in the Downtown Parking Management District.
B. 
Snow removal. The owner, tenant, firm, corporation, and/or other occupant having control or management of any property bordering upon any street or square designated in Subsection A shall remove all snow and ice from any adjacent sidewalk and any adjacent alley, including private alleys, within six hours after the end of a precipitation event, except that if the precipitation ends after 6:00 p.m., then the snow and ice shall be removed before 1:00 p.m. on the following day. Additionally, the owner, tenant, firm, corporation, and/or other occupant shall have a continuing duty to keep said sidewalks and alleys free and clear of snow and ice and shall maintain adequate accessibility to said sidewalks and alleys from the street.
C. 
Ice control. Whenever any ice forms upon a sidewalk or private alley, the owner, tenant, firm, corporation, and/or other occupant having control or management of any property bordering upon any street or square designated in Subsection A shall cause such ice on said adjacent sidewalks or alleys to be removed or to be covered or strewed with sand or other substances in such manner as to allow safe and easy travel on such sidewalk or in such alley.
D. 
Prevention of rooftop snow slides. The owner, tenant, firm, corporation, and/or other occupant having control or management of any property bordering upon any street designated in Subsection A shall install roof railings or other protection satisfactory to the Code Enforcement Officer to prevent the slide of snow and ice from the roofs into the street or sidewalk.
E. 
Clearing by City. If any owner, tenant, firm, corporation, and/or other occupant having control or management of a property bordering upon any street designated in Subsection A fails to cause the removal of snow within the time provided in this section or fails to remove or control ice forming upon the sidewalk in front of such property, the City Manager may direct the City's Public Works Director to cause the removal or control of such snow or ice, and the owner, tenant, firm, corporation, and/or other occupant shall be jointly and severally liable to repay the City of Bangor all reasonable charges therefor.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
F. 
Violations and penalties. In addition to Subsection E, any owner, tenant, firm, corporation, and/or other occupant who violates any provision of this section shall be subject to a civil fine, upon conviction, of not less than $100 per offense. For this purpose, each day on which a violation shall occur or continue shall constitute a separate offense.
[Amended 1-27-1992 by Ord. No. 92-60; 9-14-1998 by Ord. No. 98-339; at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
Any person who willfully, wittingly or carelessly injures, defaces or makes any alteration in any sidewalk or sets any post, tree or tree alteration in any sidewalk or sets any post, tree or tree alteration in any part of the streets of the City without the consent of the City Council shall forfeit and pay a sum not less than $50 for each and every day that the violation continues.
[Amended 4-14-1986 by Ord. No. 86-132; 9-9-2019 by Ord. No. 19-328]
No person shall occupy, block, obstruct or otherwise use any portion of a City sidewalk, esplanade or street for the storage of materials or the erection of staging, ladders, scaffolding or other building equipment, including machinery and vehicles, without first obtaining a license from the Code Enforcement Officer covering the period of said occupancy.
A. 
Licensee to assume risk. Any person who acquires a license for the use of a portion of the sidewalk or street as outlined above shall so occupy said sidewalk or street at their own risk and shall be responsible for any property damage or bodily injury caused by their operations.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
B. 
Pedestrian safety to be assured. All operations within a right-of-way shall be conducted in such a manner as to ensure the safe passage of pedestrians around the occupied area. Suitable precautions shall be taken, as may be directed by the Code Enforcement Officer, to protect the public from possible falling objects, and a suitable walkway shall be provided around the area occupied. A pedestrian walkway at least five feet in width shall be maintained at all times and, where such walkway is located within a street, it shall consist of a solid wood platform raised at least four inches above the roadway surface. A suitable handrail shall be provided along both sides of the walkway, and the traffic side of the walkway shall be marked with signs, flags or lights as may be required. The temporary walkway shall be maintained free of snow or ice at all times.
C. 
Use of metered parking spaces. When the sidewalk occupancy involves the use of metered parking spaces, the licensee shall notify the Chief of Police, who shall remove or cover the meter heads. Said metered parking spaces shall not be used by the licensee or any other person for the parking of personal vehicles.
D. 
Notice of violation. The licensee shall correct any violation of their use of the right-of-way within 24 hours after notice from the Code Enforcement Officer or their agent. Failure to make such corrections within that time will result in the revoking of said license, and the licensee shall be required to vacate the right-of-way immediately. If, because of the extent of their operation, it is impractical or impossible for the licensee to immediately vacate the right-of-way, then said corrections will be made by the City and the cost will be billed to the licensee.
E. 
Penalty. Any person, firm or corporation who or which shall violate any provision of this section or fail to comply with any of its requirements may, upon conviction thereof, be punished by a fine of not less than $50 for each offense. Each day of said violation or noncompliance shall constitute a separate offense. Any person, firm or corporation so convicted shall not hereafter be granted a license to occupy the right-of-way without the prior approval of the City Council.
[Amended 9-14-1998 by Ord. No. 98-339; at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
[Added 6-10-2013 by Ord. No. 13-182]
A. 
Intent. It is the intent of this section to impose reasonable limitations on solicitation in order to protect the safety of the general public against unreasonable solicitation while respecting the constitutional right of free speech.
B. 
Definitions. As used in this section, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
DONATION
A gift of money or other item of value.
SOLICITATION
Any request made in person seeking an immediate donation of money or other item of value.
C. 
Unreasonable solicitation. It is unlawful for a person to engage in unreasonable solicitation. "Unreasonable solicitation" means to do one or more of the following while engaging in solicitation or immediately thereafter:
(1) 
Blocking or impeding the passage of the person solicited;
(2) 
Following the person solicited by proceeding behind, ahead or alongside of them;
(3) 
Threatening the person solicited with physical harm by word or gesture;
(4) 
Touching the solicited person without the solicited person's consent.
D. 
Penalties. Any person who engages in unreasonable solicitation, as defined herein, shall be guilty of a violation of this section and, upon conviction, shall be punished by a fine of not less than $25 nor more than $150 for each offense. The City may also seek and the court may order injunctive relief designed to prevent any further violations of this section.
[Added 9-9-2019 by Ord. No. 19-328]
A. 
The purpose of this section is to facilitate installation of communications networks and other utilities, while protecting the City's investments in its rights-of-way and the aesthetics thereof.
B. 
Permit required. No person may occupy, block, obstruct, or otherwise use any portion of a City sidewalk, esplanade or street for utility purposes without first obtaining a right-of-way permit from the City Engineer as set forth herein.
C. 
Scope. This section applies to any use of a right-of-way for a utility, with the exception of the following:
(1) 
Underground utilities, for those portions of the use that is placed underground pursuant to a street opening permit issued in accordance with Chapter 271, Article VII, of this Code.
(2) 
Utilities located on a pole, for those portions of the use that are located on a pole placed pursuant to a City-issued pole permit.
(3) 
Utilities and other uses with an easement for the area in question, to the extent their occupancy and activities meet the terms of the easement.
(4) 
Cable television companies permitted under a franchise agreement with the City, in accordance with 30-A M.R.S.A. §§ 3008 and 4362.
(5) 
Construction uses with a license granted under § 257-4.
(6) 
State-maintained highways outside of the urban compact area.
(7) 
Uses of the City of Bangor and their agents.
D. 
Application.
(1) 
The applicant shall submit an application in a form as required by the City Engineer, together with any plans, specifications, and attachments as the City Engineer may require.
(2) 
The applicant must meet all relevant requirements of 35-A M.R.S.A. § 2503. The applicant may choose to give written notice by publication in accordance with § 2503(2).
(3) 
The applicant must also submit a fee as set by the City Council in the City's Schedule of Fees.
E. 
Review. All administrative powers and authority vested in the City Council to grant or deny the permit required hereunder shall be delegated to the City Engineer.
(1) 
Once the application is deemed complete by the City Engineer and the fee paid, the City Engineer shall inquire of such departments and divisions as they may deem appropriate as to whether a permit may be granted consistent with the laws and ordinances enforced by such departments and the criteria set forth in subsection F. The departments and divisions consulted shall include, but are not limited to, the following:
(a) 
Code Enforcement.
(b) 
Fire Prevention.
(c) 
Engineering.
(d) 
Police.
(2) 
The City Engineer shall make a decision on the application within 60 days of the application being deemed complete or the application is deemed granted.
F. 
Criteria.
(1) 
Travel. The utility may not interfere with pedestrian or vehicular travel over the right-of-way. The utility must leave an adequate unobstructed travel aisle for the use of the sidewalk for pedestrian traffic.
(2) 
Durability. The utility must be installed in durable and secure manner, and any base or fixture to which the utility is attached must be sufficiently durable, all to the satisfaction of the City Engineer.
(3) 
Location.
(a) 
In areas of the City where electrical utilities have been put underground such that there are decorative streetlight poles and no other utility poles, utilities must meet the following requirements:
[1] 
The utility must be placed underground. Underground work must be done pursuant to a street opening permit if one is required.
[2] 
If the utility cannot be placed underground, it must be incorporated into the existing decorative pole in a manner that does not substantially alter the appearance of the decorative pole. A Design Committee composed of the City's Planning Officer, Chief Code Enforcement Officer, and Director of Community and Economic Development or their designees shall determine whether the appearance of the decorative pole would be substantially altered.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
[3] 
If neither of the options under Subsection F(3)(a)[1] or [2] is technically feasible, the utility must be incorporated into a new streetlight pole that is of substantially similar design as existing City decorative streetlight poles. A Design Committee composed as indicated in Subsection F(3)(a)[2] shall determine whether the pole is of substantially similar design.
(b) 
In areas where Subsection F(3)(a) does not apply, utilities must be mounted on existing poles, buildings, or other structures where feasible.
[1] 
Where such uses are proposed as stand-alone facilities, the applicant must make a showing that it is not practical to locate on another structure.
[2] 
For proposed new support structures, including but not limited to new utility poles, the applicant must agree to reasonable requests for co-location.
(c) 
In addition to the requirement set out in Subsection F(3)(a) and (b) above, the location of any new stand-alone facilities must be approved by the City Engineer and a Design Committee, composed as indicated in Subsection F(3)(a)[2]. In determining whether to approve the new facilities, the City Engineer and Design Committee shall take into account the demonstrated need for the new facilities, safety concerns, and similarity to nearby structures and other aesthetic considerations.
(4) 
The City Engineer may impose additional reasonable conditions of approval in keeping with the terms of this section.
G. 
Permit requirements.
(1) 
The permittee must complete installation of the utility within six months of the permit being granted. The City Engineer may issue one or more six-month extensions on good cause shown.
(2) 
Installation of the utility must be completed within 30 days after work is begun.
(3) 
No work may be performed between November 1 and April 30, apart from maintenance activity that cannot be delayed until after April 30.
(4) 
The permittee must provide for maintenance and repair of the installed utilities.
(5) 
The permittee must remove the utility and restore the area to its original condition if the utility is abandoned or becomes obsolete, or if it is reasonably necessary to allow the City to undertake work in the right-of-way. The permittee must remove a utility and restore the area within one year of the utility being abandoned or becoming obsolete.
(6) 
The City Engineer may impose additional permit requirements in keeping with the terms of this section.
H. 
Enforcement.
(1) 
Any person who is found to be in violation of any provision or requirement of this section shall be subject to a civil penalty as set forth in 30-A M.R.S.A. § 4452. Each violation of a separate provision or requirement, and each day of violation, shall constitute a separate offense.
(2) 
In addition or alternative to the penalties found in Subsection H(1), the City Engineer may, after notice and hearing, suspend or revoke a permit granted under this section.
(3) 
The City Engineer is responsible for enforcing the provisions of this section. They may make procedural rules to assist in administering and enforcing the provisions of this section. Failure to follow such rules may result in a permit not being granted or an existing permit being suspended or revoked.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
I. 
Appeals.
(1) 
An abutter or owner of facilities may file a written objection in accordance with § 2503, Subsection 3. If a written objection is filed, the City Engineer shall hold a hearing in accordance with § 2503, Subsection 4,[1]and shall render a written decision.
[1]
Editor's Note: See 35-A M.R.S.A. § 2503, Subsections 3 and 4, respectively.
(2) 
In the event of denial of an application or of a written objection under Subsection I(1), the City Engineer shall give the applicant and any objecting party written notice of the reason or reasons for their decision sufficient to apprise the applicant, objecting party, and any interested member of the public as to the basis for their decision.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
(3) 
The decision of the City Engineer shall be filed with all parties and the City Clerk within one week from the date of the decision.
(4) 
Appeals may be taken in accordance with 35-A M.R.S.A. § 2503, Subsection 13.
[Added 5-11-2026 by Ord. No. 26-137]
As City sidewalks are intended for free, safe, and unimpeded pedestrian travel on them by members of the public, no person shall occupy, block, obstruct, or partially obstruct a City sidewalk or esplanade for the storage of materials.
A. 
This section does not apply to temporary lines formed on sidewalks in order to access a building or to persons, wheelchairs, and strollers occupying a sidewalk or esplanade in order to view a parade.
B. 
Support-based engagement. The City shall prioritize support-based engagement prior to civil penalties when feasible and appropriate, including but not limited to communication, outreach, and connection to available services and resources. Such resources include, but are not limited to case management, day programs, and shelter services. This shall be the preferred practice of the City, prior to punitive enforcement action.
C. 
Enforcement. The Police Department shall enforce this section. The first and preferred method of enforcing a violation of this section is for the Police Department to direct that materials be moved from the sidewalk or esplanade by the individual who placed the materials, if that individual can be readily identified. If that individual is readily identified but refuses to move the materials from the sidewalk or esplanade, that person is subject to a civil penalty of no more than $50. In the event of a second violation within any six-month period, the civil penalty shall be no more than $100. In the event the individual who placed the materials cannot be readily identified by an on-scene Police Department officer, any applicable City policy pertaining to removal of materials on public property may be followed.