City Council

The City Council, composed of nine individuals elected at-large on a non-partisan basis, is the governing body of the City and is responsible for establishing overall policy, adopting an annual budget, and providing general oversight to the City's operations. Councilors are elected to three-year terms with three positions on the Council up for election each year in November. Once elected, Councilors are limited to three consecutive three-year terms. Immediately following election in November, the Council selects one of its members to serve as Council Chair for the year. The Council Chair serves as Mayor and represents the City at ceremonial events and in its interactions with State and Federal governments.

Click here for Committee assignments

Agendas, Minutes & Meeting Broadcasts

Agendas are posted the Friday before each meeting. City Council Meetings are held on the second and fourth Mondays of each month at 7:30pm in the City Council Chambers on the third floor of City Hall. All City Council Meetings are broadcast live online on the City of Bangor's Facebook page and rebroadcasted to the Government Channel 1303.

Alongside attending a meeting of the City Council in person, may also participate in each meeting remotely using Zoom. Allow your computer to install the free Zoom app to get the best meeting experience. For public comment, you will need to use the "raise your hand" feature. To raise your hand via the telephone, please hit *9. You will be un-muted by the host when it is time for public comment. For more information on accessing City of Bangor's Public Meetings, please click here: bangormaine.gov/video.

Councilors

Council Chair Cara Pelletier

Cara grew up in Bangor and returned after college. Cara has served on the City of Bangor Advisory Committee on Racial Equity, Inclusion and Human Rights, as well as the boards of EqualityMaine and Equality Federation.

Term expires 2025

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Councilor Carolyn Fish

Term expires 2026

Carolyn came to Maine after her father, a Maine native, returned to his home state after retiring from the military. After high school, she attended college in Boston and returned to Maine, where she accepted a position with the Penobscot Consortium, now Job Corp. She was an intake specialist, where she coordinated enhanced skill training or education to help empower clients to be self-sufficient and independent.

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Councilor Dan Tremble

Term expires 2025

Dan grew up in Bangor and after graduating from Bangor high school attended the University of Maine where he received a degree in public administration. 

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Councilor Dina Yacoubagha

Term expires 2024

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Councilor Gretchen Schaefer

Term expires 2024

Gretchen Schaefer grew up in Grand Lake Stream, Maine, and has been a Bangor resident for over 20 years. With graduate degrees from both UMaine and Husson University, she is a former teacher and currently serves Husson as their instructional technologist.

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Councilor Joseph Leonard

Term expires in 2026

Joe was raised in a military family environment during his formative years and was blessed to experience much of the world and the United States before the age of ten. Joe graduated from John Bapst Memorial High School in 2008 and proceeded immediately to the University of Maine becoming a member of the community service organization Alpha Delta, graduating with a B.A. in English, and commissioning as a United States Army officer in 2012.

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Councilor Rick Fournier

Term expires 2025

A Bangor resident for over 30 years and community banker for over 35 years, Rick Fournier is currently a Vice President and Commercial Relationship Manager at Bangor Savings Bank. He has served on numerous community non-profit boards, including the Bangor Y, Maine Discovery Museum, Y Alliance of Maine, and American Folk Festival.

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Councilor Susan Deane

Term expires 2026

Susan grew up in Massachusetts where she enjoyed a wonderful childhood with her parents and big brother. Her love of nature and animals was developed at a young age on her family farm. She moved to Maine and started high school at John Bapst and later transferred to Hampden Academy.

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Councilor Susan Hawes

Term expires 2024

Susan Hawes is employed by Beal University as Dean of Education and Allied Health Program Director. She teaches in the Medical Assisting Program and the Health Information Technology program.

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