A proposed ordinance for flag displays and other ceremonial activities in Presque Isle will go to a working group for further discussion.
Following the second public hearing on the proposal on July 10, the Presque Isle City Council voted to table adopting the ordinance until more people have a chance to review it.
The document would limit flags on city property to the national, state, city and POW/MIA flags. Special-interest requests would be fielded by the city manager. Residents were divided during a June 20 public hearing. Some wanted special-interest banners, like pride flags, not to be subject to special approval; others said only the government and veteran flags should be flown.
Flags should be eliminated from the ordinance altogether because of possible constitutional issues, Councilor Jeff Willette said.
“I don’t think we need a spot for special flags or banners,” he said. “If we’re going to allow groups to display their banner or flag based on our approval, what does that say for the ones we deny? Are we preventing their freedom of expression or their speech?”
The ordinance is complex and should just involve the U.S., Maine, city and POW/MIA flags, he said, suggesting the council either vote against the ordinance or table it for further discussion.
There’s no rush on pushing the ordinance through, Council Chair Kevin Freeman said.
“I think it’s clear that we want to make a few tweaks to this. If it takes a few more weeks to work it out, let’s do it,” he said.
City Manager Tyler Brown suggested creating a working group, which councilors unanimously approved.
Another proposed ordinance to address camping in the city will have a second public hearing at a later date.
Public comments focused on the Department of Transportation’s selection of JetBlue as the Essential Air Services carrier for the Presque Isle International Airport, replacing United Airlines, which has been its carrier for the past six years.
The DOT made the announcement June 4. On June 26, United Airlines requested the DOT reverse its decision, claiming unfair weight was given to the city council’s preference for JetBlue.
Basic Essential Air Service rules require airlines to provide at least two daily round trips six days a week for an airport outside of Alaska. The city requested, and the DOT granted, a waiver that would allow JetBlue to fly seven trips per week.
In a written comment read by Brown, resident Frank Bemis supported United’s request, saying the way DOT conducted its carrier proposal process was unfair to the airlines and to local air travelers.
“The proposals were initially reviewed by and met minimum EAS requirements. Later, the city council elected to waive the EAS minimum requirements and to vote for the JetBlue proposal,” Bemis wrote. “There was insufficient notice to the public that there may be a change in airline providers and a significant reduction in round trips each week at PQI.”
The waiver should have been part of the original discussion of proposals, he said.
Resident Judith Kenney submitted a written comment in favor of JetBlue.
“I am troubled that United is trying to reverse the decision to have JetBlue come into our airport,” she wrote. “I had previously written the DOT to place my support with JetBlue. United has given us poor service and we need a Boston connection.”
In other business, the council voted to table setting the 2024 mill rate until the August meeting, and will hold a special meeting later this month to give residents and councilors time to look over numbers presented by tax assessor Lewis Cousins.
Most residents will likely see property tax increases even with the recommended reduced mill rate because of ongoing revaluation, Cousins said. The proposed mill rate of 21.25 is down from 2023’s rate of 22.6.
The council also voted unanimously to dedicate the 2023 city report to former Police Chief Laurie Kelly, who retired earlier this year. Presque Isle’s first female police officer and first female police chief had a 30-year career with the city.
“She had a lot of years with us, and further, came into power in a tough time and resolved things quite well,” Councilor Doug Cyr said.
