The six-month moratorium against new secure psychiatric facilities in Bangor could be over next month, pending a final vote by the City Council.
The panel gave preliminary approval to a plan Monday night that would effectively prevent Gov. Paul LePage from building the 21-bed, step-down forensic facility anywhere in Bangor other than on the grounds of the existing Dorothea Dix Psychiatric Center.
Some residents, such as Mike McCarty, told councilors they would still prefer to see the facility sited elsewhere.
"It's almost like the location is moving gradually closer and closer to residential areas and most of the people at the public hearing made it clear that there is a need for such a facility," McCarty said. "These folks have a need and the state has to meet these needs - but not so close to residential areas."
Bangor Mayor Ben Sprague said locating the proposed forensic unit on the grounds the psychiatric center would be consistent with the historic use of the property.
"Well, I think we're all in agreement that more mental health care services are necessary in this state, so the path forward here is to site this facility within the campus of Dorothea Dix Psychiatric Center, which we feel like makes the most sense," Sprague said. "Rather than directly adjacent to a residential neighborhood, which is where the earlier proposed site was, this would be within the campus of an existing facility. I think it could be a real win-win."
The proposed siting of any new proposed forensic unit at the Dorothea Dix facility will be reviewed by the Bangor Planning Board on Dec. 5.