The Bath City Council on Wednesday approved a $15.6 million 2016-17 budget as part of the consent agenda with no discussion.

The spending plan is a $360,887 decrease from the current budget. The city’s tax levy will increase an estimated $217,000 or 1.1 percent under this budget.

The council also voted 9-0 in favor of borrowing as much as $1,865,000 to purchase town vehicles and for improvements to the pond by the Zorach Fountain in City Park. The largest portion of the proposed general obligation bond — $1,680,000 — is to finish the Riverwalk.

The council also unanimously approved second passage of an amendment that allows almost anyone with 6,000 square feet of property to have chickens.

Andrew Deci, director of planning and development, said the ordinance modifies the way chickens are permitted in urban Bath.

Right now, if someone has less than two acres and wants chickens, they have go before the planning board to make sure certain standards are met. The change streamlines the process and allows the codes enforcement officer to issue a permit or license if a resident meets the standards, Deci said. Most people with lots of 6,000 square feet can have up to six hens and no roosters — under the amendment, which becomes law in 21 days.

The council unanimously approved the city’s submission of an application to the state’s Community Development Block Grant program for a $55,000 Safe Neighborhoods grant.

The majority of the grant would go toward a new K9 unit vehicle, said Scott LaFlamme, the city’s economic development director. It would also include some weapons, night investigation equipment and would cover some personnel costs.

The grant program is designed to help local police departments investigate and respond to drug-related crimes. The city has a good chance of landing the grant, LaFlamme said, since it is one of only three communities applying for the grant.

At the start of the meeting, Bath Police Detective Marc Brunelle was recognized as the Maine Elks Association’s nominee for the National Enrique “Kiki” Camarena Award.

This award was established by the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks to recognize and honor law enforcement officers who have made a significant contribution in the field of drug prevention and who personify Agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena’s belief that “one person can make a difference.”

Camarena was a member of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, working to make a difference until Feb. 7, 1985, he gave his life in this pursuit.

James Ferland, a member of the Presque Isle Elks Lodge who is a special assistant to the Maine Elks Association Drug Awareness chairman, attended the council meeting with six other members of the Maine Elks Association who came from all over the state, “because we take this award very seriously,” Ferland said.

Brunelle began his law enforcement career with Bath Police Department in 1996 and moved through the ranks until he was promoted to detective in 2012. He recognized other department members involved in the department’s drug prevention work.

dmoore@timesrecord.com

Bond passage

• THE COUNCIL voted 9-0 in favor of borrowing as much as $1,865,000 to purchase town vehicles and for improvements to the pond in City Park. The largest portion of the proposed general obligation bond — $1,680,000 — is to finish the Riverwalk.

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