The Town of Orono is seeking students to help address disorderly conduct, noise ordinances, and Good Neighbor initiatives.
In a letter addressed to Orono residents and town staff, Town Council Chair Dan Demeritt said, “The recent assault in the Webster Neighborhood creates new urgency about the unruly and unacceptable behaviors that have long been a concern in Orono’s residential neighborhoods.”
The alleged assault took place on April 26, 2025 on Crosby Street, a popular place for University of Maine students to rent apartments and houses off-campus.
Demeritt told the Bangor Daily News, “community safety and harmony is always on Orono’s topics to make sure we do the best we can and the most we can.”
Town Councilor Andrea Hardison said the Community Development Committee found a “lack of awareness about neighborhood ordinances, a reluctance to call 911 and formally report complaints, and no formal process to welcome new community members to [the] town in the fall.” The Good Neighbor Goals look to address these concerns.
In keeping with town harmony, the Good Neighbor Goals of the town include “everyone belongs in Orono.” They also include goals of decreasing parties in residential areas, establishing clear behavior expectations, putting families in single-family homes, and additional long term objectives.
The Town Council Meeting Agenda notes from May 15, 2025 ordered the council chair to “appoint a special committee of councilors and citizens.” This council will include input from Town Council members, community members, and University of Maine students.
Hardison said the inclusion of students was suggested to represent their voices in the neighborhoods. Currently, the council has made plans for events during “Maine Hello, the Orono Festival Day in the fall, and other functions where we can encourage community engagement on neighborhood expectations,” said Hardison.
The council reached out to local students, tenants, and community members through the Town of Orono Facebook page, Orono Neighbor to Neighbor Facebook page, and local landlords.
The times of the meetings are yet to be set, but the Town Council picked June 23 as the date for the committee to present recommendations.
