Bangor council advances $75M parks bond, delays immigration ordinance

The Bangor City Council sent a $75 million parks and recreation bond to the Finance Committee and postponed a proposed immigration ordinance until March 23, instead advancing an order to comply early with a new state immigration law. Councilors also approved a $50,000 appropriation for a human resources director, a $320,603 transit grant, a $500,000 HIV care grant, and $641,297 in opioid settlement awards.

Key points

• The council voted 9-0 to postpone Ordinance 26-095, which would set limits on city involvement in federal immigration enforcement, to the March 23 meeting.
• Order 26-110, directing the city to comply immediately with new state law 5 MRS chapter 337-E and formalize a written procedure on confidential information and non-public spaces, was moved and seconded; a roll call vote followed.
• The $75 million general obligation bond for a consolidated parks and recreation facility was referred to the Finance Committee for March 16, with a voter referendum required.
• Resolve 26-090, appropriating up to $50,000 from undesignated fund balance for a director of human resources, passed without objection.
• Order 26-106, a $500,000 NASTAD grant for HIV care and support, passed 8-1, with Councilor Wayne Mallar opposed.
• Order 26-109, awarding $641,297 in opioid settlement funds with modifications, passed 8-1, with Mallar opposed; Councilor Carolyn Fish and Mallar raised concerns about coordination and reporting.
• Public commenters urged the council to hold the line on taxes, opposed the parks bond, opposed AI data centers, and criticized the structure of the city's homeless response system.

Next steps

• Ordinance 26-095 postponed to the March 23 regular council meeting.
• The $75 million parks and recreation bond referred to the Finance Committee for March 16.
• Order 26-110 directs the city manager to formalize a written procedure on confidential information and non-public spaces.
• Opioid settlement awards to be incorporated into contracts with accountability and reporting requirements.

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