Bangor council advances data center moratorium, sidewalk ordinance after heated public comment

Bangor city councilors voted 9-0 to approve a 100-day moratorium on data centers and referred several other items to committee, while pulling a sidewalk obstruction ordinance for separate debate. Much of the meeting's public comment focused on recent remarks by Councilor Wayne Mallar about multilingual learners, with several residents calling for his resignation, and others spoke against the sidewalk ordinance.

Key points

• Councilors voted 9-0 to approve ordinance 26-138, a 100-day moratorium on data center development, after waiving the requirement for readings on two separate days.
• The council voted 9-0 to refer most first-reading items to committee, but Councilor Michael Beck pulled ordinance 26-137, which would require licenses to block or obstruct sidewalks, esplanades, or streets, for separate consideration.
• Several residents, including multilingual learner teachers, criticized Councilor Wayne Mallar over comments about English language learners and called for his resignation; one speaker voiced support for him.
• Public comment on the pulled sidewalk ordinance drew opposition from residents who said it targets unhoused people, and support from others who described sidewalk safety concerns near schools and the public library.
• The council voted to allow public comment on the sidewalk ordinance at first reading, departing from the usual practice of taking comment at second reading.
• Residents also raised concerns about needles and trash near the public library, property taxes and homelessness, and a proposed community solar program.

Next steps

• Ordinance 26-137 on sidewalk obstruction licenses will be taken up separately after being pulled from the consent referral list.
• The rezoning request for 355 Main Avenue (26-139) was referred to the Planning Board for its April 21, 2026 meeting.
• The data center moratorium (26-138) was approved and takes effect following passage.

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