Bangor council advances immigration ordinance, approves casino and bar license renewals

The Bangor City Council sent a proposed ordinance on city employee authority and immigration matters to the government operations committee on a first reading, after the legal department said its review was not yet complete. Councilors also approved several land development code amendments, created a standing legislative committee, and renewed licenses for Hollywood Casino and Patty Murphy's. Public comment covered youth hockey, immigration enforcement, homelessness and utility costs, and criticism of the council.

Key points

• The council voted 8-0 to refer the proposed Chapter 46 ordinance on employee authority and immigration matters to the government operations committee, with the legal department's review to follow.
• Councilor Wayne Mallar moved to hold the immigration item until legal review finished, then withdrew the motion after the chair said the review would be ready for the next government operations committee meeting.
• The council voted 8-0 to approve three land development code amendments (parking buffers, removing State Street from the minor arterial definition, and rezoning an Ohio Street property for the Rock Church) and 8-0 to create a standing legislative committee.
• The council opened and closed public hearings and approved license renewals for HC Bangor LLC, doing business as Hollywood Casino Hotel and Raceway, and for Endwell LLC, doing business as Patty Murphy's.
• Public comment included support for girls' hockey and the rink, opposition to and support for the immigration ordinance, complaints about homelessness and rising utility and housing costs, and critical remarks about a councilor and about city funding of Food and Medicine.
• A remote speaker, George Lance, was repeatedly ruled out of order during the casino and special amusement license hearings.

Next steps

• The Chapter 46 employee authority and immigration matters ordinance goes to the government operations committee, with the legal department's review expected by that meeting.
• The rezoning of 26 Walter Street goes to the planning board on March 3, 2026.
• The government operations committee is scheduled to take up the immigration ordinance on March 2, 2026.

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