WATERVILLE — The Waterville City Council postponed a decision Tuesday on a proposed ordinance that would bar city employees, including police, from helping federal immigration authorities.
The measure, titled “Immigration Enforcement Restrictions” and first discussed at a council meeting May 19, advanced on a 6-1 vote during its initial reading, with Council Chair Brandon Gilley, D-Ward 1, casting the opposing vote.
During Tuesday’s second reading, Gilley moved to postpone the ordinance indefinitely.
“There are way too many questions and not enough answers,” Gilley said. “I believe the Waterville Police Department should not be included in this ordinance.”
While councilors generally appeared supportive of restricting other city employees from participating in federal immigration enforcement activities, most of Tuesday’s discussion centered on whether police should remain subject to the ordinance.
Councilor Rebecca Green, D‑Ward 4, said she supported delaying the ordinance until the council’s second meeting in July but did not back postponing it indefinitely.
After further discussion, Gilley withdrew his original motion and introduced a new one to postpone consideration of the ordinance until July 21, giving City Solicitor Bill Lee time to draft revisions removing the Waterville Police Department and other law enforcement personnel from the measure.
Councilor Scott Beale, D‑Ward 6, questioned what effect the amendment would have, saying that in his view the ordinance’s provisions regarding police were largely consistent with existing state law.
“It removes law enforcement from it,” Gilley responded. “Let them adhere to L.D. 1971.”
L.D. 1971 is a relatively new Maine law that prohibits state and local law enforcement agencies from participating in federal civil immigration enforcement activities, including detaining, arresting or questioning individuals based solely on immigration status.
Waterville Police Chief Bill Bonney has raised concerns about officer safety and federal funding related to the ordinance, saying he strives to make Waterville a safe place. He said the federal government could potentially withhold funding if the ordinance were adopted in its original form.
Councilors continued to exchange perspectives on how the ordinance would function if law enforcement were removed from its scope.
The council also received a letter from Kaitlin Callahan, a Rockland city councilor, who noted that her community had adopted a similar ordinance limiting city staff and police cooperation with immigration enforcement. She expressed support for Waterville’s proposal.
During public comment, several residents pushed for the council to vote on the ordinance that evening.
“I would urge that this ordinance be voted on tonight,” a resident said.
Many who spoke at the meeting emphasized what they viewed as the gravity and urgency of the issue and advocated for passage of the ordinance in its original form.
Others supported postponement.
“I don’t know that everybody up here can fully explain all the details and all of the inner workings of the motion that’s in front of us,” a resident who supported tabling the ordinance said.
Waterville resident Jeff Allen also supported postponing the ordinance.
“If the police are going to be excluded from the ordinance, they will be covered — as I understand — by L.D. 1971,” he said. “What distinction does that make?”
The motion to postpone consideration of the ordinance until July 21 resulted in a 3-3 tie vote among councilors.
Councilors Gilley, Green and Spencer Krigbaum, D‑Ward 5, voted in favor of tabling the ordinance, while Flavia DeBrito, D‑Ward 2, Beale, and Cathy Herard, D‑Ward 7, voted against.
Mayor Michael Morris cast the deciding vote in favor of postponement.
“I don’t like to feel as though I’m making this decision out of fear,” Morris said. “I think that I make this out of … I think a responsibility for all of our citizens and residents.”
The postponement gives the city solicitor time to recommend changes that would exclude law enforcement from the ordinance.
The Waterville City Council is expected to discuss the revised ordinance at its meeting scheduled for Tuesday, July 21, at 6 p.m.
Council meetings are held at the City Hall Annex at 46 Front St., with live broadcasts available.
