THE BIO:
I grew up in southern New Hampshire, and my first visit to MDI was for a week-long summer camp during my middle school years. I still remember my first bite of Rosalie’s that summer! While I was a student at Bowdoin College, I had the great opportunity to spend three summers at the MDI Biological Laboratory and accepted a year-round position there as my final summer came to an end. Next week will mark the start of my twenty-fourth year of working at MDIBL, though my work has shifted from working exclusively in a lab to now being the director of courses, conferences, and evaluation.
When I started living in Bar Harbor, I rented apartments in town, and finding a good year-round option was a challenge even then. I appreciate this ongoing, critical need for rental housing. My home now is just off the Crooked Road, where I live with my husband Joel and son Ryan. I love to be out in our garden together or working on any of various puzzles.
Joel and I both served on the Kids’ Corner board while Ryan attended that amazing place. While on the Kids’ Corner board, I was first able to act as secretary and put my high school electric typewriter training to good use. In the winter of 2018, I joined the Warrant Committee when a vacancy arose, and have served as its secretary since 2020. It’s been an honor and a privilege to have worked with all of the other Warrant Committee members and town staff during my tenure to date.
THE QUESTIONS
Why are you running? How does your why for running delve into your bigger life purpose?
I’ve certainly benefited from the Warrant Committee’s work and recommendations for years as a Bar Harbor voter, and I am happy to take my own turn at giving some of that effort back. This feels particularly true now when there seem to be so many critical decisions to make, and with a new Comprehensive Plan (almost!) in hand. I hope that my previous work with the Warrant Committee can provide some relatively recent historical context. My own contributions to the ongoing conversations stem from earnest reflection and thoughtful listening. I can also share what I’ve learned about the mechanics of this complex budget and overall municipal organization to our newer members of the Warrant Committee, and assist with that informal onboarding that’s so important.
It's truly a pleasure to work with everyone else on the Warrant Committee and with town staff. It’s been an additional bit of education to serve as secretary, and I value the trust that the rest of the Warrant Committee puts in me to act in that role.
The last year or so the news has been full of cruise ships, short-term rentals, and affordable housing. This isn’t saying that those aren’t all tremendously important, but what are some of the things that we might not be focusing on as a town that needs to be focused on instead?
One thing that I see right now is that there is real earnest discussion and reflection happening among our community members about these and other topics. I am heartened to see how many people are running this season, and think it will be critical to keep this level of engagement and open conversation going regardless of what particular paths we take. I think that the Comprehensive Planning committee has done an exceptional job reaching out to the community and seeking input, and could be a model for other initiatives.
There’s a school bond on the ballot and a school that’s in dire need of repair. How have you educated yourself on the potential reconstruction of the school and what are your thoughts on how the council, the Warrant Committee, the town, and Conners Emerson School Board can work together to lessen the tax implication for the residents?
I certainly have been educated on the current state of the Conners Emerson School by listening to my son explaining that he couldn’t use the school library for a month because there’s a plant growing in between the walls! I have also attended community learning sessions both in person and via Zoom, and have spoken with school board and community members about their concerns and hopes for the future. During Warrant Committee meetings, we also hear details of current, urgent repairs and the costs of anticipated building needs.
It is a huge win for us to potentially use parking funds to support the new school project. I also anticipate that with a successful passage of the bond issue next month there will be energy and interest to drive philanthropic and grant support. I believe that it is not in the tax interests of residents to be spending more money every year on temporary patches for repairs that will only delay and drive up the cost of the school rebuild that is so sorely needed.
What have you done for yourself that you’re the most proud of? What have you done for the community that you’re the most proud of?
I take immeasurable delight in being part of the partnership that’s raising a kind, curious kid. There’s just nothing else like it. I’m also proud of my work at MDIBL over the years, and have fared not too badly in the annual American Crossword Puzzle Tournament!
I am grateful for the opportunity to serve as Warrant Committee secretary, and appreciate hearing my family say they are proud of me when I head into town for our meetings. It is important to me that my son sees that responsibility to contribute in some way to our community.
The Warrant Committee considers, investigates and reports on all of the election warrant articles except for the candidates for Town Meeting. What particular skills do you have that you think will help you perform that role?
As Warrant Committee secretary, I’ve needed to be a very careful listener and also have effectively revisited each of our meetings in drafting the minutes. This review has deepened my institutional knowledge and memory. This can be valuable as ideas have been raised that were not immediately practicable, but may benefit from being reconsidered when the time is right.
Apart from my prior experience on the Warrant Committee, in my daily work at MDIBL I oversee more than 25 individual budgets for courses and conferences, each of which has their own nuances. Each of these programs also have unique audiences and needs, which requires careful consideration of expenses, measures of success, and logistical needs.
What’s a question that I should be asking you that I’m not asking? Feel free to answer it if you’d like to!
It’s helpful to take a moment to appreciate the amazing depth and breadth of expertise among the citizens of Bar Harbor. There are so many ways to contribute to our community, not all of which involve formally serving on a board or committee, and people are truly generous with their time and talents. I am so proud to be part of this community.