Council asked to join litigation efforts against Big Oil because of climate change costs
Bar Harbor Town Council Preview
BAR HARBOR—The Bar Harbor Town Council meets Tuesday, September 6 at 7:30 P.M. in Council Chambers at the Bar Harbor Municipal Building and has a full agenda, which includes potentially joining climate change litigation.
Councilor Gary Friedmann has asked the council to possibly join climate litigation efforts of the Center for Climate Integrity. The organization’s website states that it “helps communities hold oil and gas corporations accountable for the massive costs of climate change.”
The website also states that over 20 municipalities and states and the District of Columbia have lawsuits that hope to “hold major oil and gas corporations accountable for deceiving the public about their central role in the climate crisis.” All the cases argue that “big oil companies knew, they lied, and they should be held accountable” for “deceiving the public about the climate damages they knew their products would cause.”
Shellfish Ordinance
The council will hear public comment and possibly adopt the Shellfish Conservation Ordinance Amendment #2022-04. This would add two species into the ordinance. Those species are quahogs and eastern oysters. It would also replace “shellfish” with “soft-shell clams.”
Speed Limit Review
It will also hear public comment about a speed limit review request by some property owners on Bayview Drive and Hadley Point Road.
Short-Term Rental Registration Ordinance Amendment
Code Enforcement Officer Angela Chamberlain has made minor changes based on the town councilors feedback at their Aug 2 meeting. She writes,
Proposed New Long-Term Rental Registration Ordinance
A written proposal about creating a long-term-rental registry program will be presented. If the council decides to move that forward, there would be a public hearing set for the October 3 council meeting. There is currently no registry of long-term rentals. Within the draft language there are escalating fees for failure to register annually prior to February 28. Registrations would be issued by the code enforcement officer. And, if approved, the registration program would begin January 1, 2024.
The draft also states that
Marijuana Licensing
The council will also make a recommendation on the citizens’ petition regarding marijuana stores licensing, which is not a Land Use Ordinance amendment and part of a citizens’ petition. A split warrant committee recommended it at its last meeting. The council’s recommendation will appear on the special town meeting warrant. That meeting is scheduled for November 8.
Parking Space Removals and Additions
According to the town councilors’ packet, Bangor Savings Bank, which hopes to build at 114 Cottage Street is asking “the town remove two parking spaces near the corner of Maple Avenue and add two along the corner along Cottage Street.”
Other Business
The council may honor Tom St. Germain for ten years of service on the Bar Harbor Planning Board, adopt the snow plow and poverty abatement policies, sign the special town meeting warrant, read over potential changes to its appointments policy and rules of order.
Executive Sessions
The council is currently scheduled to go into executive sessions about a personnel matter as well as the public works’ union negotiation.
WANT TO LEARN MORE?
THE COMPLETE COUNCIL PACKET AND SUPPORTING MATERIALS IS HERE
TO STREAM THE MEETING, CLICK HERE
MORE ABOUT THE CENTER FOR CLIMATE INTEGRITY.
Hope it goes well