Higgins Pit Discussion Postponed
Council will wait for more details and discuss solar array at its next meeting
BAR HARBOR—The Town Council did not hear an update on the Higgins Pit Solar project on Tuesday nor did it work on a resolve about the project. At the meeting’s beginning Vice Chair Gary Friedmann suggested taking discussion of the project out of the agenda. It will be on the agenda of the next meeting, which is in three weeks.
Councilor Kyle Shank asked why the council would postpone the discussion.
“There’s so much information that is timely to this discussion that isn’t in hand yet,” Friedmann said.
Councilor Maya Caines asked if that three-week postponement would derail the town from meeting a December deadline.
Friedmann said, “We’re already under a very tight timeline. This doesn’t help it. I don’t think that we can make the decision without knowing certain costs about the road and wetlands and things like that.”
Town Manager James Smith wrote in a memo to councilors, “The project is at a critical decision point and the council will need to determine whether to move forward or redirect town staff to explore other options to meet climate action goals. The chair will entertain suggestions for language to complete the resolve.”
Town voters approved the project, which has been changed since its original approval. The town’s Task Force on the Climate Emergency spoke on behalf of the project. Others questioned its economic feasibility and changes for the downsized project.
The council unanimously moved it to the next meeting and also unanimously approved a purchase agreement for solar panels that are currently on the roof of the town’s public service building. The original agreement allowed for the town to put in a purchase offer after a certain amount of time. Smith said that the town will purchase the panels for $103,000, which was negotiated down from $114,000. The town had been saving through its capital improvement program (CIP) for seven years for the purchase and had to authorize an additional approximate $3,000 more.
This was the first municipal array in Emera (now Versant) territory, Friedmann said and it will help offset the electricity cost for public works.
FINANCE REPORT
Finance Director Sarah Gilbert’s finance report was in a different format, no longer having a narrative with it nor having expenditures detailed as to what is over and under expectations. Instead, it was a general understanding of the total budget.
Council Chair Valerie Peacock said that it would be helpful to see if certain lines are over or under budget. The format is a work in progress.
POSITIONS OPEN
Gilbert mentioned that the town’s IT manager, Steve Cornell, will be retiring on Thursday of next week. She wanted to thank him.
“He’s a department of one. He’s done an amazing job. He will surely be missed,” Gilbert said. “He has an amazing work ethic and he is a super sharp person. I’m going to miss him.”
Councilor Matthew Hochman agreed, saying, ““He’s definitely an asset to the town and he’s going to be pretty tough to replace.”
Her thanks were echoed by some of the councilors who also mentioned that School Resource Officer Tim Bland has left the town. Max Moreno, planner, has also left. The town also has open positions for an emergency services dispatcher and multiple positions in the police department and public works, as well as one in the fire department.
PUBLIC COMMENT, MANAGER’S COMMENTS
Smith said that the town pier is partially open. The fisherman have access to the hoist, but it’s closed at spots that need repair. They have quotes to do that work. They hope it will be open by May 15.
“That’s our target deadline,” he said.
The town is also hoping to move forward with needed work on Atlantic Ave, where they are continuing to work through easements and Cromwell Cove Bridge, where he is negotiating with the state about the location of a waterline.
He said public works is making solid progress on Main Street. The most pressing deadline, he said, is November of this year. The town is hoping to manage work in the summer time that will minimize disruptions, he said. He said they’d talk about more specifics at an upcoming meeting.
He said the town is continuing to draft the cruise ship ordinance and standard operating procedures. He said that he has to sit down with the harbormaster and code enforcement officer and there are complications in how the ordinance was written. They hope to have that done by the next council meeting in May.
He said the town is also looking into the legal framework of a local property exemption program. It could potentially incentivize long-term property ownership.
During public comment, Jim O’Connell discussed the town’s recycling program and suggested the town look into how it is working or not working.
“We are in conversations with different stakeholders,” Smith said about solid waste issues.
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