Mount Desert Accepts Town Manager's Resignation
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MOUNT DESERT—Not every town manager references Grumpy Cat in his resignation letter, but then again, not every town manager is Durlin Lunt.
“After fighting Father Time a good battle and arriving at the fork in the road, I am prepared to take it. Therefore, I shall retire as Mount Desert Town Manager effective August 31, 2025,” he wrote in a letter full of personality, quotes, and references (both historical and pop culture), a letter that reflected Lunt’s leadership style.
The Mount Desert Selectboard officially accepted Town Manager Durlin Lunt’s resignation at its February 24 meeting.
“Best resignation letter ever,” Selectboard Vice Chair Wendy Littlefield said. “I wouldn’t expect anything less.”
Lunt had announced his resignation in early February and formalized the letter to Selectboard Chair John Macauley, Feb. 24.
“It’s been a fun ride,” said Selectman Rick Mooers, Monday night. The two men had served the town together throughout Lunt’s time as town manager.
Lunt said that he plans to write a memoir and narrative nonfiction once he’s retired—a project he has already begun, telling the stories of his town and its people—and that he looks forward to seeing the future of the town where he was born and raised and then led for more than a decade.
Referencing finding Lunt after Lunt’s retirement, Macauley said, “We know where you live.”
“Every day a manager makes decisions that will impact the direction of their community. Three of the most difficult decisions I have made are to write, send, and request to have this letter accepted by your board. Mount Desert has always been dear to me. It is my home and hopefully will always be so,” Lunt wrote in his resignation letter to Macauley.
Lunt has served as town manager for fifteen years. During that time, he oversaw implementing a capital improvement program (CIP) for the town, developed partnerships with neighboring communities to ensure critical services get delivered such as the combined administration of the Bar Harbor and Mount Desert police departments, and led the island-wide League of Towns and advocacy for the working waterfront of Otter Creek. He was also a tireless advocate for the organizations and people of the town.
“Few will have the opportunity to help shape and influence policies and procedures that will guide their community for a generation or more. I have been blessed with this privilege for fifteen years and that it took place in my hometown makes the return to the community as a private citizen even more rewarding. Although we face severe challenges in the years ahead there is no doubt in my mind that we are on an upward trajectory,” Durlin told the Bar Harbor Story earlier in February.
Littlefield said that she’s had community members reach out about the selection of a new town manager. She wanted to make sure the board didn’t lose sight of that task during budget season and other projects.
LINKS TO LEARN MORE
For our more in-depth story about Durlin Lunt’s retirement:
A Quick Note: We will have a second story about other Mount Desert items at the meeting as well. We just wanted to focus on Durlin for this one. And many thanks to those of you who let us know that select board is two words. It is! Except for in Mount Desert. There it is one.
THE LETTER
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