MOUNT DESERT PUTS FULL SALARIES BACK IN PROPOSED BUDGET
Northeast Harbor Skating Rink Update, Land Use Amendments
The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Andy’s Home Improvement Inc.
MOUNT DESERT—Full salary recommendations are back in the town budget that will be presented to Mount Desert voters at the upcoming May town meeting.
At the last selectboard meeting on March 3, the board members had approved a three-year proposed increase for many of the salaried staff, including the town manager’s salary increasing from approximately $109,000 to $140,000; finance director, fire chief, and public works director from approximately $98,000 to $133,000; the assessor and harbor master from approximately $79,000 to $105,000.
Now, those increases are in the budget in full, creating a few tweaks in multiple areas.
“We’ve had some time to reflect and consider the comments that were made at the last meeting,” selectboard member Martha Dudman said. She asked to restore and reconsider the salary figures originally proposed by Town Manager Durlin Lunt.
“People made some very good points,” Dudman said. “We’ve had some time and you all said some things that really hit home. The last thing I want to do as a board member is to demoralize the people who work for the town.”
That’s because they value the staff, Dudman said.
The discussion and changes stem from a salary survey done by the town’s part-time human resources officer Zach Harris.
According to a November 27, 2024 memo to the selectboard from Town Manager Durlin Lunt, the town’s last comprehensive salary study occurred in 2017.
“After seven and a half years, our prior scales were far below those of the communities we must compete with to attract and maintain a skilled municipal workforce,” Lunt wrote.
Salary studies should be done every three years according to best practice, Harris had said. He compared the salaries of multiple communities, including Bar Harbor and some Maine cities. The goal is to bring Mount Desert salaries to the 95th percentile compared to other communities that responded to Harris’ request.
Belfast, Ellsworth, Lewiston, Portland, South Portland, Waterville, Bar Harbor, Kittery, Ogunquit, Old Orchard, and York responded to Harris’ query about non-union staff salaries.
The town plans to change the personnel policy to change it so that a three-year review process occurs, Lunt said on Monday.
“We’ll go from there and see what happens and accept the will of the people” on the town meeting floor, Lunt said.
When the selectboard came out of executive session, members unanimously ratified the new three-year contract for the the Teamsters Local 340.
The Teamsters Local Union No. 340 “represents just under 4,000 members in bargaining units across the state, including municipal employees, police, firefighters, and freight workers,” according to its website. The agreement outlines employment details and wages for the public works superintendent and wastewater superintendent, including a 3.5% wage increase from July 1, 2025 to July of the next year. It also includes longevity adjustments.
The town held public hearings for the warrant articles about the budget as well as the ordinance amendments. There was no public comment on either. Vice Chair Wendy Littlefield was absent.
PROPOSED WARRANT AMENDMENTS
The board also certified the official text on the Alewife Ordinance and Harbor Ordinance amendment. It recommended the repeal of the September 16, 1970 Mobile Home and Trailer Park Ordinance and amended the town’s Land Use Zoning Ordinance, specifically for certificates of occupancy for structures permitted after March 3, 1998, manufactured homes, residential use in the Shoreland Commercial District, solar energy systems, and signed the warrant for the May 5 and 6, 2025 annual town meeting.
The summaries of each via the town:
“Harbor Ordinance Amendments Sections 7.6 and 7.7 These amendments to the harbor ordinance are to update the mooring allocation priority list and to bring clarity to dinghy and public float use regulations. The sections referenced will be amended.
“Repeal of Mobile Home Park Ordinance This article will repeal the Mobile Home and Trailer Park ordinance which is not fully compliant with current State laws.
“LUZO - Certificates of Occupancy This article clarifies that only structures permitted after March 3, 1998 require a Certificate of Occupancy.
“LUZO - Mobile Homes This article amends the Land Use Ordinance to be in compliance with updated State laws associated with Manufactured homes and mobile homes. The new law requires that manufactured homes be permitted on all lots where a single-family dwelling is allowed. The Town already allows this and these changes correct contradictions in the Performance standards and Definitions.
“LUZO - Shoreland Commercial District This article is intended to clarify that the dimensional standards of the adjacent shoreland residential district are to be used when a primary residential use is proposed in the Shoreland Commercial District. This provision is found in Section 3.5.
“LUZO - Solar Energy Systems This article adds standards for Solar Energy Systems to the Land Use Ordinance.”
APPOINTMENTS
The board appointed Aaron Lichenstein as an on-call firefighter to the Mount Desert Fire Department, effective March 18, 2025, at a starting pay of $18.00 an hour.
It appointed Nikki Moser to the Economic Development Committee.
The board accepted Megan Bailey’s resignation from the Comprehensive Planning Committee.
In the town’s consent agenda, the board accepted reports from the Highway, Buildings & Grounds, and Solid Waste Departments as well as February harbor committee and warrant committee minutes.
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN SURVEY
During the meeting, a member of the public urged Mount Desert residents to participate in the town’s comprehensive plan survey, which is available on the town’s website.
THE LAND
Also within the consent agenda, the board also accepted the State of Maine notice of layout and taking of certain parcel(s); March 3, 2025.
This is in regards to land on Route 3 where the Maine DOT is working on the bridge replacement. The parcels that are impacted to create an outlet drainage structure easement belong to the James Horner Davis III Trust, Mavis Weinberger, and The Community School of Mount Desert Island. The state is also taking a temporary road right from the Davis Trust, Wienberger, and Georg Thaler. The Maine Coast Heritage Trust land is also impacted.
The project will change the drainage and layout of Routes 3 and Route 198/Sound Drive.
STANLEY TRUST ALLOCATIONS TO THE MOUNT DESERT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
The board authorized $113.80 from the calendar year 2023 and $130.98 from the calendar year 2024 expendable income balance of the Stanley Trust to the Mount Desert Elementary School departmental budget to offset costs associated with the care, maintenance, and improvement of the infield of the Frank F. Stanley Athletic Field.
DEDICATION
The board unanimously agreed to dedicate the town report to Officer Kenneth Mitchell who died of cancer in October. Officer Mitchell grew up in Bar Harbor served in law enforcement for more than 30 years.
NORTHEAST HARBOR ICE SKATING RINK
Peter Bronson, manager of Northeast Harbor’s ice skating rink gave a quick update of the rink’s third season and said he hopes to return next winter.
The rink is free and open to all, but also accepts donations to help its operations. It initially raised funds through the Town of Mount Desert’s nonprofit Community Development Corporation. It has raised above $750,000 in donations.
“We never had ice good enough to skate on in March,” Bronson said. He said he estimated 1,600 skaters on approximately 4 months. He did not specify if those were individuals or return visits. He also spoke to 90 days on Instagram and Facebook producing 64,000 views, and 1,266 interactions. The group has 798 followers and 273 Instagram followers.
“It’s been great. It’s been amazing. It wouldn’t be possible without the town, so thank you very much,” Bronson said.
LINKS TO LEARN MORE
HOW YOU CAN HELP WITH THE SKATING RINK VIA ITS WEBSITE
“Mail a donation to the Town of Mount Desert Community Development Corporation, or donate online.
“Send us an idea for how to use the rink, or harness community expertise: nehskatingrink@gmail.com
“Sign up to receive information about the progress of the rink, volunteer opportunities and resources needed (we will be asking for donated gear and expertise). Sign up here.”
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