Parks and Recreation Committee Decides Traditional Ballfield Uses Should Be Allowed For Now
Glen Mary Park lease creeps forward, listening session for historic property owners, Chamber buoy tree, Open Table Joins Climate to Thrive
BAR HARBOR––At the August 21 Parks and Recreation Committee meeting, Vettes of Coastal Maine was in front of the committee with its annual request to exhibit club members’ Corvettes on the ballfield. Committee Chair John Kelly brought up whether or not Vettes of Coastal Maine should be able to use the ballfield for its event or if the town’s deed restricts it. The committee approves applications for uses on the fields and other town spaces and this question regarding allowed uses implicated other long-standing events that are held at the ballfield.
Monday, September 18, the committee revisited the issue of allowed uses on the ballfield. When that agenda item was reached, Kelly began by saying that Suzanne Banis, Highway Department office assistant, had put the item on the agenda but that he had nothing in particular to say anymore and asked if anyone else wanted to talk about it. At the last meeting, it had been said that they would talk about it further.
Secretary Jeff Dobbs said that the committee went through a tough one with the dog park and that people were questioning the deed restrictions to try and angle it for their point of view, but he doesn’t feel comfortable going any further with that issue because, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” and people really enjoy the currently allowed events.
Dobbs said, “I feel strongly that we should leave it alone.”
Kelly said that because of the dog park, he felt that it had to be said and that they need to recognize those restrictions and try and be consistent as much as they can. He also said that in the future, they can ask applicants if it is possible to find another venue even if the answer will probably be the same year after year.
Vice Chair Greg Veilleux said that the athletic fields are seeing so much more use and it is encouraging to see them as a focus for people. “It’s nice to see our ballfield being used and if there is a little diversity there by nonprofits, I am not opposed,” he said.
Member Erin Cough said that when the park was initially donated, it was a very strong idea of what the athletic fields were for, but just like the Olympics, those types of things have kind of changed since the years have gone on and the town doesn’t have any larger grounds to do big gatherings of people.
Cough then gave an example of the Girl Scouts asking if they could camp in the ballfield and how the committee would have to say no to that. Kelly said that there is precedence of an example like that where the committee said no to the applicant group.
“I would hate to see us discourage other more civic gatherings” because the deed for the athletic fields is written in such a way that we are actually denying other general civic gatherings, Cough said. There is a lot of grey area in this, she said.
Kelly agreed and that the 4th of July celebration is an example of this type of use.
There was no vote or action taken on this subject and they moved on to the next item.
GLEN MARY AND PUBLIC WORKS UPDATE
Public Works Director Bethany Leavitt started with the presentation of a newly worded lease from the Village Improvement Association for Glen Mary Park. Before Leavitt said very much, Cough spoke up and said that she needs to recuse herself because she is member of the VIA. Dobbs then said that he is as well. Kelly asked if they were members or board members. Cough said that they are both board members.
Kelly moved that both Cough and Dobbs have a conflict of interest and should be recused. Veilluex seconded that motion and they both voted that there was a conflict of interest. Cough said that since there are no other VIA members present, would they like them to sit in the audience in case they have any questions or leave the room. Kelly said, “There is a silly rule about leaving the room, but I am not going to pay attention to that.”
One of the wording changes was the definition of the term “public park.” The old lease referenced a state statute that gives the definition of a public park, but Leavitt said that she could not locate that statute so the town’s attorney came up with a definition and now it is actually defined within the lease and not by an external reference.
Leavitt then went through the rest of the lease and Kelly said that he believes that the lease, which says that the town will maintain the pool and ice-skating rink for public use, should be changed to include the rest of the park. The majority of the park is wooded area, Kelly said, and the town is responsible for maintaining that as well but should also have the right to enhance or improve other aspects such as benches for sitting and trails for walking.
In other updates, two trees were slated for removal and one of them, located near the town clock on the village green, was removed just prior to Hurricane Lee’s arrival.
Leavitt also spoke about the Balance Rock Inn and the inn’s fence gate entry that leads onto its property off Albert Meadow. The Balance Rock had previously had a menu and a light to illuminate the menu on the fence next to the gate, as if it was an entry into a business. At the request of the town, the Balance Rock has removed the menu and light, but the gate still remains. The Balance Rock has also made some attempt to reseed that area so that it can return to grass as it was originally.
A portable toilet has been rented and placed at the Town Hill Playground. Leavitt said that they had enough money to pay for a couple of months and the toilet will stay for as long as the money lasts. However, she said, the toilet’s placement still has to be worked into the lease with the Town Hill Village Improvement Society. The town will have to budget for its replacement next year.
The most recent version of the proposed lease is above.
START OF THE MEETING
Monday’s meeting started just a little late because at 4:30, only Veilleux and Dobbs were present and the five-member committee needs three members present to have a quorum. Kelly arrived at 4:36 and called the meeting to order at 4:37 just as Cough was walking in.
Kelly said that YMCA Representative Bob Huff had resigned and that Ann Tikkanen should be pursuing a replacement. Huff’s resignation created the need for a new secretary and Dobbs was nominated as the new secretary by Veilleux because Cough already had too much on her plate to take on the position. Dobbs was unanimously elected to the secretary’s position.
There was no public comment and the August 7 meeting minutes were unanimously approved. Prior to the vote, Kelly wanted to make sure that all of the members had read through the minutes saying that Interim Town Manager Cornell Knight had asked him to present their dog park decision to the Town Council at its upcoming October 3 meeting, and he would be using the minutes for his presentation. The August 7 Parks and Recreation Committee meeting was when members voted, by a split vote, not to recommend allowing a dog park to be constructed at the town ballfield.
OPEN TABLE MDI
The agenda was then adopted unanimously and the first item of regular business, a request from Open Table MDI to collaborate with A Climate to Thrive event on September 30, was addressed.
Open Table MDI Executive Director Mahandeva Singh was representing Open Table and said that A Climate to Thrive had invited Open Table to join the event and sell food. Singh said that the group will probably have one table with warm food for sale.
A Climate to Thrive’s event was previously approved, and Kelly asked if the group would be able to set up and tear down in the allotted time and if they will take care of their own trash. Singh said that the group can set up and tear down in less than 30 minutes and that they will take care of their own trash. The committee then ran through the application findings and voted unanimously in favor.
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUOY TREE
The Chamber of Commerce presented its proposal to hold a buoy tree event again. Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Everal Eaton, Director of Operations and Finance Chris Graten, and Events Coordinator Aubrie Boyce were all present. Eaton said that the event will be the same as it was last year when the Chamber raised money for the Maine Lobstermen’s Association. Eaton also said that they are applying earlier this year so that they can have more time to promote the event.
Kelly asked if it would be the same size tree and Groten replied that it would be the exact tree as used last year. Kelly then said that the committee cannot approve the event but can make a recommendation for or against to the Town Council.
Veilleux said that it is a fantastic idea that was very successful last year and attempting to move it forward and make it more successful is also a fantastic idea. The committee voted unanimously to make a recommendation to the Town Council to allow the event at Harborview Park.
After the meeting, Eaton said that the event would be a fundraiser again this year with funds being raised through the sales of buoys, but the proceeds would go to a different nonprofit. That nonprofit has not been chosen yet, Eaton said.
CLOSING COMMENTS, FUTURE AGENDA, AND NEXT MEETING
During closing comments, Veilluex thanked Huff for his service on the committee and also thanked Ed and Anne Damm for their support of the town’s bench program.
Veilleux also asked if there would be a drinking fountain at the Glen Mary pool and Leavitt said that they could definitely work one in.
Dobbs then commented on the athletic field again and said that when the town constructed the park use ordinance, it was basically structured around existing park uses. There were originally four allowed uses and two have been added since. Dobbs said that the addition of these two uses was to expand the shoulder season activities and he believes that the shoulder seasons are doing well now and maybe they should entertain reverting back to the original four uses.
Kelly responded that he agrees with revisiting and reviewing the park use ordinance in the future and probably on a routine basis.
There was no new or old business for a future agenda. Leavitt said that the next meeting date would be October 2 and that she may be able to have the lease done so that it could be reviewed at that meeting. Kelly said that the committee is not being asked to make a motion on the lease and are simply reviewing it. At this time, unless some new business comes along, there is no next meeting scheduled.
The meeting was adjourned at 5:20.
CLIMATE TO THRIVE FAIR
Join us on the Village Green, at the Reel Pizza Parking Lot, and on the Jesup Memorial Lawn on Saturday, September 30th for a panel on local solutions taking place, workshops, conversations, food, music, and an EV Expo with an opportunity to check out different electric vehicle models. Check out the full schedule below to plan your visit to the fair!
Bring your EV to the Expo!
Do you have an EV that you love? Are you excited to answer your neighbors’ questions and share how EV range, charging, finances, and more work for you and your lifestyle? Please consider bringing your vehicle to the EV Expo on September 30th, from 11-1 pm. These events can be extremely effective at encouraging people to make the leap and purchase an EV for themselves. If you’re interested, please email brianna@aclimatetothrive.org.
Fair & Expo Schedule:
10:00 - 10:45 a.m. - Welcome remarks, community-driven climate action, ACTT update and update from MDI towns at the Village Green with ACTT Executive Director Johannah Blackman, ACTT Community Engagement and Resilience Coordinator Brianna Cunliffe, and representatives from the MDI towns
11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. - EV Expo at Reel Pizza Parking Lot
11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. - Workshop on Community-Driven Energy Solutions, spotlighting cooperative solar at the Village Green with ACTT Manager of Renewable Energy Planning and Policy Beth Woolfolk, ACTT Renewable Energy Solutions Coordinator Corey McVey, and members of the Cooperative Solar Steering Committee
12:00 - 12:45 p.m. - Lunch, music, info tables at the Village Green
12:45 - 1:45 p.m. - Climate Change and Mental Health at the Village Green with Dennis Kiley, Mental Health Counselor and Founder of the EcoPsychology Initiative
2:00 - 3:00 p.m. - Visioning MDI’s Future & Plugging in for Change! at the Jesup Memorial Library Lawn with Alexandra Lofgren, ACTT Intern and COA Student, and ACTT Executive Director Johannah Blackman
Listening Session for Historic Property Owners
The Planning and Code Department would like to amend the Land Use Ordinance to include all the Bar Harbor properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP).
The NRHP properties would be added to Appendix A, which lists all of the properties considered historic in Bar Harbor. Certain changes to buildings, structures, and signs listed on Appendix A would have to get approval from the Design Review Board.
The Town of Bar Harbor will host two listening sessions on September 28 from 9:00 AM- 10:30 AM and from 4:30 PM to 6:00 PM to hear comments, questions, and concerns from property owners affected by this potential amendment.
Zoom Option Information:
Click on which session you want to join via zoom below.
Links to join: Morning Session Zoom link & Afternoon Session Zoom Link
Webinar ID:
o Morning: 845 4062 4283
o Afternoon: 812 0740 8978
Passcode:
o Morning: 750771
o Afternoon: 868266