Timothy Smith
THREE-YEAR TERM, BAR HARBOR WARRANT COMMITTEE
TIM’S BIO
I arrived in Maine back in 1986 and have lived and worked a variety of jobs here on the island. Bar Harbor was a small town back then but the electric feeling of the summer season was magical. The Park and the people of this town were a wonderful combination. The food and beverage experience I had in the Poconos of PA would serve me well here. I remember a lot of you from my days as a bartender and then as a salesman at Atlantic Brewing Co. During this time, I married and had two daughters who grew up in the school system here enjoying sports, music, and a good education. My wife started a florist business which has been going for 30+ years. I recently retired from many years at MDI Hospital and am looking forward to a little slower pace.
My wife and I never had jobs that provided retirement benefits, so we needed to find a way to stay here in our senior years. We solved that by working hard to build rental properties. We have two year-round rentals and one vacation rental adjacent to our house.
OUR QUESTIONS
What inspired you to run for warrant committee?
I've lived and worked here for almost 40 years. I raised a family and built a wonderful business with my wife. My younger daughter and her husband had our first grandson and they will not come back here to live. They say it is too expensive and too busy. I say we are working on it, but we must do better. We need the families and we really need the children. It's time for me to get involved.
What are your thoughts on tax-payer-based spending in Bar Harbor?
We are in an environment where spending more seems to come easy. There are a lot of worthy groups and we want to say yes to all of them but we can't do that and keep our taxes reasonable. For years young and middle class families have been leaving the island because they can't afford to be here. Now we are scrambling to get affordable housing to get them to come back, with more taxpayer dollars. We need to decide what our priorities are.
What are your thoughts about redirecting parking fee revenues to non-parking-related budget items?
I think spending money from the parking fee revenues to other budget items sounds reasonable if we are making sure the system is not abused, it shouldn't be a slush fund but be used for budget items that are truly necessary. We should lay out where it can be used and have proper oversight.
The Warrant Committee considers, investigates, and reports on all of the election warrant articles except for the candidates for Town Meeting. What particular skills do you have that you think will help you perform that role?
I am hoping that my work history, including working in the hospitality sector, being in a retail business, being a landlord, and working for a nonprofit, will give me a range of experience to draw upon when working on the issues the town faces.
I am 66 and retired as of this month and have some time available to contribute. I consider myself a “people person” and want to bring the thoughts and hopes of this community to this committee so they are represented.
Why should voters trust you to represent their interests effectively?
My interpretation of the Warrant Committee is that we are the eyes and ears of the town, we listen to what folks are saying, both what is good and what is frustrating, and help bring all of that to the table to guide the process. I talk to a lot of people and they are not necessarily participating in the process, they are busy working and raising families and don't have the time or energy to get involved. I want to bring my own thoughts and theirs to the work we do to make this town a better and more affordable place to live. Instead of complaining it will be more constructive for me to get involved.
You can contact Tim through his email: timbocreekbed@outlook.com