Town Council Goals, Chief Sharing Agreement Set for Tuesday Meeting
Town Manager Approves MDI YMCA RV for next summer
BAR HARBOR—The Town Council has a one-page agenda for its Tuesday night meeting, which begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Municipal Building on Cottage Street.
One of the main items on the agenda is adopting the goals from the Council’s November goal setting workshop.
Those goals included finding alternative sources of revenue. The only sources currently in the document included in the Town Council packet were impact fees (not specified what sort of impact fees), a new formula for water and sewer fees, and a pay-as-you-throw (trash) program.
Other goals included affordable housing, establishing a tourism vision and management plan, and being more effective advocates at the state legislature.
The Town Council packet is sent out to councilors on the Friday before a meeting. It typically includes the agenda, manager’s comments, and additional information that pertains to the agenda.
EMPLOYEE LEASING AGREEMENT
The town’s agreement with Mount Desert, in which the towns share the police chief, captain , administrative assistant, and mental health liaison is also up for review after the Town Council unanimously appointed David Kerns to become police chief during its last meeting. Kerns had been the captain for both towns under the shared employment agreement. He replaces James Willis, who was an employee of Mount Desert. Kerns has been employed by Bar Harbor for almost twenty-four years.
The agreement also specifies the police chief’s duties. Salary information was also included in the packet, as were the costs for the chief and captain’s cruisers, and the cell phone usage for the chief, captain, mental health liaison, and administrative assistant. Bar Harbor’s share is approximately $299,000 while Mount Desert’s is approximately $200,000. Cruiser expenses are not included in that cost and are $11,292 each for both the chief and captain. The chief’s annual pay without benefits is $120,000. The captain’s is $87,380. The administrative assistant’s is $72,092 while the mental health liaison’s is almost $54,000.
UPDATED HOUSING POLICY FRAMEWORK
Planning Director Michele Gagnon has updated the town’s Housing Policy Framework and will present that at the meeting as well.
COMMITTEE APPOINTMENT
Ann Tikkanen may be appointed to the town’s Parks and Recreation Committee, taking the place of Bob Huff, the last MDI YMCA representative. Tikkanen is the CEO of the Y. The committee specifies that a YMCA representative should be on it as well as a representative from Acadia National Park.
TOWN MANAGER REPORT
James Smith, the new town manager, reported in the packet that he authorized the MDI YMCA to request a building permit to once again put an RV behind the Y for next summer. He also met with residents on Atlantic Avenue about drainage issues and Paul Murphy about the Island Explorer lease.
OTHER ITEMS
Other items on the agenda include
Purchasing land in Hulls Cove
Discussion over a Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry request for funding.
Authorizing the town’s treasurer to pay bills.
MEETING DETAILS
The Town Council meeting is open to the public and occurs in the third-floor Council Chambers at the Bar Harbor Municipal Building at 96 Cottage Street across from Hannafords.
Regular Meetings
6:30 p.m.
The first and third Tuesday of most months. See Meeting Schedule for exceptions.
The meetings are broadcast live on Spectrum cable Channel 7 or 1303, and on its website and Town Hall Streams.
Agendas, Packets (background material), and Minutes
Agendas are available prior to the meetings.
To view an agenda, click on the calendar at the town’s website and select the meeting by date.
Minutes are available following approval by the councilors.
Most Recent Packet | View All Packets and Minutes
Residents of Bar Harbor should be very concerned about the Town Council prioritizing their desire to "manage the narrative." This smacks of manipulation and suppression.
Within the workings of government, the Council already limits government transparency through over use of Executive Sessions and Non Disclosure Agreements, while limiting public input through meeting protocols. In fact, Councilor Earl Brechlin went so far as to propose new obstacles to public comment in general and Councilor Gary Friedmann proposed an unprecedented gag order on individuals.
Within the community, the Council has seemed to have undue influence on The Mt. Desert Islander. Town Government can drive town news. Officials serve as valued sources to the newspaper. The threat to accurate reporting and an independent press is compounded by councilors who have close personal and professional ties with The Islander - and may use them to prioritize their own agendas.