What's Up Tonight at the Bar Harbor Town Council?
Higgins Pit Solar Project, Paid Parking, Emergency Moratorium on Some Lodgings, Moving the Warrant & Cruise Ship Law Suit Executive Session
BAR HARBOR—The Bar Harbor Town Council has multiple items on its agenda that are sparking public discourse on social media.
Public comment can be given to the council directly via email or at the meeting Tuesday night. It begins at 6:30 p.m.
HIGGINS PIT SOLAR PROJECT
The meeting begins with an update about the Higgins Pit Solar Array project. There is then a resolve about the project scheduled for later in the agenda.
The resolve, which is in the councilors’ packet of materials that was disbursed on Friday, does not have finished language in the packet.
Town Manager James Smith wrote in his memo to councilors, “The project is at a critical decision point and the council will need to determine whether to move forward or redirect town staff to explore other options to meet climate action goals. The chair will entertain suggestions for language to complete the resolve.”
Town voters approved the project, which has been changed since its original approval. The town’s Task Force on the Climate Emergency spoke on behalf of the project. Others questioned its economic feasibility and changes for the downsized project.
PAID PARKING POLICY
The paid parking policy amendment is within the consent agenda. The amendment would expand where premium parking spots are along Cottage Street, extending those spots west to Bridge Street and also the Casino Lot.
Premium spots are more expensive. The Casino Lot is on the corner of Bridge and Cottage Streets.
EMERGENCY MORATORIUM ABOUT TRANSIENT ACCOMMODATIONS
Under new business, the Town Council has a draft emergency moratorium about some transient accommodations. The idea was brought up again by Councilor Earl Brechlin after Cara Ryan sent an email to councilors. It had last been discussed in the fall of 2023.
It is currently proposed as a two-month moratorium on some bed and breakfasts and cabins, cottages, and hotels in certain districts in Bar Harbor.
The moratorium’s proposed language follows:
WORKFORCE HOUSING WETLANDS STUDY
The council also has an order in front of it that would approve a transfer of funds for wetlands study and boundary survey for potential workforce housing on a property off the Crooked Road.
Town Manager James Smith’s memo to councilors says, “This order authorizes transfer of funds between departments in the current budget year for feasibility work in support of a possible Town Hill Affordable Workforce Housing Project.”
The town would pay approximately $24,000 of the initial $34,000 to study the land and where it could be developed for housing. It would take money from this year’s budget from the town manager’s department salaries, which weren’t fully utilized. Smith was hired later in the fiscal year to replace Kevin Sutherland who resigned abruptly in January 2023. Sarah Gilbert and Cornell Knight worked as interims.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
The council also has an executive session scheduled for the end of its meeting, which is “Discussion with legal counsel pursuant to 1 MRS 405(6)(E) to discuss litigation concerning enforcement of cruise ship ordinance.” The lead petitioner in the cruise ship disembarkation changes has filed suit about the council’s decision to not enforce those changes immediately.
TOWN WARRANT
Also on the Town Council’s consent agenda is the order to accept and post 2024 Annual Town Meeting warrant. The order to accept and post a notice of public hearing for May 21, 2024 on Articles 2-5 of Annual Town Meeting warrant.
LINKS TO LEARN MORE
Contact all town council members and the town manager simultaneously by using Bar Harbor Town Council email. Sign up for automatic agenda updates online.
To watch the meeting online, go here.
To read the packet in its entirety, go here.
Higgins Pit feasibility study from 2021
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