Uncategorized

Who is Who? The Bar Harbor Town Council Candidates

We asked some questions, you’ll have an opportunity to ask more

CARRIE JONES

APR 28, 2024

Share

BAR HARBOR—There are six contenders for two seats on the Bar Harbor Town Council. Gary Friedmann and Joe Minutolo are running for reelection. They’re challenged by Michael Boland, Charles Sidman, Nina Barfuldi St.Germain, and Nathan Young.

We’ve asked them all for a bio, photo, and some standard questions below, and we’ll be cohosting a forum in Town Hill in May with the Mount Desert Islander and the Town Hill Village Improvement Society. The League of Women Voters will also host a debate and/or forum in mid-May.

There will be more information on those events (including a date) soon. Here at the Bar Harbor Story, we’ll also be posting each candidate’s stand-alone bio, photo, and answers on a separate dedicated tab on our website, starting later today.

Voting occurs in June 11, 2024 at the Bar Harbor Municipal Building auditorium on Cottage Street. Poll hours are from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. This is the same time that the town’s land use ordinance amendments will be voted on.

The town’s budget articles are voted on during town meeting, which occurs on June 4, 2024 at the Conners Emerson gymnasium. That begins at 6 p.m. Links to important articles and more information follows the candidates’ profiles.

LIVE COUNCIL FORUM

The Town Hill Village Improvement Society, along with Bar Harbor Story and the Mount Desert Islander, bring you an in-person candidate forum in May. We’re waiting on one candidate to confirm the date and we’ll update you soon.

Time: 6:30 p.m.

Location: 1328 State Highway 102 in Bar Harbor (next to the playground)

 Format: Question and answer

**If you have a question for the candidates, send them by email to news@mdislander.com or carriejonesbooks@gmail.com with “forum” in the subject line. You can also let us know in the comments below.

Questions will also be accepted in writing before and during the event and will be moderated for clarity and discussion purposes.

THE CANDIDATES . . .

MICHAEL BOLAND

THE BIO:

I was born and went to high school in Philadelphia and have lived in Bar Harbor for the last 35+- years.  I was living in Bar Harbor and realized that COA seemed to be a great fit for me, so stayed, transferred in, and graduated.  

My wife and I and our two daughters live in downtown Bar Harbor and always have. Both of our daughters attended Conners Emerson.   

My wife, Deirdre Swords, owns Artemis Gallery in Northeast Harbor and together we’ve owned and operated multiple businesses for the last 30 years, including Rupununi, Havana, the Criterion Theatre (from 2000-2008), and others.

I co-own Copita, Choco-Latte Cafe, and Brasserie Le Brun with one partner, the Islesford Dock with another, and the Chart Room with my Choco-Latte/Copita/Le Brun partner and one additional partner. 

I served on the Chamber Board as president for four years and currently serve on the College of the Atlantic Board of Trustees and the Board of the Maine Conservation Voters. In the past I’ve served on various other committees and boards including the Abbe Museum, the Criterion, and the Beatrix Farrand Society, amongst others.  

OUR QUESTIONS FOR MICHAEL

Why do you think so many people are running this year? 

Certainly, it would be foolish to chalk it up to just coincidence; but I do think coincidence plays a part.  And of course the highly emotional issues of cruise ships, affordability, taxation, housing, and various others seem to have driven an interest. Some folks seem to be running focused on just one or two issues that they’re extremely passionate about. That’s not where I’m coming from.    

Why are you running? 

I’m running because I believe that my identity as a downtown year-round resident and simultaneously as a business owner gives me a balanced view on complicated issues. I believe that my time serving on boards and as the president of the Chamber of Commerce board for multiple years has also given me the skills needed to be able to work through a complicated issue and come up with a solution that might not make 100% of residents happy but can at least get into a very high percentage of satisfied folks. And I enjoy it—problem solving, policy development and policy tweaking, increasing efficiencies in systems, etc. 

How does your why for running delve into your bigger life purpose?

Well, that would assume I’ve identified a bigger life purpose.    

How would you try to create more trust between people not on town boards/committees and those who are? 

I think it’s a small minority of residents that don’t trust those serving on council or committees—a very vocal minority.   Bluntly, anyone that truly believes that any of the councilors have some nefarious and ulterior motive for serving, and volunteering hundreds of hours of their time, needs to reassess their assumptions. 

While we do have very clear divisions on a number of important topics, just because a council or committee member has a drastically different opinion than yours, doesn’t mean they’re out for self-glory or to line their pockets somehow. There should be room for discussion, negotiation and hopefully understanding. 

That doesn’t fully answer your question, but there’s part of my answer in there.  Simply put, dialogue. Which I believe the vast majority of the councilors are actually excelling at presently.  Look at the stats, present the stats, talk about the stats, and try to find common ground.  And don’t make ultimatums. They never work. 

What are some things that you feel like the town should be focusing on, but isn’t? 

Well, we’ve got a lot of work to do with limited funds, always a conundrum.  

But certainly streetscape plans that have been sitting on shelves for 20+ years is a frustrating thing. I believe we should have been much more proactive in funding public works than we have been—it’s embarrassing: our streetscape, sidewalks, crosswalks, and general appearance in comparison to Rockland, Camden, and Belfast.  How did those communities figure out how to do those projects within similarly limited budgets?   That’s not to take anything away from our hard-working Public Works crew. It’s our fault as a town that we didn’t provide them the resources and the guidance on what we wanted done.  Instead we’ve ended up with asphalt sidewalks and crappy (and dangerous) crosswalks, along with folks in Town Hill and downtown Bar Harbor having to raise their own funds to build playgrounds. Not to mention a pool that’s unable to be used. Thankfully, that seems to be a priority but that along with these other things take time and we’re behind the eight ball.      

We asked this last year, but I think it’s really important to ask again. Do you have any ideas for increasing revenue to the town and alleviating the tax burden on property owners? 

Given the recent projection of double-digit property tax increases, I suspect this topic will be crucial for the next council.  Given my lack of involvement thus far with town budgeting, I can’t yet speak to specifics but the old saw of “don’t just look for more revenue, cut your expenses as well” seems apropos. 

With regards to revenue, I’ve been a proponent of a local options tax for over 25 years, even though many in my industry (hospitality) aren’t.  In fact, I believe a local options tax should be allowed for both dining and lodging.  But the devil is in the details of course—we’d need to ensure that there was a ceiling on that tax—for instance, if we come up with a 1% tax, the legislation also should state that it can’t be raised for a period of ​perhaps 10 (?) years.  There’s nothing more than politicians like doing than going back to an easy pool of revenue and simply raising a tax. Look at the parking meters—we’ve already raised the rates twice in four years and we were talking about possibly raising them again this year.   

Further, we’d need to ensure that the vast (90%?, more?) amount of any monies raised comes directly back to the Town and that the Town be required to spend a certain percentage of that on the industry that collected it—visitation and hospitality.  That could be in the form of improving our streetscapes or in contributions to various NGO’s—the Chamber, Library, YMCA, etc., etc. 

And of course all of this has to be done at the state level, so some serious public relations work and perhaps work with other similar communities to bond together has to start happening.  It was Nina St. Germain that suggested that perhaps the only path forward on this would be to work with the Camdens, Rocklands, Kennebunks of the state together in Augusta.   

Do you have any ideas for decreasing expenses? 

Analysis and then increasing our efficiency. In all departments.  Easy to say, much harder to achieve.  And easy to be shortsighted about it.  Cut the PD and eventually you have a pedestrian getting hit—direct correlation, perhaps not entirely, but the connection is there.  More speeders, more accidents, etc. Cut the planning department and all they can do is tread water with no time to work on and enact the kinds of zoning reform that has already been so successful—e.g. the Witham employee living quarters project that will eventually free up multiple single family year-round residences in downtown. That was only made possible because the planning department was robust enough to do the legal, logistical, and political work to make it happen. 

What skills do you bring to the table that you think other candidates might not bring?

I can’t compare myself to other candidates because I don’t know enough about them.  What I can tell anyone interested is that I’ve successfully run multiple businesses with complex budgets, some quite large, for many years. I’ve lived the reality of being overstaffed and had to make difficult decisions, and of course also the reality of being understaffed and trying to find employees in a difficult job market.  I’ve also worked on budgets for organizations that are significantly larger than the town’s.  

But most importantly, I’ve spent my whole career making decisions collaboratively— not always successfully, but the intention to involve a diversity of opinions for important topics is one I take seriously in my businesses. It just makes for a better final decision.   

That all said, the issuance of bonds and several other areas of municipal budgeting will admittedly be new to me.   

What is it about Bar Harbor that you love? 

Too many things to list but I’m a big fan of the size of the community.  Being a downtown resident, in a walking town, that’s safe and vibrant, is the best kind of living for my family and myself, personally. That said, the diversity of our neighborhoods and landscape is fantastic—if someone prefers to live in a rural setting with 1-3 acres, they can find that too. 

Obviously, the proximity to Acadia National Park is a high point. I do also love the diversity of the population—the fact that we still have a solid fishing community (although that needs constant analysis to ensure it can remain financially healthy) along with the hospitality, banking, legal, retail, and other service economy is what makes a small town great and feel real, despite the large influx of visitors for part of the year.  On that note, I personally love the influx—not just because it’s what my personal finances are based on but because that’s just who we are as a community and have been for almost 200 years!  

Additionally, I greatly value the non-profits that are in Bar Harbor. It’s really quite amazing for a town of 5,000 to have a world class genetic research lab with over 1,000 employees, a fantastic hospital that’s amazingly still independent, a brilliant and internationally regarded biological research lab, a nationally renowned and highly ranked college, one of the first and strongest Friends groups in the country, and so many thriving non-profits supporting other aspects of our lives.  

What is it that worries you? 

Housing affordability.  Sure, there’s a lot of other concerns but that’s at the core of the community. That includes affordability for those already living in homes here, including property tax increases, and also ensuring that there’s a continuing development of affordable options for those that want to stay or move here. 

What have you done for yourself that you’re the most proud of? 

For myself?  Unsure what that means.   If that question refers to my personal life, then of course being part of a happy and healthy family that supports each other is number one.  Much lower down, I’ve managed to collect a good number of antiquarian books and birds (for my life list).   

What have you done for the community that you’re the most proud of?

I’ve served the larger community in multiple ways including serving on various boards such as the Abbe Musuem, the Beatrix Farrand Society, the Chamber of Commerce and the College of the Atlantic.  I’m particularly proud that I was involved in a rebirth/renovation/rejuvenation of the Criterion Theatre not just once, but twice, first buying and renovating it as a for-profit from long time owner BJ Morison (20002008), and then founding a non-profit and raising the funds ($2.5mm) to buy it back from the group that I sold it to, and directing a $1mm+ renovation in 2014/2015.  Bringing live music, live theatre, dance, opera, classical music and multiple other performance art to the stage has been extremely gratifying and I believe, quite important for the community. 

And of course I’m quite proud of the multiple restaurants I’ve opened over the years, some of them lasting 25+ years and providing not just enjoyable and meaningful places for locals and visitors alike, but well-paying jobs for several thousand people over the last 30 years.   

GARY FRIEDMANN

THE BIO:

I’ve been on the council since 2012.  During that time I have strived to make the council a more welcoming venue for public participation, and one where we address our most important issues:

  • Keeping taxes low.  I have always been a budget hawk with a keen eye on generating new sources of revenue and keeping spending to the essentials.
  • I made the motion to survey citizens on the cruise ship issue, and voted against the memorandum of agreements because they did not go far enough to curb visitation.
  • I was one of the first councillors to publicly press to acknowledge and act on Bar Harbor’s housing crisis.  This resulted in the planning department’s Housing Action Plan, including zoning amendments for employee housing, regulation of short-term rentals, and the addition of a staff planner focused on developing affordable housing.
  • I have made reducing the town’s carbon footprint and energy costs a top priority, resulting in the first municipal solar array in Versant territory (powering public works for eight years now) and supporting the formation of the Town’s Climate Emergency Task Force.

For 30 years I have run a local consulting business that helps nonprofits succeed, helping hundreds of organizations across Maine develop strategic plans, build capacity, and raise over $100 million to strengthen our communities. These organizations provide local housing, food security, rural healthcare, playgrounds, education, arts and culture, transportation, healthy aging services, and so many other services we all depend on. 

My wife Glenon founded Bar Harbor Farm, which, with our two partners and several employees, feeds 150 local families and delivers organic produce to several restaurants and two food pantries. We know firsthand that our communities rely on collaboration, hard work, perseverance, and taking care of each other. 

OUR QUESTIONS FOR GARY:

Why do you think so many people are running this year? 

There are lots of important issues facing our town that have rightfully grabbed the attention of Bar Harbor residents.

Why are you running? How does your why for running delve into your bigger life purpose?

To contribute the historical perspective I bring from my years of experience with town affairs, and continue work on important projects, including rebalancing tourism with our quality of life, supporting initiatives to develop affordable housing, and addressing climate change with strategies that save taxpayers money.

How would you try to create more trust between people not on town boards/committees and those who are? 

 I take the time to reach out to residents, communicating personally and in small meetings, and speaking up to advocate for the issues residents care deeply about.

What are some things that you feel like the town should be focusing on, but isn’t? 

Establishing clear limits to the growth of the hospitality industry, and working with neighboring towns on sustainability and housing issues. There aren’t many big problems we can solve on our own.

We asked this last year, but I think it’s really important to ask again. Do you have any ideas for increasing revenue to the town and alleviating the tax burden on property owners? Do you have any ideas for decreasing expenses? 

I want to take a new approach to a lodging tax—let’s give it new name, since the local option tax has gone down in flames repeatedly. I am suggesting  ROOT:  Restricted Optional Occupancy Tax 

With state grants and federal IRA funding the town can carry out energy efficiency projects that will stabilize and reduce long-term energy expenses.

What skills do you bring to the table that you think other candidates might not bring?

 Decades of experience in the fields of natural resource conservation and alternative energy; grant writing; and nonprofit management.

What is it about Bar Harbor that you love? 

Every day I ride my bike over the hill on Eagle Lake Road, and am thankful for our schools, elderly housing, Kids Corner, our historic churches, library and Abbe Museum; our public parks and waterfront; and the natural beauty of our town and Acadia National Park.  I love the people I have befriended, and the people I work with.  And I love the 40 acres we steward on Gilbert Farm Road to feed our community and our souls.

What is it that worries you? 

Climate change.

What have you done for yourself that you’re the most proud of? What have you done for the community that you’re the most proud of?

I bike 50 miles a week in Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park.  

I co-founded A Climate to Thrive, spearheading the solarization of all MDI Towns, including MDI High School.  During sunny days in the spring and fall, most of the electricity MDI consumes comes from the sun.

What’s a question that I should be asking you that I’m not asking? 

Q: Why do you want another term on Council after the endless meetings and frustrations of the last year?

A: Working with our Town Manager, James Smith, and the current members of the Council gives me hope that we can make great strides together in the coming year.

JOE MINUTOLO

THE BIO:

Joe Minutolo has lived in Bar Harbor since 1969. In 1978 he and his brother purchased Bar Harbor Bicycle Shop and ran it together for 46 years. Bar Harbor Bicycle has always prided itself by serving the locals first.

Over the years they employed countless MDI High School and College of the Atlantic students. Mr. Minutolo served on the Warrant Committee through the 90s, the Ferry Terminal Advisory Committee, and now six years on the Town Council. He was also a board member of Friends of Acadia. He is now seeking a third term on the Town Council.

OUR QUESTIONS FOR JOE

Why do you think so many people are running this year?

I think a lot of people are running because they have different ideas than the current council. They must feel they can do a better job and have concerns.

Why are you running? How does your why for running delve into your bigger life purpose?

I have concerns just like the others, like balancing high taxes and providing the services that are wanted and needed. The housing shortage from year round to seasonal. The cruise ship issue is still not completely settled and it needs to be. The cost of building a new school. That’s the short list.

As far as running and how it fits into my life purpose, this community has been very good to me. I’ve lived here since 1969. This is home and since owning a business for 46 years that has dealt with local, seasonal, and tourist populations, I feel I have a unique perspective and can hopefully bridge all of those interests so we, as a community, can improve Bar Harbor’s future.

How would you try to create more trust between people not on town boards/committees and those who are?

There are two sides to creating trust. First, councils, boards, and committees should be transparent. I think we have taken transparency to a higher level in the last six years that I have been on the council. The other side is don’t believe everything you read on social media. It only takes one post from someone that takes a sound bite out of context, and things can go off the rails very quickly.

What are some things that you feel like the town should be focusing on, but isn’t?

I think the town has been focusing on so many issues. We need to narrow the focus and execute on what is on the table right now. The issue we need to focus on are tourism management, infrastructure, the school, and housing, and take measures to stabilize taxes. Adding anything new at this point will just take away from these existing issues.

We asked this last year, but I think it’s really important to ask again. Do you have any ideas for increasing revenue to the town and alleviating the tax burden on property owners? Do you have any ideas for decreasing expenses?

Lodging tax! Bar Harbor provides the services for tens of thousands of people per day, but we only tax the 5,000 that live here. It costs a lot of money to host the millions of people that come through while on vacation, and use all of our services that the town provides. The state is in the dark ages when it comes to this issues, almost every state or local municipality charges taxes or fees related to tourism.

As costs rise, which they will, we need the tools to keep our infrastructure intact. That means money!

I believe we need a lodging tax that stays here in our own budget, to be used for infrastructure, emergency/police services, and public works.

When you break it down, put hotel/motels rooms, short-term rentals, campgrounds, BnBs together, we have more transient accommodations that we have year-round housing. While traveling this winter in the United States and Canada, we paid taxes and fees directly related to tourism.

The reason I like lodging tax more than a local options tax is it directly targets the tourist. A local options tax would be on goods and possibly services and that could impact the local citizen.

As far as decreasing expenses, that will be a tough hurdle. I truly believe out town manager and department heads have considered the balance of expenses to services requested. We can always shave a little here and a little there, but that only saves pennies. We need dollars!

What skills do you bring to the table that you think other candidates might not bring?

I have lived here a long time and experienced the changes like so many, both good and bad. I believe I have an understanding of the issues that divide the town and would like to find the middle ground that works for the whole.

What is it about Bar Harbor that you love?

I love the environment, the culture, the diversity, and the ever changing flow of people.

What is it that worries you?

Maintaining community and holding on to the small town feel and values we have left. I also worry about the rising costs of living here.

What have you done for yourself that you’re the most proud of? What have you done for the community that you’re the most proud of?

I don’t really look at what I have done for myself that makes me proud. It’s how lucky I have been to be able to live my life in a beautiful place, working a job that I loved, surrounded by great people and a caring community. I have made so many friends and connections from people all over the world. I also have an awesome family that’s supportive, caring, funny, and creative. I’m just very lucky and thankful.

For the community, I’ve served on the Warrant Committee, the Ferry Terminal Advisory Committee, and the Town Council. I have been proud to serve with all of these groups that were filled with smart and diverse people, that always had the best interest of the community at heart.

CHARLES SIDMAN

THE BIO

My recent phase of civic activity began with formulating, getting passed ,and defending the Bar Harbor Cruise Ship Initiative, and it has now morphed into a broader effort to stop kicking the can down the road and honestly and practically deal with existential issues in our community. 

For over 40 years I raised my children (and grandchildren during the pandemic) in the local school system, worked at both of our renowned laboratories (Jackson and MDIBL) and COA, supported my wife in her art gallery that continues to draw and endear visitors to our town, organized other citizen initiatives (barring a cruise ship pier at the ferry terminal and requiring local residency to serve on town boards), served on the Warrant Committee, participated in the local cultural scene, flew scenic flights and taught aviation, contributed to various state boards, and as an investor became conversant with business, finance, law, and ethics. Professionally, having started my career in computer science and spending the bulk of my adult life as a biomedical researcher and academic, I now focus on investing in early-stage enterprises globally that have positive impacts on human health and environmental sustainability.

OUR QUESTIONS FOR CHARLES

Why do you think so many people are running this year?

A number of critical local issues (our significant tourist economy, the rule of law, local budgets and taxation, housing, environmental protection, civic civility, etc.) are reaching crisis points, and there is little consensus on how to proceed.  Some candidates favor continuing our longstanding practice of good-folks happy talk that routinely kicks difficult cans down the road (making eventual resolution that much harder); others represent narrow interests that exploit our commons and degrade the lot of everyone else, and some represent and offer a different trajectory for voters who feel that present trends and approaches are neither acceptable nor sustainable.

Why are you running? How does your why for running delve into your bigger life purpose?

I am in group #3 above, favoring reality and practicality over happy talk and can-kicking.  As both a scientist and a businessperson, I am devoted to truth over fiction, and practical, sustainable results. In the present race, I am like a doctor examining a patient; does the patient want a pat on the head and blind hope that their serious illness will magically get better, or does (s)he want objective diagnosis and realistic treatment alternatives?  Despite personal respect for many of the other candidates, I truly believe that I have demonstrated courage, tenacity, and independence that none of the other candidates offers, despite personal likability and undoubted accomplishments in other areas of life.

How would you try to create more trust between people not on town boards/committees and those who are?

Walk the walk, don’t just talk the talk.  Be accessible, transparent, and communicative.  Put others before self.  Display persistence and integrity.

What are some things that you feel like the town should be focusing on, but isn’t?

The cruise ship ordinance and lawsuit are still in contention, but are proceeding satisfactorily and I think the citizens will win.  Importantly though, the trajectory of the cruise ship issue has revealed afresh the long-standing covert alliance of our town government with that portion of the business community benefitting from past cruise ship practices, as exemplified by the Town Council’s multiple recent violations of (and disinformation about) our town code in efforts to protect and prolong the advantages of the pro-cruise ship community that the majority of our citizens voted clearly and democratically to restrict.  No issue is more fundamental to our democracy than the rule of law, and our council’s efforts to evade, avoid and misrepresent this essential principle has resonance from the American Revolution through to current national debates over presidential immunity from law-breaking.

Another key issue on the agenda currently is many decades of town overspending, with tax consequences that threaten to make it impossible for anyone other than the wealthy to live here (whether owning or renting.)  Please see the graph below, showing inflation, Bar Harbor taxes in aggregate, and one citizen’s (mine) tax bills, all normalized to 2005 values for easy comparability. 

What is clear is that for this entire 20-year period, aggregate town taxation has steadily outpaced inflation, while in the last few years, expenditures and taxation have gone through the roof (and are seemingly destined to continue to do so.) Our good-old-boy (and girl) happy-talking councilors have evidently never heard of living within one’s means, and are always willing to spend for any shiny object that someone wants, as long as others (i.e. taxpayers) foot the bill. Does anyone here resonate to UAW President Shawn Fain’s statement on April 13, 2024 that “workers have realized they’ve been getting screwed for decades, and they’re fed up”?

A third issue that Bar Harbor is facing (or not) is the inexorable push for more housing and development, now and perhaps at any environmental cost. With forever chemicals contaminating the high school area, the National Park Service’s recent placing the Northeast Creek watershed on the Impaired Marine Waters Priority List, and proposed LUO changes assuring us that “adequate water and wastewater capacity” will always be required for project approval (but with the relevant standards and review processes left for future definition), we seem to be fouling our own nest.  Are we so dead set on rushing increasing development in our town at the risk of irremediable environmental damage? Perhaps less haste and a bit more deliberation are in order, lest we truly “throw our baby out with the bathwater.”

We asked this last year, but I think it’s really important to ask again. Do you have any ideas for increasing revenue to the town and alleviating the tax burden on property owners? Do you have any ideas for decreasing expenses?

Getting the town back into the cruise ship docking and tendering business (rather than ceding that entire and substantial revenue stream to a private enterprise) is one option that is long-past due and entirely at our discretion.  Infrastructure (waste disposal, water, sewer, etc.) could be differentially provided according to residential vs. commercial rates. The City of Venice just instituted a tourist tax, that is seeming to be well accepted by visitors. A local option housing tax is an oft-mentioned avenue, but requires state approval that keeps getting rejected.

Fundamentally, I believe that living within our means (i.e.l reducing expenditures) is the first and most important approach to take. Rejecting the tax override article (LD-1) at the town meeting this June would remove about 10% ($2.8 million) from our budget, and in the ensuing necessary budget redo, reducing expenditures by $4.5 million would bring our town expenditures and taxation into alignment with inflation.  Or, we can let the bureaucrats simply price us all out of town.  It’s (y)our decision!

What skills do you bring to the table that you think other candidates might not bring?

I’ve been making (and living by) institutional, business, and personal budgets my entire life.  It is sometimes difficult to say no, but it’s not rocket science. Also, as a scientist, businessperson, and administrator, I’ve lived and been guided by reality. I’m not a fiction author, believing he can invent, orate, and then live whatever he dreams.  Finally, I think I’ve demonstrated courage, persistence and independence in this town, together with politeness and respect even when disagreeing with others.  Do the voters want likability or results?

What is it about Bar Harbor that you love?

I started vacationing here approximately sixty years ago, and have chosen to live and raise my family in what I consider an Eden for over forty years. Good people, unmatched environment, great work opportunities and the lifestyle I choose.

What is it that worries you?

All of what I love about Bar Harbor is being seriously threatened by the issues discussed above, that IMHO cannot continue in current directions without deeper thought and conscious decision making. We have essential choices to make now, as tomorrow will be too late.  We need to make our own beds and lie in them, not leaving the job to others and their own interests.

What have you done for yourself that you’re the most proud of? What have you done for the community that you’re the most proud of?

I was raised to live, love, work, and try to make the world a better place, and believe that I have done this adequately, in a variety of spheres. I anticipate substantial satisfaction and no great regrets when my end comes.

Having been a productive and contributing member of my local community in spheres scientific, business, cultural, civic, etc., I believe that I have made, and am making, a difference. My candidacy here does not reflect personal ambition, but rather a continuing effort (at substantial personal cost, wear and tear) to give the community I love a choice and chance to demonstrate its satisfaction (or lack thereof) with the direction we are currently taking. No disrespect to the other candidates is intended.

NINA BARUFALDI ST.GERMAIN

THE BIO

Nina Barufaldi St.Germain is a seasoned entrepreneur and dedicated community leader, poised to bring a wealth of experience and a fresh perspective to Bar Harbor. With an educational background in English and creative writing, complemented by robust business experience, Nina owns and manages several key establishments in the community including Devon Cottage, Jack Russell’s Steakhouse, and Pathmaker Hotel.

Prior to entering the campaign, Nina served as a contract employee for the Town of Bar Harbor, where she spearheaded numerous initiatives aimed at increasing resident participation in local government. Notably, she organized public discussions in collaboration with the National Institute for Civil Discourse on critical issues such as housing solutions, the municipal budget, and the impact of cruise ships. Her efforts in launching and managing POLCO, a public polling platform, further demonstrate her commitment to fostering civic engagement.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Nina took a proactive role by writing and managing the Bar Harbor’s Keep ME Healthy grant. She successfully implemented a campaign that distributed tens of thousands of free masks to residents, businesses, and visitors, while simultaneously managing the Bar Harbor Covid Update—a vital resource that provided timely information from various health and community organizations.

Nina is driven by a vision where the community unites for a common cause. She believes that despite apparent divisions, the community is more closely aligned than it appears. Her dedication to the big picture and her ability to remain focused on tasks are qualities that make her a strong candidate for Bar Harbor.

A lover of dogs, an accomplished baker, and an outdoor enthusiast, Nina lives a life as vibrant and diverse as the community she aims to serve. With a track record of effective leadership and a deep commitment to her community, Nina is ready to ensure that Bar Harbor thrives as a cohesive, vibrant, and inclusive community.

THE QUESTIONS

Why do you think so many people are running this year?

Is it a lot? I wish it was even more. Bar Harbor is a unique community with diverse and important interests. Six people are responding to their vision of what they think they can offer Bar Harbor and I think the competition is great.

Why are you running? How does your why for running delve into your bigger life purpose?

That’s the big question. I’m running for Town Council because I believe there is a pathway to greater community alignment than what some may perceive from local reports or social media discussions. Our community deserves leadership that deeply understands and represents its diverse voices and concerns. Sometimes it feels like there’s a lot of noise coming from the extremes of both sides and the bulk of the Town is in the middle looking both ways.

In terms of my larger life purpose, my experience as a self-employed work-from-home and stay-at-home mom has given me some unique insights into the challenges and needs of families and businesses in our community.

I strongly believe that if women want more representation and influence in shaping our society, we should step forward and seize opportunities to lead. My candidacy is about taking that step, not just for my own empowerment, but to ensure that our governance reflects the strength and diversity of all community members.

How would you try to create more trust between people not on town boards/committees and those who are?

I would encourage decisions designed to unify the town as opposed to polarizing the town.  One particular item is that our town is only as good as our documents and policies.  When documents are unclear it leaves room for many interpretations. The best leadership we can give is clarifying our documents and then adhering to them. I also think being accessible is important.

What are some things that you feel like the town should be focusing on, but isn’t?

Interestingly, I think we should tackle fewer things but with greater intentionality.

While we have many important issues in Bar Harbor, I think it’s easy to get distracted from the big picture. The approach of focusing on fewer, more intentional actions is a strategic way to address complex issues. It helps prevent spreading resources too thin and allows for more significant impacts in targeted areas.

I believe we want Bar Harbor to be a healthy, climate friendly, year round community for all ages and demographics. There are voices in favor of de-development and halting development that threatens our ability to be a place where this can happen, as both of these options will cause housing and business prices to increase, preventing opportunities for the lower and middle classes.

We asked this last year, but I think it’s really important to ask again. Do you have any ideas for increasing revenue to the town and alleviating the tax burden on property owners? Do you have any ideas for decreasing expenses?

The planning department says that there is demand for 616 new year round housing units. We should act swiftly to reduce minimum lot sizes, reduce height restrictions, and decrease area per family calculations in areas where there are services or adequate land to encourage this development. Increasing the number of housing units increases the tax base.

I’d like to pursue a local options tax with specific protections in mind. This will likely get our business community on board and lead to real change for Bar Harbor and coastal communities up and down the state who are in similar positions. I think that I could be useful in this conversation on the State level with my experience at the Chamber of Commerce.

Our town collects meaningful budget revenue from tourism. I have heard there will likely be a “repeal and replace” Land Use Ordinance for Cruise Ships that is easier to enforce and accommodates controlled cruise visitation. Many voters were not aware that limiting disembarkation to only 1,000 passengers per day would effectively prevent the larger cruise lines from visiting Bar Harbor. This would staunch the budget wound created by the citizen’s initiative.

What skills do you bring to the table that you think other candidates might not bring?

I am good at finding the middle on many issues. In fact, I think just asking the question, “What’s a reasonable approach?”

I believe the best deals are the ones where both sides are uncomfortable, yet satisfied with the outcome.

What is it about Bar Harbor that you love?

Obviously, the spring sunshine. The solitude of winter. The wild of summer. The shore path. My friends. The schools. The park in my backyard. By the time I arrived in Bar Harbor at 19, I had already moved nine times. I moved up here fresh out of high school to live with my brother and sister in law. She was at COA, my brother worked at Don’s (Hannaford), and I went to work at Cadillac Mountain Sports. I tried leaving once when I was 24 but then I came back like a boomerang.

What is it that worries you?

That for a small town we seem to have unnecessary strife. I’m sure some would argue for its necessity, but I think many of us are primed to argue because of the constant pressures of social media and the hyperbole of news outlets.

What have you done for yourself that you’re the most proud of?

Raising my three kids, that’s probably a cliche, but they are my compass.

What have you done for the community that you’re the most proud of?

I’m proud of the Covid-Mask-Mailbox Program which made the community feel more confident about having visitors here during Covid. I also found great meaning in doing the Island Story Slam, My Desert Island Podcast, and Love Letters of MDI.

What’s a question that I should be asking you that I’m not asking?

Tell me about how you are a team player?

Link to find out more about Nina.

NATHAN YOUNG

THE BIO

My name is Nathan Young. I was born in Bar Harbor, and I am currently the owner of Emery’s Cottages on the Shore (est. 1934), located on the Sand Point Road. I became the steward of this magnificent gem in 2018 and I have the benefit of continuing the tradition of a family-run business.

I served the town of Bar Harbor as your police chief for 22 years out of a nearly 30-year career with the town. I have a deep understanding of the intricacies of municipal government and the leadership skills necessary to serve our community in a proper capacity going forward. 

I look forward to the providing you with the information necessary to make a proper decision as we go forward with this pivotal election. This community deserves a no-nonsense principals vs personalities-based government. 

OUR QUESTIONS FOR NATE

Why do you think so many people are running this year?

I feel that the recent candidate pools are an indication that change is needed. 

Why are you running? How does your why for running delve into your bigger life purpose?

I am running because I believe my years of experience working for this community provide me with the historical background necessary to represent our community.

There has been a significant increase in expenditures over the past 10 years, particularly the past two.  I am very concerned that we run the risk of making it unaffordable for those who live here, let alone those we are trying to attract. 

I will represent the interest of the inhabitants of the town of Bar Harbor and will serve no particular interest that does not represent the greater community or the will of the voters.

I believe my leadership skills and extensive government experience provide me with the tools necessary to strike a balance this town so desperately needs. 

How would you try to create more trust between people not on town boards/committees and those who are?

To their credit, this and past councils have strived to find ways to provide more open and free-flowing communication with the general public. 

My main goal is to regain a balance, recognizing the uniqueness of our community, and I feel trust can be gained through transparency. 

What are some things that you feel like the town should be focusing on, but isn’t?

Infrastructure priorities: I firmly believe the town needs to establish a priority list of lagging infrastructure needs and an implementation schedule along with the associated costs we will be facing. I believe the town should refrain from adding infrastructure while other needs sit on the back burner. 

We asked this last year, but I think it’s really important to ask again. Do you have any ideas for increasing revenue to the town and alleviating the tax burden on property owners? Do you have any ideas for decreasing expenses?

Exploring new ways to generate revenue should be encouraged. However, I believe we need to cut back on our expenditures. In many cases, the taxpayer has had to make their own household budgetary adjustments due to rising costs while the town has proceeded to add personnel, increase funding for outside entities, and add infrastructure. We need to evaluate each cost center within our budget and recognize the expenditures associated with that cost center over the past 10 years. 

This includes the number of employees and the annual workload for each department. I believe an accurate accounting of the aforementioned will provide enough information on whether to support future funding at the pace we have.     

What skills do you bring to the table that you think other candidates might not bring? 

My years of employment with this town provide me with the perspective necessary to make decisions on what’s best for the town. Most importantly, I can easily recognize that the seat I’m running for belongs to the residents of this town.

What is it about Bar Harbor that you love?

Locationally, it is my true north.

What is it that worries you?

What concerns me is how to bridge the gap between business and nonbusiness. Undoubtedly the business community is a vital component of our community, and there are many untold stories of how generous they are. I believe the business community has flourished over the past 35+ years and many concessions have been made to accommodate that growth including redefining height, zero setbacks, elimination of parking requirement for many, parking credits, elimination of sewer connection fees etc. Our spending is outpacing our growth and that is having an adverse effect on many of our nonbusiness people that are struggling to keep up with these huge tax increases. We need to embrace responsible growth without endangering our most valuable resource, our ecosystem.

What have you done for yourself that you’re the most proud of? What have you done for the community that you’re the most proud of?

I take great pride in the nearly three decades of service I gave to our community. I was your longest serving police chief, having served for 22 years, and I’d like to think that I did a lot of positive things for the community during that time.

LINKS TO LEARN MORE

Land use ordinance amendments:

For the full text of each amendment, see the Warrant and Notice of Public Hearing linked above.

For background information on the amendments, see the Land Use Information page.

  • Article 2 – LAND USE ORDINANCE AMENDMENT – Employee Living Quarters – This amendment would rename the existing employee living quarters use, allowed in 14 districts, to “employee living quarters-1.” Employee living quarters-1 would be allowed in 11 zoning districts. The amendment would also create a new use called “employee living quarters-2,” which would be allowed in 13 zoning districts. Employee living quarters-2 would be subject to Bar Harbor’s general review standards, in addition to certain design standards and density bonuses (lot coverage bonus). The definition of family would also be changed. See page 10 of Town Meeting Warrant.
  • Article 3 – LAND USE ORDINANCE AMENDMENT – Shared Accommodations – This amendment would increase housing opportunities by allowing more types of shared accommodations in 10 zoning districts where that use is not currently allowed. Shared accommodations is a housing type that includes individual rooms with shared dining facilities. See page 23 of Town Meeting Warrant.
  • Article 4 – LAND USE ORDINANCE AMENDMENT – Increased Housing Opportunities – This amendment is necessary to comply with LD 2003 and LD 1706. It is part of a statewide effort to increase housing units by requiring municipalities to remove some regulatory barriers to housing production. It allows for a density bonus of 2.5 times the base density for affordable housing developments in certain areas. It generally allows between two and four housing units per lot where housing is permitted, as well as allowing accessory dwelling units to be located on the same lot as a single-family home, under certain conditions. Furthermore, the amendment would delete Bar Harbor’s “bonus dwelling unit” use because LD 2003 requires a comparable but more permissive use, referred to as accessory dwelling units. The amendment would also prohibit dwelling units expressly created under these provisions to be registered and/or used as short-term rentals. See page 29 of Town Meeting Warrant.
  • Article 5 – LAND USE ORDINANCE AMENDMENT – Design Review – This amendment would:
    • Update some properties’ names in Appendix A – Historic Properties in Design Review Overlay District
    • Amend a definition related to signage review.
    • Simplify the review process for signs.
    • Adjust the Design Review Overlay district boundaries and area names. 
    • Minimize redundancy by removing Appendix B – Locally Significant Properties in Design Review Overlay District and all reference to it. 
    • Allow more time for the Planning and Code Department to review Design Review Board applications. See page 45 of Town Meeting Warrant.

Budget information page
A Citizen’s Guide to Town Meeting, Maine Municipal Association, 2022

Disclosures: Along with being a novelist, I am a fiction editor, teacher, and writing coach and once mentored Nina Barfuldi St.Germain with some of her shorter works. I served on the Criterion Board with Michael Boland. Shaun Farrar was a police officer and sergeant under Nathan Young.

Bar Harbor Story is mostly a self-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, please consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Thank you for being here with us and caring about our community, too!

Thank you for reading Bar Harbor Story . This post is public so feel free to share it.

Share

If you’d like to donate to help support us, you can, but no pressure! Just click here.

Leave a comment