Multiple cases involving land use head to court; town appoints committee members, Peter Trout’s license renewed.

Carrie Jones

Oct 17, 2025

SOUTHWEST HARBOR—Town Manager Karen Reddersen announced the upcoming resignation of Southwest Harbor Code Enforcement Officer John Larson during the select board meeting, Tuesday.

“I also wanted to share that our code enforcement officer, who we also serve as our planning inspector, our 911 addressing officer and local health officer, he submitted his notice of resignation from all these positions,” Reddersen told the board, “effective December 31, 2025. I will be advertising these positions in the near future.”

Larson was hired as a part-time code enforcement officer in 2016 in Tremont. He was also the part-time CEO in Hancock, Surry, Stockton Springs, and Veazie at the time of his hire and split his time between the towns. He replaced Debbi Nickerson. Though, he resigned from his Tremont duties in 2020 and focused on Southwest Harbor, where he also eventually worked. Then, he returned to Tremont, and resigned again from that town with an end date of 2025 when Bar Harbor’s former CEO Angela Chamberlain replaced him.

Larson’s resignation from Southwest Harbor comes while multiple projects are in litigation. In his letter to the town, according to the Quietside Journal, he stated health reasons as the cause of his resignation.

“I wanted to give a legal update. We received documents related to Superior Court Appeal filed by the McIntosh parties to dismiss their appeal in the land of the Southwest Harbor Board of Appeals decision remanding the building permit for 72 Clark Point Road to the Planning Board for review,” Reddersen said.

In September the Southwest Harbor Appeals Board sent Justin Podjasek’s previously town-approved project at 72 Clark Point Road to build a $750,000 guest house on his lot where a greenhouse once stood to the town’s planning board.

The build on the property has been challenged by neighbors.

In June, the appeals board denied William and Martha ‘Kay’ MacIntosh’s challenge to the two-story, three bedroom guest cottage because the challenge was not filed within 30 days of the issuance of the building permit. It had been issued in December 2024.

The current appeal had been brought by Dan and Anne Selmi, who said that they were not informed that the building permit was issued and therefore, they could appeal despite the appeal being after that 30-day window. The Selmis do not winter in Southwest Harbor.

“Related to this issue, there has been an appeal filed in Superior Court by the Selmi parties regarding this property, as well as by the owner of Clark Point Road related to this property,” Reddersen said. “In a separate matter, the Swetz parties has filed a complaint in Superior Court regarding 90 Clark Point Road, and Code Enforcement Officer Larson has requested outside counsel related to those matters.”

George T. Swetz and Gigi N Girgis objected to the planning board’s approval of the Christopher and Anne Hopkins’ plans to “convert an existing deck into an enclosed mudroom,” at 90 Clark Point Road, according to papers filed in the appeal, which was denied in late July.

Select board member Natasha Johnson asked about the 72 Clark Point Road property, which had been issued a building permit the appeals board remanded the permitting process to the planning board.

“Where is that in the process?” Johnson asked.

”I believe, because there’s a case filed by the owner of that property in Superior Court that the Superior Court has to make a decision before they can go back,” Reddersen said.

Johnson asked, “Before it gets remanded? Because wouldn’t that mean that they’re currently building with no building permit?”

“It’s a legal matter that’s in Superior Court,” Reddersen said.

“We need a decision from the court to determine whether or not we have jurisdiction. There could be a couple different ways that could happen. We’re still in the very early process of that,” Town Clerk Jennifer LaHaye said.

“So what is the ramification if we have someone building with no valid building permit?If we let them continue to build?” Johnson asked.

“I don’t know if a decision has been made if it’s valid or not valid. Superior Court would make that determination,” Reddersen said.

The town has also consulted with lawyers about the process and are following legal advice given, Reddersen said.

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OTHER BUSINESS

The board renewed the on-premises beer, wine, and spirits liquor license for Peter Trout’s Tavern at 48 Shore Road.

It appointed Leslie Heilakka to the Sustainability Committee.

It appointed Ryan Donahue to the Harbor Committee.

The town also authorized the distribution of funds from the Transfer Treasures Swap Shop.

According to Reddersen, “Jill Freundlich, volunteer manager of the Transfer Treasures Swap Shop, has provided donated funds received from the recycling tent at the Southwest Harbor (Transfer Station) to the Town Office. These funds have been deposited into the respective reserve accounts. She has requested that the sum of $100 be distributed to each of the following non-profit organizations, for a total distribution of $600.00:

• SWH/Tremont Ambulance
• SWH Public Library
• Common Good Soup Kitchen
• Westside Food Pantry
• Harbor House Heating Oil Fund
• Harbor House Weekend Backpack Fund.”

St. John’s Church manages the backpack fund.

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The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Rick Osann Art.

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