Jan 07, 2026
The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Acadia Psychiatry.
MOUNT DESERT—The Mount Desert Selectboard appointed Nancy Parsons as the town’s new finance director, January 5.
“Nancy’s going to come to us with a wealth of experience,” Town Manager Alex Kimball said.
“Can’t wait, thanks!” Parsons said via Zoom, smiling.
She’ll begin work this Thursday, January 8.
Parsons replaces Mae Wyler, who resigned last October.
“Nancy has had a full and successful career serving roles as either a finance director or similarly titled roles,” Town Manager Alex Kimball wrote in a December 30 memo to the selectboard. “She most recently served as the director of finance for Colonial Behavioral Health in Virginia, but has moved back to this region where she grew up.”
Parsons worked at Colonial Behavioral Health from 2013 to recently and was thanked by that organization for her “outstanding and meritorious service.”
Parsons was also the finance director for Enosberg Falls in Vermont. She earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration from Husson College and took graduate courses in human resources management, debt management, and is a certified government financial manager.
“Nancy’s wealth of relevant experience should make her an excellent addition to the Mount Desert team,” Kimball wrote.
Finances took up the bulk of the meeting. Kimball shared tentative budget numbers and his process.
He also discussed the likelihood that the town’s health insurance costs may increase by 11%.
“The net amount to be raised by property taxes, and this is not at all a number that I want to be putting out year one as a new manager, but I don’t see a way around it, is that 5.96%,” Kimball said.
This is not yet finalized.
The fire department’s budget will increase mostly due to benefits, such as health insurance, and budgeting for overtime, which is regularly used. The town’s insurance costs budgeted for this fiscal year (FY) are approximately $40,000 more than the town put in its budget. This compounds with the expected 11% increase.
“When you fall behind on this and you get hit with really large increases, this is the net result of playing catch up on it. We can’t allow this to continue because it’s just going to lead to future bleeding in future budgets,” he said.
The town also accepted a thank you letter from MDI Search and Rescue, the Acadia Disposal District (ADD) financial auditor’s management representation letter for FY 2025, and copy of the FY 2025 financial audit.
It accepted Mount Desert Fire Chief Mike Bender’s request to purchase and install after-market communication and data equipment for its 2025 Ferrera fire truck, at a cost not to exceed $20,000. The truck will replace an engine that was taken out of service back in 2022. It is built in Louisiana and costs approximately $970,000.
The board also accepted a phone system upgrade with Connectivity Works to provide the town with phone systems and support, which will cost $42,281.06.
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