Approves Special Amusement (Music) Permits at Jack Russell’s and Siren & Sailor.
Mar 06, 2026
BAR HARBOR—During a workshop earlier this week, the Bar Harbor town councilors who attended agreed to start a review of all the towns, boards, committees, and task forces.
Town Manager James Smith along with most likely Chair Val Peacock and Vice Chair Maya Caines (both women’s terms expire this June) will meet with the heads of all the town bodies.
They’ll review the town ordinance that governs each of the boards, committees, commissions, and task forces as well as review the structure of each.
The goal?
According to the agenda for the March 3 workshop, it’s to initiate “a structured dialogue with committee chairs and identify(ing) potential clarifications or amendments to Chapter 31.”
That is the chapter in the town’s rules that governs those town bodies.
“This is a subject near and dear to my heart,” Ruth Eveland, planning board vice chair said.
She really believes boards and committees should make reports to the council.
Ezra Sassaman, chair of the Bar Harbor Task Force for the Climate Emergency, has already been talking with Smith and Peacock about the task force’s role and how it’s been acting as a sustainability committee. He spoke of how committees and task forces are often people’s first foray into civil engagement and that’s important to preserve.
Approximately eight years ago, there was a review of committees. In 2023, the Bar Harbor Age Friendly Committee had asked to disband because of a lack of quorum and connection to the council. At the time, other board members had said similar things about lack of connection. The Bar Harbor Cruise Ship Committee was officially disbanded at a council meeting in 2023.
In February 2026, the town’s harbor committee decided that it would suggest to the town council that its membership decrease from 11 to seven. In 2024, the town’s planning board questioned its size and if it should be reduced.
Committee, board, and task force members are first interviewed by the appointments committee, made up of three councilors. Then they must be approved by a majority of councilors during a town council meeting.
At an October 2023 council meeting about reviewing the bodies, Eveland, Sassaman, and Charles Sidman also all made public comments.
SPECIAL AMUSEMENT PERMITS
The Bar Harbor Town Council had three excused absences: Chair Val Peacock, Steven Boucher, and Joe Minutolo. The remaining councilors approved a special amusement permit for Jack Russell’s on Route 3. The permit was for three or more musicians with mechanical amplification and dancing.
The new permit for Siren & Sailor on lower Main Street for three or more musicians with mechanical amplification was also unanimously approved.
ABATEMENT
The council denied an abatement of property taxes for reason of poverty. They moved that the applicant hadn’t met the burden of proof that they are unable to contribute to the public charges.
COUNCIL COMMENTS
Councilor Earl Brechlin thanked the public work crews for their efforts in the last few storms. His was the only public comment.
LINKS TO LEARN MORE
Other stories about the meeting and workshop
Bar Harbor Will Consider Rule That Would Limit Businesses Staging on Hadley Point and Park Street Ball Fields
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Mar 5
Mount Desert Officials Divided as Regional School Reorganization Moves Toward Vote
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Mar 4
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