Public Works employee applauded, public works collective bargaining agreement has been approved.

Carrie Jones

Aug 12, 2026

The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by the Bar Harbor Historical Society.

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BAR HARBOR—In a quick meeting August 3, the Bar Harbor Parks & Recreation Committee elected leaders and approved an annual car display on the town’s ball fields while also discussing a new seasonal employee.

Jeff Dobbs was elected chair of the committee. Greg Veilleux was elected vice chair. Ann Tikkanen was elected secretary. No other nominations were received for any of the positions. All were unanimous 3-0 votes. Those elections occur each year for all boards and committees.

The Corvette Show was approved for Saturday, June 5, 2027, from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. It’s run by the Vettes of Coastal Maine.

The event, committee members discussed, has never had any history of negative impacts on the town field and also provides an economic boost to local businesses in the earlier portion of the tourist season.

The committee members also praised the new seasonal parks employee for their high-quality work, which, they said, has improved park conditions. That position was brought before the Town Council by Town Manager James Smith and approved by town voters this past June during the budget process.

The position was created to replace contract services and is funded in the current budget. The committee will add a formal discussion about the new employee’s performance to a future agenda.

The Public Works Department’s employees have recently reached a two-year agreement with the town about wages. The International Brotherhood of Teamsters Union represented the employees during the contract negotiations.

Smith had announced the collective bargaining agreement during a Bar Harbor Town Council meeting at the end of July. A Teamster’s representative had previously gone before the Town Council in November 2025 asking for a council liaison during the process, which eventually went into mediation.

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