Eight Candidates Vying for Bar Harbor Town Council Seats Answer Our Questions

Carrie Jones Apr 27, 2025 Share BAR HARBOR—Due to the resignations of former councilors, Gary Friedmann and Kyle Shank, earlier this year, there are three different races for four town council seats and eight candidates running for those positions. Earl Brechlin and Randell Sprague are the incumbents running for reelection. Sprague and Meagan Kelly had been appointed to the positions by the council to fill … Continue reading Eight Candidates Vying for Bar Harbor Town Council Seats Answer Our Questions

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Bar Harbor Town Council Allows Small Cruise Line to Disembark on Town’s Pier

Carrie Jones Mar 19, 2025 Share BAR HARBOR—The Bar Harbor Town Council, Tuesday night, agreed to allow American Cruise Lines (ACL) to tender passengers at the town’s pier. “I think we’re ready to do this,” Council Chair Valerie Peacock said. Hers was the only comment in public before the council unanimously approved it 5-0. The possibility of ACL disembarking passengers at Ells Pier in downtown … Continue reading Bar Harbor Town Council Allows Small Cruise Line to Disembark on Town’s Pier

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Bar Harbor Accidentally Broadcasts Private Session About Complaint Against Appeals Board Member

by Bill Trotter/Bangor Daily News BAR HARBOR—An executive session held Tuesday night by Bar Harbor’s town council was accidentally broadcast over the internet. The board met in executive session — which by law is not supposed to be open to the public — near the end of its regular meeting Tuesday night. Council members met in private with James Smith, Bar Harbor’s town manager, to … Continue reading Bar Harbor Accidentally Broadcasts Private Session About Complaint Against Appeals Board Member

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Bar Harbor Faces Budget With Less Cruise Ships: Parking Fees to the Rescue?

Warrant Committee Presents Recommendations to the Town Council Carrie Jones Feb 26, 2025 Share The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Swan Agency Real Estate. BAR HARBOR—The town’s warrant committee, town council, and school committee members last night showed that they are all very much in line with the recommendations for a budget that will steer the town’s revenues and expenses for the next fiscal … Continue reading Bar Harbor Faces Budget With Less Cruise Ships: Parking Fees to the Rescue?

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Town Council Pauses All Lodging Construction for 180 Days

Maya Caines Appointed Vice Chair, Comprehensive Plan Moves Ahead Carrie Jones Feb 05, 2025 Share The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by First National Bank. BAR HARBOR—After enacting two 60-day emergency moratoriums, the Bar Harbor Town Council, on February 4, unanimously voted for a 180-day moratorium on lodging. Councilor Joe Minutolo was not present. “I really struggle with this one,” Councilor Randy Sprague said. The … Continue reading Town Council Pauses All Lodging Construction for 180 Days

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What Will the Next Lodging Moratorium Potentially Cover?

Bar Harbor’s Sustainability Tourism Task Force a Go; Work Plan That Impacts Bar Harbor’s Future Approved Carrie Jones Jan 22, 2025 Share BAR HARBOR—In a broad-ranging meeting, January 21, the Bar Harbor Town Council made moves that could impact the town’s future in the realms of lodging, short-term rentals, tourism, parking, and protecting water resources. Bar Harbor’s moratorium on lodgings was potentially tweaked for any … Continue reading What Will the Next Lodging Moratorium Potentially Cover?

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Friedmann Resigns from Bar Harbor Town Council to Focus on State Legislative Work

Carrie Jones Jan 15, 2025 Share BAR HARBOR—After more than a decade on the Bar Harbor Town Council, current Vice Chair Gary Friedmann has announced his resignation to focus on his new position in the state legislature. A press release from the Maine Legislature’s House Democratic Office announced the news about Friedmann’s resignation, January 15. Friedmann’s departure comes on the heels of Councilor Kyle Shank’s … Continue reading Friedmann Resigns from Bar Harbor Town Council to Focus on State Legislative Work

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Doing the Work, Workshop Style

Bar Harbor Council workshops short term rentals, committees, and tourism task force Carrie Jones Jan 09, 2025 BAR HARBOR—According to Town Manager James Smith, the focus of the Bar Harbor Town Council’s workshop on Tuesday night was to shape high-level objectives for the town. The seven councilors and staff touched on multiple big-ticket items for the town including changing short-term rental rules for home-owners who … Continue reading Doing the Work, Workshop Style

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Bar Harbor’s Climate Plan Is a Go, Tourism Task Force Being Revised

Water and Sewer Rates Likely to Go Up Carrie Jones Dec 19, 2024 Share The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by The Witham Family Hotels Charitable Fund. BAR HARBOR—At its December 17 meeting, two documents that could impact the town’s future faced the Bar Harbor Town Council and both involved task forces. The councilors took no action on an outline that created a tourism task … Continue reading Bar Harbor’s Climate Plan Is a Go, Tourism Task Force Being Revised

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Bar Harbor Will Seek Enforcement Action Against Dock Owners

Main Street Closure Begins Today, Comprehensive Plan Meeting Tonight! Carrie Jones Nov 20, 2024 Share The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Andy’s Home Improvement Inc. BAR HARBOR—The Bar Harbor Town Council agreed Tuesday night to seek enforcement against 55 West Street, Golden Anchor, LC, which is where cruise ships tender passengers visiting Mount Desert Island. Under the new disembarkation rules voted in by citizens … Continue reading Bar Harbor Will Seek Enforcement Action Against Dock Owners

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