Tag: town council

Bar Harbor Parking Revenues Near $1.8 Million, Outpacing Last Year Bar Harbor Council Hears Financial Report, Lodging Moratorium Update Carrie Jones Sep 17, 2025 A group of cars parked on the side of a road Photo by Martha Monjaras on Unsplash The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Thrive Juice Bar & Kitchen. BAR HARBOR—As of August 31, Bar Harbor brought in just under $1.8 million in parking revenue. The number is a slight increase from the year-to-date totals from last year and those numbers do not include fees that the town takes on to collect the revenue. The figures are better than anticipated and up approximately $26,000 from last year at this time. In July 2023, the town increased its hourly parking rates. The increased rates varied according to the parking space’s position in downtown Bar Harbor. Some spaces went from $1.50 to $2 per hour, others went from $2 to $4 per hour. Seasonal parking has been in effect for five years. In 2023, the budget revenues were $3.1 million in paid parking fees. The following year the town netted $3.5 million. That’s approximately $1.7 million more than the parking fees collected in 2022. The town is trending a bit higher every year, Bar Harbor Finance Director Sarah Gilbert said. Tax bills have also gone out, Town Manager James Smith said. The mill rate increase projected was 71 cents per $1,000 of assessment, instead the final increase was 21 cents per $1,000 of assessment. The town’s share of the overall tax burden declined as well, Smith said, going from 4.97 cents to 4.69 cents per $1,000 of assessment. “That means the municipal share of the total tax levee shifted from 49.5% in FY 25 to 45.7% in the FY2026 budget,” Smith said. Other elements of Bar Harbor property owner’s tax burden are county government costs, local school costs, and MDI high school costs. Gilbert said the town’s general fund revenues were a bit down compared to the last couple of years. Part of that is about the timing of the ambulance and cruise ship billings, which should rectify itself. There was a decrease in code, building, and electrical permits compared to last year. Revenues are still above the 17% benchmark expected at this time of year, she said. Tax bills were mailed to property owners on September 9 and impacted by a reassessment of property. Cruise ship revenue shows no revenue but that will change. Vice Chair Maya Caines and Joe Minutolo both had excused absences. MORATORIUM UPDATE Chair Valerie Peacock said the planning department has been working hard on collecting and analyzing data related to the town’s moratorium on lodging. “We’re very thankful for folks coming out tonight and they are going to share where they are,” Peacock said as Community and Housing Planner Cali Martinez and Planning Board Chair Millard Dority updated the councilors. Dority called the planning department report “amazing” and said that there is still one workshop and presentation left for the planning board. “It’s been hard to get some people scheduled,” he said. Martinez said that the department took a scientific approach to the data gathering and the ultimate source of the department’s data was the building permit file. The presentation is available under the September 8 meeting of the town’s agenda center on its website. The next planning board workshop about the moratorium is scheduled for September 25. The staff is working to collect the data into a report format, including the raw data, Martinez said. “It’s filled with information that will be foundational,” Dority said. “They started from scratch really to put this together.” He said the information will be valuable in 25 years as planning efforts continue. Planning Board Vice Chair Ruth Eveland also praised the planning department staff for beginning the analysis of the data, which she said was helpful for the planning board when it makes its report to the town council about the lodging moratorium. “This town has never had this information before,” Eveland said. Councilor Earl Brechlin said that the report created baseline data and gave the town the opportunity to get information and think about how it wants to go forward. “I think the initial impression for some people was we’re going to gather some information to see if we have too many hotel rooms or not. It goes so far beyond that. We have this baseline data, but it’s also given us some time to get some actual information and really think what we want going forward. How it affects housing. How it affects standards for future construction. And so, I really think that that is so valuable,” Brechlin said. “I know it’s been frustrating for some that we’ve had this moratorium but I think it’s paying off in those dividends and I think the town is going to be the better for it.” PUBLIC COMMENT During public comment, Ellen Dohmen, a long-term volunteer on town boards and committees said she’d been thinking about process and how the town encourages people to be on the boards and apply. “Really, it’s like a job interview,” she said of new applicants to serve on town boards. Meetings at the end of volunteers’ terms should be a bit more like a performance review, she said. Instead, she said, those who serve tend to be asked the same questions by the nominating committee every three years, which she said might not be the best process. The nominating committee is made up of three town councilors. She also spoke to a new way of potentially thinking about the town’s land use ordinance, which defines how development can occur within the towns multiple zones. The town’s land use ordinance, Dohmen said, is Band-Aid on top of Band-Aid. “There is another option to this,” she suggested. She said it’s time to talk about contract zoning as well as keeping the land use ordinance. Dohmen spoke for approximately six minutes. Also during the public comment, Ruth Eveland spoke toward the comprehensive plan process and spoke of the action item within the plan to establish a comprehensive plan implementation committee and asked the town to think about a stakeholders group instead. That group could convene and find ways for mutual support on things to benefit the entire community, which would allow for fluid membership. Eveland spoke for approximately three minutes. MANAGER’S COMMENTS work on the helipad Wednesday Town Manager James Smith said there’s a tentative ribbon cutting ceremony for the LifeFlight helicopter pad for October 3. The Crooked Road project is almost complete and the second culvert should be in place on September 22; the final paving work should be completed by the end of October. That will cause some additional closures of the intersection. SIDE STREET CAFE Side Street Cafe’s special amusement permit was approved. The application was for a class 3a permit which allows music that is amplified at the 49 Rodick Street restaurant. TOWN WARRANT The town council accepted the town meeting warrant for November and scheduled public hearings on land use amendments for October 21. It also appointed Town Clerk Liz Graves as the election warden. COUNCIL COMMENTS Councilor David Kief commended the planning department for its work as did Councilor Steve Boucher. Brechlin asked for the school department to come in and give an update on the school construction project. Peacock acknowledged all the work that happens in the town’s volunteer committees, including the sustainable tourism task force and task force for the climate emergency. Peacock said that in a world with quick news and social media immediacy that volunteers carry the weight of their work. She thanked those volunteers. LINKS TO LEARN MORE To watch the council meeting To view the council packet Follow us on Facebook or BlueSky or Instagram. And as a reminder, you can easily view all our past stories and press releases here. Bar Harbor Story is a mostly self-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Thank you for being here with us and caring about our community, too! Thanks for reading Bar Harbor Story! This post is public so feel free to share it. Share If you’d like to donate to help support us, you can, but no pressure! Just click here (about how you can give) or here (a direct link), which is the same as the button below. To support The Story If you’d like to sponsor the Bar Harbor Story, you can! Learn more here. Leave a comment THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING OUR COMMITMENT TO YOUR COMMUNITY
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Bar Harbor Parking Revenues Near $1.8 Million, Outpacing Last Year

Bar Harbor Council Hears Financial Report, Lodging Moratorium Update Carrie Jones Sep 17, 2025 The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Thrive Juice Bar & Kitchen. BAR HARBOR—As of August 31, Bar Harbor brought in just under $1.8 million in parking revenue. The number is a slight increase from the year-to-date totals from last year and those numbers do not include fees that the town … Continue reading Bar Harbor Parking Revenues Near $1.8 Million, Outpacing Last Year

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Bar Harbor Town Offices Closed After Network Breach
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Bar Harbor Town Council Asked to Rethink July Decision to Not Reappoint Vice Chair of Appeals Board

Carrie Jones Aug 20, 2025 The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by The 1932 Criterion Theatre. BAR HARBOR—One current member and one former member of the town’s appeals board asked the town council to reconsider its July split vote to not put former appeals board vice chair Cara Ryan back on the town’s appeals board. “I’m really here to talk about process. As volunteers to … Continue reading Bar Harbor Town Council Asked to Rethink July Decision to Not Reappoint Vice Chair of Appeals Board

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Bar Harbor Will Look Toward Potential Lodging Moratorium Extension This Week While Another Potential Hotel Project Waits Warrant Committee Organizes, Design Review Board Approves Restaurant Deck
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Bar Harbor Will Look Toward Potential Lodging Moratorium Extension This Week While Another Potential Hotel Project Waits

Warrant Committee Organizes, Design Review Board Approves Restaurant Deck Carrie Jones Jun 28, 2025 Share BAR HARBOR—The Bar Harbor Town Council will hold a public hearing that will potentially extend its moratorium on lodging (such as hotels and inns) projects and renovations on Tuesday, July 1. The meeting begins at 6:30 and is at the town’s municipal building on Cottage Street. During that hearing, members … Continue reading Bar Harbor Will Look Toward Potential Lodging Moratorium Extension This Week While Another Potential Hotel Project Waits

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With Less Than Nine Business Days Left to Get Nomination Papers in, Little Interest Shown in Bar Harbor Council Seats MDI High School Board of Trustees Also Lacking Candidates
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With Less Than Nine Business Days Left to Get Nomination Papers in, Little Interest Shown in Bar Harbor Council Seats

MDI High School Board of Trustees Also Lacking Candidates Shaun Farrar Apr 01, 2025 Share The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Paradis Ace Hardware. BAR HARBOR—With four seats up for grabs on the Bar Harbor Town Council only three candidates, incumbents Earl Brechlin and Randy Sprague, and candidate Nina St.Germain have taken out nomination papers as of 2:50 p.m., today, April 1. Of those … Continue reading With Less Than Nine Business Days Left to Get Nomination Papers in, Little Interest Shown in Bar Harbor Council Seats

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Warrant Committee Almost Agrees With Council Budget Recommendations MDI YMCA and Island Explorer Discussed
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Warrant Committee Almost Agrees With Council Budget Recommendations

MDI YMCA and Island Explorer Discussed Carrie Jones Mar 25, 2025 Share The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Window Panes Home and Garden. BAR HARBOR—One $15,000 difference between the town council and warrant committee budget recommendations caused the warrant committee to not officially recommend the town council’s budget, 10-3, Monday night. The voters will approve or amend the budget at the town’s June 3 … Continue reading Warrant Committee Almost Agrees With Council Budget Recommendations

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local meetings ON THE AGENDA: Town & School Meetings This Week. It's our round up of upcoming government meetings. All are public. That means you can go and be involved.
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ON THE AGENDA: Town & School Meetings This Week.

It’s our round up of upcoming government meetings. All are public. That means you can go and be involved. Carrie Jones Mar 24, 2025 Share The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Paradis Ace Hardware. Every week we document Bar Harbor, MDI, and Trenton government and school meetings that we know of. Please let us know if we’ve missed something. Also, sometimes things are on … Continue reading ON THE AGENDA: Town & School Meetings This Week.

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During Lodging Moratorium, Town Also Looks For Housing Answers
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During Lodging Moratorium, Town Also Looks For Housing Answers

Planning Board Unanimously Recommends Comprehensive Plan Carrie Jones Mar 11, 2025 Share The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Paradis Ace Hardware. BAR HARBOR—Trying to create more housing in Bar Harbor, which is already the largest population on Mount Desert Island, isn’t going to be easy, the town’s planning board agreed last week. “It’s going to be difficult,” Bar Harbor Housing and Community Planner Cali … Continue reading During Lodging Moratorium, Town Also Looks For Housing Answers

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New(ish) Moratorium, New Mission: Planning Board Takes on Lodging Rules Comprehensive Plan Scheduled for March 10
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New(ish) Moratorium, New Mission: Planning Board Takes on Lodging Rules

Comprehensive Plan Scheduled for March 10 Carrie Jones Feb 09, 2025 Share BAR HARBOR—The Bar Harbor Planning Board made apparent, February 5, that as one giant town planning project gets closer to its ending, another begins in earnest. And when it comes to looking into the rules related to Bar Harbor’s zones and lodging, it’s going to be a lot of work. “The council approved … Continue reading New(ish) Moratorium, New Mission: Planning Board Takes on Lodging Rules

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Campground & Camping Vehicle Standard Changes Put on Hold in Bar Harbor Potential changes to short-term rental residency definitions, Salisbury Cove Corridor, and language moved forward to town council
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Campground & Camping Vehicle Standard Changes Put on Hold in Bar Harbor

Potential changes to short-term rental residency definitions, Salisbury Cove Corridor, and language moved forward to town council Carrie Jones Feb 01, 2025 Share The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Acadia Shops. BAR HARBOR—The public hearing on a proposal to adjust rules around the town’s campground standards was taken off the planning board’s agenda for another review. It will not face voters at the town … Continue reading Campground & Camping Vehicle Standard Changes Put on Hold in Bar Harbor

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Doing the Work, Workshop Style Bar Harbor Council workshops short term rentals, committees, and tourism task force
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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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