More Than Minutes: AI, Recruitment, and Transparency Discussed by Bar Harbor Appeals Board

More Than Minutes: AI, Recruitment, and Transparency Discussed by Bar Harbor Appeals Board

Carrie Jones Jan 14, 2026 The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Havana BAR HARBOR—Whether the town staff should use artificial intelligence (AI), how to recruit new appeals board members, and if the board could be told when there are lawsuits involving its decisions were major topics of discussion during the Bar Harbor Appeals Board meeting, January 13. The meeting’s agenda listed approval of minutes … Continue reading More Than Minutes: AI, Recruitment, and Transparency Discussed by Bar Harbor Appeals Board

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.

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 Oct 13, 2025 The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Acadia Psychiatry. Every week we document the Mount Desert Island region’s government and school meetings that we know of. Please let us know if we’ve missed something. Also, sometimes things on the town and … Continue reading ON THE AGENDA: Town & School Meetings This Week.

Potential Changes to Bar Harbor Housing Rules Head to Public Hearing

Another potential amendment hopes to fix inconsistency about residency voting requirements on boards and committees CARRIE JONES JAN 20, 2024 Share BAR HARBOR—At its January 16 meeting, the Town Council unanimously moved five potential amendments to the town’s land use ordinance (LUO) to February 20 public hearings. The amendments deal with allowing additional housing uses in rural developments, trying to rid the ordinance from inconsistencies. … Continue reading Potential Changes to Bar Harbor Housing Rules Head to Public Hearing

On The Agenda

Week of Feb 19 BAR HARBOR—It’s our weekly piece documenting Bar Harbor town government and other similar meetings that we know of. Please let us know if we’ve missed something. Also, sometimes things are on the town calendars and are cancelled or rescheduled, so make sure to double check before you head over! All the meetings take place at the Bar Harbor Municipal Building at … Continue reading On The Agenda

Harbor Committee Talks About Potential Marina Plans

Lack of quorum prevents any official actions BAR HARBOR—Though its members could not take action or even approve an agenda because of a lack of a quorum on Monday, the Harbor Committee spent some time discussing a winter float down on the town pier as well as the marina project on Route 3 at the site of Bay Ferries and the Cat. This is town-owned … Continue reading Harbor Committee Talks About Potential Marina Plans

Bar Harbor Man Looks to Upgrade Athletic Fields via Acadia Youth Sports

Parks and Recreation Committee enthusiastically approves project, talks about Hadley Point boat launch, potential dog park, and Glen Mary Wading Pool BAR HARBOR—A local man is giving approximately $25,000 to help the town and Acadia Youth Sports upgrade the ballfields on Park Street in three major ways. At the Parks and Recreation Committee’s September 19 meeting in Council Chambers at the Bar Harbor Municipal Building, … Continue reading Bar Harbor Man Looks to Upgrade Athletic Fields via Acadia Youth Sports

Town Council Weighs in On Rental Registrations, Parking Space, and Lowering Speed Limits in Local Neighborhood

Council also thanks Tom St. Germain for service to town BAR HARBOR—The Bar Harbor Town Council had a busy agenda at its Tuesday, September 6 meeting in Council Chambers at the Bar Harbor Municipal Meeting After hearing comments from the public, councilors addressed speed limit reviews, potential short-term and long-term rental policy changes, shellfish ordinances, parking spots, and other business. Additional stories are forthcoming, but … Continue reading Town Council Weighs in On Rental Registrations, Parking Space, and Lowering Speed Limits in Local Neighborhood

Split Warrant Committee Recommends Adopting Ordinances That Would Allow and License Retail Marijuana in Bar Harbor

Voters Will Decide Fate Again In November BAR HARBOR—In two consistent 9-6 votes, the Bar Harbor Warrant Committee at its September 1 meeting in Bar Harbor’s municipal building recommended that in November voters adopt changes to the town’s land use ordinance that would allow marijuana retail stores in downtown Bar Harbor and license them. Those changes came via a citizens’ petition. Another citizens’ petition concerning … Continue reading Split Warrant Committee Recommends Adopting Ordinances That Would Allow and License Retail Marijuana in Bar Harbor

A Super Majority Recommends Rejecting Bar Harbor’s Super Majority Requirement

In an almost unanimous decision, Bar Harbor’s Warrant Committee supports removing two-thirds rule BAR HARBOR—After a brief synopsis from the chair of a reporting subcommittee, with no discussion, comments, or deliberation, the Bar Harbor Warrant Committee voted 14-1 to recommend the removal of the majority two-thirds vote requirement for certain land use amendments to pass. The vote came after a subcommittee recommended the removal by … Continue reading A Super Majority Recommends Rejecting Bar Harbor’s Super Majority Requirement

Warrant Committee Has A Lot To Deliberate About

Bar Harbor’s committee takes on cruise ships, pot, two-thirds amendment and historic properties Thursday night Carrie Jones 5 min ago BAR HARBOR—The 15-member Warrant Committee will met in the Bar Harbor Municipal Building’s Council Chambers at 7 p.m. to deliberate and create recommendations for five pending November ballot articles. Voters have final say on these articles, but when they read the ballot, they will see … Continue reading Warrant Committee Has A Lot To Deliberate About