I hope Charles Sidman might consider another run. The public deserves a council member who will represent their wishes , follow the referendums, and limit the number of people flooding Bar Harbor coming in from the giant cruise ships polluting the air with their massive diesel generators while dumping gray water in our precious ocean waters. Climb Champlain mountain and most days you will see one of these monsters parked in Bar Harbor.
I have never met Mr. Shank and certainly wish him the best of luck as he tries out the "non remote" work style that seems to be fading from the American scene. At the same time I find myself questioning the wisdom of allowing people new to the town, people without a long term commitment to the town's future, to occupy positions of power potentially having lasting, long term, and ultimately negative, effects upon the future of the town and the people for whom Bar Harbor has long been home.
I’m not sure if you’re referring to me or not here Mr. Shaw, but I’ll add that I’ve attended college here, been a resident for over a decade, and have been blessed to have had both of my children were born here. I think that these facts likely serve as sufficient qualifications / evidence of commitment to my community.
Unfortunately, as and I other councilors / citizens have raised in the past, the cost of living in Bar Barbor is so high that there are diminishingly few opportunities to make enough money to afford to actually live here. As I lack inherited generational wealth, nor am I an already wealthy retiree, I’ve had to work “away” in order to sustain the life for my family here that I (and they) have worked so hard to build.
So while you are of course entitled to feel however you may about my decisions, I’ll simply say that It’s actually been devastating to have to make a decision like this, especially since this is the only home my children have ever known.
As I thought I made clear in my recent comments I have never met you, and I doubt I could pick you out in a line up. So my comments were not specifically aimed at you. Nor was I aware that you had attended COA. Not sure if that fact fully qualifies a person to be a member of the local town council as college students as a group tend to be in a state of flux rather than solidly anchored to a specific community. I would be remiss if I did not point out that with a total student population of around 350 students COA represents in the neighborhood of 0.06% of Bar Harbor's overall population of 5,200 +/-. Seems odd to me that in a town council consisting of 7 members 3 of them or roughly 43% are from COA? Might this at least suggest what some locals refer to as the COA mafia? I am also hard pressed to understand how a college supposedly based upon ecological principles seems to have aligned itself squarely with the cruise ship industry clearly one of the most polluting industries on the planet. At the risk of seeming old fashioned and out of date I must admit I prefer a Town Council composed of folks with long term roots in the community and I am not generally too critical of those in possession of good ole common sense in lieu of a college degree.
As many of my friends, fellow councilors, and citizens are aware, I have been working remotely for many years now for various companies off-island. As I've advanced in my career and taken on larger roles and greater responsibilities, I have felt an increased need to be in-person and physically present to feel that I am doing the best possible job that I can. After several months of consideration and intense discussion, I have come to the conclusion that I will need to relocate in order to remain successful and to continue my career growth.
Additionally, as someone who is privileged enough to have living parents, both biological and legal, that happen to live near my current employer, I feel that the timing is right to move closer to them to be able to give back and to provide them with the care and support that they have so graciously provided to me and my family.
For these reasons both personal and professional, I will be moving away from Bar Harbor after the end of this school year and, as such, believe now is the appropriate time for me to tender my resignation as a Bar Harbor Town Councilor, effective February 4th, 2025.
It has been an enormous privilege and joy to serve my community over the past two years. I've made new friends, learned a ton, and have nothing but gratitude for the many opportunities for personal and professional development that have been afforded to me. But mostly, I am just grateful for the trust and faith that you've all placed in me and hope that my actions and behaviors have honored them appropriately.
If anyone has any further questions, I am - as always - happy to answer them.
I hope Charles Sidman might consider another run. The public deserves a council member who will represent their wishes , follow the referendums, and limit the number of people flooding Bar Harbor coming in from the giant cruise ships polluting the air with their massive diesel generators while dumping gray water in our precious ocean waters. Climb Champlain mountain and most days you will see one of these monsters parked in Bar Harbor.
I have never met Mr. Shank and certainly wish him the best of luck as he tries out the "non remote" work style that seems to be fading from the American scene. At the same time I find myself questioning the wisdom of allowing people new to the town, people without a long term commitment to the town's future, to occupy positions of power potentially having lasting, long term, and ultimately negative, effects upon the future of the town and the people for whom Bar Harbor has long been home.
I’m not sure if you’re referring to me or not here Mr. Shaw, but I’ll add that I’ve attended college here, been a resident for over a decade, and have been blessed to have had both of my children were born here. I think that these facts likely serve as sufficient qualifications / evidence of commitment to my community.
Unfortunately, as and I other councilors / citizens have raised in the past, the cost of living in Bar Barbor is so high that there are diminishingly few opportunities to make enough money to afford to actually live here. As I lack inherited generational wealth, nor am I an already wealthy retiree, I’ve had to work “away” in order to sustain the life for my family here that I (and they) have worked so hard to build.
So while you are of course entitled to feel however you may about my decisions, I’ll simply say that It’s actually been devastating to have to make a decision like this, especially since this is the only home my children have ever known.
Be well and all the best,
Kyle Shank
As I thought I made clear in my recent comments I have never met you, and I doubt I could pick you out in a line up. So my comments were not specifically aimed at you. Nor was I aware that you had attended COA. Not sure if that fact fully qualifies a person to be a member of the local town council as college students as a group tend to be in a state of flux rather than solidly anchored to a specific community. I would be remiss if I did not point out that with a total student population of around 350 students COA represents in the neighborhood of 0.06% of Bar Harbor's overall population of 5,200 +/-. Seems odd to me that in a town council consisting of 7 members 3 of them or roughly 43% are from COA? Might this at least suggest what some locals refer to as the COA mafia? I am also hard pressed to understand how a college supposedly based upon ecological principles seems to have aligned itself squarely with the cruise ship industry clearly one of the most polluting industries on the planet. At the risk of seeming old fashioned and out of date I must admit I prefer a Town Council composed of folks with long term roots in the community and I am not generally too critical of those in possession of good ole common sense in lieu of a college degree.
I'm happy to share a comment:
As many of my friends, fellow councilors, and citizens are aware, I have been working remotely for many years now for various companies off-island. As I've advanced in my career and taken on larger roles and greater responsibilities, I have felt an increased need to be in-person and physically present to feel that I am doing the best possible job that I can. After several months of consideration and intense discussion, I have come to the conclusion that I will need to relocate in order to remain successful and to continue my career growth.
Additionally, as someone who is privileged enough to have living parents, both biological and legal, that happen to live near my current employer, I feel that the timing is right to move closer to them to be able to give back and to provide them with the care and support that they have so graciously provided to me and my family.
For these reasons both personal and professional, I will be moving away from Bar Harbor after the end of this school year and, as such, believe now is the appropriate time for me to tender my resignation as a Bar Harbor Town Councilor, effective February 4th, 2025.
It has been an enormous privilege and joy to serve my community over the past two years. I've made new friends, learned a ton, and have nothing but gratitude for the many opportunities for personal and professional development that have been afforded to me. But mostly, I am just grateful for the trust and faith that you've all placed in me and hope that my actions and behaviors have honored them appropriately.
If anyone has any further questions, I am - as always - happy to answer them.
All the best,
Kyle Shank
Fascinating...