Resendibg with correction and clarifications: Will Tremont embrace candidates 'from away' as housing, public safety, rural character, school leave questions about its future

OTHER NEWS: MRC has partner with deep pockets

TREMONT - One year ago a political neophyte came close to unseating the incumbent select chair Jamie Thurlow.

Not only did Jayne Ashworth not fit the long-held view of acceptable local candidates - she was unabashedly “from away” - she was also virtually unknown. She lost to Thurlow by only 32 votes, 181 to 149 votes.

Now she’s back, along with Jim Bradford, to challenge the status quo. They have been studiously upgrading their knowledge of the town, Ashworth on the Comprehensive Plan task force and Bradford as a local activist to protect the town’s rural character.

And they aren’t running against the popular Thurlow, but against two incumbents loaded with baggage.

Seven year ago, select member McKenzie Jewett resigned as town clerk after her mismanagement of the town office which led to the downgrading of motor vehicle registration services for the town by the state Bureau of Motor Vehicles forcing registrants to drive to Ellsworth, according to the Islander.

In her resignation letter to Town Manager Dana Reed, Jewett, who also served as tax collector and deputy treasurer, wrote that strained relations with town officials led to her decision.

“I feel that my relationships with you and the board of selectmen are beyond repair,” she wrote then Town Manager Dana Reed.

Kristen Muszynski, communications director of the Department of the Secretary of State, said at the time a major problem involved record keeping, according to the Islander. The “inventory was not matching up to cash reports” made to the BMV, Muszynski said.

In 2017 Jewett began her revenge tour and ran successfully for the select board. She is now seeking her second re-election.

Howard “Howdy” Goodwin is also seeking re-election. He made headlines in August 2021 when he led the opposition to naming retired judge and Yale Law School graduate Richard Cohen to the town’s appeals board. A motion by select member Kevin Buck, who said Cohen “looked extremely qualified,” failed when Goodwin, Thurlow and Jewett voted no, with Jewett saying she agreed with Goodwin to seek other candidates. You may view the discussion below starting a Minute 3:45.

Joanne Harris, chair of the appeals board, said she was shocked that the town would reject such a distinguished candidate who would have been a “badge of honor” for Tremont. “He was my nomination and the select board’s decision is just baffling.”

“They summarily dismissed it and no one bothered to call me after it happened. In fact it was Rick (Cohen) who told me.” Harris said if the board is putting its own bias “ahead of what is in the best interest of the town, then I will have to rethink my own situation.”

The select board’s profiling of Cohen is consistent with its favoring “local” candidates who stand to benefit from the town’s growth. It is more comfortable with the likes of Beth Gott, co-owner of the island’s largest heavy equipment company, a waste disposal company and a general store here. Goodwin made the motion on June 21, 2021 to name her to the planning board, which was wrestling with development applications. The video of that discussion and Planning Board Mark Good’s vigorous objection to Gott’s appointment is attached (starting at minute 15).

https://theqsjournal.substack.com/p/where-down-east-meets-appalachia

Thurlow last year ran on one campaign slogan: He was born here. His campaign signs proudly boasted that he was a Tremont “native.”

That got this reaction from Craig Kesselheim of Southwest Harbor who wrote in a letter to the Islander:

“I was saddened to see that one of the Select Board campaign signs in the town of Tremont boasts the line ‘Tremont Native’ as a qualification for the job, how unnecessary, irrelevant and divisive.

“Being ‘from here’ could mean that the candidate is connected, committed to the town and versed in the history of community priorities. It could also be a sign of bias, old-boy networks or close-mindedness.

“Being ‘from away’ could mean that a candidate is disconnected, brings baggage that doesn’t fit the region and has no clue about the town’s past. Or such a new resident could offer essential and timely skills, bring fresh perspectives and ask constructive questions. 

“What matters more than where we were born is how we listen, whom we involve, how we collaborate and how we lead. 

“If you go back far enough, we’re all from away,“ Kesselheim wrote.

Jayne Ashworth is such a person, having moved here in retirement in 2012 after a career as an IT professional at the University of Virginia. She followed closely the controversy of the largest proposed development in town history - a massive campground cutting through a residential subdivision. She attended virtually all the planning board meetings vetting the application of Acadia Wilderness Lodge.

“If Tremont had a better Land Use Ordinance which more clearly defined for everyone – citizens, applicants and our hard working Planning Board members – in what direction we as a community want our community to grow/go, this type of situation would be less likely to occur,” Ashworth has stated.

“I live in Tremont by choice.  I love the way people here (and on Mount Desert Island) join together to support each other.  

“I am a member of the Tremont Comprehensive Plan Task Force – a group trying to define our Town as it exists now (a data-gathering process), and to make recommendations (based on input from those who reside here) on what type of Town we want to be in the future.  This process is important so that as we consider new businesses, new residences, and new rules, we remember what we want and we try to make that happen.

“In my listening, I have heard that we want a working waterfront, small businesses, a Town where there are year-round residences that are affordable that house people of all ages. While striving for this community, we also want to be sustainable, have good schools, public places to recreate, decent roads, and to be mindful of our taxes and the cost of living here.  

“Planning is a necessary step to making what we want occur. It is the Select Board that guides the implementation of our plan. By being a member of the Select Board I will continue to listen to our citizens, to seek ways to continue to work with other communities on our Island to offer quality Town services at affordable costs, to work with other Town boards and committees to review our zoning and land use ordinances so that we can use them in guiding us to make our Town a thriving year-round community.

Ashworth is clearly differentiated from Thurlow and other select members whose biggest boast is that they were born here. Thurlow is a low-key chairman and runs meetings respectfully. But his term was also marked with several decisions which had many residents roiling.

Thurlow later reversed his vote on Cohen, who was eventually named to the appeals board, but only after he heard from residents that the select board had gone too far with its prejudice against persons “from away.”

The select board had previously named Tremont native the late David Campbell as an alternate on the appeals board.

The select board under Thurlow was most notable for rejecting a request by the citizens group Concerned Tremont Residents to extend a six-month moratorium against campground development and CTR’s proposed ordinances for such development which were stricter than that of the ones proposed by the Planning Board.

CTR successfully forced Acadia Wilderness Lodge to reduce its original proposal to build 154 camp sites, including 72 RVs, to just 45 yurts, in a court settlement last October.

Since then, the town has been relatively quiet and drama-free.

But it still faces challenging issues, almost none of them being addressed by the ossified, transaction-minded select board which deals with problems only when they surface.

Foremost is the lack of affordable housing which afflicts virtually all the towns in Coastal Maine.

The select board took up the issue only after a group of residents, including Ashworth, raised it. The select board then deflected it to the Planning board which hired a land-use consultant whose recommendation to simply register short-term rental homes in nearby Mount Desert was rejected by its select board last week.

Like all towns on MDI, short-term rentals here using online platforms such as Airbnb have exploded since 2016, and now account for 16 percent of its single family housing stock, according to Airdna.com.

Residents have also raised concern about not having a police department, feeling vulnerable to burglaries and other crimes not properly managed by a part-time sheriff from Hancock County.

The town is about to have a robust discussion about the future of its school and whether to share resources with Southwest Harbor in the face of declining enrollment. That islandwide discussion is being led by school committee member Jessica Stewart, who chairs the island’s uber school committee encompassing all our towns, and Trenton.

Low-lying Tremont is also the most vulnerable on MDI to rising seas, with the villages of Bass Harbor and Bernard, and key town bridges, facing serious threats according to numerous studies.

And of course most residents would like fewer polarizing battles over development such as Acadia Wilderness Lodge, which has yet to pull any permits as the construction season is starting.

Bradford, who was not born here but has a long local lineage, said in a statement:

“I believe the quality of life in Tremont should be preserved. That is why I want to serve on the Select Board.

“Tremont should remain a place where people of average means can own a home, raise their family, and feel safe. Where traffic is moderate and everyone can enjoy the natural beauty of the area. The Select Board should be advocates for the permanent and long-term residents. It should work to assure adequate housing and services for those folks.

“I have degrees in Civil Engineering and Computer Science which I believe will be helpful. I'm retired and have plenty of time and energy. I've lived here full-time for seven years and have family roots in Tremont that go back over a century. Both my mother and grandfather were born in a house on Clark Point Road. In fact my grandfather, Ray Robbins, was a proud member of the Select Board for many years.”

The QSJ sought statements from Jewett and Goodwin through Town Manager Jesse Dunbar but got no response. Municipal elections are Tuesday May 8.

MRC’s new partner has deep pockets, but task is still daunting

HAMPDEN - A company with significant experience in investing in distressed assets may be the last, best hope for the Municipal Resource Committee to reopen the waste-to-energy plant here for its 115 member towns, including all of MDI.

Last week, MRC announced exclusivity with Innovative Resource Recovery, “a special purpose entity” backed by a multi-billion dollar asset management firm seeking to partner with the MRC to restart operations in Hampden.

“The 60-day agreement will allow Innovative to conduct its due diligence and for both parties to negotiate definitive documents in advance of an anticipated closing on or before June 2, 2023,” MRC announced.

MRC Board President Karen Fussell confirmed Innovative secured the exclusivity with a $350,000 nonrefundable deposit.

“Innovative is eager to support the MRC municipalities’ efforts to reduce landfill disposal and aspires to make central Maine the blueprint for how communities in the U.S. can recover valuable resources from their waste streams and contribute to the circular economy,” the MRC stated.

“The company will focus immediate efforts on facility upgrades and hiring a local operating staff to allow for the safe and efficient processing of the MRC members’ waste streams.”

Fussell stated, “While MRC is hopeful this 60-day agreement will culminate in a definitive partnership by June, it is continuing its parallel efforts to secure its own loan financing to ensure a path to the necessary reopening capital is in place by early summer.

MRC has scheduled a Town Hall event for Thursday April 13 at 1:30 p.m. to introduce Innovative to its members and provide more information about the exclusivity period and the schedule to reopen the plant. The Town Hall will take place virtually and be open to the public. A link to register is on MRC’s website at www.mrcmaine.org.

The company stated on its website that while bankruptcies are increasing because traditional lenders are stressed, relief from direct lenders, including special situations and distressed funds, is emerging to fill the vacuum.

“Such firms are well stocked with ‘dry powder’ and will likely be active. This, plus a retreat by traditional bank lenders creates opportunities for newer and more limber funds.

“Direct lenders were largely absent from the last significant downturn in 2008 and 2009 and have newer and cleaner portfolios and have the ability to approach middle-market situations with more flexibility than larger, regulated financial institutions.”

Nonetheless, the challenges for the MRC plant are still daunting. The company still needs to find or create an operating unit, preferably one with experience.

It also will need enough capitalization so not to repeat the mistakes of Coastal Maine Resources, which ran out of cash in May 2020 after majority owner Ultra Capital failed to raise enough money. Ultra Capital also named an operator with little experience with the technology developed by Fiberight Corp.

The plant here opened in 2019 and promised to process waste so that 80 percent of it can be made into biomass products and not end up in landfills.

READER SUBMISSIONS:

How Barcelona is battling cruise ships and “plague of locusts” - https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/apr/09/a-plague-of-locusts-barcelona-battles-port-authorities-to-curb-cruise-tourists?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

American Dream For Rent: Investors elbow out individual home buyers - https://www.ajc.com/american-dream/investor-owned-houses-atlanta/

Photo of Northeast Harbor’s own Leonard Leo (circled) with Clarence Thomas and Harland Crow:

TRIBUTE: Daniel Paul Clark

BAR HARBOR - Daniel Paul Clark, 45, died March 27, 2023, at home surrounded by the love of his family. He was born July 18, 1977, in Ellsworth, the son of Michael and Mary (Smith) Clark.

Nicknamed Butch, Dan grew up with his brother, Mike, in a quintessential small town, friends with all the neighborhood kids, playing street games and having questionable encounters with the Schwann truck. A natural athlete, Dan excelled at playing football and baseball through his school years at Conners Emerson and Mount Desert Island High School and continued his love of sports into adulthood, playing co-ed softball, coaching baseball with his brother at MDI High School, and later coaching his own kids in Little League. Patient and encouraging, Dan earned the respect and admiration of people of all ages, creating lasting relationships with the kids he coached.

It wasn’t until after graduating high school that Dan discovered his love of working on the ocean. Being a lobsterman was never just a job for Dan, it was who he was. Every spring as a new fishing season approached, he would get antsy as if his feet had been on land too long. A first-generation fisherman, he worked tirelessly to earn his space on the water and the respect of his peers. His greatest years on the water, without question, were those with his son fishing by his side.

A blind date would lead Dan into a whirlwind romance with Robyn Rigby-Jones, his future ball and chain of almost 24 years. While some may have questioned their young love, Dan and Robyn never wavered in their commitment. No matter what hurdles came their way through the years, and there were many, they always knew how lucky they were to have each other to get through it all and their love and good humor remained constant. Dan enjoyed nothing more than getting a rise out of “brown eyes,” whether it was hiding his dirty socks in her pillow or leaving beard trimmings in the bathroom sink. His response was always “you married it!”

Without a doubt, Dan’s greatest joy and achievement was his children. As young parents, Dan and Robyn grew up raising Emily and Andrew and the four of them had an immeasurable bond they referred to as the wolfpack. An ever present and attentive father, Dan shared with his kids his love of hunting trips at Nesowadnehunk Lake Campground, ice fishing on Eagle Lake, making Sunday breakfast, Jif peanut butter and excessively large Christmas trees. Andrew was also privy at an early age to the antics at hunting camp, the details of which are probably best unknown and most certainly are not fit for print.

A Bar Harbor boy through and through, Dan was a fixture for folks from all walks of life. It didn’t matter who you were or how much money you had, there were never any pretenses, and you were going to meet the same version of Dan. He’d be the first to drop what he was doing to lend a hand, always greet you with a “hey dear,” and what most would see as extraordinary acts of kindness were simply business as usual for Dan. Selfless, devoted and a gentle giant with a huge heart, Dan was the cornerstone of his family and a friend to all who knew him.

He is survived by the love of his life, Robyn, and their two beautiful children, Emily and Andrew; his adoring parents, Michael and Mary Clark; brother and best friend, Michael Clark, and his wife, Kelli; nephew, Seth Clark, and nieces, Lily and Victoria Watkins; honorary sister, Joanna Rigby-Jones; aunts, uncles, cousins and friends beyond measure. He was predeceased by his beloved niece, Haley.

In true Dan fashion, a celebration of his life will be held on June 17, 2023, at Hadley Point Beach with a campfire, laughter and BYOB. In lieu of flowers, the Dan Clark Fund has been established at First National Bank, 102 Main St., Bar Harbor, to support his children through their education. Dan’s family would like to thank the staff at Mary Dow Center and Gentiva Hospice for their exceptional care. Condolences may be expressed at www.jordanfernald.com.

TRIBUTE: Rosemary Tilden

BERNARD - Rosemary W. Tilden died peacefully on March 22, 2023, at Total Care Solutions in Holden. Rose was born on May 27, 1933, in Ellsworth, the daughter of Barbara and Wilder Dolliver of Bass Harbor.

Rose graduated from Pemetic High School in Southwest Harbor. She then had a career as an office manager, starting in boatyards and then medical offices, until her retirement. She enjoyed being a working mother and took pride in her work. Rose loved her home in Bernard, where she spent 60-plus years raising her family, tending her gardens, making memories and lifelong friends. She was renowned for her flowering window boxes, gardens and the endless hours she spent caring for them. Rose loved the local community and supported local organizations, including being a board member of the Bass Harbor Memorial Library.

Rose is survived by daughters Garnet (Ronald) Johnson and Lynn (Craig) Leighton; grandchildren Emily Johnson, Erin Leighton (Peter LaFreniere), Katie (Stephen) Lagueux and Christopher Leighton (Emma Sanford); great-grandchildren Baylee and Jake Lagueux; brother Daniel (Hiromi) Dolliver; and several nieces and nephews. She is also survived by Robert’s children, Julie Tilden, Andrea Tilden, Sarah Warner, and their families.

Besides her parents, Rose was predeceased by her first husband, Clifford Stillwell, second husband, Robert Tilden Sr., and sister, Dorothy Pettegrow.

Rose will be remembered and greatly missed by her daughters, family members, friends and caregivers. The family is grateful to Total Care Solutions in Holden for the loving care received when she was no longer able to be at home.

There will be no service, but you are encouraged to remember Rose by planting a flower and appreciating family and friends. If desired, memorial donations may be made to the Southwest Harbor-Tremont Ambulance Service, P.O. Box 437, Southwest Harbor, ME 04679.