Advisory Commission Meeting: Sept 12, 2022

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Acadia National Park Advisory Commission Meeting

Meeting Platform: In person & virtual via Zoom
September 12, 2022, 1:00 p.m.

Attendance:

Ben Worcester, Chair
Fred Ehrlenbach, Member
Jacqueline Johnston, Member
Carolyn Gothard, Member
Katherine Heidinger, Member
Ken Cline, Member
Ken Smith, Member
Kendall Davis, Member
Howie Motenko, Member
G. Bruce Wiersma, Vice Chair
Kevin Schneider, Superintendent, ANP
Brandon Bies, Deputy Superintendent, ANP
Therese Picard, Chief of Visitor & Resource Protection, ANP
Kevin Langley, Chief of Administration, ANP
Keith Johnston, Chief of Facility Management, ANP
Jesse Wheeler, Natural Resource Specialist, ANP
Matt Fahey, Schoodic Maintenance, ANP
Kate Petrie, Schoodic Education, ANP
Eric Stiles, President & CEO, Friends of Acadia
Nick Fisichelli, President & CEO, Schoodic Institute
Congressional Representatives
Members of the Public
Staff of ANP
News Media

Absent Members:

Matt Horton, Member
Stephen Shea, Member

Opening Remarks

The Commission Chair, Ben (Lee) Worcester, called the meeting of the Acadia National Park Advisory Commission, Monday, September 12, 2022, 1:00 p.m. to order.

Approval of the Agenda

A motion was made by Ken Cline and seconded by Fred Ehrlenbach to accept the agenda for the September 12, 2022, meeting; all approved as is, no opposed. Motion carries.

Approval of the Minutes

A motion was made by Ken Smith and seconded by Kendall Davis to accept the minutes of June 6, 2022. All approved, no opposed. Motion carries.

 

Superintendent's Report

Kevin Schneider, Superintendent

Welcome – Kevin Schneider

Introduction

• Welcome back to the first in-person meeting since February 2020.
  • Chief of Interpretation and Education, Laura Cohen, has taken a job for Washington, D.C. headquarters. She has been here since 2019. We are sorry to see her go. In the meanwhile, we will be filling the position with an acting assignment for 120-days during the interim period and we will get the permanent recruitment going soon.
  • Acadia Gateway Center - The Maine Attorney General's office is reviewing the documents for legal sufficiency to transfer $4 million. Once approved and transferred, it will allow the state to hopefully get it out for bid this fall.
  • We had a visit from NPS Director, Chuck Sams, of the National Park Service to Acadia National Park in July.
    • He toured the Schoodic district, including Schoodic Shores housing.
    • We held a press event on Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding; we have received about half a million dollars to do ecological restoration at Great Meadow which is the largest wetland in Acadia National Park.
    • He toured the park and met staff.
  • The National Park Foundation Board and National Council met in Bar Harbor. I was part of a panel on the need for employee housing.
  • Senator King has sponsored legislation to help us address the Town Hill parcel in Bar Harbor, which is currently set aside for use as a transfer station. The legislation proposes to utilize it for workforce housing. 40 acres would be transferred to the town of Bar Harbor to be used for workforce housing for Mount Desert Island and 15 acres retained by National Park Service for our housing needs. The legislation passed unanimously out of committee in the Senate and is now on the floor of the Senate and can be voted on. The department of the Interior supports the legislation. We want to recognize Senator King and Senator Collins who have helped to move that in the Senate and get it passed out of committee and moved through.

Park Visitation

(Kevin Schneider)

• 2022 year to date we are down about 4% from 2021, making it the second busiest year. We don’t have official numbers yet. The first few months of 2022 were off relative to 2021, but when compared to pre-pandemic levels, our 2022 visitation is up by about 19%. So basically, pre-pandemic we were about 3.5 million visits per year and last year we were at 4 million visits per year.
• Schoodic visitation for July was up by about 3% from 2021.
• Island Explorer was down 38% year to date as of July - that is compared to 2019 because 2020 Island Explorer did not run and 2021 ran on a modified schedule. We will be doubling down on marketing efforts to get people back in the habit of using the Island Explorer. Like previous years, they have also struggled with drivers this year. They had to move to their fall schedule a little earlier than anticipated because of the shortage of bus drivers.
• Reservation System - this year about 52% of reservations as of July are being made on the same day. Sunrise or sunset reservations get sold out very quickly.Reservations for the middle part of the day are happening same day.

Covid Updates

(Brandon Bies)

• CDC has changed some of the guidelines as it relates to quarantine and isolation for exposure. The Park Service has adapted the guidance accordingly. The Park is no longer collecting vaccination status, not just for employees but for anyone.
• The guidance on masking and level of transmission has not changed. If we are a low (green) or medium (yellow) transmission status, masks are not required. A high level of transmission (red) and we are back to wearing masks in federal buildings. Hancock County picked up to the yellow status last Thursday evening, but we have been green for several months at this point.
• Operationally, there have not been a lot of major impacts this summer season and there have been no cases of extremely serious illness among employees. We have not had to change any of our operations this summer and operationally, everything is open. There have been no restrictions and no longer any capacity limits in place. And currently, they are not requiring masks on Island Explorer buses either.
• However, for the foreseeable future, the Department is requiring that all commission meetings have a virtual component but, at least for the time being, we can meet in-person but with a virtual component.

Hemlock Wooley Adelgid

(Jesse Wheeler)

• Jesse presented a slide show with a brief introduction on a new infestation of an invasive insect pest, the Hemlock Wooley Adelgid.
• Hemlock Woolly Adelgid is a non-native pest from East Asia that feeds on our native Eastern Hemlock trees. In July it was found in a section of park lands along Jordan Stream just south of Jordan Pond. Approximately 30 or 40 acres of hemlock forest along Jordan Stream is infested.
• The life stage of the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid has a stationary phase starting mid-August until early March and cannot be spread. In the next several months, we will be in the park with volunteer groups or educational groups trying to remove/prune branches that overhang roads and trails, before their active period in the spring, as well as mapping Hemlock areas.
• We are working with partners like Schoodic Institute to help us identify and prioritize specific hemlock stands to monitor, provide resources, and develop a protocol for monitoring and management.
• We are developing Integrated Pest Management options with the National Park Service, USFS (United States Forest Service), State and local partners.
• A successful management option has been an Integrated Pest Management (IPM)approach which includes a combination of a chemical and a biological agent control approach. We will be looking into use of a multiple species of biological control which are predator beetles that feed on winter and summer generations of HWA.
• We are still developing a management plan but have a strategy for the Jordan Stream area using biocontrol release and starting a mild chemical control in a couple of years. It may continue to be present in the ecosystem but our intent is to keep it at low levels and still have Hemlocks on the landscape.

Construction Projects

(Kieth Johnston)

• The Duck Brook Motor Road Bridge project has been one-lane traffic most of the summer. They are almost done repointing the west wall and the project is nearly complete.
• Bids have been extended for the maintenance facility at park headquarters. The project is funded through the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA). Bids will close on September 14th. If we receive viable bids on the new maintenance facility, it will,hopefully, mean construction could start in the spring.
• There is a major water-wastewater project at Schoodic that will help keep our current water line from freezing and tighten up the sewage system. It will help to keep groundwater out of the system as well as rehabilitating lift stations. Those bids have closed and they are evaluating proposals right now and should be making awards soon.
• The next project about to be awarded is a significant paving project in the Park. We are replacing most of the culverts on Cadillac Mountain Road and there will be oneway traffic. They will not start the project until November of this year. We're working closely with the contractor to minimize disruption accessing the mountain. But there will be times on the mountain where it will be closed, hopefully later in November. We will also be paving at Sieur de Mont, replacing the culvert at Seawall entrance road, paving Old Farm Road in Bar Harbor and the Park Loop road from mile five to the end of the one-way. These will be done over the next six to eight months. There is also a lot of crack seal at Blackwoods and Seawall campgrounds.

Schoodic District Updates

(Matt Fahey/Therese Picard)

Maintenance – (Matt Fahey, Maintenance Supervisor, Schoodic)

• Schoodic staff has been staying busy this summer working on tiebacks, picnic tables and amphitheater benches, and seasonal staff have made custom doors. We have been producing new gates for the park, fabricating them here in-house and assisting road crews with installation. We are going to build some ice control measures in the welding shop for the new communications building on top of Cadillac that will protect the equipment from ice and snow coming off the tower.
• The water tower project was completed and back online. We have been tightening up the new waterline system so rainwater will not affect the sewer plant. Our goal is to eventually get rid of the sewer plant and go to a subsurface system.
• And we've had a lot of issues with the supplies and contractors for smaller projects. We have struggled all summer long to get an air conditioner (AC) contractor in to recharge the AC in this building (Moore Auditorium). Like everywhere else there are labor problems.

Law Enforcement – (Therese Picard, Chief Ranger)

• The law enforcement program covers all the entrance stations, campgrounds, dispatch, and wildland fire. Schoodic is a smaller group but we still have seen a record number of visitors. We are on track to see the same, or slightly more, numbers as last year. Schoodic Woods Campground was fully open this year. Our fee staff have been understaffed by about 30% but we were able to utilize a lot of volunteers to help staff the welcome center and registration. We were also able to get a new automatic fee machine installed at the gatehouse. Now anyone can get a park pass 24 hours a day, year-round. We also installed one at the Hulls Cove Visitor Center and both are doing well to supplement our fee stations. At Hulls Cove, the fee machine has been utilized as early as 3:00 a.m. and as late as 9:00 p.m.

Schoodic Education Adventure Program Updates

(Kate Petrie, Education Coordinator, ANP & Schoodic)

• Kate shared a slide presentation. We provide a variety of educational programming that includes distance learning, day field trips into the park, residential education, and teacher workshops. We're really excited to be back to full programming in person at 100% this fall. We started in the spring with 50%.We operate year-round but staff peaks in fall and spring. We focus on three broad audiences: career development for internships and teacher assistants, teacher inservice training, and residential education for grades five through nine. Our programming is led by rangers with teaching assistants as well as volunteers. This year at Schoodic we have seven teaching assistants and four volunteers who go through extensive training. The volunteers do everything from keeping 40 laptops and iPads up and running with kids using them each day to taking care of logistics, like cafeteria duty.
• We have teachers in the Park every Wednesday to get resource training for teaching kindergarten through 12th grade curriculum. We also have a 7-week teacher-fellows who spent the summer helping us write curriculum for the classroom, develop props and teaching everything behind the scenes at Acadia. They work with maintenance, go out in the field, meet with law enforcement, and spend a lot of time with resource management and scientists. They are invaluable in helping us broaden our curriculum.
• Some of the children who participate from throughout Maine have never seen the ocean. Some have spent little time outdoors in nature. It is wonderful to be a part of their lives when they first see the ocean, catch a salamander, or get to pick up a crab. This spring we operated at 50% and worked with seven school over four weeks, with 159 participants. This fall, operating at 100%, we are anticipating 425 participants from over 14 schools. The SEA program offers different programs for teachers to select from that connects their classroom to the experience the students receive to bridge the gap. Everything is curriculum based. We have students from 6:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. You are welcome to come observe.

 

Old Buisness

• Status of Appointments (Brandon Bies)
  • Of the 16 positions on the commission,
    • We have 2 commission members whose appointments have expired and are waiting on their appointments – Town of Winter Harbor (Katherine Heidinger) and Member at Large (Ken Cline)
    • We have 2 new nominations waiting for their appointments, Town of Swans Island and The Member at Large
    • We have 2 positions with no appointments or nominations, Frenchboro and Cranberry Isle
  • There is movement on two of the four positions. I am relatively confident that by the next meeting, two of those positions will have been confirmed.
  • There are seven members whose appointments are expiring in April of 2023 and three members who appointments expire in July of 2023.
  • People who are serving in those roles can continue serving in those roles until they'veeither been reappointed or replaced.

New Buisness

• Update on Committee Membership (Callie Gothard)
  • I have reviewed the committee membership, the charter, and our by-laws. Two committees do not have a chairman.
    • Lands Committee –
      • *Chair Vacant
      • Ken Cline
      • Ken Smith
      • Ben (Lee) Worcester
      • Howie Motenko (added)
    • Park Use Committee
      • Jackie Johnston (Chair)
      • Katherine Heidinger
      • Ken Smith
      • Fred Ehrlenbach
      • Matt Horton
      • Howie Motenko
    • Science & Education Committee
      • Bruce Wiersma (Chair)
      • Callie Gothard
      • Stephen Shea
      • Ken Cline
      • Kendall Davis
    • History Committee
      • *Chair Vacant
      • Callie Gothard
      • Stephen Shea
      • Kendall Davis (added)
• 2023 Advisory Commission Meeting Dates (Brandon Bies)
  • 2023 Advisory Commission meeting dates:
    • Monday, February 6, 2023
    • Monday, June 5, 2023
    • Monday, September 11, 2023

We have a motion moved Fred Ehrlenbach and seconded by Callie Gothard to approve the dates of 2023. Is there any discussion on that motion? All Approved. No opposed. Motion carries.

Committee Reports

Lands Committee – No Report
Science & Education Committee – No Report

*Bruce Wiersman, Chair, submitted a list of summer updates to enter into the record.

Park Use Committee – No Report
History Committee – No Report

 

Friends of Acadia

Eric Stiles, President & CEO

It was a very successful summer in the partnership between Friends of Acadia and Acadia National Park, also, some partnership programs with Schoodic institute, whether it was Summit Stewards teaching them about Leaving No Trace behind and the fragile ecology of our summits or the Trail Crews helped to protect and make sure our Park trails are among the best not only in country but in the world. The Acadia Youth Conservation Corps were amazing, just going to that graduation and seeing these 15 to 18-year-olds talk about their experiences. Not only are they benefiting the Park but for the first time they had full exposure to all the activities of the Park. Not only did they contribute to trails but also opening their eyes and minds to various career options through National Park Service. I also offer we need to focus more on state level. They may end up in state Parks or State Forestry. Is truly a founded experience for these young women and men.

And our student programs with Schoodic Institute -- those hearts and minds. It is immersive experiences that become lasting experiences. The types of projects showcased here today really are transformational. And just a shout out to the folks that volunteer to maintain what is among the best in our National Park.

I also want to stress we continue to fund raise. Friends of Acadia both has joint operations so we have staff embedded in National Park. For example, we have staff working at Great Meadow, as well as foundational funding for the National Park. We have raised over a quarter million dollars to help contribute to the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid project within the National Park to showcase one of the most cutting-edge projects in the country. Not just among National Parks but in the country. Showcasing that we are stewarding these habitats to a future condition.

We have heard about changes in the landscape. Things are warming up. Species distributions are changing. And the commission should all be immensely proud to know we have among the best projects in the country showcasing how we can begin to steward these landscapes towards climate change. The most existential threat and immediate threat to the National Park is the lack of seasonal workforce housing. Kevin is polite but I really want to elevate and amplify this. We need more than 165 seasonals here. That is what Congress and Department of Interior have approved. We were only able to hire 116. That is something that is the heart and soul of Acadia -- the trails and carriage roads. We count on the Island Explorer to reduce traffic load. They were only able to hire 92 of 120 drivers. I am brand-new but you all know that the cost of living around here is going up. There are two issues. One is if we don't address this for the National Park, with Schoodic Institute, with Friends of Acadia, with Island Explorer --it will just be going to get worse. This is a market failure and we need to step in and offer some alternatives. Free market housing is not providing these. Talk to any hotel owner or restaurant owner, Jackson Labs, MDI labs, Land & Garden Preserve… we are all in the same space together. We have an immediate need to solve this. Friends of Acadia, working with our donors and National Park, is looking at options to address that.

The other thing is a diversity and equity issue. We can hire from locals and should always be looking to do that. But how do you uplift talent from local communities when there are only so many individuals of that age cohort. I think back on my own experience. I volunteered for one year with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service because my parents paid for my housing, food, and car. That launched my career. My wife the same. Both of her parents were teachers.

If you are young adult who does not live local and does not have parents with means -- these careers are closed to you. You could be one of the most amazing people out there, an amazing botanist. But if you do not have housing, you cannot come here. So that is starving the National Park of talent and closing doors to opportunities. So, we are looking forward to working with our good partners – with Acadia National Park and with Schoodic Institute - to make progress in that space. Thank you for your time and thank you for your service.

 

Schoodic Institute Update

Nicholas Fisichelli, President & CEO

It has been three years since the commission met in person here in the Schoodic district. I was in the interim role with Schoodic then. A lot has happened in the last three years. Lots of change. It has been a really busy this summer. I think you've heard a lot about that. I think it will be the busiest year in the Schoodic district of Acadia. And certainly, here on campus as well.

This year marks 20 years since this campus transferred from the Navy over to the National Park Service. And lots has happened in those 20 years. There is a lot of maintenance work to do as you heard from Matt and Keith and they are being proactive on these things. Working on things such as water and wastewater facilities, which are critical to the operations of this campus. We are thankful for their work and for pursuing funding to keep this place going.

It has been 20 years since the transfer which means all the infrastructure here is more than 20 years old, including water and wastewater facilities. The housing on campus – the overnight accommodations --are almost all from when the Navy was here. We are working together on that as well. Inflation may not be a friend of ours as far as getting funding through the Great America Outdoors Act (GAOA) because of the cost of construction. And the projects in years one and two may be eating funding from years three plus. But we have been working to get an overnight accommodations project in the queue for GAOA funding. The Schoodic Institute Board raised about $100,000 to develop conceptual plans for those overnight accommodations to help get the project in the queue for funding. We are continuing to work to, hopefully, get that support. It is a key piece of the campus that has not been restored in the last 20 years.

Other things happening on campus, we will have 85 overnight groups this year, which is getting back to pre-pandemic levels. So far through July, we have had about 2000 overnights on campus. We have about 50 employees working weekly here during the summer so we are up to pre-pandemic levels and maybe even a little higher now in 2022. Of course, the pandemic is still here. We are still managing COVID in groups and so far, it has been working out. We are excited to have the Schoodic Education Adventure (SEA) programs this fall, for the first time since the fall of 2019. We should have about 16 schools -- a little less than 600 students -- coming for that.
Earlier this year we had a workshop among National Park Service, Friends of Acadia, and Schoodic Institute and I think the takeaways are that Schoodic Education Adventure is the flagship education program here in Acadia. Typically, three days and two nights, it is an immersive education program. And there was a reaffirmation of commitment to continue the Schoodic Education Adventure, which was hit hard by the pandemic and our inability to safely bring students here into the National Park. So,reaffirmation of continuing the SEA programs and, hopefully, being able to expand that so more kids have the chance for this kind of an experience in Acadia National Park to have an immersive science education experience.

The theme for our science year is Science For Change. Part of that is for a changing workforce in conservation. This year we will have about 30 seasonal conservation professionals working in the Park and more broadly with the National Park Service through Teacher Assistants and Early Career Fellowship Program through the National Park Foundation. So, we have three fellows this year. The first cohort of that new fellowship program is intended to bridge the college to career gap in conservation. The three fellows are focusing on research, education, and communication. Each of the fellows focuses on one of the three areas but they work together in an integrated program.There is a call for proposals for the Second Century Steward Fellowship Program. This will be our eighth year of that fellowship.
And I just wanted to note that forest management is in good hands with Jesse Wheeler. He has his hands full with Hemlock Woolly Adelgid. I worked at Shenandoah National Park 20 years ago whenHemlock Woolly Adelgid first arrived in North America in Richmond, Virginia. Shenandoah was one of the first Parks where Hemlock Woolly Adelgid arrived. In 2001 and 2002, there was a two-year droughtand by 2003 when I arrived, 97% of the hemlocks died in the Park. It is a serious pest and real forest health issue. Professionals, scientists, and managers have learned a lot in the last 20 years. The tools available today were not available then. Managers were not able to stop the mortality of hemlock trees. But as mentioned, other Parks have had better success, like New River Gorge. Parks will have their hands full with Hemlock Woolly Adelgid but there are tools now to try to work with and manage through this kind of change.

Change is happening. Not just to the forest, but certainly to other species here in the Park. We have a manuscript under review right now from 50 years of the Christmas Bird Count. That happens every year. There is a circle on the Schoodic Peninsula and another on Mount Desert Island. It shows about a 50% decline in winter birds over the last 50 years so a strong decline is happening. The 50% decline driven by the most abundant species is showing big declines, including Eider ducks, Herring Gulls, Long-tailed ducks, and others. The data also show a lot of species arriving here which were not present previously. And some of the conservation successes, like Bald Eagle and Peregrine Falcon population numbers are increasing. A lot more turkey because of management at the state level. And birds like Northern Cardinals, which were not known to nest here on the peninsula are now residents here, especially in Winter Harbor. So, there are lots of change happening.

Lastly, October 19th is the Acadia Science Symposium, which we are hoping to hold in person for the first time in three years. Just like this meeting, it will be a hybrid model with a remote option. That is Wednesday, October 19th.

Advisory Commission Comments

None

 

Public Comment

Steve Smith, Otter Creek - As far as I'm concerned, they are the worst neighbors and stewards anyone could possibly have. I reached out to Friends of Acadia and they have never answered be back. Don't seem to want to communicate with anything. The Park is illegally blocking our exit from the campground. The little piece of property we have left. They are blocking our exit. We have to drive 8 miles from the fish house back around when it is only 1500 feet. They blocked the road off that we used to use as our exit. I believe they are supposed to provide us with the nearest exit. So, we don't have to have a pass or anything to get to our fish house. I'm just wondering if anybody knows what year this committee was founded.
Ben (Lee) Worcester: 1986 I believe. Somewhere around there.
Steve Smith: Somewhere around there. Does anyone know the name?
Ben (Lee) Worcester: No, I don't.
Steve Smith: I believe it was the Acadia National Planning Bill. [indiscernible] copies of that bill -- can't find them anywhere. Can't find my own either.
Ben (Lee) Worcester: We will search and see if we can find you one.
Steve Smith: Thank you. Do you know the purpose of this board and why it was formed?
Ben (Lee) Worcester: To establish the boundary of Acadia National Park, was the primary purpose.
Steve Smith: The bill was, yes. Do you know why the committee was formed and its purpose?
Ben (Lee) Worcester: The answer is yes but I would have to refresh my memory to come up with a full answer.
Steve Smith: Anyone here that was in Washington during the formation of this bill? In Washington, D.C.? Anybody here that was in Washington, D.C. during the formation?
Ben (Lee) Worcester: I was not.
Steve Smith: I thought you were.
Ben (Lee) Worcester: No, my father was.
Steve Smith: Oh, I thought you was. I was. I was there. Please let the record state that I was there. And it was my understanding that is now that this commission was formed as a mediator between the Park administration and the people who actually live here. Because we have a great deal of problems communicating with the Park Service. It just didn't happen. So, a lot of people got together and got this thing going down there in Washington, D.C. That is why this committee was formed, I believe. In my opinion.
Ben (Lee) Worcester: One of its purposes -- yes. I remember that.
Steve Smith: It seems to be watered down. Because now I understand somebody said in the last meeting --they suggested the town get together with the Park. We have been trying to get together with the Park for years and years. I have been here before you people many, many times. Nothing is going on. No matter what it is. Several issues that we have at the Village of Otter Creek. I don't know anything that has ever been resolved. None. And we are tired of it. It’s been years. There is a class action suit in progress right now stating that the Park’s predecessor, Hancock County Trustees Public Reservation did not live up to its bylaws. And they didn't. Anybody here familiar with the Bill Sherman legislation back in 1912 to remove a clause of the Hancock County trustees public reservation? George B. Dorr never heard of him and [that was the end of the line] it was withdrawn. Eight days later my great-great-grandfather was dead. Which is funny. I have a lot to say but I get all nerved up working on this stuff. ] I would like to read some of my notes here.
The Town Landing, at the head of Otter Creek, and please don't refer to it as the Cove, which is on the other side of the point. The why they started calling it Otter Cove is to remove us from our namesake,Otter Creek. And they are pretty successful doing it. And hardly anybody knows it is Otter Creek anymore. I heard through the grapevine something that made perfect sense to me and I wonder why the Park never came up with a solution. I want to know if it is true. As you know, the fire of 1947 was basically stopped here at the main brook with water being taken from the Creek saltwater supply. There was a town landing here and I had to fight 13 years in federal court to get our town landing back. Because the Park fights us on everything. No matter what it is.

(The Zoom recording for the meeting ended 1:47:06)

[indiscernible] reestablished town landing on the work. And there will probably come a time when the National Park Service may want to use this fire hydrant for an emergency. [indiscernible] have an ambulance waiting for it. First Response. Any kind of boating accidents. There is no place to turn around down there so we really do not need an ambulance on the side of the hill there. Or if fire truck going off the side. But if there was a correct turnaround space. According to the Park it would take congressional ( ). I am in the process of taking back land. Not giving more up. I'm not going to give up anymore. But it would be nice of them to offer to build a turnaround space on their property there. As a compliment to the town for reestablishing that landing. It’s not very big but all we have. All we ever had. Anyways, through the grapevine, the Parks realized this and thank God. And once it on their own land. Assuming the title is valid. [indiscernible] this case in federal court. That the ( ) was unknown. The judge seemed to find they did. We had 17 sworn affidavits from people around the village. And the judge at the time said it was all hearsay. Which was foolish.
The whole thing -- if they made a turnaround space down there it would be for the good of the public. One of the big things we have a problem with is freshwater at fisherman slanting. The village owns a 22 square-foot piece. ( ) 17 and a half feet by ( ) feet. According to the survey paid for by the Park service. The Park owns most of this lot. ( ) in the deed that says all rights so the so-called ( ) just south of the bridge. That has never been really accept it. A lot of our roads are gone now. They shut off all of our roads. And when the big road was made through their -- got through the ledges. It cut the only water supply we had. That has never been corrected. But if the Park service owns of all this property down there, why can't they run a line from their line that calls comes all the way from Jordan Pond. Why can't they run it down to their property? They don't have to run to our property. Nobody wants to do it. They could do it so if we have a fire or anything they could fill it up. For sanitary reasons if anyone wanted to wash their hands. Which is why the Hancock trustees was formed in the first place. Percentage rate purposes. Water on the waterfront. We seem to forget this now. Something has to be done about this attitude. That is really all I have to say. Thank you.

Ben (Lee) Worcester: Thank you. Any other public comments? I see none.

Howie Motenko: I would like to make a closing remark if possible. I just really wanted to say to Kevin and all the folks at Acadia, I know there have been some concerns, but overall, you guys all being so short-staffed, it is amazing what has gone on this summer in terms of activities and people getting along and all of that. From my perspective, I've not seen a lot of missing activities or any degradation in service, so to speak. So, I really appreciate that. And I just wanted to acknowledge that. I believe the Park has been doing a wonderful job of supporting everyone in the shortage of employees.

Kendall Davis: If I could just mention -- I'm glad that Stephen Smith came forward and made his representations before the commission. I would ask of Kevin, as things slow down, is it possible we could get together for a resolution meeting as we discussed? If Kevin could give me some indication?

Kevin Schneider: Thanks for prompting that. The summer sort of got away from us after our June meeting.

Kendall Davis: You have had a lot going on.

Kevin Schneider: This fall we are hoping that Brandon and I and Durlin (Durlin Lunt, Town Manager, Mount Desert) could get out there and look at the issues. And if you are still in town, you'd be welcome to join us as well.

Kendall Davis: Wonderful. We will stay in touch. Thank you.

Ben (Lee) Worcester: At the last meeting I suggested the two parties get together. Okay. Very good. Anybody have a comment with regard to the Otter Creek comments? No additional comments.

 

Closing Comments

The Commission Chair made closing comments. Does anybody else have any closing marks from the commission? Seeing none, I move we adjourn.

Adjournment

The next meeting is scheduled for Monday, February 6, 2023, 1:00 p.m. at Park Headquarters, Acadia National Park, and will continue to be an in-person and virtual meeting as published in the FEDERAL REGISTER.

Motion was made and seconded to adjourn, approved by all, no opposed. Motion passed.

Meeting adjourned at 2:37 pm
Minutes Submitted by Kathy Flanders