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Residents urge Belfast council to press appeals after University of Maine awards Hutchinson Center to outside bidder
Summary
Multiple residents and councilors told the Aug. 20 meeting they fear the University of Maine’s award to a bidder called Nordic could undermine the Hutchinson Center’s community uses; councilors said two appeals have been filed and encouraged public comments to the university.
A stream of residents and councilors urged the Belfast City Council on Aug. 20 to press for greater review after the University of Maine selected an outside bidder to take over operations at the Hutchinson Center.
Linda Garson Smith, a member of the Friends of Harriet Hartley, told the council the center is an "exquisite diamond" in town and asked the city to seek to nullify an easement the Belfast Water District granted to Nordic on March 11, 2022, so the city could protect the Little River Trail. "I'm asking the Belfast City Council to ask the main public utilities commission to nullify the easement…so that Belfast can protect the Little River Trail," she said.
Other commenters recounted the center’s roles for senior college courses, weddings and community events. "This is an important and valuable institution," a longtime resident said, adding that the university’s decision had left the center "homeless" and that the decision appeared to prioritize money over community use.
Councilors said two appeals to the university’s decision had been filed and encouraged residents to submit comments into the appeal process. Councilor Neil Harkness (addressing procedural questions) said he understood that Waldo CAP had filed an appeal and that the Hutchinson Center Futures Committee had also submitted one. Several councilors urged calm and civil public engagement and warned against targeting individuals or groups.
City Manager Aaron Hervey publicly addressed Nordic‑related legal costs tracked separately since 2021. "Matters related to the litigation brought against the city have been tracked separately since 2021 and currently total $133,000 in legal fees," he said, and added he had provided that figure publicly in response to prior inquiries.
Speakers at the meeting also raised procedural points: that the university had an appeals window and the decision was not yet final, and that the public should direct information to the appeals process. The council did not vote on matters related to the Hutchinson Center during the Aug. 20 meeting, but members reiterated support for continued public engagement and encouraged residents to communicate with the university during the appeal period.
The public comment and follow‑up discussion about the Hutchinson Center occupied the early portion of the Aug. 20 meeting and drew multiple speakers who described personal ties and programmatic uses of the facility.
