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Warrant Committee backs YMCA recreation line item for FY2027 amid information concerns
Summary
The Bar Harbor Warrant Committee voted 10–2 on Feb. 23 to recommend voter adoption of Recreation line item 1060 5934 for the YMCA in the FY2027 budget after members raised concerns about limited review materials and a failed effort to recuse one member.
Chair C. Smith moved and the Warrant Committee voted 10–2 on Feb. 23 to recommend that voters approve Recreation line item 1060 5934 (YMCA) in the Town of Bar Harbor's FY2027 budget.
The motion, based on the Public Works Subcommittee recommendations presented Jan. 22, was seconded by A. Sasner. During discussion, member S. Farrar volunteered that he may have a conflict of interest because the YMCA had supported his private business. Chair C. Smith then moved to recuse S. Farrar from the discussion and voting on the related line item, but that recusal motion received no second and Farrar remained a full participating committee member.
Several committee members told the group they were uncomfortable with this year's review process for the YMCA budget item and that the packet provided limited information. "We have their 990s as review material, we have no MOU updates, both budgets are flat funded and we have been told that there is to be no change in scope of services," Chair C. Smith said in opening remarks, summarizing the materials made available for the review. Town Manager J. Smith reiterated that "the YMCA will provide the same services with the same funding as was approved last year." The committee also expressed support for the town moving to an MOU-based system for outside organizations' service agreements.
After discussion, the committee approved the YMCA recommendation, with ten members in favor and two opposed. The committee will forward its recommendation, with any exceptions noted, to the Town Council; Chair C. Smith said she would present the committee's recommendations to the Town Council on Feb. 24, 2026.
The action is procedural: the Warrant Committee's recommendation goes to voters at the ballot stage, and no change to service scope or funding level was recorded from what was presented to the committee.
