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Bar Harbor Appeals Board approves 2026 schedule, discusses AI use for minutes and member recruitment
Summary
The Bar Harbor Appeals Board on Jan. 13 unanimously adopted its agenda, approved prior minutes (including an amendment removing an erroneous name), accepted its 2026 meeting schedule and discussed using AI transcription tools and timing of minutes for appeals. Two members’ terms expire in 2026.
The Bar Harbor Appeals Board met Jan. 13, 2026, in the Council Chambers of the Municipal Building and unanimously approved its agenda and multiple sets of minutes before accepting the board’s 2026 meeting schedule.
Chair Anna Durand opened the meeting at 4:33 p.m. and the board (Vice‑Chair Claire Fox, Secretary Bob Webber and Associate Member Mike Siklosi) recorded no excused absences. Planning staff in attendance included Planning Director Michele Gagnon and Staff Planner Hailey Bondy.
In procedural business, the board adopted the meeting agenda on a motion by Secretary Bob Webber, seconded by Associate Member Mike Siklosi; the roll‑call vote was 4–0. The members then approved minutes from June 24, 2025 (as amended) and September 9, 2025, following motions by Siklosi and seconds from Webber. Vice‑Chair Claire Fox asked that the minutes be corrected to remove the name "Cara Ryan" from the September 9 minutes; the board approved an amendment to remove the words "Vice‑Chair Cara Ryan," again on a 4–0 vote.
At the 'Other Business' portion of the agenda, Associate Member Mike Siklosi suggested the board consider using artificial‑intelligence tools to assist staff in preparing meeting minutes. Staff Planner Hailey Bondy said the town currently uses the AI tool "HappyScribe" to transcribe meeting recordings. "HappyScribe is utilized to transcribe meeting recordings," Bondy said.
Vice‑Chair Claire Fox also requested that meeting minutes for sessions that include appeals be distributed earlier so members can more accurately review them; planning staff confirmed minutes can be provided within 30 days for meetings that include appeals and that a consequent meeting can be scheduled to review those minutes if needed.
The board voted to accept the printed meeting schedule for 2026 and early 2027 on a motion by Siklosi, seconded by Webber; the motion passed 4–0. Members discussed recruitment procedures and were informed that the terms for Chair Anna Durand and Secretary Bob Webber expire in 2026.
Fox reported attending a Maine Municipal Association appeals‑board training and said the Board may now be required to complete Land Use Planning training. Planner Bondy responded that the MMA does not yet appear to offer that specific training and that staff will keep the board informed.
On a motion by Siklosi and seconded by Webber, the meeting was adjourned at 5:06 p.m.; the motion passed unanimously (4–0).
The meeting record includes a link to the Town Hall Streams recording and a signed approval by Secretary Robert Webber.
