Bar Harbor OKs YMCA funding despite protest

BAR HARBOR – The Y – and the ayes – had it after Tuesday night’s annual town meeting, as voters agreed to give the Mount Desert Island YMCA $55,000 in municipal support.

But if there had been an applause meter in the municipal building, it would have shown that the more than 200 voters in attendance by no means agreed unanimously to continue funding the YMCA at last year’s level – an almost 700 percent increase over 2004 funding levels.

“I’m not opposed to the Y. … The single issue I have is with the way in which the Y is attempting to get this support,” John O’Brien said. “I resent it deeply when, at the ninth hour, the Y appears and floods the room with its supporters.”

Supporters of the YMCA said that the organization is unique in the role it plays in Bar Harbor.

“The Y is part of what this town is,” Lenny DeMuro said. “Don’t vote for this because of the dollars and cents. Vote for this because the Y is the town.”

Members and supporters of the YMCA were sent letters and e-mails urging them to come to the meeting. Babysitting would be provided.

“It doesn’t make an ounce of sense to me that the town give this money to the Y when the town cannot afford to fix their own facilities,” new town councilor Julia Schloss said. “I think it’s time the Y learns to live within its means and stops coming to the town each year looking for money.”

Dan Berry, executive director of the MDI YMCA, said that area communities fund organizations such as the Neighborhood House in Mount Desert, the Harbor House in Southwest Harbor and the Ellsworth YMCA at levels equal to or greater than the $55,000 request.

“We are striving to fund an outstanding Y in a relatively small community,” he said. “The YMCA is requesting funding not just for this year, but for years to come.”

Despite the controversy, the amendment to restore funding for the YMCA passed 140 to 56.

In other business, residents voted to restore $900 of cut funding from the Conservation Commission, to give the Pine Tree Chapter of the Red Cross $4,044 and against slashing a position from the public works department.

The municipal budget passed by voters added up to $7.69 million, for an estimated 7.9 percent tax increase over the last fiscal year and an estimated mill rate of about $13.60.

At that rate, a home that’s assessed at $200,000 will cost owners an additional $198 per year in taxes.

Final tax numbers won’t be available until the results of the property re-evaluation are calculated in July, according to Town Manager Dana Reed.