ROCKLAND, Maine — After months of debate and acrimony, the City Council agreed Monday night to allow a downtown restaurant to continue to place tables in a city park.
And the council also addressed last week’s incident in which the mayor and a councilor threw a hat at each other.
At the Monday night meeting, the council unanimously approved a compromise submitted by Councilor Larry Pritchett to allow the Brass Compass to set up tables on an 8-foot strip of the Winslow-Holbrook Park adjacent to the restaurant. The restaurant will be charged $1,200 per year through Oct. 31.
The restaurant paid $25 per table per year last year for 10 tables in a 12-foot strip adjacent to the building.
Councilor William Clayton, who has supported the Brass Compass request on two earlier votes in April and May, said he toured the park since the last meeting with Pritchett, who voted against the restaurant request during the past two months.
Clayton said while the two councilors were in the park a father and son came out of the Brass Compass after a meal and the father took a photo of his son next to a banner outside the restaurant. The two then walked over to the other side of the park and read the wording on the memorial plaque.
The council voted 3-2 in both April and May against the restaurant’s use of the park. The Brass Compass has used the park for the past nine years, paying various fees.
“That’s co-existence in the most simple form,” Clayton said.
Brass Compass owner Lynn Archer said she never meant for her request — to continue placing tables adjacent to her property — to create the negativity that has occurred during the past few months.
“I just wanted to create business, promote Rockland and improve the park,” Archer said.
Archer said she was invited to a small-business development conference last week by Gov. Paul LePage. She said all people wanted to talk about with her was the contentious council meeting of last week.
Archer said she was willing to compromise by paying more and using less space but feels that she has been treated unfairly. After Monday night’s vote, she said the agreement was acceptable.
Former Mayor Tom Molloy said he strongly believes the park can be used for multiple purposes, including as a memorial park and for outside seating for the Brass Compass.
Mike Phillips of Rockland said he felt it was inappropriate for the city to allow the park to be used for the profit of a private business.
Gaye Best of Rockland, whose uncle is one of the two city natives who died in World War I and had the park named after them, voiced her opposition again to the use of the park by the Brass Compass.
Attorney Jason Heath argued before the council that considering this matter again was against the Robert’s Rules of Order that the council is required to follow.
Councilor Eric Hebert responded to criticism of councilors who had voted against the agreement with the Brass Compass during the past two months. Hebert said he never argued against the restaurant’s use of the park but felt that a comprehensive review of its use should be held first and that Archer should pay market costs for use.
The restaurant issue consumed the first 3½ hours of the council meeting.
During Monday night’s meeting, Mayor Brian Harden apologized for his behavior last week in which he tossed his cap at Councilor Elizabeth Dickerson during a disagreement over entering into a closed-door session on litigation, economic development and union negotiations.
Dickerson threw the cap back at the mayor and then turned an empty soda can upside down on the table in front of him.
“I’m sorry it happened. It was entirely my fault,” Harden said.
The apology came after Councilors Pritchett, Clayton and Hebert each took turns addressing the behavior of the two other councilors last week.
“Flying hats, patronizing language, tossed soda cans and disruptive conduct undercut the work of all of city government and tarnishes the image of Rockland as a place to live and do business,” Pritchett said. “I recognize that we live in an era of food-fight politics. To narrow audiences, this type of conduct may seem like good politics. But, to me, it is a totally unacceptable way to govern.”
Pritchett said both Dickerson and Harden have the best interests of the city in mind but he expects better from them and the public expects better from the council.
Clayton said last week’s actions tainted not only the two members and the entire council but the entire city. He said the time for theatrics should be over.
Hebert said he is sorry he failed to intervene when the incident occurred last week.
Dickerson did not comment on the matter during the Monday night meeting.
Well finally this ridiculous facade of an issue is over….well done Lynn and I am so proud of you for standing strong!
Ann, Lynn initiated the ‘facade’ and the whole debate is great for her business – free publicity and low outdoor seating costs. She’s the one wasting the town’s time and guess what – she’ll probably be wasting it again next year… amazing that the city can’t turn down an applicant to lease city property without everyone going crazy over it… it’s not her land or her park. It’s for all citizens, regardless of where they choose to dine.
The council got it right the first 2 times then succumbed to public pressure instigated by the business owner. The council probably just didn’t want to deal with and her friends any more.
By ‘her friends’ do you mean the hundreds of citizens and customers who signed the petition in support of her.
This attack on a fine woman and her business was ugly. You support the ugliness.
I support free speech, respect for our veterans and open debate, something you do not. The 2 Rockland war heroes are not here to sign a petition. Most patrons of a restaurant will sign a petition supporting eating outside when they only hear one side of an issue.
The only attacks I’m seeing are on the family of the dead soldier. In what way is saying no to a lease application ugly? If her competitors don’t have the same opportunity to offer outdoor dining in the city parks and want to speak to their interests how is that ugly?
In this comments section you have supported an untrue lie that was posted about Rockland residents and an elected official. This untrue information was posted in an effort to tarnish their reputation by suggesting they had a conflict of interest in this situation. Therefore YOU are actually the only person openly supporting ugliness in this section.
Dunkin Donuts is using a city park with the city’s blessing, so at least part of what you say is untrue. The rest of what you say is your opinion and you are entitled to it.
When did I say that Dunkin Donuts wasn’t using a city park? I never said that city property should never be leased to businesses. I’m saying that the city council has every right to deny a business lease if they feel it’s not appropriate. Dunkin Donuts is not a sit down restaurant with outdoor service in leased park space.
However, your point is a valid one against all the posters here who claim that the city leaders are anti-small business.
Is Dunkin Donuts trying to expand their leased area like Lynn Archer had requested? Is DD currently leasing 40 percent of that park? Was DD not allowing the public to use their leased section of the park???
These are all valid questions to ask if someone has an issue with Dunkin Donuts’ arrangement with the city and any citizen has the right to ask or disagree with decisions. Residents should not be criticized for standing up for what they believe is right. Lynn has a right to ask for the lease, the councilors have a right to say no and the public has the right to speak their mind on the topic.
It is public property that was dedicated to two war heroes by the city – they should not be forgotten in this. If you have a problem with that, then put yourself out there, go to the city leaders and propose what you want in the public forum. No business is entitled to it.
Congratulations to both on their apologies. I don’t think the citizens expect their leaders to be perfect, but to be willing to apologize and admit it when they make a mistake. That shows more maturity than most can muster. Thank-you.
Please show me where Dickerson apologized. This is what I read: “Dickerson did not comment on the matter during the Monday night meeting.”
Sounds like she’s still on her high horse. Too important to admit she overreacted and was wrong in any way. Sounded to me like she thinks she’s working too hard to stay for an additional meeting that needs to take place. If you cannot handle sitting in meetings then don’t run for public office. It’s not like you’re out there working construction. Harden kind of giggled when he tossed his hat. He was wrong and admitted it but she totally flew off the handle and threw a fit like a spoiled 3 year old who didn’t get her way. At least the Mayor did the respectful thing and owned up to his mistake in the matter. That’s what grown ups do. She hasn’t done the same so deserves no congratulations.
Am sure some lessons were learned from this that will be helpful in the future. Glad to see Ms Archer’s persistence and patience to see this through since I sincerely believe the tables benefit us all with the atmosphere that they set. Congratulations to the “Can Do” council who worked their way through to a amicable resolution.
Good deal…
I am sorry but of there was ever a more sorry example of City Gov’t doing all it could, out of personal ego and grandstanding, to hurt local business’s then I would be hard pressed to find it. The Rockland City Council has again, publicly, proven that they are willing to go to any length’s to prevent their own economic, and public, position’s from improving by showing just how big a moose’s rump they can be. Lynnie, you go girl and absolutely never accept what these so-called ‘Public Servant’s say as the Gospel according to Rockland.
That Bill Clayton (and much to his credit and sense of reality !) had the simple idea to go and see for himself just what the hoop-la was happening, and saw 1st hand the Father and Son picture thing happen was, conssidering all of this nonsense, a seriously needed breath of fresh air. That someone wanted ‘ a comprehensive review’ and another a trumped up Robert’s Rule’s arguement are nothing more than stall tactic’s that shows the pettyness of their thinking, and more importantly to the Rockland and surrounding community’s business’s, just how far these peole will go to prevent Rockland from developing their economy and providing many very needed job’s, especially now in the summer season. Rockland deserves both more, and whole lot better from, their E-L-E-C-T-E-D City Council. Given the sheer idiocy and petty vindictiveness that this brought out from these Counciler’s, one doesn’t have to look very far down that electroal road to see the changes that are both needed, and probably, coming.
Let’s hope.
So, Lynn Archer has to pay much more money for 1/3rd less space. The cost went from $250 for a 10 foot section of park to $1200 for an 8 foot section. Rockland greed at it’s best. Though I am happy Mrs. Archer can use a piece of the park, I am unhappy with the increase in cost for less space and not very happy with the councilors that worked hard against a very successful Rockland business. I still believe this was a person vendetta against Mrs. Archer and her success.
Just glad this is over. Every last person involved on either side made waaaaaaaaay too big a deal over this. Every last person.
First of all, loved the spat. I’m sure it upped your ratings, Rockland City Council. Second of all, I’d rather see families and tourists sitting at the square than the city’s finest who used to occupy that corner.
I cannot imagine why you think that the Rockland City Council’s ratings were helped by their pathetic display.
Why?
Why what ?
So have you never seen RHONJ? Our version is RCMORM.
Sorry, do not understand you.
Thought so.
Now the City Council needs to work on the lease for next year. So when She ask to use the park again next year she does nt have to go though the same thing as this year. Maybe make it a longer lease.
What the different if she puts tables out. Or if the City spends $4000.00 for 3 tables for the park. You know as well as I do the city does not take very good care of there parks look at Chapman Park
It was reported in the Village Soup that Jason Heath is Gaye and Roberta Bests’ lawyer. He was speaking on the Bests’ behalf. I think that that is a relevant fact and wonder why Mr. Betts did not mention it in his article.
I wonder why my previous comment regarding this information was removed. Would an editor please respond to this.