HARPSWELL ANCHOR • March 6, 2026
Harpswell Select Board Chair Kevin Johnson and member Matt Gilley on Thursday criticized member David Chipman for using his position to advocate against a referendum involving Clark Cove despite his personal ties to nearby property. The referendum asks voters whether Harpswell should enter into a 10-year agreement with the state Bureau of Parks and Lands to manage an 18-acre shorefront parcel at Clark Cove and spend up to $5,000 on public access improvements. Nearby property owners — including Chipman, who said he owns three properties near the site — have strongly opposed the access plan, arguing it would increase traffic, invite trespassing, bring hidden costs to taxpayers and disturb sensitive wildlife habitat. Under Maine law, a municipal official’s vote can be challenged if the official has a direct or indirect financial interest in the outcome, and officials are also expected to avoid the appearance of a conflict through disclosure or abstention.