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Serving Bridgton and the surrounding towns of Western Maine since 1870. Vol. 149, No. 2
16 PAGES - 2 Sections
Bridgton, Maine
January 11, 2018
(USPS 065-020)
SEVENTY-FIVE CENTS
Manager hired but not named
Hannaford to expand, upgrade manager, along with Amy Gray, a project engineer with Stantec engineering in Scarborough and Dwight Anderson, project manager, presented preliminary plans to the Bridgton Planning Board Tuesday night. The proposal calls for expanding the building to the right, where some parking currently exists. This additional space will be used to expand the produce
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Town awaits signed pact
NEW LOOK PROPOSED — A preliminary presentation was made to the Bridgton Planning Board Tuesday night outlining an expansion of the Hannaford store, as well as the addition of a bottle redemption structure (pictured to the right) and designated “To Go” grocery pick up spot in a newly-developed parking area.
By Wayne E. Rivet Staff Writer Mitchell Feeney has heard these words before. It’s too small. Hannaford will expand its Bridgton grocery store by 10,000 square feet this year, and create additional parking space to launch its popular “To Go” curbside pickup program. Feeney, who is Hannaford’s real estate
Weather . . . . . . . . . . . 7B
selection, as well will move the existing bakery/kitchen space, Feeney said. Adjacent property owned by Hannaford will be devel-
oped to create 16 additional parking spaces, which will include spots for customers picking up pre-ordered groceries through the store’s
By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer NAPLES — It is the job of a town manager to keep everyone on their toes. It seems that town staff and the Naples Board of Selectmen have been waiting with bated breath for the time and date that the future town manager will walk through the door and sign his job contract. On Monday night, the Internet “To Go” program. selectmen went into execuThe existing entry/exit tive session to discuss the fine door will be moved to the points of the town manager’s right, and a secondary door- contract. HANNAFORD, Page 8A CONTRACT, Page 3A
Board to explore development director options By Wayne E. Rivet Staff Writer With Bridgton facing another Community Development Director vacancy, Selectman Bear Zaidman thinks it is a good time to explore all options. Rather than zip off a help wanted ad to fill the position — a vacancy created when selectmen declined to extend Audrey Knight’s contract after six months on the job — Zaidman suggested Tuesday night maybe the town’s planning needs can be addressed by subcontracting with the Greater Portland Council of Government, and also bringing in additional secretarial help to assist Town Manager Bob Peabody. Zaidman pointed to the success the town has had hiring Black Fly to promote Bridgton and developing the town’s “branding.” Could out-
side consultants be used as part of town planning is a question Zaidman would like investigated. Peabody will assume several CDD responsibilities until selectmen figure which path to follow. The list is quite lengthy, which became apparent when Peabody read a portion of the job description, which selectmen revamped before hiring Knight. Zaidman added that maybe
the creative approach won’t work, but is worth looking into before investing time and money in a new development director. Selectman Bob McHatton, however, was on the other side of the issue. He pointed to the need for a trained professional to handle complex matters, such as continued work with the town’s Land Use Committee, as well as managing community block grant funding, for which
$30,000 goes toward administration of the fund — handled by the community development director. Selectmen will await some information collected by the town manager before deciding how to proceed. In other meeting notes: Sign upgrade needed? For 14 years, Bill Preis has been the driving force to offer ping-pong play for all at the Town Hall. With seven tables available
each week, the hall was once booming with excitement and fun with 27 or so players giving it their best shots. But, the hall is a little quieter these days, Preis told selectmen. Lately, only four to five players have shown up. Preis posed the question to selectmen that if the town had an electronic sign on North High Street on the town hall property advertising ping-pong (and other events, as well), maybe attendance would
increase. He added that it would be nice if the events calendar posted on the town’s website could be printed. Chairman Greg Watkins noted that selectmen did discuss the possibility of replacing the “lettered” signboard with newer technology. Despite $12,000 being raised by voters to purchase an electronic sign, “mixed feelings” were BRIDGTON, Page 8A
By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer NAPLES — Naples Interim Town Manager Mitch Berkowitz compared the marijuana moratorium to getting a flu shot.
“This is like a flu inoculation — it is better to have it than not,” he said. What that means is the moratorium protects the town from having retail stores locate in Naples until town
planners have determined where those businesses can best be located. Obviously, what could or could not happen in the towns around Maine will be dictated by decisions in Augusta regarding the recreational use marijuana law. The Maine State Legislature put in place a statewide moratorium effective until Feb. 1. According to press releases, Sen. Roger Katz
(R-Augusta) brought forward a bill to extend the retail marijuana moratorium in Maine until May 1. On Monday, the Naples Board of Selectmen approved an updated version of the town’s existing Marijuana Moratorium. Berkowitz summed up the effectiveness of the moratorium. “Although the Town Meeting won’t act on this until June 18, there is always
a concern that some entrepreneur may try to move in,” Berkowitz said. “By making tonight (Jan. 8) the date the moratorium is effective, it is applicable retroactively as of tonight,” he said. “So, I can say with clarity that we don’t have any application before us,” he said. If someone came into the Naples Town Office with an application to establish a STORES, Page 5A
By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer NAPLES — For every resident who passionately supports saving the cupola and moving it to a spot where it can be enjoyed by the general public, there are at least two residents who adamantly oppose using tax THE NEXT GENERATION Jim Chalmers (son of Bruce and Laurie Chalmers) and dollars to accomplish this. Dottie Chalmers Cutter (daughter of Bill and Beverly Chalmers) took over ownership That is according to Naples of the Chalmers Insurance Group on Jan. 1, 2018. Chairman Jim Grattelo and
Selectman Bob Caron II. “For every single person who wants to move it, there are two people who will vote us out of office for spending taxpayers’ money on this,” Grattelo said, adding “It is not as popular as you think.” The chairman said the board might be willing to match the community’s fundraising efforts, setting aside “$10,000 or less” in the town budget for this project. Caron, too, has been listening to the wishes of Naples residents. “I have heard pros and cons from people who are in favor of it and others who say, ‘Don’t spend a dime of my money,’ ” Caron said. “We have two factions of people,” he said. One group supports saving the cupola no matter the
cost and another group would prefer to see the numbers before it gets moved, Caron said. In an effort to calculate the costs and formulate a plan for relocating the historical cupola, the Naples Board of Selectmen is seeking a volunteer to head up a committee. Emotions accompanied some of the words spoken during a half-hour long discussion about the cupola, which in recent weeks has become a hot-button topic on the group Facebook page, Remembering Naples, Maine. Once upon a time, during a decade that people can still remember, two cupolas sat like jeweled crowns on the roof of the Bay of Naples Inn. Before the Inn was demolCUPOLA, Page 3A
Towns approach pot stores differently
Plenty of pros, cons on moving Naples cupola
Passing of the Chalmers’ torch The Chalmers Insurance torch has been passed. “It is with great enthusiasm and excitement that we announce that Bruce and Bill Chalmers will be transferring ownership of the Chalmers Insurance Group to the fourth generation of Chalmers family members, Jim Chalmers and Dottie Chalmers Cutter, effective Jan. 1, 2018,” the company announced. “Bill and I proudly leave the Chalmers Insurance Group in the hands of a leadership team that has largely been together since 2014 and the 86 co-workers, who each
day carry on the 160-year tradition of providing quality insurance products and financial security to our community-based neighbors with personal and friendly service,” said Bruce Chalmers, who has been chairman of the board and joined the family business in 1960. Bill Chalmers, previously co-owner and serving as general manager and treasurer, added, “Our transition to the fourth generation has been carefully planned to set a balance for our entire family. Bruce and I are very proud of the end results and look
forward to mentoring when asked. We are confident in Jim and Dottie’s abilities as leaders, combined with the experience, vision, and expertise of Steve Cote (president) to take Chalmers Insurance Group into the future and hopefully into the hands of the fifth generation.” Cote noted, “The Chalmers brothers have worked side-by-side in this widely-respected family business for 44 years, cultivating impressive growth and sustained triumph through building strong relationships, making strategic acquisitions
and actively supporting their communities and causes for which they are passionate. I am forever grateful for the life and business lessons learned through the words and actions of Bruce and Bill.” Dottie previously served as vice president of operations in the areas of commercial lines, personal lines and agency assistance. Jim was vice president of sales for commercial lines and summer camps. Bruce and Bill will assume new roles as valued directors CHALMERS, Page 3A
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