Next on stage
Big hoop wins
Part 2 of the Lake Region’s Got Talent quarterfinals this Sunday at Magic Lantern
Inside News Calendar . . . . . . . 6A, 8A
Laker boys sink Waynflete at foul line with 1.7 seconds left; Raider girls upset Gray-NG
Page 9A
Classifieds . . . . . . . . . 5B Country Living . . . 7A-9A Directory . . . . . . . . . . 6B
Page 1B, 3B
Obituaries . . . . . . . . . 6A Opinions . . . . . . 7B-10B Police/Court . . . . . . . . 4A Sports . . . . . . . . . 1B-4B Student News . . . . . . . . Games . . . . . . . . . . . . 6B
Serving Bridgton and the surrounding towns of Western Maine since 1870. Vol. 146, No. 3
20 PAGES - 2 Sections
Bridgton, Maine
January 15, 2015
(USPS 065-020)
Weather . . . . . . . . . . . 5B
www.bridgton.com
SEVENTY-FIVE CENTS
Parents voice concerns about Grade 5 plan By Wayne E. Rivet Staff Writer When Al Smith arrived as SAD 61’s new superintendent of schools, one of the first projects he was handed was to find a solution to overcrowding at Songo Locks School. The night he was introduced as Dr. Kathleen Beecher’s successor, Smith listened to directors debate whether Crooked River School should be reopened as an elementary school — to house Grades 4 and 5 — to ease the space crunch at Songo Locks. Officials estimated that to reopen the facility would cost $557,314, plus programs — such as Adult Education, the alternative high school pro-
gram (presently, 24 students are enrolled) and Special Ed — occupying the school building would need to be moved, some possibly to the “White House” on the high school campus, others elsewhere. In the end, the idea was nixed. Redistricting was another option, but few Naples families — residing on the edge of town lines — embraced the idea of sending their children to either Sebago Elementary or Stevens Brook Elementary (each school had available space). So, the new superintendent developed a new option — utilize available space at Lake Region Middle School and move all district fifth
graders to the facility’s lower level, which is currently occupied by Grade 6. Sixth graders would be moved to the building’s main floor, while Grades 7-8 would be upstairs on the top floor. To accommodate an extra 140-150 students in the building, LRMS would expand the number of lunch periods from three to four, which would add about 20 minutes to the current lunch program. LRMS can accommodate 600 students; present school enrollment is about 400. Fifth graders would have their own recess area. The cost to move Grade 5 would be a one-time $102,000 and an additional $30,000 yearly to cover the addition of one staff member
and another bus route. Monday, Superintendent Smith was set to unveil the proposal for general discussion amongst the school board, but the workshop meeting turned into a public informational session as concerned parents filled the Great Room at Lake Region Vocational Center. Word of the proposal reached Facebook and swept like wildfire. Smith welcomed parental interest, pointing out that several points and concerns raised during the nearly two and one-half hour meeting were “insightful” and “helpful.” The superintendent noted to the crowd that his intenGRADE 5, Page 10A
Forum dates Three SAD 61 forums have been scheduled to discuss with the public district facilities options for short and long-range planning: • Tuesday, Jan. 20, 6:30 p.m. Sebago Elementary School • Wednesday, Jan. 21, 6:30 p.m., Stevens Brook Elementary School in Bridgton • Thursday, Jan. 22, 6:30 p.m., Songo Locks School in Naples
Board debates scope of new Corridor Development group By Gail Geraghty Staff Writer Bridgton Selectmen took their first, somewhat halting, steps toward the creation of town-wide zoning districts Tuesday as they debated the name of a new committee to implement future land use recommendations in the Comprehensive Plan. At issue was a draft mission and charge prepared by Town Manager Bob Peabody for a new “Route 302 Corridor Development Ad Hoc Committee” that would study the creation of a zoning district governing development from Pondicherry Square to the Naples town line. A majority of the board felt the committee should study the entire Route 302 corridor, including the downtown and north to the Fryeburg town line. Opinions were more divided, however, on expanding the study to include other downtown gateways, including the approaches from North Bridgton along Route 117 and South Bridgton along Route 107. Selectman Paul Hoyt was the main
proponent of the idea that the committee’s scope ought to be narrowly defined. “I’d like to keep it simple,” said Hoyt, “and first focus (on Route 302) to the Naples town line. This is what we wanted to start with, and I want to stay with it.” It was this stretch of highway, known as the Portland Road, where residents saw the greatest need for regulations to guide growth, when McDonald’s restaurant came to town in 2011. Selectman Bob McHatton pointed out that voters might balk at regulations applying to other areas of town. “The people wanted Route 302 and Route 117 zoned, and I think that would pass fairly easily,” McHatton said. “If you talk (more broadly), I think it will be thrown out.” Peabody showed his awareness of Bridgton’s repeal of zoning in the 1970s by saying, “Am I allowed to use the word ‘zoning’?” Resident Glen “Bear” Zaidman, a member of the Comprehensive Plan Committee, said the regulations envisioned in the plan
would not be the same as traditional Euclidian zoning. “It’s time for all of us to pull our pants up and say this is zoning, but it doesn’t have to be old-style Euclidian zoning,” Zaidman said. Instead, growth would be encouraged where it is most appropriate, discouraged where it is not. For example, he said, the proposed but stalled “Three-ring binder” project would have brought high-speed Internet service down Route 107 to Sandy Creek and along Portland Road to the downtown. Peabody said the committee’s work should include recognition of plans for a sewer expansion that would service more than just the Route 302 corridor. The mission and charge of the committee, as initially drafted, states that it “is charged with developing ordinances and/or applicable regulations governing future development of the defined Route 302 corridor.” But Zaidman and fellow CPC member Lucia Terry cautioned against limitSCOPE, Page A
Selectmen: ‘No’ to non-residents serving on town committees
PUMP IT UP — Bridgton Rec Director Gary Colello poses with the workout equipment used at a new free fitness-training program at Town Hall on Tuesdays called Project SWEAT. As a trained fitness instructor, Colello provides individual guidance to participants in using the weights, ropes, TRX straps, agility ladder and Bosu Balls in order to strengthen specific muscle groups. (Geraghty Photo)
SWEAT start to a New Year By Gail Geraghty Staff Writer Bridgton’s Rec Director, Gary Colello, believes in the power of New Year’s resolutions. That’s why he’s chosen January as the startup month for a new, free, strength-training program that he will lead called Project SWEAT. The acronym stands for Strength, Winning Attitude, Endurance, Agility and Toning, all brought together into a 45-minute, high-energy, music pumping class. Whatever your fitness goals or present level of physical activity, Colello wants to work with adults to help them lead a more active, healthy life. And while many people will use almost any excuse to break their New Year’s resolutions, Colello has made sure no one can say they don’t have the money to sign up for the new program. That’s because it’s free. “Hopefully we can attract enough people to keep the classes going,” Colello said. He said more and more municipal recreation programs are responding to the need to offer ways for adults to become more active. While jumping into an exercise program like Jumping Janes might feel too intimidating for some adults, Project SWEAT fits the bill because it offers a graduated way to improve strength and agility, he said. An energetic group SWEAT, Page A
By Gail Geraghty Staff Writer Nonresidents will not be allowed to serve on town committees after all, Bridgton Selectmen decided Tuesday. The board had considered the idea of appointing nonresidents to committees after the Community Development Committee suggested it would be a good idea to have the executive director of the Greater Bridgton Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce serve. Currently, Sue Mercer of Naples is the chamber’s executive director. Town Manager Bob Peabody had drafted a proposed revision to the policy governing appointed commit-
tees for the board’s consideration. His revision would allow nonresidents to serve on committees, but only as ex-officio, or non-voting members. The board agreed that many nonresidents, some of whom are business owners or summer residents, have a wealth of expertise that could be of value to the town. But in the end, they decided that nonresidents who have an interest in town affairs could be tapped as consultants without making any formal policy change. Resident Glen “Bear” Zaidman weighed in on the issue, saying “You’re walking a real fine line by tak-
ing people from out of town” and appointing them as members. He said back when the Woods Pond Water Quality Committee was formed, its membership included people from across the country, “and I didn’t think that was right.” Selectmen Paul Hoyt did not see a problem with allowing nonresidents to serve. When discussion turned to whether the nonresident should also be required to be a taxpayer, he said, “I think all nonresidents who want to serve” should be able to do so. Peabody said former Town Manager Mitch Berkowitz has been attending meetings of the town’s Finance Committee as
a non-voting member. His service has been of value, Peabody said, by virtue of his institutional knowledge of the town’s trusts during his eight years as town manager. Revenue sharing Selectmen discussed their hope for a large turnout next Tuesday, Jan. 20, when the board is hosting a regional gathering on the crisis faced by municipalities from reduced state funding for revenue sharing. Board Chairman Bernie King said he was dismayed to learn that the latest message from Gov. Paul LePage is a threat to eliminate all revenue sharing funding to towns in this year’s state budSNIPPETS, Page A
By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer CASCO — The many coves and beaches of Big Sebago Lake have long been a draw to people. Some have homes; some have businesses; some have camps along the shores of the 45-squaremile lake. In South Casco, Point Sebago Enterprises has developed a golf course, a campground with 440 sites, and three-season houses that are privately-owned. While the development of the land around that part of the lake began prior to the 1970s, it was not until 1992 that Point Sebago entered into
a contract zone agreement with the Town of Casco. Point Sebago’s original development plan was to build resort cottages and modest-sized homes that people could purchase as a second home. These structures are situated on lots with very little “elbow room.” The smaller lot sizes allowed more homes to be built. One specific clause of the contract zone is that these homes were intended for parttime residency. The buildings were designed as three-season, not year-round, housing units. This year, Point Sebago’s contract zone is up for renew-
al since the most recent 10year agreement was signed in 2005. According to Casco Town Planner Jim Seymour, essentially the specifics of the contract zone are wide open for discussion and change. Also, Point Sebago should submit a site plan for the remaining
homes it wishes to construct in the next 10-year period. Ultimately, any proposed amendments to this contract zone must be approved by Casco residents at a Town Meeting in June. Therefore, the planning board has been working within a timeline to RESIDENCY, Page A
Board, Pt. Sebago talk residency
The Bridgton News Established 1870
P.O. Box 244, 118 Main St. Bridgton, ME 04009 207-647-2851 Fax: 207-647-5001 bnews@roadrunner.com