Community Trail work can be fun; Photograph the night sky; Portraits of Fryeburg Fair Page 7A-8A
Inside sports
Inside News
Hoop teams head down the wire; plenty of track PRs; cheering in the spotlight
Calendar . . . . . . . 6A-9A Classifieds . . . . . . . . . 6B Country Living . . . 7A-8A Directory . . . . . . . . . . 5B
Section B
Obituaries . . . . . . . . . 6A Opinions . . . . . . 7B-10B Police/Court . . . . . . . . 4A Sports . . . . . . . . . 1B-6B Student News . . 6B. 10B Games . . . . . . . . . . . . 5B Weather . . . . . . . . . . . 6B
Serving Bridgton and the surrounding towns of Western Maine since 1870. Vol. 150, No. 4
20 PAGES - 2 Sections
Bridgton, Maine
January 24, 2019
(USPS 065-020)
www.bridgton.com
SEVENTY-FIVE CENTS
Once work done, then what?
HAVE QUESTIONS? Area residents can get some answers regarding SAD 61’s proposal to renovate and expand Crooked River School to house Grades 3-5. There is an open house at the Route 11 facility tonight, Thursday, Jan. 24 from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
Donor keeps the Kettle full
By Wayne E. Rivet Staff Writer Once Bridgton constructs an expanded wastewater system and dresses up the Village area through the streetscape project, the town will be ready for business. But, who will know it’s a good place to invest or relocate to? Ryan Wallace of the Center for Business and Economic Research at the University of Southern Maine says the town needs to have all valuable data in one package, ready to be given to those who come calling. With the blessing of the town’s Community Development Committee, Wallace unveiled to selectmen Tuesday night a proposal for an economic and market analysis. “It is our understanding that the Town of Bridgton would like to identify development opportunities the town is best positioned to pursue and to obtain the tools to market and respond when investment opportunities are presented,” the work scope states. “Identifying and seizing on opportunities requires thoughtful, strategic and intentional action to build off existing assets and capitalize on new, forward-thinking development
Bridgton Selectmen potentials.” CBER assists communities with understanding their unique identity and how to sell those resources to others. Wallace said analysis would include: • Understanding Bridgton today, which would be development of a community inventory (such as land availability, the current socio-economic landscape, who are the long-standing businesses and the services they provide) and profile. • Understanding Bridgton tomorrow, identifying key industries and sectors that Bridgton may capitalize on, potential development strategies and design a strategic plan. • Provide tools to pursue the plan. When looking at available data, Wallace was encouraged to compare Bridgton with other Oxford County towns, which is likely a better point of comparison than say Portland and other Cumberland County communities. Chairman Lee Eastman noted that since the infrastructure projects will take
up to three years to complete, the town can ease into the market analysis since money will be tight. Town Manager Bob Peabody felt there is marketing money remaining in the existing budget, so that half of the analysis study could be funded with the balance coming in the future budget. Selectman Bear Zaidman has seen some of Wallace’s previous work and believes he “would do a good job for us — it would be professional and we would get a great product.” Selectmen asked Wallace to write up a contract proposal with the “scope of work” attached to be considered by the board at a future meeting. Later in the board’s meeting, resident Ursula Flaherty raised the question where the town stood in hiring a Community Development Director? Town Manager Bob Peabody said the position is currently being advertised in several publications across Maine, as well as New Hampshire. At this time, there have been no applicants.
Peabody noted that unlike past recruitments, the help wanted ad does not specify an application deadline, instead the town went with “open until filled” approach. In other meeting notes: Use the courts, not a committee? Bridgton continues to struggle with finding volunteers to serve on the Board of Appeals. At the moment, three vacancies exist — a regular position and two alternates (anyone interested, please apply at the Town Office). Selectman Bear Zaidman wondered if the town might be able to save its staff time and save taxpayers money by eliminating the board and sending appeals straight to Superior Court. Legally, the move could be done. The town would need to vote to change existing ordinances that mention the Board of Appeals as part of the process. Selectman Carmen Lone questioned whether the process could be extended due to court scheduling. Town Manager Bob Peabody cautioned selectmen that such a change could have other consequences, such as someone needing a property line variance — a simple matter that would normally go to the BRIDGTON, Page 2A
Hot Stove talk usually refers to free agent signings in Major League Baseball, but not right now at the Bridgton Community Center (BCC). The hot talk is about a major gift to the Community Kettle dinner and senior lunch programs. The BCC Board of Directors announced that an anonymous gift of $5,000 has been received from an area resident. This contribution is to be dedicated to supporting the meals programs sponsored by the Community Center, which include the weekly senior lunch held each Wednesday and the bi-monthly Community Kettle dinners. According to the Center’s president Al Glover, “It’s pretty emotional to get a gift of this size and think of how beneficial it can be for our organization and the Bridgton Community as a whole. The board is firm in its belief that leadership by all boards, past and present, as well as our executive leadership and dedicated group of volunteers have inspired this generosity and we are humbled by it.” The Community Center prepares approximately 2,600 senior meals each year and another 240 Community Kettle dinners that are co-sponsored by businesses and organizations within the community. With great anticipation, the board looks forward to experiencing the impact this gift will have on the meals program. “This is wonderful news for our organization. We are ever so thankful to receive this gift and offer our heartfelt appreciation for the support Community Center receives in our community,” BCC Executive Director Carmen Lone said.
Help sought in station break-in
HARRISON — Law enforcement is seeking the public’s help regarding to a break-in at the Harrison Transfer Station on Route 117 either late Friday night or early Saturday morning. Officials say the suspect broke a window and climbed in. A small amount of cash was stolen. If anyone noticed any suspicious activity or has any information pertaining to this burglary, call the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office at 1-800-501-1111. During the recent selectmen’s meeting, officials approved installation of a video surveillance system at the public works facility. In other town news: Budget process. Town Manager Tim Pellerin will be meeting with staff to outline department requests for the 2019-20 budget. Pellerin will review submitted requests, and decide on their funding cost based on total budget expenditures. The manager will then prepare a total base budget and present that package to selectmen for review in early February. Over those next three months, officials will decide what to fund and what to cut. Based on those numbers, selectmen and Pellerin will decide upon the final numbers to propose to taxpayers at Town Meeting in June. “The municipal budget is not complicated. It just needs to be explained in layman terms. So, in a nutshell, the municipal operating budget accounts for 29% of the total budget, the capital reserves and capital roads combined amounts to 16%, and the remaining 55% is the education and county tax portion over which we have no control,” Pellerin said in his weekly manager’s update. “We will all do our best to be fiscally conservative with the budget — as always.” HARRISON, Page 3A
VOLUNTEER BUILDERS — Members of the Lake Region High School ASTRA Club took part in a “build day” with Habitat for Humanity. Pictured are (front, left to right) Rene Carver, Paige Davis, Emerson Dinsmore, Kennedy Brake, Emma Crawford, Madison Cohoon, Trish Maxim, Lucien Wallace, Philip Ganem, Paige Goldstein and Emily Colson; (back row) Olivia Thompson, Hannah Simon, Olivia Toole, Alyvia Wilson, Isabella Wears, Emma Brown, Ellery Hunt, Julia Murch, Kaitlyn Plummer, Carinne Fournier, Shayla Dunn and Allison Vogel. The local chapter connected with Habitat through member Kennedy Brake’s mother. Last November, the group worked at a Scarborough site. “I think we had 15 or so in total on the first trip, and the group enjoyed it enough to schedule another one for 2018. We had a much larger group the second time around,” Kennedy said. “I believe the group intends to do another Habitat build day in the future, but I don’t know if we have one scheduled just yet.”
Working together on cable pact By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer NAPLES — There is strength in numbers. At least five towns, and possibly more than 10 municipalities, plan to work together to renegotiate Cable TV franchise fee contracts that have expired. A renewed contract would ensure each town gets a higher percentage of fees paid to the town by the Cable TV provider. These “dividends” are paid out on a quarterly basis. Plus, with a new contract in place, a town would be able to upgrade the equipment used
to tape meetings. Casco Town Manager Dave Morton updated the Casco selectmen on the renegotiation process during his manager’s comments on Tuesday. “ C h a r t e r Communications is the 300pound gorilla in the room,” Morton said. “It is tough to go it alone,” he said. He added that when one town goes into contract negotiation with Charter Communications, the company comes up with a take it or leave it contract. “We are thinking groups of towns will have a better
opportunity to have some leverage going forward,” he said. “The town should be able to collect 5% of the franchise fees. Currently, we are getting 2½%. That would double the money to town,” Morton said. Charter Communications
owns Spectrum Community, which is the regional cable television provider which acquired Time Warner Cable in May 2016, according to Wikipedia. Spectrum is the provider in Maine and northern New Hampshire. The towns that have CABLE, Page 5A
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