Upgraded Charlotte Hobbs Memorial Library undergoes energy imrpovements Page 9A
Ousted
Inside News
Prelims: Lake Region misfires with game on line; Raiders lost in double overtime
Calendar . . . . . . . . . . 6A Classifieds . . . . . . . . . 5B Country Living . . 7A-11A Directory . . . . . . . . . . 6B
Page 1B
Obituaries . . . . . . . . . 6A Opinions . . . . . . 7B-10B Police/Court . . . . . . . . 4A Sports . 1B-6B, 11B-12B Student News . . . . . 11B Games . . . . . . . . . . . 10B
Serving Bridgton and the surrounding towns of Western Maine since 1870. Vol. 148, No. 7
24 PAGES - 2 Sections
Bridgton, Maine
February 16, 2017
(USPS 065-020)
Weather . . . . . . . . . . . 6B
www.bridgton.com
SEVENTY-FIVE CENTS
CDC recommends how to use CDBG funds By Wayne E. Rivet Staff Writer As Chuck Renneker and Community Development Committee members reviewed applications for funding, they initially wondered, “why do they need money?” Then, they heard some emotional and desperate stories. Given the task to
review seven requests for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) for public services helping lowor moderate-income people of Bridgton, the CDC was asked to review and recommend three programs for $25,000 (the conservative figure Planner Anne Krieg is using; she feels the final figure could be $27,000) in funding. CDC, however,
will recommend four — still within the “magic number” Cumberland County seeks in the application process. Total funds headed to Bridgton are about $180,000, of which 15% of the entitlement is for public services. The remaining funds will be used for public facilities and infrastructure projects, thus keeping the local tax rate down.
By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer NAPLES — To set the record straight, the Naples Board of Selectmen did not take a formal stance on the Crooked River School project, which was twice rejected by voters in the four towns included in the regional school district. On Feb. 6, a concerned resident, who is also the mother of children attending an over-crowded Songo Locks School, asked the selectmen what it would take to get the Town of Naples to say ‘Yes’ to the much-needed school construction project. She had heard that the Naples board had voted against the project. Chairman Bob Caron II reacted with surprise to this account of history. It was either a rumor, a misunderstanding or just incorrect information, he said in so many words. “We never came out as board and voted to” approve or not approve the Crooked River School (CRS) reconstruction project, Caron said. “Everyone’s opinion is their own. It’s what they vote when they go to polls,” he said. Caron said that person-
ally he attended both public hearings for the School Administrative District (SAD) 61 project to revamp CRS. He said that after voters gave a thumbs-down to the more expensive construction project, SAD 61 came back with a second, less costly project. That one also did not receive voter approval. “In my opinion, not the board’s, there has to be more of a happy medium cost for the voter,” he said. The cost of any future construction will impact taxes for however many years it takes to pay off the borrowed money, Caron said. After the most recent public forum in February, which Caron said he viewed on archived video, “people said they didn’t know how much SAD 61 still owes” on past projects. After the public forum, citizen advocates for the school project started doing research and gathering opinions as to why it was voted down and what could turn the tide. Naples Town Manager Ephrem Paraschak said, “The one thing that I would draw from this: In a regional (school) district, whatever
the viewpoint, (they should) address the concerns and bring those up in” each of the towns. Resident Jim Turpin pointed out that a total of approximately 800 people voted on the school project and slightly more than 400 voted against it. Casco voters also voted it down, Turpin said. Meanwhile, the Casco Board of Selectmen did pass a resolution to support the school construction project. “I voted in favor of both” projects, Turpin said. “It’s important to invest in education. My gut reaction is to vote ‘Yes.’” “Taxes are the reason that a lot of people voted ‘no,’” Turpin said. He said the total construction amount would be divided between the four towns (depending on Sebago withdrawal status) and added to budget. “That wouldn’t go up unreasonably,” he said. One objective should be to help people know, for example, “whether they are making a $100 decision or a $200 decision,” Turpin concluded. Resident Doug Bogdan RUMOR, Page 12A
Selectmen address school project rumor
Debris in culvert raises ‘the Heath’ water level
By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer CASCO — Local selectman Grant Plummer and his family spend time on their snowmobiles “down at the Heath.” When trying to cross over to the Heath, Plummer noticed that the Thompson Lake side is open water, when it should be solid ice. When his family is out riding, they pick and choose the safest passage between Thompson Lake and the Heath. “The water from the Heath is flowing enough under the road that the water is” running over the ice on Thompson Lake, he explained. “They are supposed to be
the same attached water bodies, but they are at two different levels,” he said. Plummer shared his observations and concerns during a Casco Board of Selectmen meeting on Feb. 8. The meeting was held on that date because a snowstorm on Feb. 7 postponed the regularlyscheduled meeting. It was Casco Town Manager Dave Morton who actually brought up the problem with the water level of the Heath and a potential solution on the horizon. “The Heath is 18 to 20 inches higher than it ought to be,” Morton said. Town officials suspect that debris in the culvert is damming up the water and
not allowing it to flow. Jim Willey, of R.N. Willey & Sons Excavating, is working with an area logger to remove the debris from the culvert in the next couple of days, Morton said. That solution should “get that water flowing again,” he said. “The original culvert is about 50 years old,” he said. “We have problems with beavers going in and plugging it up. We clearly don’t have enough beaver trappers in the area,” he said. “People think they’re cute and they’re nice animals. But, people don’t realize how much they (beavers) cost taxpayers,” Morton said. “Many moons ago, there WATER, Page 12A
Agencies up for consideration were: Family Crisis, $4,000 request Bridgton Food Pantry, $7,500 Navigator, $6,100 Fuel Assistance, $3,000 Kettle Dinners, $2,000 Summer Camp, $12,500 Back Pack, $5,000 Last year, St. Peter’s Dinner was funded $1,200, but there was no request this year. Total requests, $40,100. Renneker pointed out that
Family Crisis receives agency funding under the town’s budget, but is also seeking CDBG money (last year, Family Crisis was funded $1,500), bringing the total to $4,000. Family Crisis lost a source of funding, which is why it is looking to CDBG to cover that loss. “Some organizations are walking both sides of the street,” Renneker said. “What was interesting at our meeting was that all people made good cases for receiving funds. The committee
wondered why they couldn’t take care of themselves. We heard stories, wow!” Despite a recovery in the economy, Renneker said food pantry use continues to rise, thus CDC recommends $7,500. Meanwhile, fuel assistance requests were down and money remains from a year ago, thus CDC scratched that request off the list. While the Kettle Dinners at the Bridgton Community CDC, Page 5A
MARTIN J. MOONEY has been selected as the new Head of School at Bridgton Academy. He succeeds Grady Vigneau Jr., who has served in that role since 2008. Mr. Mooney is pictured with his wife, Dani. He starts at BA on July 1.
Bridgton Academy selects Head of School
By Nick LeBel Bridgton Academy The Bridgton Academy Board of Trustees is proud to announce the appointment of Martin J. Mooney, as the 48th Head of School at Bridgton Academy. Mr. Mooney will succeed retiring Head of School Graydon E. Vigneau Jr., who has served in that role since 2008. “On behalf of the Board of Trustees and our Head of School Search Committee, it is with great pleasure that I announce the appointment of Mr. Martin Mooney as Bridgton Academy’s next Head of School,” said Kevin Jones, ’81, Bridgton Academy Board of Trustees president. “The Board was unanimous in its support of the Search Committee’s recommendation of Martin, based on an exhaustive and highly competitive six-month search process. Martin brings a wealth of experience to the position, having served many roles in the classroom and on the athletic field during his twenty-five year run as a teacher, coach, and administrator. We look forward to working with and supporting Mr. Mooney as the next leader of Bridgton Academy.” Mr. Mooney earned his bachelor’s
degree from Dartmouth College, and his master’s degree from Middlebury College’s Bread Loaf School of English. He comes to Bridgton Academy from the Peddie School in Hightstown, N.J., where he spent the last 20 years in a variety of educational and leadership roles, most recently as Dean of Students and Residential Life. He has also served as Dean of Faculty and director of College Counseling, and taught English classes and spent time as a dorm parent and coach. Prior to his work at Peddie, Mooney spent five years at the Hill School in Pottstown, Pa., where he was assistant director of Alumni and Development, as well as assistant director of College Counseling. In addition to his experience in the classroom, Mr. Mooney is also a longtime football and lacrosse coach, harkening back to his time as a football and lacrosse player at Dartmouth. “The first time I visited Bridgton, I knew it was a special place,” said Mr. Mooney. “While I was warmly greeted and welcomed, I also became keenly aware of the students’ and faculty’s fierce commitHEAD OF SCHOOL, Page 12A
Harrison will be ready when road season begins By Wayne E. Rivet Staff Writer HARRISON — Spring may seem a long time from now after Mother Nature has dumped close to three feet of fresh snow, but once road construction season arrives, the town will be ready. Ready to seek and award construction/paving bids as part of an aggressive plan to improve Harrison roads within a two-year period. On Friday, selectmen took the first step to get the ball rolling by signing a $1,375,000
bond with Androscoggin Bank. Taxpayers approved the bond in November. The town hopes to capitalize on low asphalt costs, while also putting road repair work on a faster track. Town Manager Bud Finch said the town looked at both the Maine Bond Bank, as well as other lending institutions. Androscoggin Bank came in with a fixed 3.1% note, while also giving the town the option to pay off the note ahead of schedule without penalty.
“The bank also won’t hold the money. We can move it into our account so when spring arrives, the money will be there and we’ll be ready to go,” Finch said. Finch is preparing bid packages. In other meeting news: • Manager given bonus. Since Finch has received no pay increase since September 2013 (his salary is $69,160), selectmen approved a $5,000 bonus for the town manager following an executive session at the conclusion of
Friday’s board meeting. “We are giving Bud a bonus because we are pleased with his overall performance,” Board Chairman Matthew Frank said. The money will be taken from the Administrative account, which Frank says the town anticipates a credit balance in this account at the fiscal year’s end (June 30). Finch, who has been the town manager for six-plus years, is not scheduled for a raise this year, Frank added. Finch did receive a similar
one-time adjustment in lieu of an hourly rate raise to cover 2013 to 2015. Selectmen voted 3-1 (Achille Belanger opposed) in favor of the bonus. • Tracking fuel better.
One point made in a recent town audit report was the need to track fuel use in a more efficient way. When Finch first arrived as town manager, he suggested HARRISON, Page 3A
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