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Serving Bridgton and the surrounding towns of Western Maine since 1870. Vol. 150, No. 13
24 PAGES - 2 Sections
Bridgton, Maine
March 28, 2019
(USPS 065-020)
www.bridgton.com
SEVENTY-FIVE CENTS
Towns busy crunching budget numbers • Harrison looks at secret ballot
• Naples looks to hold tax line
By Wayne E. Rivet Staff Writer HARRISON — With fewer and fewer residents attending the annual town meeting, new manager Tim Pellerin has proposed another option. Pellerin saw the same trend unfold in Rangeley. Many parents are too busy carting youngsters to sports events or dance recitals to break free and sift through a lengthy list of warrant articles. Some seniors may find it difficult to either find a ride to the Harrison Elementary School gym or are unable to sit on an uncomfortable folding chair for two to three hours. Last June, just 46 residents attended the annual town meeting. Looking to increase public involvement in deciding the municipal budget, townspeople will be asked this June whether to switch to a secret ballot or retain the current format. Pellerin pointed out that others towns such as Jay and Livermore Falls have made
By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer NAPLES — The Naples Budget Committee had the same tough job it has every year: To produce a lean enough budget that residents do not see an increase in their property tax bills. The only difference is that there has been less time to put together the $12.4 million budget since the Naples Town Meeting is being held April 30 instead of in early June. Approximately $8.2 million of the budget represents the taxes that must be collected for the School Administrative District (SAD) 61 and Cumberland County. Therefore, the town is operating on $4.2 million. On Monday, the budget committee met with the Naples Board of Selectmen to review and vote on whether to recommend sections of the budget. The good news is it’s likely the mil
the switch. Town Clerk Melissa St. John said a secret ballot approach will result in more work for staff, but in the end, she said the extra effort would be worthwhile if more residents get involved in the decision-making process. “If you are afraid to speak out at a meeting, you can come in and take out an absentee ballot which will be available 30 days prior,” St. John said. The ballot asks for a yes or no on each warrant article. In Rangeley, Pellerin said voters could pick up a sample ballot and town report, and go over the material prior to voting day. Once filled out, residents often brought the sample ballot with them to the polls to be used as a guide. The material would be available 60 days prior. “The pros that we see is that you don’t have to come to the town meeting; you can vote by absentee ballot in your kitchen or go SECRET BALLOT, Page 11A
With no time to waste, Harrison buys tanker truck
By Wayne E. Rivet Staff Writer HARRISON — In rural areas like Harrison where access to water or hydrants can be lacking, a tank truck is an essential piece of firefighting equipment. About a month ago, officials recently discovered “cracks” to the outer body of the 2007 Freightliner, with a 3,000-gallon polyplastic tank. A call was placed to the manufacturer to take a closer look and evaluate the situation. The news wasn’t good. “The internal baffles in the truck are breaking away from the inside wall and possibly the floor, thus allowing the tank wall to bulge outward and force the outer tank cover panel outward as well, causing stress cracks where
the cover panel is welded to the squared horizontal tube,” wrote Glenn Davis, president of Lakes Region Fire Apparatus Inc. of Tamworth, N.H. “… Continued heavy use will accelerate this failure… Keep in mind, if it does fail, it will most likely happen when it is moving and could prove to be a significant road hazard to the general public if it were to actually rupture.” Not wanting to take any chances, the town pulled the tanker truck from service. The tank truck provides additional water to firefighters until mutual aid arrives. The pumper trucks can bring 1,0000 and 750 gallons to the scene. That tanker can provide 12 to 15 minutes of water supTANKER, Page 10A
rate won’t change. The current tax rate is $13.35. “This budget pretty much represents no tax increase,” Naples Town Manager John Hawley said. Chairman Jim Grattelo pointed out that the budget committee had cut $1.5 million from the budget. Committee member Kent Uicker confirmed that there were a lot of outside agencies that were denied funding this year. When the budget had been presented in its entirety, Grattelo spoke. “I would to thank the budget committee for making a budget which increases spending in the Town of Naples and holds the tax rates. So, the town is going to grow and it is not going to cost the taxpayer anything,” he said. Here are some highlights from the proposed 2019–20 Naples budget. There was a 7% decrease in revenue NAPLES, Page 3A
Stone hauled in as quick fix
By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer NAPLES — Resident Ken Norton knows what methods and machinery work best for road maintenance. After all, he is an engineer. He lives on a dirt road that not only is undergoing the thaw-freeze cycle but also has not had proper maintenance for 15 years, he said. Recently, Norton complained to the Naples Board of Selectmen about the conditions on Middle Road, the townmaintained road that leads to his home. Norton spoke during the March 11 meeting. The topic of Middle Road’s condition came up again on Monday at the selectmen’s meeting. “To date, we have brought in 2,592 tons of stone and placed it on Middle Road. This significantly improved the drivable condition and heavy vehicles can pass with no problem,” Naples Town Manager John Hawley said on Monday. “Since the stone was put down, the temperatures have remained relatively cold and the frost is still working its way out,” he said. “The total cost to date for the hauling of the stone, the stone itself, the equipment and the labor is about $50,000,” he said. “The nice thing is that stone is being compacted every day,” Hawley said. “We will continue to monitor the conRALLYING TO HELP A FRIEND — Community dition [of the road] as the thaw continues and deal with members look to raise money for Tim Smith of issues as they occur.” Selectman Bob Caron II has been monitoring Middle Naples, who is in need of a heart replacement. Road, too. “I have driven up there three times. There is no ditch. The snowbanks have nowhere to go,” Caron said. “There is no room to put a culvert in there because of where the homes are and how wide the culvert would have to be.” Hawley said the town maintenance crew spent time ditching Middle Road over the course of the summer. He
Rallying to help a friend
Former firefighter needs new heart
NAPLES — “Tim is His wife, Shauna, is a the one that usually will paramedic and nurse. give the shirt off his back Both are accustomed to for anyone who needs giving aid and helping othhelp,” a fellow firefight- ers in situations, not receiver said as he described ing it. Tim Smith of Naples. Until now. Everyone who knows Tim On Feb. 5, 2019, it came would describe the former as a shock to his family firefighter the same way. and friends that to improve Tim, 44, is no stranger Tim’s quality of life, he to serving others and put- would need a heart transting others first. In fact, for plant. 22 years, he served the fire “It really stinks for us service as well as EMS. He to ask for help. We are the began in the fire service in ones that are usually assist1992 at the Groveville sta- ing others,” said Shauna. tion, where he served until The Smiths, who have 2014. In that time, he was a two children, are asking for captain as well as an EMT- help due to the fact Tim Intermediate. needs a heart. Transplant From 2001 to 2014, he Centers want to know that was on Sebago EMS, where the recipient can pay for the he became the EMS chief organ, in this case the heart, from 2010 to 2014. He also as well as the anti-rejection served as a firefighter there medications as well as other from 2005 to 2014. medications where insurHe also served Naples ance seems to have a gap in Fire and Rescue from 2010 coverage. to 2014. In 2012, Tim was diagFrom 1997 to 2018, nosed with Coronary Artery he was a fire instructor in Disease. Tim’s arteries were Southern Maine and the narrowing, were blocked Sebago Lake Region. and or becoming hardened. He has been a firefighter He ended up with a bypass since 1992. graft in 2013. Six months He was a captain of the later, he began coughing Buxton Fire Department and up blood, indicating part Naples Fire Department. He of the bypass graft did not also was the Sebago EMS take. He began receiving chief for many years. stents, which is plastic or
FIX, Page 3A
Opinions vary on local signs
By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer NAPLES — One resident’s idea of historic signs in the Village District seems to be slightly different than another resident’s idea of how signs should reflect the rural character of the Naples Causeway. Almost everyone has an opinion about digital signs in town. Some of those viewpoints have been expressed to the Naples code enforcement officer who gets calls on a regular basis. Some new digital signs in town have created quite a stir with residents. Meanwhile, Moose Landing Marina has voluntarily started to shut off its long-standing digital sign after 10 p.m. This digital sign curfew is included in Naples’ proposed Sign Ordinance, which has not yet been adopted. The Town of Naples is trying to present a palatable, passable Sign Ordinance in time for the town meeting on April 30. On Monday, the Naples Board of Selectmen held a joint meeting with the Naples Ordinance Review Committee (ORC) and some members of the Naples Planning Board. This was the second public hearing for the Sign Ordinance, which has the ability to shape how the Village District will SIGN, Page 3A KEEPING UP A GOOD FIGHT while waiting for a
heart replacement is Tim Smith of Naples, pictured with wife, Shauna. (Facebook photo) metal tubing that bypasses the blockage. The stents, however, stopped working. A year after the bypass, doctors discovered that Tim had developed scar tissue, which was surrounding his
lungs. His lungs were no longer inflating and deflating properly. Tim received a video assisted thoracic surgery. However, despite the newest surgery, the shortHEART, Page 3A
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