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www.bridgton.com Vol. 143, No. 19
Serving Bridgton and the surrounding towns of Western Maine since 1870. 28 PAGES - 4 Sections
Bridgton, Maine
May 10, 2012
(USPS 065-020)
SIXTY CENTS
Reval bid draws residents’ ire
By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer CASCO — When the assessing firm — which performed a property revaluation that displeased many in 2007 — was recently given another chance to revaluate Casco properties, people remembered. And, those residents angrily spoke up. Several weeks ago, the Casco Board of Selectmen awarded, by a 3–2 vote, the revaluation to John O’Donnell Associates, for $285,000. Contrary to the traditional move of favoring the lowest bidder, the board majority chose the highest bidder, residents pointed out. On Tuesday, more than a dozen people stepped to the microphone demanding answers from the selectmen. On April 10, when the bid was awarded, Chairman Barbara York, along with selectmen Tracy Kimball and Paul Edes, voted in favor of the motion to accept O’ Donnell’s bid for both the revaluation job and a five-year contract as the town’s assessor. Selectmen MaryVienessa Fernandes and Ray Grant had voted in opposition
to the motion. Also during that meeting, the board voted to hire an independent company to provide a checks-and-balances security for the property revaluation project. The revaluation is being done because it passed at town meeting, and had appeared as a ballot measure after a citizens signature petition drive. The property revaluation was on the agenda because the next step was to accept the bid of the second assessing firm to oversee the revaluation job. Immediately, an audience member questioned board members who had voted with the majority. “So, you picked the highest bidder? I don’t understand. I never heard of anyone doing that. It is my money you are spending,” she said. “It (the most recent revaluation) was done right before the market dropped in 2007. Now, we are using the same people that did the one in 2007. We are going to use the same company hoping they are going to do a better job this time,” the Casco resident said. “Your elections are going to
MAKING A STATEMENT �� — ������������� Jayne Elliot Choate ������������� wears her ���������� words on ��� her ���� hat ���������������������������� Tuesday night regarding Casco ��������������������������� selectmen’s decision to hire John O’Donnell Associates to perform a revaluation. Several residents expressed their displeasure concerning the rehiring. (De Busk Photo)
come up, and I don’t want to see you in your seats again, except for at the end of the table,” she said. (Fernandes and Grant literally sit on the same
side of the table.) The first comments of the night on the topic of revaluation were echoed by others. The choices of the selectmen on
this matter might affect voters’ a little excited,” and added that choices at future local elec- his property values and tax bill tions. were on the line. South Casco resident Steve “Why would you vote for Matza said, “I apologize if I get REVAL BID, Page A
DEP zoning hearing continued
IT TAKES A VILLAGE — Christine Kleeman (left) and Patti Wininger are organizing a program to provide free household items to Bridgton residents in need and are seeking donations and a downtown space in which to store and distribute the items. Call Christine at 647-9983, or Patti at 583-9192.
Helping others during tough times By Gail Geraghty Staff Writer Two friends have teamed up to help Bridgton folks who’ve fallen on hard times. They have ambitious plans, and the time and energy to help — thus their name, Community H.E.L.P. (Helping Enrich Lives Program). But before Christine Kleeman and Patti Wininger can help others, they need a little help themselves — a small favor, but one that could mean so much to so many good people in need. The Bridgton women are looking for a space downtown to store donated clothes, furniture and other household essentials. They’re just getting started, and they can’t pay rent, so it could be a temporary arrangement. Down the road, there might be grants or gifts backing up their efforts. But right now, they’re banking on the good will they know runs deep through their hometown. “Bridgton is a great town. It stands for greatness,” said Kleeman. “If someone has a
garage, or any other kind of space, we could use it. I’ll talk to anyone who is willing to listen.” So will Wininger, who’s already been in touch with many of the town’s charitable organizations to get ideas and feedback. “We already have some donations. We just have to find that one person,” she said. Wininger met Kleeman when she used to work for Renys, and they became friends. Wininger got involved with Head Start in Bridgton when she began raising her threeyear-old grandson, and heard first-hand how hard parents there struggled to meet basic needs. Head Start provides free clothing and toys for the children, but space is limited. And what about other, more general yet essential household needs, like small kitchen appliances, pots, pans, towels, bedding, and gently used furniture? Wininger wanted to help, and turned to Kleeman, a forHELPING, Page A
By Gail Geraghty Staff Writer The long and winding road of negotiating with the Department of Environmental Protection to relax downtown Bridgton’s shoreland zoning has been a lot like the winding downtown waters of Stevens Brook that the rules are designed to protect. At times, things flow fast and hard, and at others they flow slowly and easily. Town officials rushed late last year to get voter approval for a reduction in minimum lot sizes in the General Development District, in order to pave the
way for Avesta Housing, Inc.’s affordable housing complex proposal on the former Chapter 11 property near Pondicherry Square. Soon after the vote, however, they learned the DEP didn’t agree with the way the changes were worded. Both sides agreed that the 50,000-square-foot lot size minimum for property within 250 feet of the brook was outdated, and that a 5,000-square-foot lot size made more sense. The sticking point came over the town’s insistence that an “or 1,000-square-foot per bedroom” provision be added in the com-
pact area on the south side of Pondicherry Square. The DEP initially rejected that wording, but then admitted, in February, that they had made an error, and that the town’s language would be allowed. The town appealed the ruling anyway, wanting to protect its interests, and a May 3 hearing was set before the Board of Environmental Protection. But in the past few weeks, a continuance was granted, allowing the amendments to be sent to a November referendum. The effect of the delay to Avesta’s plans, at first thought to
be time-sensitive, is still unclear. Without the shoreland zoning changes, their plans cannot go forward, because the Chapter 11 site (which only partly lies within the shoreland zone) doesn’t have enough land to accommodate the 19 two-bedroom and 2 one-bedroom units they want to construct. However, at a recent community meeting called by Avesta, the agency’s Development Director Deborah Keller said, “We’re very patient,” in response to a question on how long they could wait and still keep financial backing in place.
By Lisa Williams Ackley Staff Writer The Bridgton Board of Selectmen have endorsed a recommendation made by Mark Lopez to begin drafting an ordi-
nance that would give Bridgton residents “local preference” status, when it comes to being considered as tenants at future affordable housing projects here.
Voters here could be asked to enact a Local Preference Ordinance for affordable housing developments, at the ballot box in November. Lopez said he first made his suggestion to enact a local ordinance giving Bridgton area residents top priority at affordable housing developments at the Bridgton Community Development Committee’s meeting on May 7. Saying he attended the informational meeting held by Avesta Housing officials at the Bridgton Community Center
April 26, Lopez said it keeps being said that Bridgton is in “dire need” of affordable housing, but no one can say just how dire the need actually is. Lopez said he had developed affordable housing projects in Massachusetts where 70% of the units were specifically targeted for local residents, mandated by ordinances enacted there for that purpose. He said Avesta officials “said they would if they could” designate a certain percentage of the units at their proposed apartment complex on PREFERENCE, Page A
By Lisa Williams Ackley Staff Writer FRYEBURG — Even though petitioners gathered over 200 signatures saying they do not want to see a proposed Subway sandwich shop built upon the former NAPA lot on Main Street CHARRED — A seasonal home on Kezar Pond in Fryeburg — that didn’t matter, legally, Friday night. was destroyed by fire on Saturday. The Fryeburg Board of Appeals determined, in less than
30 minutes on May 4, that no variance is required for what is legally deemed a grandfathered “nonconforming lot” where the proposed Subway restaurant would be constructed. The Appeals Board members said they and the town attorney further believe that there appears to be a typographical error in Section 4 of the Fryeburg Land SUBWAY, Page A
‘Local preference’ status on ballot
Subway plan advances
Fire: Not suspicious
By Lisa Williams Ackley Staff Writer FRYEBURG — A seasonal home off Carter Hill Road on the shore of Kezar Pond owned by a family from Massachusetts was destroyed by fire Saturday afternoon. Asked if the origin of the fire, that was reported by a neighbor around 3:45 p.m. on May 5, is suspicious in nature, Fryeburg Fire Chief Ozzie Sheaff replied, “I don’t believe so — it doesn’t appear FIRE, Page A
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