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Serving Bridgton and the surrounding towns of Western Maine since 1870. Vol. 144, No. 19
32 PAGES - 4 Sections
Bridgton, Maine
May 9, 2013
(USPS 065-020)
Weather . . . . . . . . . . . . .
www.bridgton.com
SEVENTY-FIVE CENTS
School budget passes first test, quietly By Wayne E. Rivet Staff Writer 32 minutes One comment about whether school officials could have cut deeper to lighten the burden on taxpayers, especially those on fixed incomes and struggling due to a bad economy. $27,928,764 to be spent on local education. Add money to keep
schools open for community activities, subsidize the food service program and pay for adult education programming and the final tally reaches $28.5 million. In a nutshell, a crowd of under 100 people Monday night passed the proposed SAD 61 budget for the 2013– 14. Now, the final seal of approval or disapproval
occurs on Tuesday, May 21 when area voters head to the polls to cast a “Yes” or “No” as part of the validation referendum. Unlike past referendum votes, this year’s ballot will carry a second question — whether taxpayers wish to continue the present format of the district budget meeting followed by a validation (“secret ballot”) vote, over
the next three years. Taxpayers can reject the present format and shift to simply a district budget meeting, where warrant articles will be voted upon. Many support the referendum vote because it allows taxpayers to cast their ballot in their hometowns and do it in secrecy. On Monday night, some initial article votes were conducted by a show
of hands. The result was two, three or five “no” votes. Two articles — #15 regarding additional local funds and #16 regarding community use of facilities — required “written” ballots. While the articles passed, the margins were 68–18 and 66–20. SAD 61 Superintendent of Schools Kathleen Beecher noted that if voters did switch to using just a district budget
meeting, they could request that all articles be decided by written ballot. Cost associated with the two-part system is over $2,000 — mainly the price of printing ballots. Two years ago when voters rejected the budget three times, cost of holding the votes totaled $5,600. Last year, the cost was $3,700. BUDGET, Page A
Groups respond to Agenda 21 By Gail Geraghty Staff Writer (Editor’s note: The Bridgton News asked the executive directors of two of the Lake Region’s leading nonprofit environmental organizations to respond to last week’s article reporting on a talk given by Dr. Michael Coffman, saying the United Nation’s Agenda 21 action plan for sustainable living on the planet is now being carried out at the local level to erode personal property rights in America. Here’s what they had to say.) Peter Lowell, Lakes Environmental Association In his 41 years as LEA’s executive director, Lowell had never heard of Agenda 21 until last year, when Coffman spoke at the Magic Lantern Theater in Bridgton. He left before the talk was over, not as any kind of protest statement, he said, but simply because he didn’t see any relevance to the educational and conservation mission of LEA.
“I’ve been part of maybe 15 or 16 different land transactions” involving LEA, including acquisition of Holt Pond and Pondicherry Park in Bridgton, said Lowell, “and in each case, they were all willing sellers.” Lowell said the landowners “were, in fact, anxious to support the project, and either donated the land or sold it at well below market value” because they recognized the “enormous public benefit” to the region’s educational, recreational and economic development.” LEA, like Loon Echo Land Trust and other land conservation organizations, is authorized to pay fair market value for land deemed to have significant public benefit. And public access on those acquired lands is always encouraged, SHERIFF WAYNE GALLANT explains how the Oxford POLICE CHIEF PHIL WEYMOUTH told taxpayers at a County Sheriff’s Office would cover the Town of Fryeburg public hearing last week that a switch to county coverage not discouraged. would result in losing local control. (Rivet Photos) Lowell said, “I’m sure if voters decided to make a switch. that there are places in the country were things are out of hand, but speaking for our organization, I think we AGENDA 21, Page A
News briefs
Ban on burning CASCO — Due to the high fire danger in the Town of Casco, a ban on all outdoor burning has been ordered immediately until further notice. The ban will remain in effect until the fire danger has decreased. The ban is expected to last approximately seven days, but may be lifted early if the weather conditions lower the fire danger, wrote Casco Fire Chief Jason Moenn in a notice dated May 2.
Help fire victims
FRYEBURG — Fryeburg Academy students are collecting items for the Lewiston fire victims. Items such as clothing, household appliances, toiletries, toys and any other necessities for those who lost everything would be appreciated. Over 100 people were left homeless. Items can be dropped off on Thursday at the Leura Hill Eastman Performing Arts Center at Fryeburg Academy from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 to 6:30 p.m. These donations will be delivered to Lewiston on Friday. For more information, call 935-2001, ext. 3128.
Exploring their options Fryeburg: Local control vs. county
By Wayne E. Rivet Staff Writer FRYEBURG — Keep it or disband? Chief Philip Weymouth sees the question of whether residents wish to keep the Fryeburg Police Department as a matter of “local control.” Oxford County Sheriff Wayne Gallant believes his agency can meet the needs of the Town of Fryeburg and bring some resources that the current department may be lacking. Both leaders told residents last Thursday, during a public hearing held at the fire station, that they hold the “utmost respect” for each other’s departments. They did not consider themselves “adversaries.” Instead, Chief Weymouth and Sheriff Gallant simply put forth what their depart-
ments could offer residents in the form of law enforcement, at what cost, and ultimately to allow taxpayers decide which direction they wanted to pursue. The question whether to keep the local police department or disband it in favor of contracting with the Oxford County Sheriff’s Department was spurred by a citizens’ petition, Fryeburg Board of Selectmen Chairman Richard Eastman told the crowd that filled the fire station. “Over the past year, we have heard repeatedly from a group of citizens who are unhappy with the Fryeburg Police Department. This group has called into question both the policies and the conduct of our police department,” according to a fact sheet, entitled “Why We Are Here,” which was
DEP removes five oil drums
Rapid Renewal
HARRISON — The town of Harrison is now offering online boat registrations as part of plans to make Town Office functions more accessible to residents. New Town Clerk Melissa St. John has linked the town office up with the state of Maine Rapid Renewal online registration service, whereby residents can renew their annual registration for their vehicles, trailers and boats. She is also planning improvements to the town’s website. “Lots of exciting changes are happening in the clerk’s office. While many of them are happening behind the scenes, some of them will be more apparent over the next few months,” she said in a recent e-mail to subscribers of the weekly update sent out by Town Manager George “Bud” Finch. With an e-mail address, a vehicle’s plate type and number, residents can now visit the town of Harrison’s website www.harrisonmaine.org and click on “Rapid Renewal” from the list on the left-hand side. Or, they can visit the site directly, accessible through www.maine.gov. The system also allows residents to receive e-mail reminders a month ahead of time that their registrations are due. The same process applies to boat registrations, with the website www.maine.gov/boat.
made available at the public hearing.“ Not satisfied with the outcome of the administration-initiated investigations, they launched a petition drive calling for the disbanding of the Fryeburg Police Department. This culminated on April 15 when their petition was submitted to the town for consideration.” There were 215 signatures on 22 petitions; 179 valid registered voters; 33 non-registered voters; and 3 duplicate signatures. Since the petition had the required 130 valid signatures, by state law, selectmen included the citizens’ initiative on the June 11 town meeting warrant. At no point during the evening did someone stand up and explain why the petition had been circulated FPD, Page A
By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer CASCO – The spring day brimmed with perfection. The sunshine had wiped away a morning fog. The trees were lively with the bristling of birds. Lockets of purple flowers sprouted from a mossy carpet. It was flawless — except for the five oil drums sitting above the brook, which is a tributary to Crooked River, which supplies water to Sebago Lake. Additionally, the metal and plastic drums were about 25
feet from the property’s drinking water well. Around noon on Tuesday, the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) coordinated the removal of seven oil drums from a foreclosed property on State Park Road. According to Oil and Hazardous Materials Specialist Stephen Brezinski, the majority of the drums contained motor oil. Brezinski explained he had been told that the former OIL DRUMS, Page A
The Bridgton News Established 1870
DETERMINING TYPE OF CONTAMINATION is part of the process for Stephen Brezinski, an oil and hazardous material specialist with the Department of Environmental Protection. (De Busk Photo)
P.O. Box 244, 118 Main St. Bridgton, ME 04009 207-647-2851 Fax: 207-647-5001 bnews@roadrunner.com