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Serving Bridgton and the surrounding towns of Western Maine since 1870. Vol. 148, No. 20
32 PAGES - 4 Sections
Bridgton, Maine
May 18, 2017
(USPS 065-020)
Weather . . . . . . . . . . . 5D
www.bridgton.com
SEVENTY-FIVE CENTS
Budget falls to 2.2% increase
Funds for Diabetes research
From youngster to D.C. lobbyist By Wayne E. Rivet Staff Writer NAPLES — He may be just nine years old, but Brady Chappell has an important message he plans to share with lawmakers. The Naples boy is headed to Washington, D.C., this July, where he will lobby to increase funding for Type 1 Diabetes research. Brady was selected to serve as one of two Maine delegates to the biennial JDRF Children’s Congress. JDRF is the leading global organization funding Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) research. “Our strength lies in our exclusive focus and singular influence on the worldwide effort to end T1D,” according to the JDRF website. Just last weekend, Brady was honored to be invited by U.S. Senator Susan Collins to attend the annual JDRF Gala in Manchester, N.H., where the N.H. and Maine delegates were introduced to the attendees. Brady was able to meet both Sen. Collins and Sen. Shaheen (N.H.), who were in attendance to receive awards from JDRF for their work on BRADY CHAPPELL of Naples is one of two Maine delbehalf of the T1D community. Brady was even able to sit egates heading to Washington, D.C. in July to lobby for increased funding for Type 1 Diabetes research. BRADY, Page 3A
If taxpayers thought a 2.75% hike in educational spending was acceptable, they had to like the unexpected news Superintendent of Schools Al Smith dropped on them before Tuesday’s district budget meeting. With about 100 people in attendance in the Lake Region High School gym, Smith announced that the proposed budget was reduced by $175,000 because SAD 61’s insurance premium was lower than expected. So at a 2.2% hike, the 21-article warrant — totaling $30,012,620 — resoundingly passed without question, debate or complaint. Voting started at 6:52 p.m. following a quick synopsis given by Financial Coordinator Sherrie Small, and concluded at 7:28 p.m. If not for two required written ballots and a lengthy project list in the last article — allowing the school board to transfer $1,100,000 from the undesignated fund balances to Capital Reserve, along with $355,755 from this account, to pay for school bus replacement ($85,000 each), LRHS elevator replacement ($85,000), paving projects at LRHS ($41,745 and $38,255), track upgrade ($200,000 — by doing the work this summer, SAD 61 will save $100,000), Middle School and Songo Locks parking improvements ($328,000 and $475,000, respectively) and Stevens Brook roof work ($117,500), totaling $1,455,755 and no additional tax dollars required — read by moderator John Robinson, the meeting would have ended even sooner. Total voters casting ballots was 93.Now, taxpayers must approve the proposal at a referendum vote on Tuesday, May 30. Polls in Bridgton, Casco, Naples and Sebago will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Budget Committee vote wrong on warrant? By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer HARRISON — The warrant articles have already gone to the printers and come back to the town hall completed. The warrant articles are now ready for the Harrison town meeting in about five weeks. But, during the Harrison Board of Selectmen meeting, a disagreement on what was recorded as the votes of the Harrison Budget Committee members became a topic of
a rather long discussion. The conversation continued about whether or not it was possible to reprint only part of the warrant articles to reflect the actual vote of the budget committee. The discussion, which stemmed from a public participation comment by resident Rick Sykes, continued for about 20 minutes until it raised the ire of the chairman. Sykes said he had watched the video of the budget committee’s meeting and not all
members were in agreement on a recommendation to keep a town position in the budget. Budgetary warrant articles traditionally include a record of the votes of both the budget committee and the board of selectmen to recommend an item. In some towns, how a board voted may sway whether or not the residents support an expense. Before the budget vote discussion came to an end, Harrison Town Manager George “Bud” Finch was
talking about changing the way town meetings are held and also shifting the approach to the budget process. “I will take responsibility for this error. What you are talking about doesn’t change the mil rate,” Finch said. Finch’s solution was to reconvene the budget committee for a revote on whether or not they recommend the budget item in question. That is when the chairman cut the conversation short. “Enough, everybody! At
the floor, if the budget committee wishes to raise this up on the floor that is great. I have heard enough about this issue,” Chairman Matthew Frank said. “That issue will be at the town meeting, at which point all the members of the budget committee will be there to bring us up to date on their thinking,” he said. The Harrison selectmen made a motion to move the warrant articles and voted in favor of that, 5–0.
A bit earlier in the evening, the town manager was talking about whether to reprint the warrant articles or leave them as they are. Additionally, he addressed the value of a position that some members of the budget committee were in favor of cutting. “It is already printed. We cannot change that,” Finch said. “There was a $20,000 difference in the road departWARRANT, Page 7A
Tour park land
By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer CASCO — The land has appeal in its present state. But, the parcel is even more appealing because of its future potential as a park for the public. The ad hoc committee — which has been tasked with the job of figuring out the possible uses for the 11 acres of land next to the Casco Town Hall THIS CONCEPTUAL DRAWING shows some of the details of the Lakes Plaza building, which is being constructed — will hold a site walk of the in the field next to Aubuchon Hardware in Naples. A restaurant called the Country Skillet Diner and a local hair salon parcel this weekend. plan to lease the future space, leaving three units available for rent. (Photo courtesy of Kevin Gagnon) After the tour of the land, there will be an informal discussion about what could be done there in terms of landscaping, structures like picnic tables and benches, and types of activities that could be appropriate uses. The public is invited to the site walk, which begins at 8 a.m., Saturday. The address of the lot is 635 Meadow Road, which is the location of the Casco town office and the fire station. There is ample parking on the premises for people interested in going to the site walk. PARK TOUR, Page 7A
Plaza starts to take shape
By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer NAPLES — The concrete foundation and the slab have had time to harden, and the walls are ready to go up at a new commercial complex under construction in Naples. “By Friday, one-half to three-quarters of the walls will be standing,” according to Kevin Gagnon, the developer and businessman who owns the lot. Lakes Plaza is the name of the business complex that is being constructed, Gagnon said. Already, a diner and a beauty salon are lined up to lease a space, he said. “Incidentally, the diner will be themed,” he said “It will be called the Country Skillet Diner. It will look nice with barn board and a country theme. They plan on serving home-cooked meals
LRVC director named
WEATHER FAVORS CONSTRUCTION — The building materials are staged and the walls should be going up today and Friday on the future Lakes Plaza commercial complex in Naples. Developer and businessman Kevin Gagnon owns the plaza property; Locbid Construction, Inc. was hired for the construction job. (De Busk Photo) and being open for breakfast and lunch.” Gagnon said there are two other businesses with which he is in the negotiation stage. Because the contracts are not yet finalized, he declined to say the name of those businesses. “I will have two, possibly three, more spaces available for lease,” he said. Each space for rent is
1,800 square feet, and the units could accommodate a retail store or medical, dental or professional offices, he said. “Naples is long overdue for a good retail/ professional complex. In Naples, there are no good spaces left to lease,” he said. “There is no question, it will fill up quickly. Certainly, it is a great loca-
tion with great visibility,” Gagnon said. The prime location is off Roosevelt Trail and near the junction of Route 11. The construction is occurring in the field next to Aubuchon Hardware. Gagnon received approval from the Naples Planning Board for his project in autumn 2015. PLAZA, Page 7A
By Wayne E. Rivet Staff Writer With his parents and wife residing in Gray, David Morse will be making somewhat of a “coming home” move when he becomes Lake Region Vocational Center’s director on July 1. The SAD 61 School Board unanimously approved Morse as the new director at Monday’s meeting in the Great Room at LRVC. Morse succeeds Rosie Schacht, who is retiring. Superintendent of Schools Al Smith said the district had 19 applicants for the position, and four were interviewed. With 12 years of vocational experience as a director, Morse will be a “great fit for the needs that we have here,” Smith said. Morse is currently the director of St. John Valley Technology Center in Frenchville, which is part of SAD 33. The center includes sending schools Fort Kent, Madawaska and Wisdom. Morse earned a master’s degree in Education Administration SAD 61, Page 2A
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