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Serving Bridgton and the surrounding towns of Western Maine since 1870. Vol. 144, No. 22
32 PAGES - 4 Sections
Bridgton, Maine
May 30, 2013
(USPS 065-020)
www.bridgton.com
SEVENTY-FIVE CENTS
Fire committee: Rethink approach By Gail Geraghty Staff Writer It looks like Bridgton’s Fire Suppression Committee will once again have to rethink its approach to defining standards for adequate fire protection, if it ever hopes to satisfy the concerns of developers. On Tuesday, the Bridgton Board of Selectmen told the committee to go back to its original charge of creating a stand-alone ordinance, one that will ultimately need to pass muster in a town-wide vote. The committee, after researching the issue for many months, was shot down decisively in public hearings last year when it came forward with a stand-alone ordinance that would have mandated sprinkler systems for all new construction in town. So it took a different tack. The committee asked Selectmen for permission to work with the Planning Board on language that could be incorporated into the town’s subdivision regulations. The language would apply only to
new subdivisions, and developers who wanted to build more than 1,000 feet from a hydrant would have a choice: they could either install sprinklers or build cisterns or fire ponds, to ensure that adequate water could be delivered to the site in case of fire. Selectmen agreed with the plan. But on Tuesday, committee member Steve Collins, the Planning Board Chairman, and Glen Garland, the fire chief, sought the board’s blessing to continue their work, to make sure they were proceeding in accordance with their original charge. The reason was because of a contentious debate that erupted between developer Mark Lopez and Collins at the May 14 Planning Board meeting, just as the board was poised to approve inclusion SPREADING SOME PATRIOTISM — Charlene Schieferstein looks to hand out mini American flags during of the committee’s new stan- Monday’s Memorial Day Parade in downtown Harrison. Parades were also held in Naples, Sebago, Bridgton and dards for fire protection into Fryeburg. Photo spreads appear in this week’s edition. (Rivet Photo) the subdivision regulations. Unlike many other town ordinances, including its site plan review ordinance, the subdiAPPROACH, Page A
Rec director leaving Bridgton
By Gail Geraghty Staff Writer After nearly three years on the job, Bridgton Recreation Director Tom Tash is moving on. He’s getting married in a month to his fiancée Emma Holley, and they need to relocate to the Augusta area to allow her to take over her mother’s hair salon from her sister, who is expecting. Tash has accepted a position as marketing manager for Schooner Estates. His last day will be Saturday, when he will be on hand for the Grand Opening of the Kendall and Anna Ham Recreational Complex, or BRAG fields. “There’s nothing more rewarding for a recreation director,” said Tash, “than to watch people enjoying themselves in their chosen recreational pursuit, knowing how much logistical planning and hard work it took beforehand to make it happen.” When he leaves Bridgton, his fondest memories will be of seeing people thrill to the sight of fireworks the night before the Four on the 4th Road Race, or watching crowds gather for the Festival of Lights Parade, he said. And in the case of the BRAG fields, which took 12 and a half years of hard work by countless dedicated volunteers, “I wanted to make sure I was there to celebrate their work,” he said. On Tuesday, Town Manager Mitch Berkowitz praised Tash for his leadership on behalf of the town’s recreational programs, and wished him well. Advertising for his replacement has begun, and the town hopes to have a replacement hired by the end
Tom Tash accepts Auburn marketing job of August, if not sooner. Selectmen agreed with a recommendation by Chairman Paul Hoyt to have the job description for the position amended to once again have the recreation director responsible for overseeing operations at the Salmon Point Campground. When former longtime Director Phil Gutekunst retired, Berkowitz took over oversight responsibility for the campground. But Hoyt said the town needed someone who could visit there routinely during summer months to make sure things were running smoothly, and the board agreed. Looking back At age 27, Tash already has over 12 years in the recreational field, beginning as a junior in high school working for his hometown of Lincoln’s recreation department. “I’ve never done anything else,” he said. After receiving his degree in recreational management at the University of Maine in Machias, he spent four years working as a recreational programmer for the city of Portland. He started REC, Page A
Tar sands talk
A presentation and discussion about the Bridgton and Harrison resolutions opposing the transport of tar sands oil through the region will be held this Friday evening, May 31. Earl Morse of Waterford will lead the informational session about the issue at 7 p.m. at the Bridgton Community Center on Depot Street. Morse is a retired environmental and science educator who has been working on this issue as a concerned citizen. The discussion will focus on the social and environmental impact that transporting tar sands oil through western Maine might have. The local resolutions are nonbinding, but give citizens a chance to express their views on the matter.
Naples set to tackle town meeting
By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer NAPLES — This was the months-long reality of the Naples Budget Committee: Binders filled with spreadsheets of costs and revenues, hours of presentations from town department heads and nonprofit agencies, countless discussions about what is needed and what the town can do without. Now, it all comes to this: A proposed budget for the 2013–14 fiscal year. The Naples Board of Selectmen has put its signa-
tures to the budget warrant items. Additionally, during a special meeting on May 22, the board finalized a public green space use ordinance that will go before residents. This proposed ordinance would set a protocol for permits issued to seasonal vendors desiring a space on the Causeway. The Naples Town Meeting will be held Wednesday at 7 p.m. in the large meeting room in the town office. According to Naples Town Clerk Judy Whynot, during the night of town
meeting, when the moderator announces a warrant item is on the floor, any member of the voting public can ask questions or make comments. When a budget warrant is open, any resident can make a request to change the monetary amount, she said. “They cannot go for more than what the budget committee (lists), they can do less but they cannot do more,” she said. However, if there is a split decision during a vote that happened during the
Naples Budget Committee meetings, the public can go higher than the amount provided by the budget committee, according to Town Manager Derik Goodine. He said that in the case of Article 17 through Article 26, the monetary amounts for community events and service-oriented groups are a guideline as to how the town has dedicated money in the past. “These numbers give them, the public, an idea of how much we usually MEETING, Page A
Super scuba heroes
4-H Club to the rescue at ‘Lock’
By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer NAPLES — Some local teens — belonging to a 4-H club that delves into underwater diving and water conservation — had their superhero moment. The doors of the Songo River lock would not budge. The State Park employees needed to be able to operate the wooden lock for the official opening on May 1. But, something seemed to be thwarting their efforts. Help was only an earshot away. Some nearby teens leapt into action. First, they volunteered the use of an underwater robot with an attached video device that would allow visual contact with the floor of the lock. With one teen at the controls, the robot moved into position. Ten large rocks turned out to be the culprit. Out came the scuba suits and the breathing masks. Spectators who had been boating, fishing or picnicking at the lock gathered around and later cheered as a pair of teenage boys repeatedly dove down 10 feet, re-surfacing with a rock in each fist. When the last rock was removed and the lock was finally opened, applause erupted from the crowd. “I felt like a hero bringing up those rocks at the lock,” said Nicholas “Nix the Milfoil” Hall. “It took a couple trips underwater, but I sniped out all of the rocks,” 16-year-old Nicholas said. Another diver, Lucien “Stop the Pollution” Sulloway
said, “making the lock move” was quite an experience. “It felt like we had just saved the day,” Lucien said. He added the job was not without its challenges. “It was the coldest water I’ve ever met,” he said.
ROBO HEROES — (Left to right) Sully “Slay the Milfoil” Tidd, Michael “Milfoil Destroyer” Rust, Nicholas “Nix the Milfoil” Hall, and Lucien “Stop the Pollution” Sulloway strike a super-hero pose while Ella “Environmental Extraordinaire” Sulloway controls the underwater robot the 4-H club built. (De Busk Photo)
Michael “Milfoil Destroyer” Rust, also 16, said he “stayed above for motivational support.” M e a n w h i l e , Ella “Environment Extraordinaire” Sulloway, 14, said she preferred to con-
trol the robot and gather the underwater data. “I like using the robot,” she said. Lucien said he heard that helping to open the lock saved $600 for the State of SCUBA, Page A
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