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Serving Bridgton and the surrounding towns of Western Maine since 1870. Vol. 149, No. 24
28 PAGES - 4 Sections
Bridgton, Maine
June 14, 2018
(USPS 065-020)
Weather . . . . . . . . . . . 3D
www.bridgton.com
SEVENTY-FIVE CENTS
Noise concerns voiced, amusement permit ok’d
By Wayne E. Rivet Staff Writer People from across the country and the globe choose to rent guest accommodations on The Ridge because of the area’s scenic beauty and tranquility. They love hearing the loons call. They enjoy the peace that surrounds Highland Lake. Those characteristics are main calling cards for Daniel and Roseana Richards, owners of Tarry A While. The same holds true for Diane and Hopewell Darneille, who own property that abuts Tarry A While and offer seasonal rentals. While those living on The Ridge look to be good neighbors and respectful of all, the special amusement permit application by the Richards spurred some debate regarding what is excessive noise
and the importance of maintaining a quiet existence there. The Darneilles presented some concerns to selectmen at the board’s May 22 meeting, which resulted in tabling action on the permit until the Richards, who purchased the inn in 2013, could give a firmer outline as to their plans. Roseana Richards explained to selectmen Tuesday night that the inn offers a public lobster bake on Friday nights during the summer season, as well as hosting private events and weddings. The couple hopes to grow the wedding business and, to date, have five scheduled. The permit seeks allowance of entertainment no later than 11 p.m. Richards noted that Tarry A While has a strict policy regarding “excessive noise,” which wedding parties
are clearly made aware of before a contract is signed. It includes being asked to leave the premises if rules are violated, as well as facing an additional $1,000 charge. “We are there until the function is closed down,” Richards said. “We live there and work the event.” She added that if noise is a problem, the couple wants to know. Just call. Hopewell Darneille said noise hadn’t been a problem because Tarry A While traditionally had small wedding gatherings, averaging 50 to 60 people. Now, the inn is advertising that it can accommodate up to 200 people. Citing a guide on the state’s website regarding noise and what communities might consider as ways to address it, Darneille pointed out that a band reaches noise decibels of 110, which he feels
Naples to block ‘302’ for Fourth fireworks
By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer NAPLES — It was the first time most people had heard of plans to shut down Route 302 during the Fourth of July fireworks show in Naples. These plans came highly-recommended to the town from the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO). “Lately, there have been a lot of the violent impacts where vehicles drive into crowds. We had the lady who drove across the ballfields. It wouldn’t take a whole lot for someone with a rogue truck to drive through the crowd,” according to Naples Town Manager John Hawley. The CCSO “suggested it to me,” Hawley said. “It is all about public safety. It is tough to control that many people.” The town still has to get final approval from Maine Department of Transportation since Route 302 is a state road, he said. It will be the responsibility of the “sheriff’s department to notify the local businesses,” he said. The idea is to block Route 302 to traffic by parking a dump truck on the road, he said. The closures would be at Route 35 and at Lakehouse Road, he said. The time frame of the Independence Day closure would be 9 p.m. until the fireworks end, per the vote of the Naples Board of Selectmen. The vote to close Route 302 on July 4 was not unanimous. Chairman Jim Grattelo opposed the idea and was very verbal about it.
It was the first time the selectmen had heard of it. The topic was not on the agenda; it was part of the town manager’s comments. The Fourth of July is only three weeks away — that is a short time frame to notify the public, selectmen pondered. “My concern is that if we were going to do this, we should have started advertising a month ago, not 2½ weeks before,” Grattelo said. Then, he changed his train of thought to a good closure time based on the annual fireworks display. CCSO had suggested 8 p.m. as the start of the road closure. “The fireworks never start on time. The earliest we should do this is 9 p.m.,” Grattelo said. Then, he talked about how to go about notifying everyone. Selectman Rich Cebra said the sheriff’s office could help by putting up, on the side of the main road, one of those large, digital word signs that warn people of future road closures because of an event. “Get the words signs and let people know,” he said. Selectman Bob Caron II pointed out that there are multiple roads into Naples. He questioned where the turnaround points would be on those feeder roads like Route 35 and Route 114. Later in the meeting, Caron emphasized that the town should put the responsibility squarely on the shoulders of the sheriff’s department to be staffed and to FIREWORKS, Page 3A
is excessive for his guests, neighbors, as well as property owners along Highland Lake, which likely also hear the sounds generated by functions at Tarry A While. Board chairman Greg Watkins noted that Bridgton does not have a noise ordinance, and selectmen would apply standards in the Special Amusement Ordinance when considering Tarry A While’s request. As a compromise, Darneille suggested reducing the 11 p.m. cut-off time to 10 p.m., and having the town’s code enforcement officer check decibel levels at the property line (55 to 65 would be acceptable). Richards told selectmen that a 10 p.m. limit would likely result in loss of potential business, which would be difficult to make up since the inn, which sets on 23-acres, is
ELECTED — Carmen Lone and Liston “Lee” Eastman were elected to the Bridgton Board of Selectmen Tuesday. Area results on Page 8A. open for a few short months. Following a 47-minute public hearing, selectmen voted 5–0 to approve Richards’ permit request (no restrictions). In other board notes: Campground rates up…
The cost of a waterfront lot at Salmon Point Campground will jump six percent. The town has increased lot rates by three percent each year but, on a recommendation by campground manager Robert BRIDGTON, Page 6A
A PIECE OF HISTORY — Naples Historical Society President and Naples Museum curator Merry Watson holds a framed photograph of the Bay of Naples Inn while Warrant Article 39, to fund the cupola, was on the floor during the Naples Annual Town Meeting on Saturday. (De Busk Photo)
New plan needed for cupola; funding rejected
By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer NAPLES — It was as clear as a bell. The majority of residents at Naples’ Annual Town Meeting did not want to pay for the relocation and restoration of the cupola. They did not want to add $41,500 to the municipal budget. After the vote took place, a head count was requested. The article failed 41 to 27. It was a blow and a bit of surprise to those who favored preserving the cupola. “It is amazing that people would be against history, against saving a part of Naples’ history,” Selectman Kevin Rogers said. “I wanted to make a motion to reduce the amount, but the vote happened too fast,” he said following the town meeting on Saturday. “We’ll find the money somehow. I will put up signs for fundraising. I was approached by a grant writer who is willing to help,” Rogers said. The bottom line is: The cupola is the
official property of the town, making it the town’s responsibility, according to Naples Town Manager John Hawley. Hawley briefly mentioned the cupola during the town manager’s report at the Naples Board of Selectmen meeting on Monday. Basically, he said moving it from its current location is something that needs to be addressed. “The cupola [Warrant Article] didn’t pass. There is no funding,” he said. The cupola is a piece of property that was accepted by a previous town manager as a gift to the town. “We own that piece of property,” he said, adding the previous land owner had allowed the cupola to be stored there and the new land owner wants it moved. Ultimately, the town has to come up with a plan to move the cupola, Hawley said on Monday. During town meeting on Saturday, when the cupola warrant article was on the floor — CUPOLA, Page 7A
Sign ordinance, no go
LRSAC Treatment and Recovery Committee members are left to right: Amanda Miller, Dani Mooney, Dana Hanson, Deb Ripley, Tracey Martin, Chip Keinath, Cathy Finck, Mike Thomas and Becky Smith.
Let’s celebrate recovery!
The Lakes Region Substance Abuse Coalition (LRSAC) wants to unify the recovery community in the Lake Region around key priorities — to reduce stigma by ending discrimination against people in recovery from substance use disorders, to eliminate barriers to recovery for every family, and to help today’s children and future generations, who often are the biggest winners in the process of recovery. LRSAC will accomplish this through the promotion
and celebration of recovery, by demonstrating recovery as a positive healing force, and by being the voice for those who have not yet found theirs. LRSAC is starting by asking people and families in recovery from addiction, and those who support them, to help build a powerful recovery advocacy movement in the Lake Region, by supporting nonpartisan civic engagement in local, state and national elections. The goal is simple: to support recovery in our communities and to
develop and sustain a constituency of consequence, an organized voice of people in recovery who are educated on key issues, vote on Election Day and develop relationships with elected officials before and after the polls close. LRSAC work will be nonpartisan, meaning not associated with any one particular political party. LRSAC is joining with Faces & Voices of Recovery, the nation’s leading recovery advocacy organization promoting policies that RECOVERY, Page 8A
By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer NAPLES — Residents at town meeting were not so welcoming of a new sign ordinance. In fact, the proposed sign ordinance was voted down by such a large margin that it was not necessary for town staff to count votes. From what was expressed by people, there was a preference that existing signs would be grandfathered in. Warrant Article 50, the proposed sign ordinance, would have required that existing signs would be phased out in the next five years. The Ordinance Review Committee (ORC) wrote that language into the ordinance so that all the signs in Naples would be appealing as well as visible to the public.
“With an existing permanent sign, if it is within the dimension standards, up to 130% of the dimension standards, you can keep it,” town attorney Agnieszka Dixon said. “If you have a nonconforming sign, you have five years to take it down.” People viewed this as a burden to business owners who often have a limited summer season to make money rather than invest in new signage.
Selectman Rich Cebra spoke as a citizen and the business owner of Steamboat Landing Miniature Golf, located off Route 114, which is classified as the Village District. “I can tell you what this ordinance is going to do to me. My sign has been there since 1979. Within the next five years, I am going to have to put a smaller sign up; 4-by-8 is not big when SIGN, Page 7A
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