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Serving Bridgton and the surrounding towns of Western Maine since 1870. Vol. 146, No. 25
32 PAGES - 4 Sections
Bridgton, Maine
June 18, 2015
(USPS 065-020)
Unlike the vote, meeting amicable
By Gail Geraghty Staff Writer The June 10 Town Meeting in Bridgton, coming one day after three highly-contentious referendum questions were decided, was strikingly amicable by comparison. Nearly 100 residents zipped through the 40 warrant articles in just over an hour with little debate on any one question. Turnout for the June 9 referendum questions and election was one of the highest ever in a non-gubernatorial year, due to strong opinions on both sides of questions dealing with Town Hall funding, support for the Lakes Region Bus service, and an effort to stop changes to sewer system allocations. Voters supported funding for the Town Hall and the bus, and quashed the effort to halt sewer system changes. They also passed several ordinance amendments as drafted by the Planning Board. Moderator Steve Collins announced that a recount requested by Selectman candidate Robert Murphy did not change the results of the four-way race for the two open seats. One of Bob McHatton’s votes was thrown out, but McHatton still won, by a vote of 362 to 361. Greg Watkins earned the most votes, with 476. Appropriations for Capital Expenditures were amended from $729,395 to $709,395 after voters agreed to reduce the revaluation reserve from $50,000 to $30,000. Town Manager Bob Peabody explained that the town already has $150,000 set aside for the work, and only needs another $30,000 to meet the $180,000 price as bid by O’Donnell & Associates. The next article drew some debate when Budget Committee member Bill Vincent called for a $9,000 decrease in spending for the Bridgton Library. He said that amount had originally been earmarked for the North Bridgton Library, but BRIDGTON, Page 6A
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SEVENTY-FIVE CENTS
SAD 61:
How to build for the future? By Wayne E. Rivet Staff Writer A few years ago, the idea of “repurposing” Crooked River Elementary School was an attempt to trim costs as SAD 61 faced yearly cuts in state aid. Today, the school board may be targeting the Route 11 facility to once again house elementary-age students. PDT Architects recently turned over a study of SAD 61 elementary buildings, which resulted in recommending four possible AMENDMENT HEADED TO DEFEAT — Bob Celeste offfered up several amendments to articles at the annual options of how the school Harrison town meeting. Here, he counts up ‘no’ votes during one proposed amendment. (Rivet Photos) system could address space needs and improve educational services for the future. Lyndon Keck, a senior principal for PDT, presented a variety of changes that have occurred since the company filed a comprehensive facility needs study in 2000. They include: • K-5 enrollment has decreased from 1,013 students in 1999 to 884 students inn 2014, a 13% drop. Songo Locks population is By Wayne E. Rivet up from 407 to 478, primarily Staff Writer the result of closing Crooked HARRISON — As he fired up his laptop computer and River School. Despite the opened a spreadsheet listing town financial figures, Bud Finch addition of a portable unit, was asked how long this year’s town meeting would last. BUILDING, Page 8A A year ago, voters dispensed the warrant in under an hour — closer to a half hour. Town Manager Finch was somewhat surprised that Harrison’s annual town meeting last Wednesday became more of a marathon than a sprint, just 23 articles up for voter consideration. The tone was set early that there were two camps present inside the Harrison Elementary School gym — one willing to follow recommendations made by selectmen and the Budget Committee, and another set to question where money was being spent and why. By Dawn De Busk Others, like Doug Holt, simply wanted clarification. He Staff Writer questioned why newly-elected selectman Archie Belanger CASCO — A new town was sitting in the stands and not at the front table with other MAKING A POINT — Henry Hudson, a former longboard members — a practice Holt had seen in his 30-plus years time selectman, encouraged voters to put their trust in hall is on the horizon. the people they elect to represent them during Harrison’s The building will be raised attending town meeting. from the foundation up; and, Yes, the practice is new, Town Clerk Melissa St. John annual town meeting last Wednesday night. pointed out. She informed the townspeople a selectman’s term be disposed of by selectmen from $10,000 or less to $5,000, the location is on the same expires on June 30, so Rick Sykes remained at the head table. to claiming officials shirked their duty by failing to formally piece of property as the curOfficials also believed that the present board was in a better authorize via a vote to transfer funds between accounts to cover rent town hall and the fire station. position to answer questions and defend budget requests to overdrafts, rather they allowed the town manager to do so. Residents who attended After Sykes claimed that he had not voted to approve transtaxpayers than a new member who had no hand in developing fers during his tenure, Celeste polled other selectmen. They too Casco Town Meeting on June the proposed articles. Bob Celeste, a planning board member, was a frequent had followed suit. Selectman Matt Frank said the town man- 10 approved $600,000 for the new building, which will be visitor to the microphone positioned in the middle of the gym. ager was authorized by the board to make the transfers. Henry Hudson, a former selectman, seemingly took offense the replacement for one erectHe proposed several amendments during the evening, from HARRISON, Page 3A ed almost 10 years ago as a reducing the value figure of town-owned personal property to temporary town office. By taking on the role of the contractor, the town will be able to cut costs by 15 to 20%, according to Casco Town Manager Ephrem lot next to the fire station that The motion on the floor The $10,000 applies to Town Manager Dave Morton. Voting residents simultaParaschak said that the included destumping the lot was to accept the price offer work, such as ditch work, neously approved the town town’s policy allowed select- and loaming it. and contract out to P&K. that the town contracts out. men to contract out any job The price was $10,000; However, there was a bit All road projects must go office as well as permitting that costs less than $10,000. and ultimately P&K was of discussion that was not through the competitive bid- the town to take out a 15-year bond with a municipal bank. Projects with a cost estimate awarded the job by a select- on topic before the board ding process, he said. of more than $10,000 require men’s vote, 4–0. Newly- returned to the motion for a “Is a policy review some- The increase to the tax rate the bid process, he said. elected Selectman Christine vote. thing that needs to be voted would be about eight cents The discussion originat- Powers was not present. First, when the motion on at a town meeting or by each year, Morton said. Estimates from the Maine ed because Paraschak told “P&K will come in for was made, Chairman Robert the board of selectmen?” Municipal Bond Bank predictthe selectmen that he had less than $10,000. I don’t Caron II asked about the Caron asked. received a cost estimate from want to undercut their price threshold. Paraschak answered that ed an interest rate of between a local company, P&K Sand by putting it out to bid,” “For department heads, it fell under the selectmen’s 1.3% and 1.7% during the next five years. Likely, the total and Gravel, to clean up the Paraschak said. is $5,000,” Paraschak said. authority. However, the approval of interest that the town would ordinances occurs at a town pay over a 15-year period would be $122,000. meeting. Currently, the town of “There is a bid policy. It’s Casco has no debt service. 15 years old, and needs to be Augusta. Amusement Permits. Company. During the pubPer usual, the topic of a Bob Caron II was nomiDuring the regular meet- lic hearing, Planning Board updated,” Caron said. town hall drew much public Resident Jim Gratello, nated and voted in as the ing, the board approved liquor Chairman Larry Anton testiwho was at the meeting, comment. chairman. Kevin Rogers will license renewals for Naples fied. BID, Page 3A HALL, Page 3A serve as vice chairman. Pizza and Dugout LLC as When the owners of the Outgoing Selectman John well as Merced’s on Brandy new business, the Pretentious Adams received a plaque for Pond. Merced’s also received Pie Company, located on the his time on the board. Adams a Special Amusement Permit, corner of Routes 35 and 302, had the role of chairman dur- which will allow the estab- came before the Planning Established 1870 ing his last year as a select- lishment to have outdoor Board serving liquor was not P.O. Box 244, 118 Main St. man. entertainment until 9 p.m. discussed, Anton said. The Bridgton, ME 04009 The first orders of busiThe board tabled the appli- building and property was 207-647-2851 ness were public hearings for cation for a liquor license and being proposed for use as for Fax: 207-647-5001 the renewal of liquor licenses Special Amusement Permit bakery, serving coffee and ice bnews@roadrunner.com and the granting of Special submitted by Pretentious Pie BOARD, Page 7A
How is money being spent?
After two hours, all articles pass
Casco backs new hall
Town manager talks about bid policy
By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer NAPLES — What monetary amount triggers when a town puts a job out to competitive bid versus when the town’s administrative department contracts out to a business for the work? Questions about the town’s bidding policy came into play during the Naples Board of Selectmen’s meeting on Monday.
New board tackles first action
By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer NAPLES — After the local elections in late May, two new members were sworn into their three-year terms on the Naples Board of Selectmen. The swearing-in ceremonies took place during the Town Meeting on June 1. On Monday, Rich Cebra sat at the selectmen’s table, and Christine Powers was absent, since she also serves as a State Representative in
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