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Serving Bridgton and the surrounding towns of Western Maine since 1870. Vol. 150, No. 25
16 PAGES - 2 Sections
Bridgton, Maine
June 18, 2020
Legal Notices . . . . . . . 4B
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AB decision vacated
Judge rules in favor of Hotel Bridgton
By Wayne E. Rivet Staff Writer A Superior Court judge has ruled in favor of Justin McIver’s appeal to build Hotel Bridgton. In a 12-page decision handed down on June 6, Maine Superior Court Justice Thomas R. McKeon affirmed the Bridgton Planning Board’s decision to approve McIver’s plan to build a boutique hotel at the former Saunders Mill site, situated on Bacon and Kennard Streets. Justice McKeon vacated the Bridgton Appeals Board’s decision in mid-November, which reversed the town’s planning board’s ruling. The Appeals Board voted 4-1 (Kevin Raday voting against). The Appeals Board ruled on six items of contention, including whether the hotel structure is compatible in scale and size with the surrounding neighborhood. The board voted 3-2 reversing planners’ decision. McIver (Saunders Mills LLC) then took his case to Superior Court. The project traveled a 16-month path, which included several revisions, hours of testimony, and hearings. Information gathering ended on May 22, 2019 and planners finally gave
approval by a 5-0 vote (with a lengthy list of conditions) in mid-June, 2019. ““Obviously, beyond happy. Super excited. Thankful. Grateful. The first thing that came to my mind was just what this will do for not only Bridgton but the whole region,” McIver said Monday regarding the court’s decision. “Our whole culture here at Main Eco Homes is doing the right thing. That’s how I rested through this. I knew I was doing the right thing in my heart, and I tried my best to listen to the community, follow all the rules and standards. It’s satisfying that there was affirmation (judge’s decision).” Appeal to Superior Court In the court decision, individual abutters Susan Hatch and Sigvard and Judy Von Sicard are listed as opposing construction of the hotel and the developer’s (McIver) appeal. There were four “issues on appeal”: • Whether the Planning Board erred by concluding the proposed hotel project is of compatible scale and size compared with existing buildings in the vicinity. Judge McKeon ruled that the Planning Board’s comparison of structures within 1,000 feet (vicinity) of the project to determine what is “compat-
ible” or “harmonious” is “soundly in the discretion of the Planning Board.” • Whether the Planning Board erred by determining that a stormwater drainage pipe is not a “structure,” which would mean within the SPZ (Shoreland Protection Zone). • Whether the Planning Board erred in finding that the storm water drainage elements and the electrical line usage were essential services within the SPZ; • Whether the Planning Board erred when allowing “filling and earth movement” in the SPZ. Justice McKeon ruled that the storm water pipe “is a structure.” It is “anything constructed or erected” in the ground. In regards to whether the storm water drainage elements and electrical line usage are “essential services,” Justice McKeon ruled, “Surface water drainage systems manage water as it has always run, often to the nearest stream. It slows the rate of flow and improves water quality to protect the stream. The Planning Board was within its discretion to determine that improvements to storm-water discharge, including the pipe and regradHOTEL, Page 3A
GRADUATION WITH A DIFFERENT TWIST as Lake Region Class of 2020 celebrated with a ceremony at Bridgton Twin Drive-In Sunday night. Grad Emma Crawford of North Bridgton displays her cap with a well-timed message. (Photo by Kevin Murphy)
Few log into ‘virtual’ warrant public hearing By Wayne E. Rivet Staff Writer Like many Maine communities, Bridgton will forgo the annual town meeting in 2020 due to COVID-19 and place 36 warrant articles onto a ballot for public vote on July 14. One concern — what if voters have questions or need clarification as to what
a warrant questions means? Weeks ago, selectmen debated how to get accurate information out to the public so voters could make solid decisions, either when filling out absentee ballots or at the polls. Since public meetings remain restrictive in regards to numbers allowed in one place, Selectman Bear Zaidman proposed hold-
ing a public hearing at the Bridgton Twin Drive-In. One stumbling block was time — time to make arrangements, as well as being able to meet state required posting timelines. Ultimately, the board stayed with the Zoom virtual meeting platform. With 21 attendees logged in to the meeting last
Wednesday night, the hearing opened with an audio technical problem, which left listeners without sound during discussions of the first six questions. Once corrected, Chairman Lee Eastman restarted, returning to Q. 1 — the first of eight regarding how the town wishes to proceed in terms of “allowing and regulating” medi-
cal and adult use marijuana cultivation, storefront sales and testing in the “Inner” and “Outer” Corridors established in the Land Use Ordinance. Community Development Director Linda LaCroix clarified that a “No” vote would mean an establishment would not be able to operate in Bridgton.
Comments made: • Glenn Peterson of Canuvo, a medical marijuana grower located at 152 Portland Road, addressed Q. 4, which asks whether to allow and regulate medical marijuana testing facilities? He said testing would be “out of the public view.” If the town allows adult HEARING, Page 3A
SAD 72 budget will go to secret ballot vote By Wayne E. Rivet Staff Writer FRYEBURG — SAD 72 Superintendent Jay Robinson found this year’s budget process has proven to be as distinctive as the last few months of the school year. “Rather than using a ‘District Budget Meeting’ to
finalize our budget, citizens will be voting to approve the FY21 budget on July 14 in their respective towns,” the superintendent reports. “This is the only method of vote that would guarantee compliance with the cap on 50 people at any social gathering.” Preceding the July 14
SAD 72 budget vote in each town, the district will hold a public hearing on June 30 at 7 p.m. This will be a “virtual meeting,” and instructions on requesting access to the meeting will be posted on the district website (www.msad72.org) at least one week in advance of the meeting.
the public’s opportunity to ask any clarifying questions about the budget in advance of the July vote. “In terms of the specifics of the proposed budget, what we would most like voters to understand is that we were very conscious of the financial impact of the pandemic on taxpayers in
the development of the budget,” Robinson said. To lessen that impact, SAD 72 has applied a total of $1,200,000 of funds that were not spent in the FY20 and prior budgets to offset town assessments. This results in towns collectively paying $300,661 less SAD 72, Page 2A
‘Power’ evoked Virus to assist brewery sticks fingers into art
Artists hope ‘live’ a hit
By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer Artist Karen McDonald discovered that she needed to find the promise of a brighter future before she could convey that in her art. In the end, as it often does, her art took on a life of its own, complete with positive quotes to uplift others who see it. Speaking of the public seeing artwork, Gallery 302 in Bridgton will kick off its first Artists’ Reception of the summer as a Facebook Live event. That will be held today at 7 p.m. The on-going event is called Third Thursdays, something that McDonald was involved in as a Rhode Island resident. McDonald, an oil painter, will have some of her works in the upcoming show, including a painting that transformed as she worked on it during quarantine. ARTISTS, Page 8A
“We also encourage anyone who would like to review the budget-related information on the district website at the same address,” Robinson said. If the public has questions, please e-mail the superintendent at: jay.robinson@msad72.org. The public hearing is
UNMASKING THOUGHTS DURING PANDEMIC — Artist Nikki Millonzi created the three collages of individuals wearing masks. In March, when the pandemic caused Gov. Janet Mills to require that all Mainers with nonessential jobs quarantine at home, some artists thought it would be a dream come true to be secluded in a studio with few other obligations. The outcomes were mixed: Some struggled to focus at first and some thrived from the get-go. Artists from Oxford Hills and artists from the Lake Region talk about the creative process and about the logistics of holding an artists’ reception at galleries that are closed to the public during the pandemic. (De Busk Photo)
By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer NORWAY — Having the ability to get outdoors in nature became a blessing for which artist Nikki Millonzi was grateful. Fresh air and open space protected her sanity. In the great outdoors, she found bits of birch bark that she incorporated into art addressing the coronavirus. “I started out this period of time, searching for something and obviously very uncomfortable,” Millonzi began. “So many of us got out into nature. It was so restorative. In this period of time, I was so glad that we live where we live. We could walk around. If I lived in New York City, the Bronx, or Mount Vernon where I grew up, it would be intense,” she said. “As Americans, the idea of freedom was challenged. Freedom is paramount. ART, Page 8A
By Wayne E. Rivet Staff Writer HARRISON — As micro-breweries in neighboring towns started to reopen as virus numbers declined in Oxford County, Lisa Graham saw sales at Fluvial Brewing begin to dip. Relegated to curbside sales, Fluvial had somewhat weathered the COVID-19 lockdown. Consistent sales enabled the first-year brewery on Maple Ridge Road to keep beer flowing and staff employed. Then, Oxford County businesses got a jump on counterparts in Cumberland County. They were able to open their doors, invite folks in and serve beer along with regular menu items. One way to keep pace, Lisa and Shaun Graham believed, was to expand upon their menu. They are licensed to sell pre-packaged food items, but the Grahams feel to survive, they need to offer more (the new license will call for 10% of Fluvial sales will be food items). To do so, however, they needed a change to their existing license. Lisa made contact with state agencies and found changes to their license would be a “quick turnaround.” A temporary permit could be issued in 24 hours, giving the couple 90 days to operate and work out securing a new license. When she checked what needed to be done locally, she hit a brick wall. There was no short-cut to be had. The Grahams would need to fill out an application and file it with the Planning Board for BREWER, Page 2A
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