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Serving Bridgton and the surrounding towns of Western Maine since 1870. Vol. 149, No. 25
28 PAGES - 4 Sections
Bridgton, Maine
June 21, 2018
(USPS 065-020)
Weather . . . . . . . . . . . 4D
www.bridgton.com
SEVENTY-FIVE CENTS
Recount, same result: Dumont elected to BOS HARRISON — When incumbent selectman Achille Belanger lost his seat in Harrison by just three votes, he figured a recount should be called. A recount Tuesday failed to change the outcome. Henry Dumont actually widened his victory by one over Belanger for a three-year term on the Harrison Board of Selectmen. The recount had 215 votes cast for Dumont, while Belanger received 211, according to Town Clerk Melissa St. John. “Both candidates shook hands and Achille
HOW SWEET IT IS — Lake Region senior captains (left to right) Lindsey Keenan, Olivia Deschenes and Lauren Jakobs kiss the Class C state championship trophy after the Lakers downed St. Dom’s 19-9 last Friday night at Fitzpatrick Stadium in Portland. Full coverage and photos of the school’s first lacrosse championship on Pages 1C-3C. (Photo courtesy of Dena Dunn)
By Wayne E. Rivet Staff Writer A seven to eight-mile hike, a refreshing dip in Emerald Pool and sleeping in tents under a star-light sky have brought incoming Lake Region High School senior classes together over the past several years. It is a bonding experience that many list as one of their favorite senior year memories, while also setting a “tone” for the upcoming school season, says Class Advisor Amy Mayo. School Board director Stan Buchanan of Casco, however, raised the question of whether SAD 61 should reconsider swimrelated outings following the tragic death of a 13-year-old Lewiston boy, who drowned at Range Pond State Park in Poland during a class trip. Rayan Issa, a seventh grader at Lewiston Middle School, was playing football in a buoyed section of Range Pond when he
Changing of the guard
went under the water and never resurfaced. It was the first swim-related death at a Maine state park in 35 years. The tragedy resulted in several schools canceling end-of-the-school year swim trips, and lead school officials across the state to look at their policies. “We have to talk about these things,” said Buchanan in wake of phone calls he has received. Senior Awareness is slated for Sept. 9-10, leaving Sunday morning and returning Monday afternoon. It includes a hike at North Baldface Mountain in Conway, N.H. and a stay-over at Cold River Basin Campground. “Senior Awareness is an opportunity to bring the class together for a shared experience (hiking and camping) that challenges them physically and mentally and gives them the chance to work together SWIM TRIPS, Page 3A
By Wayne E. Rivet Staff Writer Before Bridgton residents tackled a 34-article warrant at last week’s annual town meeting, Bob McHatton was presented a plaque for his decades of service as a town selectman. He had a few closing words. He thanked all those who voted for him over the years and in the recent election, in which he fell short in a bid for another term. Then, McHatton added, “My wife thanks anyone who didn’t vote for me. My honey-do list is now growing.” While town meeting 2018 was somewhat quiet in terms of debate and reaction, it did represent a changing of the guard. Along with McHatton’s exit (as well as board chairman Greg Watkins declining to seek re-election, to be able to spend more time with his young family, including fishing with his son), long-time
approximately 11½ acres” off State Park Road and abutting undeveloped land already owned by the town. Both properties are undeveloped and virtually undevelopable because of the terrain. Additionally, the purpose of buying the property is to preserve land in areas
identified by residents who participated in the town’s comprehensive plan. The first vote on the first of the two warrant Articles — the State Park property — ended in a tie, 26–26. When the second vote took place, a few more people GREENSPACE, Page 7A
SAD 61 calls for diligence regarding school swim trips
congratulated Henry,” St. John reported. In other business at Tuesday night’s selectmen’s meeting: • The town is gathering requests for proposals for work on Maple Ridge from Haskell Hill to Carsley Road and from Carsley Road about 3,500 feet toward Edes Falls. The town is also looking at the Zakelo Road extension. • The Otisfield ATV Club requested permission to ride on Ryefield Bridge Road and Plains Road to get to the pipeline. Selectmen decided to hold a workshop to determine the HARRISON, Page 2A
meeting moderator Steve Collins turned the gavel over to Marita Wiser. With Collins acting as deputy moderator, Wiser did consult him a few times regarding proper procedure. Residents later complimented Wiser on running a smooth meeting in her debut. As for some noted comments: • Chairman Watkins thanks Bob McHatton for his “perspective and opinions” that were not always popular with some, but were ones that could be relied upon and considered. McHatton brought
lots of experience to the board, which was “immeasurable” and his efforts were “inspiring.” • Town Manager Bob Peabody felt the year was challenging, but “the town moved forward considerably” thanks to the efforts of town employees — the “face of the town.” “We are fortunate to have a great town staff,” he added. As for town business: • Regarding Article 9 and $500,000 for paving, Carol Ayer asked if the town had BRIDGTON, Page 2A
Town rejects adding greenspace
By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer CASCO — A majority of residents at the Casco Annual Town Meeting decided not to spend tax dollars on parcels of greenspace in two areas of town. However, that majority was almost as small as protozoa.
The ‘majority’ was made up of two more votes than the group voting in favor of the conservation land purchase. Proposed Warrant Article 26 was the purchase of 14½ acres located on the Heath. The other, Warrant Article 27, proposed buying several pieces of property “comprising
Casco holds the line on taxes
By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer CASCO — Like the people in the neighboring Town of Naples, the residents were
presented at annual town meeting with a budget that would not raise the mil rate. Actually, the budget was altered from what
RETIREMENT ON HORIZON — Although cake was shared with residents at the annual town meeting, Casco Town Manager Dave Morton won’t be retiring until 2019. On June 13, Morton publicly announced his upcoming retirement after 40 years with the Town of Casco. (De Busk Photo)
had been proposed by the Casco Finance Committee. Residents reduced the budget by $80,000 when they voted against the line item, land/easement acquisitions, which had been in Capital Improvements, warrant article 12. The voting residents passed a $3.4 million municipal budget at the Casco Town Meeting last Wednesday. The tax rate is likely to stay the same, according to Casco Town Manager Dave Morton. While reviewing the budgetary items at town meeting, residents spent time discussing the Highways account and the Capital Improvement account, the latter which included $80,000 for purchasing open space parcels. The warrant articles that involved purchasing the land, and the adopting of a zoning map ended up being discussed more than the budget. More people spoke about those warrant articles. Here is what residents verbalized or asked while budgetary warrant articles were on the floor. The total Highways fund is $810,485, only a 2% increase from last year. An even $120,000 is being allocated for paving, while $225,000 is earmarked for maintenance and construction. The plowing and win-
tertime maintenance of roads get the lion’s share of the highway budget — $462,885. Every year, the need to improve roads is a topic that gets brought up at town meeting. Phil Shane asked about improving Mayberry Hill Road, a road leading into the Village and one that hasn’t been upgraded for a long time. “It is terrible. I don’t know why you don’t spend money on it instead of other stuff,” Shane said. Town Manager Morton spoke. “Phil, you bring up a great point. Everyone in Casco thinks their road is the worst,” he said. “Mayberry Hill is on the paving list this year. We are looking at prices,” Morton said. (Less than a week after town meeting, the Casco Board of Selectmen approved the paving of Mayberry Hill Road, New Road and Watkins Glen, and .2 miles of Hillside Avenue.) During town meeting, Shane asked how much the Town of Casco spends on engineering fees. “We could do better if we negotiated with a local contractor. But, being a municipality, we like to bid those things out,” Morton said. CASCO, Page 2A
MAKING A POINT ON FATHER’S DAY — Jesse Stevens of Sweden and a small group of people protested the federal government’s immigration policy on Father’s Day.
Dad leads local immigration protest
By Wayne E. Rivet Staff Writer As a father, Jesse Stevens felt he had to speak up. And, what better time than on Father’s Day? For three hours, Stevens and a small group stood in Pondicherry Square in Bridgton and protested the federal government’s policy of separating children from their parents at the southern border and Homeland Security’s “zero tolerance” policy. “The heartbreaking news of parents and their kids being ripped apart at the U.S./ Mexico border, and children as young as toddlers being locked away from their guardians was shocking to me,”
said Stevens, a resident of Sweden. “As a father myself, I felt no choice but to speak out against this practice on Father’s Day and give a voice to those families who are being so brutally affected by the Trump administration’s new policy.” Stevens feels holding children hostage in order to gain some political advantage or to deter those seeking asylum is “calculatingly cruel and inhumane.” “We are a nation of immigrants, and this goes against everything our country stands for,” he said. Reaction to the protest was mixed. PROTEST, Page 2A
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