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Serving Bridgton and the surrounding towns of Western Maine since 1870. Vol. 150, No. 27
28 PAGES - 4 Sections
Bridgton, Maine
July 4, 2019
www.bridgton.com
(USPS 065-020)
95¢
‘We’re in a good place’
Town sees boost in revenues; addresses workplace safety, dock, speed concerns
By Wayne E. Rivet Staff Writer HARRISON — With the fiscal year just three days from coming to a close, Tim Pellerin had plenty of reasons to smile. His municipal budget was “dead on,” as the books will close with the town hitting most of its expenditure targets and revenue exceeded expectations — up 11% or $320,011. The town saw the excise tax line rise $62,000, while there was an unexpected boost in state revenue sharing. “Every little bit helps. We had a really good revenue year. We’re sitting in excellent shape heading into the next fiscal year,” Pellerin said. “We’re in a good place.” Taxes collected to date total $5,783,690.12 — just $194,101.40 from reaching the 100% target. Foreclosures dropped from eight cases to three, with one “in the
works” to be paid up, while another involves a small piece of land, Pellerin reported to Harrison selectmen last Thursday night. Solid town office management and physical improvements across the town did not go unnoticed as residents sent in complimentary notes (one person quipped that the transfer station was the “cleanest” operation he had seen, while another person snapped photos of the downtown area to share with friends, remarking the pristine look of the village), which were seconded by selectmen who praised the efforts of Pellerin and his staff. Pellerin was quick to credit town employees for their hard work, commitment and dedication to serving the people of Harrison. “We did a lot of repairs and projects in a short period of time, and the credit goes to our staff,” Pellerin said.
“Everyone pinched pennies when we needed to and prioritized when we needed to. We run a good ship, and I can’t do it without the staff.” Board Chairman Matt Frank responded, “You deserve credit too. I’ve seen a lot of improvements around town.” Later in the meeting, Selectman Rick Sykes asked the chairman to send a “thank you” on behalf of the board to Pellerin and the town staff for “the great work they have done and are doing.” One final budget adjustment was to cover a couple of overdrafts caused by some new hires and unexpected insurance costs. Selectmen approved $20,000 to cover the overdrafts. The jovial tone changed to a more serious mood when Pellerin updated the board regarding a workplace accident, which resulted in a $700 fine HARRISON, Page 3A
QUICK RESPONSE — When a child’s foot became stuck in a connection cleat at the edge of the Crystal Lake dock and was injured, selectmen agreed it was time to replace the 20-year-old system with a safer model. (Rivet Photo)
Casco town hall to be named after Morton By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer CASCO — It was fitting that Eben Marsh, the former town manager of Gorham, was the first to speak at Casco Town Manager Dave
Morton’s retirement party. After all, Marsh gave Morton his first job with a municipality. Morton did an internship with the Town of Gorham, which turned into a four-year stint and led to
his 41-year career as Casco’s town manager. “In 1973, a young man walked into my office and wanted to do an internship. The first time we met I liked Dave,” Marsh said. “His handshake was like a shaking a bear’s paw.” In Gorham, Morton’s work list included counting streetlights, checking on roads and ditches, and looking at the tax base and making suggestions of ways to improve it. The list of roles and jobs as Casco town manager is considerably longer. “You have had a heck of a career. Forty-one years of public service, all in one community. That requires all the unique qualifications [includ-
ing] an empathetic nature and a good relationship with people,” Marsh said. “David, you are leaving a community that is solid. You helped to build a good foundation,” Marsh said. Now, Morton’s name will be linked to something with a foundation, with a roof and windows. After all the speakers had their turns at the microphone, Casco Chairman Holly Hancock announced that the town hall, which was built in 2016, would be named after Morton. “We decided to dedicate the new town office to Dave,” she said. The people in attendance responded to this news by giv-
ing Morton a standing ovation. Morton’s retirement party was held Thursday, June 27, at Camp Sunshine in South Casco. More than 150 people attended the three-hour-long gathering. One of the attendees, Matt Frank, who is the chairman of the Harrison Board of Selectmen, fit the gathering into his evening and then left early to be on time for the selectmen’s meeting. “Dave is a good man,” Frank said. “The new town manager, Courtney O’Donnell, is inheriting a healthy town.” In the banquet hall, the decorations had a fishing/ camping theme with bass bal-
By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer NAPLES — A businessman, politician and longtime resident of this town has resigned from the Naples Board of Selectmen. Rich Cebra announced his resignation from the board through an e-mail sent to his fellow selectmen prior to the board’s most recent meeting. In the e-mail, Cebra highlighted some of the town committees for which he has volunteered over the years since 2002. He listed the Budget Committee, the Causeway Revitalization Committee, the Comprehensive Plan Committee, as well as work done designing Tax
Increment Financing (TIF) districts. He said that serving on those committees as well as “on the select board for the last four years have all been an honor to have been a part of.” “My hope is that I have done some good over the last 17 years on the various committees on which I served the people of the Town of Naples,” he wrote. “I wish you all continued success as you continue to serve the people of Naples,” he concluded. Cebra did not state in his e-mail why he decided to resign. Currently, Cebra is a state representative for District
68. In fact, Cebra is serving his sixth nonconsecutive term and second consecutive term in the Maine House of Representatives. Most recently, before the legislature adjourned for the summer, he served on the Transportation Committee and the Leaves of Absence Committee. Prior to press time, Cebra could not be reached via phone. On Monday, Naples Town Manager John Hawley talked about what the board will Rich Cebra most likely do to fill the vacancy. gy-backing on the November Cebra’s term ends in June election,” Hawley said. 2021. “Because the Town of “What I think the select Naples does not have a charboard might consider is pigCEBRA, Page 3A
By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer NAPLES — Every story has a beginning, and this is an important one. The Naples’ Independence Day parade will begin at the town property immediately next to the Naples Fire Station. This is the first year that the Naples’ parade will be starting at that spot. The parade start time is still 2 p.m. Only the location where it begins has been changed. “We moved it up next to the fire station,” Naples Town Manager John Hawley said. He clarified that most of the parade entries will be lining up on the town property, formerly known as the Begin
estate, next to the Naples Fire Station. “We cannot use the fire department parking lot. Most of it will be on former Begin property,” Hawley said. Previously, the parade staging area has been at the Village Green. However, the Naples Recreation and Community Activities Department is hosting numerous activities at the Green on July 4th, “so we wanted to make sure there is ample parking at the Village Green,” Hawley said. Parade entries are encouraged to show up an hour before the start-time for the parade. Ideally, entries should be at the site around 1 p.m. so organizers are ready to march and move down
loons all around and batteryoperated lanterns at the tables. Fishing — one of Morton’s favorite pastimes — was a common topic brought up by those who knew him. Such stories resulted in laughter. Marsh recalled a story of “Morton dragging the canoe across a quarter-mile of mudflats — with me in it.” Others spoke of Morton’s ‘water quality tests,’ which is a phrase for fishing. Cumberland County Sheriff Kevin Joyce mentioned he took a fly-tying class one winter only to discover that Morton was the teacher. Another common theme was Morton’s sense of humor, MORTON, Page 7A
Cebra resigns selectman’s seat
FROM COUNSELOR TO CHAPLAIN, Greg Grigsby of Bridgton recently ordained by the Chaplaincy Institute of Maine (ChIME). The emblems on the stole Greg is wearing represents 12 faiths. (Rivet Photo)
Now following New start spot for Naples parade spiritual path Fourth Schedule, 1B
By Wayne E. Rivet Staff Writer For 32 years, Greg Grigsby’s mission in life was to help children. As a school psychologist, he built trust and connections with youngsters and assisted them with a wide range of problems from lacking self-worth to overcoming troubles from living with parents struggling with alcoholism or drugs. When he decided to retire in 2017, Greg knew he needed to find a new purpose. “I didn’t want to feel I was in retirement. It’s not who I am. I wanted something that I felt I was still contributing,” he said. “I sensed that I needed to find a waning energy. At 70, I was still feeling vibrant and wanting to find a purposeful direction for my life.” ChIME — the Chaplaincy Institute of Maine — was the answer. “I knew about ChIME because Cathy (Greg’s wife) is a part-time teacher at ChIME. As I thought about it for about GREG, Page 8A
Main Street by 2 p.m. The theme of this year’s parade is “The Good Ole Days.” The afternoon parade at 2 p.m. and the fireworks show after 9 p.m. always bring thousands of people to the Causeway. “It is really hard to
estimate an exact number because there are people all over the place — on the land and on the water. The sheriff’s department estimates it is 5,000 to 8,000. It does draw quite a crowd,” Hawley said. The Town of Naples PARADE, Page 5A
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