Summer Scene Yo-Yos, Black Cats at DAC; Kid’s author at Spaulding; Church giant yard sale Section B
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First-timer wins Bridgton; big showing for Paddle Battle; Kate sweeps Europe
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Section C
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Serving Bridgton and the surrounding towns of Western Maine since 1870. Vol. 150, No. 28
32 PAGES - 4 Sections
Bridgton, Maine
July 11, 2019
www.bridgton.com
(USPS 065-020)
95¢
CDD candidate rejected, board hears concerns
HAVING FUN IN THE SUMMERTIME — The arrival of July has brought plenty of outdoor activity in the Lake Region including the LEA Paddle Battle (above) with Carleen Birnes pushing her board away from the starting line; Leah Schaefer of Camps Newfound/ Owatonna shows her enthusiasm during 4 on the Fourth Road Race; and youngsters tossed and collected plenty of candy during the parade. (Rivet Photos)
Marina closes ramp to public
By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer NAPLES — One of the marinas in town that provides launching services to noncustomers has closed its boat ramp to the public after Fourth-of-July revelers caused too much ruckus. “The amount of intoxicated boaters that came off the lake this week has been scary. We are no longer willing to take the risk as a business to have these irresponsible boaters with us,” the owner of Moose Landing Marina Jason Allen said in a letter to the Naples Board of Selectmen. “The crowd has changed and not for the better,” Allen wrote. “Even with the added efforts to enforce laws it still isn’t nearly enough to keep everyone safe,” he said. “I wanted to inform you
The amount of intoxicated boaters that came off the lake this week has been scary. We are no longer willing to take the risk as a business... — Jason Allen, owner of Moose Landing Marina folks that…our boat ramp will no longer be open to the public,” he said. The letter was read by Naples Chairman Jim Grattelo, who said the closure was planned for the first of the week but instead the closure started on Saturday. The decision to close the ramp was based mostly on public safety issues, especially incidents that happened after the fireworks show on July 4, which was a Thursday.
On Monday, the Naples selectmen discussed how to handle the extra boats that will be displaced now that Moose Landing is no longer allowing the public to launch from that site. Last year, 6,500 boats — that were not rentals or owned by customers — were allowed to use the ramp at Moose Landing. The selectmen expressed concerns about enough staff to be there for extra boat launches at Kent’s Landing
and also about the lack of parking in that part of town. “You have to be a Naples resident to use town beach. However, there is a place you can park when you launch your boat,” Grattelo said. “We are going to have to come up with a plan. They are going to take up spots on [Main Street]. Then, businesses are going to go mental because a truck and trailer is taking up two spots for eight or 10 hours.” Selectman Bob Caron II commented that he has seen vehicles with boat trailers parked in the lot of the Naples Public Library over the weekend. Early in the discussion, after reading the letter, Chairman Grattelo said he had a conversation with Allen at Moose Landing CLOSURE, Page 5A
Oversight firm hired for project By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer NAPLES — The Town of Naples hired the firm that will act as a third, impartial party overseeing the development of the subdivision that was once a golf course. Per town ordinance, the town is required to select an engineering firm that will act on the town’s behalf to assure that codes are followed during subdivision development. Also, it is the developer who is required to pay for these services by
putting money in escrow for this purpose. On Monday, the Naples Board of Selectmen hired Gorrill Palmer Consulting Engineers, Inc., to oversee the development of the Brandy Crossing Subdivision, located off Route 114. This is the property where the Naples Golf & Country Club was located. The golf course went out of business in December 2017. Brandy Crossing Subdivision is being developed by Paul Hollis, who
owns Great Lots of Maine. The Naples Planning Board granted both preliminary approval last spring and final approval a few weeks ago. However, an abutter filed an appeal; and the subdivision plans are going before the Naples Appeals Board. Despite recent developments, the hiring of a third party firm is a necessity. “This is for the oversight of the development of the subdivision. This is a third party that we contract to watch the development of
the subdivision,” according to Naples Town Manager John Hawley. It is important to have this in place since larger subdivisions have public infrastructure such as streets with storm water drainage. Hawley said that the developer pays for this service. About 3% of the total construction cost is set aside in escrow to cover the engineering consultant hired by the town. Someone on the board OVERSIGHT, Page 3A
By Wayne E. Rivet Staff Writer Bridgton remains in the market for a new Community Development Director. Selectmen met in executive session (personnel matter) on July 1 to interview a candidate and gain a “consensus” whether to support the nomination of that individual. After a 34-minute discussion, selectmen exited the executive session, but no vote was taken regarding hiring the candidate. The meeting adjourned with no action. Two Community Development Advisory Committee members questioned selectmen Tuesday night on whether they will look to fill the position. “The town manager had an applicant, and you turned that person down,” CDC member and former selectman Bob McHatton asked under public comments on nonagenda items portion of Tuesday’s agenda. “Is the board still going to hire someone?” Board Chairman Lee Eastman said the intention is to hire a new director, but selectmen want “the right person in place.” Mr. or Mrs. or Ms. “Right” has yet to surface, which has CDC member Ursula Flaherty concerned. “It’s been 2 1/2 to 3 years (since former director Anne Krieg left the job), and it’s starting to make me wonder about the sincerity of the board to get this done. What went wrong? Help me understand what is going on?” she said. “Bridgton is moving forward (with all these projects) and we need someone in this position. Forgive me, I have my doubts.”
When Eastman pointed out that the town has had just a few applicants for the job, Flaherty noted that Bridgton likely has a tarnished image in the Community Development circles due to the quick dismissal of its last director, as well as no vote on the nomination of a candidate. “I am a little leery about what is going on,” Flaherty added. “I can’t imagine why it is such an issue…I don’t want to point fingers, but I want to see how to remedy this.” Eastman said the board thought they had a person on the line to take the position, but the individual “decided not to come.” The second candidate apparently failed to check all the boxes, in the board’s view. While Flaherty wanted answers, selectmen noted that state law prohibits them to discuss what was said during executive session. Deb Brusini suggested that selectmen discuss confirmation in public session so that residents “can understand what the issues might be,” be it the salary or other matters. Selectmen closed the conversation noting that the position will be advertised until a candidate is selected, and money remains in the budget (carried forward) for when that individual is hired. In other meeting notes: Back on the ballot. Although voters rejected an attempt to repeal the existing Affordable Housing Preference Ordinance, a second “bite of the apple” will likely come in November. Deb Brusini, a member of the Ordinance Review Committee, asked selectmen if the group could SELECTMEN, Page 2A
Pike’s Corner
Fatality fuels need for solution By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer CASCO — The shock and sorrow of losing a loved one, a community member, in a traffic accident at a dangerous intersection was a strong presence at Tuesday night’s public hearing for Pike’s Corner. The death of a motorcyclist and Poland resident, Robert Hollingshead Jr., at Pike’s Corner happened less than two weeks ago. When Hollingshead’s niece spoke at the public hearing, it really hit home the need for a solution at a confusing intersection, where a major trucking and commuting route crosses with a road that travels through the village. She demanded that a stoplight signal system replace the orange blinking lights at the intersection.
The hearing, which was held during the Casco Board of Selectmen’s meeting, filled the seats, left people standing against the walls, and garnered the attention of the WMTW Channel 8 news crews. Many people in Casco already feel like the state’s solution for Pike’s Corner (a four-way stop) won’t work and a traffic signal is the only assurance that drivers will know what to do when they come to the intersection. Misti Oliveira, the niece of Robert Hollingshead Jr., who died at the intersection of Route 121 and Route 11 on June 26, introduced herself and spoke for the family. “We do not believe that a four-way stop is sufficient. We feel that one of FATALITY, Page 5A
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