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Serving Bridgton and the surrounding towns of Western Maine since 1870 Vol. 150, No. 30
16 PAGES - 2 Sections
Bridgton, Maine
July 29, 2021
Legal Notices . . . . . . . 2B
www.bridgton.com
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‘No confidence’
Police Union takes concerns regarding chief to the public By Wayne E. Rivet Staff Writer Following a unanimous vote of “no confidence” in Police Chief Phil Jones in May, the union representing 10 Bridgton Police Department officers issued a public statement Monday to bring allegations of mismanagement and failure to follow policy “into the light in order to effect change.” A three-page document was signed by the Bridgton Police Union’s executive board, and sent to The News. The executive board consists of Craig Hammond as president, Todd Smolinsky as vice president, Ryan McCloud as secretary, and Brandan George as treasurer. Michael T. Edes, executive director of the Maine State Fraternal Order of Police and labor representative for the Bridgton Police Union, told The News Tuesday that the union decided to take the matter public when an internal investigation by the town into the union’s allegations against Chief Phil Jones resulted in no assurance of any corrective action. “It was communicated to the union that any investigated allegation deemed ‘credible,’ a determination which was defined solely by town officials, had been addressed and rectified within town guidance,” the union statement reads. “Again, no union inquiries nor explanation of
Bridgton Chief of Police Phil Jones corrective measures of this summation were disclosed.” Another point of contention, Edes pointed out, is the town’s directive that any further allegations of misconduct by the chief be directly brought to Chief Jones, first. “In the vein of integrity and transparency, this goes against our Agency’s core values, rather representing an immoral and legally contentious outcome, not beneficial to the citizens we serve,” the statement reads. “Officers are understandably reluctant to come forward and be identified when the offender is the Chief and town officials appear unwilling to hear their concerns. It is the hope of the union that our concerns be addressed appropriately.” Bridgton Town Manager Robert Peabody pointed out that the “chain of command” is spelled out in the union
contract, “agreed upon” by union members. “If they are not satisfied with the resolution, then they appeal to the town manager. If they are unhappy with the manager’s decision, it goes to arbitration,” Peabody said. “Going to the department head first, to me, is only fair. How do you know there is a problem unless someone comes to you and say, ‘I have a problem with how this happened or how I was treated.’ I can tell you, I am going to guess, that every town has you go to the supervisor first and then to the town manager. In this particular instance, they (the union) hop-skipped over everything and actually went to a member of the Select Board.” Previously a sergeant, Jones was one of two internal candidates to succeed BPD Chief Rick Stillman. An interview committee consisted of Peabody, Deputy Town Manager Georgiann Fleck and Yarmouth Police Chief Dan Gallant. “As personnel director, at the end of the day, I make all the decisions regarding hiring and firing,” Peabody said. The manager nominated Jones to be the town’s next police chief, and the Select Board approved that nomination. Union members questioned the nomination and hiring of Jones as chief of CHIEF, Page 8A
GETTING A LIFT — The crew from Double R Crane Services, Inc., based in Poland, removes the cupola from the trailer bed in order to place it on concrete footings on the property of the Naples Barn. The cupola, from the Bay of Naples Hotel, was moved to its new space early Thursday morning. (De Busk Photo)
Cupola moved to new spot for restoration By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer NAPLES — Many over-sized loads get moved down Maine roads during the wee hours of the morning. It was sight to see as one such oversized load — the cupola from the Bay of Naples Hotel — was transported across the Naples Causeway early Thursday morning. The very recognizable cupola was on one trailer bed. Following behind were two trailers containing the cupola’s disassembled roof. The cupola has a vibrant history in Naples, as a belfry atop the luxurious turn-of-the-century hotel that overlooked
Long Lake. During the time period of 1963 and 1964, the defunct hotel was torn down and burned. However, one of two cupolas ended up in the hands of a local campground owner. About 10 years ago, the cupola was deeded to the Town of Naples. In 2020, residents at Town Meeting decided to relinquish ownership of it. The cupola has caused such passion in residents — some in favor of preserving it through town efforts and some preferring that a private entity pay for moving and restoring it. In the end, it was a local businessman, Dan LaJoie, who intervened to make cerCUPOLA, Page 3A
Casco talks to legal about dangerous home
By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer CASCO — An abandoned house that has become a potential hazard has been neglected by the owners. This winter, Casco Code SETTING THE TONE for the celebration of the opening of the expanded and Enforcement Officer (CEO) renovated Crooked River School was Casco Director Stan Buchanan, who leads John Wiesemann served the the Fanfare Band to kick off Sunday’s ribbon-cutting ceremony. homeowners a notice of (Photo by Kevin Murphy) violation. However, prom-
ises made to remedy the situation have not panned out. The single-family home, located at 1358 Poland Spring Road (off Route 11), was built in 1979. On July 20, on Tuesday last week, the Casco Board of Selectmen voted to deem the uninhabited home a dangerous building and to
CASCO — The vision of the school administration for SAD 61 was finally viewed by the students, parents and community members of Casco, Bridgton and Naples during the ribbon cutting ceremony this past Sunday at Crooked River Elementary. Tours were provided of the addition and renovation to the Crooked River Elementary School for about 200 people in attendance. This construction project was personal for so many that worked on the project. From subcontractors who once attended the original school and/or who’s children will attend the school in fall to the Great Falls TURNING OVER THE KEYS to SAD 61 Construction Project manSuperintendent Al Smith to the newly renovated and ager, Karen James who was hired as Admin to work on expanded Crooked River School. the original school back in
approved to move forward with the addition of 28,000 square feet and renovation of the additional space, due to an extremely dedicated building committee team. This brought the new school to almost double the size for a total of 60,000 square feet, now allowing for a capacity of about 300 students. This will allow the third and fifth graders to move from the existing K-5 Songo Locks Elementary School and reduce the overcrowding at SCHOOL, Page 2A
Fresh paint, fresh look for new CRES
(Photo by Kevin Murphy)
1985 by the General contractor. At that time, the school was Casco Elementary, and her father was also hired to do the site work on the project. “It was truly a joy to bring this old school back to life and we are excited for the third through fifth grade students to have this new space for the 2021 school year,” James said. “It has been incredibly rewarding for so many to see this project come to fruition,” said project architect Stephen Blatt of Stephen Blatt Architects. The original Crooked River School was a 36-yearold building and has not served as a school for about five years. After two failed referendums and five years of planning, the towns of Casco, Bridgton and Naples
move forward with legal action. Going forward, Wiesemann will contact the Casco town attorney and discuss how to go about getting the rid of the building. Chairman MaryVienessa Fernandes recalled that about seven years ago, town officials set their sites on several highly visible dangerous structures, and went through the legal process of having those buildings demolished. Wiesemann updated the board on the building, which is just past Tenny Hill Road on the right-hand side. “There have a been some squatters living there. It is just an accident waiting to happen,” he said. “I spoke to them in January. They said as soon as spring got here they were going to try to work on it.” The chairman spoke. “Spring has come and HOME, Page 3A
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