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Serving Bridgton and the surrounding towns of Western Maine since 1870. Vol. 150, No. 33
28 PAGES - 4 Sections
Bridgton, Maine
August 15, 2019
www.bridgton.com
(USPS 065-020)
95¢
Court, town work on lease
By Wayne E. Rivet Staff Writer For 20 years, Maine District Court has occupied space at the Bridgton Municipal Complex. Jeff Henthorn, director of Court Facilities, hopes the arrangement continues well into the future. With the town and Judicial Branch trying to hammer out a new lease agreement, Henthorn told selectmen Tuesday night that the current court site has served the local community, as well as both Oxford and Cumberland counties “very well” and it is the intention to keep court services in the current location. Selectmen recently toured the court space to familiarize themselves with
the rented space. Tuesday, Henthorn made a presentation to selectmen to summarize Judicial leadership’s position and answer questions. There are a few details to work out. For one, a rent increase. The court occupies 4,062 square feet. It also utilizes 189 square feet of storage area in the lower section of the complex. Initially, the lease was for five years. It was renewed, but no update has been made over the past 15 years. The rate has been flat. In May 2011, the agreement called for 12 payments of $4,518.98 or $54,227.76 per OUT FOR A SATURDAY DRIVE on Long Lake in Naples. Yes indeed! One of a couple amphibious vehiyear. Town Manager Robert cles on hand at the 26th annual Antique and Classic Boat and Car Show, sponsored by the Mountainview (Photo by Dawn De Busk) Peabody and Deputy Town Woodies Classic Boat Club. BRIDGTON, Page 2A
By Wayne E. Rivet Staff Writer Single-sort was thought to be the answer to reducing Bridgton’s trash disposal problem. It hasn’t quite worked out as well as one hoped. Recycling numbers continue to miss local targets, and the cost to dispose of waste continues to rise. So, the Bridgton Recycling Committee (BRC) feels it is time to look at another approach. It’s an old idea, but one that might make more financial sense now than it has in the past — Pay as You Throw. Taxpayers have rejected pay-per-bag at the polls a
few times by large margins, but BRC members feel with a solid public awareness campaign that points out cost savings and a greater push to recycle (save more, pay less), pay-per-bag might pass voter muster at next June’s annual town meeting. Selectmen seem to agree. Board Chairman Lee Eastman and Selectman Bear Zaidman gained new perspectives after touring the ecomaine facility. Selectwoman Carmen Lone suggested to BRC members that they must hit on every point — from projected cost savings to where residents can purchase required trash bags, which are usually capable of holding more
waste since people will try to compact as much debris as possible (she suggested the bags be sold locally at Food City, Hannaford and Renys) — regarding a Pay as You Throw program for it to succeed. Town Manager Robert Peabody said selectmen usually set the fee per bag, somewhere between $1 to $3. If a person shows up at the Transfer Station with regular trash bags, he or she would be charged a certain rate. Lone said a change to Pay as You Throw and multi-sort recycling (which the town collects certain recyclables and then sells to certain buyers) would require new
procedures at the Transfer Station, which again, would need to be well-advertised to residents, and an additional fulltime employee. “Education is very important. It can’t be this big mystery,” she said. She also raised the question as to how commercial haulers would be dealt with? According to the town website, the Recycling Committee is charged with the efforts to improve Bridgton’s recycling rate while reducing the disposal costs associated with the waste stream…Working with the (Transfer) Station Manager, town staff and ecomaine, as well as the community, the commit-
tee shall recommend to the Select Board those policies, practices and procedures that might assist the Town in reducing its disposal costs. The committee shall recommend any ordinance changes necessary to support the reduction of solid waste disposal costs, improve recycling opportunities and rates and provide other recommendations for consideration by the Select Board. The committee includes: Maureen McDevitt (chairman), Kate Fitzcharles, Bob Fitzcharles, Sally Chappell and Therese Johnson. All were in attendance at Tuesday’s board meeting. Why would Pay as You
Throw be a good idea? A fact sheet created by the committee outlined seven points: • Creates equity among residents. Cost is based on individual use. • Helps eliminate the cost of trash. • Offsets Transfer Station operational costs. • Increases recycling rates. • Bridgton saves money by increasing recycling rates. • Encourages personal responsibility. • Benefits the environment. Does Pay as You Throw work? PAY, Page 3A
FRYEBURG — Oxford County West Registry, located at 38 Portland Street in Fryeburg, is closing in 13 days. After months of work by the Oxford County Registry Team and careful analysis of the Legislative Document, Oxford County Commissioners unanimously approved a closure date of
Aug. 28, 2019. This will be the final day of business in the West office. At the close of business on Aug. 28, at 4 p.m., there will no longer be recording or office hours held at the West Registry. Paper and e-recording for the Western District will resume on Tuesday, Sept. 3, in the
South Paris office as one Oxford County Registry of Deeds. County Commissioners and Administrator are confident in the actions that have been taken by the Registry’s Data Company, IQS, for a successful two-business day merge of the East and West systems on Thursday, Aug. 29 and Friday, Aug. 30.
The merge of the two district offices was decided by the Maine State Legislature in 2018 when they approved and signed LD 1679. This enacted that one register be elected to office for Oxford County, a first in the history of the state. Aroostook County is now researching to do the same, as they are the
only other county with two offices. “While we know this is a historic change for the entire county, we understand it has the most impact on the nine towns of the Western District. We appreciate the cooperation extended during the first half of this year in planning this merge and look forward to working
closely in everyday business,” county officials said. The Western District includes Brownfield, Denmark, Fryeburg, Hiram, Lovell, Porter, Stoneham, Stow and Sweden. Gail Ridlon, a 14-year veteran clerk and one-year Acting Register of the Western District after Jean REGISTRY, Page 3A
Another crack at Pay as You Throw option
‘West’ Registry set to close doors on Aug. 28
Harrison to study town garage; why fish died? By Wayne E. Rivet Staff Writer HARRISON — The town garage could be the target of a serious facelift. Built several decades ago, the Harrison Public Works Department garage is seriously limited with just two bays. Vehicles are parked outdoors year-round. “It needs to be updated,” Town Manager Tim Pellerin told selectmen last Thursday BREAKFAST IS GOOD any time of day. The blues band Breakfast will play at a night. But, what does Harrison fundraiser for the Travis Mills Foundation on Saturday. (Photo courtesy of Maine Blues Festival) need now and into the future?
Mainland Development of Livermore Falls will help answer those questions. Selectmen selected the firm to conduct a feasibility study of using the current Public Works site as a location for a new building, and look at current and future needs. Mainland submitted a bid of $19,500. The town also received a bid from Dubois & King of Bangor for $25,800. While Pellerin noted that there is no set timetable in regards of addressing a town garage project, he said the study will serve as a “foundation” when discussions do begin. The study will be preThey call them re-calibrat- pared over a 10- to 12-week ed,” he said. period, then turned over to Sgt. Travis Mills was the town for its review. injured in combat, lost his limbs and received prosthetic legs. “The Travis Mills Established 1870 Foundation supports recaP.O. Box 244, 118 Main St. librated veterans and their families through long-term Bridgton, ME 04009 programs that help these 207-647-2851 heroic men and women overFax: 207-647-5001 come physical obstacles, bnews@roadrunner.com BLUES, Page 5A
Blues to uplift wounded vets
By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer NAPLES — This Saturday listening to the blues could uplift someone who fought under the redwhite-and-blue. The Maine Blues Heritage Foundation and the Hall of Fame Museum will be hosting a fundraising concert called the “Blues for the Travis Mills Foundation.” The concert will be held
Saturday from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Gary’s Olde Towne Tavern, which is located at 678 Roosevelt Trail. The cost is $15 and all the proceeds will go to the Maine-based Travis Mill Foundation. Local musician Kevin Kimball helped to line up the musicians who were willing to donate their time toward the cause. There will be four different acts play-
ing during the fundraiser. Kimball provided some reasons why people would want to attend this Saturday’s fundraiser. “The Travis Mills organization in and of itself is a pretty good motivator. Travis Mills — he is quite an incredible man. His organization goes good work,” Kimball said. “I love what they call injured American veterans.
In other meeting notes: Water quality, just fine. When several perch were found dead along the shoreline and on top of the water at Crystal Lake, people wondered if there was a water quality issue? The answer: no. There was no public health risk. Water was tested for contaminants at both Long Lake and Crystal Lake, and both waterbodies scored perfectly. Lakes Environmental Association and the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife monitored the situation. It is believed that a parasite, that attacks white perch only, was responsible for the die-off. A similar perch incident HARRISON, Page 3A
The Bridgton News