Mike’s return
Fresh start
Longtime BN staff writer is back writing his Irish Up column. His first offering: greener living
Inside News
New Lake Region football coach Brian Jahna leads his team this Friday against rival Fryeburg
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Page 1C
Calendar . . . . . . . . . . 3B Classifieds . . . . . . 4D-5D Country Living . . . 4B-6B Directory . . . . . . . . . . 3D Obituaries . . . . . . . . . 6D Opinions . . . . . . . 1D-3D Police/Court . . . . . 5A-6A Sports . . . . . . . . . 1C-8C Student News . . . . . . . . Entertainment . . . . . . 8B Weather . . . . . . . . . . . 5D
www.bridgton.com Vol. 143, No. 35
Serving Bridgton and the surrounding towns of Western Maine since 1870. 32 PAGES - 4 Sections
Bridgton, Maine
August 30, 2012
(USPS 065-020)
SIXTY CENTS
Town seeks partners to run ‘The Store’ By Wayne E. Rivet Staff Writer Outside of the Transfer Station building, a sign once read, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” Finding that “treasure,” however, can be difficult at times because of the wave after wave of items dropped off by the public.
Vincent Ciliberto, a member of Bridgton’s Recycling Committee, felt a better “presentation” could possibly produce more retail activity at The Store. Town Manager Mitch Berkowitz and Transfer Station Director Bob Fitzcharles developed a plan to utilize volunteer organizations for weekend
coverage and part-time staff to work during the weekdays to better organize merchandise and operate The Store. Also, a new area will be designated as the location to drop off reusable and recyclable goods and clothing — rather than have items dropped off in The Store, which in the past has resulted in a “cluttered” appearance.
The “win-win” situation is the town will split revenue (which is tracked on a daily basis) received on the weekend days with the nonprofit group that manned The Store. This arrangement would be used during the months of May through September. Based on past history, Berkowitz estimated that over $3,000 could be made by
nonprofits over the five-month span. Which group would get a chance to work The Store? The town would select interested parties much like the way the current bottle returnable bin is operated. Part-time transfer station staff would be used on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to
Sign, a help or danger?
Water contract concerns raised
By Wayne E. Rivet Staff Writer FRYEBURG — A long-term agreement between two business partners brings forth stabililty. The Fryeburg Water Company and Nestlé Water North America hope to extend their partnership for the next 25 years if a new agreement passes Maine Public Utilities Commission muster. Each side claims the new pact puts their business in a more stable position. Fryeburg Water Company would benefit by gaining a fixed monthly rental fee for its pumping station off Route 113. Jean Andrews, vice president of Fryeburg Water Company, says the proposed agreement would eliminate the current “guesswork” as to the amount of water Nestlé extracts and the amount paid. The new pact calls for Nestlé to extract a minimum of 75 million gallons per year and the water bottler will pay a monthly rental fee of $12,000. A new rate could be adjusted
every five years. Water extraction has declined in recent years. In 2006, Nestlé purchased 178 million gallons of water, but that figure dropped off to 86 million in 2009 and 73 million a year ago. Andrews cited weather conditions and a bad economy as possible reasons for the drop-off. Andrews said the new agreement would bring greater financial stability to the water company, which should benefit local customers in terms of fewer rate adjustments. The fixed fee would also allow the water company to address infrastructure needs in a more timely fashion. Nestlé, on the other hand, wants a long-term deal, moving the current pact from a fiveyear to a 25-year agreement. There is an option to extend the agreement for up to four additional five-year terms. One caveat of the new agreement has some people like Nickie Sekera and Bill Harriman concerned. The proposed agreement
By Wayne E. Rivet Staff Writer Old, yet still very useful is one way to describe Bridgton’s Town Hall. Between youth sports practices, table tennis, exercise classes and special events, the facility is used by some 200 to 300 people each week. The building, however, is in serious need of structural improvement. How much will it cost to “stabilize” the old hall is unknown. “It’s been on and off our radar for over two years,” Bridgton Town Manager Mitch Berkowitz told selectmen Tuesday night. “I think it is time we hold a work-
shop to gain a better understanding as to what the hall’s priority is to this community.” An engineering study conducted two to three years ago identified problems with the building’s underpinning. Some “educated guesses” placed costs to repair the structure between $400,000 to $700,000. “We need to ask the threshold question, ‘What do we want to do with this building?’ Is it a priority and if it is, what can we do?” Berkowitz said. At this point, there is no danger that the hall might collapse, Berkowitz said, but some shortterm work is needed to stabilize
By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer CASCO — Local neighbors brought forward many quality-of-life concerns as well as worries about increased water pollution and road degradation if a large maintenance shed is allowed to be built on a quarteracre corner lot. Representatives of Camp Sunshine brought their rebuttals to the microphone, saying the state levies stricter water protection requirements on corporations versus residents, and the company planned to step up to the plate on road repair. The nonprofit based near Big Sebago Lake in South Casco has proposed to build a twostory maintenance building on the parcel that Camp Sunshine purchased in a residential neigh-
borhood. But first, Camp Sunshine must get a contract zone change, which would allow it to operate as a land-owning entity separate from Point Sebago. And, before the contract zone change can occur, it must be approved by residents at a town meeting. Tuesday’s public hearing was one of the steps required for a zone change; and both the Casco Planning Board and the Casco Board of Selectmen sat through the hearing. Afterwards, the board members conducted their regular meetings. According to Town Attorney Natalie Burns, “All rezoning has to do is to be consistent with the town’s comprehensive plan. That is why they (Camp Sunshine) have to provide some explanation as to how it is consistent
WATER, Page A
Town Hall: What does future hold?
TOWN HALL, Page A
2 p.m. The staff will organize materials from the drop-off spot and place them in the designated areas of the store. Staff would also be available to assist with busy periods at the transfer station dumping area, as well as covering other workers at lunchtime. Berkowitz estimated the cost BRIDGTON, Page A
HARP LADY — Elizabeth Roth always wanted to play the harp, even as a young child, but was steered in other musical directions. While pursuing acting work in New York, she met a harp player, whom she took some lessons from and has since made it her instrument of choice. Roth recently performed in the Bridgton Public Library Courtyard. (Rivet Photo)
By Wayne E. Rivet Staff Writer To help visitors find the ice arena and athletic complex, Bridgton Academy would like to install a sign on the triangularshaped property at the intersection of Route 37 and Chadbourne Hill Road. Bridgton Selectman Doug Taft, however, is very concerned that the sign could be a major obstruction to what he calls the “triangle of challenge.” Over 40 years in law enforcement, Taft always asked motorists if there were “contributing factors” which played a role in collisions. He often heard motorists complain about various “things” that obstructed their view. Taft wondered if Bridgton could be held liable if the town allowed the Academy to place the sign — which indicates with arrows where the Bridgton Ice Arena and Bridgton Academy Athletic Complex are located — on the town-owned triangle. Bridgton Academy offered to place a “mock sign” at the location to allow officials to determine whether it would be an obstruction. Bridgton Town Manager Mitch Berkowitz offered a possible solution. Because new fire equipment can maneuver around tight corners better than previous trucks, Berkowitz suggested not plowing the “ramp way,” this winter and see whether it is truly needed. Immediately, the idea was shot down by selectmen, who already heard from North Bridgton residents that they wish to keep the roadway, as well as Public Works Director Jim Kidder, who felt oil trucks and service vehicles “need a running start” during the winter to climb Chadbourne Hill Road. The request failed as the result of a 2-2 vote — Taft and Bernie King voted “no” while Woody Woodward and Bob McHatton voted “yes” to allow a mock paper sign be place there for officials to check.
Concerns raised about Camp Sunshine building with the comp plan.” “It may be that others disagree with it. Ultimately, it is up to town meeting itself to make that change,” Burns said. During the public hearing, many aspects of the Town’s Comprehensive Plan were quoted. The same reasons people live in rural Maine are the reasons the residents wanted to put a stop to Camp Sunshine’s expansion plans. Those include peace and quiet, places that provide recreational opportunities for its residents, and the small town atmosphere. “We all drive by that property. It is part of the ambiance,” resident Elaine Gifford said. “All of a sudden to have a 25foot tall building with an eightfoot tall stock fence — I can
tell you know it will change the ambiance of that neighborhood,” she said. “We are not talking about doing away with Camp Sunshine,” she prefaced. “But, I don’t understand how putting a maintenance building on that property is going to provide $200 a year to the road association? My husband and I walk Arcadia Road two or three times a week. The worse part of Arcadia Road is right in front of Camp Sunshine’s property,” she said. When Gifford first stepped to the microphone, she said she had applauded Camp Sunshine when it created a nature trail on the property next to her home. But, using the lot for maintenance equipment and an oversized shed would grind against
the character of her neighborhood, she said. “The town or another board should have slowed it down, and make certain what is going on,” she said. The massive structure, which would be constructed using the same setback as the previous owner’s building — 25 feet from the road, was a major concern to neighbors. According to Bill O’Donnell, “The 30 by 100 (square foot)
proposed building does not fit the character of the neighborhood.” “It will not provide a financial benefit to the town,” he said, adding the nonprofit will be exempt from property taxes. “There will be no recreational opportunities for local residents. It does not contribute to local commerce since campers stay on property,” he said. “Their proposal is in opposiBUILDING, Page A
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