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Serving Bridgton and the surrounding towns of Western Maine since 1870. Vol. 148, No. 37
28 PAGES - 4 Sections
Bridgton, Maine
September 14, 2017
(USPS 065-020)
Weather . . . . . . . . . . . . .
www.bridgton.com
SEVENTY-FIVE CENTS
Study calls for Central Station expansion By Wayne E. Rivet Staff Writer When Steve Fay was hired as Bridgton’s new fire chief, he took a close look at how the department was operated and evaluated what its shortand long-terms needs were. A big piece of the puzzle is an aging Central Station on Gibbs Avenue, which fails to meet both safety and organizational standards. SMRT Architects and Engineers of Portland presented findings of a feasibility study to selectmen Tuesday night. David Mains, principal at SMRT, said Central Station “has exceeded its service life.” Peter Anderson, who was
the primary author of the feasibility study, said the town could entertain two options — 1. Renovate the current structure and expand, which would cost about $1.4 million; or 2. Build a new station at a different location, at an estimated cost of $2.4 million. Anderson pointed out that staying at the current location on Gibbs Avenue creates several space issues, as well as an inability to add more height. Selectman Bob Murphy noted that since Bridgton still uses a volunteer, call-in response approach, parking is a necessity. However, if significant parking is needed, then the amount of new facil-
ity square footage would be reduced. Based on needs, the station should double in size from 5 to 10,000 square feet. Anderson noted that the ladder truck barely squeezes into the current station. He added that under the renovation scenario, a good portion of the existing structure would likely be replaced to meet new guidelines and needs, such as an area for decontamination, exhaust system (a hose which hooks onto the tailpipe of fire trucks as the vehicles are started, pushing fumes out of the facility), office spaces (Chief Fay’s office is currently at the municipal complex) and possible live-in quarters — for both current fire department
personnel, as well as fire science students from Southern Maine Community College. There is also repair work to be done to the existing structure, such as cracks in the station floor, replacement of an inefficient boiler and addressing minor electrical problems. A barrier would be that while construction is underway, the station would remain in service. Anderson said the project would likely be “phased,” building the new addition and then moving over to address the older
structure. One advantage of seeking a new location would certainly be improving overall safety. While the project will sit on the back burner for the time being as the town tackles other infrastructure improvements — new wastewater system and streetscape work — Town Manager Bob Peabody said Central Station certainly will be included in future planning discussions. “We are at a point where the community has things that need to be updated. As
Sabatis Island reopens, public likes local parks
By Wayne E. Rivet Staff Writer Sabatis Island is open for picnics and scenic walks on Moose Pond. The island had been closed for several weeks after a July tornado downed several trees. Forester Jack Wadsworth reported to Bridgton selectmen Tuesday night that a number of “diseased” white pine trees were also removed. Wadsworth projected that new pine seedlings will reach about 5-feet in height in about 10 years, at which time the town should consider selective clearing to allow more sunshine for the young trees. Although the town leases the property from the Maine Bureau of Parks and Public Lands, Bridgton was in line to receive two payments totaling $7,886.89 for the timber harvested from the island. Some funds will be used to cover repair costs (about $4,000), while the balance will be placed in a new Sabatis Island Reserve fund for future work there. Bridgton Town Manager Bob Peabody noted that additional work is needed on the trail, which will be undertaken when county workers are in town for community service work. In other park news, Peabody reported that a donation box has been recently installed at Pondicherry Park by the kiosk. Donations totaling $56.75 had been placed in the box, and will be added to the Pondicherry park AN OUTBREAK of milfoil this summer on Long Lake sparked a public workshop ses- Reserve Fund. sion in Naples, and call for more comprehensive education regarding the invasive plant A counter has also been installed in the and what can be done to prevent future outbreaks. park, and figures show how popular the intown location is.
Fighting milfoil
Identifying the invasive plant not always easy task
municipal employees, our job is to keep the selectmen apprised to what needs to be done so they can look into the crystal ball and start planning for the future,” Peabody said. Fire Chief Fay agreed. “Wastewater and other improvements have to come first, but the thought is we now have a study and options to consider and we’ll put them in that planning pipeline.” The feasibility study cost $15,000, and the bid was awarded to SMRT Architects and Engineers.
July, 2,654 visitors August, 3,279 September (up to the 11th), 2,950. In other selectmen meeting notes: • Greasing the wheel. For months, Selectman Bear Zaidman has sought a response from the state regarding safety concerns about the Portland Road and Sandy Creek Road intersection and the possible need of a traffic light there. Still, no word. So, Zaidman asked the board for the town to draft a letter to local state representatives and senators seeking their help to push the Maine Department of Transportation along. Selectman Fred Packard liked Zaidman’s thinking, “Greasing the squeaky wheel is a great idea.” • Restitution made. The town received restitution of $3,200 for vandalism done at South Station. • Paving soon. The Town Hall parking lot is being prepped for paving. • New office location. If you are looking for the fire chief, EMA director or Wastewater superintendent, they can be found in the new downstairs office space at the municipal complex. Access to these offices is from the employee’s parking lot off Iredale Street. Signage will be installed in the near future. • On the CDC front. Community Development Committee chairman Carmen Lone gave selectmen an update on the group’s latest gatherings. One, the CDC plans to place a survey on the town’s website containing four questions in an attempt to bridge the gap between local employers and possible employees. Local youth are also being targeted to MEETING NOTES, Page 6A
Grange hall sold; buyer to renovate structure
By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer NAPLES — Identifying invasive milfoil is not an easy task. Without the flower or the berry to distinguish it from other aquatic plants, it can be impossible to identify a plant without sending a DNA sample to a lab, according to Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) biologist John McPhedran, who is assigned to the state’s Invasive Aquatic Species Program.
The state put out a booklet called “Maine Field Guide to Invasive Aquatic Plants and their common native lookalikes.” The very title points to the fact that a person without a degree in botany might confuse native species with the invasive ones. So, it is no surprise that when one marina owner apologized for the milfoil outbreak at his business’ dock, he explained that he thought the plants were noninvasive ones that had been identified as such
by experts two years ago. During a public meeting in Naples, Vander Zee said he would get a milfoil inspection certification for next summer; and this summer, he had already moved the boat-washing station so debris could not wash back into the lake. It was the discovery of invasive milfoil at the Four Seasons Family Camping Area’s marina that prompted elected officials in Naples to host a tri-town workshop on PLANT, Page 8A
By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer CASCO — The Grange Hall will be renovated and will remain a viable structure in Casco Village. The Grange Hall has a buyer with those objectives in mind. The bid amount was $48,500. The buyer is Atlantic Home Construction. The Casco Board of Selectmen on Tuesday accepted the highest bid and set up a meeting with the buyer and the town’s code enforcement officer. “It is really exciting to be able to sell it and keep it,” Chairman Holly Hancock said. Town Manager Dave Morton agreed. The town was hoping “that whoever bought it provided assurances that they would indeed improve the building and it
By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer NAPLES — Following a milfoil workshop at the Naples Town Hall, what participants walked away with is: A need for more comprehensive education. Everyone agreed that education about invasive aquatic plants would need to happen in all of the towns and involve the owners of all of the marinas and waterfront businesses as well as private landowners. “With education, we could have spotted it [an invasive
milfoil outbreak] sooner,” according to Christian Oren with Lakes Environmental Agency (LEA). Oren was referring to milfoil growth discovered at three sites on Long Lake: Salmon Point Beach, the dock at the Four Seasons Family Campground and Colonial Mast Campground’s waterfront area. Colonial Mast had the least amount of milfoil. With the cooperation of business owners, LEA has been working to eradicate the milfoil outbreaks. Per discussion, other fac-
tors that can help keep milfoil to a minimum are certifying more milfoil inspectors and funding those inspection sites. The Town of Naples hosted a milfoil workshop on Monday night. Harrison and Bridgton selectmen joined Naples elected officials at the table. Four employees at LEA were on hand to answer questions. Another expert on milfoil is John McPhedran, a biologist and overseer of the Invasive Aquatic Species Program with the Department of Environmental Protection
(DEP). McPhedran shared some ideas about ways to promote knowledge about invasive aquatic plants and protect water quality in lakeside towns. “One town had a lake week in August. It was a time to look for plants, to bring plants into the office for identification” and to bring in more volunteers for the local lake inspection program. The selectmen and LEA had talked about public workshops held in the late winter or spring to prepare
would not become some decrepit building in the center of town,” Morton said. Selectman Grant Plummer advised that the buyer have a discussion with the CEO. “For me, it comes back to what is allowed in the Village District. What can and cannot happen there,” he said. “I would be willing to accept the bid if they discuss with us and [CEO] Alex [Sirois] about the nuances of the building,” Plummer said. Morton said, “It is an exciting offer and one we need to move forward.” The representative for Atlantic Home Construction provided his assurance the historical appearance of the building would remain intact. “There will be full rehabilitation, which they will do right out of the gate. They do this all the time,” he said.
More comprehensive education needed everyone for summer on the lake and to stem the spread of invasive milfoil. “It is a big undertaking but not out of the question. For the people who are receptive to the information that is
great — learning about the plants is great,” McPhedran said. In order to help keep the lakes milfoil-free, people do not need to learn how to EDUCATION, Page 8A
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