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Serving Bridgton and the surrounding towns of Western Maine since 1870 Vol. 149, No. 39
28 PAGES - 4 Sections
Bridgton, Maine
September 26, 2019
www.bridgton.com
(USPS 065-020)
95¢
Smith retires, did he really?
IN FLIGHT, a turkey vulture soars as captured in this photo by Pam Ward of Denmark.
Building targeted for demolition By Wayne E. Rivet Staff Writer While it seems little is happening at the empty buildings near Pondicherry Square, property owner Dan Macdonald said action is expected soon with the possible sale of the former bakery and garage sites. The middle property, 271 Main Street, was the target of town action if deemed a dangerous building after officials expressed safety concerns regarding a deteriorating fasçade. Dan Macdonald, who was also representing coowner/his brother [Robert], informed selectmen that environmental testing has been done at the site and data is being sent to the DEP to ultimately secure a Voluntary Response Action
Bridgton Selectmen Program [VRAP] letter, which is sought as part of a land purchase. Macdonald noted an individual is interested in purchasing all three lots. Meanwhile, Macdonald has reached out to a contractor about removing [“as soon as possible”] the fasçade portion of the building. Macdonald vowed the fasçade would be removed by Oct. 15. Selectmen decided to table action regarding the dangerous building status until Oct. 22, which they will review the situation. However it all plays out, Macdonald said the buildings will be demolished by
year’s end, if not sooner. In other Bridgton Board of Selectmen business: Bid over broker. Figuring they could go two ways in disposing of the tax-acquired First and Last Resort Motel property on Route 302, selectmen asked the town manager to reach out to brokers first for proposals. Just two responded. Mark Lopez figures that since demolition of the current motel is part of the sale package, the property is likely not a “hot” item as suggested by just two brokers submitting proposals. Selectmen agreed, and
decided to pursue option #2, putting the property out for bid. The town reserves the right to reject all bids. Junkyard permit denied. A year ago, selectmen approved an automobile junkyard permit to Powerhouse Salvage [operated by Paul Gallinari] after lengthy discussion after concerns were raised by resident David Martin. Martin urged denial of the permit, questioning whether Powerhouse Salvage was indeed a salvage operation. Officials approved the request, but stipulated that fencing be installed to screen the junkyard. Martin was back before the board Tuesday night, again questioning whether Powerhouse Salvage is a BRIDGTON, Page 2A
GOOD DEAL — Sportshaus Ski & Sports Shop owners Marlise Libby and Phil Libby shake hands with James Davenport and Clint Davenport, of Long Lake Marina, during the closing for the sale of Sportshaus. The marina will continue to operate the Sportshaus, which is located near Pleasant Mountain in Bridgton. (Photo courtesy of Long Lake Marina)
L.L. Marina buys Sportshaus
By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer The Sportshaus ranks as one of the most iconic businesses in Bridgton. The familiar building is nestled in the foothills of Pleasant Mountain, located near to Shawnee Peak Ski resort; and for the past forty years, the Sportshaus has served customers in the area. When the owners made public their retirement this spring, nobody knew what the future might hold. Would Sportshaus Ski & Sport Shop fade into history or would it ride out the
change and come up on top? The business has a future as Sportshaus Snow & Water. Long Lake Marina announced its purchase of the Sporthaus and its plans to continue to operate the business, expanding into water-based recreation. “We do intend on running it as a winter sports business as it has been,” said James Davenport, the sales and marketing director for Long Lake Marina. “The plan is to continue to run it as a winter sports business: selling skis, ski equipment and expand-
ing into snowboards,” he said. “We’re expanding into snowboards and are currently in talks with two major manufacturers.” “The main benefit to the Lake Region is the continued presence of a longstanding business that has served the ski and snowboarding community for 40 years,” Davenport said. “We’re continuing to grow and enhance our investment in the Lake Region, and now we will have product offerings for both the summer and winter season,” he said. “Long Lake Marina rec-
ognized this long-standing business had a great reputation in the snow industry, and since our exit from the snowmobile business in 2014, we’ve been looking for a potential acquisition in this space,” he said. Long Lake Marina’s owners closed on the business in mid-September. Part of the agreement is that owner Phil Libby will assist with the transition this winter season, Davenport said. “Phil is going to stay on as an advisor for the entire winter season,” he said. One thing that will conSPORTSHAUS, Page 2A
By Wayne E. Rivet Staff Writer When a few people saw the nomination of Dr. Patricia Hayden as interim SAD 61 superintendent on the school board’s agenda for Monday night, they called Al Smith. “Are you sick?” “Did you get fired?” “Are you doing something else?” Yes, Smith is retiring after a 39-year career in education, but he could be back at the SAD 61 helm within 30 days — if the local school board is interested in hiring him. Like over 2,400 state workers, Smith is opting to take advantage of a law that allows those under the Maine State Retirement system to start collecting his pension, while also reentering the workforce to earn a full paycheck. Smith made the move when state law was recently changed dropping an earlier provision that called for an individual to only earn 75 percent of their previous salary while collecting retirement despite working full time and no longer forfeiting his superintendent certificate after five years. “To me, that (loss of certification) was not right. I’ve worked too hard,” Smith said in a phone
WILL HE BE BACK? Al Smith will retire at the end of the month, but is interested in returning to the SAD 61. interview Tuesday morning. “You never know what the Legislature is going to do next (since I’ve been a superintendent, it has gone back and forth on this law three times), so being at retirement age, it makes sense to roll the dice.” Smith will officially retire on Sept. 30. Dr. Hayden, who is the district’s assistant superintendent, will take over the helm on Oct. 1 and lead SAD 61until the end of the month. On Nov. 1, Smith can apply for the superinSAD 61, Page 5A
Naples buys blinking signs By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer NAPLES — The Town of Naples won’t have to wait for the state to try to curb the public safety concerns along Route 302. The town ordered signs with blinking LED lights to warn drivers about the speed limit reductions on the approach to the Causeway. Last week, residents made their case and offered some solutions to make Main Street safer. The focus was on the section of Route 302, also known as Roosevelt Trail, near the Naples Fire Station. Plenty of people stroll along the sidewalk on the Long Lake side, passing the town beach, the cemetery, and the scenery.
Meanwhile, many drivers seem unaware that the speed limit decreases to 25 mph right after the town hall. Recent vehicular accidents illustrate the need for safety improvements. On Monday, the Naples Board of Selectmen opted to order two signs with blinking LED lights for both ends of the Causeway. At the urging of Selectmen Bob Caron II, the board decided to address both approaches to the Causeway — from the Bridgton side and from the Casco side. He suggested another blinking light on the hill near Moose Landing Marina because people speed going down that hill into the area where the traffic is often more congested, SIGN, Page 8A
By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer NAPLES — The owner of the former campground property where the Bay of Naples cupola is located informed the town that if the structure is not moved a year from now, he will start charging the town a monthly storage fee. One local selectmen put his foot down on paying a storage cost for the cupola, which the town legally owns. This recent news starts
the clock ticking for a plan to move the cupola, Selectman Bob Caron II said. “Obviously, we aren’t going to start paying a storage fee. He is giving us a calendar year before he starts charging a fee. I don’t want to pay a fee for storage,” Caron said. “We have a year to get a plan together,” he said. Another issue that must be addressed immediately is insurance coverage of the CUPOLA, Page 8A
Clock ticking on cupola fees
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