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Serving Bridgton and the surrounding towns of Western Maine since 1870. Vol. 148, No. 45
24 PAGES - 4 Sections
Bridgton, Maine
November 9, 2017
(USPS 065-020)
Weather . . . . . . . . . . . . .
www.bridgton.com
SEVENTY-FIVE CENTS
Good-bye SAD 61! Sebago withdraws By Wayne E. Rivet Staff Writer SEBAGO — When Lisa Johnson heard that Sebago voters supported withdrawal from SAD 61 to operate their own school system, she was both satisfied and relieved. “My reaction to the vote tonight is relief. We needed this referendum to pass by a super majority of 2/3 of today’s voters and we exceeded it by perhaps more than I even expected,” said Johnson, who served on the Sebago Withdrawal Committee for the past two years. “I know Sebago values its school and its children, but Sebago also values local control. I think the time had finally come to proactively
protect the future of Sebago Elementary School.” By a 464 to 167 (easily meeting the two-thirds requirement) vote Tuesday, Sebago residents decided to withdraw from SAD 61 as of July 1, 2018, and create their own school system. SAD 61 Superintendent of Schools Al Smith respects the town’s decision to do what it feels is in the best interest of their children. “We will help out in any way to make it a smooth transition,” Smith said. “I am disappointed that the (Sebago) kids will not have some of the opportunities afforded other children, being in a smaller setting and not having the financial support of
Referendum results, Page 5A
a school district. However, I know the town will do what is in the best interest of the children.” SAD 61 School Board chairman Janice Barter wished the best for Sebago after the “overwhelming vote,” and added, “I believe the district can now be more focused regarding the educational opportunities for Bridgton, Casco and Naples children.” Children in Grades 1 through 5 will attend Sebago Elementary School, while Grade 6 could also be moved back to Sebago. Smith noted that econom-
GENEROUS DONATION of a 92-acre parcel at the northwest end of Highland Lake in Bridgton has become the Stone Preserve.
Trust receives 92 acres, creates Stone Preserve
A donation of land by Dr. Jenny Lee Stone of Waxhaw, N.C. has established Loon Echo Land Trust’s 10th preserve. The 92-acre parcel of donated land is located at the northwest end of Bridgton’s Highland Lake. Dr. Stone, who practices dermatologic surgery in North Carolina, inherited the property from her late father, Charles T. Stone, who passed away in 2006. Growing up in Bridgton, she shared her father’s love of wildlife and has always wanted this property to remain undeveloped. “We are extremely pleased to receive this donation from Dr. Stone. It is with the support and generosity such as hers that allows Loon Echo to conserve important lands for the public and future generations,” said Loon Echo Executive Director, Thom
Dr. Jenny Stone of Waxhaw, N.C., donated the land.
Perkins. The Stone Preserve is a northern hardwood forest dominated by red oak with 1,275 feet of waterfront on Highland Lake. Several seasonal streams flow into Little
Trull Brook, which crosses the property as it flows into Highland Lake. The property is a fine example of a continuous ecosystem as it descends from upland forest to the undisturbed wetland habitat at the lake. This land, as part of the Sebago Lake watershed, helps Loon Echo in its efforts to protect water quality for the region. It provides valuable habitat for wildlife including fish stocks, migrant birds and deer, moose and black bear. Currently, there are no plans for establishing trails at the Stone Preserve. However, Loon Echo will continue with its policy to provide traditional recreation uses of the property including: hiking, snowshoeing, hunting, trapping (with permission) and nature observations. The ongoing stewardship and expenses including paying LAND, Page 5A
ically, it would likely cost Sebago less money to tuition Grade 6 students to Lake Region Middle School than return that age level to SES. He also feels LRMS can offer Grade 6 students more educational opportunities. Once a local school board is elected and a superintendent hired, officials will decide whether the school will offer a pre-K program and whether to bring Grade 6 back to Sebago. No decisions on either issue have been made. The projected budget for the new Sebago school unit includes Pre-K and sixth grade, but just for planning purposes.
Veterans Day schedule, 2A sured moments, Merrill said. The event in the making is a free Veterans Supper, which starts at 5 p.m., with musical entertainment by Rex beginning at 6:30 p.m. It will be held at the American Legion Post 155 on Saturday, which is the official date of Veterans Day. The American Legion Auxiliary Unit 155 — which serves veterans in Naples, Casco and Raymond — is putting on an old-style Saturday night gathering. There will be an old-fashioned baked bean supper and
casseroles, followed by music that is suitable for dancing or tapping a foot to. The performer is Rex. There will be patriotic songs on the music menu, too. There is no cost for veterans and their families and Legion members, Merrill said. She wanted to encourage veterans to get out on Saturday evening. Many people are familiar with the music of Rex, she said. “Some of them don’t get out very much. Some of them don’t like to go to suppers,” she said, encouraging veterans
the Withdrawal Committee’s recording secretary. “Since both Dr. (Mark) Eastman and Attorney (Dan) Stockford have been involved in our school system setups, they were able to help us avoid a number of false steps in this process and enabled us to work in an efficient manner.” Strong turnout Crabtree reported early Tuesday night that voter turnout had been steady with 422 ballots cast by 4:30 p.m. “The parking lot was full,” Crabtree found. When the final tally was reached at about 9:21 p.m., word quickly trickled out to the community. “Hoooray! Thanks to SEBAGO, Page 6A
Permitting error leads to new notice policy
By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer CASCO — A permit issued for a home expansion in the Shoreland Zone did not quite follow state and local law, but the time period for abutters or the town to appeal the permit had passed. Certainly, no one will be required to undo the construction that already took place in the late summer through autumn. To date, the homeowners have been cooperative with officials from the Town of Casco. The building permit stands despite tree removal and other details that go against the Shoreland Zoning Ordinance. “Basically, if you don’t appeal within the time period, the permit stands,” according to Casco Code Enforcement Officer (CEO) Alex Sirois. “There are court cases that have said that.” Of importance, the incident has changed how the Town of Casco does notifications for building permits. “This issue has changed how the town notifies abutters. This problem caused a positive change,” Sirois said. Until the recent change, a log was kept of all the permits issued and people could come into the town hall and view that log. “That is kind of the old-fashioned way the towns did stuff,” he said. This method is still the way most towns approach the permit notification process, he said.
“What the town took away from this, knowing that we couldn’t change a lot here is: We talked about it and we decided to get more proactive with noticing,” Sirois said. Now, all abutters within 50 feet are notified via postcard of any permits being issued, he said. Additionally, the town posts permits on its website, https://cascomaine.org. Town staff aims to update the website at least once a month; however, the permits’ updates have been posted every couple of weeks, sometimes more frequently, Sirois said. “Also, we’ve been sending postcards to abutters. Not a lot of towns do that. Poland does it. And that policy works well — that’s the reason I pushed for it,” he said. “There’s an additional expense: the cost of the post cards, mailing expenses, and staff time,” he said, adding the notification protocol is worth the effort and cost. “In Poland, we sent postcards to abutters within 500 feet. In Casco, we decided to do that for all abutters within 50 feet of the building permit structures,” Sirois said. Just because there’s been a change with the permitting notification process, doesn’t mean people cannot go through the permits log kept at the Town Hall, he said. “People can still come in and ask about permits that have been issued,” he said. Before coming aboard as Casco’s CEO, Sirois served as assistant CEO for the Town PERMITTING, Page 5A
Casco legal weighs in on building permit process
By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer CASCO — After a next door neighbor complained to the Town of Casco about a home that seemed way oversized for the Shoreland Zone, some changes took place. According to Casco Town Manager Dave Morton, “Following some discussions, Alex Sirois and Bob Tooker initiated a program to post all building permits that are issued” on the town’s website.
Don’t stay home, Vets wanted!
By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer NAPLES — The face of the American Veteran is shifting from what it has looked like in the past. “We are getting more and more veterans,” said Marian Merrill. “The face of the veteran is changing. There are more women” in the military. For the past couple weeks, Merrill has been really busy organizing and looking forward to the Veterans Day supper and entertainment that’s slated for this Saturday night. “The stories that go around when the veterans are together, what happened when they were in the service,” are trea-
Under the state approved agreement between SAD 61 and Sebago, Lake Region will be Sebago’s guaranteed school of acceptance. Middle and high school students can attend Lake Region, or also consider school choice options. The Sebago Withdrawal Committee will meet tonight, Nov. 9, at the school library at 7 p.m. to discuss the next 100 steps in the process for forming a new school administrative unit. Dr. Eastman and Attorney Stockford will likely be used on an “as needed basis” moving forward. “There comes a time to fly on your own wings,” said Allen Crabtree, who serves as
in the three neighboring towns to attend the event. “The American Legion members, the auxiliary, the riders…we are a big family; and we hope other veterans will join us,” she said. “Because we want them to know we appreciate what they’ve done. It is a big thank you. We want their families to come with them,” she said. Merrill mentioned that the musical lineup includes patriotic numbers and plenty of crowd pleasers. “It will probably go until 9 o’clock or so, but if the people are staying who knows, Rex might keep playing,” she said.
“As the building permits are approved, the notices are going out” to abutters, Morton said. “That way if someone takes out a building permit and waits 45 days to start, which isn’t unusual, the people adjacent to them” have time to appeal the permit, Morton said. “A lot of municipalities don’t do that,” said Casco Town Attorney Natalie Burns. “It has been beneficial to building permits in coastal communities.” The town’s new policy of notifying abutters via postcards “is not going to add a cost to permit because you notify only abutters. But, it will save the time and trouble,” Burns said. “It is a good idea to have neighbors know about these” permits, she said. “That way the courts make the abutter abide by the 30-day rule,” she said. “It is a question of fairness. If some-
one doesn’t know about it, how can they challenge it?” Town Attorney Burns was on the agenda during a Casco Board of Selectmen meeting in mid-September to address a myriad of issues, including how to go forward with an illegal building permit in the Shoreland Zone. Essentially the building permit at 3 Morning Lane is now valid because: 1.) the allotted time to appeal has passed; and 2.) the construction has already reached 30%, Burns said. Still, the end result of this demolition and building permit that was issued in the spring of 2016 is that there was excessive removal of vegetation and trees, and the home is closer than the required 100 feet from the high-water mark. However, what is done cannot be undone — by law, Burns said. Selectman Grant Plummer LEGAL, Page 5A
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