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Serving Bridgton and the surrounding towns of Western Maine since 1870. Vol. 147, No. 45
32 PAGES - 4 Sections
Bridgton, Maine
November 10, 2016
(USPS 065-020)
Weather . . . . . . . . . . . 4D
www.bridgton.com
SEVENTY-FIVE CENTS
The voters have spoken — it’s Trump Close finishes, big wins As the nation watched final numbers for presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump trickle in from key swing states after 2:30 a.m., many local town clerks had long called it a night. With polls closing at 8 p.m., tallies started to arrive via e-mail beginning at 9:24 p.m., when Melissa St. John filed Harrison poll results. The town had one local referendum question, whether to secure a five-year bond
Senate District 26 (100%) Bill Diamond 13,020 Ryan McDonald 8,011 for $1,375,000 for capital road improvements, thus taking advantage of current low asphalt prices. Voters approved the measure, 995487. At 9:58 p.m., Michele Bukoveckas sent in Sebago
Senate District 19 (100%) James Hamper 13,363 Joseph Chisari 7,202 numbers. 11:33 p.m., Stoneham results arrived. 11:50 p.m., Bridgton figures were in. In the race for a seat on the Bridgton Board of Selectmen — filling out the remaining
House District 68 (100%) Rich Cebra 2,720 Christine Powers 2,551 term of Paul Hoyt — Robert Murphy won the race with 811 votes. Art Triglione Sr. was second with 676, followed by Phil Tarr with 529 and Jeff Jones with 433. An attempt to ban consumer fireworks in Bridgton
House District 69 (100%) Phyllis Ginzler 2,598 Walter Riseman 2,451 was rejected by a 1525 to 1400 margin, while the popular Farmers Market received overwhelming support to return to the green spaces along Depot Street beginning May 2017. While selectmen opposed use of this space and
had recommended moving the market to green spaces at the Bridgton Community Center, residents sided with Farmers Market vendors, 2695 to 252. As the clocked ticked toward 3 a.m., major TV networks reported Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump had reached 266 electoral votes, just four shy of the required 270. Soon thereafter, the networks reported that Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton had contacted the Trump camp, conceding the election. Maine was one of five states whose final results came late into the morning, keeping networks from being able to declare a winner. Here’s how the state’s U.S. senators responded to Trumps’ election: “As this campaign for ELECTION, Page 6A
Decision looming on withdrawal By Wayne E. Rivet Staff Writer Sebago is on the clock. Tonight, the town’s Withdrawal Committee will meet to consider SAD 61’s latest “agreement” if Sebago chooses to leave the school system. SAD 61 Superintendent of Schools Al Smith reported Tuesday that the school board had made changes to its offer: 1. SAD 61 would be Sebago’s “school of guaranteed acceptance” for 10 years, meaning the town would educate grade levels Kindergarten to Grade 5 at Sebago Elementary, while Grades 6-12 would be sent to Lake Region Middle School and Lake Region
High School/Lake Region Vocational Center. If Sebago officials decided to move Grade 6 back to the local school, that change would need to be reported to SAD 61 by Jan. 1 for budgeting purposes. Smith said the district would still accommodate “superintendents’ agreements,” which would allow a student to go elsewhere if the two school leaders believe it “is in the best interest” of the student (as defined in state law). However, the “guaranteed acceptance” condition eliminates “school choice.” At this time, Sebago has 92 students in grades K-5, and 98 students at the
Grades 6-12 level. 2. SAD 61 would agree to transfer three buses to the new Sebago school administrative unit (SAU) on the effective date of withdrawal. Initially, the district would give up two, but moved to three. SAD 61 owns 31 registered school buses. While the Sebago Withdrawal Committee has requested an extension from the Maine Department of Education, at the moment, a final decision on the withdrawal agreement is due by Nov. 18. If the process stays on the current track, voters would act on the proposal. If voters reject the withdrawal agreement, then local education
“all stays at the status quo.” If voters accept the agreement, then the town withdraws from SAD 61, upon DOE approval. Smith noted that if Sebago votes to withdraw, the effective date would be July 1, 2018. A new Sebago SAU would be required to hire its own superintendent, as well as central office staff. Smith added that Sebago would be required to cover special education costs, as well as past debt service including lease payments on portable units at Songo Locks. Smith pointed out that the portable unit at Sebago Elementary has been paid off, as have two units at Lake Region High School.
By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer NAPLES — The topic of a firearms policy for town employees was on the agenda, but the Town of Naples is still in the process of forging that policy. Basically, the Naples Board of Selectmen asked the town manager to review THE FUTURE IS AFOOT At 9-weeks old, the youngest policies in other Maine resident of Casco keeps content while mom votes at that towns for a future meeting. Chairman Bob Caron II town’s polling site around mid-morning on Tuesday. (De Busk Photo) said, “You can reach out to other towns, and bring some-
thing back to the board.” Naples Town Manager Ephrem Paraschak predicted what would be found in those already written policies. “I think what you will find from most towns is that employee are not allowed to carry firearms while working unless it is part of their job description.” For example, the town’s animal control officer (ACO) might be allowed to carry a firearm. In some
towns, a tranquilizer gun is the ACO’s safety net. Paraschak said the Naples Fire and Rescue Department has explored its firearms policy in the past. “If you had a concealed firearm, you cannot bring it into the hospital,” he said. Paraschak added that this posed a problem because if a rescue department volunteer had a concealed weapon, they would have to leave it in the vehicle before entering a hospital. The insurance
company for the town did not provide coverage if there was an injury because of an unattended firearm left in a town vehicle, he said. Resident Jim Turpin asked whether the future policy would be designed to “prohibit or allow” town employees to carry concealed weapons. “A little bit of both,” Caron said. “Let the board see what is out there and what will be appropriate for the Town of Naples.”
By Wayne E. Rivet Staff Writer Although Town Planner Anne Krieg won’t send applications for Community Development Block Grant funds to the county until April, one project is rising to the top of the list. Replacement of the Bridgton Community Center
likely be scratched off the consideration list. In regards to the rec center, Krieg felt “it is too soon to direct funds here; project is in the planning phase.” As for the streetscape, Krieg will look to other sources to finalize the project; and will continue to use CDBG for construction when it occurs. Selectmen previously agreed to move the fire station off the list to allow a study to be done and give new Fire Chief Stephen Fay a chance to get acclimated and then a chance to participate in future discussions. Rec Director Gary Colello estimates that to build a new skate park and upgrade a children’s playground could cost $115,000. Tuesday night, selectmen’s talk centered on the parking lot project at the doctor’s office site at 55 Main Street, which if developed, would create more public parking for Main Hill area businesses.
If possible, selectmen would like to see a similar approach to that taken on Depot Street with the creation of a “continuous” parking lot. Selectmen, however, agreed that more talks and planning are needed before a cost figure emerges. Krieg pointed out that town officials have started the discussion phase far earlier than in past years, thus giving more time to identify key projects and give ample opportunity to do some research/planning before filing their decisions to Cumberland County April 1, 2017. In other business:
Street name approved. When Richard Sens applied to name a road off North High Street (Map 13 Lots 67A1-7), he went with three possibilities — Sens Drive, Emma Lane and Grand Road. His preference is Sens Drive. Town office employee Dawn Taft, who serves as the E-9-1-1 Addressing Officer, suggested that selectmen go with Emma Lane. “…The only potential problem I can see is that Sens Drive is similar in spelling (and probably pronunciation) with another road name, Sensame Way,” Taft wrote to selectmen. MEETING, Page 2A
Staff gun policy to be forged
Community Center roof rises to ‘top priority’ roof is a top priority, selectmen agreed Tuesday night. Selectman “Bear” Zaidman and Krieg attended a recent Building Committee meeting and learned that total replacement is needed for the “original” roof built in the 1950s. Krieg expects the committee to “pull together information and estimates”
Volunteers sought to review rules By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer NAPLES — The Town of Naples is trying to round up some residents for the restart of a couple committees. The Naples Board of Selectmen is seeking volunteers in its effort to reconvene two committees: the Naples Recreation Committee and the Naples Property Use Committee. Selectman Rich Cebra suggested doing an all-out campaign blitz to fill the roster of these committees. In addition to advertising the current openings on the committees on the town’s website, in the town hall and in the local newspapers, Cebra recommended putting up flyers at the Naples Public Library, the Umbrella Factory Supermarket, the U.S. Post Office in Naples and also area gas stations. RULES, Page 2A
at its meeting this Thursday, and be able to present the information to selectmen by their next meeting. Krieg looked for selectmen to verify which projects and programs they wish to target with CDBG money in 2017. CDBG funds can be used for municipal facilities, which include, but are not limited to, work in the right-of-way, as well as town-owned buildings, Krieg noted in her memorandum to selectmen. Projects thought of as possibilities in an earlier discussion included more work at the town hall, a town rec center, streetscape final design work, the BCC roof, fire station work, construction of a parking lot at 55 Main Street and redevelopment of the park next to the Bridgton Police Department to include building a new skate park and upgrade playground equipment. Town Hall and a town recreation center ideas will
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