‘Life-changing’
Winter sports guide
Inside News
Grammy-Award winning saxophonist Jeff Coffin gives FA students amazing lesson
Previews of Lake Region, Fryeburg Academy teams as they open the season
Calendar . . . . . . . 8A-9A
Page 2A
Classifieds . . . . . . . . . 4B Country Living . . . 7A-9A Directory . . . . . . . . . . 5B
Section B
Obituaries . . . . . . . . . 6A Opinions . . . . . . . 7B-9B Police/Court . . . . . 4A-5A Sports . . . . . . . . . 1B-6B Games . . . . . . . . . . . . 6B This Wkd . . . . Festival of Lights, Christmas in Harrison
Serving Bridgton and the surrounding towns of Western Maine since 1870. Vol. 149, No. 49
20 PAGES - 2 Sections
Bridgton, Maine
December 5, 2019
www.bridgton.com
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Harrison pitches idea for BPD coverage
By Wayne E. Rivet Staff Writer As neighbors, Bridgton and Harrison often share or assist each other when public services are needed. They utilize the same officers for animal control (Carl Hoskins) and health (Cathy Pinkham). If fire strikes, the two departments work together as part of mutual aid. Could police coverage be next? Harrison Town Manager Tim Pellerin, who was accompanied by selectman Rick Sykes, met with the Bridgton Selectboard last week to see if there was any interest in Bridgton Police providing coverage next door. Harrison currently contracts with the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office for a full-time local deputy providing 40 hours of coverage per week at an annual cost of $124,570 (see sidebar for contract breakdown). However, Pellerin started to investigate other law
Named after David
By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer CASCO — It was one of the surprises during this summer’s retirement party for former Casco Town Manager Dave Morton. The Casco Town Hall will be named after him. By early 2020, the town hall building will be rededicated as the David P. Morton Town Office. Currently, Casco Selectman Holly Hancock has been working with town staff on the details of a plaque that will be placed inside the town office. It is undecided whether or not a metal sign will be displayed outside the town building, located off Meadow Road. “We were looking for a picture to put on a plaque. There are a lot of the pictures, ones from a group of pictures taken at his retire-
enforcement options in late summer when popular local deputy Dan Hastings, who garnered praise from selectmen for his diligence and community approach, suddenly resigned as the end of his probationary period neared. When Sykes asked if he resigned under his own free will, Hastings simply responded, “no.” Because the matter fell under “personnel,” there was no public explanation as to the personnel change. Selectmen felt Hastings (who is now a member of the Paris Police Department) “set the standard” as to what local officials looked for in town law enforcement work, and presented the former local deputy with a citation recognizing his efforts. Pellerin and CCSO Sheriff Kevin Joyce discussed the situation and looked to move forward by improving the levels of communication between town and county. Yet, Harrison wonders if Bridgton might be a better fit?
BPD Chief Rick Stillman thinks the partnership could be a “win-win” for both towns. From Chief Stillman’s perspective, the contract would enable his department to gain another officer and cruiser (Harrison would purchase a new cruiser every four years). The arrangement would also give BPD’s two sergeants (Phil Jones and TJ Reese) the opportunity to gain experience in overseeing the new coverage area, Chief Stillman said. The chief pointed out that BPD already responds to calls (about 350 per year) in Harrison, either as back-up for the deputy or sometimes as the first officer on the scene. Under the proposed contract, the chief would assign Harrison coverage “on a daily basis at irregular times.” The chief or his designee would notify Harrison’s town manager in a timely manner of any “major or significant” crime
BPD Chief Rick Stillman
I see this as a win-win situation for Bridgton and Harrison. We are definitely struggling in the daytime with coverage with one officer, two would be a huge benefit. or incidents, occurrences or emergencies that occur in the town. Harrison would receive a schedule for officers assigned to the town, and a monthly report sum-
marizing the calls for service, traffic stops, warnings/ summonses issued. The chief would make “all decisions regarding discipline, hiring and firing
of the police officers” and when appropriate, the chief would provide Harrison officials with written responses to citizen inquiries and complaints directed toward BPD
Ideas considered for Memorial School site
DAVID P. MORTON — Former Casco Town Manager Dave Morton’s name will be part of the Casco Town Hall after a rededication ceremony sometime in early 2020. Morton is shown here during his retirement party in June at Camp Sunshine. (De Busk Photo) ment party,” Hancock said. Code Enforcement Officer Alex Sirois snapped many of the photos, she said. Hancock and Sirois have been going through the photos to see which one would work best. The selected photo “will be mounted behind
Plexiglass next to the wording dedicating the building to David Morton,” Hancock said. In the near future, there will be a formal event to rededicate the town hall. Morton will be in attendance, of course. Also, the MORTON, Page 5A
By Wayne E. Rivet Staff Writer What would be the best use for the former Bridgton Memorial School site? Jim Chalmers and Peter Lowell of the Bridgton Economic Development Corp reported to the selectboard last week that a number of ideas — including a fieldhouse, exercise room and lockers, pool, conference center, classroom space, community kitchen and railroad museum — are on the table for discussion. Another question is whether to keep the entire structure, some of it or demolish it. Should there be one complex or a “campus” approach with more than one building occupying the site? “It’s all up in the air,” said Lowell, who is the BEDC’s president. The two recently met with SAD 61 officials to talk about possible uses and received “positive”
responses; they have toured the building, and started to look at what asbestos issues are connected to the old school; and some early conceptual drawings are being prepared. Lowell pointed out that if the project was taken over by the BEDC, the group would be able to apply for grants to help finance the project, which could range between $5 to $10 million depending upon what concepts are developed. Lowell and Chalmers were quick to point out that the ultimate goal is to develop “something that is sustainable” yet “not a burden upon the taxpayers.” Selectboard Chairman Lee Eastman encouraged the BEDC to look at the bigger picture as they develop a concept. One thought is to tie the Memorial School site
to the BRAG athletic complex through a trail system which would allow kids a safe path, either walking or cycling, from one location to the other. “I don’t want to see us get pigeonholed into something that in three years later we’ve outgrown,” Eastman said. “I don’t want us to think too small or too big.” Selectman Bear Zaidman asked if the BEDC had received information from SAD 61 regarding the site’s size, and if the BEDC had looked into what parts of the property falls into the Shoreland Zone. One of his big concerns would be parking. Lowell said the concept plan does include parking, and if the pool idea is pursued, the group is eyeing BOARD NOTES, Page 3A
Bridgton Selectmen
Candidate questions legality of political mailer By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer NAPLES — Mailers have started to play a role in elections in Naples over the past few years. Whether or not the political-campaign mailers are changing votes is debatable. The fact is: These flyers are showing up in residents’ mailboxes. Most recently, two seated
selectmen, Jim Grattelo and Jim Turpin, used a mailer sent to every Naples resident to endorse candidate Caleb Humphrey, who was one of three people vying for a vacant seat. Typically, the Naples selectmen are elected in May. Because former selectman Rich Cebra resigned this year, one selectman’s seat was on the ballot during
the November election. On Nov. 5, Humphrey did receive the most votes. On Nov. 18, he sat on the other side of the table at the Naples Board of Selectmen meeting. That same evening, one of the candidates, Patti Raitto, questioned the legality of the mailer. She said that there should have been a statement, a claim that can-
didate Humphrey approved of the endorsement. She made her comments during public participation. Both before and after making her comments, she congratulated Humphrey. “I really truly wish Caleb well,” she said. “According to rules, it should say that it is authorized by the candidate,” Raitto said, adding that
information should be in a box somewhere on the flyer. Also, she questioned the truth of the content. “My problem is that the business people of Naples were compromised by what was said here. This is not a legal mailing. I am concerned about the people of Naples getting lied to,” Raitto said. She asked Board
Chairman Jim Grattelo how he was going to “make it right?” Grattelo did not answer directly. Selectman Turpin said it was not an appropriate topic for the selectmen’s meeting. On Nov. 18, Grattelo turned over his gavel to vicechairman Bob Caron II and read a prepared statement. MAILER, Page 2A
By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer CASCO — If voting residents approve the price, the Casco Fire and Rescue Department will be back on track with replacing vehicles with too many miles on them. Casco Chief Brian Cole said that the department went an extra 18 months past the desired replacement time. However, the 2015 ambulance — which will be used as a trade-in — has just reached the 75,000
miles mark. That’s when the rig starts to rack up maintenance bills. “We will be at 4-1/2 years with that current replacement. Casco has been doing (replacements) every three years,” Cole said. “We will be pretty close to 75,000 miles.” The Casco Board of Selectmen voted unanimously to make the request of $305,000 for a new ambulance become a Warrant Article for the upcoming Special Town Meeting in
January. That Special Town Meeting has been scheduled for Jan. 7, which is a Tuesday. The conversation about the ambulance took place during the selectmen’s meeting on Nov. 26, two days before Thanksgiving. “I received three estimates, which range anywhere from $270,000 to $295,000. Pretty much right on par to where I thought it was going to be,” Cole told the board. “I asked for the amount
$305,000 for incidental and those things we don’t know yet,” he said. “My goal is to keep it under $300,000. I can’t honestly give you that number because some of those are yet to be determined from manufacturers,” he said. Chairman Thomas Peaslee asked what the town will do with the ambulance that is being replaced. “More than likely, we will use that as a trade-in,” Cole said. “We can always try to private-sale it. That just
takes longer and there is a lesser known dollar amount. At least with a trade-in, we know they are giving us X amount of dollars.” Cole said he was leaning toward the manufacturer
Horton Emergency Vehicles, a company based in Ohio. He said he preferred Horton “based on the safety features that they build in for the crew and patients, AMBULANCE, Page 5A
Casco ambulance cost to be warrant article The Bridgton News Established 1870
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