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Serving Bridgton and the surrounding towns of Western Maine since 1870. Vol. 146, No.50
28 PAGES - 4 Sections
Bridgton, Maine
December 10, 2015
(USPS 065-020)
Weather . . . . . . . . . . . 5D
www.bridgton.com
SEVENTY-FIVE CENTS
Crooked River plan rejected
CHANCE TO MEET SANTA — Youngsters were all smiles Saturday following the Christmas in Harrison Parade as they had a chance to meet Santa Claus up close and personal. Some children shook hands on Main Street, while others ventured to the Olde Mill Tavern to let Santa know what is on their wish list. (Rivet Photo)
By Wayne E. Rivet Staff Writer Area voters Tuesday sent a clear message to SAD 61 officials that a $9.6 million renovation and new construction at Crooked River School was too much money for their liking. Or, were there other reasons the project was rejected by a 1,698-604 margin? Superintendent of Schools Al Smith will try to determine why residents in the district’s four towns decided either to support or reject the proposal before the school board considers other options. While some voters expressed their opinions on social media sites — they were against tax increases while others remained convinced that the proposal could lead to the closure of Sebago Elementary — Smith wants to hear all of the underlying reasons why the proposal failed in three of the four towns. An e-mail address has been created to enable community members to send Smith comments and suggestions regarding the
$9.6 million project and how SAD 61 should proceed. The address is: elemfac@lakeregionschools.org The vote was as follows: Bridgton: 181 yes, 537 no Casco: 188 yes, 186 no Naples: 215 yes, 390 no Sebago: 20 yes, 585 no Despite a number of community forums, meetings with selectmen and a public hearing prior to Tuesday’s vote, Smith feels “inaccurate” information had been circulated, which likely had a negative impact on voting. One element was being able to spend just $500,000 to address minor renovations at the 30-year-old facility, and thus make it adequate to house Grades 3, 4 and 5. Smith emphasized that amount of money would barely scratch the surface of work the facility needs. He again pointed out that an early message school officials received, when they targeted Crooked River as a solution to the overcrowding problem at Songo Locks, was to “do it once, do it right.” Thus, VOTE, Page 8A
Abutters file appeal on bottled gas plan
By Gail Geraghty Staff Writer Raspberry Lane residents Robert and Rita Tyska filed an administrative appeal Dec. 1 of the Bridgton Planning Board’s decision to approve plans submitted by Bridgton Bottled Gas for a 30,000-gallon propane tank at the end of their road off Route 302. The appeal, which will deal only with narrow legal issues with regard to the propriety of the planning board’s review process, will be heard by the Bridgton Board of Appeals next Thursday, Dec.
17, at 7:15 p.m. The Tyskas are citing many of the same objections in their appeal that they and other Raspberry Lane residents already said during hearings held prior to the planning board’s Nov. 3 final approval. However, they state in their cover letter to the appeals board that the planning board made “many legal errors, both procedural and substantive, that should rightfully cause this decision to be overturned.” They also said they wanted to advise the appeals
board that Bridgton Bottled Gas “sold the subject property to a company named Stone Road Energy, LLC.” They said they have not informed Stone Road Energy about their appeal because “this new owner is not yet
listed as the legal owner with the town of Bridgton assessor’s office.” They said they assume that the town will notify the new owner directly. The Tyszkas make no mention of the ownership
asked if delinquent tax bills were an element of concern for the Naples board. He was told by Selectman Dana Watson that there was no need for concern because P&K did not owe back taxes to the Town of Naples. “Nope, they don’t owe us nothing. They are all set,” Watson said. “Casco doesn’t owe us,” Chairman Bob Caron II asked. “P&K doesn’t owe us anything,” Watson said. Caron repeated Watson’s statement: “P&K doesn’t owe us anything.” Turpin responded to the information, saying, “That has changed since the last time I looked. That is great to hear, thank you.” Less than an hour later, toward the end of the meeting, Watson clarified his statement, saying, “I just wanted to say to Jim, I haven’t looked at the books. They may owe us; we may owe them. But, they don’t owe the ‘other’ tax.” At the time, the “other” tax being referred to was the personal property tax. On Dec. 2, through a series of e-mails, it came to light that P&K’s tax debt balance had not yet been brought to zero. First, Turpin sent an e-mail to Naples Town Manager Ephrem Paraschak. TAXES, Page 8A
moved to 82 Main Street, and provided customers with another number to call, which led to a greeting saying the caller had reached Lampron Energy and Bridgton Bottled Gas. The website for Stone Road Energy, based in Littleton, N.H., states in its “About Us” page the following: “Stone Road Energy is a company that exists to grow. We love the oil and propane heating fuel business. We look to acquire companies GAS, Page 8A
Smoother start for 4th racers?
Board unaware of back-tax debt By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer NAPLES — Two selectmen provided incorrect information when asked what is being done to collect a sizable tax debt owed to the Town of Naples by one local business. Currently, the community-based company — which has been brought up during discussions in public forums — is actively pursuing options to pay off the back taxes. However, two selectmen seem to be caught in a contradiction — they had no knowledge of a $150,000 tax debt owed by one company. To boot, that company has the snowplowing contract with the town. There are other outstanding tax debts, making it unfair to single out one business in Naples. This particular delinquent property tax debt, which is owed by P&K Sand and Gravel, Inc., was brought up during a Naples Board of Selectmen meeting. On Nov. 30, Naples Budget Committee Chairman Jim Turpin referred to work being done by the Casco Board of Selectmen to legally put pressure on businesses that owe personal property taxes in that town. Specifically, during public participation time, Turpin
change in their detailed eightpage appeal. Their summary uses very strong wording in urging the appeals board to rule in their favor, stating that, “Should this decision stand, it will violate the most basic safety and property protection any resident should expect from the town. It will also contradict the very reason the site plan review ordinance and planning board were created.” A call to the phone number for Bridgton Bottled Gas was answered with a message stating that the company had
HERE COMES HATTIE — Leaping her way to a world-class sixth place win in the Big Air Division of the Dock Dog World Championships held last month in Iowa. The black lab, owned by Kristin Hanscom of Bridgton, made it to the finals by jumping 20.1 feet off a dock into a pool to catch a foam bumper in her mouth. (Photo courtesy Da-Rill Photography)
Hattie catches big air in Finals
By Gail Geraghty Staff Writer Every so often, a special dog comes along with so much energy and so much heart it’s contagious. Such is the case with a black Labrador retriever named Hattie, who has inspired pride and joy in both the staff and clients of Bridgton Veterinary Hospital. So much so, that the sign on Harrison Road in front of the clinic boldly proclaims Hattie’s achievement — “Sixth in the world,” in the Senior Class Big Air Finals at the Dock Dogs World Championships in Iowa in November. “I was like, awww, my good girl,” said Hattie’s HATTIE, Page 7A
By Gail Geraghty Staff Writer The 4 on the Fourth Race Committee wants Bridgton Selectmen to repave the section of Lower Main Street where the race begins, but Selectmen don’t want to give the problem a temporary solution. A layer of hot top would cost around $50,000, but to do the job right, with new sidewalks, culverts and such, would cost around a half million dollars, Public Works Director Jim Kidder said Tuesday. “It needs new sidewalks with curbing, and it’s too high in some places, too low in other places,” Kidder said. “If we’re going to do it, do it right.” As part of the upcoming recommendations he’ll be making for the five-year Capital Improvement Plan, Kidder said he’d like to provide some increased parking and new manholes. “If we just put in hot top, we’re wasting money.” Kidder said the race committee could consider rerout-
ing the start of the July 4 race if they cannot see any other option. In a letter to Selectman Chairman Bernie King, Race Director Jim Cossey said that for the last several years the committee has limited the number of runners to 2,100, “because of safety concerns associated with the confined nature of the first quarter mile of the race course,” extending from Food City to Cross Street. “The issue is the density of runners on that section of the course, as well as the condition of that portion of Main Street,” Cossey wrote. The race will celebrate its 40th year in 2016, and even though the resurfacing is justifiable in any case, Cossey said “It would be particularly important for the impression it would make for the runners and their supporters, as well as non-race-related visitors to Bridgton.” He noted that Food City repainted its building this year, lending impetus for the town to give SMOOTHER, Page 8A
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