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Serving Bridgton and the surrounding towns of Western Maine since 1870. Vol. 149, No. 51
20 PAGES - 2 Sections
Bridgton, Maine
December 20, 2018
(USPS 065-020)
www.bridgton.com
SEVENTY-FIVE CENTS
Judge grants town manager protection order By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer CASCO — A Casco resident has been courtordered to stay away from Casco Town Manager Dave Morton. The individual has acted in a threatening manner during several meetings of the Casco Board of Selectmen, according to Morton. Most recently, that same individual had come into the Casco Town Hall repeatedly and threatened the staff, Morton alleged. “I obtained a Protection from Harassment order, good for a year, that prevents this individual from OUTLINING the redesigned Hotel Bridgton plan is Michael Tadema-Wielandt, P.E. of Terradyn Consultants, coming to the town hall, LLC of New Gloucester before a big crowd at last Wednesday’s Planning Board hearing. (Rivet Photo) to the selectmen’s meetings or from contacting me in any way,” Morton said on Monday. Morton did not want to provide the name of the By Wayne E. Rivet “show stopper.” person who had allegedly Staff Writer The problem was brought There will be no shiny, to the developer’s attention big red ribbon wrapped — Justin McIver, owner of around an approved Hotel Main Eco Homes in Bridgton. Bridgton concept — at least Michael Tadema-Wielandt, not in 2018. P.E. of Terradyn Consultants After over six hours of told planners that an 8x11 project review, concerns inch map downloaded from raised by the public, and the town’s website was used questions posed by planners to plot the facility on the site. on two hearing nights, Hotel “It’s about 10 feet withBridgton will enter 2019 in the 75-foot setback,” with some major obstacles Tadema-Wielandt said. to clear. “Moving the building slightSeveral new twists sur- ly back and rotating [it] to faced: get out of the 75-foot set• Taking a close look at back, we can still retain KEEPING HISTORY IN MIND — Justin McIver the site and layout of the design and parking. We had tells the audience that he has gone to great lengths, 68-room hotel and banquet to modify the edge pavement including talks with historical officials, to design a facility, Planning Board and sidewalk to tie in front hotel that reflects Bridgton’s history. (Rivet Photo) Chairman Steve Collins of the building under the new found that a piece of the plan. The concept holds pret• Planners followed p.m. curfew on the hearing, structure was within the ty well. It doesn’t affect the the same process as last which drew some ire from Stream Protection District. ability to build the parking Wednesday’s hearing, allow- residents looking to speak Regulations allow no waiv- area and allow vehicle move- ing the applicant to address against the project. er or variance within this ment. Officially, we resubmit Shoreland Zoning stanSome residents, who zone. If the plan remained [it] as a revised plan. Very dards point by point, then have banded together as as presented, Collins called minor changes to the concept letting board members raise “Save Kennard Street,” hired the inability to build with- and the way we intend to questions and concerns. Attorney David Lourie of in Stream Protection as a meet the Shoreland Zone.” Chairman Collins put a 9 HOTEL, Page 2A
New Hotel Bridgton twists
been harassing him. However, public records from the Bridgton District Court show that it was David Kimball. On Dec. 12, Bridgton District Court Judge Maria Woodman granted Morton a one-year Protection from Harassment order against Kimball. Many of Kimball’s rights as a resident are intact. He is allowed to attend the annual town meeting in Casco, but he is legally prohibited from attending selectmen’s meetings for one year. The court order permits Kimball to use online services to register his vehicle and make Freedom of Information Act requests. Also, Kimball will be allowed to vote in person on election days, the court document said. “The individual can communicate with the ORDER, Page 5A
Planners recuse board alternate
By Wayne E. Rivet Staff Writer When Hotel Bridgton was first proposed, Doug Oakley was one of several residents who was vocal and openly opposed to the project. While a long recess occurred and the developer, Justin McIver of Main Eco Homes, revised the project, Oakley was elected as an alternate to the Bridgton Planning Board. Last week, Hotel Bridgton was back on the planning board docket. Before the hearing resumed, the board faced the question of whether to recuse Oakley from the review process. In a letter to planners, attorney Alyssa Tibbetts (representing McIver) called into question Oakley’s abil-
ity to be impartial based on previous public comments. Maine Municipal Association informed the board that members could decide if a “potential of bias” due to “state of mind” or “personal bias” exists, and vote to recuse a member. Planner Deb Brusini asked Oakley if, prior to being elected, whether he was involved with a group of people — Save Kennard Street — concerned about the hotel project. Oakley admitted he did attend get togethers organized by the group, but since being elected, he has refrained. While Oakley feels he could be “fair and impartial” during the fact-finding review process, he also
did not want to create an “appearance of impropriety” or “compromise the integrity of the board.” Planner Dee Miller says each member brings a certain point of view to deliberation, and noted she has been “outspoken” at times. Planners voted 3–2 to recuse Oakley. Voting to recuse was Chairman Steve Collins along with Deb Brusini and Cathy Pinkham. Voting against were Dee Miller and Ken Gibbs. Oakley will no longer sit at the board’s table during Hotel Bridgton discussions, but can take part in discussions in a citizen’s role. The board has another alternate, Diane Paul, who can fill in if a regular member is unavailable to vote. Paul was in attendance at
last week’s and Tuesday’s hearings, and while not a voting member since all regulars were there, she is allowed to ask questions of the applicant.
By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer CASCO — School board member Tuan Nguyen put a personal spin on his presentation about the proposed $8 million Crooked River School Additions and Renovation project. After all, he had a child in fifth grade — the student body that has its classrooms in portables linked by walkways outside of the Songo Locks School (SLS).
“My son was in fifth grade last year,” he said, adding that teachers, students and parents fondly refer to the area where the portables are located as “Fifth Avenue.” “The new portables — they removed the playground and took away the basketball court to make room for them,” he said. “It took some getting used to.” “He had to leave the portables and walk across the
parking lot for lunch, for gym, for health class, for anything that was held at the school,” he said. Because of the number of students at the school and the size of the cafeteria, the school holds five lunch periods, from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. “My son had lunch at 1 p.m. He got on the bus at 7 a.m. He went six hours without eating. If you knew my son, you wouldn’t want
to be around him when he’s hungry,” he said. Another major drawback for students in the portables is that they feel isolated from the rest of the school, Nguyen said. At Songo Locks School, the district spends more than $108,000 a year on renting portables, he said. Another shocker: Half of the student body is in those portables. There are 475 stuPORTABLE, Page 5A
ONE GIANT GATE – The enormity of the Songo Lock gate is apparent when a person is standing next to it, as seen here when the gates that were built in 1961 were removed. (Photo courtesy of Sebago State Park Manager Matt McGuire)
Historic ‘Lock’ gets new gates
Doug Oakley Planning Board alternate
Son lived ‘portable’ experience
By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer NAPLES — The gates at the Songo Lock have swing open and closed for thousands of boaters each year. Built in 1961, for 57 years those gates have accomplished the job of allowing boaters to continue their journey at a junction in the Songo River where the water levels are different. This month, the Songo Lock gates were replaced with new ones. “The age of the gates was the primary reason for deciding to replace them. These gates were installed in 1961 and we felt that, based on age and wear and tear,
we should be proactive and replace them before there were issues,” according to Sebago State Park Manager Matt McGuire. The Songo Lock is maintained and operated by the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands, under the Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry. The total project cost was $131,794.00, according to McGuire. Wyman & Simpson, Inc., of Richmond, was awarded the bid. Wyman & Simpson subcontracted Andy Buck, Custom Timber Framer to build the replacement gates. Buck’s business is based in LOCK, Page 3A
The Bridgton News Established 1870
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