By Gail Geraghty

Staff Writer

Bridgton Selectmen have appointed Greg Watkins, Rosie Schacht, Mike Tarantino and Madelyn Litz to a committee that will review and grade applications for Community Development Block Grant funds for next year.

Selectmen will make the final decision after the CDBG Committee completes its work and the required public hearing is held. Anne Krieg, Bridgton’s director of planning, economic and community development, has set dates for two workshops next month to help individuals and nonprofit organizations prepare applications.

The first workshop will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 7, from 4 to 6 p.m., with the second workshop to be held Tuesday, Jan. 14, at 9 a.m. Both will take place at the Bridgton Municipal Complex.

At a recent meeting, Selectman Bob McHatton asked Krieg to include all proposed municipal uses of CDBG funds when she submits the committee’s recommendations on project applications. He said he questions whether some of the smaller building projects approved in prior years were the best use of the CDBG funds.

With an overall list showing a complete breakdown of how the town’s annual allotment of CDBG money is to be spent, McHatton said he could make a more informed decision.

In a related matter, selectmen awarded the bid for the Depot Street streetscape design to the engineering firm of Milone & McBroom of Portland. The firm will prepare construction drawings and specifications for signage, sidewalks, lighting and tree-planting planned for next summer to make the upper part of Depot Street aesthetically pleasing.