Robert Neault

The Maine Legislature will consider a measure to rename the Naples Bay Bridge after Robert Neault.

Neault, who passed away at age 56 in November, was a longtime Naples attorney with deep ties to the community. He served on the Naples Planning Board and the Causeway Revitalization Committee. He helped found the Naples/Casco Before and After Care Program and was vice president of CrossWalk Community Outreach. Neault’s work also helped establish the Singer Center.

“Many people in Naples approached me after Bob’s death searching for a way to honor the decades of his life that he committed to his town,” said bill sponsor Christine Powers, D-Naples. “During his lifetime, Bob was a cornerstone of civic life in Naples. He put a significant piece of his life into making Naples a better place to live, and he accomplished that by building bridges between people. So I think it’s only appropriate that we honor his memory and his service in this way.”

Last Thursday, Powers convinced a majority of the Legislative Council, which is made up of House and Senate leadership from both parties, to allow consideration of the bill by the full Legislature. The vote was 8-2.

Powers’ bill will have a public hearing before the Legislature’s Transportation Committee.

“The date of that hearing will not be scheduled soon enough to make this issue,” said Powers. “As soon as we hear anything, will get the word out to Naples residents.”

Powers, a member of the Transportation Committee, is serving her second term in the Maine House and represents Baldwin, Cornish, Naples, Sebago and part of Parsonsfield. She has also been a member of the Naples Board of Selectmen for over 12 years.