Lower Main Street project bid awarded. Pratt & Sons Inc. of Minot was awarded the Lower Main Street Reconstruction bid. There were just two bids, Pratt & Sons and J. Pratt.

Pratt & Sons bid was $2,356,137.22 while J. Pratt proposed $2,525,207.20.

The project involves work done by both the town and the Bridgton Water District. Under the Pratt & Sons bid, the town would be responsible for $1,588,572.22.

In looking over the bid packages, Board Chairman Lee Eastman found a few items that he wondered if price savings could be had with further negotiations. One item called for $10,115 for tree work. Eastman remembered how initially HEB Engineering’s Colin Dinsmore quoted a price of $3,000 to remove a tree adjacent to the Oberg Insurance building when the town discussed changing parking and adding sidewalk space there. The tree was removed for far less money.

He also wondered about construction signage, feeling for the price, the town should see something better than the “handwritten sign” placed near KJ’s on Portland Road during Fryeburg Fair time.

Another savings could be to allow the use of the town’s LED message sign rather than have the construction firm charge for two such signs — thus reducing the cost from $10,000 to $5,000?

Based on the bid prices and the funds the town has available, officials will go the full depth reconstruction route.

“I want this project to mimic upper Main Street, and not be a step down,” Eastman said. “I want it to have the same pieces as upper Main.”

Selectman Bear Zaidman asked if the project ran into unforeseen issues, how would the town address it? Town Manager Bob Peabody said such issues could be addressed with money from the Undesignated Fund balance, which would need to be voted upon at a special town meeting.

The town received a $478,650 refund check as the result of changes made in its employee retirement plan. Peabody said the money will be placed in the Capital Reserve Fund, which can be “our safety net” as the town embarks on three major projects.

“We hope all three work out (as budgeted), but we have a safety net,” Peabody added.

Main Hill parking lot. With traffic flow down to a trickle due to the stay-at-home directive to fight the COVID-19 outbreak, Main Street construction is moving at a quicker pace. 

Crews were busy digging up old sidewalks in the Village and in front or Rents, while other workers were installing new granite curbing. Pouring of new concrete sidewalks should commence soon.

Another project in the works is development of a municipal parking lot in the Main Hill area. The town will look to create 10 parking spaces on land between Dr. Dennis Sullivan’s medical building and the current Nectar shop (owned by Judith Evergreen). The area would need to be regraded and paved. Since it falls on private property, the town would need an easement from Dr. Sullivan.

The town considered two options. The one selected calls for a 24-foot “in and out” entry/exit point. For the project to move forward, the town would need the easement (which conversations with Dr. Sullivan have been “positive”) and removal/relocation of a utility pole. To date, contact with Central Maine Power has been unsuccessful.

HEB Engineering estimates the cost of the project (which is not part of the streetscape plan) to be just over $111,000. 

So how will the town pay for it, Selectperson Carmen Lone asked.

One option, Peabody said, was to use TIFF money. Selectmen can expend up to $50,000 without voter approval. The current balance is $468,499, which $100,000 will be used on the sewer and $60,000 on streetscape. So, $50,000 could be used in the current cycle, which closes June 30 and earmark another $50,000 from next year’s cycle. 

Lone wondered how the town would address adding a crosswalk on Main Street from in front of Longplayer Music to Sammy Scoops, at a cost of $10,000. Peabody said the addition would be a “change order” in the streetscape plan and be a cost overrun (covered by contingency money).

At the moment, the town has yet to make contact with Longplayer building owner Andrew Lowell to get his thought on the proposal, since it would eliminate a parking space in front of the building.

Selectmen decided to place the parking lot project on the June town meeting warrant and include the cost in the 2020-21 budget. 

Regarding town meeting, selectmen opted to follow a “capped” format regarding money articles over “open ended.” Under the “capped” format, the dollar amount recommended may be reduced by amendment but cannot be increased above the stated figure.

“Because the town meeting warrant is the municipal officers’ document, the municipal officers retain full discretion over which article format to use (except for those appropriations articles that arise by petition or where a municipal charter specifies a particular format). They can therefore consciously limit the flexibility of the voters in town meeting. The ‘capped’ format assures voters that town meeting can in no event vote to spend more than the stated amount. The ‘capped’ format is also occasionally used to limit the potential for having a dominating ‘single-issue’ faction vote to spend exorbitantly on their issue of interest,” state law says.

County tax bill. Bridgton will see its Cumberland County tax increase $9,978. The town’s tax is $738,484. The mil rate is $0.67 per thousand of valuation. The bill is due on or before Sept. 1, 2020.

Filing nominations. With the deadline for filing nomination papers on April 10, candidates can turn in their signature list either by mailing it to the Bridgton Municipal Complex (since the officer is now closed to the public) or leave the paperwork in a box outside of the office.

“The box is checked every day,” Bridgton Town Manager Bob Peabody said. “Or, you can call or text letting us know the paper is in the box and we’ll go get it.”

Resignation. For 31 years, Michael Tarantino has served the Town of Bridgton in some capacity, most recently as its representative with ecomaine and chairman of the Capital Improvement Committee.

“Due to the health of my wife and mine, I regretfully have decided to resign from all town commitments,” he wrote. “It has been an honor and a privilege to serve with so many devoted and dedicated volunteers and staff who worked to make Bridgton the great town that it is today.”

Board Chairman Lee Eastman noted that Tarantino had been his “mentor” in terms of learning Roberts Rules of Order and appreciated “all his hard work and due diligence and contributions made to the town.”

Selectmen recognized Tarantino’s efforts over the years, thanked him for his dedication, and regretfully accepted the resignation.

Transfer station fees tabled. As the new Public Services Director (formerly the Public Works Director), David Madsen took a look at what the town charges in disposal fees at the transfer station. He found that current fees for tire disposal and freon mitigation do not cover the town’s costs.

Madsen recommended that selectmen increase the tire rate by $1.50 per tire and freon mitigation by $5.

Selectperson Carmen Lone pointed out that the board often looks at all fees and makes needed adjustments all at once. The board decided to go that route, and will likely make that review after the June town meeting.

Road name approved. Michael Courtney proposed three name choices for his private way leading to his property off Kansas Road (Fire Lane 17, Map 10 Lot 43) — Soaring Pines drive, first choice; Eagle Shore Way, second choice; and Lakeview Lane, third choice.

The proposals were presented to Cumberland County E-911 Dispatch Center for consideration. And, the Center recommended Eagle Shore Way.

The Center found there are several roads with “Pines” in the name, and several variations of “Lakeview” throughout the county. While there were variations of “Eagle” and “Shore,” there was nothing with both, which lead the Dispatch Center to recommend Eagle Shore Way. 

Selectmen approved the Eagle Shore Way choice.

President Trump interrupts meeting…sort of. Due to the current stay-at-home directive, Tuesday’s selectmen’s meeting had only a handful of officials in the room, while others joined the conversation via Go To Meeting. As business was being conducted, one viewer had accidentally left his microphone on and President Trump’s nightly public address was picked up for all to hear. Chairman Eastman asked viewers to turn off their microphones until the public comment portion of the meeting arrived.

Next meeting: The board’s next meeting is April 7.

— WER