Bridgton department heads to offer monthly reports

By Gail Geraghty

Staff Writer

Building permits in Bridgton this year are down from last year, Code Enforcement Officer Robbie Baker said in his August monthly report.

There were 142 permits issued from January to August 2013, yet 113 permits were issued over that same period in 2014. The August 2014 tally reflects the same trend, with 24 building permits issued compared to 34 the previous year.

Of the total August permits this year, only two were issued for residences, compared with five residential permits issued compared to 34 the previous year.

Baker’s report is part of a packet of monthly reports from department heads issued to Bridgton Selectmen as a result of a new initiative by Town Manager Bob Peabody. Selectmen said they are very pleased to be receiving the written information, which is also made available to the public on the town’s website.

Baker has moved his office to the former map room, and his old office will be used to house the maps and provide space when the part-time assessor comes to Bridgton to work.

Town Clerk Laurie Chadbourne has also been busy in August. She issued 220 motor vehicle registrations, 91 recreational vehicle/hunting and fishing licenses, two dog licenses, 37 birth certificates, three marriage licenses, seven marriage certificates, 35 death certificates and seven burial permits.

In addition, Chadbourne met with Bridgton Community Center officials to discuss ways for coordinating programming of general assistance services to reduce redundancy. She recommends that anyone needing services meet with Loretta Ferraro at the Community Center, who administers the Community Navigator Program.

Recreation Director Gary Colello reported that he is busy inventorying all of the town’s recreation equipment this week, and that the Town Hall gym floor will have its annual maintenance done on Friday, Oct. 3, at 5 p.m. He said Town Hall will be closed for that work through Nov. 6. He also hopes to build a relationship with Bridgton Academy to have students serve as coaches for the rec department.

In news of the Transfer Station, the town shipped nearly 249 tons of trash to ecomaine in August. Nearly 60 tons of recyclables were delivered to ecomaine, as were 22 tons of bulky demolition waste. Think Green in Naples received 32.5 tons of demolition debris, and CIA Salvage in Limerick received nearly 19 tons of light iron.

Deputy Town Manager Georgiann Fleck had glowing words about the newly-remodeled meeting place for the planning board, which will be in the meeting room off the Iredale Street entrance of the Bridgton Municipal Complex, instead of in the Bridgton District Court’s courtroom.

Fleck said a small conference room off the meeting room has been painted and carpeted, and a new door, molding and trim will be installed in the same color scheme as the big meeting room. The remodeling was done by M&S Builders of Maine, Inc., with new carpet by Waterford Tile and Co.

Anne Krieg, Director of Planning, Economic and Community Development, provided an activity-packed two-page report outlining her many projects and activities, including work on the Depot Street Streetscape project and improving filing for Community Development Block Grant reporting.

Police Chief Kevin Schofield reported on a major project to organize over 30 years of old files, which required the destruction of old files and more equipment no longer needed by the department. The end result will make space for a new conference room in the downstairs of the municipal complex, which is undergoing remodeling. The department is also working on a grant for a new ID maker to produce ID cards and a more professional-looking concealed weapons permit.

Schofield reported 452 calls for service in August, including 32 arrests, 78 traffic stops, 70 disturbances, nine animal control complaints, 12 theft/fraud complaints and 17 motor vehicle accidents.