Short takes from the Bridgton Select Board meeting Tuesday night:

Next chapter — After 22 years as Bridgton’s town clerk, Laurie Chadbourne is looking forward to the next chapter in her life.

Chadbourne submitted her resignation effective Thursday, March 7. She has accepted the Office Manager position for the City of Biddeford. Chadbourne started working for the Town of Bridgton in 1990. She served as assistant clerk for two years and deputy clerk for almost 10 years.

The town is advertising for a new town clerk/registrar/general assistance administrator. The position will remain open until filled.

Welcome — Mariah Hawkins is the new Public Services Administrative Assistant. Hawkins starts work on Monday, March 4.

Food front — Three new businesses will offer the public some tasty options. The Select Board approved victualer licenses to:

Nilfas Diner LLC, doing business as Nilfas Kusina, located at 160 Main Street — the former Ruby Food building. Owner Nilfa Daly worked for Beth’s Kitchen Café for almost 18 years. When she saw an opportunity to open her own business, she jumped into it. Once inspections are complete, the Kusina will likely open either in mid or late March.

The Daily Loaf (21 Smith Avenue) is operated by Elizabeth Smith and Brittany Baizley. The pair make sour dough goods including artisan loaf, bagels, muffins, cinnamon rolls and cookies, as well as a gluten free line.

“We became really good friends through our kids and we wanted to make a change,” Smith said. “We started doing sour dough exclusively and found out a bunch of things you can do with it, and it took off. A lot of people were really interested.”

The Daily Loaf is presently a “call ahead baker.” Customers can send a message on the bakery’s Facebook page or call in an order. “Everything is to order, so as soon as you put your order in, it’s about a 24-hour turnaround,” they said.

Stella Blues’s Bakery (55 Heathersfield Road in North Bridgton) is operated by Amber Bradigan. The bakery and dessert shop offers a wide variety of items from mini French toast bundt cakes to apple hand pies, chocolate babka, cinnamon buns, cakes and much more.

“It is not a bakery or strorefront, it’s out of my home kitchen. I’m an occupational therapist and baking is my therapy. I’ve always done it,” Bradigan said. “For years, I’ve shared with friends and made many neighbors fat. I custom order and do a lot of different things. If it is something that I haven’t put up a picture (on her Facebook page), I always like to try and create new things.”

Too fast? — If the town wants to reduce the speed limit on Hio Ridge Road, it needs to do some initial leg work before the state will consider a request.

Resident Lega Medcalf raised concerns at the last Select Board meeting about speeding vehicles on the “scenic” roadway. She has reached out to the state, but was still waiting on a response.

Town Manager Bob Peabody learned that if “municipal officers feel a strong need to create or change a speed limit, a municipal official from the town must request the change in writing” to the local Maine DOT regional traffic engineer (in this case, in Scarborough, Randy Illian).

The first step is for a town official to drive the roadway during off-peak hours, in good health and in free-flowing conditions.

“The request should communicate clearly that driving the roadway at or slightly below the existing speed limit feels or is unsafe,” the MDOT policy states.

Peabody noted that a speed study could either keep the posted limit the same, or go up or down.

Peabody will meet with Bridgton Police Chief Phil Jones about the matter.

Selectman Bob McHatton checked out the road himself, noting the existing speed limit is 40 mph.

“It’s a straight road that I can see where some speeding may be done there. At 40 mph, I thought that the speed limit was reasonable. I didn’t think it was too high,” McHatton reported.

Selectman Paul Tworog cautioned that a study could result in raising the speed limit. Having traveled the road many times, Tworog speculated that based on MDOT’s formula in determining limits, Hio Ridge Road’s posted speed “could be at least 45 mph, if not higher.”

“I think there would be a strong possibility that if they (MDOT) did the study, they would end up increasing the speed limit,” he said.

Board Chair Carmen Lone felt if the problem is speeding and not necessarily the current posted speed limit being too high, Bridgton Police could increase patrols there to slow traffic down and send a message to the driving public.

Strength in numbers? — When the town sends out letters on behalf of the Select Board, it will often carry just the signature of the board chairman. Hoping to make an “impactful” statement to Maine DOT regarding the need to push up construction and paving of Portland Road to this year, rather than the scheduled 2025 season, the board’s letter will include all five Select Board members’ signatures.

Roads posted — Bridgton roads will be posted to heavy loads now through Wednesday, May 15. This is done annually to protect roadways from damage during the thaw cycle. A full list of posted roads is available on the town’s website (bridgtonmaine.org).

Is recycling an interest? — If so, the town’s Recycling Committee is looking for new members. An application form is available on the town’s website or town office. Select Board member Carrye Castleman-Ross, who serves as a liaison, said the group is looking into sustainability and energy efficiency.

It’s a go — The Select Board will allow Main Eco Homes to use the town’s trademark, Love Always Bridgton, slogan/logo on welcome bags given to new tenants, both commercial and residential.

“I don’t have any problem with it. It’s not being changed at all or in any way, shape or form. And, it’s not being sold on a t-shirt,” Tworog said.

Lone noted that requests to use the logo by other entities, other than the town, are taken up by the Select Board on a case-by-case basis.

By the Numbers — Business remains brisk at the town’s Code Enforcement Office. For January, the following building permits were issued: 7 new buildings, 3 remodels, 1 razed, 1 commercial building, 1 home business and 1 shed. Plumbing permits issued were 12 internal and 12 external. Miscellaneous permits were: 1 driveway entrance, 1 sign and 1 street name request.

Total permit costs, $13,277.

Total project costs, $3,830,000.