By Wayne E. Rivet

Staff Writer

A hurdle has been cleared to keep Ninth District Court in Bridgton.

With the town and the Judicial Branch in midst of negotiating a new lease agreement, one concern that surfaced was court security.

Jeff Henthorn, director of Court Facilities, informed selectmen last August that unsecured access between the court space and a public bathroom was troublesome.

Henthorn later met with local contractors Jeff Frey and Eric Wissmann (who previously removed the clerk’s office) to review possible options to improve circulation at the municipal complex.

“Visitors for court business are screened and visitors for town business are not screened. Town visitors can travel through the building and to public bathrooms and enter the courtroom without being screened. It is also possible to leave the courtroom and go to the public bathroom or elsewhere in the building and then re-enter the courtroom without being screened again,” Henthorn wrote in a memo.

Construction of a “regular stick wall” in the lobby shared by the courtroom and the selectmen’s meeting room was not an option due to the presence of an existing condenser (which will likely need to be removed at some point) above the ceiling.

So, the group got creative. They considered use of a “manufactured wall with a locked door,” which could be moved and reinstalled if needed.

“The manufactured wall would include a locked door that would be released 30 seconds (for example) after an alarm rings to allow people to freely exit throughout the building,” Henthorn wrote. This type of wall is in use at the Capital Judicial Center in Augusta.

An existing small conference room will be converted into a multi-sex single occupant bathroom. Henthorn told selectmen that existing plumbing is nearby, making hookup doable.

The estimated price tag is $45,000. Henthorn noted that the Judicial Branch would consider “paying all or a portion of this work.” That discussion will occur when Bridgton Town Manager Bob Peabody and Henthorn sit down to discuss terms of a new lease agreement.

Meeting short takes

State of the Post was a report local American Legion Commander Don Mulcahy was gladly (and proudly) willing to make.

The “eyesore” is returning to be an asset on Depot Street thanks to amazing volunteers and “unbelievable” community response in terms of financial support (be it donations or attendance at fundraising events like pancake breakfasts and public suppers), Mulcahy reported.

Describing the building as “deplorable” when new leadership started work there last January, Mulcahy said the Post was home to more mice and squirrels than veterans. But, major gains have been made.

“The building is what the eye sees,” he said. “The mission goes on out of sight.”

Mulcahy says the local Legion “takes quite seriously” its goals to assist veterans, promote Americanism and work with local children. Post 67 takes “great pride” in being the first to provide a Service Officer (stationed at the Community Center with regular hours) to assist veterans, be it to acquire hearing aids, glasses, health care or other services. Through its outreach program, Post 67 looks to help veterans struggling with mental health issues.

Citing the number of folks following the tributes and ceremonies connected with the tragic helicopter crash that claimed NBA all-star Kobe Bryant, his daughter and seven others, Mulcahy noted that during the same time period, 238 veterans had committed suicide. He asked if those deaths were on the national or local news?

“We don’t forget. These were my brothers and sisters,” Mulcahy said. “Let that sink in.”

Other notable efforts by Post 67 include research that discovered nearly 200 additional veteran graves located in Bridgton and the upcoming arrival of a transport van to help veterans get to medical and other appointments. Mulcahy made a pitch that if someone is interested in volunteering as a driver, he would love to be contacted.

Maybe the biggest contribution was making it possible for five veterans to take part in the recent Honor Flight — a trip to Washington, D.C. to see the monuments.

“To see the looks on their faces was just amazing,” Mulcahy added.

Better broadband is needed here, and State Representative Walter Riseman of Harrison wants to help local officials.

As Bridgton embarks on a major infrastructure improvement project (expanded wastewater system), another need will be to improve broadband capacity to entice businesses and “remote workers” to locate here.

Community Development Director Linda Lacroix welcomed partnering up with Riseman to investigate ways to improve broadband.

Town Manager Bob Peabody noted that conversations have taken place at the county level, and a “regional approach” will likely be taken when negotiating with communication providers like Spectrum.

Extended office hours today, Thursday, Feb. 27 from 4 to 7 p.m. for the purpose of accepting voter registration and other election-related issues. No other town business will be conducted at this time.

Nomination papers will be available from the town clerk beginning this Friday, Feb. 28. Positions open: Board of Selectmen (2), Planning Board (2), Water District trustee (1), SAD 61 directors (2). Papers are due back by Friday, April 10.

Voting day on the state special referendum and presidential primary will be Tuesday, March 3 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Town Hall on North High Street.

Approvals were given for victualer licenses for Paula Rubinow (Cart in the Park, hot dog stand), Jose Fabiano (Venezia Ristorante) and Jim Mains/Bridgton Highlands Golf and Tennis.

Selectmen will allow Rubinow to set up the hot-dog stand in the grassy area near the Highland Lake Beach boat launch (per approval by the town’s Public Service Director). She plans to operate the cart from May to October. Initially, Rubinow inquired if she could position the hot dog cart in the “pocket park” on Main Street, adjacent to Stevens Brook. Selectmen balked at the “mobile” approach.

Quit claim deeds for tax-acquired properties were approved for Dana James Laplante (North Bridgton Road) and William and Angela Albrecht (Willis Park Road).

In the Albrecht matter, selectmen agreed to allow a trailer on the property to be used for storage only, and not for living space.