Sewer allocations presage new projects

By Gail Geraghty
Staff Writer
Two new commercial developments are in the planning stages in downtown Bridgton.Selectmen on Tuesday approved sewer allocations for Justin McIver to convert the former Sportshaus building at 103 Main Street for medical/health care offices, and for Chuck Renneker to accommodate a 64-seat restaurant at 18A Depot Street.
Both projects will be going before the Bridgton Planning Board at their meeting next Tuesday, Nov. 4.
The sewer allocations total 1,700 gallons per day, and Wastewater Committee Chairman Bear Zaidman said that leaves just an 851-gpd capacity at Dodge Field. The town needs to start right away planning for sewer field expansion, under state rules, he said.
Selectmen agreed, and were pleased when Zaidman gave them copies of the revised wastewater disposal feasibility study that will allow for serious discussion to begin. The board agreed to hold a joint meeting with the wastewater committee on Wednesday, Nov. 12, at 4 p.m. in the selectmen’s meeting room.
Zaidman said McIver’s allocation is conditional on the type of medical waste, which may require pre-treatment, and also on the size of the tank. He said the allocation at 18A Depot Street was revised down from 1,800-gpd to 900-gpd when the restaurant developer was able to show a lower sewer usage for a similar restaurant they own in Scituate, Mass.
The allocation fee will be paid at the same time as the planning board permit, he said.
Memorial School
It’s high time for SAD 61 to tell the town of Bridgton whether it plans to keep the former Memorial School or turn it over to the town.
That’s the view of Bridgton Selectman Paul Hoyt, who said Tuesday the town needs to know what to expect well before next year’s budget review. For at least two years running, the town has made tentative plans related to use of the school, only to find out at the last minute that the school district was not yet ready to commit on transferring ownership to the town.
At the previous board meeting, Bridgton Economic Development Corporation President Skip Sullivan alluded to the indecision, saying his board stood ready to assist “whenever anyone figures out what they want to do with the Memorial School.”