By Wayne E. Rivet

Staff Writer

Like many people, Ken Murphy is tired of the bumpy ride along Portland Road.

Although construction of the new wastewater system is complete, a smoother surface on the well-traveled Route 302 is a year away. The state road is on Maine Department of Transportation’s 2025 project list.

Murphy hopes a letter from Bridgton’s Select Board might push the project to this construction and paving season.

“I think our guests and our regular year-round residents are annoyed by this (condition of the roadway) tremendously,” Murphy said at the board’s Feb. 13 meeting. “I believe in good roads. It benefits everybody, and it makes a healthier community.”

Public Service Director David Madsen has had a couple of conversations with MDOT.

“They haven’t promised me anything, but they are going to look at it,” he said. “They have a two-year plan and as of last year, we were on the schedule for next year. We’re trying to push it ahead a year.”

“I don’t think it would hurt to do this,” Murphy said.

Town Manager Bob Peabody noted that the road will undergo a full rebuild, which requires design work, and not simply a “skim coat.” Every manhole will need to be raised — at a projected cost of $2,000 each.

“My feeling on the motion is that we are at least showing a concerted effort to do it, even though the likelihood of it happening is probably pretty slim,” Select Board member Carrye Castleman-Ross said. “The roads are absolutely horrible. We can at least say when people ask us like they do all the time that we’ve at least made an effort.”

The board supported sending the letter to MDOT.

In other board meeting action:

Assessing the School. Before officials can decide whether to keep or demolish the Bridgton Memorial School, an environmental assessment of the grounds will be needed.

The Select Board approved using $15,000 from the Capital Projects Reserve Fund for the study.

Surveying going well but... Response to the Comprehensive Plan survey has been robust, but Selectman Paul Tworog hopes the CP Committee will hold in-person sessions to gauge what the public wants to see in the new plan.

Chair Carmen Lone said a friend, who lives out of town and is not very active in local activities, filled out a survey and “was very impressed by the questions, the thoughtfulness of the questions and the opportunity to answer them.”

Selectman Bob McHatton added the survey gives some people an opportunity to voice their opinions, which might not happen because they don’t get out much this time of year.

“We’re in full survey mode, however, there are plenty of other engagement opportunities that will be going on throughout the year,” said Tori Hill, Community Development director. “This is a really high-level survey, as you probably noticed. There are specific questions on transportation, housing, all of that. When we do focus groups and in-person meeting, we want them to be focused. So, we’re going to do targeted outreach specifically to housing, to transportation.”

Hill said the advantage of focus groups is folks actually play the role of facilitators and “you can have more thoughtful discussions, a more open conversation for folks who may not be interested in coming to a room of 25 people and speaking publicly,” Hill added.

The Task Force will look to create a meeting schedule.

Over 400 people have responded to the survey. “That’s been a good representation,” Hill said. If you would like to fill out a survey, go to the town website.

New SAD 61 director. A vacant Bridgton seat on the SAD 61 School Board has been filled.

In late January, the School Board declared a “vacancy” due to the “large number of consecutive unexcused absences” from board meetings by Bridgton Director Richard Meek.

Meek was elected to a three-year term in June 2023. He was the lone candidate on the ballot, receiving 334 votes. Write-in candidate, Lee Bearse, who had served on the board, received 99 votes.

Selectman Paul Tworog nominated Suzanne Schrader to fill the vacancy. Schrader, who serves on the Comp Plan Task Force, has 33 years of education experience and is a retired superintendent of schools (Portsmouth, N.H.).

“She has graciously volunteered to serve,” Tworog said.

“I’m looking forward to it. I’ve been away from education for quite a while and looking to get back into it,” she said. “I think I’ll enjoy it and hopefully I’ll represent Bridgton very well.”
Schrader will serve until the next annual election in June.

Too much noise. Joe Gallinari would like to see Bridgton do what other towns do — install “No Engine Brake” signs posted by Venezia Ristorante on North High Street and Packard’s Hill to quiet big trucks rumbling along Main Street and Portland Road.

“It’s (the noise) getting ridiculous because of these big five-inch stacks on these 18 wheelers,” he told the Select Board. “You hear an echo off all of these nice building downtown Main Street.”

Gallinari explained the engine brake is not a service brake.

“An engine brake only lets them not use the vehicle brakes. An engine brake uses engine exhaust so they don’t have to wear out their brake shoes. That’s why you have that God awful blah, blah noise,” Gallinari said.

The board will consult with Police Chief Phil Jones.

Reduce the speed Limit. Lega Medcalf feels Hio Ridge Road is one of the most scenic roads in Bridgton. It is tough for walkers, runners and cyclists to enjoy that view when they are weary of speeding vehicles.

“In the summer, it’s like the Indianapolis Speedway. The speed limit is 45 in Bridgton and actually 40 once you get into Denmark. You can’t really walk it without having to step into a ditch,” she said.

Medcalf wondered what could be done, since she has sent a concern to the state (which sets speed limits), but has not received a reply.

“You’ve done what needs to be done, which is ask them to take a look at it. They will eventually take a look and they will let us know their determination,” Town Manager Bob Peabody said.

“Even if it was done a year ago,” Medcalf replied. “Be patient?”

“Yeah, they’re short staffed,” said Peabody, who will follow up with a conversation with the police chief.

“Okay, that’s fine. I can do that,” Medcalf said.

Logo use approved. When new residents move into Main Eco Homes apartments or houses or folks stay at Airbnbs or people who join Sole•Ful Health Club, they receive a “welcome” gift basket.

Ali Peters, Community Outreach Director for MEH, asked town officials if the “Love Always Bridgton” logo could be used.

“We just thought it would make it really feel like, ‘Welcome to our town,’” Peters said.

“I think it’s great,” Selectman Ken Murphy said.

Peabody pointed out that the “Love Always Bridgton” is a trademarked logo, and the board has the ability to grant approval of its use.

Selectman Murphy felt “the more we spread the word about ‘Love Always Bridgton’ is a positive thing for this town, no matter where it goes.”

The board will discuss the request more at their Feb. 27 meeting.