By Wayne E. Rivet

Staff Writer

With talk of “reopening” the country starting, area officials plan to move annual town meeting and municipal election dates back.

Bridgton decided last week to push the June date to Tuesday, July 14 for the election/referendum question portion, and Wednesday, July 15 at 7 p.m. for the business meeting.

Other neighboring towns are following suit:

Brownfield is using the July 14-15 dates.

Fryeburg is scheduled for June 9 and June 11, but Town Manager Katie Haley said selectmen will meet this Thursday to sign the final warrant and decide whether to stick with the June dates or move to July.

Naples will move its May election to July 14. At their virtual meeting this past Monday night, Town Manager John Hawley reported that the town will hold off making absentee ballots available, partly due to the fact it has yet to receive the state ballot. The town wants to send both local and state ballots out together. 

To secure an absentee ballot, the public can either call the town office to make the request, which two forms will be sent out, filled out by the voter and returned to the town office, which will then send an absentee ballot; or, go to the town website, under coronavirus tab, click “absentee ballot” to download the request form, fill it out and mail back to the town office.

The Selectboard considered several possible town meeting dates including July 9, but settled on Thursday, June 25, at 6 p.m. Hawley was instructed to secure the Lake Region High School gym as the meeting location, to enable attendees to be seated six-feet apart and thus “feel comfortable to attend.”

Hawley noted that if the virus continues to be an issue regarding public gatherings, the select board would need to make a decision to postpone the meeting seven days prior to June 25. If a decision was not made within that timeframe, the town would be “past the point of no return” and would be forced to hold the meeting, Hawley pointed out.

Harrison is testing a “secret ballot” method to address warrant articles this year rather than holding the traditional town meeting. Town Manager Tim Pellerin reported that the secret written ballot will take place on July 14 with polls open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Absentee ballots will be available this month.

In his weekly manager’s report, Pellerin noted that prior to the shutdown caused by coronavirus, the town was proposing a 4% budget increase. But, due to “these uncertain times and by making changes to the warrant, Pellerin said the town’s portion of the overall budget represents a zero increase. 

“Any tax increase will come from the school budget increase. I am uncertain at this time what the school budget will be and have expressed my concerns to our school board representatives and to the superintendent about a small increase,” Pellerin said. “Our school board representatives have made their voices heard, but we will need your (Harrison residents) support when it comes time to vote on the school budget.”

Pellerin said SAD 17 is still talking about a 5 to 10% increase.

Sebago was scheduled to meet on May 19, but Town Manager Michele Bukoveckas said selectmen planned to discuss whether to keep the date or move it at their meeting Tuesday meeting.

Waterford held its town meeting in early March.

Few comments on Bridgton proposed amendments

A joint meeting between the Bridgton selectmen and Planning Board regarding amendments to the Land Use Ordinance received a few public comments.

The July ballot will ask residents to determine how marijuana (in terms of cultivation as well as location of adult and medical use facilities/storefronts) will be addressed and slight changes to Land Use regulations that will directly affect a proposed senior housing project targeted for North High Street.

Lon Walters of Woodland Senior Living presented his idea earlier in the year to selectmen. His company has 15 facilities in seven Maine communities, the most recent addition in Madison, serving about 700 residents. 

“What we do is unique. Most providers that do what we do are 100% private pay…We’re different. Our mix is about 60% Maine Care, 40% private pay,” he told selectmen. “They are expensive facilities. A lot of people have limited savings/funds. If we didn’t have Maine Care beds available, they would be displaced. We’re in a better position to serve them than other facilities.”

Walters’ original plan for Bridgton was to build a multi-level facility with all three components — 44 memory care, 50 assisted living, 40 apartments (restaurant style dining, other amenities, provide services, aging in place type of apartment complex), and possibly some cottages on the same campus. This project would require about 25 acres, depending if all good land.

“The deal did not come to fruition. We thought we were close, but it didn’t happen. We’re fishing now for a property. We’re looking for seven to 10 acres on public water supply,” he said. “Large parcels with water and sewer are just not available.”

Realistically, Walters said the project will likely be just memory care. Such a facility would house 44 residents, cover 20,000 square feet, require five to six acres and access to a public water source. Walters had hoped to tap into Bridgton’s expanded wastewater system in 2022, but if pushed, would go with a private septic system, which would limit the size of the project.

Mary Shorey, a resident on North High Street, raised several concerns regarding the project to town officials during the virtual public hearing. Those concerns included increased traffic and potential runoff and its effect on the environment.

She also feels that more public awareness needs to be created regarding what the amendments mean.

“It really hasn’t been explained well…It seems hidden,” she said. “People are having a hard time keeping up with their lives and their health. There’s a lot to absorb on a (computer) screen. I hope we can get paper copies at some point.

Planning Board Chairwoman Deb Brusini offerer to drop off a “hard copy” to Shorey’s residence.

Selectboard Chairman Lee Eastman noted that information is available on the town’s website and can be printed.

Bill Warren, a resident of Cedar Drive, felt the Planning Board will “do its due diligence” during the application and review process to address issues such as runoff. 

“This is a valuable piece of property. If it’s not used for an assisted care facility, it will be for something else,” he said.

As for the marijuana questions, Glenn Peterson (of 152 Portland Road, home to Canuvo, a medical marijuana cultivation facility) chimed in favor.

See sidebar that lists the ballot questions.

Tech glitches

Prior to last week’s public hearing regarding referendum questions addressing  to be placed on the Bridgton town meeting ballot, Planning Board member Dan Harden noted that some technical glitches were occurring in regards to officials receiving information solely via iPads.

“Some material was uploaded today, but some people can’t see it,” he said.

One problem could be that some of the machinery is older and unable to adequately process information generated by newer software. Planning Board member Greg Watkins questioned why contingency funds could not be used to “resolve the issue soon.”

Selectboard Chairman Lee Eastman said it was the “first I’ve heard” that a problem exists. 

Planners mentioned the problem “several months ago,” but were told the issue couldn’t be addressed at that time.

Town Manager Bob Peabody said hard copies could be made available to all officials if problems arise. The use of iPads were introduced as a cost-saving measure. Planning Board Chairwoman Deb Brusini said she would find out exactly the problems that were occurring and report back.

More fed funds coming to Bridgton

Bridgton is in line to receive an additional $117,695  under the Community Development Block Grant program.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is administering a new initiative as part of Covid-19 relief. Of $900,000 headed to Cumberland County, Bridgton and South Portland — two communities that receive CDBG funding — have been earmarked for certain amounts. Other communities will need to submit applications.

The funds can be used to assist low and moderate income individuals and businesses that have suffered losses due to Covid-19. Money can be used to help with rent, fuel assistance and food assistance.

Community Development Director Linda LaCroix said some general guidelines have been released on how funding can be used, and a county board will be in place to review uses and applications.

Selectboard member Carmen Lone will represent Bridgton on that board.