Villa takes heat for grant
By Gail Geraghty
Contributing Writer
HARRISON — Selectman Lisa Villa came under criticism Tuesday as the board narrowly agreed to apply for a $25,000 downtown revitalization planning grant. The vote was 3-2, with Selectmen Dan Schorr and Bill Goodwin opposed.
Selectmen were concerned that Villa had submitted the grant without first getting formal approval from the board, and had released its contents to the Bridgton News before they’d had a chance to read it. They also questioned the need for downtown planning funds when other needs, such as turnout equipment for the fire department, could be seen as more pressing in tough economic times.
Villa apologized for releasing the information to the newspaper prematurely, but defended the submission, saying she’d discussed it with the board on several occasions. She said the board agreed six months ago to make it a priority to seek grant money, and called for policy guidelines to be drawn up to govern the process.
Schorr said he was upset that news of the grant “made the paper before selectmen knew about it.” Moreover, the grant’s call to pay a consultant $17,000 to create a unifying master plan for the downtown area based on input from residents “could be accomplished by local committees. It seems to be a work program for underemployed consultants.”
Goodwin said he is opposed to all grants, and had a problem with any plan that would spend town money on private buildings in the Village. But Villa said a façade improvement program was only one of many possible ideas to enhance the downtown. Others might be improving the boathouse or boat ramp, or even the town beach, she said. “There’s lots of issues that can be addressed.”
Villa said the residents who elected her wanted her to be proactive, which is why she submitted, and won, Community Development Block Grants for each of the past two years for improvements to the playground and the basketball court at Crystal Lake Park. Those grants made her realize that Harrison doesn’t have an overall plan for its downtown, one that goes beyond just what is available at Crystal Lake Park.
Head Selectman Bill Winslow said that while he supported Villa’s grant writing efforts, “In these economic times, this is going to upset a lot of people” who see the need for the town to focus on more practical concerns.
Villa said downtown revitalization planning is strongly encouraged by the state through the Maine Development Foundation, “because they know how important downtowns like ours are.” Bridgton has been actively pursuing a downtown plan, as has Norway, Mechanic Falls and other neighboring towns. “This is federal money, and the money’s got to go somewhere. I’d just as soon see it go to Harrison.”
But Schorr said “This grant commits the town and not everyone is in agreement that the downtown needs to be revitalized.” There’s little said about the subject in the town’s approved Comprehensive Plan, he pointed out — and there may be restrictions on improvements because the downtown is served by a state highway, Route 117.
“We should apply for grants that meet our specific needs,” he said.
Villa said she would be happy to apply for whatever grants the board wanted to apply for, including fire department grants. “We need a policy in place,” she said.
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