By Wayne E. Rivet

Staff Writer

Bridgton remains in the market for a new Community Development Director.

Selectmen met in executive session (personnel matter) on July 1 to interview a candidate and gain a “consensus” whether to support the nomination of that individual.

After a 34-minute discussion, selectmen exited the executive session, but no vote was taken regarding hiring the candidate. The meeting adjourned with no action.

Two Community Development Advisory Committee members questioned selectmen Tuesday night on whether they will look to fill the position.

“The town manager had an applicant, and you turned that person down,” CDC member and former selectman Bob McHatton asked under public comments on nonagenda items portion of Tuesday’s agenda. “Is the board still going to hire someone?”

Board Chairman Lee Eastman said the intention is to hire a new director, but selectmen want “the right person in place.”

Mr. or Mrs. or Ms. “Right” has yet to surface, which has CDC member Ursula Flaherty concerned.

“It’s been 2 1/2 to 3 years (since former director Anne Krieg left the job), and it’s starting to make me wonder about the sincerity of the board to get this done. What went wrong? Help me understand what is going on?” she said. “Bridgton is moving forward (with all these projects) and we need someone in this position. Forgive me, I have my doubts.”

When Eastman pointed out that the town has had just a few applicants for the job, Flaherty noted that Bridgton likely has a tarnished image in the Community Development circles due to the quick dismissal of its last director, as well as no vote on the nomination of a candidate.

“I am a little leery about what is going on,” Flaherty added. “I can’t imagine why it is such an issue…I don’t want to point fingers, but I want to see how to remedy this.”

Eastman said the board thought they had a person on the line to take the position, but the individual “decided not to come.” The second candidate apparently failed to check all the boxes, in the board’s view.

While Flaherty wanted answers, selectmen noted that state law prohibits them to discuss what was said during executive session. Deb Brusini suggested that selectmen discuss confirmation in public session so that residents “can understand what the issues might be,” be it the salary or other matters.

Selectmen closed the conversation noting that the position will be advertised until a candidate is selected, and money remains in the budget (carried forward) for when that individual is hired.

In other meeting notes:

Back on the ballot. Although voters rejected an attempt to repeal the existing Affordable Housing Preference Ordinance, a second “bite of the apple” will likely come in November.

Deb Brusini, a member of the Ordinance Review Committee, asked selectmen if the group could seek a second try at a repeal the ordinance, which legal counsel says contains parts that “could be seen as discriminatory.” Similar measures in Maine have been challenged in court.

Admittedly, Brusini felt the committee fell short on educating the voting public why repealing the ordinance made sense. She added that the ordinance’s title likely was misleading for many folks.

“There will be more public education (on the issue) so that people can make a more informed decision,” she said.

Selectmen supported the idea.

Brusini also asked officials to look at the current “staggering terms” setup of the committee. The group has finally reached five members, and Brusini sees no need to move one person off the committee due to term expiration. Selectmen will ask the town manager to look at the existing language governing committee makeup.

Too much green spent, not enough green seen? When selectmen looked at the list of “carry forward” funds, they saw money targeted for Phase 2 of the Depot Street grass project. Officials plan to reconsider what should happen next.

“I’m not liking what I see,” Board Chairman Lee Eastman said.

While Selectman Carmen Lone has “minimal expectations” when it comes to grass growth here in Maine, Selectman Bear Zaidman is at the other end of the spectrum. His expectations are high, and believes a nice grassy carpet is possible if done “professionally and with irrigation,” pointing to neighboring Naples, which has solid grass growth along the Causeway bridge area that has weathered some recent big events — the Blues Fest and Fourth of July.

“We need to bring this back for discussion,” Zaidman said. He also wondered what the cost would be to install irrigation there.

Officials say they see more “clover” than blades of grass. Public Works Director Jim Kidder said town workers have mowed the replanted areas, but were recently asked “by the person who put it in not to mow so often.”

Selectmen hired Lucia Terry of Perennial Point of View to rework the grass portions along Depot Street. Officials had looked at shifting to a “hardscape” surface, but decided to give natural grass another chance.

Monument restoration. Pro Point Restoration completed its work cleaning the granite base of the Main Hill monument, leading to part two of the process, work on the bronze soldier sculpture. Scaffolding was erected this week with restoration efforts by Bridgton resident Anthony Tafuri of Tafuri Studios expected next week.

The Civil War monument (created by the Hallowell Granite Company and known as the Cleaves Soldiers Monument) was presented by Henry B. and Nathan Cleaves. It was erected in 1910, and was dedicated on July 21, 1910, to Bridgton’s Sons who defended the Union in 1861–1865.

New staff members. David Madsen has been hired as the town’s Wastewater Superintendent. He thanks selectmen for the “opportunity,” and noted that he will begin work here Aug. 12. Madsen is currently a wastewater plant supervisor elsewhere, and has given his notice upon accepting the Bridgton post.

Miranda Hinkley is the town’s new Finance/Wastewater Clerk. She was previously employed by the Town of Mechanic Falls.

Transfer Station will be closed on Thursday, July 25, for routine maintenance.

Locals at summit. Bridgton Police Chief Rick Stillman and Dani Mooney, director of the Lakes Region Substance Awareness Coalition, will host a breakout session as part of an Opioid Summit set for Monday, July 15, at the Augusta Civic Center.

Quick takes. Before Glenn Peterson entered serious talks with ChargePoint and efficiency Maine about placing the fast-charging stations for electric vehicles at the former knitting mill facility on Portland Road, he wanted to get a feel whether town officials supported the idea.

Chairman Eastman said selectmen like the idea, since it would make Bridgton a “destination” for the E-vehicle population (ChargePoint plans to have seven fast-charge stations in Maine), but the board had trouble giving up public property to a profit-making company, feeling taxpayers would be shortchanged by receiving no income for use of the site, as well as setting precedent.

Hearing selectmen support the idea, Peterson plans to get in touch with the two E-charger groups.

Selectman Bob Murphy voiced concerns about the lack of parking at Woods Pond Beach, and wondered if the town could develop more space by using town land adjacent to the bathroom building. Public Works Director Jim Kidder corrected Murphy that the property does not belong to the town.

“End of story,” Murphy replied.

In the Wastewater Update, Deputy Town Manager Georgiann Fleck noted that engineers have started taking shallow test borings, which will total 50 locations. Upcoming tests will be done on Main Street and Portland Road, with Fire Department personnel acting as safety officers. Motorists are asked to use caution while traveling in these work areas.

Streetscape work officially begins Sept. 3, but Selectman Zaidman asked that contractor J. Pratt be made aware of when Fryeburg Fair happens, thus suspending work to avoid creating traffic problems.

Up next: Selectmen will meet tonight, July 11, at 4 p.m. for board training. A workshop on the parking ordinance will be held on Tuesday, July 16, also beginning at 4 p.m. The next regular board meeting is set for Tuesday, July 23, at 5 p.m.

The planning board will hold a public hearing on amendments to the Land Use Ordinance on July 18.