By Dawn De Busk

Staff Writer

CASCO — The discussion about giving bulky waste coupons to property owners living in Point Sebago continues.

The dialogue ended with the Casco Board of Selectmen tabling the matter.

Some of the selectmen wanted more time to go over the documents for their own edification. 

One selectman expressed his concern that giving bulky waste coupons to the Club Sebago Association residents was the right thing to do. In fact, it was the legal thing to do per the advice of the town’s attorney, according to Selectman Scott Avery. 

During the Casco selectmen’s meeting on Aug. 9, the board voted, 4-0-1 to delay a decision. During the vote, Chairman Rob MacDonald recused himself because he is employed by Point Sebago. The board voted to table it until Aug. 23 or Sept 6, provided the board has an executive session with legal counsel beforehand. 

“Counsel says they would have a right to that use,” according to Casco Town Manager Tony Ward. “You could say there is a difference between full time and seasonal, but it would have to be across the board and not one geographical area.”

Ward introduced the agenda item. The fact that Club Sebago residents do not receive bulky waste coupons was brought to Ward’s attention this summer by one of the community members living there. 

“They own the property and the land it is on. The vast majority live on .1 acres,” he said.

Selectman Grant Plummer did not want to give these residents the coupons because of the history between the town and the business regarding a contract zone.   

“This still doesn’t sit with me. The intention of that development is that it was to be seasonal. It was to be recreational. Over time, at some point, they started being landowners. They [Point Sebago] started selling the land. I don’t know when that happened. But it was not under a very watchful eye of Casco because that was not how is was supposed to work,” Plummer said. 

“I understand they are landowners. They have been given complete advantage of landowner to be able to built on one acre or less,” he said. 

He added that concessions were made because this development was more dense. He suggested tabling it.

“I have tendency to agree with Grant. We need to do some more reading,” Selectman Mary-Vienessa Fernades said.  

Eugene Connolly agreed.

“I concur with Mary. We should study this a bit longer,” he said.

Fernades continued. 

“There is a lot of history to this acreage that I don’t know. I would like to do more research so when I do make decision I feel comfortable with it,” she said. 

Plummer said he was walking into the Casco Community Center when he received the email containing the contract zone documents.

Selectman Avery spoke. 

“We have to get this situation resolved, we don’t want to week after week, or every two weeks, table it,” Selectman Avery said. “What is the legal recourse? They are residents of Casco, and they are being told that aren’t receiving services.” 

“Somehow a decision was made that there needs to be some concession…” he said. 

“They are paying taxes to the Town of Casco. The guy down the street with a cottage is paying taxes and getting this service,” he said. “We need to be careful. The town might get taken to court.” 

At the beginning of the discussion, Ward shared some information about bulky waste coupons. 

“When we give out coupons, there is about a ton, or 2000 pounds, of coupons. There is $100 value for each of the books,” Ward said. 

The number of households that would qualify — owning land and home on it — is 339, he said. At most, the cost would be $33,900, he said 

When you look at return rate on the coupons, not every resident is taking advantage of getting rid of one ton of bulky waste.

“We give out roughly, 2500 tons worth of coupons. During the last fiscal year, 582 tons of coupons were turned in. That mean 20% of all the coupons given out were used,” Ward said.