By Wayne E. Rivet

Staff Writer

Quick takes from Tuesday’s Bridgton Select Board meeting:

Superintendent visit. Town officials were given a rundown of the proposed $34-plus million SAD 61 budget by Superintendent Al Smith (figures and assessments were reported last week by the BN, see report on our website).

Smith noted that Stevens Brook Elementary is slated for various upgrades including adjustment to the main entry area to give the office secretary a better view of individuals attempting to enter the building. Other improvements include carpet replacement and roof painting.

Smith also informed the Select Board that SAD 61 is hiring an architectural firm to evaluate district buildings. Lake Region HS is 60% renovated, but several portables currently being used along the backside of the facility are exceeding their projected lifespan (20 to 25 years). The study will look at options on how to address those spaces.

SBES enrollment increased by 60 this year, and Smith said the building could require four to six more classrooms.

With the district hoping to build and complete the new storage facility on the high school campus by fall, Smith said SAD 61 will start emptying items out of Bridgton Memorial in preparation of turning the property back over to Bridgton. Some items will be headed to the transfer station, some possibly sold and others can still be used.

“We plan to hang on to the grandstand,” Smith added. The building “provides a lot of storage,” he added. The district plans to make various improvements there this summer.

Recycling textile products. One way to reduce the town’s solid waste bill is to remove unwanted textile products and accessories from the trash stream.

While a Salvation Army bin is a place to donate usable items, old t-shirts or worn out socks or cloth often land in the compactor.

The Recycling Committee might have a better answer. Committee member Theresa Johnson pitched the idea of teaming up with Apparel Impact, a New Hampshire company, which recycles textiles. The company has recycling bins at 90 Maine locations, including Fryeburg.

Based on Bridgton’s full-time population, 280 tons of unwanted textiles could be pulled from the waste stream and save the town an estimated $22,000.

Johnson said AI would service the bin(s) each week, thus preventing unsightly spillage due to full containers. The company is also willing to put more than one bin at the location. AI has a clear list of items they will take.

“It’s a small way to improve our recycling and cutting costs,” Johnson said.

Johnson added that the AI bin is not in competition with the Salvation Army clothing donation container. Salvation Army is looking for clothing that is up for resale, while the AI bin targets items that can be re-purposed.

Select Board member Carrye Castleman-Ross saw AI’s presentation to the Recycling Committee and found it “very compelling, very interesting.”

“I feel it would be a really nice addition,” she said.

Board Chair Carmen Lone asked Johnson to contact AI officials to set up a date for a presentation, as well as get a copy of a proposed contract.

Sad news. Stephen P. Fay, Bridgton’s first appointed full-time Fire Chief from December 2016 to May 2019, passed away Monday. Town officials wished their “sincerest condolences to his family and his wife, Diane,” who served as Bridgton’s Health Officer from June 2018 to August 2019. 

Ready for another season. The Bridgton Farmers’ Market eagerly awaits the return to their Depot Street location on May 6.

Brenna Mae Thomas-Googins of Patch Farm gave the Select Board an overview of the upcoming market season. It will include 23 vendors, four of which are new. There will be 32 tents, including an information booth, community tent where non-profit groups can get their word out, a music tent, and a guest vendor tent. Brenna Mae said this tent will be used by different artisans “to provide things the market is missing” and a “chance to try us out and see if it is a fit.”

She noted that the market space can accommodate 35 tents, and there is no spillover to the Community Center grounds.

She added that the market found success moving to the Mason’s Hall on Route 117 for the winter — “it was so warm and cozy,” she said.

“I think you folks have done an outstanding job creating a year-round market,” Selectman Bob McHatton said.

Nomination papers are available until the close of business on April 14. Positions (all three-year terms) open include:

(2) Select Board Member/Assessor/Overseer of the Poor;

(1) Planning Board Member;

(1) Planning Board Alternate Member;

(2) SAD 61 Directors;

(1) Water District Trustee.

Passing the test. Loralee Phillips, assistant to the Code Enforcement Officer, passed her Internal Plumbing class with an 81, making her an official LPI (Local Plumbing Inspector).