Woods Pond report. Recent complaints regarding managing water levels at Highland Lake has pushed the town toward regular checks and logging of information. Since the focus will include other waterbodies, Barry DeNofrio wanted to point town officials in the right direction as to where to find recorded information on Woods Pond.

“With all the reporting by and letters to the Bridgton News about lakes this month or so, I thought the Select Board should be aware of past efforts in managing the dams,” he said.

Some information is readily available on the Lakes Environmental Association website.

In the fall of 2010, selectman commissioned a study of Woods Pond by Albert Frick Associates “to gather relevant information and to report to the Board their findings concerning water quality and appropriate water levels and other issues affecting Woods Pond.”  The full report is on the LEA website.

“By the time that report was being developed, and with a recommendation by an individual recording Long Lake, I began to record the Woods Pond water levels in September 2010.  This practice continues to the present,” DeNofrio said. “With enough data through 2016, the charts were created and displayed on the LEA website.”

The dam settings at Woods Pond, winter (October to May) and summer (May to October), have remained constant since 2010. The winter setting (opened by being raised) and the summer setting (closed by being lowered) have worked very well, DeNofrio said. 

“Periodically as needed in the summer the gates have been opened to lower the lake. This summer only once,” he said. “Also, the opening and closing dates have become better managed to avoid undesired low or high levels. The goal is to maintain lake stability.”

The ranges were developed with information from the 2010 report including the term “full” lake, and the recorded levels from 2010 forward. Evidence that the goal is being achieved is the lake’s monthly average levels in the summer are all in the “range.” As the lake level is much lower in the winter, concern about level is very rare.  Second, the “highs” are now less frequent, lower, and yes, less high precipitation now.

Proud moment. When Rick Stillman was hired as Bridgton’s police chief, he met a young officer, who asked a lot of questions.

“He was someone who wanted to learn,” Stillman said. “He became a sergeant a couple of years ago and continued to ask questions. He wanted to learn my opinion on how things should go.”

When Sgt. Phil Jones was selected to take over the role of police chief, his mentor couldn’t have been happier.

“It’s exciting to see someone work their way up,” said Stillman, who attended last Wednesday’s selectmen’s meeting to “pin” Jones.

Ordinances under review. At their Oct. 13 meeting at 4 p.m., selectmen will look over suggested changes by the Ordinance Review Committee regarding existing consumer fireworks, disorderly housing and nudity ordinances.

Keep it simple. When someone opens a copy of town ordinances, he or she should be able to read it and comprehend it without the aid of an attorney, selectmen feel. They asked Community Development Director Linda Lacroix to pass that sentiment off to the town’s legal counsel.

Counsel did suggest the town consider changing the name of an ordinance — from Victualer to Business License — thus enabling the town to list all licenses, such as fees being discussed by selectmen for marijuana storefronts, etc., assessed under one banner. A change would require voter action, likely in the form of a referendum question on the Nov. 3 ballot.

He’s asked before and Selectman Bear Zaidman asked again for the town to put out a request for proposal (RFP) regarding legal services. The board voted 5-0 to pursue the matter.

Property up for bid. Selectmen decided to place a tax-acquired home and property at 123 Raspberry Lane up for a public sealed bid process. A site visit for the public is scheduled for Monday, Sept. 14 from 1 to 4 p.m.

Sealed bids are due Thursday, Sept. 17 at 2 p.m.  Bids will be opened once the deadline passes. Selectmen will review the bids at the Sept. 22 scheduled board meeting. Officials can accept or reject all bids.

The property has been vacant for the past five to six years. The current assessed values are: $53,676 for land and $138,797 for the structure. Selectmen decided to set a minimum bid of $50,000 and a required deposit of $20,500. Taxes owed is $13,000.

Officials said the town’s Public Works crew had to spend some time at the property clearing vegetation that had grown in the driveway and near the home. Internally, some type of “leak,” possibly from ice or snow buildup, occurred in the master bedroom. A “musty” smell was encountered, likely from the structure being closed up for a long period of time.

Several people have already taken an interest in the property, Deputy Town Manager Georgiann Fleck reported.

Pick-up to BFD. Selectmen (5-0 vote) approved the lease purchase of a 2020 Dodge Ram 3500 4x4 Truck and related accessories in the principal amount up to $44,223 for the Bridgton Fire Department. Officials supported the measure feeling firefighters should not be using their private vehicles to haul the airboat, citing liability issues.

It’s a ‘disgrace.’ Selectperson Carmen Lone received calls from citizens regarding the condition of some American flags in town. Lone said “it is disgraceful” that tattered flags were being use.

“I have a flag in the back of my car that I will give to the Town of Bridgton,” Lone said.

Selectman Zaidman suggested that the town keep extra flags on hand so that replacement can be addressed immediately,

“It shouldn’t be something that is overlooked,” Selectman Lee Eastman said.