By Wayne E. Rivet

Staff Writer

Could Bridgton District Court be leaving town in the future?

“Something may be a foot,” remarked Town Manager Robert Peabody as the Select Board Tuesday night (Jan. 11) approved terms to a new lease with the court system.

With the two sides agreeing on $57,411 annually, utility reimbursement, keeping five parking spaces on Chase Street open to court personnel, and the court taking over janitorial services for the 4,062 square-foot space, the language catching Peabody’s attention is the court system’s desire to proceed on a “month to month” basis — unlike the previous agreement which was a five-year lease with extensions.” 

The court also declined to pursue a previously discussed renovation.

The new agreement “only gives us a 30-day notice” regarding lease termination, Peabody said. “Month to month is not the standard.”

If the court were to move out, the town could either rent the space or use it for municipal purposes. At press time, The Newswas unable to reach the court system for comment.

In other news:

One resolved, one to court? Code Enforcement Officer Brenda Day’s plate become a little lighter when she learned from Selectman Bear Zaidman that a situation involving a dangerous building on 7 School Street has been cleared up.

Day was prepared to ask the Select Board if it would start Dangerous Building proceedings regarding an abandoned home, owned by Norman Huntress.

“We have had several complaints over the past several years regarding this abandoned house,” Day said.

Day said two certified letters had been sent to the owner, but she had not received a reply. Zaidman told the board he had spoken to Huntress earlier in the day, and was told that the building would be demolished and debris removed within 30 days. According to Huntress, he had received one certified letter and the other had been placed in a folder and “forgotten,” Zaidman said.

“He apologizes” for the lack of action, Zaidman said.

Town Manager Bob Peabody requested that the agreed action be in writing. While Zaidman gave Day a phone number to contact Huntress, Peabody suggested that “he should be contacting us — the CEO.”

“Rule of thumb, the letters (sent) ask him to contact me. If I can get the phone number, I will contact him to put something on record,” Day said. 

Day also sought what direction the Select Board wanted to take in collecting a $2,500 fine it had levied against Richard Danis for a land use violation at 17 Elm Street.

Danis was fined after a storage container had been left on the property long after a permit had expired, as well as failure to remove debris from the property. Danis ultimately had the tractor-trailer container removed, but had yet to pay the fine levied by the Select Board.

“He’s contacted me several times, but hasn’t paid the fine,” Day said. “We’ve given Mr. Danis a very long time to resolve this issue. We’ve made several tries. It’s not like we’re putting the hammer down in a week, it’s been a long, drawn out process.”

Looking to avoid incurring more costs associated with this case, which Day says has taken place over a couple of years, the Select Board wondered whether Day could represent the town in small-claims court. Day will see if it is an option, but noted it would be her first such case.

Zaidman noted that even if the town prevails in small claims court, collecting could still be a “fruitless battle” if the individual fails to pay, resulting in returning to court. “What is the cost of staff time?” Zaidman asked.

“A fine is a fine,” said Select Board Chairwoman Carmen Lone. 

Day noted that the fine could have been “substantially” higher if the board had imposed the $100 per day charge.

The board asked if a lien could be placed on the home as a way to collect the fine owed. “Yes, but we would have to go to court to do that,” Day noted.

The board voted unanimously to “pursue legal remedies” to collect the fine.

Should town get a cut? If the Greater Bridgton-Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce sells the Information Center on Portland Road, Selectman Bear Zaidman feels the town should get a cut.

The town donated the land to the Chamber for a $1 (Town Manager Bob Peabody was only able to find a quit-claim deed dated Jan. 10, 1990), and Zaidman feels it would show “good faith” to local taxpayers if the Chamber “returned some of the money back.”

In 1989, the land value was $21,600.

Zaidman said that amount could be used to help jumpstart a local senior tax relief program, which officials also discussed Tuesday night. The program would enable people 70 years and older and who have been residents for 20 years.

“There’s no obligation (for the Chamber to return some money), but I hope they consider it,” Zaidman added.

What to do with the Memorial School? That has been a question that has been kicked around for years now.

Select Board Chairwoman Carmen Lone wants to set up a meeting with SAD 61 officials to discuss the issue — what can the property be used for — at a future school board meeting.

One option, Zaidman proposed, was to demolish the building and create a park area, maybe an amphitheater, where people can gather and hold music events, such as the Music on Main series.

“Let’s get rid of the building and do something there to better the town,” Zaidman said.

Field talk. Select Board members plan to meet with Bridgton Recreation Advancement Group (BRAG) leaders regarding transferring the field complex to the town. BRAG would like to do it this year. With the budget season coming, town officials will meet with BRAG leaders on Jan. 27 at 4 p.m. to discuss the matter.

Oak Street sidewalk — A representative of SLR Consulting of Portland gave an overview of the Oak Street sidewalk project, which will extend 800 feet from Kansas Road, along Oak Street, to Main Street. It would run on the opposite side of the roadway from Junior Harmon Field.

The estimated pricetag is $139,000, which includes a 15% contingency of $18,115. The five-foot-wide sidewalk would consist of asphalt, and possibly three light fixtures — as used on the Main Street revitalization project. Lighting and electrical is estimated at $60,000. The town will survey residents along Oak Street regarding lighting.

Actual cost will be determined once bids are submitted. Town Manager Peabody said $130,000 in available, and another $40,000 being carried forward. If the project exceeds available funding, officials could either scrap street lights (there are no lights there now) or postpone the project.

Go or wait? Should the pay-per-bag issue be presented to voters at the June annual town meeting or should it be pushed back to allow more time to create public awareness?

Recycling Committee member Sally Chappell says her group wants to see the measure go to voters in June.

Selectman Bob McHatton agreed, but says taxpayers need to know three facts — how much will this change save the town, how much will it cost them, and how will it work (where bags can be purchased)?

Zaidman was a little skeptical whether all questions will be answered before people go to the polls. He suggested that the town contact a company that three years ago pitched a proposal to do a public education campaign, in exchange for contracting with that firm to provide the bags used in the program. 

The town will pursue this option.

Meanwhile, officials agreed that if the measure passes in June, there will be some “lag time” before it is implemented.

Decisions on what items will be on the town warrant are made on April 12, with the Select Board finalizing the warrant on May 10.

McHatton invited the public to attend in-person Recycling Committee meetings, set to be held the second Thursday of the month in the Municipal Complex downstairs meeting room at 6:15 p.m.

The Select Board approved the nomination of Maureen Harpell to the Recycling Committee.

Approved. The Select Board approved a medical marijuana caregiver retail store license to Hoot Family Farm, doing business as OPUS, located at 4 Sustainable Way.