By Wayne E. Rivet

Staff Writer

It seems every year, Lee Eastman hears complaints about water levels at Highland Lake and Woods Pond.

He hears “historically,” levels are kept at certain measurements during three periods of the year. Yet, shorefront owners say levels are kept too high at times, thus causing erosion and even property damage. Yet, town officials keep “kicking the can down the road” — the can, in this case, water levels — rather than settle the matter in writing.

Tuesday, Eastman and the Bridgton Selectboard took a step to develop a specific policy regarding what the levels should be and when lowering should occur at the two waterbodies.

Last week, Public Services Director David Madsen had published a public notice regarding the lowering of Highland Lake, starting Friday, Oct. 30. The process will cease by Nov. 30. He noted lakefront owners could then perform various repairs and improvements (after consultation with DEP and local CEO Brenda Day regarding if such action requires a permit).

Madsen told the Selectboard Tuesday night that he would like to see a written policy that would bring consistency to both waterbodies, thus keeping them “healthy.” Madsen researched handwritten notes dating back to 1985, but found no exact dates when to start and stop lake lowering.

“It varies so much,” he said of the findings. “It’s a sensitive issue.”

Selectman Bear Zaidman felt Columbus Day (plus or minus 10 days) is a good starting point since few boats remain on the water by then.

But, what is best?

Bill and Jean Preis have owned property on Highland Lake for 34 years, and during that period, Bill has kept track of water levels on a regular basis. Historically, the levels have been 6.2 from May to October, 5.0 from October to November, and 5.4 from Nov. 30 to April 30. Preis rattled off levels and whether the spillway was open or closed for Octobers from 2019 to 2013. The range was a high of 6.0 in 2019 for Oct. 15 to a low of 4.2 on Oct. 28, 2013.

Preis said many property owners have “grown to expect” the fall water level drop that enables them to do necessary work at their properties.

Zaidman pointed out that on larger lakes, such as Sebago, the level is lowered every X-number of years (often four or five), at which time property owners should then be addressing repairs or improvements. Levels are not lowered eachyear. Madsen supported such a schedule be included in policy.

All agreed that a “healthier lake is a more stable lake.” Selectman Paul Tworog added, “We need a balance.”

Preis would like to see creation of a Highland Lake Committee that includes a town official, the Public Services Director, a couple of Highland property owners and someone from Lakes Environmental Association.

Meanwhile, Barry DeNofrio has been the unofficial caretaker of Woods Pond, tracking water levels for several years. He gave a history of water levels there and noted Woods Pond is a shallow lake (29 feet). 

DeNofrio pointed out that the “last boat left the lake on Oct. 13,” yet some continue to drop their boats to go fishing.

After hearing the input, the Selectboard directed Peabody to draft a policy with the parameters discussed and present it to the board at their next meeting, Nov. 10. A final vote will be taken on Nov. 24. Copies will also be sent to lakefront owners/Associations. Zaidman suggested that Peabody check with LEA regarding obtaining a mailing list.

Meanwhile, Madsen will start Highland’s draw down on Oct. 30.

In other town news:

Sticking with policy. This bill did get lost in the mail, and it has cost David and Barbara Rathbone some extra money each time they’ve gone to the town’s transfer station.

The Rathbones moved into their new house in September 2019 and were told that when they received their 2020 tax bill it would include a transfer station punch card. They never received a bill. Apparently, the bill went to the couple’s old Raymond address, but it was never forwarded or returned to the town office. Bills were mailed July 27.

In September, the couple contacted the town regarding their new address and requested that the transfer station punch card (to deposit materials — one punch for bulky items such as mattress or couch, two punches for tires and three for mixed demo limited to 100 pounds or less) be reissued after failing to get one with their tax bill. The couple said they had paid $178 to dispose of debris from building a garage.

“In our case, the town admitted that it was sent to our old address. We moved in September of 2019 and mail is only forwarded for one year so our tax bill would not have been forwarded to us. I personally went to the town and registered our vehicles to the (current) address and paid property taxes at the same time, and it was not mentioned that the property taxes had a different mail address. It is clear that we are not trying to pull one over on the town,” David Rathbone wrote to Selectboard Chairman Lee Eastman.

Town Manager Robert Peabody researched the history of punch cards, dating back to 2006 and found that Selectboard policy states there will be no punch card replacement, “no exceptions to the policy were approved,” Peabody noted. The manager said others have sought replacement cards in the past, but were denied based on existing policy.

If the full punch card is used, the holder saves $48. Peabody pointed out that if all 5,390 real estate bill payers were to use their punch cards at the full amount, the town would lose $258,720 in revenue.

Selectman Paul Tworog suggested that the town manager be given discretionary powers to decide whether special circumstances — such as the Rathbone’s case — should be considered and punch card replacement granted.

Peabody, however, felt a change could create a “slippery slope” which the manager’s discretion could be challenged. If the manager rejected the request, the taxpayer would like take the matter to the Selectboard. If the board wishes to change the policy, they can.

The board voted 4-1 (Tworog opposed) to keep the policy the same, and voted 4-1 (Tworog opposed) not to reissue the Rathbone’s punch card. After the vote, Selectwoman Carmen Lone noted that she had been denied reissuance of a punch card in the past.

Dam repair share agreed upon. Agreeing work needs to be done to shore up the Moose Pond Dam, the Selectboard voted 5-0 to spend up to $85,000 — Bridgton’s 50% share in the estimated $170,000 project. 

Although Bridgton accounts for 874 (51.5%) of the 1,697 acres Moose Pond covers, the two towns agreed to split the repair costs 50-50. Denmark’s water surface measures 727 acres, or 42.55%. The costs to Bridgton taxpayers could be lowered if Sweden agrees to pay 6% of the bill based on its 101 acres on Moose Pond (which represents 5.95%)

Selectman Bear Zaidman suggested that an account be created and funds placed annually for future dam repairs.

Who is up next? Peter Lowell submitted his resignation from the Bridgton Ice Arena Board of Directors. “I appreciate the town’s faith in me with this appointment, but I feel the Arena would benefit from the revitalization resulting from new blood on its board,” Lowell wrote.

Extended clerk hours. The Town Clerk’s Office will be open on Thursday, Oct. 29 from 4 to 7 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 31 from 9 a.m. to noon for the purpose of accepting voter registration, absentee balloting, and other election related issues. No other town business will be conducted during this time.

Voting will be held at the Town Hall located on North High Street on Tuesday, Nov. 3from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Fire training. Bridgton firefighter Captain Richard Meekcompleted the Presumpscot Valley Firefighter 1 & 2 Pro-board certification.Meek is the fifth firefighter this year to complete extensive specialized training, for the department.   

Firefighter Edward Pontbriand attended a wilderness rescue classin Denmark on Oct. 4, and then presented that information on Oct. 28 to the BFD. He also gave an overview of the Maine Search and Rescue dog teams that he and his wife are members of.  The Pontbriands have two K-9 dogs with specialty search and rescue training.   

Drug take back day. On Saturday, Oct. 24, Bridgton Police Officer Todd Smolinsky was at the Bridgton Community Center as representative for National Drug Take-back Day. Approximately 300 pounds of drugs were collected for incineration.  The Bridgton Police Department has a drug deposit receptacleavailable in their lobby for the deposit of unused, outdated prescriptions/medications (no needles) which is available year-round during regular office hours.   

With new hire Officer Mitchell Johnson,the Police Department is back to full staff.  

Sergeant Josh Muisereceived a weeklong leadership training in Maine from FBI LEEDA. Chief Phil Jonesattended the International Chiefs of Police conference (virtual). All officers received a three-hour block of implicit bias training (virtual) all this past week.   

Health Officer Catherine Pinkham continues to participate in webinars andMMA workshops and recently the MMA convention. Pinkham worked with American Legion Post 67to assure that safety measures for social distancing were in place for their re-dedication ceremony this past Saturday.