By Wayne E. Rivet

Staff Writer

As summer weather settles in, Bridgton Rec Director Gary Colello has heard the same questions asked several times: “When will lifeguards be on duty?”

The answer, not as often as last year.

Across the state, there is a major shortage of lifeguards. Normally, Colello has a pool of seven to shuffle between Woods Pond and Highland Lake Beach. This year, he has two.

“Usually, I need four per day,” Colello told selectmen Tuesday night.

In a Facebook post this week, Colello explained the current situation: “We had great guards who took their jobs seriously and kept people safe seven days a week,” Colello said. “The lifeguards were set to begin their shifts on Thursday of this week, however we were unable to find enough lifeguards to work this summer. We currently only have one full-time guard. We are still working hard at finding individuals that are certified, but it is unlikely we will be able to staff the beach with lifeguards like we have been doing in recent years.” 

So, there will be days with no lifeguard on duty, leaving beachgoers to “swim at their own risk.”

Colello told selectmen that some local groups will be hurt by the no lifeguard on duty situation. They will be unable to take their clients to the beach due to the lack of a lifeguard’s presence.

“We recruited, advertised, and tried to fill our positions but we were unsuccessful,” said Colello, who started trying to hire lifeguards back in the winter. The problem is two-fold. One, the demands to earn American Red Cross certification is costly ($300 to take the 30-hour online course) and physically challenging. The swim test includes 550-yard front crawl or breaststroke, 2-minute treading water no hands, 1:40 swim down into a pool and retrieve a brick and swim back to the surface and climb out, and underwater swim for rings.

Another issue is pay. The town budgeted to pay lifeguard $13.50 per hour, however in the current job market, labor shortages has pushed the hourly rate of pay to $15 to $17 at area retail stores and eateries.

Colello plans to schedule lifeguards on expected busy days if available staffing remains at its current level.

Another problem is beach behavior. Despite posted signs, rules regarding no pets, no smoking and no consumption of alcoholic beverages have been ignored by some patrons, Colello said. Noting it is costly to send a police officer to address these matters, Town Manager Bob Peabody said additional park rangers could be hired to provide enforcement presence. Currently, the town has one ranger working the summer months.  

Anyone interested in being a lifeguard should contact Rec Director Colello as soon as possible at 207-647-1126 or rec@bridgtonmaine.org. 

In other board news:

• A public workshop to discuss modifications proposed to consolidate land use regulations will be held on Tuesday, July 20. The workshop will include the Board of Selectmen, Planning Board, interested local developers and the public. Tentatively, the workshop is scheduled to start at 6 p.m. (fall back time is 5 p.m., stay tuned). Planners reviewed four ordinances and proposed some changes to create greater clarity.

The workshop provides an opportunity to review, ask questions and take input. A more formal public hearing will be held in the future, then leading to a public vote.

• As Bridgton continues to move forward with sewer and water line construction, a group of art enthusiasts hope to also brighten the town’s image by using existing blank building walls as a canvas.

A new Arts & Culture Committee, led by Greg Bullard, has formed, and is looking for ways to the arts. One project is to paint murals. Community Development Director Linda Lacroix noted that the murals would not be “political” in nature, but instead possibly capture the history of the town and/or its natural beauty. Whatever design is proposed, it will be brought to the Select Board for review to be sure “the town feels comfortable” with the mural. Lacroix added the committee will need to seek a variance from the Planning Board to address a local ordinance standard that limits the size to a 6-foot by 6-foot space. 

• Newly-appointed Fire Chief Glen Garland begins his full-time duties on Tuesday, July 6.

• Re-elected Select Board member Carmen Lone was unanimously voted as board chairwoman. Glen “Bear” Zaidman was elected vice chairman. With Bob McHatton winning the other selectman’s seat (vacated by Lee Eastman), he resigned as a member of the Community Development Advisory Committee. Victoria Hill applied to fill that vacancy, and was approved by the board.

• The “Cop on Top” fundraiser for Maine Special Olympics was a hit with $5,000 collected. Bridgton Police Officers Matt Regis, Todd Smolinsky, Ryan McCloud and Brandan George, along with State Trooper Christie Libritz and Pastor Mike Zullo, Bridgton Fire Department’s chaplain, participated (Officer Craig Hammond and Sgt. Josh Muise were on duty, but stopped by for support and assistance).

• Summer Rec Camp has 160 registered children, and 105 registered for swim lessons.