April/May Department Message

Hello to all – this month’s column is filled with important projects, some filled with considerable public debate. I typically don’t like to say projects are controversial; the whole purpose of our government system is to allow for open debate, and, debate even to the point of conflict, and sometimes, conflict filled with emotion. It’s a sign of a healthy community; that is, people are paying attention and are not complacent. This is why local government, and notably in New England, has meaning for me professionally, because it is personal and the process is accountable.

Cumberland County Commissioners are now reviewing the town’s decision for the expenditures of the Community Development Block Grant Program for next year. The Community Development Committee reviewed the applications, made a recommendation to the Select Board, who reviewed the recommendation and acted upon the same. After the County takes action on the town’s plans, it heads to federal review with HUD.

Speaking of CDBG, we are planning a training session for contractors. It is important for folks to understand the federal rules, why they are there, and how to comply. The training will be May 18th at 5 PM here in the Municipal Offices. I will send out more information as the date approaches but let your favorite contractor know to save the date!

One new program this year using CDBG funds is a scholarship program for the Bridgton Recreation summer day camp. Do not let costs keep your child from having a fun summer with friends in a safe and welcoming environment! The camp runs weekly from June 29th to August 21st. See the registration forms for details on whether you meet the requirements for a scholarship when you sign up in the municipal office.

You will soon see the construction crews again out on Depot Street. For those businesses that have offered to place a bench at the new streetscape, I will be in touch with the final specification to discuss the particulars. I am so happy that spring is here and we can have this project rolling along again to get ready for summer!

How about that demolition at Rufus Porter on Main Street?! I am so excited to see this important project get re-activated! The museum will be part of a number of prominent anchors in the downtown to round out a successful business district offering a variety of good, services and programs.

I am working on a press release, after I finish this column and my monthly report, for the BikeMaine event coming to Bridgton in September so stay tuned!

Staff met with a furnace expert regarding town hall and are finalizing the bid for the renovations at town hall. We also commenced the review of the interior to be completed by Casco Bay Engineering.

The Maine DOT event on April 1st was great! We were able to discuss directly with DOT decision makers about projects for Bridgton such as downtown Bridgton, the Moose Pond guardrail and the grant program system. It was time well spent for certain. The Commissioner of Maine DOT is coming to a joint meeting of the Bridgton-Fryeburg Rotary Club April 29th at 5 PM. Ask your favorite Rotarian for details. This will be a good chance to specifically hear about the Route 302 improvements from Fryeburg into Bridgton.

This past month I said goodbye and good luck to Kevin Schofield, Bridgton’s now former Police Chief and now Chief of Police in Windham. Kevin is a great guy, our loss is Windham’s gain. I joked with him that I hope he remembers what my car looks like as I head through Route 302 to my Portland meetings! We are lucky to now have such a great guy as our interim Chief, Jerry Hinton. If you have not had a chance to meet him, please stop in to say hello!

I am working on a grant with Cumberland County, Greater Portland Council of Governments, and local folks to create a food hub in Bridgton. Bridgton is filled with progressive people so this will be a great project for us. Stay tuned on this one and let me know if you want to be a part of the project. Timely to this project, the Maine Real Estate & Development Association (MEREDA) is having their spring conference on this very topic on May 12th in Portland and I will be in attendance.

I will be part of a roundtable discussion in Norway on April 28th on the banking industry in Maine. I am honored to be a part of this conversation! Other events in May include the Small Business Administration’s Annual Awards dinner, the Career Fair at Lake Region High School (I will try to not embarrass my high school daughter,) MaineBiz’s Business of the Year event, the Greater Bridgton Lakes Region Chamber Annual dinner (have you purchased your tickets yet; it’s a fun time and the auction items are great!) as well as the BuildMaine conference and Maine Association of Planners’ Annual meeting up in Lewiston. May is a month where many associations jam in their meetings before Memorial Day hits and then everyone is off and running!

Have a great spring; only a few snow piles are left here. I love the view of Mount Washington from Bridgton with the mountain covered in snow and surrounding other peaks in active snow melt. I will be tuning up my bike to hit the roads now that the street sweepers are out! Soon, the summer camps will be swept out and readied for summer!

Thank you for allowing me to serve your planning and development needs for now 3 years. It’s an honor to be here to help Bridgton meet its potential!

Anne Krieg, AICP

Bridgton Director of Planning, Economic & Community Development

[email protected]

Twitter: @BridgtonPECD

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