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Saturday, February 28, 2015

Local legislators meet to discuss budget and other issues - By Michelle Libby



The most important thing that came out of the legislative meeting held last Saturday with Senator Bill Diamond, and representatives Mark Bryant and Patrick Corey is nothing is set in stone when it comes to Governor Paul LePage’s budget. 

The informational meeting held at the town hall was supposed to focus on the budget, but became the chance for constituents to talk to their legislators face to face about many issues on their minds.
“We don’t feel it’s good to be partisan when we are doing things for the town,” said Diamond. “This is the most controversial budget in the years I’ve been up there.” 



Some of the big issues at this point are the loss of revenue sharing which will affect Windham and the town budget. Revenue sharing was created to provide property tax relief, said Windham town manager Tony Plante. In 2017, this would mean the loss of $.50 on the local tax rate. “That means a reduction of services or passed on directly to the taxpayers,” he added. 

The budget gets rid of the Homestead Exemption for those under 65 years old. The exemption is doubled to $20,000 for those 65 years old and over. 

“It depends on your personal situation as to what happens for you,” said Plante, when asked what these changes mean for the middle class. 

Other changes will be not eliminating the Maine income tax, but will reduce the rate from 7.95 percent to 5.75 percent by 2019. The sales tax would stay at the current rate of 5.5 percent and will increase to 6.5 percent in 2016. The service-provider tax would increase from 5 percent to 6 percent in 2016. The meals and lodging tax would be decoupled. The lodging tax would remain at 8 percent. Meals and liquor would decrease from 8 percent to 6.5 percent. 

There was some talk about the correctional issue taking place after Sheriff Kevin Joyce said that the Cumberland County jail will be out of money by the end of February. As far as the budget goes, it would fund seven new Maine Drug Enforcement Agency agent positions as well as four new assistant attorney generals and four new district court judge positions, all of which deal with drug related crimes. It would also fund 22 new assistant district attorney positions. 

Twenty-two forest ranger positions would be eliminated and nine new natural resource law enforcement officers will be brought on. 

Bonnie Titcomb-Lewis from Raymond spoke about substance abuse and detriment to cutting back on Methadone treatments.

Other topics discussed were the Center for Civic Education, which is fundraising for a national trip. They discussed the damage to Babb’s Bridge, which is the state’s responsibility to get the bridge serviceable. It is up to the towns to preserve the historic value. There was also talk about the creation of a fourth casino and racino in Southern Maine.

For more information on the budget, visit http://www.maine.gov/budget/budgetinfo/. To speak to the local legislators call, Diamond at 892-8941, Bryant at 892-6591 and Corey at 749-1336.


Friday, February 6, 2015

Babb's covered bridge repair set for spring - By Walter Lamb


After a meeting on Tuesday between DOT officials and members of Windham and Gorham’s legislative delegations, it was determined that Babb’s Bridge on Covered Bridge Road would not be fixed until spring at the earliest.
 
Babb’s covered bridge, closed to traffic recently due to damage caused by a hit and run driver as well as time and weather. The decision to wait until the snow was gone before attempting to repair the bridge made at a meeting in Augusta on Tuesday. The meeting was requested by Senator Bill Diamond and Representatives Mark Bryant and Patrick Corey after learning the State would not restore thru-traffic until spring. All said the delay was unacceptable. Representative Amy Volk from Gorham was also in attendance. “Having three people there from DOT, including their bridge maintenance guy, shows they’re doing their due diligence,” said Corey.

The fix will involve staging on the outside of the bridge and with the snow, repairing it now would be really hard, according to Corey. The repairs the DOT and the delegation spoke about at the meeting will not historically accurate. 

“What I really want is to get the bridge so it works,” said Diamond. Diamond added that getting the bridge safe to use is the first priority then there will be time to work with the town, DOT and the historical societies in both communities to do historical restoration. 

“I was pleased with their attitude,” said Diamond, who said the weather would be the determining factor when it comes to when the repairs begin. “It will be a couple of months.” 

Once repairs have started it should take between four and five weeks to complete the project.  
Close to 300 cars cross Babb’s Bridge every day, according to Diamond. Commuters in the area now have to detour to other points that cross the Presumpscot River. The damage, involving a support post on the Windham side, rendered the structure unsafe for vehicles but not in danger of collapse, according a state engineer. “It’s not a novelty bridge,” said Diamond.

Diamond said a related issue pertaining to the future of the historic span was also discussed. Local historians and other supporters of preserving historic construction practices have expressed concern over so-called “patchwork fixes” on the walls and roof of the bridge, fearing the approach might promote further deterioration and loss of its historic appearance. “There was no talk of taking it out of service,” said Diamond, after Tuesday’s meeting. 

The current bridge was built as a replica of the original span (ca. 1864) following its destruction by arson in 1973. Rep. Bryant said he has requested the legislative law library investigate the precise language of legislation, drafted after the fire that laid out the monitoring and cost obligations of all parties involved in the rebuilding. 

Windham Historical Society member Gary Plummer said “the covered bridge is an integral part of the histories of Windham and Gorham,” and remembers the dedication and hard work of people from both communities who committed to restoring the span as an exact replica, despite protests from the state that such an approach was too costly. Volunteers from both towns held fund raising events and helped in the planning and construction.

Plummer addressed the Windham Town Council on Tuesday. “It will cost $173,000 to bring it back to the 1976 level. The roof is the most pressing to keep the weather out. It would cost $55,000.” The costs to the bridge renovation ultimately fall to the state, said Plummer. 

Babb’s Bridge is only one of nine covered bridges left in Maine. New Hampshire and Vermont both have approximately 100 left.





Despite the snow, the show goes on for Annie Jr. - By Stephanie Coffin


After multiple cancellations and delays the Windham Middle School performance of Annie Jr. was a success! I was able to attend the last performance of the play and was quite taken by the energy on stage.
Several main characters including Annie were unable to perform the last play of the night due to uncontrollable circumstances. However, the kids stepped up and put on an unbelievable performance. 

Annie is the iconic story of an orphan who lives with in an orphanage under the rule of Miss Hannigan. She is chosen to spend time with millionaire Oliver Warbucks and his unique staff. They all grow fond of Annie and decide to keep her. Deep inside Annie hopes to be reunited with her birth parents, but there is an evil plan hatched by Miss Hannigan and her cohorts. 

The level of talent of the performers in Windham was wonderful to witness. The kids had great singing voices during the group performances and solo songs. Chloe Cyr a seventh grader stepped in to play the lead role of Annie at the last minute due to Denali Dieumegard coming down with the flu. Chloe took charge of the role and put on a wonderful performance with no flaws witnessed on my part. Eighth grader Makayla Malloy was wonderful as Miss Hannigan with her evil looks and sassy behavior. Eleven-year-old Austin Norcia as Rooster played the part great, right down to the greased slick back hair look of a con artist. Davin Farinella played Oliver Warbucks so true character he even went to the extent of shaving his head for the show.

Each middle school child on that stage did a wonderful job and should be proud to have put a smile on so many faces. The audience was entertained by the hard work and dedication to their part in the performance of Annie Jr.

I have never seen a Middle School play before Annie, but I will say I will be attending more in the future. The whole show was a wonderful experience to see. I encourage you to take a break from your everyday life the next time you see a sign at the rotary advertising a performance and to stop into the Windham Preforming Arts Center and watch the talent up on the stage.














Monday, February 2, 2015

Sidewalk slated for Raymond's Main Street in 2016 - By Walter Lunt



Picture caption: Residents and town officials will decide which side of Main Street gets a sidewalk. Concept drawing above shows sidewalks on both sides to help aid in the decision.


Raymond town officials are putting safety and sense of community on the fast track for joggers and other pedestrians on Main Street. Plans for the installment of a sidewalk along Main Street from the stop light at the Route 302 intersection to Meadow Road (Route 121) have entered the engineering stage following state and town meeting approval and a public hearing on the project.

Project manager Danielle Loring unveiled an engineer’s proposal this week showing sidewalks on both sides of Main Street. She was quick to point out that public input and recommendations from the project’s engineer will help decide which side of the road the walk way will be built. Loring says “there are pros and cons with both sides.” Less personal property intrusion on the west (Sebago) side, fewer drainage issues on the east (upland) side.

Loring said there was no clear preference from testimony at a recent public hearing, so right now “it’s 50/50 (as to) which way we’ll go,” but adds one big advantage to construction on the east side is that the sidewalk will link up to existing sidewalks on Route 302. “Pedestrians won’t have to cross over,” she explained.

Laurie Brown, of 55 Main Street, says many vehicles turning from Meadow Road on to Main Street, especially during morning hours, ignore the stop sign and don’t slow down. She says it’s a dangerous area for pedestrians and that her neighbors don’t often let their children ride bicycles along the road way.
Sally Holt, director of Raymond Public Library on Meadow Road, said the proposed sidewalk “…makes sense. It’ll make it easier and safer” (for library patrons). Some residents at the public hearing were worried about encroachment on their property and, for some, the possible loss of front yard trees. Loring said the town is looking into replacing any mature trees claimed by the project. Asked about the rock retaining wall fronting 7 Main Street near Route 302, Loring said that, should the sidewalk be built on that side of the road, it would abut the wall and the wall would not have to be disturbed.

Funding for the project has been approved by the Maine Department of Transportation, which bears 80 percent of the approximately $159,700 cost. The Town’s portion, about $32,000, was approved at Raymond’s 2014 town meeting. The money is part of a federal Transportation Enhancement grant, administered by the Maine D.O.T.

Town Manager Don Willard said the addition of a sidewalk to the area promotes a sense of village center, a concept that’s been discussed for many years. And sidewalks, he added, can have a calming effect on traffic.

The addition of the sidewalk, which will be an asphalt top with concrete curbing, expands Raymond’s sidewalk from Sebago Water Sports/Chipman’s Farm Stand to Meadow Road. Future plans call for sidewalk extension from Meadow Road to the Raymond Fire Station. That portion of Main Street, however, is not under State jurisdiction and would have to be locally funded. Loring said it is not part of the current project.