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Discussion continues on Forest Lake land purchase issues

April 26, 2007 - The town Council on Monday authorized a referendum on the purchase of land at Forest Lake, but not before scheduling a public debate to answer some lingering questions.

That debate will likely be at the Council second meeting in May, Chairman Steve Moriarty said.

A vote on the lake property acquisition is scheduled for June 12, after a petition with some 800 signatures was returned April 11. That citizen petition authorize the referendum vote, and an affirmative majority vote would overturn the council's unanimous decision to acquire 3.2 acres of land at Forest Lake for $318,000.

Town manager Bill Shane has said the money would come from a $1.3 million settlement with Chebeague Island and Moriarty said decisions about public access would be made by a citizen advisory committee.

But counselor Jeff Porter predicted turnout would be low for the June election, in part because attendance has declined at recent meetings about the lake issue. At Monday's public hearing, the council debated the petition process and the long-term value of the property with about 15 residents, two thirds of whom lived near the lake.

Alex Brown, a spokesman for the Cumberland Citizens Coalition, said the group circulating petitions found that many residents were opposed to the acquisition. "They believe we should all decide this," he said.

Others who signed a petition told him the council vote "put the cart before the horse" and said "this decision might be a poor one," Brown said.

But Brown's claim that a vast majority had signed a petition to overturn the council's vote amounted to "confustication," council George Turner said. Turner said petitioners signed only to allow the opportunity to vote on the issue.

Counsilors Donna Damon and Shirley Story-King said they had also heard from people, who said they had not really known what they were signing.

Others objected to the methods of petitioners. "I'm positively furious about the petition," Blackstrap Road resident Kathy Lynch said. She said she did not approve of Windham and Gray residents taking out petitions for a proposal that she said, "is only going to be a benefit to the town."

Forest Lake resident Nancy Heyner said the petitioners never concealed what town they were from, and town clerk Nadine Daniels said "less than 20" of the 58 petitions were from residence outside Cumberland.

"It does smell kind of smelling the way to did," former councilor Harland Storey said. He urged support for the acquisition, which he said will broaden the town's recreational opportunities.

Porter congratulated the petitioners, admitting a successful petition process was "brutal," but said like many previous attempts to acquire waterfront, the objections raised came primarily from neighbors and abutters to the property. "this is a 'not in my backyard' issue," he said

Damon said if the vote to overturn is successful, the town should explore other access points, including so-called "paper streets" to the lake. "Two rods is plenty of room to get to the shore," she said.

The value of the project also came up again on Monday. Moriarty said the price was quote "below both the asking price and the appraised price."

Scott Wyman, Crossing Brook resident, called the purchase "a transfer of assets." Lake access narrowed a widening economic divide that gave water rights to the few he said, adding, "we are buying this for our kids future."

Bob Simmons echoed him, saying that although he had only gone to the town owned Rines Forest five times, that his taxes were worth it. "I think it's incredible investment," he said.

Others were concerned about the long-term costs associated with building and maintenance without knowing the full cost.

Near the end of the meeting, Heyner showed a photograph of a kayaker. A 6 foot yellow paddle was submerged near the town's possible lake access point. The panel indicated a water depth of about 5 feet.

Heyner said she wanted to show it was a poor swimming area, adding, "there's a channel that goes out there."

"You're not trying to make us believe people's children are in danger because of that?" Porter said. "But you're above that."

"We been told it's not deep enough for a boat launch," Cussler Ron Cobb Jr. said, adding that he and his testimony contradicted previous statements. "There is clearly enough water in there for a boat launch."



This article appeared in its original form in The Forecaster, April 26, 2007.


Lakes: Forest Lake
Regions: Sebago


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