WEDNESDAY August 13, 1986 Vol. 1, No. 13 989-1895 3 5 c Serving Brewer, Orrington Eddington and Holden South Main Residents Split On City’s Offer To Relocate BREWER — The owners of four being used to stabilize private hired by the city valued his pro­ homes in South Brewer slated to property along the river. Accor­ perty at $27,000. Blackmer said be razed to make way for a park ding to Thornton, the cost of in­ he recently put the house on the expressed mixed emotions upon stalling erosion preventing “ rip­ market for $32,500 and received being asked to relocate and two rap” along the bank would be eight inquiries and one “ firm of­ said they would not. prohibitive to the homeowners. fer” within three days of placing The Brewer City Council voted One homeowner, Michael S. it for sale. Blackmer said the in­ Tuesday night to authorize the ci­ McCarthy of 359 South Main dependent appraisers were “ local ty to offer two homeowners an Street, said he has lost nine feet real estate agents” but he declin­ appraised amount for their pro­ of his backyard to the river in the ed to name them. perty along the Penobscot. All past year and his house now “ I’m not sure if I’m going to four properties have suffered a stands six feet from the new sell it or not.” Blackmer said. “ I loss of land from erosion of the bank. did it to prove that my property river bank that abuts their Thornton said the money to was worth more than what the ci­ homes. buy the properties is coming from ty’s appraisal said.” The council voted not to a $701,000 Community Develop­ The city hired appraisers by authorize offers on the other two ment Block Grant.' Of this competitive bid, Thornton said. properties after their owners said amount, $125,000 is set aside for The low bid was $1,200 for all they did not wish to move. The acquiring the properties. Thorn­ four houses by Walter Foster of council’s decision Tuesday night ton stressed that the need for^a ' Coldwell Banker Real Estate. means that the appraised values park in the area was not the ma­ The “ review” appraiser was Ted of the houses are what the owners jor reason to acquire the houses. Sherwood of Bangor Realty. The will be offered. The decision in It was done, she said, so public low bid for reviews was $150 per no way binds the owners into sell­ funds could be used to prevent house. The Brewer Falcons (first row left to right): Travis Veilleux, Robbie White, Greg Kirby, Nick ing their houses to the city, but if further erosion on the riverbank, Blackmer, who said he has a Winchester, Steve Brochu, Mark Avery. Second row: Coach Eddie Hackett, Coach Jeff Paul, they choose to do so, it will be at which she said is a problem real estate broker’s license, said Jon Collins, Eddie Vanidestine, Chris Dore, Scott Melvin, Coach Rob Roy. Third row: Leigh the prices approved by the coun­ throughout South Brewer. the appraisers hired by the city Hersey, Scott Thompson, Kevin McGrath, Jeff Brown, Rusty White, Scott Hanscom, Robbie cil. One owner, Bruce Blackmer, used “ comparative sales” ap­ Gilmore. Not pictured: team manager Jim White. As explained by Brewer accused the Development Direc­ praising approach. Blackmer said Development Director Donna tor’s office of “mismanage­ the appraisers visited his home Thornton, the proposed park is ment” and said he had his pro­ and then compared it with similar American Legion Baseball way of getting around regulations perty independently appraised at that prevent public funds from $35-$40,000 while the appraisers (see HOUSES page 12) Brewer Falcons Finish Third In State Brewer Council Cuts Bus Service; TOGUS — The Brewer in the bottom of the first to lead In the championship game for four zones, the 28 teams com­ Falcons lost, 8-5, to the Gayton 4-1 until the fifth inning when the state title, Andrews Post of peted for first and second place in Tables Closing Dump On Mondays Post American Legion baseball Brewer scored three runs to tie Portland defeated Gayton. An­ each zone and the top eight club of Auburn to finish third in tha game at 4-4. In the bottom of drews will go on to the Region 1 played in the double elimination state-wide tournament play, the sixth, Gayton scored two to tournament at New Bedford, tournament. In the Frrst game, BREWER — In separate ac­ .Trash Disposal, Inc., a private change would only end with the iuesday, August 12. take a 6-4 lead. The Falcons came MA. The Legion World Series Thursday August 7, Brewer lost tions Tuesday night, the Brewer contractor that picks up trash in completion of the Orrington in­ After the Falcons took a 1-0 within a run in the seventh but will be played in Rapid City, to Andrews, 4-2. On Friday, the City Council voted unanimously Brewer, said the proposed change cinerator, as Brewer would close lead in the top of the first, still trailed 7-5. Gayton scored South Dako'ta. to curtail service on “ The Bus” would seriously affect his its landfill at that time. Gayton answered with four runs twice in the eighth to win by 8-5. With seven teams in each of the (see FALCONS page 12) and tabled an order to close the business. Sparks said closing the city landfill on Mondays. landfill on Mondays would make Tax Season Opens The council’s action, which him wait until Tuesday to empty makes official cuts made in the his trucks of trash from their Fri­ city transit budget during bydget day pick-ups. The Bill’s In The Mail! sessions, will eliminate Saturday Sparks asked City Manager BREWER — It’s official and property at Eastern Fine Paper tion in federal revenue sharing service, the 9:15, 9:45 and 10:15 Harold Parks if the computed the bill is in the mail. The tax bills Co., the Hearthstone apartment toward the city. When this is a.m. weekday runs and provide savings were “ net” or if they for Brewer’s 1987 fiscal year went complex, and other smaller taken into account, Parks said, 5:15 p.m. service from after took into account the loss of fees into the mail Monday, August residential and commercial the 1987 budget actually calls Thanksgiving through the month from contractors who dumped 11, ending the long debates over growth, Salisbury said. for less spending than the 1986 of April. their trash at the landfill on Mon­ the city’s finances. City Manager pointed out that budget. The increase in the tax City Councilor Larry Doughty, days. Parks said the savings were The tax bills show an 8.6 per­ while the entire city budget in­ rate on the municipal side of the the order’s sponsor, said the cuts net and he assumed the carriers cent increase in the city’s mil rate: creased, the entire increase in the budget comes entirely from the will pare the city’s share in the would bring their Monday trash from $22.75 per thousand to municipal budget could be at­ loss of outside revenue: primarily cost of the transit system by 28 in on Tuesday. Sparks said if the $24.70, a $1.95 increase. For a tributed to the $300,000 reduc­ federal revenue sharing. percent: from approximately landfill was closed on Mondays Brewer home valued at $50,000 $12,000 to $9,000. According to he would have to bring to another this will mean a tax bill of 1985/86 ridership patterns, the landfill and the city would reduce $1,235.00 compared to $1,137.50 Brewer’s Ten Largest Taxpayers service cutbacks will decrease its income despite the overtime last year: a $97.50 increase. ridership by approximately 11 savings. While the total city budget in­ 1987 Tax Year Percent of percent. There was no discussion “ These people are generating creased 12.6 percent, this increae of the order from the councilors trash over the weekend and it Total City was lessened by a $7 million in­ Tax or the 30 people attending the needs to be disposed of,” Sparks crease in property valuation in Owner Assessed Value Tax Paid Revenues meeting. said. Brewer this year. After considerable debate, the Commenting on the debate, Brewer Tax Assessor Galen Eastern Fine Paper $7,128,640 $176,077 3.53% council tabled a proposed cost­ Mayor Gerald Robertson said the Salisbury said the increase “ isn’t Sidney Epstein et al. $6,882,120 $169,988 saving measure to close the city 3.41% proposed change may cause more unusual,” although he said it Lemforder Corp. $3,576,600 $88,342 1.77% landfill on Mondays. Councilor problems than the savings are reflects increasing growth in the Jordan-Milton Sherman Harrington, the order’s worth. city. Salisbury said almost half Machinery $3,153,390 $77,889 sponsor, said the order would 1.56% “ For what savings we’re talk­ the increase can be attributed to Emple Knitting Mills $2,781,900 $68,713 1.38% change the landfill’s operating ing about we’re causing an awful the Jordan-Milton Machinery Bangor Hydro et al. $2,211,690 $54,629 1.09% hours from Monday through lot of trouble,” he said. company opening in 1986, with Spruce Tree Real Est.$2,021,260 $49,925 1.00%* Saturday to Tuesdays through Parks added that with the real estate and personal property The Stable Corp.