Bear Pond Land headed for town meeting vote

ARTICLE 63:  To see what action the voters will direct the Selectmen to take with regard to a recently acquired piece of property (Map 11, Lot 15) at the southerly end of Bear Pond, located near the intersections of Routes 35 and 37.

RECOMMEND: Keep As Public Access

Waterford voters will soon decide if the tax-acquired Avedisian property located on the south end of Bear Pond will be sold or retained as town property and used for recreational purposes.

Selectmen were still working on the exact wording of articles for the annual March town meeting in early January. The property has 650 feet of water frontage on approximately one quarter acre.

Oxford Hills student Ricky Giffin is shown surveying the Avedisian property in preparation for town meeting.

Pamela Avedisian defaulted on the property in 2009 for unpaid 2006 property taxes of more than $8,000 plus cleanup costs of nearly $20,000 paid by the town after the July 26, 2005 fire that destroyed her nearly completed home.

In preparation for town meeting, student Ricky Giffin of Waterford is working to survey and create proposed development plans for his senior project. Ricky is being advised by his Computer-Aided Drafting teacher, land surveyor and Waterford selectman John Bell.

“The goal of Ricky's project is to create plans of potential improvements that could be made to the property if voters decide to retain ownership of the property,” Bell said

Improvements may include walking paths, picnic areas, swimming areas and possibly a canoe/kayak launch.

“Ricky will be working with LEA to insure that the proposed improvements are in compliance with shoreland zoning regulations and good environmental practices,” Bell said. “His plans will be on display at the town office prior to and at town meeting, as well as on the town website.”

Senior projects are a graduation requirement at OHCHS. Projects must have a tangible product or service created in a real-world setting, they must benefit a person or people and they must involve independent learning, Bell said.

Ricky and his family live on the North Bridgton Road just a short distance from the former Avedisian property.

“His proximity to the project and his plans to pursue engineering as a career, made this project a perfect fit for him,” Bell said.

The mammoth two-story house sitting on the water’s edge lacked power when it mysteriously burned five summers ago. It had been the focus of numerous code violations and legal action because of overbuilding in the shoreland zone. The unfinished interior had not seen construction activity for nearly a year.

In 1999, the town won a court decision against Avedisian and her fiancé Gary Decicco, contractor and “beneficial owner.” A district court judge ordered the Massachusetts couple to lower the roof to 35 feet among other changes. Fines and court costs of $14,000 were paid.

Taxes of $3,001 on the 2004 valuation of $214,900 were paid on time. The 2005 valuation rose to $393,400. Taxes for that year were $4,425.75 based on $278,500 land valuation and the same $114,900 2004 building value. Taxes rose to $8,053 in 2006.

Source: Mutiny Brook Times - Issue 79