Biddeford residents will vote in November on two bond questions

BIDDEFORD — Residents will vote on two proposed bonds in November – a $10 million bond for sewer and septic work and a $7.5 million bond for sidewalk, roads, drainage system and building improvements.

The city council on Tuesday approved both bonds to go on the Nov. 3 ballot.

The proposed $10 million bond, if approved, would be used for separating and improving the city’s storm and sanitary sewer systems, work that is being mandated by the state.

The proposed $7.5 million bond, if approved, will be split between $3.75 million for sidewalk, road and drainage system improvements and $3.75 for improvements to City Hall and other city buildings.

Resident and downtown business owner Kate Pinard said she was in support of the city going out to bond even though there might be a recession in the future, as it would be more expensive to put off the repairs and do emergency repairs in the future.

The proposed $7.5 million bond replaces a proposed $10 million bond that would have included an additional $1.25 million for repairs to the J. Richard Martin Community Center and $1.25 million for repairs toward other city facilities and infrastructure.

Councilor Stephen St. Cyr opposed the sewer bond and St. Cyr and Councilor John McCurry opposed the road and building improvement bond.

St. Cyr said he thought the city shouldn’t go out to bid more than $5 million for each bond.

“This is too rich for my blood,” he said. He said he was not in support of the repairs for the community center, as he did not have enough information on the proposed repairs needed to the building.

Couniclor Amy Clearwater, who was in favor of the original $10 million bond, said that the proposed repairs had been talked about and put off for years, and they needed to get done. She said if the city waited, the repairs would be more expensive.

“We need to invest in our infrastructure or we’re just going to be sitting on a pile of rubble,” she said.

Councilor Norman Belanger proposed the reduction to the suggested $7.5 million street and building bond. He said he thought $10 million for the bond was too high and residents might now pass it.

Publisher Liz Gotthelf can be reached at [email protected].