STANDISH – Standish residents braved rainy weather Tuesday to cast their ballot in the local town election.

Of the 7,171 registered voters in Standish, about 15 percent made their way to the polls.

Residents passed two of the three referendums on Tuesday’s ballot. They approved the allocation of $75,000 to design a residents-only beach on Sebago Lake as well as the multi-part $1.2 million proposal to expand the public works garage on Moody Road, purchase a fire truck and pay for improvements to roads and bridges in the Whites Bridge Road area of town.

In the municipal races, voters returned several incumbents to their positions, while ushering in a few new faces. Lynn Olson defeated Wayne Newbegin for the second time to retain her seat on the Town Council. And voters elected Carol Gifford, Adam Higgins, Carolyn Biegel, and Danial Kasprzyk to the School Administrative District 6 school board.

For the second straight year, however, residents defeated the referendum for the construction of sidewalks. The nay votes edged the yeas by 16. Since the proposed project did not pass, the town is required to pay $30,000 to the state as reimbursement for design plans.

Standish resident and voter David Call said sidewalks are not necessary, but would instead like to see bike lanes added to the roads.

“Sidewalks aren’t needed because there’s nothing in the town to go see,” he said.

Fellow resident Tom Nolan, also opposed to the sidewalk project, explained how sidewalks had no real value in a true New England town.

“They want a New England town, they want to look like a New England town, and I’ve traveled all over New England and I’ve been in all sorts of New England towns, and you definitely do not find a lot of New England towns with sidewalks,” Nolan said.

Residents might not see sidewalks anytime soon, but a Standish Beach might soon be in the offing. Voters passed a referendum that pays for $75,000 worth of engineering of the Cargill lot on the western shore of the lake, also known as the Sandbar Beach. Many voters said Tuesday that beach access on Sebago Lake for Standish residents is long overdue.

“I think we should have a beach,” said Linda Vincent. “I’ve lived here for a long time and I think it’s ridiculous to be on Sebago Lake and not be able to swim.”

The third and final referendum approved by voters on Tuesday, like the sidewalk proposal, appeared on the ballot last year. It pays for a 23-by-90-foot expansion of the public works garage as well as $300,000 worth of road and bridge work, as well as a new fire truck. This time around however, residents passed the proposal by a margin of 189 votes.

Besides the referendums, voters weighed in on the proposed school budget for School Administrative District 6. The proposed budget totals $44,572,780 with the most money going to regular instruction, special education and facility maintenance. Standish residents approved the budget 688 votes to 406. The total vote for the district budget was 1,345 votes in favor and 900 opposed.

Standish voters also returned Carolyn Biegel and Carol Gifford to the SAD 6 board of directors as well as two new Standish members, Adam Higgins and Daniel Kasprzyk.

Residents also filled two Town Council seats in Tuesday’s election.

Incumbent Michael Blanck, of Steep Falls, ran unopposed in the Town Council at-large seat and received 801 votes.

In the Area 3 race, incumbent Lynn Olson beat former counselor Wayne Newbegin by 89 votes. Olson defeated Newbegin in 2010.

“I’m pleased that they (voters) liked the direction the council is going in and we will continue to do the good work we are doing,” Olson said of her win.

Looking forward, Olson’s main goal is to work with Standish business owners to find out what is needed to assist them in growing their companies.

Olson said Standish has the best-educated citizens and a great location, and she hopes to utilize these assets to create a business friendly climate in town.

Standish residents will have an opportunity to voice their opinion and see their newly elected candidates at work during an annual town meeting at town hall set for Saturday, June 15, at 9 a.m.

Olson said it is important that people show up Saturday and said she is hopeful the turnout will reach 200 residents.

A complete list of Saturday’s agenda can be located on Standish’s website, www.standish.org.

Fiona Clifford dressed for the rain and cast her vote with the help of election worker Sherry Allen in Tuesday’s election.
Newly elected Standish Town Councilor Lynn Olson and School Administrative District 6 board member Adam Higgins greeted voters as they entered town hall on Tuesday.