BETHEL — The highest number of responses (138) was for, “community or recreation center”  to the question,  “What are some uses for the [Ethel Bisbee School] lot that you would be excited to see?”

The Ethel Bisbee committee was charged by the select board with evaluating uses for the Ethel Bisbee School lot at the top of Philbrook Street, off Main Street near Bethel Village. Its presentation to the select board was made at a meeting on April 17.

The town bought the Ethel Bisbee School in 2014 and in 2023 the Board of Selectmen voted to raze the school. It was its consensus that the 1.75 acre property would offer the most opportunity as an empty lot.

Of the 333 total responses, outdoor park and recreation was the second most desired use for the lot. People did not want to see the lot used for municipal, or social services. This encompassed: town office, ambulance, food pantry, parking or town storage.

The data also uncovered the wish from most respondents that the Town would not sell the property.

Committee member Faye Christoforo said they used eight months of the allotted 12 months solely for data collection. She said they tried hard to get a broad range of responses. Committee Chair Bridget Remington said they tried to find meaning from the survey answers.

Remington said based on the committees’ conversations, they developed a tool of the most important factors that they hope the select board will use in the future. They are a site that is: usable and accessible to the public; supports the Town’s needs; does not have a negative impact on pedestrian or vehicular traffic; and that wouldn’t significantly increase the noise or lighting levels.

They did not weight any of the factors, said Remington. Other factors were maximizing the unique characteristics of the property; the financial impact on the community and that it would add a cultural or historic value or significance to the town.

Someone making a future proposal would use the factors to screen themselves and also fill out a detailed application.

The committee’s recommendations to the Town are that it needs an updated comprehensive plan; a transparent process for usage; and that the selectboard form another ad-hoc committee if a community center seemed like it might be a reality.

Remington said they would like the data they uncovered to be archived.

“I don’t think any of us thought that we were going to end up saying, ‘maybe, don’t do anything right now,’ and that’s what we ended up thinking.” said Remington.

The full report, including anecdotal data, is here: https://bethelmaine.org/news/ethel-bisbee-committee-report

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