Penobscot Bay Pilot has posed questions to each candidate running for the Camden Select Board, providing the opportunity for the public to better understand their position on issues important to the town and region.

1) Please provide a concise (paragraph) biography of yourself

My name is Stephen Beveridge. I am running for the one year term for the Board of Selectmen. I was born in 1948 in Camden on Route 52, and 46 years ago I married a girl that grew up on Route 52 as well, raised four children there and we plan to stay on Route 52 where we will live the rest of our lives.

I was educated in the Camden-Rockport schools and graduated in 1966, which was the first graduating class of the combined towns.

I joined the United States Army during the Vietnam conflict and became a helicopter gunship pilot. Upon returning to the USA, I was an Ariel gunnery instructor until leaving the military as a Chief Warrant Officer 2 (CW2).

Returning to Camden I went to work for a local construction company, and after nineteen years of managing projects here in the local area, I went to work for the Town of Rockport as the Public Works Director. I managed public works, along with a million dollar budget, Municipal buildings and Parks and Recreation facilities for twenty-six years, which has given me much insight into the rights and wrongs of Municipal Government. I believe I have a good feel for local issues and have a history of being a good communicator, which should allow me to hit the ground running if elected.

2) What are the 3 most pressing issues facing Camden today, and how would you like to see them resolved?

1. Incorporating The Snow Bowl into a growing four season recreation or tourism economy.

2. Encouraging young people in our community to stay here and fill critical positions such as fire, police and other service opportunities.

3. Looking for opportunities to increase our tax base through a wide array of businesses that will fit into the town's developing tourism profile.

3) How will you protect the Camden taxpayer as you shape and govern a municipal budget, and juggle various interests that request municipal funding throughout the year?

To protect the Camden taxpayer I believe it will take a multifaceted plan. One part of that would have to be determining which services are essential and then prioritizing the rest on a sliding scale.
The next phase of that should include hiring a prolific grant writer to seek money from outside the community.

Another approach that could be used would be to expand the Town's purchasing power by joining municipal cooperatives to lower bulk purchase costs.

4) Camden has refined and promoted itself as part of an outdoor recreational economy for several years. Do you believe that is worth continuing, and if so, how so?

I believe this is definitely worth continuing. I think the town should find a way to market itself to parts of southern Canada, southern New England and possibly even the mid-Atlantic regions of the United States.
It is apparent to me that we are several years out on seeing the benefits that have already been started.

5) How do you see Camden positioned in the larger regional Midcoast economy?

Personally, I don't think you will see much change from the recreational/tourism/ home business economy that we have been promoting unless we somehow have a wholesale change in our demographics.

6) A proposal has been made to transform the 77 acres of town-owned Sagamore Farms, on Route 1, to a park with trails alongside a business center, or some other entrepreneurial use. It has also been suggested that such a building have a green roof, and the farm becomes a model for business/park land development. What is your opinion on that idea?

My opinion is that parks and trails are a beginning. To make an informed opinion, I would have to hear proposals on any others ventures that might want to use public land.

7) What municipal committee would you like to be a liaison to, and why?

I have thought about the personnel committee and the pathways committee.

As far as the personnel committee, I believe it is key to finding and keeping good personnel for the continuity of the town.

Over the years I have had a lot of contact and impute with the Camden-Rockport pathway committee. I believe I have the expertise to help them focus on and achieve affordable goals.

8) How will you protect the town-owned Ragged Mountain Recreation Area from overuse as the region becomes more attractive to biking, skiing and hiking?

I don't see this as an immediate problem, from the information I have been given, the only time the Snow Bowl has reached capacity is during the toboggan races. Going forward I will promote that the Snow Bowl be set up as a separate town entity with it's own board of directors and consultants which will guide it through any eventuality.

9) How do you envision the future of solid waste processing for the four towns; i.e., recycling, waste stream reduction?

This is probability the toughest question of this format. As Pogo once said "I have seen the enemy and they are us". In the immediate future we will have to make several stop-gap decisions until we can educate, motivate or perhaps coerce our trash generators (you and me) to better understand how this complex environmental problem can be best worked out locally and regionally.

10) Various municipalities in Maine have invested in solar farms. Should Camden?

My reply to this question will be the same as everybody I have talked to on this matter. I think it is great, just not in my backyard.

12) Is it important for municipalities to invest in high speed internet infrastructure (as Rockport and Rockland have explored) or should it be left to market forces?

I firmly believe this should be left to the market forces involved in creating this need. I also believe there is a definite need out there for this resource, I am just not sure how big the need is or how financially feasible it is at this time.

13) Camden and Rockport now share a police chief and an assessor. Are there other cost-sharing arrangements that Camden could do, with Rockport or other towns, to spread the staffing responsibilities; e.g., share a planner? Public works director?

We should definitely explore options as they become available. IE. Retirement of key people in either town may create opportunities for consolidation. Financially advantageous situations, such as equipment purchases. Creating new positions, such as grant writer/planner or even a town engineer planner. Things such as this may result in cost savings and better efficiency along with a host of other things.