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FreeRepublic , LLC PO BOX 9771 FRESNO, CA 93794
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Posted on 10/09/2002 11:35:29 AM PDT by NewHampshireDuo
KENNEBUNKPORT — The recurring debate about whether this tourist haven needs taxpayer-financed, public bathrooms is back on the agenda. Susan Graham, who chairs the Board of Selectmen, is urging town officials to consider buying or leasing a downtown condo and converting it into bathrooms.
"I do think the town should consider investing in a small property, which we would own," Graham said. "I'm not saying this will go anywhere, but talking about things is how you get things done."
Actually, the town has been talking about restrooms for a long time, since shortly after its most famous resident, George Bush, was elected president in 1988.
While Kennebunkport for decades has attracted visitors because of its coastal location and small-town character, the tourist business exploded after Bush became president, forcing the town to figure out how to handle the massive influx of tourists.
As president, Bush vacationed here every summer, and now his son is making Kennebunkport a frequent stop.
The bathroom debate, scheduled to resume at the selectmen's regular meeting Thursday, comes just days after Bush "43," as his father, Bush "41," calls him, visited his parents at their Walker's Point compound.
After prolonged discussions that began in the late 1980s about whether taxpayers should build restrooms for tourists, merchants finally decided to build a visitors center in Dock Square with bathrooms. They got tired of taxpayers finding excuses not to build town facilities for tourists.
Kathy Jones, proprietor of Harbor Inn and president of Greater Kennebunkport Chamber of Commerce, said Tuesday the chamber would be glad to have the town build bathrooms.
"We don't have enough of them," Jones said. "We do need more."
The need is obvious, judging from the line in front of the chamber's visitors center Tuesday. Tourists were lined up at the door, waiting to use the tiny bathrooms.
"The town should have its own bathrooms," said Chuck Cates of Camino, Calif., a visitor waiting for the bathroom. "Most places do."
"The only place you can go around here is if you go into a restaurant," said John Rubin of Toronto.
Deedee Condon, whose family has run Alisson's Restaurant since 1973, hopes the townspeople will finally approve building bathrooms.
"People come in all the time asking for a bathroom," Condon said. "I can't say no to them, but then my customers end up standing in line."
Richard Gardinier, whose family runs Kennebunkport Arts, said many shops here are too small to accommodate the public's need for bathrooms. Kennebunkport Arts is so cramped for space its bathroom stores merchandise.
Linda Wade, who runs the local library, said Kennebunkport's reputation as a top-scale resort justifies public bathrooms.
"When I moved here 17 years ago, I was appalled to see some of the nicest places in town with signs saying, 'Our bathrooms are for our patrons only.' "
Graham said the limited hours of the visitors center makes it all the more necessary for the town to seriously consider supplying bathrooms, either on its own or in partnership with merchants.
She was among a number of residents who three years ago went to court to block plans for a new Town Hall in their neighborhood, contending that the zoning rules did not allow for two things the plan included - extra toilets and parking for tourists.
Graham, later elected selectman, withdrew her name from the suit. The hall and extra bathrooms never got built.
She said the town needs bathrooms, but in the right place. So she's pushing to put them somewhere in Dock Square.
"I'm not doing this to court votes or seek anyone's approval," Graham said. "I just think the town should create and pay for bathrooms in zones where they are legally permitted."
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FreeRepublic , LLC PO BOX 9771 FRESNO, CA 93794
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If you want on or off this list, please let me know!
This has come about after much badgering by you, my friends and extended family...
FR is our public radio/tv. Support FR! The Fall Telethon is underway!
The very few free public bathrooms available in Europe was one big difference I noticed between the U.S. and Europe.
Are you sure those weren't EU phone booths?
Kennybunkport is mostly a residential town. The "tourist" area is small enough you could throw a baseball across it.
If they need to pee, they should buy a meal at "Alice's" Resturant. (I think that's the name I remember, like the song)
By the way, it was kinda neat seeing the Bush compound.
Ocean City, NJ has nice public restrooms. They get locked at 5:30 PM. They also charge a fee to use the beach. What happens when ya really gotta go and the door is locked? Don't ask!
When ya gotta go, ya gotta go.
The solution is pretty obvious: if there ain't no privy available, ya just go behind the Bush's.
Do it on the pant leg of the guy standing next to you ;-)
STAY OUT DA BUSHS
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