Funtown in Saco, Maine, is building a water slide right next to an old cemetery in violation of a 25-foot law. The amusement park owner even says that the airspace over the cemetery isn't included in the 25-foot rule. The district attorney says that the law doesn't indicate whose responsibility it is to enforce the law, so it is basically unenforceable. The Maine Old Cemetery Association is working with other interested parties to promote the protection of this and other old cemeteries, which hold so much of our historic records. The cemetery is the final resting place of several veterans of the Civil War, probably some veterans of the Revolution, a person of Native American blood, and early settlers of the town.
An article in the Portland Press Herald newspaper questions the wisdom and the legality of the amusement park's new construction. Assistant Attorney General Paul Gauvreau, who has researched state law in response to this and several similar cases, said, "It would appear the statute has been violated. It appears the new slide is going to directly abut the boundary of the family's cemetery." Yet he has been unable to stop the illegal encroachment.
The Code Enforcement Officer issued a building permit in spite of the state law, and no attempt has been made to keep the heavy equipment from the edges of the cemetery.
You can read more about this problem at http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/news/local/061115cemetery.html?total=71&next=60.
If you have opinions about this, you might contact Saco Code Enforcement Officer Dick Lambert via his department's web page or by calling 207-284-6983. His department's web site may be found at http://www.sacomaine.org/departments/codes/codes.shtml.
Funtown Amusement Park may be reached at 207-284-5139 or at info@funtownusa.com.
