Frye Island

Frye Island is located in the Town of Standish, closer to the east side of the lake than the west, just off Raymond Cape. The Island is approximately 900 acres, 3 miles long, running north-south, and a mile wide at its mid-line. Highest elevation on the Island is 385 feet above sea level.

The Island has 11 beaches, seven miles of shorefront, a nine hole golf course, a swimming pool with cabana, six tennis courts, a Community Center, and a store and Cafe. Two ferry boats which are owned and operated by the Island provide access to the Island on a seasonal basis. The boats are 65 feet long and 24 feet wide.

In 1994, the total number of cottages on the Island was 364. The valuation of the Island, which is set by the Town of Standish, increased from $12 million in 1987 to $27 million in 1994. Land value was $11 million and building value was $16 million. Frye Island, Inc land value was $470,000 and building values were $439,000 for a total of $909,000. Privately owned land values were $10,507,800 and building values were $15,769,500 for a total of $26,277,300.

HISTORY

In 1964, Frye Island was purchased by J.A. Bowron and Gould H. Coleman, two New England developers with backgrounds in the development of summer resort properties. They purchased the Island for $130,000.

Sebago Lake Shores, the development's name, was to be a completely self-sufficient community developed over a 10 year period of time and funded with $12 million dollars. The Island was "divided" into seven "estates of leisure": 1) Highpoint Estates and Highpoint Country Club; 2) Southcove and the Southcove Yacht Club; 3) the Sands and the west beaches; 4) Fairway Estates and Running Hills Golf Club; 5) Northwoods and the north beaches; 6) the Timbers and the Saddle Club; and 7) the Preserve and a Nature Sanctuary in the center of the Island.

In 1965, an old Casco Bay Lines ferry began transporting prospective buyers and men and equipment for construction of the development's infrastructure and cottages. Lots sold for $3,300 and up. By 1966, lots were $6,000 and up and, by 1967, 31 cottages had been built and there were 159 sales contracts.

In 1966, the first Leisure Lady was purchased. In 1970, the second Leisure Lady was purchased. Both boats were built by Blount Marine in Rhode Island.

At this early stage of development, operations of the island were funded by a $96 dollar per year annual charge, a charge which each buyer was obligated to pay until May 1, 1985.

In 1969, the Earnhardt land, a parcel of 85 acres which included the summer camp, was purchased,. The comprehensive development plan changed from 603 lots to 1304 and finally in 1969 to 1334 lots. By 1972, contracts had been written for 940 lots and conveyances had been made for 280 lots.

In 1968, Frye Islanders banned together to form their own landowner's association, the Frye Islanders Corporation. There were major reasons for this association: 1) to alleviate the unfair tax situation which existed between Islanders and the Town of Standish; 2) to deal with Sebago Lake Shores( Al Bowron et al) as a united group; and 3) to provide funding and to be an operating agency ready for ultimate operation and maintenance of common resources.

The Frye Islanders Corporation was a non-profit organization which was the forerunner to Frye Island, Inc. By 1969 there were 70 paid members.

1970 was a landmark year in the history of the Island. A bill to transfer Frye Island from Standish to the town of Raymond was introduced into the State Legislature. Leisure Living Communities (Al Bowron's development company) came under a Temporary Restraining Order to keep from selling lots on Frye Island, due to the contention that soils and sub-soils on Frye Island were incapable of adequately dispersing the waste water and sewage such a development would produce. The Standish Planning Board withheld its approval of the Frye Island site plan. The State Minimum Lot Size Law was passed. The good news was that the grading of the Island Golf Course was begun.

In May of 1971, there were 143 cottages on the Island and 78 owners belonged to FIC. Al Bowron had died and the status of Leisure Living was up in the air. By July, FIC had 91 members. The Association was still battling the Town of Standish for tax equity and fairness, and FIC was hoping to form a Village Corporation. Members of FIC were also concerned with the financial position of Leisure Living. In August, FIC met with Leisure Living and discussed the future of Leisure Living and the future operations of the ferry, roads, water, etc.

In January of 1972, the Board of FIC met with representatives of Leisure Living. The Board was re-assured of Leisure Living's good intentions. By August, the FIC newsletter noted that Leisure Living was almost in bankruptcy; that the Court case between Leisure Living and the Portland Water District over phosphorous export from the Island to the Lake was still unresolved; and that FIC had requested that their attorney prepare two bills for the state legislature--one, to transfer the Island to the town of Raymond, and two, to make the Island an independent town.

By the end of the 1972 season, the Golf Course, named Running Hills, had finished its first season of play. The Geoffrey Cornish designed course opened with the completion of nine holes and a makeshift Pro Shop. In 1979, the course was renamed the Frye Island Golf Course. In 1980, 15 Islanders loaned $1,000 each to Frye Island, Inc. and a new clubhouse was contracted and built. 35 to 40 Islanders volunteered their time and labor and finished the inside of the Clubhouse.

By January of 1973, the legislative bills of 1972 were filed. More than 50 property owners attended the hearings on the bills. Both bills were defeated in April.

By September, the court decision on its Findings of Fact on development on the Island was rendered. In March of 1974, the findings of Fact were issued as Superior Court Orders: 750 summer homes with separate sewer systems would not significantly increase phosphorous pollution in Sebago lake. The Court also ordered that all claims against Leisure Living for alleged violations of subdivision and site selection laws be dismissed.

Discussions between FIC and Leisure Living continued during 1973 and 1974. Ideas for a successor corporation were discussed as were concerns for cost of operations, obligations, assignment of rights, and enforcement. When succession should take place was not decided.

In 1974 and into the winter of 1975, another bill was introduced into the Legislature. This bill would incorporate the Island as a Village Corporation. Now, one theme ran between the legislative efforts and the succession efforts of FIC: how could the Islanders provide services to the Island and how could the Island have an enforceable service charge to operate the Island.

In 1975 FIC became Frye Island, Inc. and the state legislature studied a bill to grant the Island self-taxing powers. At the same time that the transfer of assets from Leisure Living to the Islanders was being secured and the new corporation (Frye Island, Inc.) formed, the State Legislature was reviewing the Act To Incorporate Frye Island Municipal Services Corporation.

The Frye Island MSC was given the power by state Charter to levy a property tax all land and buildings on the Island and to levy assessments for public services as needed (i.e. ferry, rubbish, water, etc.). The MSC has the legal authority to enforce its tax collection through the lien process. The MSC has the authority to raise money through bonding. The MSC does not have the authority to write and enforce its own ordinances.

On February 12, 1976 title to all real and personal property of Leisure Living was transferred, free and clear of liens and encumbrances, to Frye Island, Inc. On March 26, 1976, the Act to Incorporate Frye Island Municipal Services Corporation passed the legislature and MSC was created. Frye Island Inc. continued to collect service fees and cottage fees until 1981 and MSC began taxing Islanders in 1982.

Between 1982 and 1984, the Island learned to self-govern itself. Between 1984 and 1988, the Island experienced unprecedented growth. Riding the development wave with the Mainland, the Island averaged 30 building permits per year. Increase use of the ferry led to more hours of operation, the use of the second boat on weekends, and the restriction of commercial traffic on High Season weekends. By April 1988, there were 306 cottages on the tax list. 43 construction permits had been issued within the past year.

In the winter of 1988, the Portland Water District implemented a unilateral freeze on the issuing of Subsurface Wastewater Permits (Septic Permits) to Island property owners. The PWD divided the Island into watersheds and allocated a certain number of septic systems to each watershed. This allocation limited the number of future cottages within each watershed and in fact closed down some watersheds to more building. Under the PWD analysis, the maximum number of cottages on the Island was set at 607. From fear of current and future mandates which had been and could be unilaterally invoked, property owners rushed to secure Septic Permits and, if possible, began building.

During the Shareholders Meeting in July, the decision to "fight" the PWD's assessment of phosphate export from the Island to Sebago Lake was made. The Island hired its own "expert" to study the PWD's phosphate analysis. At the same time, the Board entered negotiations with the PWD to resolve this issue.

Beginning 1989, the members of the two Boards began to investigate a "better" way to manage the Island. The Boards envisioned a plan where a member of one Board could be a member of the other Board; membership on the Boards would be "integrated". Each Board held its own elections, an individual could run for membership on both Boards, and there was only history to prevent an individual from serving on both Boards at the same time.

During 1989, there was discussion within each Board to develop a long range plan for the Island. A five year capital improvement program for the Island was developed. The results from the 1988 survey of the opinions of the Islanders on a proposed Marina became the catalyst for moving ahead with a Marina.

Between 1989 and 1994, many changes took place on the Island. The two Boards were successfully "integrated". FII Board members were still elected for one year terms; MSC Board members were still elected for staggered, three year terms.

The Island and the PWD reached agreement with another Court Order which put the maximum build-out back to the 750 limit. A phosphate "budget" was set up which analyzed phosphate export from the Island on an Island wide basis, not on a watershed basis. The "budget" allowed the Island its "fair share" allotment of the total phosphate increase for the entire Lake.

The five year capital improvement program was implemented and refined. A new gantry system for the Island ferry landing was built, a new public works/golf course maintenance building was built, new engines were installed in each ferry boat. A new rubbish compactor truck, a new one ton dump truck, and a four wheel drive pickup truck with snow plow were purchased. A new tractor and a fairway rough mower was purchased for the Golf course . The tennis courts at the Country Club were re-surfaced. The Country Club, itself, was renovated and turned into a recreation center and renamed the Frye Island Community Center.

A funding program for the new "marina" was initiated with annual fees charged for the use of Quail Circle. A permit for the "marina" (i.e. Boat Basin Facility ) was issued by the State DEP. The access road to the mainland ferry landing was paved. And ending a planning process which actually began in 1987, a water filtration system was installed on the Island.

During this period, Island operating procedures were updated. Computers were purchased for Island administration, finances, and the golf handicap system. The weekly FINS (the Frye Island Newsletter) became a "desk top publishing" newsletter. Ticket sales for the ferry were brought into the Administration Office with bulk sales and discount tickets for property owners in good standing; cash transactions at the ferry trailer were reduced.

A new solid waste removal system was implemented--brush was limited in size and was chipped instead of piled and buried at the brush dump; recycling bins for glass, paper, plastic and metals were made available; and weekly household waste was picked up with the new compactor truck--reducing time and energy in collection, as well as trips off-Island to the Standish Transfer Station.

A Personnel Manual and Operations Handbook for Island Administration and a Policy Manual for the Golf Course were written. An elected Golf Committee with members serving staggered terms replaced the appointed Greens Committee at the Golf Course. A Real Estate Policy for Frye Island, Inc. land management was implemented. Islanders could buy privacy lots (lots sold with Deed restrictions which prohibited building on the lot), pumpback lots (lots sold with Deed restrictions for use solely for septic fields), or to trade up lots (lots sold for cash and another lot traded in). The Policy also gave direction to the Board of Directors of Frye Island, Inc. for addressing land use values and questions.

A Recreation Program was developed at the Community Center and the schedule included the old stand-bys, Beano and the Annual Frye Island Road Race and Walk, as well as children and adult activities. The Community Center was open 60 to 80 hours per week. The season ending Labor Day Dinner Dance resumed with a sell out event in 1994. Potluck dinners were held at the Golf Course, and an annual "auction" raised money for needed items at the Golf Course.

Capital improvements on the Island occurred within the Frye Island Municipal Services Corp tax structure. Money was set aside in Reserve Funds for long term needs; operating expenses tracked inflation, except for specific project needs which were addressed on a yearly basis; and the yearly tax rate was kept constant.

With all the change and progress over the years, the three themes of the early years were still intertwined. For 1995, $5,000 was budgeted for secession activities. The Island will continue to try to introduce a secession bill into the State Legislature. Property owners on the Island continue to pay two property taxes--one to the Town of Standish and one to the Frye Island Municipal Services Corp.

The 1990 settlement with the Portland Water District was based upon the "best available estimates" and "analyses" and still subject to future investigations and changes in Sebago Lake water quality. The Island will continue to be monitored by the PWD and future growth possibly restricted by environmental issues.

Annual elections are held for each Board and these elections guarantee checks and balances on common membership on both Boards. The Island continues to prove that it can self-govern itself, both as a private corporation, Frye Island, Inc. and as a quasi-municipal organization, Frye Island Municipal Services Corp.