In a March 22 editorial (“There’s no alternative to fixing up civic center”), the Press Herald made a case for supporting a $28 million bond to upgrade the Cumberland County Civic Center. I disagree.

While the civic center has shortcomings brought on by advancing age, there has been continual county-wide financial support to keep the roof from leaking and protect our investment in the facility. What still needs to be discussed is the wisdom of making an additional $28 million investment in a facility that will remain obsolete even after the “upgrade” has been completed — a discussion that might have taken place had trustees included communities from outside greater Portland.

The task force members who studied the long-term economic feasibility of the civic center, included representatives from Portland and and the Portland Pirates, but no other municipalities had the opportunity to consider options to patching up the facility. While the renovation plan would make modest improvements, it fails to address major shortcomings, including a lack of parking, and does nothing to increase seating capacity. There needs to be a wider discussion — one that includes a plan that for a convention center and arena that is more accessible to outlying communities. That will strengthen the economies of all 27 municipalities in Cumberland County.

Later this year, the county will retire a $2.1 million annual debt payment for the county jail. Rather than looking at this as another opportunity to borrow, I suggest an investment of the same amount in a capital improvement account so that we can begin saving for the construction of a new civic center. This will allow us to save for a down payment on a new facility and provide time for a broader discussion of all the options with the taxpayers of Cumberland County.