PEPPERRELL POST
MAY 2018
Photo of Laurel Hill Cemetery courtesy of Emily Roy
A MESSAGE FROM THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR
Dear Saco Citizens, 

On March 19, 2018, Glenys Salas, Saco's Finance Director and I presented the Fiscal Year 2019 budget to the City Council. The directive budget had no increase to the Mil Rate, in line with City Council directive. The recommended budget had a small City Mil Rate decrease of $0.09 and a School Mil Rate increase of $0.46 for a net Mil Rate increase of $0.37.

This year, the Finance team added more visualizations and graphics to enhance the budget process. You can find the budget documents here. 

Some of the highlights from this year's budget are:
  • Eliminates the strain on current City services and returns the City of Saco to a path of sustainable growth;
  • Makes more robust use of funds available in TIFs to reduce the tax burden on homeowners; and
  • Includes a 30% savings on fuel and a 50% savings on printing costs
The Council is working through their due diligence to get a completed municipal budget that provides sufficient support for Saco's Best-in-Class City Services while also keeping tax rates as low as possible. 

On May 7, 2018, the City Council held a public hearing for the proposed FY2019 municipal budget. The budget vote will take place on May 14th. The meeting will be recorded, live streamed on the City of Saco Government Facebook page, and aired on TATV. 

Want to contact the City Councilor in your ward? Click here to find their contact information. New to Saco or unsure which ward you live in? Click here to find your ward. 

Sincerely,

Kevin L. Sutherland
City Administrator 

CONSTRUCTION NOTICE
Main Street and Industrial Park Road

The Maine Department of Transportation will be overseeing the paving of Main Street and Industrial Park Road in Saco over the next few months. Public Works staff will be in close contact with the staff at Maine DOT and the paving contractor. Since these are busy traffic corridors, you can expect delays and detours. We appreciate your patience during the construction activities and apologize for any inconvenience you may experience during that time. 
CITY NEWS AND UPDATES
Beach Parking Passes

The parking passes for the Camp Ellis lot and the two parking lots at Bayview Beach are now available.

For Fiscal Year 2018, the rate is $10.00 for Saco residents and one free pass per household for residents over 62 years of age. You will need to present your car registration as proof of residency for each pass. Each pass is assigned to a vehicle and will not be able to be moved from one vehicle to another.

We have non-resident parking passes available too. On weekends, the Police Department Non-resident parking passes are also available at the Police Department located at 20 Storer Street on the weekends for your convenience.

For additional information, please call the Finance Department at (207)282-1032. 
Saco Rec Summer Camp

PreK-8th Grade Summer Camp Registration is open now through June 15th, 2018!  This summer, our K-8 camps will run from June 25th-August 24th. We also offer a Sandbox summer camp morning program for children ages 3-5.
 
Here is our Summer Camp 2018 enrollment process:
The Waters at Saco Island

Saulnier Development has begun the planning board review process for the project, the Waters at Saco Island.  A mixed-use development designed to embrace the spectacular riverside location, the Waters at Saco Island will feature a boutique hotel, marinas, residential condominiums, and a planned continuation of the historic RiverWalk, allowing residents and visitors access to the wonderful scenic views along the Saco River.

Saulnier Development has launched a project feedback page on CoUrbanize.com. 
UPCOMING EVENTS AND MEETINGS

Check out the Community Calendar for upcoming meetings and events. 
State and Local Impacts of Historic Preservation
featuring Caleb Johnson


May 10th 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM 
Saco City Hall Auditorium
300 Main Street

Visit  www.sacomaine.org/HPC for more information about Saco's Historical Preservation Commission and the historic lecture series. 
Rank Choice Voting Information Session

May 14 from 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
McArthur Public Library
270 Main Street, Biddeford

Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap will make four stops across the state during the month of May to provide information to voters regarding the new ranked-choice voting method that will be used in the June 12 Primary Election. Secretary Dunlap will visit Biddeford on Monday, May 14th, 4-6 PM at McArthur Public Library, 270 Main Street https://www.mcarthurlibrary.org

For those who are unable to attend, Secretary Dunlap will also offer the presentation and question-and-answer session via Facebook LIVE on Thursday, May 24 at 6 p.m., on the Maine Department of the Secretary of State Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/MaineSOS/
Saco Community Bike Rodeo

May 19 - 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Saco Public Works, 351 North Street

Camp Ellis Community Meeting 

May 23 at 6:00 PM
Saco City Hall Auditorium 

The City has worked closely with our federal delegates to apply pressure on the Army Corps of Engineers and at this point Headquarters has instructed the regional office to submit a revised project that meets the authorized amount by May 15th. 
 
Recognizing the Army Corps' May 15th deadline for re-submission, the City will host a community meeting on Wednesday, May 23rd to provide updates regarding the status of the Section 111 project and the strategy moving forward. All are welcome and encouraged to attend. 
Bark in the Park -  A K9 Celebration

June 2, 2018
10:00 AM - 2:00 PM 
Saco Dog Park, 10 Park Avenue 
 

Upcoming Committee Meetings

Planning Board Meetings
May 1 and May 15 at 5:00 PM
City Hall Conference Room 

City Council Meetings and Workshops
May 7, 14, and 21 at 6:30 PM
City Council Chambers 

Coastal Waters Commission Meeting
May 8 at 7:00 PM 
Transportation Center Conference Room

School Board Meetings
May 2, May 16, and May 30 at 7:00 PM
Saco City Hall 

Traffic Safety Committee 
May 10 at 6:30 PM
Fire Department Conference Room

Conservation Commission Meeting
May 21 at 5:30 PM
City Hall Conference Room

Historic Preservation Commission 
May 23 at 4:00 PM
City Hall Conference Room

Energy and Sustainability Committee Meeting
May 29 at 10:45 AM
City Hall Conference Room 
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Saco's employees take on an extremely important role in providing quality government services to the members of our community. We take pride in our reputation for providing excellent customer service and delivering services to the public both effectively and efficiently. Municipal jobs are some of the most satisfying and rewarding work anyone could choose to do.

We have included a few of our current openings below:
(click on the position title to see the job description)
City Planner - Planning and Development Department
Assessor - Cities of Biddeford and Saco
General Superintendent - Public Works Department
Truck Driver / Parks Maintenance - Public Works and Parks Departments
EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT
 
Dick is pictured here with the President's Award from the ICC. 
Name: Richard Lambert

Title: Director of Code Enforcement

What he does to help Saco : Dick has been a Code Enforcement professional for over 30 years. He oversees the Code Enforcement staff to issue permits, ensure compliance, and enforce the city's code of ordinances. He is the staff liaison to the Zoning Board of Appeals and he also serves on the International Code Council (ICC). The ICC recently recognized Dick with the John H. Flanigan, JR President's Award for outstanding service and dedication. 

More about Dick:  Dick and his wife Karyn have three sons: Jonathan, Joseph, and Daniel. In his free time,  Dick is actively involved with the Boy Scouts of America organization and has even been awarded the prestigious Silver Beaver Award. 

Have a question for Dick? Send him an email. 

City of Saco | (207)282-4191 | [email protected] | www.SacoMaine.org
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