The Pepperrell Post
City of Saco Newsletter
March 2020
City Administrator's Message
Each city department has been working diligently to develop budgets to maintain existing service levels. We call this the Maintenance of Effort budget. Based on City Council goals, growth, community needs, or new regulations from the State or Federal Government, departments might need to modify their budget to accommodate service enhancements, which are submitted to my office for consideration as part of the budget process. I must assess many different factors to prioritize these requests and determine which ones to include in my recommended budget.

The Finance Director and I will be presenting the recommended budget for Fiscal Year 2021 on March 23, 2020. In the month of April, city departments will present their individual budgets. All of these meetings will be aired on channel 1301, streamed live on Facebook , and added to our YouTube channel .

For more information about our budget process and to see important dates, please visit www.sacomaine.org/budget . We will update this page regularly with new information.   

Always consider my door open to hear any questions or concerns, and I will do my best to help.

--Bryan Kaenrath, City Administrator
News & Updates
Information from the CDC on COVID-19
We have a public health page on the city website that we will update with information from the Center for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC). City staff will continue to monitor COVID-19 and communicate with state and federal agencies. Please visit the CDC website for the most up-to-date information.
 
At a Press Conference on March 12, 2020, Governor Mills recommended reducing the interaction of large groups of people to help delay an outbreak as well as substantially reduce its spread. Doing so will also reduce the strain on our health care system so that it can respond effectively to people diagnosed with the virus as well as other patients. The Governor will re-evaluate this recommendation two weeks from now and adjust it based on the circumstances and up-to-date guidance from the U.S. CDC and Maine CDC guidance.

Due to Governor Mills' recommendations regarding the postponement of all large non-essential social gatherings, we are taking precautionary measures and have made the decision to cancel Friday’s SENIORity Breakfast and Saturday’s Annual Spring Dinner Dance. Additionally, the Fire Department's Annual Open House scheduled for April 11th has also been cancelled. Additional events may be impacted by this recommendation. We will re-evaluate and redefine our event procedures over the next few weeks.

The best preventive measures for all infectious diseases include washing hands thoroughly with soap and water, covering your mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing, and staying home when you feel sick (without the use of fever-reducing medication).

The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC) and 211 Maine announced today a new option for Mainers to get answers to questions about the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) at any time. This service is available by dialing 211 (or 1-866-811-5695), texting your ZIP code to 898-211, or emailing  info@211maine.org

Please visit the CDC website for the most up-to-date information using this link  https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

Meet Saco's Mayor and City Council
Did you know that there are seven wards in Saco?

Each ward is unique in its composition and geography, and a City Councilor was elected to represent each of these diverse communities.

Watch this video to meet Saco's Mayor and seven City Councilors. This tour through Saco's seven wards showcases our rural and urban areas, nature and industry, beaches and woods, and lets you connect with the elected officials.

For more information, including how to contact your City Councilor, click on the button.
Got a Minute?
We're timing out for clockwork
The Facilities Division of the Public Works Department will be replacing a 28-year-old motor in the City Hall clock mechanism in the next few weeks. Unfortunately, you can’t easily find a motor for a clock that was made in the late 1800s and later electrified. So, until the motor is replaced, you may notice the time is stalled at 12:00.

Want to learn more history about Saco? Click the button below.
Saco Election Results
Election results from the Super Tuesday Presidential Primary & Special Referendum Election are in. Want to know how Saco voted?*

Joe Biden placed first in Saco’s Democratic Primary with 1,178 votes (33.9%), followed closely by Bernie Sanders with 1,111 (32.0%) and trailed by Michael Bloomberg and Elizabeth Warren with 484 votes (13.9%) and 459 votes (13.2%) respectively. The rest of the candidates received less than 92 votes (<2.7%) each. President Donald Trump received 987 votes in the uncontested Republican Primary, while 249 ballots were left blank.

Question 1 asked, “Do you want to reject the new law that removes religious and philosophical exemptions to requiring immunizations against certain communicable diseases for students to attend schools and colleges and for employees of nursery schools and health care facilities?” A “Yes” vote rejects the new law and maintains religious and philosophical exemptions to immunization requirements, while a “No” vote approves the new law, which removes religious and philosophical exemptions to immunization requirements.

4,594 voters, or 81.4%, voted “No” while 1,028, or 18.2%, voted “Yes.” 21 ballots were left blank.

Voter turnout can’t be precisely calculated for the two primary elections at this time because of same-day registration and change in party affiliation from unenrolled into one of the Primary parties. With that said, 5,643 ballots were cast in the referendum out of 15,559 registered voters in Saco for an estimated turnout rate of 36.3%.

The next 2020 election in Saco will be on June 9. Then, voters can go to the polls for the State Primary Election, School Budget Validation Referendum Election, and Ward 1 School Board Seat Election. For more information on future elections, visit the City Clerk online at sacomaine.org/cityclerk

*Election results are unofficial at this time and awaiting certification.
Walking and Biking in Saco Focus of
New Committee
On January 13, the Council voted unanimously to create the Saco Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC). As found in its mission statement, the group’s purpose is “…to support and encourage a bicycle and walking friendly community, which provides for safe, convenient, and enjoyable active transportation for all ages and abilities.”

The Saco Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee meets monthly on the first Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m., in the auditorium at City Hall. All are welcome and new members are encouraged. If you like what you see and hear at a meeting, complete the Volunteer application on the City’s website and submit for consideration by the City Council. Click on the button to learn more.
The Parks Division in Action
The  Saco Parks & Recreation Department 's forestry bucket truck was added to the fleet at the start of the year after being approved as part of last year’s budget process. The department has already put more than 80 hours on the truck, removing trees for maintenance and aiding in emergency response during this winter’s ice storm.

There are more than a million trees on city property and easements that the city is currently responsible for and Saco has been a Tree City USA in the state of Maine for the past 9 years. In 2018, the City of Saco also received a national Tree City distinction from Senator Angus King.

In the two years before the truck was added to the fleet, the department had to put 56 trees on the tree removal list to be contracted out as they did not have adequate in-house equipment. They pruned and removed hazardous limbs, known as "deadwood," for over 150 trees in fiscal year 2019.
School Board Nomination Papers Available for June Election
Nomination papers are available for the Ward 1 and Ward 3 School Board seats. There will be a "Special Election" on June 9, 2020, to fill the vacant Ward 1 and Ward 3 School Board seats.

Term of Office will be to fill the unexpired term of December 6, 2021. To qualify, you need to be a resident of the ward in which you are seeking a seat. You are required to submit 35 signatures of qualified voters from that ward for your name to be placed on the ballot. Please note the filing deadline of April 10, 2020, at 4 p.m.

Visit the City Clerks web page for more information.
Civic Engagement in the Classroom
City staff from a wide range of departments participated in the  Saco Middle School career fair day on Feb. 14, including the  Saco Police Department Saco Parks & Recreation Department , Communications, Planning & Development, Saco Fire Department, and Mayor William Doyle.

We had a great time explaining what we do and answering thoughtful questions from the students. The city currently has several open positions in a range of departments, including Parks & Recreations, Police Department, City Clerk Department, and Finance.

Visit  sacomaine.org/careers  for more information.
Public Works Sewer Inspections
Shared tool increases efficiency
Did you know that the Saco Public Works Department conducts sewer inspections? The sewer line rapid assessment tool uses acoustic waves to measure the time it takes to travel from one device to another. This tool provides a numeric score of the sewer line, which assists Public Works with the prioritization of sewer inspections and the repair and replacement of sewer infrastructure.

Saco shares a sewer camera van with Biddeford and Old Orchard Beach, which houses the sewer inspection equipment that is used by a sewer camera operator. The use of the rapid assessment tool enables efficient assessments, enhanced mapping capabilities for utility management, and helps prioritize the schedule for the camera operator serving the three communities.
Upcoming Events
Storytime at the Scoop, March 14
We’re excited to invite you to this weekend’s Story Time at The Scoop! Public Safety Dispatcher Holly Philbrick and Saco Fire Department Lieutenant Karl Finley will read children’s books, answer questions, and... probably eat some ice cream, too.

Reading aloud to children is one of the most cost-effective and beneficial ways to build their literacy abilities. We are proud to have this opportunity to engage with the youngest in our community and aid in their learning.

Relationship-building with local children is important for us in the first responder community. In the event of an emergency, it can be helpful if a child has previously met police, firefighters, or paramedics in non-emergency situations.

Join us this Saturday from 2-3 p.m. at The Saco Scoop, 209 Main Street.
Maine Bicentennial, March 15
Maine became independent of Massachusetts on March 15, 1820. As the state celebrates our bicentennial year, various organizations around Saco have planned events to join in the commemoration.

We have launched a page on our website that will be updated on an ongoing basis. Would you like your event listed here? For consideration, contact Andrew Dickinson at  adickinson@sacomaine.org  or (207) 282-4191 ext. 336.
Recycling Tip of the Month
Compost comes to Saco!

Saco has a goal to recycle 30% of its waste by 2021 through composting, reuse, recycling, and purposeful purchasing. Diverting food waste from the municipal solid waste stream is one of the most effective ways to achieve this goal. On average, up to a third of household waste consists of food scraps. Rather than going down the disposal or being sent to a landfill, this food waste can be converted to compost. In December, the City partnered with Garbage to Garden out of Portland, Maine, to offer a compost drop off, located at the Parks & Rec building on Franklin St. 
Satellite Public Safety Facility
The City of Saco is committed to ensuring that all community members have access to high-level, high-quality public safety services.

The need for a fire station along the Route 1 North corridor was first identified in the 1999 Saco Comprehensive Plan. Growth and density drive increased calls for service for Fire, EMS, and Police. It is important to incorporate all public safety services in one facility located closer to these fast-growing areas to able to effectively address the need. A proposed satellite public safety facility in the Cascade Road/Flag Pond Road area has been to presented to the City Council. A Satellite Public Safety Facility is intended to: Reduce distance traveled and response times for emergency responders; Maintain and improve the city’s Public Protection Classification as determined by the Insurance Services Office (ISO); and Strengthen the City of Saco’s commitment to Public Safety for all community members.

The City Council discussed the proposed project and the recommended bond question at their meeting on March 9, 2020. You can view the presentation and information about the project by visiting www.sacomaine.org/fire and clicking on Satellite Public Safety Facility.

The Public Hearing for the City Council to determine when the community will see this as a bond referendum is scheduled for March 23, 2020. If you have any questions about the project, please call Chief John Duross at (207)282-3244.
Saco in the News
Enough from us. We've rounded up some of what other people have had to say about Saco this month:
We are always looking for ways to improve communication with our community members. As always, if there is anything we can do to better communicate information, please let us know by emailing ERoy@sacomaine.org. Be sure to check out our Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube pages using the buttons below. You can also see news and updates on the City of Saco website at www.sacomaine.org.