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Residential Revaluation Update
Emily Behn, Assessing Department
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The Residential Revaluation is underway! Currently, data collectors from KRT Appraisal are inspecting properties in the area of the map labeled "Group 2." Data collectors have Town-issued IDs and letters of introduction from the Assessor.
Inspections involve measuring the exterior of the property and walking through the interior. Data collectors will only do an interior inspection if someone is available to let them into the property. If you are not available for the initial inspection, KRT Appraisal will contact you in the spring to schedule an appointment.
The Assessing Office will send postcards to notify property owners when data collectors will be in their neighborhoods. You can also look for updates on the status of the revaluation on our
webpage
.
If you have any questions or concerns about the revaluation process, or to make sure you are receiving any property tax exemptions or assistance for which you may be eligible, please contact the Assessing Department by email or at (207) 730-4060.
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Deputy Fire Chief Announces Retirement
By: B. Michael Thurlow, Fire Chief
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After nearly 33 years of dedicated service to the citizens of Scarborough, Deputy Fire Chief Anthony (Tony) Attardo Jr., has announced that he will be retiring effective Friday January 4, 2019. After graduating from Scarborough High School Tony obtained his degree and teaching certificate and started his career as an Industrial Arts teacher first in Farmington, then at Massabesic High School in Waterboro.
In 1988 Tony joined the Scarborough Rescue Unit as a call member and that is where he caught the bug of emergency medical services and community service. Tony went back to school and obtained his Paramedic license and in December of 1988 he was hired as Scarborough's fourth full-time Paramedic. In 1989 Tony was promoted to Lieutenant, and not long after that in December of 1990 he was promoted to Captain of the Scarborough Rescue. On September 13, 1991, Tony was again promoted this time as Scarborough's first full-time Captain, working as a Paramedic and EMS Administrator. In 2001 Tony's position was reclassified to Deputy Fire Chief of Emergency Medical Services.
A lot has changed in our cozy community during Tony's tenure. When he started the town's population was around 8,000, and the department was responding to approximately 1,200 calls for service/year. Today Scarborough's population exceeds 20,000 and Tony leads an organization that runs to over 4,000 calls for service/year (nearly 12 calls/day) while supervising close to 200 full and part-time employees.
Click here for the complete article
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Resolve to be Sustainable in 2019
Jami Fitch, Sustainability Coordinator
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Happy New Year! With the changing of the calendar, we often reflect on ways we can better ourselves or the world around us. With this in mind, we have a few ideas to help you resolve to be sustainable in 2019.
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Recycle
We're lucky to have single sort recycling in Scarborough, which means recycling is EASY! But, there are many things that should not go into your recycling cart, like plastic bags, food, diapers, and cords or hoses. If you're not sure what should go in your recycling cart, check out
ecomaine's Recyclopedia
for lots of helpful information.
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BYO shopping bags
Plastic bags are the second most common type of litter in the environment (second only to cigarette butts). Bringing your own shopping bags when you head to the store is an easy way to cut down on pollution.
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Replace your light bulbs with LEDs
LED bulbs use less energy and last much longer than old-fashioned incandescent light bulbs. Thanks to
Efficiency Maine
(link: https://www.efficiencymaine.com/)
, which works with retailers throughout Maine to provide consumers with rebates or reduced price energy-efficient bulbs, LEDs often cost less than incandescent bulbs. Find reduced-cost LED bulbs
at these stores
in and around Scarborough.
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Invest in a home energy audit
An energy assessment is often the first step toward saving money by using less energy. Energy advisors perform various tests to determine the best energy savings opportunities.
Efficiency Maine
has programs to help offset the cost of a home energy audit and resources to help you find a qualified professional to do the work.
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Buy locally-grown food
Locally-grown food uses less energy to get from the field to your fork, since it's grown right in our own backyards. Scarborough is home to MANY farms, so look for local options when you're making your grocery list.
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We wish you a happy, healthy, and sustainable 2019!
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The Maine Public Utilities Commission has announced that text to 911 is now available at all 911 Public Safety Answering Points throughout Maine.
Texting 911 should only be used when making a voice call to 911 is not an option. Text-to-911 is intended primarily for use in two emergency scenarios:
1. for those individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing or speech impaired, and for those unable to make a voice call, for example during a medical emergency that renders the person incapable of speech, or
2. in the instance of a home invasion or abduction.
This is a major technology advancement, and Maine is among the first in the nation to successfully implement this important technology which takes advantage of our advanced Next Generation 9-1-1 system.
The Commission urges Mainers to keep the following in mind if they send a text to 911:
- The texting option should only be used when making a voice call to 911 is not an option. Using a phone to call 911 is still the most efficient way to get emergency help.
- Providing location information and the nature of the emergency in the first text message is imperative, since the 911 PSAPs will not receive the location of the cell phone.
- Text abbreviations or slang should never be used so that the intent of the dialogue can be as clear as possible.
- Cell phone users must be in range of a cell tower in Maine. If they are outside or near the edge of the state, the message may not reach a Maine Communications Center.
- Texts sent to 911 have the same 160-character limit as other text messages.
- No pictures, video, or other attachments can be sent with these emergency communications.
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Resolve to be a Better You at the Public Library
Tom Corbett, Systems Librarian
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It's time to start thinking about our resolutions for 2019. This is a good tradition, especially considering it's been shown that we are more likely to keep our resolutions made on New Year's Day than those made at other times of the year. What's more, the library is ready to help you keep those resolutions.
Do you want to resolve to save money? Borrowing books and videos from the library is still cheaper than buying them, even from Amazon or Netflix. The Scarborough Public Library circulates many thousands of popular bestsellers, appealing cookbooks, and imaginative children's books to your neighbors already. Resolve to join them! You can easily place holds on any new book you hear about and before you know it, you'll be getting an email or call telling you it's ready for you to pick up. It's easy, and you'll save money!
Do you want to learn a new language? The library offers free access to an excellent online language learning service called Pronunciator. You create your own account through the library's website and then learn at your own pace. By 2020 you could be speaking Swahili!
Do you want to learn a new skill? The library offers free, personalized access to an amazing learning platform called Lynda.com. Create your account through the library's website and you'll discover thousands of online lessons that will teach you everything from learning how to code, excelling at Excel, to even something less techie, like learning music theory. Think of these as the best YouTube tutorial videos you've seen, only better. They include higher video quality, more effective teachers and better organized materials. All tailored to you, through the library.
Click here for the complete article
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Commercial and Industrial Revaluation Recap
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In March of 2018 the Town of Scarborough entered into a contract with KRT Appraisal at a cost of $66,000 to complete a full commercial and industrial revaluation by August 2018. A total of 572 accounts, including tax exempt properties, were included in the revaluation.
Commercial and industrial properties include industrial, lodging, multi-unit residential, non-residential vacant land, office, recreation, retail/service, and senior care. Exempt non-residential properties such as places of worship, hospital facilities, schools, and government buildings were also included in the revaluation.
It had been well documented that commercial/industrial assessments were considerably less than fair market value. Since this class of properties was known to be low and due to the fact that there was a manageable number of properties that could be completed in time for the next tax commitment, it was determined by the Town Council that a revaluation of the commercial/industrial properties be conducted first, with the intention of completing all residential properties in the following year. Our expectations of reduced values was verified in that the 572 commercial and industrial properties saw a combined increase of $247,723,300 in value from their 2017 value to a newly assessed 2018 value, a percent change of 34.2%. The 2017 assessed value was $725,018,000 and the 2018 assessed value was $972,741,300.
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Scarborough Buy Local is Live and Vibrant!
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Scarborough Buy local hosted their Annual Meeting on December 6, 2018 at the Camp Ketcha in Scarborough. The theme of the meeting was Taste of December featuring local restaurants and delis. The meeting was a success with over 100 people attending. The participants had a chance to taste foods from many local establishments and tune in to live music by the Buy Local Band. The event also included a panel discussion of local companies such as Bite Into Maine, Casco Bay Butter, Highland Avenue Greenhouse and Nonesuch River Brewing. Buy Local plans to host this event annually encouraging more and more local businesses to be involved.
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About the Scarborough Town Newsletter
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Welcome to the official newsletter of the Town of Scarborough, Maine. Brought to you by a team of Town staff, our mission is to keep you informed about town events and activities.
Please note that the newsletter articles are intended to be brief and will often point you back to a link on the Town's Website or Facebook page. The website is the heart of the communication network within town and is the central repository for information on Town government.
Your newsletter team:
| Tody Justice, Town Clerk |
Catherine Morrison, Public Library |
| Audra Keenan, Community Services |
Sean Bushway, IT |
| Heidi McNinch, Human Resources |
Brian Longstaff, Codes & Planning |
Kelly Johnston, Scarborough Public Schools
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Michael Thurlow, Fire Department |
| Kim Sperlich, Police Department |
Ruth Porter, Finance |
| Leona Oceania, Public Works |
Larissa Crockett, Administration |
| Magdalena Slawiec, SEDCO |
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2019 Scarborough Town Council
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Peter Hayes, Chair
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Katy Foley, Vice Chair
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Shawn Babine
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Jean-Marie Caterina
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William Donovan
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Don Hamill
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Paul Johnson
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