Nomination Papers Due Friday 9/3 |
Nomination petitions are available at the City Clerk's office for the following elective offices:
City Council – Wards 1, 3, & 6 – 3 Year Terms
School Board – Wards 1, 3, 5, & 7 – 3 Year Terms
Wardens, & Ward Clerks – Wards 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, & 7 – 2 Year Terms
A candidate for nomination to one of the above elective offices shall become qualified by filing a nomination petition signed by 35 registered voters from the respective ward.
The deadline to turn in Nomination Petitions is Friday, September 3, 2021 by 4:00 PM.
|
|
|
|
City Hall Closed Labor Day, Do Business Online Instead! |
|
Saco City offices will be closed Monday, September 6, 2021, in observance of Labor Day.
You can still do business with us online, where we offer a variety of services:
- Vehicle re-registrations
- Property tax payments
- Sewer or water bill payments
- Parking ticket payments
We hope you enjoy the long weekend.
|
|
City Administrator's Open Office Hours & Mornings with the Mayor |
|
City Administrator Open Office Hours
Saco City Administrator, Bryan Kaenrath, has scheduled open office hours on September 28, 2021 from 3:30 PM to 5:00 PM at City Hall, 300 Main Street.
All community members are invited to share their thoughts, views, concerns, or complaints with the City Administrator directly.
Please call (207) 282-4191 if you have any questions or if you'd like to schedule an appointment with Bryan outside of the open office hours.
|
|
Mornings with the Mayor
The monthly Mornings with the Mayor event will continue in September, with the next session set for September 18, 2021, from 9:00 to 11:00 AM in the City Hall Council Chambers.
We hope to see you there for the event designed to increase direct engagement with Mayor William Doyle, especially for those who might prefer the in-person to the virtual.
Meetings are in City Hall Council Chambers. If you would like to schedule an individual meeting or a phone call with Mayor Doyle, please contact Executive Assistant Torie Gorman by calling 207.282.4191 or email: vgorman@sacomaine.org.
|
|
City Council Unanimously Approves Bond and Charter Amendment Questions |
|
At its August 30th meeting, the City Council voted to send a bond question and two charter amendments to the voters for the upcoming November 2nd election.
City staff are finalizing informational materials for voters that you can find posted on our website, social media, and future newsletters. But, for now, you can read the bond order and the details of the charter amendments in the City Council meeting packet from August 30th.
The Council will consider several additional charter amendments at its upcoming meeting on September 7th, which could also end up on the ballot if approved by Council.
Want to sign up to receive notification of newly-published City Council meeting agendas and packets? Enroll in e-notify on our website.
|
|
Saco Little League Send-Off |
|
Seeing the boys' smiling faces as the trolley carried them past dozens of community members lining the streets was truly heartwarming. These young athletes have made our community proud!
|
|
It was evident that the community was eager to connect with each other safely after the last year of separation. It was truly wonderful to see the community come together in such a positive way.
Not only did the PD get a valued chance to engage directly with community members, but attendees also got to meet with members of the Fire Department, Communications Department, Saco Public Works, Saco Parks & Recreation Department, the Saco Water Resource Recovery Department, and several of Saco's elected officials. Plenty of community groups were present, too, including Saco Main Street.
This event wouldn't be possible without the support of our community sponsors and participants. For 2021, this included: AAA, Aquaboggan Waterpark, AT&T, Bangor Savings Bank, Boy Scouts of America, Dyer Library/Saco Museum, ecomaine, FernLeaf Bakery and Coffee House, Funtown Splashtown USA, Girl Scouts of Maine, Hannaford Supermarkets, Maine Marine Patrol, York County Emergency Management Agency, Vessel Services, Inc., U.S. Coast Guard, Town & Country, Sugar Mama's, Saco and Biddeford Savings, Saco Valley Credit Union, Maine Operation Game Thief, Poland Spring, National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, Sam's Club, Walmart, the U.S. Coast Guard, FirstNet, the Michael T. Goulet Traumatic Brain Injury & Epilepsy Foundation, and Poland Spring Natural Spring Water.
Thank you to all.
|
|
City Staff Recognized by State Agencies |
|
We're well aware how amazing our staff is across all City of Saco departments. But, it's nice to hear it from others, too. This year, we've had two staff members recognized by state organizations in their respective fields: |
|
John Duross, Fire Chief of the Year |
|
Saco Fire Chief John Duross was named the 2020 Fire Chief of the Year by the Maine Fire Chiefs' Association!
While 2020 was undoubtedly a trying year, and we are grateful for his steadfast leadership throughout the pandemic, Chief Duross' efforts span decades. He began his career serving three years as a junior firefighter before graduating from Thornton Academy in 1980. A few months later, Saco hired Duross as a career firefighter, and he quickly rose the ranks to Captain, then Deputy Chief, and was appointed Chief in 2010. During his tenure, he has served on various boards, committees, and fire service organizations and took part in local, regional, and national efforts to improve the fire service at every level.
He was recognized with the Public Sector Award from our local rotary club in 2011, earned the Lifetime Achievement Award from the York County Fire Chiefs' Association in 2019, and in 2020 celebrated 40 years of service to the Saco community.
In 2019, Chief Duross served as President of the Maine Fire Chiefs' Association, typically a 1-year term; however, the pandemic brought the need for him to extend his service, which ended in March 2021 and makes him the longest-serving President of that organization.
We are fortunate to have a fire chief who emphasizes leadership, motivation, professional development and integrity, and service to the public and industry. Duross has accomplished this through his dedication to assuring fire service members receive quality and valuable training, the support and guidance he provides to his department and colleagues, and his commitment to the Saco community.
|
|
Amelia Meier, Young Professional of the Year |
|
All who know Amelia understand the depth of passion she has for the Saco community and the diverse ways she has improved our city. She’s organized innovative programming for all ages, implemented new eco-conscious initiatives, spearheaded the creation and operation of a free meal program during the pandemic, and much, much more.
Since this ceremony, Amelia helped to put on the recent National Night Out event, established new employee wellness opportunities, and organized several fun trips with Saco Parks & Recreation SENIORity Programs as they resume their field trips.
You’ll get a glimpse into the vast array of work Amelia has accomplished through this video. Give it a watch – then, please join us in congratulating Amelia on this noteworthy achievement in the comments! She’s made us proud, and we know she’ll continue to do so.
|
|
Summer Winds Down at Parks & Rec |
|
Saco Parks & Recreation's 2021 Summer Camp season has ended.
The staff – full-time, part-time, and seasonal alike – are truly passionate about providing an engaging environment for summer campers all day long. The campers were able to resume field trips this summer, and traveled from the beach to North Saco and beyond.
At Biddeford Middle School, the Twin City Theater Academy put on several productions with stunning light design, costuming, technical direction, and heartfelt performances.
Saco Parks & Rec doesn't slow their pace just because summer has ended, though. Follow them on Facebook and at www.sacorec.com to keep an eye out for upcoming programs:
- Saco Stars Competition Cheering
- Travel & Recreation Basketball
- SENIORity Bus Field Trips
- SENIORity Exercise Programs
- Special events
- And more!
|
|
Have You Seen the New Downtown Circulator? |
|
Ride the Silver Line and visit all your favorite Main Street businesses in Downtown Saco and Downtown Biddeford.
The new Biddeford Saco OOB Transit circulator, the Silver Line, will provide free service through Downtown Biddeford and Downtown Saco, along with frequent trips to the University of New England Campus. The route will operate along Main Street Saco/Biddeford, Lincoln Street Biddeford and Elm Street Saco, from 6:15AM to 10:15PM Monday-Saturday. Service on Sundays and holidays will run from 6:15AM to 7:50PM. This service also connects with other transit routes at the Saco Transportation Center.
The Silver Line circulator will become the most frequent route in the system, providing 2-3 trips every hour. This new route will have stops at the Saco Transportation Center, North Dam Mill, the corner of Main and Lincoln Street (Biddeford City Hall), Lincoln and Pearl Street (Parking Garage) then proceed to Saco with stops at Main and Cutts Avenue (Saco City Hall), and Main Street Saco. Trips to the University of New England, Biddeford campus will operate between the Saco Transportation Center and the UNE campus along Main Street and Pool Street in Biddeford.
This new service will make parking options easy, with direct access at the new Biddeford Pearl Street lot. The partnership of BSOOB Transit and the University of New England has made this service possible.
|
|
New Business Developments in Saco |
|
Go See Tyce BBQ Grand Opening |
|
Go See Tyce BBQ held their grand opening in August, serving up a cuisine not previously available at restaurants in town.
Check them out at 810 Portland Road, where they are open Tuesday through Saturday for lunch and dinner.
You can try the jerk chicken, oxtails, rice and peas, cabbage, plantains, and more.
Stop by the next time you're traveling through on Route 1. You won't be disappointed!
|
|
We were happy to support Maine Paint as they cut the ribbon on their new location at 35 Scammon Street last month, relocating from the Cascade Road area. We were accompanied by Saco Main Street, elected officials, and staff from Saco's Economic Development department.
Check them out next time you're shopping for groceries or swinging by Reny's!
|
|
2021 Jubilee Island Music Series Concludes |
|
The one-acre island off Water Street served as a prime stage for the inaugural Jubilee Island Music Series, which featured four outdoor concerts on consecutive Sunday evenings in midsummer.
It seemed that it was meant to be as each rainy Sunday cleared just in time.
Some things that made this series possible did not happen by chance, but through the hard work and collaboration of City staff and boards & committees.
Public Works and Code made sure electricity got to the island on time while Parks & Rec was busy coordinating with Communications, Saco Main Street, and the Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee to plan and promote the events. Later, the Arts Commission, Conservation Commission, and Parks & Rec Advisory Board got involved and each served as host for an evening of the shows, where these public bodies could truly represent the things they’re passionate about: parks, recreation, walk-ability/bike-ability, conservation, and the arts.
It also served as a way to support artists who’ve gone more than a year without a stage to play on. The outdoor and spacious environment for these small shows provided a safe atmosphere for us to enjoy music again.
Residents of the surrounding area were drawn in:
- A teenager and her family paused from making dinner when they heard the music and decided to come over.
- A person with limited mobility said they can’t make it to other concerts that are further away, and that this was the only way they could enjoy live music.
- Several nearby residents sat with heads poking out apartment windows, listening from their homes.
The most common sentence heard on the island during the music series this summer was, “I never knew this was here.” Well, now they do.
Watch the video below to see a live performance from one of the shows.
|
|
Receive E-mail Notifications for Council, Planning Board, and More Through E-Notify |
|
Would you like to hear from us more than once a month?
Sign up for e-notify to receive custom e-mail notifications on important City happenings, such as the release of new City Council and Planning Board agendas, RFPs, or updates about the ongoing Comprehensive Planning process.
|
|
The City of Saco has a variety of open positions across several departments.
We encourage you to take a look at the job opportunities currently available with the City of Saco on our Careers page. There is so much important work that goes in to keeping the City running, often behind the scenes.
If nothing is a great fit for you, consider passing the listings along to friends and family who might be looking for work.
|
|
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. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
