The Wells Connector
Connecting local government to the people we serve!
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Forum on Increase in Crime in Wells
Join us tonight, March 1, at 7:00 pm, at the Town Hall to learn share your thoughts and hear answers to your questions about the rise in crime and the Town's response.

You can read the Q&A from a previous Select Board meeting on this topic on our website. Questions will be taken from people attending the forum as well as being accepted online until 4:00 pm today. All questions received will be answered in writing and posted to the website.
The Town of Wells Needs You!

Are you interested in being part of the democratic process?
Do you want to join a great group of people that make voting possible?

Join our election workers team!

Election workers:
Prior to Election Day:
• Prepare & receive absentee ballots
On Election Day:
• Greet people at polls
• Assist with the processing of Absentee Ballots
• Supervise incoming list
• Handing out appropriate ballots
• Supervise voting machines
• Help with counting ballots & Tally time

More information is available at the Town Clerk's office or on the Town's website.
Assessing Department
Keeley Lambert, Assessor
The April 1st date is fast approaching. All Homestead, Veterans and Blind exemption forms are due in our office by then. Please see the State of Maine Revenue Service website for copies of these documents. Also please make sure your address is up to date in our system. You can do this by calling our office or by going online to the Town's WebGIS site and type in your property address.

We are out in the field doing our spring pick up to get ready for the tax bills that will be coming out in the fall. The vehicle we drive is a blue Nissan leaf. It is an all-electric vehicle and we do feel very privileged to have this as our assessing vehicle. We do this every year and make various changes because of building permits that are pulled or just by visually checking homes in town. Please also check your tax card online and make sure all the information we have is correct. This is very important. Your tax bill is often the largest bill you will get all year and our homes and vacation homes hold a special place in our hearts and we really want the information to be as correct as possible. 
Parks & Recreation Department
Tina LeBlanc, Director of Parks & Recreation
With the fluctuating temperatures into the high 60’s and abrupt stormy weather right after it’s been a bit challenging navigating outside activities for everyone. We had a great skating rink at the start of the month and shortly thereafter we had an open pond again! We had people enjoying the park snowshoeing and skiing and the next week we had local teenagers shooting hoops and children playing in the playgrounds and in the fields! What a roller coaster it has been but who doesn’t like roller coasters! We do live in Maine and should know better then to think the weather will stay consistent. 

It's great to see people outside enjoying themselves. We are gearing up for our spring and summer programs and are looking forward to large gatherings again. Please go to our website to sign up for Spring programs. We are currently taking registrations for Lacrosse clinics for Grades 2-6, Lacrosse leagues for Grades 3-6, Track, Running club, Biking club, and GGleagues Esports Gamming. 

The latest projects that we are currently focused on are replacing some playground pieces at the Walter Marsh Recreation Area and designing a playground to be installed at the Wells Activity Center. With all the complications with manufacturing and shipping we anticipate a Fall installation process. 

We have teamed up with Apparel Impact and will have a clothes & shoes bins located at the Activity Center and the Walter Marsh Recreation Park on Rte 9A in April.  It’s time for Spring cleaning so clean out those closets this Spring and please bring your donation of clothes and shoes to our bins because Apparel Impact will donate back .03 cents for every pound we take in toward our playground projects! 
Public Works Department
Carol Murray, Director of Public Works
Next Wednesday, March 9th, Shaw Brothers, the contractor working for Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority (NEPRA) will begin tree clearing along the rail corridor where a second track will be constructed. This is all on the railroad right of way, but might be a visible change to the tree line. 

Next starts the earthwork needed to make the second track location level, which means hauling material in (fills) and hauling material out (cuts). This work will require hauling material over Town of Wells roads, many of which are currently posted to keep heavy loads (over 23,00 lbs) off the road until spring thaw is complete. If the load restrictions are removed by April 1, then Shaw Brothers will begin the earthwork that week. However, if the spring thaw restrictions have to extend longer dues to weather conditions, their work will be delayed. 

There is a lot of material to be moved and the earthwork operations are expected to last through July. By October it is anticipated that welded rail will start to be installed. 
Department of Code Enforcement
Jodine Adams, Director of Code Enforcement
Do you have clear, easy to see numbers on your home to identify your address in an emergency?

When you are in distress and our first responders need to ask questions, you may be frustrated and scared for yourself or a family member, feeling we are wasting time. Rest assured that emergency services are headed towards you. But sometimes what you feel is simple to find may be because you are more familiar with your neighborhood and surroundings then we are. Sometimes the emergency is not visible from the outside of the building, especially medical emergencies and you may not be able to come out and flag us down.
 
The Wells Code §201-4 requires that all buildings be numbered. This is so that in an emergency Fire, Police, Ambulance or another emergency services can find you. The Code Enforcement Office is required to insure your house/property is visible numbered from the street. 
 
The Code requires that the numbers be displayed near or upon the front door and be clearly visible from the road. All numbers shall be in Arabic letters no less than 3 inches in height and a minimum of a half inch stroke and shall contrast in color with the building or background to which they are attached.
 
Houses or buildings that are set back and not visible from the road shall post a sign at the driveway entrance upon which shall be affixed the specific numbers in accordance with the numbering policy.
 
Please call us is you have any questions or would like our expertise as to where it would be best to affix the number identifying your property if your house number cannot be seen from the street.
Finance Department
Jodie Sanborn, Finance Director
What is excise tax? Excise tax is one of the major sources of revenue collected by the department. It is an annual local town tax that is paid to the community where the vehicle resides for over six (6) months of the year. Except for a few statutory exemptions, all vehicles registered in the State of Maine are subject to excise tax.  Registrants must always come to Town Hall first to pay their excise tax. They then have the option to register the vehicle at Town Hall or to go to a Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) branch to complete the registration.
 
The same excise tax calculation formula is used by all municipalities in Maine so that everyone that owns the same year, make, model and vehicle with similar upgrades or options will all pay the same excise tax. Excise tax is computed using the Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) for the year the vehicle was produced less destination multiplied by the tax rate.  The tax rates for all vehicles start at the year of production and then decrease for the next five years. A vehicle reaches the lowest excise tax rate once it is 6 years of age or older from the production year. When looking to purchase a new or used vehicle remember that you can call the office to get an estimated excise tax amount.
 
The department would also like to welcome Shannon Chisholm who has accepted the position as HR Generalist. Shannon has spent the past week becoming acquainted with her tasks within the department and visiting with staff throughout the Town.  
Community Partners
Need a reason to get out of the house, make new friends AND support a great cause? Join us in celebrating St. Patrick's Day on Wednesday, March 16th. This event will be hosted by the owners of "For The Love of Food and Drink" which is located at 411 Post Road (their newest location).

This is a catered event with a cash bar and all proceeds will benefit the "We Are Wells" Fund which provides financial assistance for families in need within the Town of Wells. This is a ticketed event and the cost is $15.

Don't delay as tickets are limited! Hope to see many of you there.
208 Sanford Road
Wells, ME 04090
207-646-5113