Join us! Virtually, outdoors, at the Hub...there are a number of ways to connect with the Town of Scarborough and stay engaged. In fact, we're relying on you to let us know your thoughts on our website, participate in committee meetings, and more. Maybe you'll even see a role for yourself on the Town Council or School Board with the few seats that are open, or as a staff member with Community Services this Fall. Read on for more opportunities to get involved!

We're Hiring! If you or someone you know has experience working with children, learn more about our part-time seasonal positions with the Community Services department. Click Here for all open positions with the Town of Scarborough.

As of early August, the U.S. CDC is recommending that people in Cumberland County wear face coverings in public indoor settings. Per updated guidance, persons in counties with “substantial” or “high” levels of COVID-19 community transmission are advised to wear face coverings in public indoor settings. U.S.CDC updates information daily (Click Here to view).

There are no new restrictions effective while doing business in Town offices. We will continue to assess the State trends and follow CDC guidance as any changes occur.

August 18: Town Council Meeting (7 PM)

August 19: Ordinance Committee (4 PM)

August 24: Senior Advisory Committee (9 AM); Transportation Committee (6:30PM)

August 25: Sustainability Committee (8 AM); Finance Committee Workshop (4 PM); Scarborough Housing Alliance (6 PM)

August 26: Sanitary District Meeting (6:30 PM)

August 30: Planning Board Meeting (6:30 PM)

Visit our homepage to access upcoming committee and Town Council meeting links. Agendas are posted a few days prior and are accessible by clicking on the blue event block. Due to a new state law allowing remote meetings to continue for state and local governments, all meetings will continue to be available for remote public participation.

Click Here to view Town Calendar

How often do you use our Town website? And when you head there, is it easy to find what you're looking for? Let us know your thoughts in a NEW survey seeking feedback on our website. This will inform us as to how best we can make improvements moving forward. The survey should only take around 5 minutes to complete. Thank you!

The Public Safety Open House that was originally scheduled for this Friday August 20 is now postponed. After reviewing the latest Maine CDC guidance and monitoring the ever increasing number of COVID-19 cases, we have made this difficult decision in order to ensure the safety of our employees and the public we serve. We will continue to monitor and assess the status of COVID in our community and are hopeful to open our doors in the future.

Being a fully outdoor event, Summerfest will stay on schedule for this Friday! Join us at the High School Sports Complex on Friday, August 20 to meet local nonprofit organizations, listen to live music, grab a bite to eat, and watch fireworks! Food will be available from a variety of local food trucks, including Eighty8 Donuts, Vinny’s Concessions, Portland Twist, and PB&ME, starting at 6:00pm. Bring your chair or blanket to sit out and enjoy the live music from the band Plush from 7:00 to 9:00 pm, followed by a fireworks show at approximately 9:15 pm. Free to attend, food available for purchase.

After a year-long hiatus due to pandemic restrictions, senior programs have returned! July & August programs were announced in the Community Services summer brochure, available online or for pick-up at the Library or Community Services Hub. Activities range from walking at the park, cards at the Hub, and local field trips.

How to Register

Over the Phone: Call us at 207-730-4150 and pay by debit or credit card

In Person: Stop by the Hub at 418 Payne Road on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, or Thursdays from 10am-2pm to register and pay in person. We accept debit, credit, cash, or check in person.

E-Sports, field hockey, and our NEW pre-K Plover Program! Check out our digital Fall brochure for a look at the programs, trips, and activities being offered by Community Services in the months ahead.

Due to the ongoing, sometimes daily, changes due to COVID, this digital brochure will evolve as more information becomes available. If a program, trip, or activity appears in this brochure, that means it is ready for registration, either online, over the phone, or in person. We'll announce through the Community Services Facebook page when new programs are added, too!

Click Here to view a flip-through version of the digital brochure.

This September marks the ten-year anniversary of Scarborough limiting pesticides and herbicides on municipal properties. Since transitioning to Organic Pest Management, the Town has reduced children’s exposure to harmful chemicals and supported wildlife for sensitive species like birds and butterflies.

“I would like to thank all the original members of Citizens for a Green Scarborough, the Town Council, the town staff, and our PMAC [Pest Management Advisory Committee] members, past and present, for supporting our efforts,” said PMAC Co-chair Marla Zando. “A special thank you to Todd Souza, Director of Community Services, who has steered this committee and his staff toward a more sustainable, organic approach to turf management, while remaining fiscally responsible and upholding the purpose of the Pest Management Policy.”

Scarborough was in the forefront of this initiative as the seventh municipality in Maine to pass a Pest Management Policy. There are now 31 Maine municipalities with municipal pesticide ordinances. Since the Pest Management Policy passed in September 2011, all those who use Scarborough parks, playgrounds and sports fields have greatly reduced exposure to pesticides.

Mow Better Set mower blades between 3 and 4 inches. Taller grass develops stronger roots and shades out weeds. Sharpen mower blades for a clean cut. Dull blades tear grass, making it more susceptible to disease. Cut only the top 1/3 of grass blades and leave the clippings, which is free, natural fertilizer for your lawn. Mow in the early evening, after the heat of the day and vary the mowing pattern every time you mow to prevent soil compaction.

Water Wisely Lawns need 1 to 1.5 inches of water per week during the May to October growing season. Water deeply once or twice a week, depending on rainfall. Use a rain gauge to measure the amount of water from rainfall. Water between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. for it to soak into the ground before being evaporated during the heat of the day, and avoid watering at night to prevent fungal disease.

Over-seed Generously spread a mix of endophyte-enhanced fescues and perennial ryegrass seeds (look for a shady grass seed mix) all season long to reduce weeds and pests, and be sure to add seed in thin or bare spots before weeds begin to grow.

Grubs In northern New England, the best way to treat grubs naturally is by using beneficial nematodes (microscopic critters that live in the soil). For nematodes to work, carefully follow package instructions when using these living creatures. Nematodes are best applied in late July/early August when grubs are small and near the surface of the soil.

Lawn Alternatives Identify shady or wet areas not suited for growing grass. Consider replanting these areas with native ground covers, moisture-loving shrubs or shade perennials. Native plants are best suited to Maine's climate, growing season and soils. And because they have natural defenses against insects and disease, they require very little, if any, fertilizer or bug killers. They also attract beneficial pollinators like bees, butterflies and hummingbirds.

Information drawn from Cumberland County Soil & Water District, Friends of Casco Bay, University of Maine Cooperative Extension, Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association, and Northeast Organic Farmers Association. Visit their websites for more information.

I quickly learned that I represent all the residents and not just those who share my views or who voted for me. It’s been two years since that initial realization and looking back, I have learned that getting elected comes with the obligation to look beyond myself and to cultivate the qualities of collaboration and teamwork. I learned that the job of a council member is to find the balance among other members that represents the best interests of the majority of residents, while respecting the rights of all.

In order to be an effective elected representative, you must work as part of a team to establish a shared vision for the future, develop goals and plans that make that future work possible, and work with the other members and residents to enact the local policies and ordinances that ultimately lead to a better community. We followed this process during recent policy decisions, including the adoption of a comprehensive plan, growth management ordinance, zoning adjustments, and the budget. While we make the policies, the Town Manager is responsible for implementation and administration. Learning the difference between these two key functions – policymaking and administration – and respecting the boundaries between them is critical to a well-run local government.

Another takeaway from my past two years is that the time commitment is different than what I had expected. I need to be informed in order to make responsible decisions on Town Council—a process that involves a lot of research and public input. The recent policy items mentioned involved hundreds of hours in meetings and workshops, reading relevant material, and comparing similar policies in other towns to have a clearer understanding of the topic. The public input comes from residents who attend meetings and give input, as well as email exchanges and individual meetings. The resulting Council vote and decision should represent what is in the best interest of the community as a whole.

Lastly, I have learned that no matter what the topic and no matter what the result, not everyone will be pleased with the outcome. I welcome constructive criticism, as it gives specific recommendations on how to make positive improvements. Constructive criticism is clear, to the point and easy to put into action.

I look forward to my continued time on Town Council and the work we can accomplish for our community.

Scarborough Town Council

Paul Johnson, Chair • Don Hamill, Vice Chair • Jonathan Anderson • Jean-Marie Caterina • John Cloutier • Ken Johnson

Town Council meets the first and third Wednesday of each month at 7 PM (third Wednesday only in July & August). Visit our online calendar for links to attend and view agendas.

Nomination papers are now available in the Town Clerk's Office for the following seats:

Town Council (Learn More)

• Two 3-year term seats

• One 1-year term seat

School Board (Learn More)

• Three 3-year term seats

Sanitary District (Learn More)

• Two 3-year term seats

Not less than 25 and not more than 100 signatures of qualified registered voters can sign the nomination papers. All nomination papers must be returned to the Town Clerk's Office by close of business on Wednesday, September 1, 2021. If you have any questions, please contact the Town Clerk's Office at (207) 730-4020.

In the Fall 2020, the Town began issuing marijuana establishment licenses for both medical and adult use markets under the Marijuana Establishment Licensing Ordinance (Chapter 1018) adopted in January 2020. While the Town permits cultivation, manufacturing and testing facilities, it strictly prohibits retail operations within Town. Following a year of implementation, the Town Council is holding a public hearing and action on August 18, 2021 for a number of proposed ordinance changes.

The licensing process has been fairly smooth overall, and concerns from constituents mainly center around odor emitted from cultivation facilities. As a result, the Town commissioned an odor mitigation report on the Snow Canning Road facilities, two industrial buildings in the Pine Point overlay district with the highest density of cultivation operations in the Town of Scarborough.

In present form, Chapter 1018 requires an odor mitigation system for each applicant without any specifications (Section 10; 7). Two key recommendations from the report were to require license holders to install a specific odor mitigation technology (activated carbon) and with a minimum exchange rate (10 exchanges per hour). While manufacturing operations have the potential to work with odorous materials, cultivation facilities have a far higher degree of odor likelihood and potency and for that reason will be subject to more specific odor mitigation standards under the proposed changes. The draft changes propose to require the two recommendations moving forward to further mitigate odor concerns from neighbors and abutters to cultivation facilities.

Part and parcel to the odor concerns has been who to hold accountable for non-compliance, particularly in facilities with multiple operations. The proposed ordinance changes hold the property owner responsible or liable when the specific license holder cannot be reasonably identified. They also provide a process for approving de minimius changes to existing applications, as well as an administrative renewal process for applications that are otherwise deemed complete, without substantive changes to the original application, and in otherwise good standing. Draft changes can be found here (pages 84-93 of the July 21, 2021 Town Council meeting agenda packet).

The Town of Scarborough is preparing for a road improvement project along Spurwink Road on the two-mile stretch from Ocean Avenue to the Spurwink River. The proposed scope of this project includes a road realignment, improved pedestrian and bicycle amenities, and improved road surface and drainage issues. It will also address dangerous curves and intersections.

The first step is planning and design, beginning in the coming weeks. Public Works will start with a series of surveys to identify the existing right of way (ROW) along Spurwink Road. This work will begin the week of August 30 and involves a combination of survey work on the ground as well as by drone. As part of this, surveyors may enter private property by foot to measure property corners and boundary lines. Measuring on adjacent properties is often necessary to ensure that all information is considered before marking any boundary along the road. Stakes and spikes will be used to mark temporary survey control points. We ask that these markers not be removed or moved as they are vital to ensure the accuracy of the project.

Public Works plans to have the preliminary design completed by the spring of 2022, and will hold public meetings during the spring and summer of 2022. The final design will incorporate this feedback.

We are excited about these improvements to our Town! If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Public Works at pwinfo@scarboroughmaine.org or (207) 730-4400.

The Town of Scarborough is a great place to live and explore. Why not work here, too? There are currently employment opportunities available in a number of departments. Positions include:

Inaugural exhibit celebrating the Bicentennial of Maine's Statehood. Celebratory remarks will be at 2:30pm. Click Here to learn more and RSVP for the outdoor reception.

Zoom Webinar: Register Here

Zoom Webinar: Register Here

As part of the Youth Summer Reading Program, children and teens can stop by to select a free book to take home. Thanks to the generosity of the Friends of Scarborough Library and direct donations to Youth Services, there will be many donated books for children—from preschoolers to teens—on display. Each young person may choose one book to take home. Masks are required in the Library’s Youth Services area.

Monday – 9am to 5pm • Tuesday – 9am to 7pm • Wednesday – 9am to 7pm • Thursday – 9am to 7pm • Friday – 9am to 5pm • Saturday – 9am to 1pm • Sunday – Closed

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