January 15, 2021
Community News
It is an exciting time for the Town of Scarborough! We have kicked off 2021 with two new ad-hoc committees, the Comprehensive Plan is underway, and there are a number of vacancies for boards and committees to participate in. There is no better time to get involved with the Town of Scarborough. Whether it's following us on social media, pursuing an employment opportunity with us, or simply making the most of our public resources (what's on your reading list from the Public Library?), our community has something for everyone. Read on for more!
Applying to a Town board or committee has never been easier. Check out the vacancies and complete an online application form.
Town Hall remains open to the public for in-person services (masks required). Hours: Monday-Friday, 8am - 4pm; 1st & 3rd Wednesday of each month, 8am-6pm

Town Hall will be closed on Monday, January 18 in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. (No changes to trash pickup)
Ways to Engage in Your Town
Participate in a Council meeting: Learn about the key issues in Scarborough and provide public input to have your voice heard. Schedule

Refer a friend to this E-Newsletter: Do your neighbors know when there are town updates? Forward this email to keep them in the loop. Subscribe Here

Join a board or committee: If you have expertise in a particular area, please consider volunteering. We rely on our residents and the impact you can have on our town. Learn More

Attend public meetings: Follow along with the latest discussions, especially one of our new ad-hoc committee meetings on the subjects of a downtown district and charter review.
Christmas Tree Curbside Pickup
Public Works will pick up your discarded Christmas tree throughout the month. Place your tree on the curbside (only “real” trees, nothing artificial) on the same day as your trash collection, far enough from the curb so it will not get hit by a car or covered by a plow, but within reach for our crew. Please put it out on the day of your trash collection so it doesn't freeze to the ground.
Please Note: Trash & tree pick up will not be happening at the same time; Public Works is doing tree pickup separate from the Pine Tree Waste trash/recycle pickup. If it is snowing on the day you plan to put your tree out for pick up, please wait until the following week. If snowing (or otherwise dangerous road conditions) our crew will be plowing rather than picking up trees. Thank you for your patience!
Email pwinfo@scarboroughmaine.org with any questions.
Declutter, Destress—The Right Way
With the new year comes a press of the “reset” button. Start by tackling the clutter at home, and the clean streak may spark some goal-getting in other areas of your life, too. But before you go hauling everything to the garbage bin, here are some tips for starting anew with a clear environmental conscience.
Our Sustainability Coordinator always recommends finding ways to reuse items before choosing to throw them away. Sort your piles into “Give Away”, “Recycle”, and “Trash”. For items destined for disposal, it may be gratifying to recycle, but not always the correct option. We’ve noticed our Town recycling has become increasingly contaminated with trash and other items that cannot be recycled. This contamination leads to higher disposal fees for the Town.

Resolve to “Recycle Right” in 2021 to reduce this impact on you, our taxpayers! Ecomaine, our local waste management partner, offers easy-to-use resources on their website. Check out their ecomaine Recyclopedia, or download the mobile app.

Decluttering can be easy, and we're here for you as a helpful resource. Head to the Public Works page of our website for more info on overflow recycling and household trash drop-off. ‘Like’ our Facebook page for fun weekly “Which Bin Wednesday” posts about items you never knew could (or could not!) go in the recycling bin. Start 2021 off with a refreshing sigh at the sight of your clean and decluttered home.
A good rule of thumb for recycling is “If in doubt, throw it out.” If you’re unsure of which bin an item goes in, please place it in the trash.
Follow ‘Town of Scarborough’ on Facebook for weekly educational recycling posts and more.
Winter Activities for the Whole Family

The public ice rink at 20 Municipal Drive is nearly ready for use! As we wait for sustained colder temperatures, check back often for updates on the Scarborough Community Services Facebook page.
Our Community Services Department wants you to stay active and healthy this winter! Nonprofits, local businesses, and foundations are offering free or discounted access to exciting outdoor activities this winter, sponsored by L.L.Bean. Bundle up!
Fire Department Vaccination Update
Last week, we completed our portion of the assigned mission of vaccinating the first level of first responders. Under the directive of the CDC, we were tasked with a third of Cumberland County in this first phase. Because of the commitment of our voluntary vaccination crews, we were able to deliver 240 doses to our Police, 911 Dispatchers, and Fire/EMS colleagues in the following communities: Cape Elizabeth, Scarborough, Falmouth, Cumberland, North Yarmouth, Pownal, New Gloucester, Gray, Yarmouth, Chebeague Island, and Westbrook.

Unfortunately we have not been allocated vaccine supplies or the authorization to provide vaccinations for other professional groups or the general public. Those matters should be directed to the Maine CDC. Thank you!
If you have any questions about for our fire department please contact Fire Chief Mike Thurlow by email or phone, 730-4201.
We're Hiring!
We're currently accepting applications for a Full Time Paramedic/EMT Firefighter to join our team. We respond to over 4,100 calls for service annually providing advanced life support EMS treatment & transport as well as full-service fire suppression, marine and technical rescue services to the citizens and visitors to our community. Application deadline 1/24.
Employment Opportunities: Work for the Town
Our town is not only a great place to live, but also a great place to work! We recently added new open positions in a number of fields, many closing by the end of the month. Visit our Employment page to learn more and apply.
License Your Dog Before January 31st
There are just two weeks left of the month, the deadline to re-license your dog. Dogs 6 months & older are required by State law to be licensed in their municipality. They are valid for one year and expire on December 31st.

License Fees:
$6.00 per year for spayed/neutered dogs
$11.00 per year for dogs not spayed/neutered

Any dog license renewed after January 31st will be subject to a $25.00 late fee.
Did you hear? Now's the time to renew!
Town Council Corner: New Ad-Hoc Committees
By Councilor Jon Anderson
2021 is starting off to be a very exciting year! We recently kicked off the Downtown Development and Charter Review Ad-Hoc Committees. Both are open to the public and encourage engagement. Track committee progress and submit your questions on the Downtown and Charter committee pages, and see the town calendar for meeting times, links, and agendas.
Meeting Details
The Downtown Development Ad-Hoc Committee will meet on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month at 6:30 PM. The Charter Review Ad-Hoc Committee will meet on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month at 6:30 PM (and as needed, to be determined). All meetings will be recorded and made available via YouTube. If you have trouble finding information, the Town Clerk is a great resource.

About the Committees
Downtown Committee
The Downtown Committee, established as a result of the Credit Enhancement Agreement (CEA) with the Downs development, is an exciting opportunity for the community to shape what the heart of our community will look like for decades to come. The committee is charged with partnering with the Downs to develop a schematic design and conceptual layout of a new Downtown District. This includes the area within the Downs identified for a downtown, but will also consider surrounding areas, including Oak Hill, to maximize the synergy within the entire district. Along with the layout design, the committee will submit financial forecasting information for future funding consideration to the Town Council by June 1, 2021. We’d like to thank and recognize Travis Kennedy for stepping up to serve as chair for this committee.

Charter Review Committee
The Charter Review Committee is charged with reviewing and making recommendations to the Town Charter, as required every ten years. The charter sets forth the powers, rules and principles for how we govern. The committee will provide recommendations and amendments to the charter for Town Council consideration by March 31, 2021. Any approved amendments will be approved via referendum by the community. Thank you to Nick McGee for stepping up to serve as chair.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Scarborough Town Council.
Scarborough Town Council
Paul Johnson, Chair • Don Hamill, Vice Chair • Jonathan Anderson • Jean-Marie Caterina John CloutierBetsy GleysteenKen Johnson
Town Council meets the first and third Wednesday of each month at 7 PM. Visit our online calendar for links to attend and view agendas.
Where Are We Now? Comprehensive Plan Update
The Long Range Planning Committee (LRPC) recently held a number of public forums and workshops for input on the Comprehensive Plan, aimed to be finalized in 2021. Thank you to all who provided feedback and comments through the public meetings and written correspondence. The Committee heard you and is now working to review and discuss the comments and incorporate many of the suggestions into a revised document. Some of the main elements we heard were:

  • Clarifying the nexus of this Plan and the 2006 Plan 
  • Differentiating the vision for the town's distinct neighborhoods, villages, and growth areas
  • Ensuring the data analysis is refined and updated
  • Identifying the town's growth management tools 
Visit the Comprehensive Plan page on the Town website to review the current version of the Plan, view the recordings of the public forums and stay informed on this ongoing process.
These are just some of the items that were heard and are being discussed. Over the next several weeks, the LRPC will continue revising the Plan prior to making their final recommendation to the Town Council. The draft will be available when the Committee's work has concluded; however, for those who are interested in following the process, the Committee's meetings are open for all to view. Town Council has indicated a desire for continued public participation, so stay tuned for updates.
Accepting Applications: Join a Town Board/Committee
Do you have an interest in a particular Town issue? The Town of Scarborough appoints members to several standing committees and additional shorter term committees to work on specific issues. Please consider volunteering! Serving on a committee is a wonderful way to learn more about our community, meet our neighbors, and contribute to our town’s success.

Current Vacancies
Board of Assessment Review: Reviews appeals from decisions of the Assessor regarding applications for abatement of property taxes. Learn More

Coastal Waters and Harbor Committee: Establishes regulations for marine activities within harbors, waterways and tidal waters. Learn More

Community Services & Recreation Advisory Board: Advises on matters pertaining to the planning, developing, financing, and implementation of recreational programs and facilities. Learn More

Conservation Commission: Increase awareness of the value of our natural resources, identify and reduce potential damage to natural areas and encourage sustainable stewardship. Learn More
Parks and Conservation Land Board: Develop a written Acquisition Evaluation Process (AEP) and evaluate potential land acquisitions for recommendation to Town Council. Learn More

Personnel Appeals Board: Meets when an officer or town employee has been removed/suspended and that employee requests an appeal. Learn More

Pest Management Committee: Develops and oversees an organic pest management program, and advises the Town Manager of amendments. Learn More

Senior Advisory Board: Discusses the planning, development, and implementation of senior programs. Learn More

Transportation Committee: Studies transportation issues and initiatives and makes recommendations improvements. Learn More
Click Here to learn more and access the online application.
Join the Board of Education's New Committee
The Board of Education seeks applicants for their Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, with an application deadline of Wednesday, January 20. The goal is to form a committee that will advocate for our diverse district, including but not limited to, socioeconomic status, race, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national origin and disability status. Prior experience and/or expertise is not a requirement for participation. Please consider applying for this committee and helping our district identify strengths and areas for improvement.
Public Library Open for Curbside Service
The Scarborough Public Library is open for curbside pickup only. It's easy! Here's how to use it:

  1. Request materials by phone or email
  2. Wait to be notified for pickup
  3. When you arrive, call or text your name to (207) 883-4723 option 2 
  4. Staff will bring out requested materials

Computer Lab is still available: Call 396-6271 for 30-minute appointment (includes fax, scan, copy, & print services). Masks required.
Library Hours
Monday 10am-5pm • Tuesday 10am-5pm • Wednesday 10am-6pm • Thursday 10am-5pm • Friday 10am-5pm • Saturday 10am-2pm • Sunday Closed
Stay Connected
Click on the calendar event to view Town Council meeting Zoom links
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About Our Newsletter
Our mission is to keep you informed about town events and activities.
Your Newsletter Team
Tody Justice, Town Clerk Lucy Norvell, Public Library • Jill Deering, Community Services Donald Begin, IT Magdalena Slawiec, SEDCO Brian Longstaff, Codes & Planning Kelly Johnston, Scarborough Public Schools Michael Thurlow, Fire Department Kim Sperlich, Police Department Ruth Porter, Finance Leona Oceania, Public Works Allison Carrier, Communications

Please note our website is the central repository for information on Town government. 
If you have ideas for stories, please email us!