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Town of Scarborough Newsletter | |
The days may be colder this time of year, but planning for community projects, council goals, and the budget is just warming up! Many of the stories below show examples of collaboration—what can be accomplished when departments, Town Council, and external organizations work together with public input and involvement. Some of these efforts address immediate needs, like the upcoming fuel rally to keep our neighbors warm. Others are a forward-thinking, multi-step process with several stakeholders, like the school building project. Read on for details of what's ahead and how you can be involved. | |
Take a look at our Town Calendar for upcoming meetings. Links to participate remotely or view agendas are posted to the calendar as the meeting date nears. | |
Wetland Setbacks Ordinance Passed
A Wetland Setbacks Ordinance passed 5-2 during the January 22nd Town Council meeting. This adds wetland standards to the Zoning Ordinance in an effort to enhance protections to wetlands that are not currently protected through the Shoreland Zoning Ordinance regulations. It requires a wetland buffer of at least 25-feet for any new development or subdivision. Learn More
Federal RAISE Grant
The Town Council passed a resolution in their January 22nd meeting to authorize a US Department of Transportation RAISE grant to improve the Payne Road corridor. The grant application is being submitted by M&R Holdings, the developer of the Downs, for $22.5 million and requiring a 20% local match ($4 million). It would transform the corridor into a modern 4-lane, multi-modal street with bike lanes, a multi-use path, accommodations for transit expansion, and a new bridge with a surface width to safely accommodate these modes of travel and be resilient to potential Nonesuch Rive flooding. The Town Council supported this grant submission as part of its greater efforts to improve traffic flow and safety long term. Learn More
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Upcoming for the Town Council | |
Goals Discussion & Adoption
The Town Council met last week for a goal-setting session and narrowed their focus for the year to five goals. They will be shared and discussed in their February 5th Town Council meeting, followed by a vote and adoption in the February 19th meeting. Learn more in Councilor Sither's Council Corner article below.
Beach Fee Proposed Changes
As previously noted in recent newsletters, the Town Council will consider recommendations from the Community Services Advisory Board (CSAB) to change some beach fees, which were last amended in 2017. The first reading is now scheduled for the February 5th Town Council meeting.
Proposed changes include an increase in price for the non-resident pass ($150 to $180), limiting the number of non-resident passes to 425 (currently no limit), and changing the daily parking rate to a flat rate of $20. There are no proposed changes for the resident season pass, additional vehicle, and resident senior pass.
MDOT Grant Application
Read on to a section below about a significant federal grant application being submitted by the Maine Department of Transportation (MDOT) to build a bridge over the section of Route 1 that crosses the marsh. The Town Council will review this and vote on a resolution to support the application in their February 5th meeting.
Open Space Plan Workshop
Over the past eight months, an Ad Hoc Open Space Committee and staff have worked with consultants to develop an Open Space Plan. A draft was recently published and outlines priorities and strategies to increase open space in Scarborough. The Town Council will hold a workshop on February 19 to learn more.
Municipal Budget
The municipal budget is presented, reviewed, and approved by the Town Council each spring from March-June. The school budget process follows a similar timeline, starting earlier in March and concluding with voter approval in the June election. The FY2026 budget will be largely driven by council goals and continuing to maintain quality service to the community. The proposed municipal budget will be presented by the Town Manager at the end of March.
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You May Have Noticed...
If you ever look at the Town Council meeting agendas on our website, you may have noticed an upgraded format. We've migrated to a system called BoardDocs to store agendas in a secure and more functional capacity. Its search function is especially useful and is an efficient way to look back at the history of certain issues. Use the "Featured" tab to view recent and upcoming meetings, then "View the Agenda". Each agenda item is listed on the left-hand column and includes supporting materials with it. We hope this provides easier access to detailed information and demonstrates our continued efforts for transparency.
Agendas on BoardDocs
Town Council
Appointments and Negotiations
Communications
Finance
Ordinance
Rules and Policies
Planning Board
Zoning Board
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Sign Up for CodeRED Alerts
Opt-in only notification system
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Sign up for our Town's CodeRED computer alert system for emergency alerts. We occasionally send out an alert for criminal activity, severe weather, road closures, evacuations, and missing persons, but only those who are signed up receive these alerts. It's free and secure to sign up for cell phone alerts. Select how to receive alerts: text, phone call and/or email. | |
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MDOT Applies for Grant for Route 1 Bridge Over Marsh | |
This February, the Maine Department of Transportation (MaineDOT) will apply for a federal grant for a major road project along Route 1 where it crosses Scarborough Marsh. The project would be one of the most significant in town to address resiliency from sea level rise: it proposes raising the road by four feet and installing a bridge span across a portion of the road through the marsh. The funding would come from the US DOT’s Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient, and Cost-saving Transportation Program (PROTECT) Program. The grant request will be for approximately $40 million and requires a roughly $900,000 match from the Town of Scarborough, which will help ensure the Town’s priorities are incorporated into the overall design. | |
Flooding across Route One, January 2022. This has become a more frequent occurrence in recent years. | |
The section of Route 1 across the marsh is prone to flooding during astronomical high tides and has been affected more frequently by storm events in recent years. The Town has documented at least eight road closures since 2021, half of which occurred in 2024. After the road flooded during the 2022 Martin Luther King Day storm, the Town reached out to MaineDOT to inquire about their resiliency plans for the road. The Town’s interest led MaineDOT to move Route 1 higher on its priority list. While initial plans over the past couple of years focused on raising the road, new data and modeling have verified the need for a bridge to replace the existing culverts, which will maintain the longevity of the road and the health of the marsh.
MaineDOT will submit the “Maine Achieving Resiliency for Scarborough Highway 1” (MARSH) grant proposal by mid-February and expects to hear an update by late summer/early fall. The Town Council is scheduled to review a resolution and formally support the project at their February 5th meeting.
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Town Earns Upgraded Bond Rating | |
This week the Town received an upgrade to Aa2 (previously Aa3) on our bond rating from Moody's Rating. The upgrade reflects the Town's improving financial position and economic base, a product of some policy decisions by the council to build the unassigned fund balance as well as positive budget performance. Expenses came in under budget and revenues were over projections. "The Town has a history of stable, and recently improving, finances," said the ratings report. "Governance is a driver of the rating, as management's new fund balance policy should result in higher reserves."
"This is tremendous news and demonstrates very solid financial performance," says Town Manager Tom Hall. "The upgrade will be very helpful as we consider major capital investments in the near future." Importantly, this upgraded credit rating takes into consideration the possibility of additional debt related to a school solution (in the range of $70-$130M) , which provides comfort and predictability as we consider this major investment.
In its ratings profile, the Town also scored positively for governance, indicating a "favorable institutional structure and strong transparency and disclosure." This strong rating is the result of the dedication of the Town's finance department for consistently releasing the budgets and audited finance statements in a timely manner.
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Lieutenant Tim Barker Graduates from FBI National Academy | |
On December 19, 2024, Lieutenant Timothy Barker graduated from the prestigious FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia.
Lt. Tim Barker joined 257 law enforcement officers at the 292nd session of the National Academy, consisting of men and women from 48 states, the District of Columbia, and Guam. The class included members of law enforcement agencies from 27 countries, eight military organizations, and five federal civilian organizations.
Internationally known for its academic excellence, the National Academy offers 11
weeks of advanced leadership, communication, and fitness training. Participants must have
proven records as professionals within their agencies to attend. On average, these officers have 21 years of law enforcement experience.
FBI Academy instructors, special agents, and other staff with advanced degrees provide
the training; many instructors are recognized internationally in their fields. A total of 55,797 graduates have completed the FBI National Academy since it began in 1935.
Scarborough Police Department has had the honor of graduating nine members of the FBINA since 1987.
Lt. Tim Barker has nearly 30 years of service with the Town of Scarborough. He was hired by Scarborough Police in 1995 and currently serves as the Special Services Lieutenant.
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Today is Scarborough's Passport Day | |
Saturday February 1, 2025
9:00am to 2:00pm, Drop-in
Community Services Hub
418 Payne Road, Scarborough
The Scarborough Community Services Office has assisted the U.S. Department of State with the acceptance of U.S. passport applications for the past ten years, typically by appointment only Tuesday-Thursday.
We're holding a Passport Day on February 1st - no appointment necessary! Staff members will be on hand to answer all of your questions, assist you through the process, and accept your applications. This will be drop-in only and we expect it to be busy, so please plan to arrive early to be sure that your application can be accepted.
Each applicant will need the following materials:
- Evidence of Citizenship
- Photo Identification
- Passport Photo
- 2 Checks or Money Orders
Additional documents may be required depending on individual circumstances.
For more information on what is required to apply for a passport, please call the Scarborough Community Services Office at 207-730-4150, or you may visit the only official website for passports at Travel.State.Gov.
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February 8: Fuel Rally Community Fundraiser | |
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The 13th annual Fuel Rally community fundraiser by Project GRACE will be Saturday, February 8th from 10:00am-Noon at the Scarborough Public Library. The rally raises critical funds for fuel assistance for neighbors in need, with a goal of $25,000—about 7,000 gallons of oil or k1, or about 70 'helps' to get a neighbor through the winter.
The event will also feature other community organizations like Scarborough Lions Club, Rotary, Kiwanis, Scarborough Marsh Audubon Center, Friends of the Library, and the Historical Society, along with the Town's Public Safety crew. Soup and chowder will be available to purchase by donation in advance (pre-order here). Activities include:
- Bake sale
- Bottle drive
- Book sale
- Valentine craft for kids
- Chili/chowder/soup catered by Bread & Butter Catering Company
- Music by Hadacol Bouncers
Project GRACE is a Scarborough nonprofit with a mission to improve the lives of Scarborough neighbors by identifying both those in need and those willing to share their gifts, and coordinating the interchange in a compassionate, confidential manner.
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Kayak Storage Rack Lottery Now Open | |
Tired of lugging your kayak to and from the beach? Community Services has the answer for you! The Town of Scarborough has 16 spaces at the Pine Point Co-Op, 16 spaces at Ferry Beach, and 16 at Clay Pits boat launch that are leased to Scarborough residents/taxpayers on a seasonal basis each year. Due to the limitations on space and the high demand, we have instituted a lottery enrollment process seasonally. Here are the details:
• Spots will only be available to Scarborough residents and/or taxpayers.
• One entry is permitted per household.
• Beginning February 1, 2025, any residents (including past renters) may register their name in the Kayak Storage Lottery. The lottery will close on February 24, giving interested individuals three weeks to enter their names. Instructions on how to register are on our website and will be emailed to past renters and lottery entrants.
• The selection period begins February 26. We will call you directly if your name is drawn.
• Each household selected in the lottery has 48 hours to confirm with us before we move along and pull another name from the drawing.
• Each household can acquire up to two spots for the season (if still available).
• Each kayak spot is $150 for the season.
Once all spots have been secured for the season, we will mail you your decals for the vessel(s) you will be storing for the season.
• The kayak storage season is April 1 through December 1, when the vessels must be removed from the racks. Any vessels remaining after December 1, 2025, are subject to impound fees.
A Webtrac account is required to register in the lottery. If you have rented in the past, entered the lottery in the past, or have done any programming through us, you likely already have an account. If you need assistance accessing your account or setting up a new one, please feel free to email us at comserv@scarboroughmaine.org or call our front desk at (207) 730-4150.
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Skate Pond Status Updated Daily | |
Grab your skates and make the most of the season with our municipal skate ponds! The rink is located at 20 Municipal Drive between the high school turf field and Wentworth School. Parking is available at Wentworth School or along the high school fields and tennis courts.
The status of the ponds is updated daily on the Scarborough Community Services Facebook page (pinned to the top of the page). It will be updated by noon on weekdays and 4:00pm on Fridays for the weekend. We recommend checking day-of before you plan your visit. The status is subject to change based on daily conditions.
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February 19: Heartsaver CPR & AED Course | |
Heartsaver CPR & AED
Wednesday, February 19
6:00-9:00 pm
Public Safety Classroom, 275 US Route One
$60, pre-registration required
Scarborough Community Services and the Fire Department are collaborating to offer public safety courses to our community. The Heartsaver CPR AED course trains participants to give CPR, and use an automated external defibrillator (AED) in a safe, timely, and effective manner. It is designed for anyone with limited or no medical training who needs a course completion card in CPR and AED use to meet job, regulatory, or other requirements. This course teaches how high-quality CPR improves survival, the concepts of the Chain of Survival, recognition of when someone needs CPR, how to perform high-quality CPR for an adult, child and infant, how to perform CPR with help from others, giving effective breaths using mouth-to-mouth or a mask for all age groups, how to use an AED on an adult and child, and when and how to help a choking adult, child and infant.
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Fire Department Replaces AEDs Around Town | |
Ensuring the safety of our residents and those visiting the Town of Scarborough is a top priority for the Scarborough Fire Department. As part of the FY25 budget, the Fire Department was approved to fund the replacement of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) in public buildings to include Town Hall, Fire Department, Police Department, Public Works, Schools and other parks and locations throughout the Town.
The Town of Scarborough currently maintains 48 AEDs throughout town. With this year's investment, the Fire Department is working to add 10-12 AEDs for vehicles and locations and replace ones that are out of warranty. Our AEDs are beyond the warranty of 8 years and are all approaching the end of their service life of 12 years. The current AEDs have been discontinued by the manufacturer and replacement parts and service is difficult to obtain (and more costly due to them being beyond the warranty).
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AED at the Town Hall main entrance | |
According to the American Heart Association, cardiac arrest is the leading cause of death in the United States. Cardiac arrest is a sudden and life-threatening condition in which the heart stops beating effectively, preventing blood from circulating to the brain and other vital organs. Cardiac arrest can happen to anyone, at any time. Annually, more than 350,000 cardiac arrests occur outside of a hospital, with more than 15% of them occurring in a public location. Our goal is to place an AED in public locations where any individual could access an AED within 3-5 minutes of a person collapsing. The work we are doing gets us closer to this goal of having immediate access to an AED. | |
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School Construction Project Update | |
Community Forum
On January 21, the School Building Advisory Committee (SBAC2) and Scarborough Public Schools hosted Community Forum #1 to inform the public about where we are in the school project process, educate people on important changes in education since our schools were built, and provide a high level overview of the Initial Options being considered.
Community members were then encouraged to provide their thoughts and feedback, and a robust Q&A/Discussion session took place. Seven initial options were presented, including the 4 that came forward during the SBAC1 process, as well as 3 additional potential options that could be considered. (The SBAC voted in their 1/6/25 meeting to keep these options under consideration until pricing was available before making a decision whether they should move forward.)
View a video recording of the forum and a copy of the presentation.
View news coverage from Channel 13.
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Cost Estimates
Preliminary Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) cost estimates for the initial options were reviewed at the January 27 SBAC2 meeting. These are early estimates and as the options get further developed, costs will be further refined.
The SBAC remains committed to selecting a project within the $70M-$130M budget range that came out of last year’s survey question about community-supported tax impact.
While some of the options’ initial estimates fall within this range, some did not. Therefore, the committee is meeting again on February 3rd to evaluate what potential scope adjustments could be made to bring the cost of those options in line with the budget, or if certain options may not have a viable path forward and may be considered for elimination at this time.
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Community Survey
A Community Survey is forthcoming in early February that will outline the Initial Options that the SBAC2 wants feedback on. This feedback will directly inform the SBAC2’s decision making process when they vote to reduce the number of options further in March.
Postcards will be mailed to residents to invite them to take the survey online to provide their input. Please keep an eye on your mailboxes in the coming weeks!
Links to the survey will also be made available in the Scarborough Leader, Town Newsletter, and School Department Newsletter. Paper copies of the survey will be made available at the Library and Town Hall.
Do you have a question or comment you want to share with the School Building Advisory Committee (SBAC2)? Email us at: sbac@scarboroughschools.org.
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Upcoming School Board Meetings | |
Scarborough Land Trust Seeks Committee Members | |
SLT's Scarborough Marsh Committee (SMC) is recruiting new members to help protect the Scarborough Marsh and ensure it survives in the face of development, climate change, and contaminated run-off. Covering an area of approximately 3,200 acres, the Scarborough Marsh is the largest salt marsh in Maine and one of Scarborough's natural treasures. We seek individuals, including students and active professionals, who are passionate about this habitat and have a background in environmental studies, the natural sciences, or a related field. If interested, please send a short bio and statement of interest by email to info@scarboroughlandtrust.org, or U.S. mail (PO Box 1237, Scarborough ME 04070). We look forward to hearing from you! | |
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Town Council Corner: Prioritizing Our Priorities...Again
By April Sither, Town Council Chair
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As occasionally happens, we had a little snafu with who was planning to author this week’s article. Typically, when this happens I am called up, or self selected, to write something on a short deadline. Normally, I am all too happy to oblige. I love connecting with people through writing. However, this week when Councilors Cushing and Anderson needed an article in a pinch and they suggested I could write about our council goals…again, I think I audibly groaned. While my last article on goals was informative and timely, it was also dry and lacked personal connection. When I wrote it, I knew it didn't have the right balance of information and relatability. So while I hadn’t planned on improving it, I will take this second chance to make a first impression. | |
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The Council held a productive goal setting meeting on Saturday, January 25th. The meeting, unlike most (if not all) of our other meetings, was not livestreamed or recorded, which we took a little flack for on social media. Candidly, we work week after week, on camera, in some pretty high pressure situations. At goal setting we dressed casually, moved around the room freely, ate snacks, and joked as colleagues do. It was good for our council dynamics, and I appreciated the relaxed setting to do some really great work, and eat cookies without my kids knowing exactly how many.
In my four years as a councilor, I have never seen a council put more foundational work in ahead of our goal setting session. As a result, we really set ourselves up for success. I kicked off the work in early December by soliciting goal ideas from each councilor. What resulted was a seven-page document bursting with everything from big ideas to granular tasks. We took that document with us as we met with Senior Staff on January 23rd to inform our final goals. The biggest take away from that session for many of us was clear - we have been doing A LOT the past few years, and this year may be the time to refocus, reprioritize, and pick a handful of goals to dedicate focus and make significant progress on, versus spreading ourselves (and our amazing staff) too thin. I can’t say thank you enough to our staff and committee volunteers for making all of this work happen. I do not take your dedication for granted.
There are so many great things coming this year that we will be carrying over and starting to develop action plans for, most notably the Open Space Master Plan, Vulnerability Assessment, Town-wide Transportation Study, and New School Project with the School Building Advisory Committee (SBAC). These efforts in themselves are big for the Town to work through and will continue to require significant time and energy.
In an attempt to temper ourselves, which is more difficult from some than others, five goals were brought forward from Councilors related to facilities planning, conservation, sustainability, resilience, growth, affordable housing, communications, advocacy with the state, traffic and transportation, and financial stewardship. These goals will drive our agendas, give direction to our citizen committees, and align with our staff expertise, all while keeping you, our residents, our number one priority.
So much careful thought and effort went into the development of these goals, but none of that will mean anything if they don’t represent our community’s values. I hope you will attend or tune in to our February 5th meeting to hear the goals, and offer us your thoughts and feedback before we vote to adopt them on February 19th.
So, as we buckle down for another busy year, I’m hopeful we’ll keep moving forward—though, let’s be honest, if nothing else, we can all agree these meetings could always use more cookies! See you at the February 5th meeting!
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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
April Sither (Chair) • Jonathan Anderson (Vice Chair) • Don Cushing • Scott Doherty • Bill Donovan • Cory Fellows • Karin Shupe
Town Council meets the first and third Wednesday of each month. Visit our Town Calendar for links to attend and view agendas.
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Programs at Scarborough Public Library | |
Big Conversations in 10 Short Minutes
Tuesday, February 4, 6:30pm-7:30pm
Register
Three conversations in an hour with other people in Maine. The prompts are simple. The conversations are non-political. What might you learn about (or from) your fellow humans?
Let’s find out. Discover a little pocket of meaning.
This program is part of MECollab, a collaborative programming partnership between libraries throughout the state of Maine.
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Craft & Chat Drop-In Valentine Making
Friday, February 7, 10:00am-12:00pm
No registration required
Drop in to the Conference Room for some crafting and chatting! We'll be making Valentine's for local seniors at Scarborough Terrace and the Enclave. You can also make a Valentine for a friend or loved one too, of course. We'll provide the materials, a few examples, some coffee/tea/cocoa, and you provide the joyous spirit! We'll have a good time.
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February Vacation: Hygge Week in Youth Services!
Looking for a chill place to hang out during February vacation? We've got you. There will be activities every day in Youth Services from February 18-21. Drop in any time! We'll be celebrating "Hygge Week." Hygge (HOO-gah) is a Danish and Norwegian word used to describe coziness, comfort and well-being that embraces simple pleasures and togetherness. View all Vacation Week offerings.
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This year marks a major milestone for Scarborough Public Library as it celebrates its 125th anniversary! | |
Click on the calendar event to view Town Council meeting Zoom links | |
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Our mission is to keep you informed about town events and activities.
Please email us if you have ideas for stories. Note: Our website is the central repository for Town information.
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