This week calls for chocolates and flowers! As we look ahead, the Town Council is gearing up for a busy spring with a focus on the Town budget (more on that to come in late March) and following along with the school building committee process (take the new survey to share your thoughts!). We also share departmental news (new Community Services Director!), and reflect on some good happening in our community with last weekend's philanthropic Fuel Rally. Read on for more.

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.

Closed Monday for Presidents' Day

Town offices are closed on Monday in honor of Presidents' Day. Trash pickup will remain on schedule. Town Hall reopens on Tuesday at 7:00am.

Welcome Our New Community Services Director!

Scarborough Community Services welcomed Nick Cliche last week as its new Community Services Director. This crucial Town leadership role sets the strategic direction of the multi-faceted department, which oversees all municipal parks, beaches, playgrounds, trails, child care programs, senior programs, special events, community programs, facilities, and more. He'll manage a staff of 19 full time employees, a team he calls "incredible, with vast experience, high character, and relentless dedication to providing community-centered services for the residents of Scarborough."

Nick grew up in Vermont where he attended St. Johnsbury Academy, then Thomas College in Waterville, Maine. He earned a Bachelor's degree in Sports Management and went on to do an 8-month internship with the Portland Seadogs. This drew him to stay in Portland, where he became a Summer Camp Counselor through Portland Parks and Recreation. Since then, he's spent 18 years dedicating his life to many roles within the Parks, Recreation, and Facilities departments for the City of Portland. He was most recently the Recreation Director since 2022.

Now working for Scarborough, Nick feels lucky to be surrounded by devoted professionals that are passionate about making a difference. "From the moment I met with the staff and stakeholders in Scarborough I was blown away with the sense of family and pride of work for the town," he says. "I knew it was the place I wanted to be."

Nick lives in Saco with his wife and first grade daughter. They have two English bulldogs, Ruby and Tito. His non-work passion is coaching football—he's coached at the high school level for the past 8 years (Assistant Head Coach at Portland High School, where they just recently won the Class A State Championship) and football in general for 15+. He also enjoys coaching his daughter in basketball, softball, and watching her dance. He's an avid sports fan and diehard Patriots, Celtics, Red Sox, and Bruins fan, and loves spending time with family and friends. We're happy to have Nick on board!

Speaking of Summer Camp...

Scarborough Community Services is now hiring for child care positions for this spring and summer. The summer camp counselor position is great for late high school and college students (must have completed junior year of high school). Head to our job board to learn more about this and a few child care supervisor roles too.

Take 20 Minute "School Options" Online Survey

Phase II of the School Building Advisory Committee is working toward narrowing the options laid out for a school solution. They want this process to be as collaborative as possible with voices from the community. A new survey is now live for you to share your thoughts. All Scarborough residents age 18+ are invited to provide feedback as we evaluate the Initial Options for our community’s school facilities. The survey should take about 20 minutes.

The SBAC remains committed to a project budget of $70M-$130M, based on community input from a 2024 survey. Five options are currently being considered. The committee needs your feedback to help determine school priorities and evaluate trade-offs to bring the projects in line with the budget and decide which options move forward in the process.

Take the online survey by March 3rd. Paper copies are available at Town Hall and the Library (return by February 28th). Learn more about the School Building Project.

February 19: Beach Fees Workshop

In their February 5th meeting, the Town Council had a first reading to discuss recommendations from the Community Services Advisory Board (CSAB) to change some beach fees, which were last amended in 2017. They are holding a workshop this Wednesday, February 19th at 6:00pm, for further discussion and to hear more from the public. It will be held in Council Chambers at Town Hall. Links to view the agenda and attend remotely will be on the Town Calendar.

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.

Hurd Park (Pine Point Beach) Improvements

The Hurd Park parking lot at Pine Point Beach is undergoing an upgrade before the start of beach season! The improvements are intended to improve efficiency and safety for beach goers and residents of the neighborhood.

Entrance/Exit Changes: We will now have a dedicated entrance and exit with a gate system. The entrance will remain off of Avenue 5 and will become the entrance only. The exit from the parking lot will go onto King Street (formerly a fenced border of the lot). This separation will be safer for both vehicles and pedestrians. 

Ticket Booth Location: The ticket booth will be repositioned closer to the entrance to better serve customers at a faster pace and keep cars from backing up in the parking lot.

Trolley Stop Location: New dedicated trolley stop at the corner of Avenue 5 and King Street. This will help the flow of traffic and limit trolleys from clogging up the entrance to the beach municipal lot. At the new stop, the trolley will be able to pull over and safely unload/load passengers onto a pedestrian walkway along the municipal parking lot.

Other new, exciting changes:

• New split rail fence along lot perimeter

• New pedestrian walking path along the fence line of Avenue 5. 

• New ADA "MobiMat" installation at the beach access point from the lot. This will make both our beach access points ADA compliant.

• The main lot will be seal coated, crack sealed, and striped.

The Parks & Grounds crew helped set up the area of the new exit location on King Street.

Funding for these beach upgrades came from our Town's beach revenue account, sourced from beach pass and gate fees. The account is not tax funded. The Town of Scarborough prioritizes the conservation of our beaches and the experience and safety of beach goers. Ongoing improvements are a key way we serve our community in a fiscally responsible way.

Public Works: Mailbox Guidance

Sometimes mailboxes are hit during winter plowing operations, either by our equipment or from the sheer force of the snow/material that is being removed from the roadways. We realize that it can be an inconvenience. Our drivers make every effort to be careful but at times it is unavoidable. 

For convenience and practicality, mailbox installations have been allowed within the right-of-way of Scarborough’s roadways; however, it is important to recognize that such installations have a few very important conditions:

1) The mailbox must be installed in accordance with applicable standards to ensure that mail can be delivered and that the mailbox does not create an obstacle or safety hazard to those that use or maintain the roadway, and

2) The mailbox is installed entirely at the owner’s risk. In other words, if the mailbox incurs damage during any sort of roadway operations or maintenance, the property owner is not entitled to replacement or compensation. However, it is the Town of Scarborough’s practice to provide a replacement mailbox and post (if necessary) if a resident’s mailbox/post has been damaged as a direct result of the Town’s efforts to clear the roadways. Please note that the homeowner, not Public Works, is responsible for the installation of the new box and/or post. The box will be replaced with a standard metal box and wooden post. The Town will never reimburse for a replacement. Requests for replacements will not be accepted after May 1st for the previous season’s damages.

3) If the mailbox is not installed in accordance with the applicable standards as stated above, the owner may be held liable for injuries or damages that may have been incurred as a result.   

Safety Reminder: Stay Back from Roads

With all of this snow, we are seeing plowed snow piles being used as forts and for children playing. For safety reasons, we ask that you please keep off of these piles by the roadside and stay within your yard or away from the roads. Thank you for helping us keep our drivers and community safe.

News & Noteworthy Dates

March 5: Open Space Plan Workshop

The Town Council will learn more about the draft Open Space Plan in an upcoming workshop scheduled for March 5th. 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.

Mobile Food Vendor Ordinance Now In Effect

The Town Council recently adopted updates to the Zoning Ordinance to permit mobile food vendor courts in specific areas of Town and to specify when and where mobile food vendors may operate for other events (background). This now requires any mobile food vendor operating in Scarborough to obtain a license. The application is now live on our website. When and where mobile food vendors may be permitted:

• At approved Mobile Food Vendor Courts with permission of the property owner. 
• On private property for a private one-time event provided the unit is not operational for more than thirty-six (36) hours. All other required licenses and permissions must be obtained (i.e. Special Event Permit, Mass Gathering Permit). 
• At a private catered event (an event that sells food and beverages coinciding with an event and only to the attendees of the event; not open or advertised to the general public).
• At Town sponsored events.

New Building and Energy Code in Effect April 7

For those in building and construction, please be aware that the State of Maine has amended the Maine Uniform Building and Energy Code adoption. Municipalities must enforce the newly adopted 2021 I-codes and corresponding standards as of April 7, 2025. More information will be available in the coming weeks. View the codes here. The amendments will be posted on the State Fire Marshal's Office, Building Codes division website when available. We will also post the notice on our website and hand out notices with building permits and applications. 

Municipal Budget Presented March 26

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.

New! Spring Programs Brochure for All Ages

Scarborough Community Services has the right idea—they're looking ahead to spring😎 The brochure is divided into sections for youth, teen, and active adult programs. There are ongoing, weekly programs like Musicians Circle, Bingo, Chair Yoga, and Games & Gather for adults, as well as classes and trips. Teens can take a first aid course and youth programs include indoor soccer, lacrosse, cross country, and tennis. Save the date for some special spring events, too!

Fuel Rally Raises $25,000 for Community

Project GRACE held its 13th annual Rally to Keep Our Neighbors Warm community fuel fundraiser last week and put our community spirit and compassion on full display. Partners at the Town, Public Library, Public Works, Community Services, Police and Fire Departments and community groups gladly gave lift to the Fuel Rally to raise essential funds to keep our neighbors warm.

On a frigid Saturday morning, volunteers from the Scarborough Public Library, Scarborough Historical Society, Maine Audubon’s Scarborough Marsh Audubon Center, Scarborough Garden Club, Scarborough Land Trust, Project GRACE, and Friends of the Scarborough Library participated alongside Scarborough Rotary, Kiwanis, Lions, Volunteers in Police Service, and the Fire and Police Departments. Bakers from Bessey Commons and the Lions Club, fun activities for kids, a valentines book sale, raffle prizes, and jazz band, Hadacol Bouncers, filled the library with music, and the positive energy of neighbors rallying together for a shared purpose. Outside, hundreds stopped by to take home chili, chowder or soup, and give to the fuel fund.

Two philanthropists, Art Ledue and Eddie Woodin, challenged Project GRACE to raise $25,000 for fuel assistance. Thanks to leadership support from donors that included Town & Country Federal Credit Union, Modern Woodmen Fraternal Financial, West Scarborough United Methodist Church, numerous local businesses, as well as generous individuals and families in the community, the Rally tally added up quickly on Saturday to get us to about $24,000 for the fuel fund. When we checked our mail box shortly after the rally, we had reached our $25,000 challenge goal!

If you couldn’t make it, donations can be made to the fuel fund online at fuelrally.org or by mailing a check to Project GRACE, PO Box 6846, Scarborough, ME 04070-6846. Project GRACE extends its warmest and most heartfelt thanks to everyone who volunteered at the Rally and contributed to the fuel fund, ensuring we can keep our promise that we won’t leave our Scarborough neighbors in the cold.

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.

Kayak Storage Rack Lottery Closes February 24th

Scarborough Community Services is currently accepting entries for their kayak storage lottery, which closes on February 24th. The lottery is for the seasonal spaces that the Town has available: 16 at the Pine Point Co-Op, 16 at Ferry Beach, and 16 at Clay Pits boat launch. Here are the details:

• Spots are only available to Scarborough residents and/or taxpayers. One entry per household.

• Beginning February 1, 2025, any residents (including past renters) may register their name in the Kayak Storage Lottery. The lottery closes on February 24.

• The selection period begins February 26. We will call you directly if your name is drawn. Selected households have 48 hours to confirm before we move along and select another name.

• Each household can acquire up to two spots for the season (if still available).

• Each kayak spot is $150 for the season (April 1-December 1).

A Webtrac account is required to register in the lottery. If you need assistance accessing your account or setting up a new one, email us at comserv@scarboroughmaine.org or call our front desk at (207) 730-4150.

How to Enroll in Kayak Storage Lottery Instructions

Winter Fun on Outdoor Skate Ponds

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. There are benches around the rink to take gear on and off and lights will be turned on in the evening hours. Both rinks are open to the public, depending on weather and ice conditions, weekdays 2:00-9:00pm, and weekends/holidays 8:00am-9:00 pm.

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. If there are signs out saying the rink is closed, please do not skate. Skating pond closures are intended for public safety and to prepare the ponds for incoming colder weather, if staff foresee an opportunity to improve surface conditions. 

Thanks to our Parks & Grounds crew with Scarborough Community Services for maintaining the skate ponds.

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. This 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. 

School Board Updates & Meetings

Here are the meeting highlights from the February 6th School Board meeting:

• School Building Advisory Committee: Meets on Mondays weekly and continues to work through processes and evaluate options.
• Communications: Continues to plan a Community Dinner. The next Spotlight Awards will take place 2/27.
• Policy: Revised the draft of JFCK - Student Use of Privately Owned Devices at School to move to second reading on 2/27. The 2025-2026 School Calendar was reviewed and moved to first reading for 2/27. Up next: KF - Use of School Facilities.
• Finance: Steadily working towards workshops.
• Negotiations: Working toward professional staff contract completion by end of school year.
• Long Range Planning: Work to be completed: SHS, SMS, LED light installations, exterior work at Blue Point. 

📅 Upcoming Important Dates

February 24th, March 3rd, March 10th

🕕 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM - School Building Advisory Committee @ Town Hall, Council Chambers (Zoom link on school calendar)

February 27th

🕠 5:30 PM - Board of Education Workshop: The District’s Pre-K Program

🕖 7:00 PM - Regular Business Meeting @ Town Hall, Council Chambers (Zoom link on school calendar)

March 3rd

🕔 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM - Finance Committee Meeting @ Town Hall

March 6th

🌐 8:00 AM - Communications Subcommittee (Zoom)

🏛 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM - Policy Committee @ Town Hall

March 18th

🕟 4:30 PM - 7:00 PM - School Board Budget Workshop (Location TBD)

March 19th

🕣 8:30 AM - 11:00 AM - School Board Budget Workshop (Location TBD)

🤝 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM - Joint Town Council & School Board Workshop - School Building Advisory Committee Update

March 20th

📚 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM - Curriculum Committee Meeting

Greater Portland Trail Connectivity Survey

The Greater Portland Council of Governments (GPCOG) is creating a plan to improve multi-use trail connectivity in our region, and we need your help gathering community input. The brief survey is part of their initiative to identify the areas where trail improvements are most needed. Share your ideas on making multi-use paths and trails better in the Greater Portland area. This quick 5-10 minute survey is your chance to help shape the future of trails and multi-use paths across 17 communities. Multi-use paths are trails/paths separated from vehicle traffic and designed for both bicycles and pedestrians.  

"Marsh Madness" Photo Contest Starts Monday!

Scarborough Land Trust is celebrating the month of March with a contest of its own: Marsh Madness! This new photo contest is designed to showcase the natural beauty and personal connections people have with the Scarborough Marsh and SLT’s nine preserves here in Scarborough. The contest invites participants—from professional/amateur photographers to smartphone photo fans—to submit their favorite and most impactful photographs along with descriptions highlighting what makes those images meaningful. A variety of awards will be given, encompassing both Judges’ Choice, as selected by a panel of photographers, and People’s Choice as determined by “voting” on Facebook.

Submit your photos on the Marsh Madness page of SLT’s website from February 17 through March 16. See more information and the submission form on the contest page on SLT’s website.

Town Council Corner: New Wetland Protections Benefit Scarborough

By Karin Shupe, Town Council

On January 22 the Scarborough Town Council passed an ordinance requiring all new development to provide a 25-foot buffer from the wetlands. While this 25-foot setback will not have a direct impact on many Scarborough residents, it will provide great benefit to our town.  

The buffer between wetlands and development provides a lot of value to our residents and town. While it may be hard to quantify the value wetlands bring to communities and their residents, the benefits can be identified. Wetlands serve many functions, including filtering pollutants from water, acting as a natural sponge, absorbing increased water during floods, preventing property damage, storing carbon, and supporting commercial industries, such as fishing and shellfish harvesting. Our wetlands contribute to Scarborough being one of Maine’s ecotourism destinations.  

It would be hard to find a resident in Scarborough who does not appreciate the beauty of our location and its natural resources. But these resources are being threatened. Approximately 35% of the world’s wetlands were lost between 1970-2015 and the rate of loss now accelerates annually. One of the biggest threats to our environment is development. As the town with the largest contiguous saltwater marsh in Maine and the fastest growing Portland suburb, we seem to be at odds with ourselves. 

As sea levels rise, storms intensify, and development continues, there is little room left for the marsh to migrate. While we cannot control the rising sea levels and storms, we can control how we develop around the marsh and wetlands.  Development comes with a significant amount of impervious areas, such as roads, buildings, and parking lots, which affects how stormwater flows into wetlands. When we replace this natural, permeable ground, water is prevented from being absorbed into the soil, increasing runoff from storms. This increased stormwater is carrying pollutants, like fertilizers, oil, and trash, into the wetlands and destroying its natural growth and habitat.  

In 2023 the Town Council adopted its 30x30 goal: an effort to conserve 30% of Scarborough by 2030. Right now it feels like a race between development and conservation. While there are minimal costs associated with maintaining conserved land, large properties with developed land have ongoing costs associated with it: roads, utilities, emergency services, schools, and maintenance. Furthermore, sometimes these large property owners benefit from tax breaks, subsidies, or relaxed zoning, without full consideration of the costs or environmental impacts.

There are many ways as a community we can address these threats and inequities. A 25-foot setback was just one protection we have put in place but there is a lot more that can be done. So, what are the priorities of Scarborough? Will we continue to contribute to the rapidly disappearing wetland, or will we be leaders in taking action and creating policies to stop this?

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.

Programs at Scarborough Public Library

Puzzle Palooza: The Great Race

Friday, February 21, 1:00pm-3:00pm

Register (Required by 1 per team)

Let's have a puzzle race! This is ALL AGES and Family Friendly—great for an intergenerational crew to play together! Teams of 2-4 race against each other to finish a 500-piece jigsaw puzzle. The first team to complete the puzzle wins a prize. All ages welcome. 500-piece puzzles can be frustrating for our littlest friends, so we'll have a few smaller puzzles for them to practice on while the teams race. 

Your Retirement Roadmap: Building Wealth & Saving for the Future

Tuesday, February 25, 6:00-7:00pm

Register

This presentation is intended for pre-retirees and focuses on planning for, saving for and spending in retirement. Presented by Lisa Brislin, CFP®, AAMS™, Private Wealth Advisor, Hughes Wealth Advisors, a private wealth advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC. This is an informational event. There is no cost or obligation.

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.

This year marks a major milestone for Scarborough Public Library as it celebrates its 125th anniversary!