Election Day is right around the corner! Vote on Election Day, Tuesday, June 10 or early at Town Hall this week through June 5. Departments are gearing up for the summer season, so there is quite a variety happening within Town offices. Brush up on your beach info and find out about some fun summer programs! Read on for details on these topics and much more.

Sometimes our newsletters are shortened in email inboxes— If that's happening to you, be sure to click where it says "[Message clipped] View entire message" on the bottom left. We want you to be fully informed!

Vote on Or Before Election Day, June 10

Election Day is Tuesday, June 10, 2025. The municipal election this year will consist of the School Budget Validation Referendum and an election for the Board of Education (3 seats) and Town Council (1 seat to fill a vacancy). Voting will be held at the Scarborough High School, located at 11 Municipal Drive on Election Day from 7:00am to 8:00pm.

Early Voting at Town Hall Through June 5

Early voting by absentee ballot is available at Town Hall until June 5. Voting is available during regular business hours, Monday-Thursday, 7:00am-5:00pm.

Absentee Ballots (Mail or Drop-Off)

All absentee ballots must be received no later than 8:00pm on Election Day.

For further information on Absentee Voting and Voter Registration, please contact the Scarborough Town Clerk's Office at 730‑4020.

Candidates on the Ballot

Town Council: 1 Seat, Term to Expire 2026

Larry Cain, Scott Gondzar, Crescencia Maurer

Board of Education: 3 Seats, 3-Year Term

Charlotte Jacobs, John J.P. Kelleher, III (Incumbent), Jillian Trapini-Huff (Incumbent)

A Strong Start to Beach Season

Hurd Park Upgrades: Hurd Park, the parking lot at Pine Point Beach, has undergone some upgrades over the past several months, including new fencing and a walking path along it, a trolley stop off the street, improved accessibility, and a more efficient flow of traffic through the lot (two entrance lanes and a separate exit).

Beach Passes: The Clerk's office has been busy with beach parking pass sales in their office, which became available on May 1. Now non-resident passes are sold out for the season—this was the first year of a 350 pass limit (the average number of non-resident beach passes issued since 2019 was 278). Resident passes are not limited and are still available to purchase.

Photo by Bruce Small

Plovers & Beach Monitors: 80+ volunteer beach monitors officially hit the beach to educate visitors and monitor our piping plover nests. Several hardy volunteers began monitoring early this spring when the plovers first started arriving! The nor’easter and astronomical high tides on May 23rd impacted several plover nests, but we were lucky enough to have our first nest hatch on Higgins Beach on May 25th. Three little plover chicks are now scurrying between their nest near the dune to the waterline to eat. More nests on Scarborough’s beaches are expected to hatch in the coming weeks. Please be aware of plover nests and chicks if you visit the beach this summer.

Seasonal Park Rangers: We're bringing back our seasonal park ranger positions, which we piloted last summer on Town beaches. Our lead ranger Tony is returning, along with two new rangers who will offer customer service and assistance to beachgoers. Keep an eye out for them on your beach visits this summer!

High School Track Renovation Project Begins

Area Closed Through August

We are excited to announce that work is beginning on the long-awaited project to renovate the running track around the turf field on the High School’s Kippy Mitchell Sports Complex.

This project has been years in the making, since the first failed Town referendum in 2019. The second referendum passed in November 2021, and while the turf replacement was completed in the summer of 2022, the track portion of the project has faced delays due to multiple factors. There was early consideration of the sports complex as a potential site for the 2023 school referendum project, as well as a shortage of qualified contractors post-COVID, who were unable to meet the tight schedule required to accomplish the work between the spring thaw and the start of fall sports.

Renovations include:

• Detaching and rolling back the turf (to be reinstalled on completion)
• Demolition & excavation of existing track
• Grinding and leveling of sub-base, adding new material if needed
• Installation of new curbing and drainage
• Installation of electrical conduit
• Grading & paving (asphalt)
• Installation of updated track & field equipment (discus, shot put, high/long/triple jump areas)
• New football goal posts, safety netting and perimeter fencing
• Track surfacing with urethane structural spray (Level 5 Track Certification)
• Line and event markings/striping

What To Expect

• The track & turf field area will be closed as of May 28
• There will be no public access to the turf and track area during construction
• The turf & track area will be fenced off as a construction site
• There will be a staging area on Wentworth Drive (between baseball field and skate pond)
• Please avoid Wentworth Drive as a route through the Oak Hill campus

Project Schedule

Last week of May: Installation of construction fencing & erosion control

Beginning of June: Demolition of the existing track

Mid-June through mid-July: Installation of curbing, drainage, conduit 

End of July: Begin paving, installation of track & field equipment

Mid-August: Final paving & fencing finished; turf field re-installed

Track surfacing will be the final step and requires a stretch of dry weather.

Please bear in mind: This is a big project and weather-dependent; all scheduled milestones are estimates. We greatly appreciate the patience and understanding of the Scarborough community as we work to accomplish this long-awaited goal!

June 4: Town Council Housing Workshop

Wednesday, June 4

5:30-7:00pm

Council Chambers (Town Hall), Online

This week the Town Council is having a workshop on their affordable housing strategy prior to the regular Council meeting. At the start of the year, the Council identified five goals for their area of focus in 2025. Their Growth, Housing, & Land Use goal is to "develop a basis for defining an affordable and workforce housing policy." This workshop will be the formal kickoff to these efforts.

Councilor Cory Fellows, who has a professional background in affordable housing, shared more about the goal and desired action items in his March Council Corner article.

Public Works Updates

Hazardous Waste Collection Day Recap

Public Works held its first Household Hazardous Waste disposal event of the season on May 17. This free event was open to residents of Scarborough, Old Orchard Beach, Saco, and Biddeford. During the four-hour collection, Public Works collected thousands of pounds of waste. Here is a breakdown of how much was collected by town:

• Scarborough: 624 Units
• Old Orchard Beach: 53 Units
• Saco: 75 Units
• Biddeford: 67 Units

One unit is defined as up to 5 gallons of liquid waste or 20 pounds of dry waste.

Failed Culvert Closes Scottow Hill Road

Scottow Hill Road is unexpectedly closed due to failing culverts (Local Traffic Only) as of May 28. Upon inspection, the culverts were found to be structurally compromised and pose a safety risk to the traveling public. The road is closed until further notice to ensure public safety.

Location of Closure: Scottow Hill Road (Between Payne Road & Two Rod Road)

Closure Start Date: 5/28/2025

Estimated Repair Timeline: Assessment Ongoing

Detours: Motorists traveling either Scottow Hill Road or Payne Road should use Two Rod Road as a detour until further notice

We understand that this closure may cause inconvenience, and we are working as quickly as possible to assess the damage and begin repairs. Updates will be provided as more information becomes available.

Your safety is our top priority. Please avoid the area and respect all closure signs and barriers. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

Paving Season

Public Works has started paving season by completing work on Honan, Douglas, and Milliken, which were left over from the 2024/25 paving list. The schedule is still to be determined for the paving of the roads on our 2025/26 list (recently updated).

Dumpsters & Recycling at Public Works

The Public Works facility offers overflow residential trash and recycling disposal free of charge to residents. However, they have been increasingly facing challenges with excessive dumping beyond capacity. Here are some reminders for using this service:

Trash: Please keep in mind that household trash bags go in the dumpsters. If the bins are full, please do not leave bags on the ground and instead come back another time. The dumpsters are emptied on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.

Recycling: There are separate bins for recycling, emptied on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Please do not leave recycling on the ground. To verify that an item is recyclable, look it up on ecomaine's Recyclopedia.

Bulky Items: Bulky waste cannot be disposed of at this site. Please drop them off at the Casella Transfer Station, 594 County Rd, Westbrook. Available to Scarborough residents on Tuesdays/Thursdays 8:00-4:00pm and Saturdays 8:00am-1:00pm.

School Building Advisory Committee Update

Thank you to everyone who took the final community survey and attended the forum! Community input is a vital part of the process and the School Building Advisory Committee (SBAC) appreciates our dedicated community members who took the time to make their voice heard. Survey results are forthcoming in the next week or two, so stay tuned! Watch the 4/30 Community Forum

Responses to questions from the forum have been added to the school building project FAQ page.

How are the survey results and forum input being used? What informs the final selected option?

The feedback collected from the survey, community forums, and community emails are an important data point for the SBAC as they work toward the selection of a final supported option to recommend to the School Board and Town Council. The SBAC will use this input as they consider cost savings scope items, evaluate potential scope deferments, determine the selected site, and select the final option.

In addition to this public feedback, a collection of additional data points will be used to make these important decisions, all with the goal of selecting a solution that will be supported by voters. The graphic below provides a big-picture look at the data points that will ultimately inform the committee’s decision.

Next Steps

The SBAC will be working over the next 3-4 weeks to identify cost saving measures in the scope, evaluate scope deferments, select the proposed site, and ultimately select the supported option. This decision is targeted for mid-June.

Upcoming SBAC Meetings and School Board/Town Council Meetings

Open to the public

The community is welcome to attend SBAC meetings to follow along and/or share additional public comment. Recordings are also available to watch online.

June 2nd, 6:00pm SBAC Meeting, Town Council Chambers A (or Zoom)

June 5, 6:00pm School Board/Town Council Joint Workshop, Town Council Chambers A (or Zoom) 

June 9th, 6:00pm SBAC Meeting, Town Council Chambers A (or Zoom)

June 16th, 6:00pm SBAC Meeting, Town Council Chambers B (or Zoom)

June 23rd, 6:00pm SBAC Meeting, Town Council Chambers A&B (or Zoom)

June 26th, 6:00pm School Board/Town Council Joint Workshop, Town Council Chambers A (or Zoom)

And as always, we will keep you informed along the way via the project website, town and district newsletters, and social media. Stay tuned!

Upcoming Reviews: Revised Marshview Housing Project

In May the Town Council heard and ultimately opposed a proposed Contract Zone for the development of a multi-family housing project at 578 US Route One, brought forward by the South Portland Housing Development Corporation. The main areas of concern were the scope of the project (called Marshview Housing) and the effect it would have on traffic/safety.

Since then a revised version of the project has come forward. What was initially a 4-story building (60 units for ages 55+) and three 3-story townhouse buildings (36 units of workforce housing) has now been limited to a single building with 50 units for ages 55+ affordable housing. The Housing Alliance supported the revised version at their May 28 meeting, and their recommendation goes onto the Council Finance Committee on June 12 for review of a Credit Enhancement Agreement (CEA). It is then scheduled to go before the Planning Board on June 16 for site plan review.

"I believe and value that we need to create more diverse and affordable housing options in Scarborough as part of our growth management strategy," says Councilor Jon Anderson in a May Council Corner article. "I don’t think there will be a better project that wouldn’t have more issues, and I don’t want it to be a dilapidated building that brings no taxable value to the Town."

Take "Reimagining Route 1" Survey

Greater Portland Council of Governments (GPCOG) is leading a project to improve Route 1 for everyone—whether you walk, bike, drive, or take the bus. The project, called Reimagining Route 1, explores road safety and land use across communities to create a more functional, sustainable, and enjoyable Route 1 for all. 

Reimagining Route 1 will:

• Make the road safer and more welcoming

• Help towns along the route move forward with improvements

• Explore better transit options, including rapid transit

• Support electric vehicle use with new charging spots

• Encourage housing and mixed-use development near town centers

• Identify top-priority transportation projects and how to fund them

GPCOG is conducting a survey to collect community opinions about the Route 1 corridor (between Biddeford and Freeport). Take the survey

Scarborough Community Services: Program Highlights

Piano in the Park

Sunday, June 1, 3:00-5:00pm

Memorial Park

Enjoy a delightful afternoon of music from our talented young musicians in the community! Performances will be at Memorial Park this afternoon from 3:00-5:00pm.

This is a wonderful chance to discover some exciting music programs for kids. They've been working hard, practicing with heart, and can't wait to share their music with the community.

Bring a picnic blanket and lawn chair, or stroll through the park while you listen to the melodic tunes in the background.

New! Children's Entrepreneur Market at Summerfest

Do you have a creative, innovative, and business-minded child? Register them today for our newest offering at Summerfest...the Children's Entrepreneur Market! This is an award-winning program that teaches young people ages 5-17 about the power of entrepreneurship, innovation, and leadership through experiential learning. We have 50 spots open for Summerfest 2025, so don't wait!

For more information and to register, please visit the Scarborough Children's Entrepreneur Market website.

Discounted Amusement Park Tickets Coming Soon!

Scarborough Community Services participates in the discounted tickets program through Maine Recreation and Park Association each summer. These are the tickets we will be selling for the 2025 season:

Aquaboggan (general admission pass) = $21 each (normally $34) 

York's Wild Kingdom (Zoo ONLY pass) = $14 each (normally $18)

Funtown/Splashtown USA (Combo pass) = $49 each (normally $59)

Tickets typically arrive in late June. Once they are set to sell, we will announce it via email, Facebook, and our website.

Parks & Recreation Month Coming Soon!

Each July, we celebrate National Parks and Recreation Month in the only way we know how...bringing our community even more fun and free events. This year's theme is "Build Together, Play Together". We hope you can come and join us at one (or all!) of our events. Detailed schedule of events coming soon. Sponsored by Martin's Point Health Care.

Weekly Concerts in the Park Starting June 26

The Scarborough Community Chamber of Commerce and Community Services are thrilled to announce the Concerts in the Park lineup for this summer!

June 26 – Motor Booty Affair

July 3 – 195th Army Band

July 10 – Don Campbell

July 17 – Plush

July 24 – Stolen MoJo

July 31 – Yellow Brick Road

Join us Thursday nights at 6:30pm at the Scarborough Memorial Park (5 Durant Drive). New this year, parking will only be available at the High School and shuttle transportation is provided (limited handicap parking at Memorial Park). Also new this year, food trucks!

Check the Scarborough Community Chamber of Commerce Facebook page for all up-to-date information regarding the concerts such as rain delays or venue changes.

Maine Healthy Beaches

Memorial Day marks the start of the Maine Healthy Beaches monitoring season. Town staff collect water samples from Pine Point and Ferry Beach each week (water samples at Higgins Beach are collected by the Higgins Beach Association). The samples are analyzed for bacteria at a local lab, and results are available on the Maine Healthy Beaches website.  

Sometimes, bacteria levels exceed the EPA-designated safe threshold. When this happens, the Town has a process in place to re-sample the beach and post a public advisory. There are a number of reasons the bacteria levels in the water may be elevated, including:

• Children swimming in diapers or improperly disposed of diapers

• Improper cleaning after using the bathroom

• Vomiting or fecal accident in the water

• Waste from wildlife or dogs 

• Malfunctioning septic systems or sewage treatment plants 

• Stormwater runoff

Learn more about the Maine Healthy Beaches program and sign up for beach alerts on their website. 

Get Involved: Join a Town Board/Committee

See up close how our local government works and help shape policy by applying to one of the Town's boards and committees. There are currently vacancies on:

• Conservation Commission (2 openings)

• Planning Board (2 openings)

Complete our online application. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis by our Appointments & Negotiations committee, and are selected based on demonstrated interest or expertise.

Council Corner: Tough Choices Ahead for School Solution

By Charlie Peters, School Building Advisory Committee Chair

We have a special contributor for this edition's Council Corner. Charlie Peters is Chair of the School Building Advisory Committee. Town Council liaisons to the committee, April Sither and Bill Donovan, invited him to share his thoughts on the current committee work.

As the School Building Advisory Committee (SBAC) enters the month of June, we find ourselves facing some very hard choices. We’ve been studying the problem, the scope of work needed, and listening to the community to understand what folks want and how much they’re willing to spend.  And to be honest, the last survey left us scratching our heads a little. The survey responses showed a preference for smaller neighborhood schools. But when people took the operating costs into account, the consolidated school had near equal support as the small school option. Respondents also clearly want the cost of the project to come below $130M – in fact, there were quite a few comments asking us to get the price down to $100M. But in the same survey over 60% of people rejected cost cutting measures like deferments and scope reductions. It seems the community wants to have its cake and eat it too.  

On the heels of the survey results, we also learned that the preferred site has soil issues that could increase the cost of the project by millions. This new information has us looking back at sites and options that we had previously eliminated. We are still committed to finding the best solution at the best price possible.  

This leaves the SBAC in a precarious situation. We owe the School Board and Town Council a recommendation at the end of June.  But there is no easy answer; we currently have five schools (Pleasant Hills, Eight Corners, Blue Point, Wentworth, and the Middle School) that are all undersized for Scarborough’s population. My son eats lunch in the Middle School lobby because the cafeteria is too small to seat everyone. The entire 6th grade is in a portable with one toilet each for boys and girls. Bathrooms at the primary schools double as storage rooms. Students with special needs have to be bussed out of their neighborhood schools, because there isn’t space for equal services at all schools. The scope of the problem requires a full solution that addresses the needs at all five schools.  

And this is a long-term decision – one that the town will have to live with for decades. The decision in front of the SBAC, and ultimately the voters, will impact every student, and every taxpayer in our town. We are keenly aware of the tax impacts of a project of this magnitude. We are also aware of the harsh reality that building materials and construction costs are not going to get cheaper in the future. Finding the right solution at the right cost, and getting a solution passed in November is imperative. The SBAC is committed to doing just that. We will continue to scrutinize estimates, reduce scope where it makes sense, look at creative land options, and listen to the community feedback.  

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) • 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.

Scarborough Land Trust Upcoming Program

Bird Walk

Saturday, June 7, 8:00am-9:30am

Fuller Farm, 309 Broadturn Rd, Scarborough

Join Scarborough Land Trust volunteer and expert birder, Brad Woodward, for a bird walk at Fuller Farm Preserve. The walk will include fascinating sightings of local birds. Come enjoy an early spring morning at Fuller Farm!

Programs at Scarborough Public Library

Poetry Tribute to Taylor Swift

Tuesday, June 3, 6:00pm-7:30pm

Register

Local poets Betsy Sholl, Gibson Fay-LeBlanc, Kate Kearns, and Meghan Sterling will be reading from Invisible Strings and original work related to the music of Taylor Swift. Please register as space is limited! 

Community Baby Shower

Sunday, June 8

Drop in between 11:00am-1:00pm

For ALL new & expectant parents, drop in anytime to start your home book library for your baby with free books & learn about resources for new parents! You do not need a Scarborough Library card to attend this program. We want to get little books in little hands!

Queering the Past: Speaking Up and Stepping Out

Thursday, June 12, 6:00pm-7:00pm

Register

In this short talk, Wendy Chapkis shares stories about preserving Maine’s queer history through the Querying the Past oral history project and the Stepping Out Portland queer history trail. As the USM Faculty Scholar for the Jean Byers Sampson Center LGBTQ+ Collection, Wendy Chapkis worked to preserve and disseminate Maine’s queer history. She is a Professor Emerita of Sociology and Women & Gender Studies at the University of Southern Maine and the author of numerous articles and three books.

Gentle Sound Bath & Guided Meditation

Saturday, June 14, 4:00pm-5:30pm

Register

Has stress got you down? Let's breathe, relax, and zone out to the gentle peace brought by a Sound Bath & Guided Meditation with Kristine Keegan from Scarborough Yoga. This is not yoga, so the only experience you need is the ability to close your eyes and relax—sometimes that's hard enough! If you'd like to sit or lay on the floor, please bring a blanket, yoga mat, or pillow for yourself. There will be chairs set up as well. For more information: Sound Bath: What It Is, How It Helps, and More (healthline.com)

Due to space limitations, please register. This event will be happening while the library is closed, with only those registered let in.