With Election Day just one month away and the last day of school not far behind, we're anticipating what's ahead and getting everyone ready for summer! That means seasonal hiring for our summer camp and more, nearing adoption of the next fiscal year's municipal budget, and identifying areas of priority action among the town council based on community feedback. There are also a number of paving projects being planned before summer; specific dates are largely weather dependent. Read on for updates spanning across town, from roads to beaches, parks, Town Hall, and the Library.

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Last Fall, the Town Council looked to residents for input in a community wide survey to assess the overall satisfaction with development and municipal services, and to provide a sense of direction on priorities that Town leadership should focus on in the years ahead. The community expressed opportunities for improvement among key issues facing our town, and Town leadership is using this as a guide to structure next steps on issues. The budget aims to be a reflection of the key needs of the community, both through short-term strategies and longer-term investments.

Police Chief Holmquist discusses how the Scarborough Police Department is addressing public concerns around police visibility in neighborhood and other areas of town that were identified in the Fall survey. This includes two new staff positions and initiatives such as driving in cruise light mode.

Public Works Deputy Director Stephen Buckley shares their budget request for a new sidewalk machine to help with winter and spring cleanup of the most heavily used sidewalks in Scarborough. Through the course of the pandemic, the department heard from residents about the condition of sidewalks and desire for improved maintenance.

Tuesday, June 14 is Election Day and there are a number of items on the ballot. While the municipal budget will be reviewed and approved by Town Council, the school budget requires a referendum election. In addition to voting on the school budget, there is also a vote to fill the vacancy on Town Council. Lastly, this is a primary election for the State of Maine. This will determine each party’s nomination of candidates for federal offices and State and County offices, and the candidates elected at the Primary qualify to appear on the November election ballot. Read our Election Guide newsletter for more on the voting process and details of what appears on the ballot.

Request an absentee ballot and return it any time between May 16 and Election Day. It can be dropped off in the ballot box at the Town Hall entrance, mailed to the Town Clerk's Office, P.O. Box 360

Scarborough, Maine 04070, or in person in the Town Clerk's office. Be sure the back of the envelope is signed. More information.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is undergoing a dredge project at the mouth of the Scarborough River, which began on May 2. The dredge vessel will be operating 24 hours a day for 14-16 days total, occurring in the area from Ferry Rock down river to the area outside the Prouts Neck Yacht Club. They are expected to finish around Friday, May 20.

This project is an emergency dredge operation to open the channel for vessel navigation. The area has become very challenging to navigate from extreme shoaling that has occurred. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is using a self-propelled special-purpose 195-foot-long dredge on the 200-foot-wide, 8-foot-deep entrance to the channel.

May is National Tennis Month, and this month is truly shaping up to be a great one for the sport! The weather has been fabulous and our tennis courts are open and ready for play. The Town of Scarborough has several public courts available:

🎾High School Sports Complex (Gorham Road)

🎾Blue Point Park (241 Pine Point Road)

This summer, Community Services will also be offering tennis lessons for various ages.

Youth Lessons Ages 6 to 15

June 22-July 20, M/W or T/Th

$130 per child

Adult Beginner Lessons Ages 18+

June 16 to July 7, Thursdays 5-6pm

$60 per adult

Saturday, May 21

11:00am-1:00pm (Registration at 10:00am)

Memorial Park, Scarborough

Suicide prevention starts with everyday heroes like you. We are a proud sponsor of the first annual Paws for Prevention Dog Walk to raise awareness for mental health and suicide prevention. We hope you and your furry friends will join us at Memorial Park on Saturday, May 21st to help create a culture in our community that’s smart about mental health.

Activities will include raffles, local police K9 Unit demonstration, agility activities, photo contest and more!

Have you ever wondered where those police cars were going that passed you in traffic? Or wondered why there was such a strong police presence in your neighborhood? Our Police department is now posting a weekly crime report on our website. You will find a summary of notable incidents that have occurred throughout the week, showing the solid work our officers and dispatchers perform every day. You will also be able to go back and look at archived posts.

Please be aware of these roadwork projects scheduled for Scarborough. Traffic delays are to be expected.

Payne Road (Between Ginn Rd and Bridges Dr.)

Shaw Bros will be doing roadwork on Payne Road. The work will include the installation of an island, the addition of a lane, and a general reconfiguring of this section of road.

Gorham Road (Between the Nonesuch River near Ridgeway Rd and Maple Ave)

Unitil is replacing 3,000 feet of steel pipe. This gas pipeline replacement work is being done prior to the replacement of sanitary force main to relocate existing utilities in advance of a planned Municipal Roadway Improvement Project along Gorham Road.

Willey Sports Complex is located at 42 Tenney Lane and is a great place to enjoy some fresh air! The recreational area contains an adult baseball field, a Little League baseball/softball field, a soccer/football field, multi-purpose area, jogging path around the perimeter, playground for children, and two sets of bleachers at each ball field. Stop by as part of the upcoming "Meet Me in the Park" program!

May 17: Willey Park

May 24: Black Point Park

Free, No registration

Meet some new friends while exploring our beautiful parks all over Town! This free playgroup will meet at one of our local parks each Tuesday from 10:30 to 11:00am in May. Join Coach Steve for a structured, age-appropriate activity for 30 minutes, then explore the park on your own or with your new friends.

There are programs happening nearly every weekday for ages 55+. Take a look at the May-July Brochure for a schedule and registration details. Here are just a few:

Wednesdays at 11:00am

Community Services Hub (418 Payne Rd)

$8/person, Register

May 24, 8:30am-3:30pm

$15/resident, Register

Explore the history of World War II at the Wright Museum in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire. Afterwards we will dine at a local favorite, Morrisseys’ Front Porch.

May 26, 10:00-11:30am

Free; registration not required

Join us for these free sessions designed to cover the basics of using an iPad. Jim Keenan, owner of Keenan Technologies, will provide a simple overview of the iPad and answer your questions. Please bring your own iPad to this class.

Wednesday, May 18, 8:00am-6:00pm

Public Safety Building

Join the Scarborough Fire Department to support one of our full-time Firefighter/ Paramedics, whose niece Madison was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in March 2021 when she was only 10 months old. Co-Sponsored by Scarborough Fire Department, Scarborough Police Department & New England Cancer Specialists.

To schedule your appointment, go to www.redcrossblood.org and enter keyword "Madison Charland" in the Find a Blood Drive search box.

Current rough estimates do not fully reflect the potential cost impact from supply chain disruptions, labor and materials shortages, and rising interest rates. Our neighbors in Cape Elizabeth recently adjusted their costs for school improvements from an estimated $80MM to over $140MM. Our numbers will likely be much higher.

We cannot approach planning and priority-setting in a piecemeal fashion. We cannot abdicate our responsibility as leaders and simply continue to move virtually every capital request forward to voters for a decision. This is tantamount to decision by ‘default’ which Merriam Webster defines as: “the failure to do something required by duty.”

This is not business as usual in Scarborough. Our plan forward should include the following:

1) The Town Council, Board of Education and Town Staff must first analyze the top 3 capital project priorities, discuss, and recommend a path forward with timing and steps.

2) This group must engage the project sponsors and the public to facilitate a vigorous discourse on options to validate priorities and plans. We have had a solid track record of this - utilizing workshops and ad hoc committees including the Charter Commission and Community Center and others.

3) The Town Council needs to be the gatekeeper for what moves forward to the public for approval, according to our authority under the town charter and ordinances.

4) The public needs to be responsible to approve large capital expenditures based on ballot measures determined by the Town Council, in a town-wide vote.

We will be defined as a town by how we approach these decisions and the choices we make this year. We need to be respectful of the wishes of the public and responsive, while being honest about what we can afford and focusing on the essentials.

We must act: Our duty as leaders and responsibility to our citizens demands it.

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

Town Council meets the first and third Wednesday of each month. Visit our online calendar for links to attend and view agendas.

At the Memorial Park Gazebo

Join the SPL community for Outdoor Story Time at Memorial Park with Guest Reader Kelly Pietrzak. Have you heard the peepers this spring? Kelly Pietrzak, homeschooling parent, Scarborough Land Trust volunteer, and community educator, will share frog-themed stories for a live audience at Memorial Park at this week's Outdoor Story Time! Young children and families are welcome to join us. Please wear boots and bring a net and something to sit on. Will happen rain or shine.

Storytelling and the Art of Advocacy: How personal stories of connection with the earth can be used to advocate for the environment

At Memorial Park

We are delighted to host Susan Inches with our partner, the Scarborough Land Trust. Bring chairs or a blanket and a picnic. Books will be available for purchase and for Sue to sign. In the event of inclement weather, the talk will be held in the nearby Public Safety Building's meeting room. This #Sustainable Scarborough series event is free to attend and open to the public. Registration is encouraged!

Learn about and register for upcoming Library programs on their website.

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

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