Thanksgiving is just ahead, and so too is the busy holiday season! We're taking this time before the hustle and bustle to reflect on the Scarborough community. We are thankful to you for making this a vibrant place to live and work. You voted in our local election (we saw an 82% voter turnout), get involved in town issues that you care about, and make the most of the resources that Scarborough has to offer. Read on for upcoming reminders and updates on what's happening in our town.

Check our Town Calendar for upcoming meetings. The next Town Council meeting is Wednesday, November 20th. On Thursday, November 21st, there is a Joint Workshop with the Town Council and Board of Education for an update on Phase 2 of the School Building Advisory Committee.

Thanksgiving Week: November 25-29

Town Hall Hours

Town Hall will be closed on Thursday, November 28th for Thanksgiving. We will reopen on Monday, December 2nd.

Trash Collection Changes

Please be aware of the following changes to the trash pick-up schedule for Thanksgiving week:

• No trash pickup on Thanksgiving, Thursday, November 28th

• If your trash day is normally Thursday, it will be picked up on Friday, November 29th

• If your trash day is normally Friday, it will be picked up on Saturday, November 30th

If you have any questions, please contact Public Works at pwinfo@scarboroughmaine.org or (207) 730-4400.

November 5, 2024 Election Results

This election year, of the 18,511 active voters in Scarborough, there wa a total of 15,270 ballots cast...that's an 82% voter turnout! Just over half of these were cast through absentee ballot. Another remarkable number is the approximately 700 residents who registered to vote on Election Day. Here are the results from the municipal and State ballots:

Municipal Election

Town Council (2 seats)

7,559 Doherty, Scott W.*

7,962 Fellows, Cory E.*

6,316 Maurer, Crescencia

8,703 Blanks

Town Council – 2-Year (1 seat)

11,228 Donovan, William J.*

4,042 Blanks

Sanitary District Trustees

10,379 Rico, Nicola F.*

10,014 Stein, Michael A.*

10,147 Blanks

Board of Education – 2-Year

10,129 Rockenstire, Mitchell T.*

5,141 Blanks

Question 1 – Body Worn/Cruiser Cameras

9,991 Yes*

4,336 No

992 Blank

Question 2 – Replacement Pumper Truck

9,412 Yes*

5,042 No

865 Blank

Question 3 – Land Bond Funds

8,902 Yes*

5,381 No

1,036 Blank

*Denotes winner

Total ballots cast: 15,270

Public Safety Remarks on Passed Referendums

Scarborough Police (Body Worn/Cruiser Cameras)

We wanted to reach out to our citizens to extend a sincere thank you to everyone who voted in support of the body-worn and in-car cameras to be purchased by our department.

Your vote will allow us to provide this much needed equipment to our officers within

the next few months and help us become more compliant with industry standards.

As mentioned during our public informational meetings, the footage from these cameras will be an essential tool to provide additional officer safety, evidence in the prosecution of criminal cases, training review, policy compliance, employee performance and transparency. Each of these key components assist us in providing a higher level of service to everyone who lives, works or visits the Town of

Scarborough.

We appreciate your continued support of the Scarborough Police Department!

Scarborough Police Department

Scarborough Fire (Replacement Pumper Truck)

On behalf of all the members of the Scarborough Fire, I would like to extend our sincere gratitude for the amazing community support of our Fire and EMS mission. The election day approval of our bond request for a replacement fire pumper just proves how fortunate we are to have a community that places such a high value on its public safety programs. This approval allows us to replace a Fire pumper that will likely be over 22 years old by the time the replacement arrives. 

We are also grateful to our Town Manager and Assistant Town Manager and our Finance committee for their advice and support in prioritizing the capital needs of the Fire/EMS Department. 

Last but certainly not least, thank you to our entire Town Council for their decision to move this project forward as requested. Our promise to all of you is to continue using our long-standing, thoughtful and collaborative apparatus replacement plans.

Fire Chief Rich C. Kindelan

State Referendum Election

Town of Scarborough ballots cast

President and Vice President

9,961 Harris, Kamala D. and Walz, Tim*

112 Oliver, Chase and Ter Maat, Mike

118 Stein, Jill and Ware, Rudolph

5,117 Trump, Donald J. and Vance, James D.

31 West, Cornel and Abdullah, Melina

284 Blank

United States Senator

263 Cherry, Jason S.

1,859 Costello, David Allen

8,895 King, Angus S. Jr.*

4,252 Kouzounas, Demi

354 Blank

Representative to Congress (District 1)

680 Alcorn, Ethan Weld

9,347 Pingree, Chellie*

5,079 Russell, Ronald C.

517 Blank

State Senator (District 29)

832 Carney, Anne M.*

343 Howell, Christopher M.

66 Blank

State Senator (District 30)

8,489 Brenner, Stacy Fielding*

5,323 Hamill, Donald R.

570 Blank

Representative to the Legislature (District 124)

2,025 Rosenblatt, Annalee Z.

3,959 Warren, Sophia Bailey*

350 Blank

Representative to the Legislature (District 125)

3,779 Murphy, Kelly Noonan*

2,313 Sterling, Kayla A.

434 Blank

Representative to the Legislature (District 126)

1,816 Gattine, Andrew M.*

947 Blank

Register of Probate (Cumberland)

5,528 Dewitt, Jerry Lynn

8,878 Schwartz, Susan G.*

1,217 Blank

County Commissioner (District 1)

11,489 Caterina, Jean-Marie*

4,134 Blank

Question 1: Citizen Initiative (Limiting contributions to certain political committees)

11,616 Yes*

3,106 No

857 Blank

Question 2: Bond Issue ($25 million research and development bond)

8,554 Yes*

6,125 No

900 Blank

Question 3: Bond Issue ($10 million historic building restoration bond)

7,162 Yes

7,581 No*

836 Blank

Question 4: Bond Issue ($30 million trails bond)

7,881 Yes*

6,650 No

1,048 Blank

Question 5: State Referendum (Changing the State flag)

8,156 Yes*

6,667 No

756 Blank

View State of Maine General Election ballot questions

If you have any questions, please contact the Town Clerk’s Office at (207) 730-4020.

Register/Renew Your Dog License

Dog license registration is now open for 2025, and licenses are valid through December 31, 2024. Register or renew your dog license in person at the Clerk's office or online (If you register your dog(s) online, you will receive your tag(s) at the beginning of the next month). All dog renewals must be completed by January 31, 2025. The cost is $6 (spay/neutered) or $11 (not spayed/neutered). There is an additional $25 late fee after February 1st. To receive a license for your dog, please come into the Town Clerk's Office at Town Hall during our business hours, Monday through Thursday from 7:00am-5:00pm.

Winter Program Brochure: Register Now!

Our Winter 2024-25 brochure has arrived and it’s packed with some frosty fun! Registration is now open for residents. Non-residents can register on Monday, November 18. Here are some highlights by age:

Active Adults

Musicians Circle (Wednesdays, Free)

Party Bridge (Mondays, $1)

Class: Needle Felted Dryer Balls (Dec 13, $15)

Trip: Stone Mountain Arts Center (Dec 5, $65)

Teens

Holiday Shopping (Dec 11, $10)

Red Cross Babysitting Course (Jan 11, $100)

Youth

Basketball, PreK-6 & Mini Hoops, Age 3-5 (Jan)

Date Night Childcare, Grades K-5 (Dec 20, $20)

See the brochure for all programs and date/cost details. Registration information is provided on the first page—call, register online, or stop by the Hub (418 Payne Road) to book.

Staff Changes in Town Leadership

Todd Souza Leaving Community Services Director Role

After nearly 8 years as the Town of Scarborough Community Services Director, Todd Souza will be leaving his role to pursue a career as the next Town Manager for Union, Maine. His last day is November 22nd.

Todd came to Scarborough in April 2017 eager to work in a busy, growing place with new challenges than the small town he worked for previously. Since then the time has flown by, attributable to the dynamic makeup of the Community Services department, which oversees parks, grounds, and facilities, recreational programs for all age groups, summer camp, beaches, the cable access station, passport services, and special events.

During his tenure, Todd was an active member of strategic projects seeking to meet the needs of the community. He took part in both phases of the ad hoc community center committee, and finalized a Community Center Feasibility Study and Parks Master Plan. “I'm excited to see a lot of the projects in motion completed and ultimately benefiting residents,” he says. The department also created the preschool Plover Program to meet a community need for age 3.5-5 child care and modified several special events throughout the year to be more inclusive. Internally, he is proud of the renovations to the Parks Maintenance Building, which gives a space for the grounds crew to convene and break during the work day.

Todd credits much of the successes of the department to his staff, consisting of 19 full time staff and 40-50 part time. To him, every role is of equal importance, and himself and other staff are quick to fill in areas as needed, whether it’s weed whacking or event support. He still thinks back to the first year of the pandemic and all of the quick adaptations their department needed to make. They moved into the new leased site of the Community Services Hub in late 2020 and were offering hybrid care to kids within two months. Another career highlight was rolling out the ADA-compliant boardwalk at Pine Point Beach (Hurd Park) in Summer 2023, giving wheelchair users access to the beach. "Todd has not only been a tremendous stabilizing force, but a visionary leader," says Town Manager Tom Hall. "He will be missed as a trusted member of the senior leadership team, and I wish him all the best in his future endeavors."

Todd, who commutes nearly two hours from the Midcoast, is looking forward to this new opportunity closer to home. “I’m excited to be close enough to my job to really get to know people on a personal level,” he says. “It's been my pleasure to work with and for the Town of Scarborough. I can't say thank you enough to my staff for their professionalism and friendship.”

Todd can be reached at tsouza@scarboroughmaine.org.

Town Assessor Nick Cloutier Promoted to Director of Special Projects

After nearly 5 years with the Town of Scarborough, Town Assessor Nick Cloutier’s role will be expanded to additionally include Director of Special Projects. 

Nick has a keen ability to communicate complex concepts and technical data into a clear and understandable format. This was put on full display this past spring with the in-house completion of the revaluation. Over several months, he prioritized public messaging and was driven to ensure property owners were aware of the revaluation and its effect on taxes. He has also been integral in supporting recent financial impact analyses and presenting them in a distilled format.

The expanded role gives more opportunity for the Town to benefit from Nick’s skill set on strategic projects and initiatives outside of the Assessing department. His core areas of focus will be to assist with the annual budget presentation and communication tools, collaborate with the Finance Director to improve capital planning and modeling municipal debt, and review TIF/CEA materials to recommend improved impact analysis communications.

Nick will also be designated as the Town’s representative to the Maine Municipal Association’s Legislative Policy Committee (LPC) and advise on pending legislation affecting Scarborough, with particular focus on property tax relief.

The Town of Scarborough prides itself on its high caliber leadership team that has the interests of the community at the forefront. “Nick has established a level of credibility and respect from both the Town Council and his peers that is admirable,” says Town Manager Tom Hall. “We look forward to him furthering his reputation in this expanded role.”

Transportation Study Nears Completion

Workshop Presentation on December 4th

A Townwide Transportation Study is currently under development by consultants and will be ready for the public to review on the week of November 25th (posted on our website). Town staff and consultants Barton & Loguidice and TYLin will be presenting key elements from the study during a Council Workshop on December 4th. Over the past several months, the consultants evaluated our transportation network and identified next steps for design, further study or additional efforts. The Town's Transportation Committee has reviewed and provided comments along the way.

The Town of Scarborough last completed a comprehensive transportation study in 2006 and many of these elements were incorporated throughout Scarborough. However, we are also seeing a shift in the perspectives of our residents on traffic and transportation-related issues. The updated 2021 Comprehensive Plan and the Route 1 corridor study (in partnership with the City of Saco) started the conversation on how we may want our roadways and mobility corridors to function. One main question considered during these discussions was: Is having some congestion tolerable in order to slow traffic down and provide a safer environment for our vulnerable users?

This was further considered with the 2023 Town Survey results indicating that one of the most important concerns residents have is the ability to "get around Town". The Transportation Committee is leading this discussion to try to find a balance. So far, the focus has been to weigh heavily on the arterials to convey traffic volumes as well as major collectors that are starting to see more development pressures such as Payne Road. In addition, traffic calming has been a focus on many of our neighborhoods. While we need to continue to provide these critical connected streets to alleviate congestion at major intersections, we also need to streamline the efficiency of the major corridors so that those continue to be the quickest ways for motorists to "get around Town". It is all one system that needs to work in tandem in order to provide an efficient overall experience.

Guiding Principles

The Townwide Transportation Study focuses on 5 guiding principles:

1. Implement Complete Streets Strategies: This will enhance safety, mobility, and multimodal network connectivity

2. Prioritize Safety: This means providing safety measures for all modes of transportation with Town

3. Create a Multi-modal Network: Increase transportation options within Town.

4. Meet Transportation Demands: Consider the needs of travelers of all modes including pedestrians, bicyclists, drivers, and transit users

5. Encourage Connectivity: Reduce travel time, traffic congestion, and delay during peak hours by expanding connectivity, implementing mobility solutions, and offering a well-connected network for all users and focus on utilizing all of our public infrastructure.

Council Approves Piping Plover Ordinance Changes

At their November 6th meeting, the Town Council approved an update to Ch. 610, Piping Plover Ordinance. The biggest change made was to extend protections to endangered least terns, which also nest on Scarborough’s beaches. Other changes include clarifying the types of recreational activities that are restricted near the birds’ nesting areas and updating the penalties for violating the ordinance to be consistent with other Town ordinances.

The ordinance was updated to bring it in line with the Town’s updated Beach Management Agreement with the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and the US Fish and Wildlife Service, to clarify where certain activities are allowed on Scarborough’s beaches, and to address challenges encountered by the Town’s volunteer beach monitors. These changes do not affect the Town’s dog rules, which are found in Ch. 604, Animal Control Ordinance. 

Please direct questions about changes to Ch. 610 to Jami Fitch, Sustainability Manager, at jfitch@scarboroughmaine.org.

Have a friend or neighbor who should be getting these updates? Let them know! Simply go to www.scarboroughmaine.org/stay-connected to sign up. Thank you for helping to make our town more informed.

Two Future Planning Projects Currently Underway

Vulnerability Assessment

This fall, the team working on Scarborough’s Vulnerability Assessment went in the field to look at Scarborough Sanitary District’s (SSD) pump stations. Pump stations tend to be prone to flooding because they’re located in low-lying areas. The Town’s consulting team from GEI and Dave Hughes, SSD Superintendent, visited 15 pump stations that are currently impacted by coastal flooding or are likely to be impacted in the future. They measured elevations of the pump stations and their components to get a better understanding of their vulnerabilities. Information collected in the field will be combined with other data to better understand which areas and infrastructure are at-risk, develop strategies for addressing vulnerabilities, and prioritize solutions.

The Vulnerability Assessment is guided by a working group of Town staff, residents of Pine Point, Prouts Neck, and Higgins Beach neighborhoods, and representatives from other community groups. This fall, the working group will review identified vulnerabilities and recommend 3-5 pilot projects to receive a closer look by GEI. Preliminary engineered designs will be developed for some of the sites. The Town will be able to use the information in the Vulnerability Assessment and the pilot projects to seek funding to begin addressing priorities. 

When completed (estimated Summer 2025), the results of the Vulnerability Assessment will be presented as an interactive StoryMap showing the data used/collected through the assessment process, vulnerable areas in Scarborough, and suggested adaptation strategies that may be implemented to make Scarborough more resilient to flooding. The map is intended to be a living tool that will be updated as new information becomes available and as adaptation strategies are implemented.

Open Space Plan

The draft Open Space Plan will soon be available for the public to review. The plan will help guide and prioritize land conservation efforts is Scarborough. 

Work on the Open Space Plan began in the spring when the Town hired the consulting firm, Viewshed, to assist with the plan. An Ad-Hoc Open Space Committee was also formed to help guide the project. Over the past several months, the planning team has compiled and analyzed data and collected community input through an in-person workshop, online survey, and community events. 

All of the information has been compiled into a draft plan that is under review by staff and the Ad-Hoc Open Space Committee. The revised draft will be available to the public in early December, and an online comment form allows community to provide feedback on the plan. The link to the draft plan will be available on the Town’s website, email newsletter, and social media when it’s available. 

The plan should be complete in early 2025 and will be presented to the community at a Town Council workshop.

Any questions regarding the Vulnerability Assessment or Open Space Plan can be directed to Jami Fitch, Sustainability Manager, at jfitch@scarboroughmaine.org.

Vulnerability Assessment Photo: Ilan Gasco (right) and John Gareau of GEI take measurements at a pump station on Fogg Road.

Senior Property Tax Program Supports 472 Residents

Since 2008, the Town of Scarborough has supported a locally-funded property tax relief program for seniors who meet certain eligibility requirements (age, residency, and income). This year, the Town Council adjusted eligibility requirements to help soften the unfortunate hardship resulting from the State’s decision to end the Property Tax Stabilization Program (often referred to by residents as the “Tax Freeze” Program). The Town Manager and Town Council included funding in the FY25 budget to increase the maximum benefit from up to $750 to $1,000. Additionally, the household Federal Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) income limit was raised from $50,000 to $60,000 to benefit a wider range of seniors in our community. The age and 10-year residency requirement remained unchanged. 

Program participation for FY25 yielded 472 eligible senior households (430 at the full $1,000 benefit amount, 42 with a partial benefit), totaling a fiscal note of $458,880. The Town Program was able to provide aid to 49 additional households compared to last year, largely due to this year’s expanded income eligibility limits.  

The FY25 budget appropriated $435,000 for the program. When combined with the remaining funds of $10,335 from the Program Fund, there was still a deficit of $13,525 to fully fund all eligible applicants to the maximum reimbursement they were entitled to receive. To account for this, the Town Council had the option to either reimburse a pro-rated share, approximately $970.00 (versus $1,000), or to make up the remaining deficit elsewhere so applicants would receive the full reimbursement. The Council voted unanimously at their November 6th meeting to use available funds from the FY25 Overlay Account to ensure that all reimbursements were maximized to provide the full benefit amounts to all participants. Rebate checks are anticipated to be mailed out by the end of November. 

To our knowledge, Scarborough’s local senior Property Tax Assistance Program, is by far and away, the most substantial program of this type in the State. Town Management and the Council are tremendously proud to continue providing this support to local residents who need it most.  

This program’s annual application process is administered by the Town’s Assessing department staff members. A huge thank you to Sue, Erika, and Marianne for their consistent dedication and exemplary customer service that help make this impactful program such a success each year.

Both homeowners and renters who contribute to property taxes through rent are able to apply for assistance. Visit the Assessing page on our website learn more about this program or call us at 730-4060. Applications are due by October 15th each year. Applications for the 2025 program will be available in May.

Now Accepting Letters to Santa 🎅

Return by December 2nd

Community Services is accepting letters to Santa! Have your kids tell Santa about all of the good things they have done this year and a few presents on the wish list. Drop off or mail your letters before December 2nd to get them to Santa so he can get a letter to you in return!

Print out this fill-in letter template (double-sided) or pick one up at the Town Clerk's office and have your child or children fill in the spaces with their information, wishes, etc., and Santa will be sure to reply before Christmas! Parents, note in the letter if you know of certain gifts that Santa will be bringing. Please do not use staples or tape to fully close the letter (makes it very difficult to open). Either enclose it in an envelope or place one piece of tape over the fold.

Completed letters can be dropped in the North Pole Express mailbox at the front of Town Hall, at the Hub (418 Payne Road), emailed to comserv@scarboroughmaine.org, or mailed to the address listed on the template.

Save the Date: Santa in the Park

Saturday, December 7, 5:00-7:30pm

Bundle up the family and head to Memorial Park to welcome Santa and Mrs. Claus to Scarborough! Shuttles from the High School parking lot will begin making their rounds at 4:30pm.

We’ll be getting in the Holiday spirit with sweet treats, activities, music, fireworks, and more! This year we will be kicking off our event with fireworks at 5:00pm. During that time shuttles and walking down to the park will be paused to ensure safety of attendees. Please make sure to arrive early if you want to see the show!

November 27: Passport Day

Wednesday, November 27

9:00am-2:00pm

Community Services Hub, 418 Payne Road

Drop-in, no registration required

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, and each year the need continues to grow. Passports applications are accepted at the Community Services Hub, located at 418 Payne Road in Scarborough, by appointment only on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. While we also do hold limited Saturday hours throughout the year, we also try to offer days when school is closed and it’s a little easier on families.

Our Fall Passport Day will be held on Wednesday, November 27th, at the Community Services Hub, from 9:00am to 2:00pm (drop-in, no registration required). We will have multiple staff members on hand to answer all of your questions, assist you through the process, and accept your applications. These days have previously been busy, so 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.

RSVP: Scarborough Community Thanksgiving

Be sure to reserve your spot for the Annual Thanksgiving Scarborough Community Dinner. RSVP by Wednesday, November 20th.

Economic Development Tools: TIF and CEA Refresher

Council Jon Anderson's article below discusses the use of smart growth as a strategy for a stable tax rate. It gives an update on the financial impact of the Downs development, which is in an established TIF district and has a Credit Enhancement Agreement (CEA) with the Town. Here is a refresher on these economic development terms:

TIF: A Tax Increment Financing (TIF) is an economic development tool administered by a town in partnership with the State of Maine. It allows municipalities to leverage property taxes generated by a specific new project or projects within a defined geographic part of town. Some or all of these new taxes can be used to either help pay for certain public project costs and/or make direct payments to private developers to help fund a portion of the new project costs. The State incentivizes the utilization of TIFs statewide, by tying TIF program outcomes to State funding formulas that can lead to increased revenues from the State and reduced county taxes owed by towns.

CEA: A Credit Enhancement Agreement (CEA) is a financial mechanism that may be used within a TIF district (designated area in Town targeted for economic growth) to compensate a developer or business for some of the new construction's project costs using TIF funds. The CEA is a contract between the municipality and developer to assist the construction projects by using some of the tax revenues generated by the new construction to make payments directly to the developer. The promise of these shared revenues, based on project performance outcomes, helps to incentivize new construction in targeted portions of town, especially when the developer is assuming most of the expensive infrastructure costs and possible investment risks along the way.

Town Council Corner: How Do We Keep Scarborough Affordable?

By Jon Anderson, Town Council

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.

“How do we keep Scarborough affordable?” It’s a simple question, but the answer is complex. One unpopular mechanism is through smart growth. If you don’t like growth, but want stable taxes, it is difficult to have it both ways. On October 2nd, Crossroads Holding LLC voluntarily presented their latest progress to the Town. The Downs is a divisive topic due to the Credit Enhancement Agreement (CEA). I would never live at the Downs. High density development and modern New England architecture is not for me, but it has a place in our Town. Many wonderful people live there who contribute to our community and are welcome here. Some even have roots in Scarborough, downsizing due to an empty nest or younger residents returning home but can’t afford a single family home elsewhere in town.  

The Town established a tax increment financing (TIF) district in Oak Hill and the Downs. This allows us to shield new taxable value from the state, keeping our state valuation lower than it would be otherwise, which impacts our state aid and county taxes. Having this tax shelter benefit allows for the Town to invest back into ourselves to help stabilize the tax rate. In order for the benefit to be effective, the TIF district must generate new value. The rationale of the CEA was to spur economic development to generate this new value by providing a tax credit if the developer met non-residential performance standards. The standards are designed to also generate a fiscal benefit to the Town. This credit allows the developer to take on the risk and invest in upfront infrastructure to activate the development.  

As of Year 6 of the CEA, the Town has provided a cumulative total of ~$4M in tax credits. Conversely, the Downs has invested $81M in water, sewer and roadway infrastructure to service the development, including traffic improvements throughout other parts of Town. Our updated financial modeling indicates by the end of the 30-year CEA, the Town stands to gain a next positive fiscal impact of $125,000,000, excluding the tax shelter benefit. This is based on the revenue collected by the Town minus the cost to serve the development AND the tax credit they will receive. The total tax credit they are estimated to receive is $79,000,000 - significantly less than the developers investment costs over the life of the project, particularly when you consider the time value of money. Without the agreement, the Town may have been responsible for these infrastructure costs to generate new value, much like the costs incurred by the Town to activate Haigis Parkway.

With the $125M “profit”, the Town can use funds to offset the increased operating costs from inflation, fund facilities and infrastructure improvements, and continue to provide the services you expect, and perhaps some new ones you would like, while continuing the tradition of a goal of 3% or less annual tax increase. In this high inflationary environment, many communities in Maine without projects like the Downs have experienced double digit tax increases. Scarborough, on the other hand, had a tax increase of 1.35% this year (normalized for the revaluation). While I’ve been on the Council, our tax increases have been in alignment with our goal, in part due to our smart growth strategy at the Downs with the new commercial and residential value they have created.  

Traffic is often a concern expressed by residents. At our workshop, the Downs shared they are seeking a partnership with the Town to pursue federal and state grants to assist with transportation costs. They hired an outside firm and have already identified opportunities for application to address projects in the area. If we are successful, we can leverage these grants to fund traffic improvements that would otherwise likely require more debt and higher taxes. 

With the Downtown Area ahead of schedule, everyone will hopefully find something they enjoy in the Downs in the near future. A restaurant, a coffee shop, a specialty grocer with the treats you like, a small business that provides services that you can’t get elsewhere in Town. These new businesses will also continue to offset property taxes by shifting from residential to commercial businesses to stabilize the tax rate.  

While smart growth is one way to keep Scarborough affordable, it’s not the only way. We need to explore other options and consider the right mix of spending, growth, timing of investments, new revenue sources, affordable housing projects, senior property tax relief and other tools to keep Scarborough affordable. I look forward to exploring ways with the new Council to keep Scarborough affordable, hearing ideas from you, and continuing to work together to make our community better tomorrow than it was yesterday!

Scarborough Town Council

Jonathan Anderson • Don Cushing • Scott Doherty • Bill Donovan • Cory Fellows • Karin Shupe • April Sither

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

Scarborough Board of Education Upcoming Workshops

The Scarborough School Board meets on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of every month. Here are a few recent highlights:

• The Board welcomes newly elected board member, Mitchell Rockenstire, who was elected to fill a vacancy created by a resignation this spring. Mitchell will serve from November 2024 to June 2026.

• There is a Joint Workshop with the Town Council on November 21st for an update on Phase 2 of the School Building Advisory Committee. It will include a presentation on the selection process and final decision of the committee for a consultant. 

• The next regularly scheduled workshop is on December 19th: “Understanding AI”, presented by IT Director Jenn Day and Curriculum Director Katie Vetro. 

• On December 5th, the board will hear from the Director of Nutrition Services, Peter Esposito, for a review of the Nutrition Services within the district. 

Events & Programs at Scarborough Public Library

Genealogy Beyond Ancestry.com

Tuesday, November 19, 6:30-7:30pm

Register

Ancestry.com is an excellent resource for taking the first steps to trace your family history. But where can you go for the next steps? Many other websites have genealogy records that will help you research your ancestors. Join B.J. Jamieson, the genealogy reference specialist at the Maine State Library, to explore what other websites offer and how to find them.

Film Screening: "43 Degrees North"

Thursday, November 21, 6:30-8:30pm

Register

While grieving the loss of his late wife, a world-renowned author goes into seclusion on an island in the Gulf of Maine. In his isolation, he befriends a strange entity that may not be of this world. 43 Degrees North was filmed on four of the Calendar Islands of Casco Bay and multiple locations on the mainland, including Old Orchard Beach, Cape Elizabeth, and Brunswick. The film features all local talent and a Maine-centric soundtrack that includes the music of Schooner Fare, Noel Paul Stookey, and the Portland String Quartet. Read more in this Portland Press Herald article.

Richard Cass, Author Talk

Tuesday, December 3, 7:00-8:00pm

Register

Join acclaimed author Richard Cass for a talk about his latest novel, Closing Time, the last in the Elder Darrow Mystery series. Books will be available for purchase and signing.

From Kirkis Reviews: A bar owner investigates the death of his detective friend in Cass’ crime novel, the seventh in a series. Boston-based jazz lover and alcoholic Elder Darrow owns a bar—the Esposito—but he’s been slowly losing his passion for the business, and the drinking is starting to catch up with him. When Elder’s best friend, Boston police detective Dan Burton, is gunned down in what appears to be a random liquor store robbery, Elder barely has time to grieve before mobster Mickey Barksdale shows up at the Esposito with a proposition. A compelling and often poignant mystery about aging and loss.