The Town Hall in Wells is abuzz with activity with both Election Day and the Summer season right around the corner. Beach pass sales have begun, and absentee ballot requests are available. Although we are saying hello to a new season and activities, we are also saddened to be saying farewell to members of our Town Staff. Read on to learn about these stories and more!
This stunning sunrise shot, taken by Wells resident, Ellen Weist, reminds us of the natural beauty found in Wells.
Plentiful Beach Pass Purchase Options
Beginning May 2nd, use any of our public computers at the Wells Public Library to purchase your beach pass online.
For your reference, here is a list of frequently asked questions regarding Beach Passes, answered for you by our Town Hall staff.
Oceans and Books and Bees, Oh My!
Cindy Appleby, Library Director
Just a few more weeks of spring story times and youth services programs remain! There will be a short break after May 27th to get ready for summer reading.

This year’s theme is Oceans of Possibilities, and we’ll have Oceans of activities and fun starting with sign up on Wednesday, June 15th.
Don’t miss our last children’s party of the spring. Our Police and Firefighters Party is on Thursday, May 26th at 6:00 pm. Safety officers from the Fire Department and Police Department will be at the library with their vehicles to answer questions and meet patrons. We’ll have crafts to take home or to give to the safety officers to say “thank you” for keeping us safe.

For Adults:
  • Adult Crafternoon: Macra-MAY, Thursday, May 26th at 2:00 pm. Come learn to make a simple wall-hanging. All materials will be provided.
  • Our first Game Night in April was a huge success. Come join the fun in May. Tuesday, May 31st at 6:00 p.m. Cribbage, cards, backgammon and more!
  • Adult nonfiction book group will discuss Caste by Isabel Wilkerson on Wednesday, June 1st at 4:30 pm.
  • Great Decisions meets Friday, June 3rd at 10:30 am to discuss topical issues of the day.
Looking to learn more about beekeeping? Beth Goodwin, on behalf of the York County Beekeepers Association, donated some great books for the library’s collection.
Come see the fabulous artwork of Gordon Bailey in the Ethel Weymouth Art Gallery through May.

Wells Farmers Market is returning to the library parking lot for the summer. Come check out the selections on Wednesdays from 1:30 - 5:00 p.m. starting June 15th.
Absentee Ballots are Available!
Absentee ballots, for the June 14th State and Town Elections are now available, as of May 15th. To request an absentee ballot, please call our office at (207) 646-2882 or come into the Town Hall.

To return your ballot, you can conveniently do so through three easy options.
  • Return your ballot in-person at the Town Clerk's Office in the Town Hall
  • Return your ballot by depositing it in the drop box that is located at the rear entrance to the Town Hall building
  • Return your ballot through the mail

To ensure your ballot is accepted, please be sure to sign the return envelope. A common reason absentee ballots may be rejected is because the back of the return envelope has not been signed.

This is a State Primary Election as well as Town Candidates, Town Referendum & School Election. You can learn additional information about election day here.
  • Voters not enrolled in a primary party will not receive a State Candidates ballot but will receive all other ballots.
  • All voters can choose to enroll in a party before ballots are issued.
  • School ballots must be returned separately in an envelope provided. These can not be returned until June 2nd or after.
  • Other ballots can be returned as soon as the voter chooses.

All ballots must be received by June 14th at 8:00pm.
Riders Raise funds for Camp Postcard
Jo-Ann Putnam, Chief of Police
Pictured left to right: Kim Hamlyn, Sgt. Arrowsmith, Dale Nason
(Vice President of the Patriot Riders Maine Chapter One) 
On Wednesday May 11, 2022, Sgt. Chad Arrowsmith accepted a donation from the Patriot Riders Maine Chapter One for Camp Postcard (Police Officers Striving to Create and Reinforce Dreams).
Camp Postcard is a free week-long program for Maine kids hosted by Police Officers who are volunteering their time to be Camp Counselors while mentoring, encouraging and caring for these children.
The goal of Camp Postcard is to give children an experience that will enrich their lives and give them hope for the future. Campers experience officers as caring and fun-loving people. The campers rely on donations from supports to help them have all the essential items they’ll need.
On May 1, 2022, the Patriot Riders had their annual Spring Ride as their most recent fundraiser with estimated 325 participants, led by Sgt. Arrowsmith. The Patriot Rider’s focus is on aiding actively serving members of the Armed Forces of United States of America; the Veteran, Law Enforcement, Fire Fighters and First Responders, and the general population of our local communities.
If you’d like to become a member of the Patriot Riders you can apply via their website or if you’d like to donate directly to Camp Postcard, you can do so here.
Mooring Slips Due at Harbor, as New Positions Open
Michael Yorke, Harbor Master
The constant chilly onshore wind has not dampened the spirits of boaters as the Harbor begins to fill up again for another season. Mooring and Slip fees were due the end of April, if you have not sent yours in, please get it in as soon as you can. The Mooring stickers have arrived and can be picked up in the Harbor Master office. Please bring a copy of your boat insurance and registration when you pick up your sticker.
The Town of Wells is no longer towing disabled boats, so please get insurance through TOW BOAT US or SEA TOW and confirm they will have area coverage in Wells.
Progress continues on the new shellfish lab being built in the Harbor. I would like to let everyone know this project has been funded by a community grant from Velux and is not being built with taxpayer funds.
The Wells Shellfish Committee has several openings on the board for new members. Volunteer applications can be obtained here.
Open Space Acres Expand
Mike Livingston, Town Planner and Engineer
Open Space and Conservation Land Explained
Dedicated Open Space and Conservation Land gets created by two methods in the Town of Wells: Subdivision approvals and purchase by the Town. As part of the subdivision approval requirements, approximately 1.3 acres of dedicated Open Space is created for each new dwelling unit or lot. The Town also has a very active land acquisition policy that is funded every year through the Town budget with the dedicated purpose of purchasing land for conservation. This practice has resulted in an average of approximately 95 acres of conservation land being acquired each year. The combined result is that approximately 2.7 acres of undeveloped land per each new dwelling unit or lot is created each year.
The Planning Board conducted site walks over several weekends and public hearings at meetings in April and May. Multiple site plan and subdivision applications are in the review process.
The Comprehensive Plan Update Committee continues to work with the Town’s consultant to review and update changes to the Comp Plan. The Committee is coming close to being able to submit the Plan to the State for review. 
Fire Department tests, trains and trial runs
Mark Dupuis, Fire Chief
We have had a few exciting days of training and testing this month. On April 5th, we had our annual pump testing. This is where we qualify all of our fire engines by testing their water pumps to ensure they can pump to full capacity and have no air leaks or internal issues. This testing is required by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the Insurance Services Office (ISO) which keeps us in compliance with national standards and ensures our trucks are fully capable of handling any emergency incident that they might be subjected to over the next year.
April is the month in which all of the town’s dry hydrants are inspected, flushed, and tested. Dry hydrants are different from the street hydrants you normally find in many cities and communities.
Normal hydrants, like those found along Route 1, are essentially valves that connect a firetruck with a city water line underground. In most of Wells, however, there is no city or public water supply so our trucks must get water from ponds, rivers, fire ponds and fire cisterns. These hydrants do not have pressurized water feeding them. Dry hydrants must be hooked into with a fire engine where the pump pulls the water up from a lower-level water source using vacuum, or suction, to pull the water into the fire pump. This is both labor-intensive and time-consuming. It requires training and consistency. While these hydrants are being examined thoroughly, our firefighters are learning and practicing almost daily on “pulling a draft” off of the dry hydrants. This will flow water back into the water source to determine how many gallons of water can be pulled through our pumps every minute. You may see them around Wells in one of the engines as they draw water from one of the dozens of hydrants in the town.
We also had Fire Tech and Safety demonstrate some new extrication equipment (Jaws of Life). Courtesy of Chandler Automotive, we were able to test this new equipment on a few vehicles and practice new techniques behind the DPW garage in the gravel pit. This training was superb and allowed all our firefighters to try battery-operated extrication equipment while testing new equipment for fit within our department. Next month, another vendor will support additional demonstrations with other extrication equipment to give our firefighters additional equipment to test out and train with for comparison purposes. The firefighters were very appreciative to be able to do this type of hands-on training. 
Thank You
Larissa Crockett, Town Manager
My last day as Town Manager is Wednesday, May 25; I will begin as the Executive Director of the Kennebunkport Heritage Housing Trust in June. I wanted to take a moment to thank the townspeople and the staff here in Wells for the opportunity to serve as your town manager. I've met some wonderful people and shared time and ideas with you in ways that have helped me grow and that I will hold with warm memory.

Thank you to the staff that shared their talents and expertise and patience with me to work together to serve the people of Wells. The people of Wells are fortunate to have staff that are not only skillful and knowledgeable, but who are also dedicated, compassionate, and creative. Thank you all for the work you do to make this town a success.

Thank you to the committee members and to the Select Board for letting me join you in policy discussions and for the enjoyment of thinking about how people govern themselves, how towns meet their needs within a tight budget, how we can both grow and maintain our character, how we prepare for a changing planet, and in visioning the future of Wells.

The photo above is from one of my favorite places in Wells, the Adirondack chair on the Farley Trail at the Wells Reserve. Wells has an abundance of beautiful spaces to wander, vistas to lose yourself in, and good people who call it home. It has been my pleasure to be of service to this community and I am grateful for the time I've spent as your town manager.
If you have submission ideas or requests for The Wells Connector, please contact rkelley@wellstown.org.
208 Sanford Road
Wells, ME 04090
207-646-5113