City of Saco Newsletter
June 2020
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City Hall Open by Appointment Only as of June 1, 2020
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City staff have been continually adapting our municipal services to minimize risk to employees and community members under the Center for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines regarding COVID-19.
The City of Saco began a phased re-opening of City Hall on June 1, by appointment only, following Governor Mills’ “
Restarting Maine’s Economy
” guidelines. City staff have been discussing safety enhancements and customer service strategies to ensure we are compliant with the identified phases. These plans are subject to change as new orders are issued.
We miss face-to-face interaction with our community members, but continue to encourage you to conduct business online, by phone, through email, or by appointment whenever possible. You can pay city bills, reregister vehicles, and report a problem using our website at
www.sacomaine.org
– or you can also call us at (207) 282-1032 to reach a city staff person to assist you or send an email to the specific department.
For full details on the City Hall re-opening, including how to schedule an appointment and the best contact methods for each City Hall department, click the button below.
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Statement from Saco's Police Chief
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Saco Community Members:
I wish there were words to bring peace to the loved ones of Mr. Floyd. We are appalled by and condemn the actions of the former police officers who were involved. We are committed to due process for all citizens. George Floyd had these rights stripped from him.
My colleagues and I have reviewed and discussed what happened at length, and I can assure you that as individuals and as a collective, we are equally saddened and shocked by what George Floyd suffered in his final moments. What we witnessed was inhumane. We are grieving for Mr. Floyd and everyone who cared for him.
The Saco Police Department stands with our community; we are your police department. We strive to do the right thing by all our citizens, all the time. Our department values are Professionalism, Accountability, Compassion, and Trust. These values are what guide our department in everything we do. We strictly hold ourselves to our values, and you can expect professionalism and compassion anytime you interact with us, regardless of who you are. We value accountability and trust, and our priority is to ensure our community members have trust in our police officers. We are committed to actively listening, evolving, and training to provide the best service we can to all our community members.
We want to thank you for your ongoing support. It is an honor to serve and protect the citizens in Saco, which is a job that we do not take lightly. Stay safe, and as always, we are here if you need us.
Jack Clements
Chief of Police
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Virtual Memorial Day Ceremony
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In honor of the men and women who sacrificed their lives while serving in the US Military, Saco and Biddeford collaborated to host this Live Stream ceremony on Memorial Day, Monday, May 25th, 2020, at 10:00 AM.
The Live Stream begins with opening remarks from the two cities' mayors. During the event, viewers will also see selections by local musicians, a flag raising ceremony, and a video montage honoring local veterans. This year's guest speaker, Dr. Christian Basque, is a veteran and a physician at Southern Maine Health Care.
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The City Council is continuing to host their meetings virtually. For information about how to watch these meetings, please visit www.sacomaine.org/watchmeetings. At their meeting on Tuesday, May 26th, the City Council tabled the budget vote. On Monday, June 8, 2020, the City Council will continue discussions regarding the Fiscal Year 2021 budget process. For more information about the proposed municipal and school budgets, please visit www.sacomaine.org/budget.
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Council passes temporary COVID-19 restaurant policy to aid local businesses
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On Monday night, the City Council adopted a temporary policy allowing businesses to expand retail and restaurant services into outdoor spaces through November 1, 2020. This policy will help businesses operate safely and in compliance with Covid-19 restrictions and best practices. Under the new policy, restaurants and retailers may apply to expand into sidewalks and parking areas. To learn more, or to apply for a permit today visit
Sacomaine.org/OutdoorService
.
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Parks & Rec Meal Program Continues
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Saco residents age 50+ can sign up to receive a free hot meal for pick-up at the Saco Community Center each Friday. The meals are free for all eligible community members.
For detailed program sign-up information for this weekly hot lunch program for seniors, please visit the
Saco Parks & Recreation SENIORity Programs page
. Sign-up typically begins on Monday for each Friday meal. We encourage you to sign up early, and as a reminder, you must sign up each week you would like to participate.
Would you like to participate in the future, either as a food provider or sponsor? Sponsors, donors, and Saco Parks & Rec have been working together to fund the program, purchasing meals from restaurants that are free to recipients.
We are happy to have the opportunity to support and highlight our local restaurants, and to help connect these businesses with each satisfied program participant.
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Please continue to follow social distancing guidelines and maintain a distance of six feet from others. If you arrive to find a full parking lot at a beach or any outdoor recreation area, please consider an alternate destination.
Read on for details about
2020 summer beach parking passes, lifeguards, accessibility, bathrooms, and piping plovers.
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Mobi-mats installed May 20
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These
Mobi-Mats
allow those who may have issues traveling on sand (from strollers to wheelchairs) to get closer to the ocean. The walkways were made possible by a grant from AARP to
Age Friendly Saco
.
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Lifeguards will not be posted at the beaches until June 19, 2020. As always, please use caution whenever you are enjoying the ocean.
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The Bayview bathhouse is open from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM each day and will only be cleaned once a day. If you see an issue with the bathroom, please report it to the Facilities Division online at
sacomaine.org/bathrooms
.
The bathrooms at Camp Ellis will remain closed until further notice.
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Why we ask you to leash your dogs on our beaches in the summer season...
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The piping plover is a small shorebird that makes its habitat in sandy beaches and has been on the federal endangered species list since 1986.
We have eight piping plovers living in Kinney Shores and Goosefare Brook, as well as an active nest with four eggs.
Because we get to play a special role in helping this species reach more healthy population levels, dogs must be kept on leash at the beach in the warmer months.
We also need your help protecting the birds' habitat by not touching the nests. By respecting nests and keeping dogs on a leash from April 1 to September 30 at Bayview Beach, Kinney Shores, and Camp Ellis Beach, you are helping the plover continue to recover.
The
Saco Parks & Recreation Department
is still looking for volunteer Piping Plover Monitors this summer! Please contact Ryan Sommer, Parks & Recreation Director, at (207)283-3139 or by email at RSommer@sacomaine.org for more information.
Saco will be monitoring Bayview, Kinney Shores, and Camp Ellis beaches for piping plovers. Volunteers must be able to walk the beach at least once a week to observe the birds, watch for disturbances, and report any issues to the department.
Thank you, Jim Swain, for sharing these beautiful photos (1st and 3rd) with us and for being one of our dedicated plover monitors!
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2020 Beach Parking Pass Info
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The parking kiosk meters were installed this Wednesday, June 3rd at the Bayview Beach and Camp Ellis parking lots.
If you are a Saco resident, one of the easiest ways to get a parking pass is to simply pay for an all-day pass at one of these meters and keep the receipt. Then, if you submit a copy of the $10 receipt and proof of Saco residency to us, we will mail you a parking pass for the summer.
Otherwise, online payment for parking passes is coming soon. For now, you can pay in the following ways:
- Parking Pass by Mail: Submit a copy of your registration and a check for $10 to the Finance Department, 300 Main Street, Saco, ME 04072. We will send you a pass by mail. If you qualify for a free parking pass, please also submit proof of age or disabled veteran status.
- Parking Pass by Dropbox: Submit a copy of your registration and a check for $10 to the night deposit box at Saco City Hall. We will send you a pass by mail. If you qualify for a free parking pass, please also submit proof of age or disabled veteran status.
- Parking Pass by Kiosk: If you purchase an all-day parking pass for $10 at the kiosk meters, SAVE THE RECEIPT! Submit the receipt and a copy of your registration, and we will send you a pass by mail.
- Senior Parking Passes: If you qualify for a free parking pass and have already signed up for one of the Saco Parks & Recreation SENIORity Programs, you can also request one through Saco Parks & Recreation Department. If you are not participating in the meal program, you can get a pass mailed to you using any of the methods outlined above.
If paying by check, please make it payable to the City of Saco and mail it to the Finance Department, 300 Main Street, Saco, ME 04072.
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If you're not a beach person...
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As more people head to the beach, remember you don't have to go far in Saco to feel like you've escaped the city.
These pictures are from last weekend at
Middle Goosefare Trail
. You've probably driven by this hidden trailhead countless times with its entrance just behind the Big Apple/Citgo on Portland Road (742 Portland Road/Route 1). You'd be surprised how just a minute into the trail, all traffic noise fades away, replaced with birdsong, animals rustling through the leaves, and, occasionally, silence.
Have you thought about popping by one of our many shaded trails for a picnic? It's as easy as picking up carry-out from one of our amazing local restaurants and choosing a destination. Please help us keep the trails clean by carrying out your trash with you.
If a picnic is not your style, check out
Saco Bay Trails
for more resources on other outdoor activities in town.
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It's tough to properly convey the amount of gratitude we feel for our local EMS providers. Every year, we give it a shot through EMS Week. We joined them for lunch the week of May 18 and this is what we learned:
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Approximately 75% of the calls our Fire Department receives are related to emergency medical services.
Throughout this pandemic, our Firefighter/EMS Providers continue to deliver safe, quality care to our community members.
D Crew shared a few tips for our citizens:
- Please wash your hands.
- Stay home if you are sick, but...
- If you're experiencing a medical event or need to call 911 for help, please do so. We are here to help you if you need it.
- And treat each other with kindness and offer support to one another when you can, how you can.
Thank you again to our Saco EMS providers.
We appreciate you.
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Thank you to
Aftermath Services LLC
for recognizing our officers' commitment to our community through the COVID-19 crisis.
The 60 PPE kits we received as part of the Pay It Forward program will help keep our officers and community members safe.
Watch this to see our submission for the contest. This video genuinely captures our officers' fondness for engaging with and helping our community members.
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Check out the COVID-19 scam reports, by the numbers article from the Federal Trade Commission.
"The top complaint categories relate to travel and vacations, online shopping, bogus text messages, and all kinds of imposters."
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We are always looking for ways to improve communication with our community members. As always, if there is anything we can do to better communicate information, please let us know by emailing ERoy@sacomaine.org. Be sure to check out our Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube pages using the buttons below. You can also see news and updates on the City of Saco website at www.sacomaine.org.
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