Due to water damage sustained in the subzero temperatures in early February, we temporarily relocated a few department locations to continue providing top-quality services for Saco residents. Thank you to our City facilities team, and first responders for quickly reacting to and containing the water damage, or this situation could have been worse.
This temporary change impacts the following departments: Assessing, Code Enforcement, and Economic Development. We have provided their locations and contact information for your convenience below.
ASSESSING
The Assessing Department will operate out of Saco Public Works at 15 Phillips Spring Road. Their hours are 7:00 AM - 3:00 PM, Monday through Friday. You can reach the Assessing Department at (207) 282-1611 or visit their website at sacomaine.org/assessing.
CODE ENFORCEMENT
The Code Enforcement Department will be operating out of the first-floor conference room of City Hall from 7:30 AM - 4:00 PM. The conference room is immediately to the right after entering from Cutts Ave., or to the left of the large stairwell if entering from Main St. To reach the Code Enforcement office, call (207) 284-6983 or e-mail Administrative Assistant Claire Wyman at cwyman@sacomaine.org.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
The Economic Development Department will be located in the Saco Schools Administration Building at 90 Beach Street. You can reach the Economic Development Department at (207) 282-3487 or visit their website at sacomaine.org/economicdevelopment.
Thank you to the Facilities and Information Technology teams for determining temporary workspaces, the city departments for their flexibility, and all of our citizens for their patience and understanding.
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Arts Commission Call for Submissions |
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Calling all artists! The Saco Arts Commission is accepting submissions for original artwork to display as an outdoor art poster.
These posters are known as “wheat paste murals”, and are installed as temporary displays using a centuries-old process of adhering paper-replicas of artwork to brick building surfaces using a paste made from wheat flour.
The posters in Saco may range in size from 8.5” x 11” to 24”x36” depending on the location and the artwork. The Commission is seeking digital submission until April 15th 2023!
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EMERGENCY PARKING BANS
If a significant storm is predicted, a parking ban may be ordered. The parking ban will prohibit parking on city streets allowing the crews to perform their job quickly and efficiently. During parking bans, the Transfer Station is closed, allowing the department to have more personnel available to fight the storm. If trash and recycling collection is impacted by a parking ban, the change in collection will be shared with the parking ban notification.
HOW CAN I FIND OUT ABOUT PARKING BANS?
Be sure to follow the City of Saco on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to stay up to date with parking bans and cancellations.
WHERE CAN I PARK DURING PARKING BANS?
The primary location that allows for overnight parking within the City of Saco is the Long-Term parking lot at the Amtrack Train station. Overnight parking is not allowed on any other city owned parking lot and vehicles will be towed. Please see the map on our website for more information about parking in the East Lot or West Lot.
Parking is also available at the Free Street lot downtown and at Diamond Riverside Park (49 Irving Street). Cars must be moved from these lots within two hours of the end of all parking bans.
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New Bridge at Cascade Falls |
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We're proud to introduce the newest trail bridge in Saco, expanding access to Cascade Falls through the Trout Pond Loop trail!
The 20-foot falls are roaring – please use caution and don't walk on frozen waters. The trailhead is located on Cascade Road in Saco, roughly a quarter-mile south of Route 1.
Special thanks go to Saco Parks Foreman Barry Brewster and the rest of the Parks department for their ongoing efforts and dedication to connecting residents and visitors with our natural environment.
Improvements are ongoing, with new benches and picnic tables to come this summer. We encourage you to get outside and check out the new bridge the next time you have a chance.
We're fortunate to have so many amazing trail systems in our community. Discover a new favorite place in Saco through our interactive StoryMap at www.sacomaine.org/explore.
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Recognizing 2022 Employee Milestones |
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Each winter, we take some time to reflect and recognize all City staff who reached five-year service milestones in the previous year. This time around, we were able to recognize a combined 300 years of service to the City of Saco, with milestones reached in almost every department.
Please join us in thanking these City workers for their dedication to Saco:
35 YEARS
25 YEARS
Tom Langevin, Fire
Amy Oliver, Public Works
Dale Shannon, Public Works
20 YEARS
Don Laflamme, Public Works
Bob Leclair, Public Works
15 YEARS
Will Rankin, Code Enforcement
10 YEARS
Patrick Dugas, Fire
Don Fiske*, Code Enforcement
Steven Kierstead*, Police
Amanda Morong*, Parks & Recreation
David Pendleton, Fire
Dave Twomey*, Code Enforcement
5 YEARS
Jamie Axelsen, Public Works
Kristin Booth, Finance
Jack Clements, Police
John Cunniff, Police
Josh DeSimone, Parks & Recreation
John Goulet*, Public Works
Kyle Gregory, Police
Kevin Hallady, Public Works
Rodney Rossignol, Police
Glenys Salas, Finance
Cam Stephenson, Fire
Cole Tarbell, Fire
*Indicates current concurrent length of service as a full-time employee
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Parks & Rec Department is Seeking Piping Plover Monitors |
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Saco Parks & Recreation Department is preparing for the arrival of piping plovers this spring! The piping plover is a small shorebird which makes its habitat in sandy beaches and is federally listed as a threatened bird species. We’re fortunate to have a growing population of plovers who nest on our beaches and grow their families in the warmer months.
We’re looking to add to our team of volunteer plover monitors, who each walk the beach at least once a week to monitor the birds, watch for disturbances, and report any issues to the Parks & Recreation department.
Monitor work begins April 1, 2023 – for more information or to express your interest in becoming a volunteer piping plover monitor, please contact Parks & Recreation Director Ryan Sommer at 283-3139 x812 or rsommer@sacomaine.org.
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Saco Scoop Re-Opens with Transitioned Leadership |
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We joined The Saco Scoop team last month as they celebrated the shop’s grand re-opening, following the transfer of ownership from Saco Main Street to longtime manager Melissa Colley.
Melissa and her team of “Scoopers” had a packed house, including several City officials and live music from the Ocean Park Ukesters.
Colley began working at The Saco Scoop in October 2019, and said while she didn’t expect this job to lead her to ownership, she fell in love with The Scoop quickly.
“It’s the people,” she said. “It’s just a really special community.”
We wish Melissa and her team the best of luck. Stop in and see them at 209 Main Street for some tasty ice cream, an energizing drink, or a beautiful handcrafted gift.
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Economic Development Hosts Business After Hours at City Hall |
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“This event was meant to showcase a few local businesses and to remind people that Saco is a great place to eat, shop, and visit,” said Economic Development Director Tracey Desjardins. “The food presented last night was just a small sample of Saco’s offerings.”
In between bites, City officials and staff appreciated the opportunity to connect with the business community.
“Saco’s Economic Development Department is here to support you,” Director Desjardins said. “If you need anything, please reach out.”
Thank you to our participating restaurants, including:
- Majestic Flower Shop
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To mark Saco’s 156th incorporation anniversary on Feb. 18, 2023, we introduced you to some of the people who make Saco special.
Our City is kept going by these mechanics, wastewater operators, finance clerks, after school counselors, first responders, and everyone in-between. They hold the torch lit on Feb. 18, 1867, completing the day-to-day work of local government services so that Saco and its residents can thrive until we’ve seen at least another 156 years go by.
We take pride in our City and care for it each day.
Happy Incorporation Day, Saco!
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School Resource Officer Day |
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February 15th was National School Resource Officer Appreciation Day and we like recognized Saco's School Resource Officer Amanda Condon. Officer Condon has been a SRO with Saco Police Department for five years and has made special connections with students and faculty of many Saco Schools.
"You have the opportunity to build those bonds early on with children," Officer Condon said, reflecting on the day-to-day in local schools. But she looks forward to future relationships between members of the Saco Police Department and these future adults, too.
"It's awesome interacting with the kids," she said, "but the ultimate goal is years down the line."
The relationship-building is not a one-way street for Officer Condon, though, which we believe helps her do her job so well.
"I don't think the kids realize the impact they have on me," she said. "Some of these kids, I go home thinking about them still ... if they had a game that night, [I'm] wondering how they did."
Saco Police Department is incredibly lucky to have Officer Condon as Saco's school resource officer. Thank you so much for all the work you do - It does not go unnoticed.
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Take the short survey linked below and/or drop a pin on the transportation hazard map to tell planners what roads, intersections, crosswalks, etc. make you feel unsafe. Your input will help shape their Vision Zero Action Plan, a draft of which will be ready this spring.
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City Administrator's Open Office Hours 3/28 |
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Saco City Administrator Bryan Kaenrath has scheduled his monthly open office hours for March 28, 2023, from 3:30 to 5:00 PM at City Hall, 300 Main Street.
All community members are invited to share their thoughts, views, concerns, or complaints with the City Administrator directly.
Please call (207) 282-4191 if you have any questions or if you'd like to schedule an appointment with Bryan outside of the open office hours.
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Click each item for more information, if available.
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Receive E-mail Notifications for Council, Planning Board, and More Through E-Notify |
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Would you like to hear from us more than once a month?
Sign up for e-notify to receive custom e-mail notifications on important City happenings, such as the release of new City Council and Planning Board agendas, RFPs, and more.
If you encounter any issues with this system, please reach out to the Saco Communications Department at sacotv@sacomaine.org.
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The City of Saco has open positions.
We encourage you to take a look at the job opportunities currently available with the City of Saco on our Careers page. There is so much important work that goes in to keeping the City running, often behind the scenes.
We're currently hiring for these positions:
- Tax Collector (Finance)
- Arborist (Parks & Recreation Department)
- Grounds Worker I (Parks & Recreation Department)
- Patrol Officer (Police Department)
- Crossing Guard (Police Department)
- Emergency Communications Specialist (Police Department)
- Deputy Director of Public Works (Public Works)
- Field Construction Inspector (Public Works)
- Lead Mechanic (Public Works)
- Mechanic (Public Works)
If nothing is a great fit for you, consider passing the listings along to friends and family who might be looking for a satisfying and important career.
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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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