As the seasons shift and the days get colder, we here in Wells are bundling up and planning for a month of festivities and fun! There is no shortage of ways to spread holiday cheer this month, and Wells invites you to join in on the celebrations. The Parks and Recreation Department is hosting its annual tree sale, a fun-filled Meet and Greet with Santa is scheduled, the Holiday Tree Lighting at the Town Hall is just around the corner, and Wells Public Library is hosting its annual Children's Holiday Party. In addition to the abundance of festivities in town, Wells is also focused on yearly tasks from each department to round out the year. Read on to learn how Wells is staying busy this holiday season.

Did you know...the Town of Wells Select Board meetings are streamed live for your viewing on Facebook, Town Hall Streams and YouTube? You can watch previously recorded meetings at any time, or tune in live to share a comment or question for the chance to have it shared during the public forum.

Stay up to date and view the meeting minutes at your convenience.

Photo Courtesy of Wells resident, Matthew Rainey

Winter weather in northern New England is difficult to predict. In Wells, this is especially true since the conditions along the coast are often very different from what the weather is on the north side of the Turnpike. There are many variables affecting winter maintenance operations such as type of precipitation, air and pavement temperatures, traffic, wind, time of day and even the day of the week. Winter maintenance is considered an art, not a science. 

Plowing operations generally commence when snow accumulation reaches one to two inches and will continue until the storm has ended. Widening and intersection visibility clearing is performed following the end of the storm and generally during daylight hours. At the end of the storm, the crew does a final cleanup plow run and a light salt application is laid down as necessary to remove any remaining snow/ice residue. 

For light snowfall or snow squalls, plowing begins immediately and likely includes simultaneous salting to get the roads clear quickly and efficiently. DPW uses straight calcium chloride for deicing, except on the dirt roads where sand or small stone is used, using salt on dirt roads prevents them from freezing. There are times when an abrasive-chemical mix may be needed at extremely low temperatures or on very lightly traveled roadways. In these conditions the effectiveness of salt is reduced and abrasives may be needed for traction.

Wells Residents Frequently Asked Questions

Below are some frequently asked questions about winter maintenance:

I am uncomfortable following a slow moving plow truck. Can’t they go faster or pull over frequently to allow traffic to pass them?

Plow trucks operate at a speed necessary to safely perform the work which includes placement of salt. Air turbulence created at speeds greater than 25 mph makes it difficult to keep the salt discharged within the desired width of the road. Other factors influencing the speed include the intensity of the storm, which can impair visibility, type of precipitation, dry or heavy wet snow, sleet or freezing rain and the potential to strike a fallen or hidden object. Following a plow truck too closely can be dangerous for you and the truck driver. Many times, a snow cloud is created behind the plow truck that can obscure your vision in addition to “hiding” your vehicles. If plow trucks pulled over, it would take longer to clear the roads plus you would be driving on a snow-covered road instead of a cleared one. Additionally passing vehicles have a tendency to accelerate, which on a snow covered road, could lead to loss of control and potentially a crash.  It is safer for you to stay back behind the plow truck and try to be patient.

During a snowstorm, a plow truck knocked over my mailbox. Will the town repair/replace it?

Despite our precautions, plow truck or the plowed snow can inadvertently strike or push over a mailbox. This usually occurs during periods of low visibility or during heavy snowfalls. The Town does not assume responsibility for mailboxes or any other items placed within the Town’s right-of-way. It is against the law to plow or push snow into the town’s right-of-way, or onto a town road.

Why doesn’t the snowplow carry the snow past my driveway instead of plowing into it?

As we plow, we need to keep a consistent plowed width of road. If the truck swerved out around your driveway or stopped to push the snow around it, the width would likely vary and could lead to a vehicle to strike the snow bank if oncoming traffic was encountered.

I just got my driveway cleared and then the snowplow came by and filled it up again. How often is this going to happen?

We will continue to plow and treat the roads until the storm has ended. Then a final run is made to push back the snow banks to prevent snowmelt from running onto the road, to provide more room for additional snow storage and increase sight distance and visibility. To help prevent snow from being pushed back into your driveway, place snow outside of the right-of-way and “upstream”-meaning on the side of the driveway opposite to the direction the plow is travelling. You can also clear the side of your driveway next to the road on the downstream side to have an area for the plow to unload snow before crossing your driveway.

Winter sand/salt mix is available at the DPW facility on North Berwick Road for Wells residents.  You can take up to two 5 gallon buckets per storm. Please bring your own shovel.

Travel safe this winter, please remember to drive responsibly and respect the road conditions. Plow drivers work very long hours, give them the room as well as patience and courtesy to do their jobs.

The Town of Wells is ready to greet the holiday season with its 4th annual Holiday Tree Lighting ceremony. The ceremony will be held on Saturday, December 9th at 5:00 pm at the Wells Town Hall, located at 208 Sanford Road, Wells, ME. This year includes a meet and greet with Santa Claus himself, performances from the Atlantic Harmonies singing group, led by Bailey Smith, a Touch-a-Truck, where children of all ages will have the chance to explore a Wells Fire Truck, cookie decorating, craft making, a hot cocoa bar, gingerbread house raffle and more! This is a free event and welcome to all ages.

Communications Coordinator, Rebekah Kelley, encourages families to come out, bring their friends and neighbors and join in the holiday cheer. “It is the perfect way to kick off the holiday season, come together as a community and celebrate this magical time of year", says Kelley. In addition to a tree being lit, there will also be a Hanukkah menorah on display. Dress for the weather and come ready to sing, drink cocoa, be merry and welcome the most wonderful time of the year! For more information, please contact Rebekah Kelley by email or by phone at (207) 361-8130.

The Code Enforcement and Planning Offices have been working on a new fee schedule.  The existing fee schedule has not been increased since 2010 (14 years). The Budget Committee, when reviewing the 2023-2024 proposed budgets, recommended a review of the fees. The Board of Selectmen agreed with the recommendation and tasked the Code and Planning Departments with reviewing the fee structures of surrounding communities and presenting a cost formula to the Select Board in a workshop. 

The presentations to the Board of Selectmen were based on the comparison to (9) nine different Towns/Cities in Southern Maine. We used a cost comparison per three different models of permits current costs per permit, comparison model of a new dwelling and model for an addition. We used each community’s current fee schedules.

Even with this increase, the Town of Wells will still be the lowest in the region. All other communities are using a cost of work approach per $1000. The Town will continue to use the square footage determination, which is a far more accurate way of calculating the fees. 

The first half of Fiscal Year 2024 real estate taxes have been sent out. The last day to make payment without interest is December 11, 2023. Payments can be made by mail, by placing in the Town Hall drop box (by the side of the building at the Finance Dept entrance), online at wellstown.org (payment online must be made by credit or debit card and will incur a 2.5% processing fee) or by stopping by the office. If you did not receive your bill, please call us at 207-646-5113 so we can mail or email you a copy and verify that we have your correct mailing address.

We also have the 2024 Transfer Station stickers available by mail and in the office. Please send or bring a copy of the registration(s) you would like the sticker(s) for. The cost per sticker remains at $5.00.  The request by mail form can be found here.

The Town of Wells is now accepting requests for municipal support from social service agencies serving Wells residents for the 2024/2025 budget cycle.

This will cover the period from July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025.

The application can be found here.

Submission deadline is December 4, 2023.

We are thrilled to announce that the Town of Wells has been selected to participate in Wreaths Across America this December, an esteemed annual tradition of placing wreaths at each gravesite in Arlington National Cemetery. We take great pride in sending Wells Fire Chief, Mark Dupuis and Sgt. Chris Baez on this significant mission, to serve as representatives of Wells and to honor our heroes.

Chief Dupuis was invited this year to act as Fire Department liaison to escort one of the Gold Star Families for the entirety of the journey, from Columbia Falls, Maine, to Arlington, Virginia in the convoy. The 8 day convoy will start on December 8th and finish at Arlington on December 16th, which is National Wreaths Across America Day. It will stop at schools, veteran’s centers, memorials and other public places for memorial services along the way.

Sgt. Chris Baez, from Wells Police, has been participating in the Maine portion of the escort for the better part of a decade. He will be in the escort providing safe passage for the Gold & Blue Star families, veterans and tractor-trailers filled with wreaths as they travel through Maine on their journey to Arlington National Cemetery.

The convoy is comprised of over 13 tractor trailer trucks transporting wreaths and approximately 14 Gold star families. These individuals are escorted to place wreaths on every grave in Arlington National Cemetery. Over 230,000 wreaths will be placed on graves there this year.

You can join us in commemorating our service members by greeting the convoy as it travels through Wells on Monday, December 11th. The Wreaths Across America Escort is tentatively scheduled to pass through Wells, via Route 1, on the 11th, between 7:45- 8am. THIS TIME IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE.

Be sure to follow along on the Wells Police Facebook page , the Wells Fire Department Facebook Page, and the Town of Wells Facebook page for updates throughout the duration of the journey.

Wells Public Library will host their annual Holiday Party on Tuesday, December 12 at 6 p.m.

Come meet Santa! He has stories to tell and magic to share. Holiday-themed crafts and activities will accompany this can’t-miss program!



This free event is sponsored by the Friends of the Wells Public Library. For more information, please contact Allison Herman at [email protected] or call the library at 207-646-8181.

Fall programs wrapped up after a very rainy season. Several soccer games were cancelled or rescheduled. Archery was rained upon. And most saddening of all, we needed to cancel the 34^th Annual Haunted Hayride. The Haunted Hayride is a huge community event bringing together over 120 volunteers, over 20 in-kind and monetary sponsors and over 900 visitors from near and far. Our dedicated volunteers work on their sets and props for weeks and spend several hours on site getting ready before our visitors arrive. It is not a small undertaking. In the 34 years, we have had snow, morning showers, rain the whole week before and other crazy New England weather but it has never come down to having to cancel. Sadly, this is a first. The decision to cancel was not an easy one.

Moving on to winter, we are picking up our chins and getting excited for holiday events and winter programs. We recently received a call from the North Pole to let us know that Santa is planning to visit on December 1^st and in addition he will make some very important phone calls to some children in Wells on Dec 13th. As we gear up for Santa, we are also getting ready to sell Christmas trees starting the Saturday after Thanksgiving.

If you need a night out Christmas shopping without the kids take advantage of our “Parents Night Out” on December 8^th where we will watch your children while you enjoy an evening out.

Adult Open Gym (Basketball & Volleyball) has recently started and will be on going throughout the winter. Youth Basketball is in full swing and Youth Wrestling, Pleasant Mt. Multi-Week skiing, swim classes and Mad Science are now open for registrations.

For more information on these and other Recreation programs please visit our website.  

Wells Parks and Recreation is once again selling Christmas trees on a first come, first serve basis. Sales began on Saturday, November 25th and will continue until all trees are sold out. The trees are sold at the Wells Recreation Park Pavilion (at the back of the lower parking lot), located at 412 Branch Road, Wells, ME. All full size trees are priced at $55 a tree. Table Top Trees have sold out.

All trees are fresh cut only days before they arrive in Wells!

• Full Size Trees are 5'-8' Tall

Hours for tree sales are:

• Friday, December 1st, 9:00 am - 7:00 pm
• Saturday, December 2nd & Sunday, December 3rd, 10:00 am - 4:00 pm

However, hours may change due to staff availability. Please visit the Wells Parks and Recreation website for the most up to date hours.

• If a staff member is not in the pavilion during open hours, please ring the Rental Shop bell, or call 646-5826 for assistance.

Cash, Check and Credit Cards accepted.

'Tis the season for Santa Claus to make special calls to Wells & Ogunquit children in preschool-2nd grade. Santa will speak with your child and wish him or her a very Merry Christmas! The Wells Recreation Department has been offering this special holiday program since 1984.

Santa will makes calls on Wednesday, December 13th between 6:00-7:00pm. Online Forms must be completed by noon on December 12th. Click here to complete your online form.

You can also get a chance to meet Santa in person! Wells Parks and Recreation is also hosting a Visit Santa night at the Walter Marsh Recreation Area. Come enjoy Christmas lights, music, and some hot chocolate. Visit with Santa and tell him your Christmas wishes on Friday, December 1st, starting at 5pm. Registration is REQUIRED, though the event is free. Slots are filled on a first come, first serve basis. Learn more about this event here.

The assessing office has been busy now that the reevaluation of the town has come to completion. We have been working with the Town of Wells taxpayers reviewing their new assessments in the form of site visits with the assessor or in office meetings with the assessor and going over their tax bills. We are making any necessary adjustments based on our findings.

We encourage the taxpayers to give the assessing office a call at (207-646-6081) if there are any questions or concerns.

Our office strives for record accuracy based on the documentation and information provided to us by taxpayers. If you feel that your assessment is manifestly wrong you have until April 28, 2024, to file an abatement with our office.

Three Types of Abatements

1. Assessor Initiated

• Up to one year from commitment

2. Taxpayer Initiated

• Informal request – anytime
• Formal request - within 185 days from commitment 

3. Municipal Officer Initiated

• Within three years of commitment to correct error or illegal assessment, not valuation issues.   

We would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season.

Please be aware that the Wells Town Hall will close at 5:00 PM on Tuesday, December 5th to accommodate a staff holiday gathering.

The Wells Select Board Meeting and Workshop that evening will begin at 3:00 PM. 

Thank you for your understanding. 

Please join us in welcoming the newest Town of Wells staff members. We are confident that their skills will prove to be an asset to their respective departments and we know they will be a wonderful addition to our team.

Name: Alisa Mazzola

Position: Executive Assistant to the Chief of Police.

I am excited about this position because I come from a family of first responders and have always loved the work and care that go into the community from each department. I also am excited to meet more people in all the different departments and think its a wonderful opportunity to get to know the community.

A little bit about me: I have two brothers that are my absolute best friends and love to attend my nephews football games and nieces cheerleading events. In my free time, I love to cook and sew. I love to hike and love animals; I have pups of my own and would rather spend a Saturday night watching movies with them than with anyone else!

Name: Colby Hanscom

Position: Equipment Operator

A little bit about me: I am excited to be out in the community every day, making a positive impact on the Town, and keeping Wells looking the best that it can. I recently got a chocolate lab puppy named Bruce and enjoying spending my time with him and taking him on walks. In my free time, I enjoy hanging out with friends, and traveling, having gone to Canada and Mexico recently.

New Fire Department staff members (L to R):

• Eric Beaulieu, Paramedic
• Justin Moon, Advanced EMT
• Nathanael Pierce, Paramedic
• Sean Tourigny, Advanced EMT
• Jonathan Gay, Assistant Fire Chief

The Town of Wells is fortunate to have these individuals join our staff and we are confident they will shine in their new role. We wish you all the best!

Register your dog for 2024

We know this is a busy month for us all, but don't forget about your four-legged companions! Dog licenses expire December 31st, and there are a few weeks left to register your dog before the new year.

Please bring a current rabies and neutering certificate, if applicable. The fee for an intact male or female dog is $11. The fee for a neutered or spayed dog is $6.

A $25.00 late fine starts February 1st, in addition to the licensing fee.

If you have further questions, please call the Town Clerk's office, open Monday through Friday, from 8am to 4pm at (207) 646-2882.

Why do dogs need to be licensed? Many reasons! Dog licensing ensures rabies vaccination which protects the health of your pet. Also, dog license fees go directly to the Maine Animal Welfare Program to fight animal cruelty and abuse, accounting for 95% of the State Animal Welfare Program’s entire funding. Without these fees, the State would be unable to protect the animals of this state.

• Board of Assessment Review - 1 member vacancy; 2 alternate member vacancies
• Budget Committee - 1 alternate member vacancy
• Comprehensive Plan Update Committee - 1 member vacancy
• Energy Advisory Committee - 2 alternate member vacancies
• Planning Board - 1 alternate member vacancy
• Recreation Commission - 2 alternate vacancies
• WEMS Board - 2 member vacancies
• Zoning Board of Appeals - 1 associate vacancy

Mark your calendars, dig out your Santa hat, and come ready to welcome the season at the Wells Christmas Parade, hosted by the Wells Chamber of Commerce. This is the 38th year of the parade in Wells, Maine. The parade will take place on Sunday, December 10, 2023 starting at 2 pm. The Grand Marshal will be announced when selected. The parade begins on Route 1, at the Wells Plaza, and marches north to Wells Junior High School.

To download a copy of the event poster/flyer to post at your place of business, please visit the Chamber website.  Last year’s parade was a great success and The Chamber of Commerce extends a deep thanks to everyone who sponsored and participated.

Join the Wells Ogunquit Senior Center on Friday, December 8th from 10 AM - 11 AM for a Keeping the Keys Workshop, open to the public. This will be a free, hour-long presentation that will help older drivers and their families plan to keep mature drivers on the road for as long as safely possible. The presentation will take place at the Senior Center, located at 300 Post Road, Route 1, Wells, Maine.

Topics include:

• How driving changes with age
• How to safely adapt driving
• How medication may impact driving
• Vehicle safety, comfort and fit
• How to minimize driving risks

Presenters inclue Tom Baran, of AAA Northern New England and Chief John Lizanecz, of the Ogunquit Police Department.

All are welcome to attend.

With the upcoming holidays, we often find that our ovens are over-taxed with all of the foods which require baking and roasting. So, if your oven will be occupied over the holiday season with a roast turkey, roast beef, roast lamb, casseroles, holiday breads or pies, I offer these two easy recipes for your consideration.

Slow Cooker Ham

Ingredients

• 1 bone-in or spiral ham (I prefer the bone-in butt ham vs the spiral, as it is less expensive, and tends to be less dry than the spiral; however, this recipe may be used for either)
• 2 cups brown sugar, packed (either light or dark brown sugar)
• 1 can of pineapple chunks or rings, if desired

Directions

1. Spread about 1 ½ cups of brown sugar on the bottom of a slow cooker (I find that a 6 quart oval cooker is best to allow adequate space for the ham)
2. Place ham on the brown sugar, flat side down. Trim if necessary to make it fit.
3. If you want to use pineapple, pour the can of pineapple chunks with juice along the sides of the ham. If using sliced pineapple, apply to the top of the ham, and pour the juice along the sides of the ham. (if you don’t wish to use pineapple and juice, no liquid is necessary, as water from ham will be adequate)
4. Add the remaining ½ cup of brown sugar to the top of the ham, and pat down with your hands.
5. Cover, and cook on LOW for 8 hours. 

Note: As the hams are often higher than the crockpot, and the lid will not fully close, cover the top of the crockpot tightly with aluminum foil, and place glass cover lightly on top. As the ham cooks, the water which is within the ham will leave, causing the ham to shrink enough to allow the crockpot top to be placed and locked.

Hint:  Using crockpot liners makes clean up easier!

Nutrition Facts: 360 calories, 26 grams protein

Crock Pot Cheesy Potato Casserole Bake

Ingredients

• 1 package frozen hash brown potatoes, shredded (28oz)  (I usually use shredded hash browns, but you can also use diced hash browns.)
• 1 can cream of chicken soup (10.5oz)
• 1 cup milk
• 1 small onion, chopped (optional)
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• 8 oz sour cream

Directions

1. Spray the inside of a 6 quart crock pot with non-stick cooking spray, or use a crockpot liner for easier clean-up
2. Break up the frozen hash browns in the bag 
3. In a large bowl, whisk together the cream of chicken soup, milk, and sour cream
4. Stir in the hash browns, onions and 1 cup of the shredded cheddar cheese
5. Pour this mixture into the crockpot and top with the remaining shredded cheese
6. Cover and cook on LOW for 4-5 hours or on HIGH for 2-3 hours
7. Serve warm and enjoy!

Nutrition: 204 calories, 8 grams protein

The Wells Ogunquit Senior Center will be hosting a Christmas Fair on Saturday, December 2nd, from 10am to 2pm. There will be raffles, pies, crafts, eggnog and more! The event is sure to be a blast and put smiles on the faces of all those who attend.

There will also be the 15th Annual Benefit Dinner at Billy's Chowder House on Tuesday, December 5th. 100% of the proceeds are donated to the Wells Ogunquit Senior Center.

Please call (207) 646-7775 for more information.

Sign up for the RAVE Alert System for York County to ensure you receive emergency alerts.

​The RAVE Alert System is a reverse 911 application that allows citizens to sign up for emergency alerts. The program allows users to create a profile to alert first responders to their specific needs as well. For example, if there was an evacuation, the program would let first responders know if a user needed evacuation assistance through their profile. The profiles allow users to mark if they need specialized assistance, are dependent on electric supply, or even if they have pets or livestock.

​​

Examples of alerts include: winter storm notices, evacuation notices, flood alerts, bio-terrorism alerts, and boil water notices.

​​

Click here to Sign Up for RAVE Alerts.

• Planning Board Meeting

December 4, 2023, 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM;

Wells Town Hall

• Select Board Workshop & Meeting

December 5, 2023, 3:00 PM

Wells Town Hall

• Harbor Advisory Committee Meeting

December 7, 2023, 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM;

Wells Town Hall

• Zoning Board of Appeals

December 11, 2023, 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM

• Staff Review Committee

December 12, 2023, 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM; Wells Town Hall

• Planning Board Meeting

December 18, 2023, 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM;

Wells Town Hall

• Select Board Workshop & Meeting

December 19, 2023, 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM

Wells Town Hall

• Energy Committee Meeting

December 25, 2023, 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM

• Staff Review Committee

December 27, 2023, 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM; Wells Town Hall

If you have submission requests for The Wells Connector,

please contact Rebekah Kelley at 207-361-8130 or by email.