2022.04.08--Falmouth Focus, Volume 4, Issue 11
Please note: This newsletter will be sent to subscribers of both The Falmouth Focus newsletter and Town News & Announcements. Please excuse cross postings. To change your subscription settings, visit E-Alerts.
General Information
Table of Contents |
Please note, currently the Table of Contents links feature is not supported by all email clients or browsers.
- News & Issues
- Ongoing Initiatives
- Events
- Take Note
- Falmouth Public Schools
- Town Council, Board & Committee Meetings
News & Issues |
Patriots' Day Closure
Town offices and facilities will be closed on Monday, April 18 in observance of Patriots' Day
Call for Nominations for 2021 Citizen of the Year Award
Each year the Town of Falmouth honors an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the municipality through the Citizen of the Year Award. The award acknowledges exceptional contribution to the community and positive examples of citizenship.
The Town of Falmouth is now accepting nominations for the 2021 Citizen of the Year Award. Nominations may be submitted by any individual or group in writing and must be 500 words or less. Nominations will be judged by the Town Council on the following criteria:
- Contributions to community welfare
- Civic achievement
- Volunteerism
- Conscientious service to Falmouth Town government
The Award will be presented to the 2021 Citizen of the Year in June. Please send nominations to the Town Manager’s Office, 271 Falmouth Road, Falmouth, ME 04105, Attn: Julie Baxter, or you may e-mail them to jbaxter@falmouthme.org. The deadline for nominations is Thursday, May 5. To find more information on past recipients, visit: https://www.falmouthme.org/town-council-town-manager/pages/citizen-of-the-year-2020-0
CMP to Inspect Distribution Lines in Falmouth
Central Maine Power (CMP) is undertaking a series of line projects in Falmouth, known as Distribution Line Inspections, which include replacing poles and cross arms, line transfers, and correcting any deficiencies in the lines. These inspections and replacements will help improve the structural integrity, capacity, and reliability of CMP’s distribution system, and will also help CMP address regulatory requirements.
The work is anticipated to begin on April 11 and will take approximately 5 weeks. Equipment used may include digger trucks, bucket trucks, and other vehicles. Areas impacted include:
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CMP does not anticipate any extended power outages because of this work. A member of a crew will notify property owners if this need arises. Restricted access to businesses and residences is not anticipated. If obstructions do occur, they will be on a limited basis and coordinated by the construction crews. Each work area will be maintained throughout the project to minimize property impact, dust, and to keep neighborhoods clean. All trash or debris will be removed daily. In the rare cases where work could impact abutting properties, such as the need to trim or remove trees to protect the distribution system or access the work location, construction crews will contact property owners and work with them on an individual basis.
Additional Resources
Distribution Line Inspections Frequently Asked Questions
For more information or questions, contact CMP at: 800-750-4000 (7:30 a.m. - 6 p.m., Monday - Friday)
New Route 100 TIF District Established
At its March 14 meeting, the Town Council approved the establishment of a new 30-year Tax Increment Finance (TIF) District on Route 100, encompassing 45 acres and capturing existing developments including Homestead Farms. Revenues from this new TIF will replace some of the revenues of the West Falmouth Crossing TIF and Route 1 North and South TIFs when they expire. TIFs are a flexible finance tool used by municipalities to leverage new property taxes generated by a specific project(s) within a defined geographic district. Any portion of the new taxes may be used to finance public or private projects for a defined period of time for up to 30 years. TIF tax dollars go further than regular property tax dollars because TIFs allow Falmouth to keep 100% of property taxes raised from properties in TIF districts, whereas a portion of regular property tax dollars go toward education, revenue sharing, and county taxes. TIFs allow Falmouth to invest in and maintain infrastructure, leaving money in the General Fund for other important services, and thus minimizing the impact to the tax rate. To learn more about the new TIF district and Falmouth's other TIFs, check out our new "TIF 101: A Guide to Tax Increment Finance Districts" fact sheet. Download the fact sheet here.
REAC Waste Management Survey
Falmouth is fortunate to have over 300 businesses within our community, plus countless residents that play key, decision-making roles at their places of work. If you own or work for a local business, the Falmouth Recycling and Energy Advisory Committee would like to hear from you! The Committee is working to better understand commercial waste management practices in Falmouth. This will help them to provide the most applicable and useful resources to support local business and save them money by implementing recycling and waste reduction efforts. Please take the business waste management survey.
Ongoing Initiatives |
Veranda Street Bridge Closure Begins April 18
Additional impacts on local roads and services
MaineDOT will begin road closures associated with the Veranda Street Bridge Replacement Project on April 18. These closures will have significant impact on traffic in Falmouth. MaineDOT has created a helpful video explaining the project. Find the video here.
Veranda Street Closure--April 18-April 25
Veranda Street (under the bridge) will be closed from 2:00 p.m. on Monday, April 18 to 2:00 p.m. on Monday, April 25. Access to Portland via Route 1/Veranda Street will require a significant detour. This will impact daily commuters who use Route 1/Veranda Street to get to or from Portland. This could also cause traffic delays along Route 1, Bucknam and Middle Roads.
I-295 Full Closure--April 22-April 25
The I-295 closure will take place from 7:00 p.m. on Friday, April 22 to 11:00 a.m. on Monday, April 25. This closure is expected to significantly increase traffic in Falmouth, especially along Route 1, Route 88, Middle Road, Lunt Road and Bucknam Road, as well as on the Maine Turnpike and in Portland. All northbound and southbound traffic on I-295 will be diverted to the Spur or through Falmouth at Exit 9 Northbound and Exit 10 Southbound during the closure weekend.
Additional Impacts
Portions of two local roads in Falmouth will also be closed to through traffic during the interstate closure (April 22-25). MaineDOT has established these closures to alleviate traffic congestion at major intersections along Route 1 and Middle Road. Depot Road will be closed between Route 1 and Route 88. Residents along this roadway will have access to and from their properties. Additionally, Falmouth Road will be closed to through traffic between Lunt Road and Middle Road. Again, residents on this portion of Falmouth Road will have access to and from their properties. A temporary traffic light will also be installed at the intersection of Lunt and Middle Road to help manage traffic flow.
Road closures will also impact Greater Portland Metro's bus service in and around Falmouth. There will be no inbound or outbound Route 7 service on Veranda Street from April 18-April 25. During the interstate closure from April 22-April 25, no inbound Route 7 service will be offered along Route 1 between Clearwater Drive and Washington Avenue. Metro Breez will detour; however, all stops will remain in service. Visit Greater Portland Metro for more information.
What are the Detour Routes?
MaineDOT has identified multiple alternative routes for traffic during this closure and invites the public to come up with their own "Veranda Plan" to avoid the area and minimize delays. Visit www.VerandaPlan.org to find maps and detour routes.
What Can I Do?
Commuters are advised to plan alternate routes to avoid traffic and delays. Businesses should alert employees to allow extra time to get to and from work. We ask all commuters who travel in this area to do so with additional caution and patience.
With anticipated increases in traffic volume on Route 1, Route 88, Lunt Road, Bucknam Road, and Middle Road, extra precautions should be taken by those biking, running, or walking. If on foot or a bike, wear reflective clothing, stay on the sidewalk, shoulder, or far to the edge of the road, and anticipate greater noise, speed, and volume of traffic. As always, cyclists should travel with traffic and pedestrians should walk or run facing traffic.
Closely follow updates related to this project which will be sent regularly to the News & Announcements subscription email list, posted to our social media outlets, and included in issues of The Falmouth Focus newsletter. You can subscribe to Falmouth News & Announcements or The Falmouth Focus at www.falmouthme.org/subscribe. Additional project information, maps, and detours can be found at: www.VerandaPlan.org.
Vision & Values Update
At the next Town Council meeting on Monday, April 11, the Town Council will vote to approve an order to accept the Vision & Values Final Report submitted by Future iQ. Public comment will be heard at this meeting. David Beurle, Future iQ CEO, gave a presentation on the report and data gathered from the Community Survey #2 at the Town Council meeting on March 25. A video of the presentation can be found here (agenda item #8). Future iQ's final report can be found here. Data from the final survey as well as all data gathered throughout the project can be found on the project portal at: https://lab2.future-iq.com/town-of-falmouth-vision-and-values-project/. The meeting will be held in the Town Council chambers at Town Hall or can be joined virtually. Find an agenda and link to join by Zoom or phone here.
Solar panels were delivered to the landfill site in December 2021
Landfill Solar Array Update
April showers bring…solar array construction! Shovels are anticipated to break ground on the Woods Road landfill solar array this Monday, April 11. Construction will begin with the installation of a road to the top of the landfill, followed by the installation of stone for the bases to sit on, and then installation of the racking system that will attach to the solar panels.
The array has an expected annual output of 1,500,000 kWh for the initial delivery year and will produce enough renewable energy to offset ~70% of municipal electric use. It is estimated to save the Town $1.995 million in energy costs over its 20-year lifespan. This project has been in development since the Town Council approved signing the Purchase Agreement with Tangent Energy Services in May 2020. Nation-wide supply chain issues delayed the project so it’s exciting to finally be breaking ground. Construction is anticipated to last through the summer, with completion in the fall. Construction is not anticipated to impact transfer station operations in any way.
COVID Reflections: Finding the Good
by Doug Zlatin, Community Wellness Committee
This is the second installment of a series of monthly wellness focused articles from the Falmouth Community Wellness Committee. More information about the committee is available on the committee’s webpage.
The COVID-19 pandemic was a long and difficult ordeal. It affected our lives in profound ways and severely tested our ability to cope. But Falmouth is a community of strong believers in finding the good, not only to salvage value from great adversity, but also to grow through the hardship. Mental health experts have long known that our most difficult challenges are often those we learn the most from, and, in retrospect, find our lives changed by, sometimes immeasurably for the better.
As we (finally!) return to what feels like “normal,” let’s reflect on a few positives that came out of the last two years:
- Slowed the daily pace of our lives down
- Learned who and what matters most to us
- Spent more quality time with our families and the people we love
- Realized - in a new way - not to take those connections for granted
- Adopted (more) pets
- Spent more time outdoors doing recreational activities or planting gardens
- Exercised more
- Enjoyed the convenience of curb-side pick-ups
- Gained new appreciation for the value of our brave, essential workers
- Had fewer winter colds and flu
- Read more books, played more games, and did more puzzles
- Spent more time in the kitchen
- Became more conscious of ourselves as part of a community pulling together
- Attended concerts, meetings, services, and other events from the safety and comfort of home
- Reimagined our workplace, performed duties remotely and enjoyed more flexible schedules
- Maybe switched careers to a more fulfilling line of work… or maybe retired early
- Enjoyed more widespread tele-medicine making medical care more accessible to many
This list is by no means exhaustive. Readers can easily add to it. The Committee thought it was a good way to highlight resilience – that aspect of wellness that taps our ability to adapt to difficult situations and find ways within those challenges to grow and prosper. COVID-19 certainly provided us with opportunities! Let’s make the most of them.
The Community Wellness Committee is looking for committed energetic volunteers that might enjoy event planning, along with many other fun inspiring ideas to spread opportunities to choose wellness. Falmouth High School students are encouraged to apply. Click here for an application.
Residents Encouraged to Complete Climate Vulnerability Assessment
Tell us your climate change concerns!
Part of the Falmouth Climate Action Plan involves completing a Vulnerability Assessment, which will identify the ways in which Falmouth's infrastructure, ecosystems, economies, and communities may be most vulnerable to the climate hazards we will likely face from climate change. We’ve developed an interactive map for residents to report specific concerns or insights. Your input will help the Town prioritize initiatives and ensure our approach to building community resilience involves truly inclusive action.
Map your climate concerns and observations now.
Events |
Green Home & Energy Show, April 9
Join Falmouth's Recycling & Energy Advisory Committee at the Green Home & Energy Show on April 9 to learn about sustainability efforts in Falmouth and more! Learn more here.
Coffee with Councilors
Building on the productive dialogues established during the Town’s Vision & Values process, the Town Council would like to invite all residents to join two Councilors at a time for an informal Zoom gathering. These meetings will be scheduled for one hour each with no set agenda. It is a chance for informal dialogue on whatever is on residents' minds. We will vary the days and times to try to be accessible to all. Note, this is a pilot project; we will assess continuation after a few months. Visit the events calendar on the home page for Zoom links to each meeting or watch this space. We hope to see you there!
The next Coffee with Councilors will be held...
NEW DATE--Wednesday, April 13, 12-1pm
Attendees: Councilors Johnson, de Lima
Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87063103236
Or One tap mobile :
US: +13017158592,,87063103236# or +13126266799,,87063103236#
Or Telephone:
Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location):
US: +1 301 715 8592 or +1 312 626 6799 or +1 646 558 8656 or +1 253 215 8782 or +1 346 248 7799 or +1 669 900 9128
Webinar ID: 870 6310 3236
International numbers available: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kdHJdhY0S3
Additional Dates
Note: Links to each coffee will be posted on the events calendar on our home page at www.falmouthme.org and listed here in each issue.
Wednesday, May 11, 6-7pm
Attendees: Councilors LaFond, Kuhn
Spring Healthy Lawn Care Made Easy Workshops
Learn how to grow a healthy lawn that’s safe for families, pets, and the environment while saving money, time, and effort with workshops from the Cumberland County Soil and Water Conservation District.
All classes are $15 and held from 6-8 PM. Register online at: cumberlandswcd.org/workshops
- Thursday, April 14--In person or webinar | Yarmouth Water District
- Tuesday, April 26--Webinar
Questions? Call Cumberland County SWCD at (207) 892-4700.
Earth Day Clean-Up, April 23
April 22 is Earth Day! Mark the occasion by joining us for an Earth Day Clean-Up! The Falmouth Conservation Commission is hosting a Clean-Up at the River Point Conservation Area from 9am-12pm on April 23. River Point Conservation Area is located on Route 100, just east of the West Falmouth Crossing Shopping Center. Park at the head of the railroad bridge or in the rear of the shopping center lot. After crossing the bridge, look for an informational kiosk to the right. We will provide Town trash bags and info at the kiosk. Each participant at the clean-up will receive a FREE movie pass courtesy of Flagship Premium Cinemas in Falmouth!
Urban Run Off 5K
Our community's health, economy, and way of life depends on clean water. Unfortunately, polluted runoff threatens Maine's lakes, rivers, streams, and bays. You can be the hero we need to protect our water. The Urban Runoff 5K, hosted by Cumberland County Soil and Water Conservation District, supports clean water education in the Greater Portland and Saco areas. The 2022 event will allow participants to explore a course anytime during the month of April on their own or join the timed event on April 23, 2022. Registration and more info at: https://www.cumberlandswcd.org/urban-runoff
Take Note |
Spring Leaf Bag Collection Schedule for 2022
Spring curbside collection for leaf bags has been scheduled for Friday, April 29 and Friday, May 6. All leaf bags MUST be at the curb by 7:00 a.m. to ensure collection.
Leaf bags are available at the Public Works Office (101 Woods Road) in quantities of 12 per Falmouth resident address beginning Monday, April 11 (WHILE SUPPLIES LAST!). REMINDER – Brush is NOT collected curbside, but can be brought to the Transfer Station. Please do not put brush or trash in leaf bags.
Transfers station hours are:
Tuesdays & Thursdays, 12:00 – 4:00
Fridays 7:00 – 5:00
Saturdays 9:00 – 5:00
For more information, please contact the Public Works Office at 207-781-3919
Seasonal Temporary Closure of Falmouth Trails Remains in Place
With rain in this weekend’s forecast, the temporary seasonal closure of Falmouth trails will remain in effect to ensure that the integrity of the trails is not compromised during the rain and mud season in Maine. Trailheads remain cordoned off and closure signs posted. Staff will continue to monitor the trail system and, with the help of some more sunny, warm days, reopen trails as soon as conditions permit.
At this time of year, the trails are particularly fragile. The ground has been going through a cycles of freezing and thawing and a lot of moisture remains in the soil, making the trails extremely muddy and subject to severe damage. Our trails are more popular than ever, but we ask for patience as we manage the annual spring thaw. The integrity of the trails is important to all of us. We appreciate your cooperation and understanding in respecting the trail closure signs posted at trailheads.
Questions may be directed to Open Space staff at 207-699-5312 or openspace@falmouthme.org.
Nomination Papers Available
The Municipal Election will be held on Tuesday, June 14, for the purpose of electing:
- Three (3) people to the Town Council for three (3) year terms.
- Two (2) people to the School Board for three (3) year terms.
Nomination papers are available from the Town Clerk’s Office at Falmouth Town Hall. Residents interested in running for either Town Council or the School Board must submit nomination papers with a minimum of 25 and a maximum of 100 signatures no later than 5:00pm on Friday, April 15. Town Hall will be open until 5pm on Friday, April 15 for the express purpose of receiving nomination papers. No other services will be available.
Falmouth Public Schools |
Highlight: Music and Makers Market for Ukraine
On Wednesday, April 27 from 5:00-7:00pm, there will be a student-run Music and Makers Market at Falmouth High School with live music, a silent auction, and food and art for sale. This event is open to the public! Student, staff, and community artisans, musicians, crafters, and foodies will provide the music, food, and handmade donations. All proceeds will be donated to World Central Kitchen. World Central Kitchen is serving thousands of fresh meals to Ukrainian families. WCK provides meals in response to humanitarian, climate, and community crises around the globe.
Would you like to participate? If you or your child is interested in donating artwork, crafts, or food items, please use this donation Google Form. Falmouth students or staff interested in participating in the music portion of this event, please fill out this musician Google Form. Please note that each group must have at least one Falmouth student or staff member to participate.
Focus: All Schools Choral Concert
Congratulations for a wonderful All Schools Choral Concert on Wednesday, March 23. Singers from all three schools shared their music with each other at the High School Theater. Enjoy the recording of the concert here.
Upcoming: School Board Meeting
School Board Business Meeting - Monday, April 25, at 7:00pm in the Falmouth Elementary School cafeteria. The agenda is posted 5 days prior to the meeting on the falmouthschools.org website.
For more information on Falmouth Public Schools, visit: www.falmouthschools.org
Town Council, Board & Committee Meetings |
Town Council Meeting, Monday, April 11, 7:00pm
The Town Council will meet on Monday, April 11 at 7:00pm. The meeting will be held in person at Town Hall in the Town Council Chambers as authorized by Section 28, Policy Eight of the Town Council Rules and 1 MRSA §403-B. Members of the public may participate in the meeting by either attending the meeting in person or via Zoom. The agenda and Zoom link can be found here. The Zoom application will allow attendees to connect and participate remotely via computer or phone. The public may also watch (no participation option) the meeting on Channel 2 or on the Town website streaming channel. Check out our Guide to Participating in Virtual Public Meetings. If you have questions, please call (207) 699-5335.
At the Most Recent Town Council Meeting…
The Town Council held a meeting on March 28. An agenda and video can be found here.
- The Council approved the minutes of the February 14 and 28 Council Meetings.
- The Council approved the appointment of Cate Petit to the Community Wellness Committee and Ariel Greenlaw to the Planning Board (alternate).
- The Council approved an order for a new permanent liquor service establishment license for On the Rocks Bartending Service, Inc.
- The Council approved orders for a new permanent food and liquor service establishment license for Sicilian Table.
- There was a presentation on the Vision and Values Project Final Report.
- There was an introduction of Ordinance to Amend Ch. II-9, Art. II-9-4., Coastal Waters Ordinance, Sec. 9-94. of the Code of Ordinances Regarding Rental Mooring Assignments. A public hearing is scheduled for April 25th.
Planning Board
The following items were considered at the Planning Board meeting on April 5. An agenda and video can be found here.
188 US Route 1 – Burr Signs representing People’s United Bank - Request for Sign Permit Approval to replace 2 signs. Map/lot U51-005. APPROVED WITH CONDITIONS
Tuscan Way – Cummings Properties LLC – Request for Subdivision Amendment Re-Approval of August 3, 2021 for a drainage easement as well as a minor landscape modification. Map/lot U47-026-B. APPROVED WITH CONDITIONS
36 Woods Road – Tangent Energy Solutions Inc. – Request for Site Plan Re-Approval for a 875-mW AC Solar Array Project on the existing Town landfill. Map/lot R01-004. APPROVED WITH CONDITIONS
Public Hearing - Amendments to Chapter II-19 of the Code of Ordinances, amendments to the Exit 10 Design Guidelines, and an amendment to the Zoning Map relative to land use and zoning recommendations along the Route 100 corridor. RECOMMENDED
456 Blackstrap Road – White Acres LLC – Request for Subdivision Approval for a 3-Lot Minor Subdivision with Open Space. Map/lot R08-009-001. APPROVED WITH CONDITIONS
19 Burgess Street – David Rines – Request for Shoreland Zone Permit Approval for Shoreline Stabilization. Map/lot U16-045. APPROVED WITH CONDITIONS- 20 Burgess Street – Raymond Nagel & Edmund Gardner – Request for Shoreland Zone Permit Approval for Shoreline Stabilization. Map/lot U16-044. APPROVED WITH CONDITIONS
Please note: Planning Board agendas for upcoming meetings may not always be complete at the time of this newsletter's publication. Within the agendas, when possible, links will be provided to direct users to any additional information available on projects at the time of publication, including building elevations, plans, and images when available. Information on Planning Board projects and activities, including agendas and minutes, can be found at: https://www.falmouthme.org/planning-board. For additional information or questions, contact Dawn Emerson at 207-781-5326 or demerson@falmouthme.org
Board of Zoning Appeals
The Board of Zoning Appeals will hold its next meeting on April 26. Items under consideration will be reported in the next edition of the Focus on April 22. An agenda will also be posted in advance of the meeting here. For more information please visit: https://www.falmouthme.org/board-of-zoning-appeals
Stay Informed with the Town of Falmouth Website and E-Alerts
There are many Town committees and boards that meet on a regular basis. The events calendar on the Town of Falmouth website homepage lists upcoming board, committee, and Town Council meetings. We send E-Alerts when Town Council, Planning Board, and Board of Zoning Appeals meeting agendas and minutes are posted to the website. Subscribe via E-Alerts to those that most interest you. Agendas and Minutes for these meetings are also posted online and can be accessed from the home page. Town Council, Planning Board, and School Board meetings are live-streamed on Falmouth Community TV Channel 1301 (Former Channel 2). Recordings of these meetings are also available for viewing online. Board of Zoning Appeals Meetings are not broadcast live but can be viewed online within 24 hours after the meeting. E-Alerts allows you to subscribe to specific e-mail lists about Town-related issues that interest you. The Falmouth Focus, this bi-weekly newsletter, is another way to stay in the loop. Subscribe via E-Alerts. Please let us know what kind of information you would like to see included in your town newsletter.
Town of Falmouth, 271 Falmouth Road, Falmouth, ME 04105207-781-5253
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