2024.04.05--Falmouth Focus, Volume 6, Issue 8
Table of Contents |
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- News & Issues
- Ongoing Initiatives
- Events
- Take Note
- Falmouth Public Schools
- Town Council, Board & Committee Meetings
- Stay Informed
Please note, currently the Table of Contents links feature is not supported by all email clients or browsers. Scroll down to read the newsletter.
News & Issues |
Call for Nominations for 2023 Citizen of the Year
Every 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 accepting nominations for the 2023 Citizen of the Year Award. The Town Council will judge nominations on the following criteria:
- Contributions to community welfare
- Civic achievement
- Volunteerism
- Conscientious service to Falmouth Town government
Nominations of 500 words or less may be submitted in writing by May 9 via email to Julie Baxter at jbaxter@falmouthme.org, or by mail to Town Manager’s Office, 271 Falmouth Road, Falmouth, ME 04105. Learn more here.
Fire-EMS Chief Rice Named Instructor of the Year
At the Maine Fire Chief’s Association annual meeting held on Thursday, March 28, Falmouth’s Fire-EMS Chief Howard Rice was awarded the Maine Fire Service Institute (MFSI) Deputy Chief Marc Bellefeuille Instructor of the Year Award.
MFSI is a division within Southern Maine Community College and has served as the primary organization dedicated to training and awarding national certification to firefighters throughout Maine. A full-time staff of 10 and approximately 100 instructors all over the State of Maine produce a variety of programs to meet the demands of local fire chiefs, from entry level certification to advanced leadership training. The Instructor of the Year Award recognizes extraordinary accomplishments in fire service training and education including:
- Committed to furthering the cause of the fire service through training.
- Demonstrated creativity and innovation to fire training programs.
- Served as a positive model for other instructors and firefighters.
- Advanced the cause of firefighter safety through training.
- Gone beyond the call of duty in training.
As an MFSI Instructor, Chief Rice led the delivery of numerous courses in Falmouth including Fire instructor, Fire Officer and Firefighter I and II. Falmouth currently has 63 Pro-Board Certified Firefighters (call, per diem, and full time), 34 Fire and Emergency Services Instructors (call, per diem, and full time), and 22 Fire Officers (call, per diem, and full time). Nine more started Fire Officer class on April 1 and were joined by 9 additional students from surrounding communities.
Upon presentation of the award, MSFI Director Jim Graves noted Chief Rice’s that hard work and dedication has brought higher level fire service training programs to fruition in the State of Maine. "He is a true leader in every aspect of the word," said Graves. Congratulations, Chief Rice!
Spring Leaf Bag Collection Schedule
Leaf bags will be available at the Public Works Office (101 Woods Road) in quantities of 12 per Falmouth resident address beginning Monday, April 1. (WHILE SUPPLIES LAST!)
Spring curbside collection for leaf bags has been scheduled for:
- Friday, April 26
- Friday, May 3
Leaf bags MUST be placed curbside by 7:00 a.m. to ensure collection. If your regular trash and recycling collection day is Friday, place leaf bags at least three feet away from trash and recycling carts.
REMINDER – Brush is NOT collected curbside but can be brought to the Transfer Station during opening hours. Please do not put brush or trash in the 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
Falmouth Receives Aaa Rating from Moody's
On March 25, Moody’s Investor Services published its final Annual Issuer Comment Report (AICR) for Falmouth at Moodys.com. An AICR is a research publication that provides a single reference source for the most recent credit information on a Moody’s-rated local government, higher education, or municipal utility issuer. The report provides the bond market with a summary of key economic, demographic, financial, and operating information within the context of Moody’s ratings methodologies. A rating is Moody’s opinion of the credit quality of individual obligations or of an issuer’s general creditworthiness. The rating is often the single most important factor affecting the interest cost on bonds. These ratings also help provide issuers of debt, such as the Town of Falmouth, with stable, flexible access to sources of capital for large scale projects. In its most recent report, Moody’s issued a Aaa rating – stable for Falmouth. This is Moody’s highest rating indicating minimum credit risk.
New Sustainability Newsletter
The Town of Falmouth Sustainability Department is excited to announce a new monthly digital newsletter. We hope you enjoy reading about sustainability projects in and around Falmouth. Please subscribe via the e-alerts page. Choose Sustainability Committee under News & Announcements Updates. See the April issue here!
Ongoing Initiatives |
Proposed Pesticide and Fertilizer Regulation Ordinance Survey
Falmouth’s Conservation Commission has proposed a Pesticide and Fertilizer Regulation Ordinance to regulate, and sometimes prohibit, the use and sale of outdoor pesticides and fertilizers in the community. An introduction to the ordinance and a public comment opportunity will be held at the Town Council meeting on Monday, April 8 at 7:00 pm. Members of the public may attend in person or via Zoom. The agenda and Zoom can be found here. In addition to the public comment period, the Council is seeking broad public feedback through a three-question survey. Please complete the survey here by April 8.
Events |
Virtual Coffee with Councilors
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. We hope to see you there!
The next Coffee with Councilors will be held on Thursday, April 11 from 12-1pm. Councilors Cahan and Johnson will be in attendance. Click here for Zoom link.
Additional Dates
Wednesday, May 8 (6-7pm)
Attendees: Councilor Hach and TBD
Falmouth Land Trust Volunteer Days
The Falmouth Land Trust is hosting a series of Volunteer Days. Please join us on Saturday, April 20 at 9:30 am to get your hands dirty and help make trail improvements. We'll meet at Underwood Springs Forest and work on building two bridges on a newly created trail. Parking is available in the first Friends School parking lot on the right (11 US Route 1, Cumberland Foreside). Click here to register and receive updates on location and project details.
Upcoming volunteer workdays include: May 11, June 15, July 13, August 10, September 14, and October 12. Workdays will begin at 9:30 am, and project locations will vary each month. No experience necessary, and tools will be provided!
Falmouth Community Fest
The Falmouth Community Wellness Committee is excited to announce the First Annual Falmouth Community Fest on June 22, 2024, from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm at the Gardens at Tidewater Farm (200 Presumpscot Point Road in Falmouth). The purpose of this event is to foster community gathering, arts, wellness, family, and fun. The event will include food trucks, live music, art, and fun activities for all ages!
Call for Artists, Artisans & Makers
Falmouth’s Community Wellness Committee is seeking artists, artisans, and makers to apply to rent a booth at the festival. The site is a lovely grassy area with views of the water. Please contact Maggie Fleming, Assistant Town Manager, at: mfleming@falmouthme.org for more information. We hope to have you join us!
Chief Kilbride and Officer Cole presenting a check to Bobby Silcott.
Pet CPR Raises Funds for Maine's Pet Oxygen Mask Project
In March, the Falmouth Police Department and Falmouth Parks & Community Programs hosted a Pet First Aid and CPR course for the community. Together, they raised $1800 which was donated to the Maine POM Project. The course was instructed by Bobby Silcott, founder of the Maine Pet Oxygen Mask Project. He is a retired Animal Control Officer who has made it his mission to donate oxygen masks to Fire and Rescue Departments and Law Enforcement agencies throughout the state.
Recently, Bobby and the Maine POM Project donated 30 oxygen masks to provide to Emergency Medical Providers and Police K9 handlers who will be attending another course hosted by Falmouth PD next week: Advanced First Aid for Operational K9. If you would like more information on either of these courses, you can contact Ofc. Michelle Cole at mcole@falmouthme.org or visit The Maine POM Project on Facebook. Thank you to all who attended and donated!
Take Note |
Board & Committee Vacancies: Board of Zoning Appeals Seeks Members
In this issue of The Falmouth Focus, we are highlighting three vacancies on the Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA). The Board is responsible for hearing and deciding administrative appeals of decisions made by the Code Enforcement Officer, variance applications, and conditional use applications. It consists of 5 regular and 2 alternate members appointed by the Town Council, for 3 year terms. Members are limited to serving no more than 3 consecutive 3 year terms. The board is seeking one regular member and two alternates at this time. To learn more about the BZA click here. For an application, click here.
Additional Town board and committee vacancies are listed below. If you are interested in getting involved, please consider the following openings:
- Board of Sewer Appeals (1 regular, 1 alternate)
- Conservation Commission (2)
- Parks and Community Programs Advisory Committee (PACPAC) (2)
- Planning Board (2 alternates)
- Community Wellness Committee (5)
Follow the links above for more information on each committee's role and function. For a board and committee application, click here.
Nomination Papers Available
The Municipal Election will be held on Tuesday, June 11, for the purpose of electing:
- Two (2) 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. 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 April 16.
Pandemic Relief Funding for Small Businesses
A second round of pandemic relief funding is now available to owners of small businesses that opened during the COVID-19 pandemic and have not received state or federal recovery funding to address the economic impacts of the pandemic. A total of $175,000 is available for businesses located in most of Cumberland County. Businesses can request $5,000, $7,500, or $10,000, depending on the size of the damages. Applications open on April 1 and close on May 15. Funding comes from the Maine Jobs and Recovery Plan. Maine for-profit businesses and nonprofit organizations are eligible to apply, but out-of-state businesses are not. This program is only available for businesses that have suffered adverse economic impacts and have not received relief payments under other state or federal pandemic relief programs. Businesses must have no more than 250 employees.
Information about the grant can be found at newbusinessrecovery.org. The Greater Portland Council of Governments is administrating the program in the region in partnership with the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development. Business owners with questions or who need assistance with the application can contact the Greater Portland Council of Governments at BusinessRecovery@gpcog.org or call 207-774-9891 extension 205.
Falmouth Public Schools |
Highlight: Juniors Navigate Creative Career Pathways
When you have a whole future ahead of you, how do you narrow down what you want to do? This is a question that plagues many high school students, especially when they reach junior and senior year—so FHS’s Student Services team offered them a unique opportunity to explore diverse professions and connect with industry professionals.
The Navigating Creative Career Pathways career day was held in late March for the entire junior class. Students started the day with a message from keynote speaker Rebecca Fraser-Thill, who spoke with them about key factors and common myths about the career design process. They then split off into panel sessions, with 50 panelists representing fields including Maine Coastal Industries, Education, Marketing/Communications, STEM, Public Service, and more.
This initiative not only highlighted the variety of career options available but also equipped students with the insights and encouragement needed to navigate their future with confidence and curiosity.
In the News
Congratulations to our athletes that have recently been recognized for making the Varsity Maine All-State skiing, indoor track, and swimming teams:
- https://www.pressherald.com/2024/03/29/girls-skiing-2024-varsity-maine-all-state-team/
- https://www.pressherald.com/2024/03/22/girls-indoor-track-2024-varsity-maine-all-state-team/
- https://www.pressherald.com/2024/03/15/girls-swimming-2024-varsity-maine-all-state-team/
FHS student Ryan Z. and former service learning coordinator Holly MacEwan were thanked for their help in supporting a Portland man in his efforts to bring his family to Maine from Sudan: https://www.pressherald.com/2024/03/29/after-a-long-wait-portland-man-welcomes-family-that-escaped-sudan/
Welcome Spencer Emerson, our new Head Football Coach: https://www.pressherald.com/2024/03/20/falmouth-high-hires-spencer-emerson-as-its-new-football-coach/
Reminder: Join Our Team at Falmouth Public Schools
We have exciting roles available at Falmouth Public Schools!
- Special Education Summer School Staff - multiple positions (Ed Techs)
- Food Service - On Call Substitutes
- Daily Substitutes K-12
Upcoming: Events & Meetings
School Board Information and Meetings:
- Policy Committee Meeting - Wednesday, April 10 at 7:30am
- School Board Business Meeting - Tuesday, April 23 at 7:00pm
View School Board Business, Workshop, and Committee Meeting schedules and agendas.
Community Vision Night
Thank you to all of the community members who made it to last week’s One Campus Vision 2024 special School Board workshop. Find the latest updates and share your questions and feedback on the Facilities: One Campus Vision webpage.
Falmouth’s Got Talent:
Rescheduled due to the ice storm! Shows will now be held Sunday, April 28. Buy your tickets here. Falmouth’s Got Talent is a fundraiser for the Class of 2024’s Project Graduation.
Spring Sports:
The FPS spring sports season is almost here! See the full list of games and cheer on your Navigators starting March 25.
Learn more about Falmouth Public Schools at their website, and stay connected through social media, calendars, and Principal Notes here. Follow Falmouth Public Schools on Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube for the latest school news.
Town Council, Board & Committee Meetings |
Town Council Meeting, Monday, April 8, 2024
The next meeting of the Falmouth Town Council will take place on Monday, April 8 at 7:00pm. Find the agenda here. The meeting will be held in person at Town Hall in the Town Council Chambers. Members of the public may participate in the meeting by either attending the meeting in person or via Zoom. The Zoom application will allow attendees to connect 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. Information on making public comment during Council meetings can be found HERE. If you have questions, please call (207) 699-5335.
At the Most Recent Town Council Meeting…
The Town Council held a workshop on Workforce Housing on April 3 at 5:00pm to discuss with staff the Workforce Housing Development Partner Request for Proposal (RFP) process, review and discuss the responses, and provide direction to staff on negotiating further with a partner. Find the agenda here.
The Town Council held the FY25 Budget Hearing on April 3 at 7:00pm to hear presentations on and discuss the municipal and school budgets and to hear public comment. Find the agenda here.
Planning Board
At the April 2 Planning Board Meeting, the board considered the following items. Find the agenda here.
- PUBLIC HEARING: Amendment to Section 19-13 of the Zoning and Floodplain Management Ordinance to Allow Multi-family Dwellings as a Permitted Use in Portions of the MUC District. RECOMMENDED WITH CHANGES
US Route One – Verdad Real Estate & Construction Services – Request for Site Plan Re-Approval for three 30,000 SF, one-story, self-storage unit buildings. Map/lot U53-001; Zoned BP. APPROVED W/CONDITIONS
37 Casco Terrace – Garth & Andrea Conner – Request for Shoreland Zone Permit Approval for landscape improvements. Map/lot U17-040. APPROVED WITH CONDITIONS- 96 Clearwater Drive – Town of Falmouth – Request for Site Plan Amendment for a Proposed Garage at the Wastewater Treatment Facility. Map/lot R02-009-B; Zoned RA/RB, RCZO, SZ-LR/RP. APPROVED WITH CONDITIONS
- Route 1 – NDVH Maine Realty, LLC – Request for Site Plan Approval for a proposed 41,600 sf multispecialty veterinary clinic. Map/lot U62-001; Zoned BP. TABLED
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 Lisa Sangillo at 207-699-5303 or lsangillo@falmouthme.org
Board of Zoning Appeals
At the March 26 meeting of the Board of Zoning Appeals, the Board considered the following items. Find the agenda here.
- 20 Gilsland Farm Road - Acorn Engineering representing Maine Audubon Society - Request for Conditional Use Approval under Section 19-119 for renovations and expansion to the Maine Audubon Society Headquarters. Map/lot R02-007-A. APPROVED
- 11 Maiden Lane – Alex Mazurenko & Joanna Yu – Request for Conditional Use Approval under Section 19-84 for a teardown and rebuild of the existing structure. Map/lot U16-071. APPROVED
- 11 Andrews Avenue – Maria Panagiotopoulos - Request for Conditional Use Approval under Section 19-77 for the expansion to an existing dwelling. Map/lot U01-114. APPROVED
- 20 Town Landing Road – Ryan Russell representing Howie & Lisa Salzberg – Request for Conditional Use Approval under Section 19-77 for the installation of an in-ground pool and associated improvements. Map/lot U17-060. APPROVED
- 1 Penny Lane – Clay V. Perry – Request for an Administrative Appeal of a decision by the Building Inspector. Map/lot U32-011-001. TABLED
- 43 Foreside Road – The Episcopal Church of Saint Mary – Request for Conditional Use Approval under Sections 19-119 & 19-123 for a Day Care Center. Map/lot U07-005. APPROVED
- 28 Shoreline Drive – Anne Torsney – Request for Conditional Use Approval under Section 19-77 to remove and replace existing garage and carport. Map/lot U01-043. TABLED
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.
Please note: This newsletter will be sent to subscribers of both The Falmouth Focus newsletter an Town News & Announcements. Please excuse cross postings. To change your subscription settings, visit E-Aerts.
Town of Falmouth, 271 Falmouth Road, Falmouth, ME 04105207-781-5253
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