2020.09.18--Falmouth Focus, Volume 2, Issue 20

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. 

Updates on the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)

The Town of Falmouth has updated its COVID-19 information page which includes all updates and information sent out by Falmouth's Emergency Management Agency as well as additional updates from the Town. We strongly encourage residents to subscribe to our E-Alert e-mails in order to keep up-to-date. While events in recent weeks have not required regular updates regarding COVID-19, the situation remains fluid and direct communications from the Town via E-Alerts is the best way for residents to stay informed. Subscribe to Town News & Announcements and/or Emergency Management at www.falmouthme.org/subscribe. Alerts regarding COVID-19 will be sent to both lists.

Town Services, Offices, & Facilities

• Town of Falmouth Facility Closures, Cancellation, and Status of Services
• Online and Remote Services
• A Guide to Participating in Virtual Town Council Meetings
• Transfer Station and Waste Disposal
• Falmouth Parks, Playgrounds, Trails & Trailhead Parking
• Falmouth Schools Updates

A Note Regarding Unsolicited Absentee Ballot Request Forms

Get out the vote organizations and political parties are eagerly encouraging residents to vote. Many are mailing absentee ballot request forms or sending e-mails and texts to registered voters in the state of Maine. This has led to confusion for residents who have already requested an absentee ballot from Falmouth Town Hall or through the State’s online request system. Residents receiving these unsolicited ballot request forms are calling Town Hall concerned their own request has not been received or processed. Please note, these organizations are not able to correlate their mailing lists with those who have already requested absentee ballots. Therefore, you may be receiving these mailings despite having already filed your own request. If you receive an unsolicited ballot request form and you have already requested a ballot, you may disregard the mailing. Please do not send in a second request form. If you have not yet requested a ballot, it is legal to use a ballot request form that you receive from these organizations, provided it is an official State of Maine ballot request form. You can also find a ballot request form here. Learn more about absentee voting from our handy Election Fact Sheet.

Election Volunteers

Thank you to all who have volunteered as poll workers for the upcoming November election. Maine State law requires each polling location be staffed with equal numbers of registered Republican and Democratic workers. The Clerk’s Office is currently seeking registered Republicans to volunteer to serve as poll workers. If you are interested, please contact the Town Clerk at eplaner@falmouthme.org, call 207-781-5253, or click here.

Neighborhood Clean-Up Day

As part of Neighborhood Clean-Up Week, over 80 residents have joined forces to clean up litter in neighborhoods and public areas throughout town beginning on Saturday, September 19. Please use caution when you see your neighbors along the shoulders and medians of our community and give them a friendly honk and wave to show your appreciation for their efforts to keep our community clean. For more information, contact Maggie Fleming at mfleming@falmouthme.org.

Public Forum – Route 88 and its intersections with Depot Road and Johnson/Town Landing Road

Forum 2 on the Route 88 intersections project (Johnson Road/Town Landing Road/Depot Road intersections) will be held on Wednesday, September 23, at 7:00pm via Zoom. This meeting has been rescheduled from last March. The evening will include a brief recap of the results from Forum 1 (held in December 2019) and allow an opportunity for feedback on various specific proposed improvement “packages.” Project information can be found here: https://www.falmouthme.org/long-range-planningeconomic-development/pages/route-88-intersection-study.  FMI, please contact Maggie Fleming, mfleming@falmouthme.org, 699-5329.

Senior Property Tax Assistance Program 

The Town of Falmouth’s Senior Property Tax Relief Program is now accepting applications from qualified residents for property tax assistance. The program, now in its third year, is open to current Falmouth residents age 62 or older with annual income under $40,000. Both property owners and renters are eligible to apply. Refunds will be determined based on the number of valid applications received. Recipients will be refunded a proportional share of the available program funds based on income level. The total amount budgeted for this program in fiscal year 2021 is $50,000. Refunds for eligible applicants will be paid on or before November 17, 2020.

A complete list of application materials, as well as additional information and an eligibility worksheet, can be found at: https://www.falmouthme.org/finance/pages/senior-property-tax-assistance.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, residents can mail in the application and backup documents to Town of Falmouth, Finance Department, 271 Falmouth Road, Falmouth, Maine 04105. You may also call Pete McHugh at (207) 699-5311 to make an appointment to submit your application. Appointments may be held by phone or via a socially distanced, in-person meeting at Town Hall. Residents are encouraged to apply early. In order to ensure social distancing, appointment times are limited, so call early to secure a meeting date. The deadline for applications is October 8, 2020.

Please contact Pete McHugh, Finance Director, at pmchugh@falmouthme.org or 699-5311 for more information.

Living Lawns Education Campaign

The Falmouth Conservation Commission, in collaboration with Falmouth’s Energy and Sustainability Office and the Cumberland County Soil and Water Conservation District, have launched the Living Lawns education campaign to share healthy lawn care practices with residents. 

• Tip #17: As we have mentioned, the spring and summer are not ideal times to fertilize. The best time, if necessary, is now that fall is approaching, but not after September 15. But make sure you get your soil tested, if you haven’t already done so, to be sure you know what your lawn needs. Test your soil before you fertilize to find out if some nutrients are lacking. Many Maine soils lack nitrogen but have plenty of phosphorus. Always fertilize with phosphorus-free fertilizer (look for “0” as the middle number in a fertilizer bag’s analysis), unless a soil test shows that your lawn needs phosphorus. If blended fertilizers are only available, use the formula with the lowest level of phosphorus. Buy fertilizers that contain at least some nitrogen that is labeled “slow-release,” “slowly available,” or “water insoluble.” These provide nitrogen for a longer period and reduce the likelihood of some nitrogen running off into surface water. Never apply fertilizer before moderate or heavy rain is expected, it has the potential to run off and pollute nearby water bodies. 
• Tip #18: Cool-season turf grown in Maine, such as tall fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, and ryegrass, should be aerated in the fall when the grass emerges from summer dormancy. Aerate your lawn with a core aerator just prior to reseeding. The main reason for aerating is to alleviate soil compaction. Compacted soils have too many solid particles in a certain volume or space, which prevents proper circulation of air, water, and nutrients within the soil. Turf aerators are available at your local tool rental retailer. Full-service lawn-care professionals offer aeration as a service too.

Learn more about Living Lawns at: https://www.falmouthme.org/environmental-initiatives/pages/living-lawns-education-campaign

FCP Fall Programs Registration Open

Falmouth Parks & Community Programs has issued its Fall Brochure and is accepting registrations for Fall programs. Program offerings have been scaled down and participant numbers are limited to meet state guidelines regarding group gatherings. CDC health and safety recommendations will be followed for all programming. Should the need arise, programs will be evaluated on a weekly basis for modification, postponement, or cancellation. Please remain flexible. A program brochure and registration form can be found at: www.falmouthme.org/parks-and-community-programs.

How to Register:

• Online: https://apm.activecommunities.com/falmouthcommunityprog/Home. Note: Online convenience fees are non-refundable.
• Mail: Fill out and mail a registration form to FCP Fall Registration, 190 Middle Rd., Falmouth, ME 04105. Forms can be found online at: https://www.falmouthme.org/sites/g/files/vyhlif11826/f/uploads/fall_brochure2020_final.pdf
• Phone: Call 699-5302 Tues.-Thurs, 9am-3pm with EFT, credit, or debit payments only.
• In person: At Mason-Motz Activity Center. Note: A limited number of people are allowed in the FCP office at one time. Residents are encouraged to utilize the remote registration options listed above. 

Job Openings at Falmouth Community Programs

Falmouth Community Programs is hiring staff for their extended Before Care/After Care Program to work with students in grades K-5. Click here for an application and mail completed applications to Kate Harris at kharris@falmouthme.org

Town Council Virtual Meeting, Wednesday, September 30, 7:00pm

The Falmouth Town Council will conduct a virtual meeting using emergency legislation, Sec. G-1 MRSA §403-A, that allows cities and towns to conduct meetings online. The meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 30 at 7:00pm using Zoom. This application will allow attendees to connect via computer or phone. A meeting link and phone instructions will be provided in advance of the meeting via the Town website homepage and E-Alerts that will allow you to join the meeting via computer or phone, as well as, a phone number to dial in. An agenda will be posted here in advance of the meeting. Check out our Guide to Participating in Virtual Public Meetings. If you have questions, please call (207) 699-5329. 

At the Most Recent Town Council Meeting…

The Town Council held a meeting on September 14 at 7:00pm via zoom.

The Council approved a new permanent food service establishment license for Foreside Nutrition, LLC. 

The Council approved an supplemental appropriation of $63,000 from unassigned fund balance for Future iQ to assist the Town with the Community Vision and Values project.

Erin Cadigan, Education and Outreach Coordinator, delivered a presentation on the proposed Communications Strategic Plan. The Council also heard public comment on the Plan. A survey will be sent out via USPS mail in the coming weeks to evaluate the effectiveness of the Town's communication efforts. 

The Council approved the re-enactment of Ordinance 128-2020, an emergency ordinance to temporarily suspend certain provisions of the Falmouth Code of Ordinances relating to outdoor eating areas and outdoor retail display to assist businesses suffering economic loss due to COVID-19 in a manner consistent with the Governor's reopening plan. 

Councilor Amy Kuhn provided an update regarding the Town Council's Annual Retreat and FY2021 work plan.

The Council had a discussion about racial and social justice. 

The Council entered Executive Session pursuant to the Laws of Maine to discuss real estate rights, pursuant to 1 M.R.S.A. § 405 (6) (C). The Council did not return. 

Board of Zoning Appeals

The Board of Zoning Appeals is expected to hear the following applications at its September 22, 2020 meeting:

• 331 Foreside Road – Brian Corcoran & Melissa Smith - Request for Conditional Use Approval under Section 19-77 for expansions to the first and second floors.
• 4 Casco Terrace – Charlotte R. George – Request for Conditional Use Approval under Section 19-77 to construct a deck.
• 10 Victoria Lane – American Tower Corporation - Request for Conditional Use Approval under Section 19-66 for structural alterations to existing tower.
• 53 Underwood Road – Patrick S. Will - Request for Conditional Use Approval under Section 19-77 for a second-floor expansion.
• 9 Blackstrap Road – William J. Condon - Request for Conditional Use Approval under Section 19-84 to replace two accessory buildings with a single accessory building.

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. 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. Over 70% of respondents to our Communications Methods Survey found E-Alerts to be an effective means of getting info about Town activities. 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.