2020.10.02--Falmouth Focus, Volume 2, Issue 22

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

Absentee Ballots Now Available At Town Hall

If you requested an absentee ballot, it is on its way!  The Clerk’s Office has received over 4,000 requests for absentee ballots for the November 3 election and absentee ballots are already arriving in residents’ mailboxes! You may check the status of your ballot request at: https://apps.web.maine.gov/cgi-bin/online/AbsenteeBallot/index.pl

It has come to our attention that some residents received ballots in an unsealed envelope. The Clerk’s Office would like to assure residents that every ballot mailed was personally sealed and metered by Town Clerk Ellen Planer and Deputy Town Clerk Linda Case. However, some envelopes appear to have come open in transit. If you receive a ballot envelope that opened during transit, there is no cause for alarm, provided there are three items in the envelope: 

• the one-page, double-sided ballot,
• an instructional insert,
• and a white return envelope. 

If you have any cause for concern regarding your absentee ballot, please contact the Clerk’s Office at 781-5253.

If you have not yet requested an absentee ballot but wish to do so, there is still time. The last day to request an absentee ballot for the November 3 election is October 29. There are four ways to request an absentee ballot:

• By Phone: Call and request your own ballot, which will be mailed to the address you provide. Call the Voter Registrar in Falmouth at: 699-5320 or 699- 5308.
• Electronically: Request your own ballot electronically using the Secretary of State’s online absentee ballot request service at: https://apps.web.maine.gov/cgi-bin/online/AbsenteeBallot/index.pl
• By Mail: Print the Absentee Ballot Request Form at: https://www.falmouthme.org/sites/g/files/vyhlif11826/f/uploads/11.03.20_absentee_ballot_request_form.pdf. Mail the completed form to Falmouth Town Hall, 271 Falmouth Road, Falmouth, Maine 04105.
• In Person: Request a ballot at Falmouth Town Hall.

When you receive the absentee ballot you requested, follow the directions carefully to ensure you have completed the ballot accurately. Note: you will not receive a ballot by mail unless you requested one through the methods outlined above. Voters must return the ballot in the enclosed white return envelope. You must return your ballot to the municipality in which you vote. Do not drop your ballot in a drop box in another community. There are four ways to return your ballot to Falmouth Town Hall:

• By Mail: The envelope requires one, first class stamp ($0.55). USPS recommends you mail your ballot no later than October 26 to ensure it is received in time. Ballots must be received by election officials by November 3 (not postmarked by November 3).
• In Person:
  • Hand deliver your ballot to Falmouth Town Hall, 271 Falmouth Road, during business hours (8am–4pm/Monday-Thursday), OR
  • Drop your ballot in the new secure ballot drop box available 24/7 at Falmouth Town Hall located to the left of the front door, OR
  • Bring your ballot to the polling place (Falmouth High School Gym) on Election Day, November 3 (7am-8pm).

If you would like to cast an absentee ballot at Town Hall prior to Election Day, you may do so during opening hours, Monday-Thursday, 8am-4pm. The Town of Falmouth will also offer Saturday hours for voting on October 10, 17 and 24 from 9am-2pm at Falmouth Town Hall (271 Falmouth Road). Voting will take place in the Town Council Chambers. To ensure social distancing and follow CDC guidelines for health and safety, as well as state orders regarding limits on large gatherings indoors, the number of voters allowed in the Council Chambers at one time will be limited. Residents should be aware that wait times may increase and lines may form outdoors. Voters are also discouraged from bringing accompanying persons (family members, children, etc.) who will not be voting with them. Masks are required in all Town facilities. 

If you would like to vote on Election Day, polls open at the Falmouth High School Gym, 74 Woodville Road, at 7am and close at 8pm. No voting will take place at Town Hall on Election Day. Town Hall will be closed so staff can facilitate the elections at the polling place. To ensure social distancing and follow CDC guidelines for health and safety, as well as state orders regarding limits on large gatherings indoors, the number of voters allowed into the polling place will be limited. This may result in lines forming outdoors. Masks are required at the polling place. Voters are also discouraged from bringing accompanying persons (family members, children, etc.) who will not be voting with them. Social distancing practices will be in place and a healthy environment will be maintained through the use of stringent disinfecting practices. Voters are asked to follow all COVID-related health and safety signage and procedures put in place at the polls, including the frequent use of the hand sanitizer provided.

If you have other questions, our Election Fact Sheet can be found HERE. You may also contact the Town Clerk's Office at 781-5253, or the State of Maine Elections Division, phone: 624-7650, email: cec.elections@maine.gov. Additional resources include:

• Town of Falmouth Election Information https://www.falmouthme.org/town-clerk/pages/state-general-election
• State of Maine Upcoming Elections Page https://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/upcoming/index.html

Town Hall Offers Saturday Hours for Voting

Falmouth Town Hall will be open for voting on Saturday, October 10, 17, and 24. You may also cast your absentee ballot at Town Hall during regular opening hours Monday-Thursday, 8am-4pm. Voting will take place in the Town Council Chambers. As noted above, to ensure social distancing and follow CDC guidelines for health and safety, as well as state orders regarding limits on large gatherings indoors, the number of voters allowed in the Council Chambers at one time will be limited. Residents should be aware that wait times may increase and lines may form outdoors. Voters are also discouraged from bringing accompanying persons (family members, children, etc.) who will not be voting with them. Masks are required in all Town facilities. 

Falmouth Is Fully Staffed for Election

The Clerk’s Offices has had an amazing response to its call for election workers and is now fully staffed. Thanks to all who offered to assist!

Focus on Falmouth’s Wastewater System

The Town of Falmouth is working on implementing a phased upgrade of the Town’s existing wastewater system to ensure that sewage is adequately conveyed and treated now and in the future. In the next several issues of The Falmouth Focus, Bryanna Denis, Professional Engineer and Project Manager for Wright-Pierce (an environmental engineering firm providing consulting services to the Town of Falmouth), will examine the history of Falmouth’s wastewater collection and treatment systems, the issues surrounding West Falmouth’s connectivity to the current system, and the plans to upgrade and improve the system for current needs and future growth. 

How Falmouth’s Sewer System Works

By Bryanna Denis, PE, LSE, Wright-Pierce

The Town of Falmouth’s extensive wastewater collection and treatment system consists of 56 miles of gravity sewer and force mains, 31 pump stations, and a 1.56 MGD (million gallon per day) wastewater treatment facility (WWTF) on Clearwater Drive. This system serves 2480 households and businesses in Falmouth and approximately 1100 in Cumberland.

So how does it work? Water and waste from a home or business is flushed through a building's pipes until it reaches local sewers which are owned and operated by the Town of Falmouth. Wastewater flows through Falmouth’s gravity sewers to the treatment facility. Gravity sewers utilize pipes that are sloped downwards, harnessing the force of gravity to convey sewage through the system. In some low-lying areas, however, pumping is required via a pump station. Pumps or compressors located in a pump station (sometimes called a lift station) provide the energy to propel wastewater into what is known as a force main.  A force main is simply a pressurized sewer pipe that conveys wastewater in areas where gravity sewage flow is not possible.

Falmouth’s original sewer system was constructed in 1969.  It included 7 pump stations and 10 miles of sewer collection lines primarily serving the Route 1, Route 88 and Middle Road areas of town.  A decade later, the utility expanded to include Cumberland. From the 1980’s to today, expansion continued westward with the development of The Woodlands, the Falmouth Schools campus, the Exit 53/Route 100 area, the Winn Road/Falmouth Country Club area, and the Pleasant Hill area. 

Since the late 1980’s, the majority of wastewater pumping and collection systems in West Falmouth – meaning the area west of Interstate 295 - have been designed and constructed by private developers as needed to serve their specific developments. This infrastructure was then typically turned over to the Town for ownership, operation, maintenance, and future capital upgrades. Unfortunately, these systems were developed without the benefit of a clear master plan for the best way to expand the overall sewer system and with little consideration for serving potential future development in West Falmouth.

As sewer was extended further and further into West Falmouth, the system grew into a large “daisy-chain” of pumping stations. Sewage from pump station A is pumped to pump station B which then pumps to pump station C and so on.  In some cases, sewage is pumped through no less than eight pump stations before it reaches the treatment plant. When these pumping stations were installed, flows were low and there were no capacity problems. But as more development occurred and more pump stations were added, the systems installed twenty to thirty years ago have not only aged, but also developed capacity limitations that, in some cases, caused sewer backups. This issue is expected to only get worse with additional development and as systems reach the end of their life span, which is typically thirty years or so.

The diagram below of the major West Falmouth sewer pumping stations illustrates how they are connected or “daisy-chained” to one another. The flow rate, shown in gallons per minute (GPM), is the maximum flow rate of the pumps. The year indicates the year that the station was built or upgraded. Since the pumps do not pump all the time, there is limited storage capacity at each pump station and in the piping system, which allows for a slightly larger capacity station to pump into a smaller capacity station as long as the larger capacity station isn’t running too often. However, as pump run times increase due to growth and during wet weather periods when groundwater and surface water migrates into sewer collection systems, smaller downstream pump stations can quickly get overwhelmed. 

From the figure above, it is easy to see that the Falmouth Road, Pinehurst Drive, and Woodlands Clubhouse Stations are all undersized. Moreover, this daisy-chain approach, while less costly to developers at the time of development, has resulted in the need for capacity increases to multiple stations, force mains, and gravity sewers later as the flows increase over time.

In contrast, the area east of Interstate 295, is a good example of a collection system that was planned before it was built. Rather than a daisy-chain layout, there are two larger pump stations (Mill Creek and Clearwater) that collect flow from several smaller pump stations and gravity sewers and pump directly to the Wastewater Treatment Facility.

In the early 2000s it became apparent to the Town that capacity issues were beginning to crop up in the West Falmouth collection and pumping system. Between 2004 and 2008, the Town significantly upgraded the wastewater treatment facility on Clearwater Drive and completed an interim upgrade at the Lunt Road Pump Station. A 2009 Pump Station Assessment provided Town officials with valuable information to help understand the existing collection system needs and to plan for future upgrades. This assessment detailed existing conditions of all Town pump stations and made recommendations for future improvements such as the 2014-2016 Mill Creek Pump Station upgrade. It also included a separate technical memorandum identifying the concerns with the West Falmouth daisy-chained system and the resulting challenges associated with this approach to growth. This 2009 memorandum recommended that the Town develop a sewer master plan for West Falmouth.

In 2013, the Town of Falmouth retained the engineering firm Wright-Pierce to provide an overview of existing wastewater collection, pumping, and treatment systems; estimate the remaining capacity at the wastewater treatment facility; discuss the impacts on future sewered growth; and provide recommendations moving forward to allow the Town to improve its sewered growth potential from a wastewater management perspective. This assessment also called for the development of a West Falmouth Master Plan, while at the same time noting: “Regardless of whether or not the community experiences sewered growth, the Town must reinvest in its underground infrastructure as it ages. Buried pipe, while out of sight and out of mind, has a finite life and must be renewed or replaced.  Peak flows will continue to grow in an aging sewer system regardless of sewered growth requiring attention to this vital community asset.” (Paul Birkel and Chris Dwinal, Wright-Pierce to Pete Clark, Superintendent, Falmouth Wastewater Department, Wastewater Treatment Plant Capacity Assessment and Impacts on Future Development/Growth in Falmouth and Cumberland, Memorandum, May 22, 2013)

In the next issue of The Falmouth Focus, we will take a closer look at the development of the West Falmouth Sewer Master Plan and additional efforts to address the issue of an aging system facing capacity limitations. 

Advisory Regarding the Presumpscot River

The landslide that recently occurred along the Presumpscot River in Westbrook, has caused some turbidity downstream in Falmouth. This is caused partly by suspended fine materials from marine clay. The Town is in contact with the MaineDEP, which is testing the water. As testing results come in, the MaineDEP will inform the Town if there is reason for public health concerns. At this time, there are no known toxins from the land slide incident. There is no official announcement that the water quality is a public health concern but, in an abundance of caution, we recommend that people do not swim in the river nor allow their pets to swim in the water.

Communications Survey

How are we doing? Over the past year, the Town of Falmouth has made communicating with residents a priority. Among other initiatives, we have increased the frequency of public forums/discussions, E-Alerts, social media posts, and print mailings. In addition, we launched this bi-weekly digital newsletter and began placing weekly notices in The Northern Forecaster. We’d like to know how effective these efforts have been in keeping you informed about Town business. Please take a moment to complete our survey online at: www.surveymonkey.com/r/FalmouthCommunicationsSurvey. Please submit surveys by October 30, 2020.

Celebrating Halloween During the Pandemic

The Town of Falmouth does not generally host or regulate Halloween activities. According to the U.S. Center for Disease Control, many traditional Halloween activities can be high-risk for spreading viruses, including traditional trick-or-treating. Below, please find CDC recommendations regarding safe and alternative ways to participate in Halloween during the pandemic. 

CDC Recommendations

If you have COVID-19 or you may have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, you should not participate in any in-person Halloween festivities and should not give out candy to trick-or-treaters.

The CDC identifies several low risk activities for celebrating Halloween, including:

• Carving or decorating pumpkins with members of your household and displaying them
• Carving or decorating pumpkins outside, at a safe distance, with neighbors or friends
• Decorating your home or apartment
• Creating a Halloween scavenger hunt where children are given lists of Halloween-themed things to look for while they walk outdoors or drive from house to house admiring Halloween decorations at a distance
• Having a virtual Halloween costume contest
• Having a Halloween movie night with people you live with
• Having a scavenger hunt-style trick-or-treat search with your household members in or around your home rather than going house to house

Moderate risk activities include:

• Participating in one-way trick-or-treating where individually wrapped goodie bags are lined up for families to grab and go while continuing to social distance (such as at the end of a driveway or at the edge of a yard)
• Having a small group, outdoor, open-air costume parade where people are distanced more than 6 feet apart
• Attending a costume party held outdoors where protective masks are used and people can remain more than 6 feet apart
• Going to an open-air, one-way, walk-through haunted forest where appropriate mask use is enforced, and people can remain more than 6 feet apart
• Visiting pumpkin patches or orchards where people use hand sanitizer before touching pumpkins or picking apples, wearing masks is encouraged or enforced, and people are able to maintain social distancing
• Having an outdoor Halloween movie night with local family friends with people spaced at least 6 feet apart

The CDC recommends avoiding the following higher risk activities to help prevent the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19:

• Participating in traditional trick-or-treating where treats are handed to children who go door to door
• Having trunk-or-treat where treats are handed out from trunks of cars lined up in large parking lots
• Attending crowded costume parties held indoors
• Going to an indoor haunted house where people may be crowded together and screaming
• Going on hayrides or tractor rides with people who are not in your household
• Using alcohol or drugs, which can cloud judgement and increase risky behaviors
• Traveling to a rural fall festival that is not in your community if you live in an area with community spread of COVID-19

Additional things to consider: 

• A costume mask should not be used as a substitute for a protective cloth mask unless it is made of two or more layers of breathable fabric that covers the mouth and nose and does not leave gaps around the face.
• Do not wear a costume mask over a protective cloth mask because it can be dangerous if the costume mask makes it hard to breathe. Instead, consider using a Halloween-themed cloth mask.
• Scary activities that involve screaming require greater distancing. The greater the distance, the lower the risk of spreading a respiratory virus.
• In Maine, the number of individuals that can gather in a shared space must not exceed the limit established by the Governor’s Executive Order, currently set at 50 people indoors and 100 people outdoors. Maine’s complete guidelines for gatherings can be found at: https://www.maine.gov/decd/checklists/large-social-gatherings

Additional activities, guidance, and information from the CDC regarding holiday celebrations can be found at: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/holidays.html#halloween

Virtual Community Supper, October 22, 5:30-6:30pm

This year, because of the pandemic, Falmouth's churches and faith communities are hosting a different kind of Falmouth Community Supper by partnering with Rivalries restaurant and chef to deliver 200 specially made dinners, free, to homebound Falmouth residents. Residents are invited to buy their own take-out from any Falmouth restaurant (including Rivalries) and watch, while eating supper at home, a one-hour show about Falmouth to include many performances by our local talent!

WHEN: October 22, 2020, 5:30 to 6:30pm

WHAT: A one-hour show of residents' music, stories, town history, teen performances, art, and photos.

HOW:  Watch on the Internet or on the Town's Cable TV Channel 2-- https://www.falmouthme.org/cable-tv-fct-channel-ch-2-1301/pages/channel-2-live-stream

WHERE: In your own home!

WHAT TO EAT DURING THE SHOW: Your “take-out” from a Falmouth restaurant, or your own home-cooking!

If you have questions, please e-mail Nancy Lightbody at nancylightbody@hotmail.com. And if you would like to donate to the Falmouth Food Pantry, you can, by sending a check to the "Falmouth Food Pantry" at 271 Falmouth Road, Falmouth, ME 04105, or by an online PayPal payment at https://www.paypal.com/fundraiser/charity/1807575

Neighborhood Clean-Up Thank You!

As part of Neighborhood Clean-Up Week, 95 residents came out to clean up litter along some 60 streets, neighborhoods, and public areas throughout town between September 19 and 26. Hats off to Falmouth resident Sarah Griffiths, who spearheaded this event with the assistance of Town staff and a special thanks to all who volunteered to help their community. Neighbors like this make Falmouth a great place to call home!  

Pesticide Disposal Opportunity

Finally! A way to dispose of old, unusable pesticides that’s safe, responsible and free. Maine's FREE Annual Obsolete Pesticides Collection Program is open to homeowners, family-owned farms, and greenhouses. Participants must pre-register by October 9, 2020. Drop-ins are not permitted. Collected pesticides are taken to an out-of-state disposal facility licensed by the federal Environmental Protection Agency. Pesticides accepted include: herbicides, insecticides, rodenticides, fungicides and similar products used in agricultural production or around the home. Register Here.

Senior Property Tax Assistance Program Deadline for Applications is October 8

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 #19: Adding grass seed to your lawn, known as “over-seeding,” is a more effective way to manage weeds than using herbicides. Seeding should be done primarily in late summer and early fall (following aeration when necessary) with a top dressing of ¼ inch of compost. If you have bare spots or areas where the grass is sparse, they should be reseeded or over-seeded with a mixture of grass cultivars. One of the best methods to ensure good germination is to aerate the lawn first before broadcasting seed across the area. Broadcasting seed across an established lawn will result in little to no germination. Finally, water is critical to the success of seeding at any time of the year. Once the seed germinates, the roots are tiny and have an immediate need for water. Depending on the variety of seed, you may need to keep the area moist for 4 to 6 weeks after seeding. Visit your local nursery for the best advice on the right variety of grass seed you should use.

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

Leaf Bags Available

Leaf bags will be available to Falmouth residents beginning on Monday, October 5. Limit 12 bags per Falmouth address and while supplies last. Bags can be obtained at the Public Works Office at 101 Woods Road. Due to ongoing safety concerns with COVID-19, only one resident is permitted at a time in the Public Works lobby. Face masks are required in the office. The Town of Falmouth's Leaf Bag & Curbside Collection program is very popular and we are pleased that we can continue offering this service. Residents should be aware that they may need to wait in line outdoors to pick up leaf bags. We appreciate your patience and understanding.

Leaf bag collection dates are as follows:

• Friday, October 23
• Friday, October 30
• NO PICKUP ON FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6
• Friday, November 13
• Friday, November 20

Please make sure your bags are placed curbside no later than 7am. Leaf bags are for leaves only. Do not put trash or brush in leaf bags. Brush is not collected curbside; however, brush is accepted at the Transfer Station. Transfer Station hours are: Tuesday and Thursday, 12pm-4pm; Friday, 7am-5pm; Saturday, 9am-5pm.

Floats Removal

Floats at Town Landing are scheduled to be removed, weather permitting, on the following dates:

• October 15 and 16 (outside floats)
• November 2 and 3 (side floats)

Town Council Virtual Meeting, Wednesday, October 14, 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, October 14 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 30 at 7:00pm via zoom.

The Council approved the minutes of the August 24, 2020 Town Council Meeting.

The Council approved the appointment and re-appointment of several individuals to Town boards and committees. 

The Council approved the renewal of the food service license for Flagship Premium Cinemas.

There was a concept discussion regarding recommendations from the Community Development Committee relative to developing a process for considering requests for ordinance amendments.

There was an introduction of ordinance amendment to Section 19-40 of the Code of Ordinances to provide certain allowances for the keeping of animals in the RD and HL zoning districts. 

Staff provided an update on two pending street acceptance applications that have been previously reviewed by the Town Council. The Council decided to move forward with consideration of formal action on the Paddock Way, Kilarney Way, and Cavendish Road application as well as the Alpine Drive and Sylvan Drive application. The Council decided to move forward with review of the Seaside Way application and to pause review of the Stone Ridge Road, Hiltop Trail, and Rogers Trail application until a review of the Town's street acceptance ordinance and policies can be conducted. 

The Falmouth Land Trust provided an update on the possible acquisition of a 52-acre parcel located on the corner of Johnson Road and Route 1. Due to a successful fundraising campaign, the Trust will not need additional funding from the Town. 

View past Town Council meetings here. 

Board of Zoning Appeals 

The Board of Zoning Appeals acted on 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. (Approved)
• 4 Casco Terrace – Charlotte R. George – Request for Conditional Use Approval under Section 19-77 to construct a deck. (Tabled)
• 10 Victoria Lane – American Tower Corporation - Request for Conditional Use Approval under Section 19-66 for structural alterations to existing tower. (Approved)
• 53 Underwood Road – Patrick S. Will - Request for Conditional Use Approval under Section 19-77 for a second-floor expansion. (Approved)
• 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. (Tabled)

For more information please visit: https://www.falmouthme.org/board-of-zoning-appeals

Planning Board

The Planning Board meeting has been rescheduled from October 6 to October 13. The Board is expected to hear the following applications at its October 13 meeting.

• David Criscione & Joan Drake – 8 Thornhurst Road - Request for Shoreland Zone Approval to place 83.32 cubic yards of fill to repair and prevent erosion on the property.
• Town of Falmouth-Public Works – Underwood Road Paper Street – Request for Shoreland Zone Approval for Underwood Road drainage improvements.
• Cultivating Community – 17 Schuster Road - Site Plan Approval for the construction of a 5,760 s.f. high tunnel greenhouse.
• Jacob & Lindsay Roskelley – 25 Preservation Drive – Request for Foreside Woods Subdivision Amendment to reduce the rear setback on Lot 8.
• Harold & Sheena Mason – Entwood Road – Request for First Amendment to Private Way to extend the private way and create one additional buildable lot.
• Harold & Sheena Mason – Entwood Road – Request for Second Amendment to Private Way to reconfigure the lot lines between lots C and D.

For more information please visit: https://www.falmouthme.org/planning-board

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.