2022.02.11-Falmouth Focus, Volume 4, Issue 6

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

• Town of Falmouth Hours of Operations and Status of Services
• Online and Remote Services
• A Guide to Participating in Virtual Town Council Meetings

Please note, currently the Table of Contents links feature is not supported by all email clients or browsers. 

• News & Issues​​​​​​  
  • FY23 Budget Development Update
  • Brown Tail Moth
  • Veranda Street Bridge/I-295 Closure
• Ongoing Initiatives
  • Free Masks for Falmouth Residents
  • Short-Term Rental Registration 
  • Vision & Values Update 
  • Revaluation Update
• Events
  • Coffee With Councilors
  • GPCOG Transit Workshop
  • Mariners Night
  • Spring Lawn Care Workshops
  • Urban Run Off
• Take Note
  • Family Volunteer Opportunity
• Falmouth Public Schools
  • Highlights: New Website
  • Focus: Student Research
  • Upcoming: Meetings & Events
• Town Council, Board & Committee Meetings
  • Town Council
  • Planning Board
  • Board of Zoning Appeals
• Stay Informed

Proposed FY2023 Operating Expense Budget Presented to Finance Committee

At the February 9 Finance Committee meeting, Town Manager Nathan Poore presented the Proposed FY2023 Operating Expense Budget for the Town. (The school’s budget development process occurs separately.) There are a few budget drivers impacting the proposed mil rate increase this year.

Ongoing Expansion of Falmouth Fire-EMS

The FY23 budget includes funding to implement Phase 2 of the Fire-EMS staffing plan by adding 12 additional full-time firefighter/EMS staff to achieve 10 people on duty, staffing two stations at all times.

You may recall that in 2019, the Falmouth Town Council approved a staffing study to explore current and future staffing needs for Falmouth Fire-EMS. The staffing study, completed in early 2020, concluded that the level of service provided by Fire-EMS was not sustainable with the staffing structure in place at that time. The study recommended a multi-year phased plan to substantially expand full-time staffing to meet the increasing demands of service and diminishing supply of part-time staffing and volunteer/call members. The Falmouth Focus featured a series of articles (compiled here) on the history of the department and the challenges of providing service to a growing and aging community while relying on a mixture of full-time, part-time, on-call, and per diem staffing. An additional fact sheet has also been developed to further explain the staffing plan and current request. 

Restoration of Capital Improvements Budget

An additional driver for the proposed budget is restoring the substantial reductions to capital improvements which were made to the FY21 budget. When the pandemic hit in March 2020, Town Councilors and staff revisited the FY21 budget, which had yet to be passed. The goal was to find areas where cuts could be made to reduce the increase to the mil rate while maintaining the planned Phase 1 expansion to Fire-EMS. This goal was accomplished through the elimination of positions, postponement of capital improvement projects, and delayed hiring. The FY23 budget will significantly restore the capital improvements cut in FY21.

Revenue and Reductions

While these increases are substantial, they are offset by a projected increase in revenue, funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), reductions in spending, and the deferral of projects. As a result, the projected mil rate increase will be $.68. The impact on a $400,000 home (based on 2009 property valuation) would be $272. This does not include the school budget.

More Information & Upcoming Meetings

The Town of Falmouth will hold the following virtual meetings regarding the FY23 Budget.

• March 2--Budget Book Presentation of Town Budget to Finance Committee
• March 30--Joint Town and School Finance Committee Budget Presentation (Finance Committee)
• April 6--Public Hearing – FY23 Budget (Town Council)--Opportunity for public comment          
• April 25--Council Vote to Approve (Town Council)      

Additional info and a link to join by Zoom or phone will be provided in advance of each meeting on the meeting agenda. Finance Committee Agendas can be found here. Town Council Agendas can be found here. Agendas (including Zoom links) are also sent via E-Alert. Subscribe to the Finance Committee Alerts and/or Town Council Alerts at: www.falmouthme.org/subscribe

With the exception of the Public Hearing, public comment is not typically heard at these budget development meetings. Those who would like to offer input prior to the Public Hearing are encouraged to contact any Town Councilor or the Town Manager. Contact information can be found at https://www.falmouthme.org/town-council-town-manager. 

Please note: This update on the status of the FY23 budget development does not include information regarding the proposed School Budget. For more information about the School Budget process, visit: https://www.falmouthschools.org/about/budget

Browntail Moth Update

The infestation of browntail moth continues throughout parts of Maine. Fortunately, in the past few years, Falmouth has seen a reduction in nests and levels of infestation. In 2020, the Town of Falmouth conducted a spraying program to target areas in the public right-of-way that were deemed to be high risk. While not fully eradicating browntail moth, the spraying program worked to preserve the health of the street trees and to minimize the public health effects of this infestation. In January 2021, an assessment of browntail moth nests along all public ways in Falmouth found that no areas in Falmouth met the moderate criteria (high number of trees along the public way with at least 8 or 10 nests in each tree) and found no nests at all along the majority of the community's public roadways. Based on this assessment, the Town did not conduct a spraying program in 2021.

This January, the Town contracted with Davey Tree Experts for another assessment. The purpose of this assessment was to scout for browntail moth nests along all public ways within 15 to 20 feet of public roads, and Town-owned property and parks to identify high risk areas that should be treated for possible control in May of 2022. Threshold levels used were approximately 8 to 10 nests per tree, or areas where there were multiple trees with six or more nests along or in a public way. The intent of the assessment was not to identify every tree within the Town of Falmouth public ways with nests, but to identify high risk areas using the above-mentioned thresholds. The assessment found no areas that meet the "moderate" criteria, with much of the public roadways and parks having no nests at all. Based on this assessment, the Town will not proceed with the Browntail Moth Spraying program this year.

As the assessment was intended to identify high risk areas using the above-described thresholds, the findings do not indicate that browntail moth has been eradicated in Falmouth. It is likely that there will be nests in some trees. Residents are advised to assess their own properties for nests during the winter months. The best means of preventing a browntail moth infestation on your property is to clip and destroy overwintering webs between October and mid-April. It is also best practice to treat trees before leaves have filled in, generally by the end of May or the first week in June. Residents with trees on their property that they want treated will need to hire a qualified contractor to do so. A list of licensed pesticide applicators willing to treat browntail moth is available here: https://www.maine.gov/dacf/mfs/forest_health/documents/pesticide_applicators_bm_hwa_others.pdf

Residents are advised that the poisonous hairs responsible for the rash that accompanies exposure to browntail moth can remain in the environment and toxic for up to three years after an infestation. Therefore, there is still a possibility of exposure this year. The Town has created a fact sheet and webpage with additional information on browntail moth problems, precautions, and prevention.

Veranda Street Bridge/I-295 Closure Scheduled for April

The Maine Department of Transportation (MaineDOT) will be closing I-295 over Veranda Street in Portland on the fourth weekend in April to accommodate the replacement of an aging interstate bridge. MaineDOT's "Veranda Plan" involves a full closure of I-295 highway around Exit 9 from 7:00 p.m. on Friday, April 22 until 11:00 a.m. on Monday, April 25. Additionally, Route 1/Veranda Street (under the bridge) will be closed for a full week, from 2:00 p.m. on Monday, April 18 until 2:00 p.m. on Monday, April 25. These closures were originally scheduled for October 2021 but were postponed due to challenges with obtaining the lightweight geofoam fill used on the project. Site work, which stopped over the winter, will resume in late February and early March.

The I-295 and Route 1/Veranda Street closures are expected to increase traffic on the Maine Turnpike and on local roads in Portland and Falmouth, especially along Route 1, Bucknam Road, and Middle Road, which will serve as detour routes. Nearby roads such as Route 88, Lunt Road, and Falmouth Road could also be impacted. During the week-long Veranda Street closure, getting into Portland from Route 1/Veranda Street will require a significant detour via Middle Road or I-295. MaineDOT is asking members of the public to avoid this area during the interstate closure weekend. Drivers who must travel on I-295 through Portland or on Route 1/Veranda Street in Portland and Falmouth are encouraged to make their own "Veranda Plan." Detour routes are available by visiting www.verandaplan.org. The site also includes live video feeds of the construction site, an FAQ section, and a link to pre-register for a yet-to-be-scheduled live virtual meeting that will include project updates and a question-and-answer period.

N95 Masks Available for Falmouth Residents to Pick-up at Town Hall 

The Town of Falmouth has a supply of National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) approved N95 masks available for Falmouth residents free of charge, while supplies last. Residents have been able to pick-up adult-sized masks (up to 4 per household) on a first come, first served basis at Falmouth Town Hall in the Clerk’s Department this past week. Town Hall will be open extended hours for mask distribution on Monday, February 14, from 4:30 until 6:00pm. Use the side door to enter on Monday evening. 

Short-Term Rental Registration Deadline is February 18

The deadline to register a short-term rental in the Town of Falmouth for 2022 is Friday, February 18. Pursuant to Falmouth's Short-term Rental Ordinance, effective January 1, 2022, no person shall advertise, operate, or rent a short-term rental in the Town of Falmouth without first registering the short-term rental with the Town. Short-term rental is defined as the advertising, offering for rent, use, control, management, or operation of a dwelling unit in whole or in part, for dwelling, sleeping, or lodging purposes for a period of less than thirty consecutive days, for compensation, directly or indirectly.

The ordinance requires that owners renew their short-term rental registrations annually on or before January 1. As the ordinance and registration program are new, the deadline to register a short-term rental unit(s), for initial registrations in 2022 only, has been extended to February 18, 2022.

Town staff are happy to assist you with the registration process. Please email str@falmouthme.org or call Julie Baxter at (207) 699-5335 if you have questions or need additional information.

To register, please visit: https://secure.hostcompliance.com/falmouth-me/permit-registration/welcome

Vision & Values Update

The Town Council, staff, and Future iQ would like to thank all the residents who participated in the Vision & Values project public process. A little over 1000 people responded to the Vision & Values Community Survey #2, which closed on January 31!  This final survey was an important part in the year-long process to envision Falmouth’s future and help inform updates to the 2013 Comprehensive Plan. The data and analysis of Community Survey #2 responses soon will be added to the project portal for residents to explore fully. The project portal includes a data visualization platform that allows users to see how their community responded on a range of topics. Each chart includes filters to sort data by different cohorts within the community respondents. We will keep residents updated once the results from Survey #2 are posted.

What's Next?

A brief project update will be given at the February 14 Town Council meeting. The Council anticipates a presentation of the survey data and a final report from Future iQ at the February 28 Town Council meeting. Public input will be heard at that time and again at the following Council meeting on Monday, March 14. We will continue to update residents on survey results and next steps through this newsletter, regular editions of The Falmouth Focus, News & Announcement E-Alerts, and updates at Town Council meetings.

Revaluation Update

The Town of Falmouth commenced its revaluation of all real estate beginning in January 2021. Under the supervision of Cumberland County Regional Assessing, the Town has contracted with Vision Government Solutions to perform this work. During a revaluation, all real property in the town is reviewed and assessments are adjusted to their fair market value. A revaluation is the process of conducting the data collection and market analysis necessary to equalize the values of all properties within a municipality for the purpose of a fair distribution of the tax burden. The results of the revaluation will be applied to November 2022 property tax bills. 

Data collectors from Vision Government Solutions began visiting Falmouth properties to conduct exterior evaluations beginning in January 2021 and have moved from west to east through Falmouth. Currently the data collectors are working east of Middle Road and have approximately 800 parcels left to complete. Residents will receive a notice in the mail to inform them of when data collectors are working in thier area. Residents need not be home for this inspection which takes 10-15 minutes to complete. 

Within the coming weeks, residents in the western part of town, where exterior evaluations have already occurred, will be receiving letters with instructions on scheduling an interior evaluation of their home. While it is not mandatory for residents to allow inspectors interior access, the data they are collecting is vitally important to the accuracy and uniformity of the assessments. 

In addition, Income & Expense form letters have been sent to all commercial properties. Business and property owners are asked to complete the forms to the best of their ability and return to the Assessors Office promptly. Please direct questions to Ben Thompson, Assessor, at 207-699-2475, or by email at: assessor@cumberlandcounty.org 

For additional information on the revaluation project, visit: https://www.falmouthme.org/home/pages/revaluation-project-2021-2022

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...
Wednesday, February 16, 6-7pm
Attendees: Councilors DeLima, Asherman

Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86539577409
Or One tap mobile : 
    US: +13017158592,,86539577409#  or +13126266799,,86539577409# 
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: 865 3957 7409
    International numbers available: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kc3T7EwjvK

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.

Friday, March 18, 8-9am
Attendees: Councilors Cahan, Trickett

Thursday, April 14, 12-1pm
Attendees: Councilors Johnson, Kuhn

Wednesday, May 11, 6-7pm
Attendees: Councilors LaFond, DeLima

GPCOG Transit Workshop

Falmouth Night at the Mariners, March 19

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

• Wednesday, March 30--In person or webinar | Windham Public Library
• Thursday, April 14--In person or webinar | Yarmouth Water District
• Tuesday, April 26--Webinar

Questions? Call Cumberland County SWCD at (207) 892-4700.

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

Call for Family Volunteers

Falmouth Community Programs is seeking families to volunteer this winter to help their senior neighbors with snow removal. Several seniors are seeking assistance and we are looking for families who want to give back to their community with a safe activity they can do together. For more information about the program contact Kim Doyon, Senior Services Coordinator at 699-5330 or kdoyon@falmouthme.org

Highlights

Falmouth Schools Launch New Website!

Falmouth Public Schools launched their exciting new website this week. Take the website tour - your feedback is definitely welcomed!

Positive Story of the Day

Maine Principals Association featured Falmouth Middle School for its “Positive Story of the Day” segment.

8th grade science students at Falmouth Middle School are engrossed in their “Fab Friday” projects. This learning event gives students the opportunity to create their own investigations into questions that interest them. (Named “Fab Friday ” because class time on Fridays is set aside for students to engage in this.) Students work in pairs or small groups to identify a topic they are interested in, formulate a research question and a hypothesis, design and carry out a study, and present their findings. Principal Jan Adams happened upon some 8th graders working on their projects late in the school day on Friday, January 28, 2022. They were eager to tell her about their topics: 

• “We’re doing a social experiment to see if people are more likely or less likely to help others if they are in a group as opposed to being alone.” 
• “We are doing a study to see what is the best way to learn in order to retain information.”
• “We are looking at why different chemicals change the color of fire.”
• “We are trying to find a way to make ballet pointe shoes more comfortable.”
• “We are wondering if we can make a model of a train that doesn’t use fossil fuel.”
• “We are wondering if people treat others differently before and after they know your ‘back story.’”
• “We are wondering how Covid has impacted students’ experiences in school sports.”

To see 8th graders, at the end of the last day of a long school week (with a snowstorm on the way), so excited about learning and asking questions was pure joy! They were so intent on their work that the rest of the world seemed to slip away. This exemplifies what learning should be. We are incredibly proud of these learners and their teachers!

Focus:  Student Research

Falmouth High School sophomores Mary and Leah are conducting research studying the effects of age and gender on migraines and request your participation in their Migraine Triggers Study to determine how many people in our community get migraines. The study will be very low commitment and they request you fill out a generic survey on the typical triggers and symptoms you experience and to log your migraines if/when you get them (through an app the students created). The survey on your typical migraines would only take about 5-10 minutes to complete and filling out the migraine logs would only take around 2-3 additional minutes. Please note that email addresses will be collected from the preliminary survey so that the research students are able to reach the individuals who agree to participate in order to send additional information regarding the process and further define the goal of the project. The survey responses in the real study will remain completely anonymous and all information will be destroyed after the study.  

Want to learn more or are you ready to register to lend a hand?  Please go to ‘Lend a Hand’  on our district website for more detailed information. You can also contact our Central Office for more information (781-3200 or helen.hogeback@falmouthschools.org). We thank you in advance for your help in reducing this strain and helping us stay open as we continue to forge through this pandemic surge. We are eager to invite our community members, parents, residents and others to apply to be a substitute or to lend a hand.

Upcoming: Meetings & Events

Let’s Talk

Falmouth High School senior Emily Charest was featured in the Portland Press Herald for bringing Let’s Talk discussions to the high school.  This Sunday, February 13th, Let’s Talk will be held in the FHS Auditorium from 6-7:30pm and will be free and open to the public.  Topics being discussed are race, women’s rights, and consent education.  For additional information …

Community Dialogue

There will be a Community Presentation & Discussion about Equity and Inclusion on Wednesday, February 16th at 6:30 pm at the High School Cafeteria (snow date: 2/17) .The purpose of this evening is to share the background and context of the equity audit, highlight the findings, and provide an opportunity for the community to discuss. We invite all members of the school community, including staff, parents, students, and others who may wish to take part to attend this event. This is an important step in helping our community understand and partner with us in our efforts to make Falmouth Schools more equitable and inclusive.

School Board Meeting

School Board Meeting - Monday, February 28th at 7:00 in the 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 Virtual Meeting, Monday, February 14, 7:00pm

The Town Council will meet on Monday, February 14 at 7:00pm. The Falmouth Town Council will conduct a virtual meeting via Zoom as authorized by Section 28, Policy Eight of the Town Council Rules and 1 MRSA §403-B. 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) 699-5329. 

At the Most Recent Town Council Meeting…

The Town Council held a meeting on January 24. An agenda and video can be found here. 

• The Council approved the minutes of the November 8 Workshop Meeting and December 13 Council Meeting.
• The Council approved the following appointments:
  • Charles Hebson, Phil Kaplan, Grace McNally and Chandler Sinnett to the Ad-Hoc Climate Action Planning Committee
  • Judith Sobol to the Falmouth Memorial Library Board of Trustees
  • Sydney Patten to the Recycling and Energy Advisory Committee (REAC)

and the following re-appointments:

• Peter Dion and Chris Dyer (Handy Boat Representative) to the Harbor/Waterfront Committee
• Caleb Hemphill to the Recycling and Energy Advisory Committee (REAC)
• There was an update on the Community Vision and Values Project.
• The Council approved a resolution in support of the updated Town of Falmouth Emergency Operations Plan (EOP).
• The Council approved a resolution in support of the EMA Hazard Mitigation Plan.
• The Council approved an ordinance to amend the Code of Ordinances Art. II-14-4, Sec. 14-121 to remove public access restrictions at Woods Road Community Forest and to require that pets be on leash December 1 to March 30 each year.
• The Council went into Executive Session pursuant to the Laws of Maine to discuss real estate acquisition, pursuant to 1 M.R.S.A. § 405 (6) (C).

The Town Council held a special meeting on January 31. An agenda and video can be found here. 

• The Council did not pass an Emergency Ordinance to Require Face Coverings in Public Buildings within the Town of Falmouth.

Planning Board

The following items were considered at the Planning Board meeting on February 1. 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 People’s United Bank signs with 2 M&T Bank signs.  Map/lot U51-005.  REMOVED UNTIL MARCH 
• 1 Constellation Way – MGL Properties LLC – Request for Sign Permit Approval for 1 free-standing sign.  Map/lot U43-004-001. APPROVED WITH CONDITIONS 
• Other Business - Adoption of findings of fact and conclusions of law for a March 3, 2021 decision by the Board for the following: Mountain Road – West Falmouth Development II, LLC – Request for Second Amendment to Homestead Farms Subdivision to amend building envelopes abutting Open Space. Map-lot U42-015, Zoned VMU, RT100CO. (Tabled in January)  ADOPTED

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 considered the following items at its meeting on January 25. An agenda can be found here. 

• 37 Casco Terrace – Joe Waltman representing Garth Conner – Request for Conditional Use Approval under Section 19-86 to raise existing deck one story to allow for living space below. (Previously tabled)  A SITE WALK WAS HELD ON TUESDAY, JANUARY 25TH AT 4 P.M. AT 37 CASCO TERRACE.  THE PUBLIC WAS INVITED TO ATTEND.  APPROVED WITH CONDITIONS 

• 24 Amerescoggin Road – Jeremy & Karli Nickerson – Request for Conditional Use Approval under Section 19-86 for an expansion to add a cupola and relocate existing front door, steps, and landing to original location on the side of the home.  Map/lot U18-057; Zoned RA, SZ-LR, RCZO, WVOD. TABLED

The Board of Zoning Appeals will consider red the following items at its meeting on February 22. An agenda can be found here. 

• 24 Amerescoggin Road – Jeremy & Karli Nickerson – Request for Conditional Use Approval under Section 19-86 for an expansion to add a cupola and relocate existing front door, steps, and landing to original location on the side of the home.  Map/lot U18-057; Zoned RA, SZ-LR, RCZO, WVOD. 
• 5 Middle Road – Land Design Solutions representing Meader LLC – Request for Conditional Use Approval under Section 19-84 for a tear down and rebuild of a non-conforming single family dwelling unit on a non-conforming lot.  Map/lot R04-059; Zoned RA, RCZO. 
• 12 Pawle Place – Herbert & Rachel Sears – Request for Conditional Use Approval under Section 19-119 for reapproval of a residential building permit for completion of a single-family dwelling.  Map/lot U16-010; Zoned RA, RCZO. 15 Andrews Avenue – Colleen Golden - Request for Conditional Use Approval under Section 19-77 to replace an existing deck with a mudroom and powder room.  Map/lot U01-112; Zoned RA, RCZO, WVOD.

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.