2023.03.10--Falmouth Focus, Volume 5, Issue 5
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-Aerts.
General Information
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 |
Falmouth PD Promotes Gun Safety
The Falmouth Police Department recently collaborated with the Maine Gun Safety Coalition to promote gun safety across the state through a video on safe storage of firearms in the home. The video will be distributed through Maine pediatricians to promote safe gun storage. Sgt. Chris St. Pierre represented the department in this very informative video. Watch the video here. The Falmouth Police Department also distributes free gun locks and will secure any unwanted firearm or ammunition for free. We also have highly trained instructors that can provide safety tips on weapon storage.
New Date To Be Set for Budget Public Hearing
At the March 13 Town Council meeting, the Town Council will officially set the date of the Public Hearing on the FY24 Budget. The new proposed date for the Public Hearing is Monday, April 10 during the Town Council Meeting. This date differs from previous communications which stated the Public Hearing would be held on Wednesday, April 5.
The Town of Falmouth will hold the following meetings regarding the FY24 Budget.
- March 29, 5:30PM in Council Chambers - Joint Town and School Finance Committee Budget Presentation (Finance Committee)
- NEW DATE! April 10, 7:00PM in Council Chambers - Public Hearing – FY24 Budget (Town Council)--Opportunity for public comment. Note: The Council will confirm this new date at their meeting on Monday, March 13.
- April 24, 7:00PM in Council Chambers - Council Vote to Approve (Town Council)
Finance Committee Agendas can be found here. Town Council Agendas can be found here. Agendas are also sent via E-Alert. Subscribe to Finance Committee Alerts and/or Town Council Alerts at: www.falmouthme.org/subscribe
With the exception of the Public Hearing on April 5, 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 FY24 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
For more information on the FY24 budget and the budget development process, read the article in the last issue of the Falmouth Focus HERE. You may also visit the Finance Department's budget webpage at: https://www.falmouthme.org/finance/pages/fy-23-24-budget
Homestead Exemption
The deadline to file for a homestead exemption for property taxes is April 1. The homestead exemption provides a reduction of up to $25,000 in the value of your home for property tax purposes. To learn more about this program read our Homestead Exemption Fact Sheet. Applications can be found HERE. Completed forms can be emailed to: assessor@cumberlandcounty.org
Please note: Information regarding property tax assistance for seniors will be available in late summer. Watch this newsletter, our website, and the Northern Forecaster for additional information and updates.
Public Comment Opportunity
At the March 27 Town Council Meeting, there will be a public hearing on proposed amendments to the Coastal Waters Ordinance. The meeting will be held at 7:00pm at Town Hall in the Council Chambers. Members of the public may participate in the meeting by either attending the meeting in person or via Zoom. The meeting agenda and zoom link will be posted on the Town website in advance of the meeting.
As directed in the 2022-2023 Town Council Work Plan, the Ordinance Committee has been reviewing the Coastal Waters Ordinance for the last several months. The Committee recommends several amendments including:
- Clerical changes to the Harbor/Waterfront Committee section of the ordinance
- Clarifying mooring access requirements for mooring assignments
- Removing the Town Landing mooring assignment waitlist fee from the ordinance and placing it in the Harbor fee schedule
- Removing the sunset provision for the number of yacht club and marina mooring assignments and increasing the number of marina mooring assignments to 120
- Clarifying the abandonment of mooring assignments language
- Changing the dinghy permit language to provide the Harbormaster discretion to adjust the ratio of resident and non-resident dinghy permits to keep the ratio equal to the ratio of resident and non-resident mooring permits. The proposed amended language also provides the Harbormaster discretion in issuing unused dinghy permits after April 30.
For more information, please see the February 27 Council Meeting agenda at which the proposed amendments were introduced.
Ongoing Initiatives |
Seeking Falmouth's Oldest Resident
The Town of Falmouth would like to recognize its oldest resident with the presentation of the Boston Post Cane. Recipients must be current residents of Falmouth. Additional requirements to receive the Boston Post Cane are as follows:
- Must be the oldest living person residing in Falmouth for a minimum of the most recent five-year period.
- Or must have resided in Falmouth for a minimum of the most recent two-year period and have been a legal resident of Falmouth for a total of not less than fifteen of the past forty years.
- Must be able and willing to receive the honor in person or through a family member.
The tradition of the Boston Post Cane dates to 1909 when Edwin Grozier, publisher of the Boston Post newspaper, sent gold-headed ebony canes to towns throughout New England to be presented with the compliments of the Boston Post to the oldest male citizen of the town. In 1930, eligibility for the cane was expanded to include women. The newspaper went out of business in 1957, but the tradition of the Boston Post Cane continues in many communities today.
Residents are encouraged to contact Linda Case at 207-699-5308 at Falmouth Town Hall or e-mail lcase@falmouthme.org with the names of potential candidates.
Heating Assistance Funds Available to Qualified Falmouth Residents
The Town of Falmouth has joined the “Keep Cumberland County Warm” project, established by the Cumberland County Government to allocate $1.35 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for homeowners who are struggling to pay for heat this winter. Nineteen additional communities in Cumberland County have signed up to participate in the program so far. Cumberland County has committed $50,000 to each participating community, including Falmouth, to distribute to residents who qualify.
The heating aid program is designed to support residents whose earnings are above the limit to qualify for General Assistance aid or the Federal Low Income Heating Assistance Program (LIHEAP) but are still below 300 percent of the Federal Poverty Limit and are struggling to keep up with the rising cost of heat. In Cumberland County, a household of four would qualify for aid if their household income is below $82,710.
Falmouth residents who meet established Low & Moderate Income Guidelines (see link below) may apply for heating assistance by completing an application (link below). This program is not retroactive and applies only to bills for service or delivery AFTER an application has been approved. Multiple heat sources qualify. For qualified and approved applicants, the Town of Falmouth will pay invoices directly received from an oil, propane, electricity, or wood supplier. Heating assistance funds will be available through April 15, 2023.
Applications are confidential. Questions may be directed to Katie Wilcox, at 207-553-5820 or Katie.Wilcox@opportunityalliance.org
Please enjoy the following monthly Community Wellness Committee article.
From the Wellness Committee: Starting Your Own Seedlings Indoors
by Doug Zlatin, Community Wellness Committee Members
When the calendar page turns to March, a gardener’s heart starts to beat a bit faster. The long dormant winter season is in the rear-view mirror and it is time to start thinking about planting! Starting your own seedlings has many advantages:
- You get to jump-start the gardening season, which helps to end winter doldrums.
- You get to choose the plant varieties you grow, not limited by the choices available at the local garden store.
- You will save money. After the initial investment of setting up your seedling station you will be paying a fraction of the cost for nursery-grown seedlings.
- You have full control over not only what, but how, you grow your plants, and can experience the joy of raising your plant “babies” from seeds.
Growing your own seedlings isn’t complicated. You need a tabletop or structure to hold your pots or seed trays, a light source (no window sills!), a quality planting medium, and the time to tend to your plants. The most common way to grow seedlings is on a metal shelf unit or on a table with a light stand. Most gardeners use shop lights (fluorescent or LED) hanging above their plants, with chains adjusted with S-hooks so that you can keep the light source 2-4 inches from the tops of the plants. You can easily build a light stand using PVC pipe (here are a few, there are plans for others available on-line):
Using a quality seed starting mix is important – do not use garden soil or potting soil. Consult your seed packets, as different seeds require different treatments. You’ll need to do some math to calculate when to plant, starting with when you want that plant to be ready for the garden and then counting backwards to determine when to start the seeds. Some plants go into the garden in April (chard, lettuce, kale, broccoli), some after the last frost date in mid-May (tomatoes, cukes, peppers, melons, squash, eggplant, most flowers), and others (beans, carrots, corn, peas) go right into the garden as seeds. A wonderful resource for your planning is The Farmer's Almanac: https://www.almanac.com/gardening/planting-calendar/zipcode/04105
Your little seedlings will need 14-16 hours of light per day, and the best way to accomplish that is with a timer. Try to keep them moist but not sopping, and a daily misting does wonders. There’s no need to worry about fertilizing until the first set of true leaves form, then fertilize lightly every week or so. A few weeks before planting gradually expose your planting to outdoor conditions, a process known as “hardening off”. Then, into the garden they go!
There are abundant resources available on-line and in our library’s wonderful garden section. One site I would highly recommend is Starting Seeds At Home, from the Cooperative Extension Service: https://extension.umaine.edu/publications/2751e/
Starting your own seedlings is a true joy and does wonders for improving our winter-dulled spirits. Try it!
Events |
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 an 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 Friday, March 17, from 8:00am-9:00am with Councilors Kuhn and DeLima. Click the link below to join the webinar:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87156057854
Or One tap mobile :
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Or Telephone:
Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location):
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Webinar ID: 871 5605 7854
International numbers available: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kbFNuaMJm
Additional dates have been scheduled for:
- Thursday, April 13, 12pm-1pm with Councilor Johnson and TBD
Links will be provided in advance of the meetings in this newsletter and on the events calendar at www.falmouthme.org.
2nd Underwood Park Improvements Public Forum
Join us Tuesday, March 21, from 6:00-7:30pm at Lunt Auditorium (74 Lunt Road) for a second public forum regarding enhancements to Underwood Park and the adjacent "Marion Brown" property at 260 Foreside Road. Aceto Landscape Architects has developed conceptual plans based upon the feedback received from the first public forum, held on January 10, and email comments from interested parties. Representatives from Aceto will present the concept plans for attendee feedback. For more information, visit https://www.falmouthme.org/parks-and-community-programs/pages/underwood-park-improvement-project or contact Maggie Fleming at 207-699-5329 or mfleming@falmouthme.org.
Climate Talk Series: Sebago Clean Waters
Join the Town of Falmouth and Falmouth Memorial Library on Wednesday, March 22 from 6-7:00pm at the Library for another presentation in the Falmouth Climate Talk Series. Paul Hunt from the Portland Water District with talk about the work of the Sebago Clean Waters coalition.
Greater Portland has used Sebago Lake as a drinking water supply for 150 years. The lake is huge, cold, clear, and deep and is surrounded by a 235,000 acres of land that is largely carpeted with forests. For these reasons, water in the lake is so clean it doesn’t need to be filtered before it is disinfected. Out of 13,000 surface water supplies in the country, only about 50 are exempt from filtration. To protect this precious resource, the Portland Water District has a comprehensive Watershed Control Program, one element of which is conserving the forested lands that naturally filter the water. Starting in 2000, this effort has involved working in collaboration with land trusts and, from a modest beginning, has grown to involve ten organizations working in partnership. This partnership is known as Sebago Clean Waters (sebagocleanwaters.org). In this session, Paul will provide a history of the forest conservation effort, describe progress made to date and goals for the coming years, and explain how you can support the work.The talk will be followed by a Q&A.
Take Note |
Nomination Papers Available, Monday, March 6
The Municipal Election will be held on Tuesday, June 13, for the purpose of electing:
- Two (2) people to the Town Council for three (3) year terms.
- Three (3) people to the School Board for three (3) year terms.
Nomination papers are available from the Town Clerk’s Office beginning on Monday, March 6. Residents interested in running for either Town Council or the School Board must submit nomination papers with a minimum of 25 and a maximum of 100 signatures no later than 5:00pm on Friday, April 14.
McCrann Preserve Trailhead Closure
The McCrann Preserve trailhead at 309 Falmouth Road is closed through early summer as part of the West Falmouth Sewer Project and associated upgrades to the Falmouth Road Pump Station. In addition to updating essential Town infrastructure, the work will include improvements to the trailhead parking area and entrance trail. Visitors cannot park or access the trails from the Falmouth Road trailhead. Access to the trailhead on the Falmouth Schools campus at 52 Woodville Road will remain open.
Falmouth Public Schools |
Highlight: Motivational Speaker Visits Falmouth Middle School
“No matter what happens in life, your attitude really does make a difference.” This was the overarching message shared on Tuesday (3/7) morning with students and staff at Falmouth Middle School by inspirational speaker and bestselling author Alvin Law. A collaboration between Falmouth Public Schools and Falmouth Middle School PTO – with generous support from Eric and Victoria Driscoll – Law’s storytelling, musical performance, and humorous performance left the approximately 450 students and staff exhilarated.
Born in 1960 with no arms as a result of the drug Thalidomide, Alvin challenged the group of 6th, 7th, and 8th graders to examine their perceptions of themselves, other people, and the world around them so they too can overcome the same obstacles he was faced with — not how to live and function with no arms, but how to be a successful, compassionate, positive, and engaged human being that leaves the world a better place than how they found it. Alvin has shared his inspirational story and lessons of empathy and inclusion, with over two million people on five continents. He regaled the Middle School audience with a story of playing drums with Katy Perry at the 2021 True Colors Festival in Japan; never imagining that a poor kid like him from Saskatchewan would ever end up playing with a diverse band of musicians from around the globe, and with a world famous pop star like Perry. This epitomizes Alvin’s “Yes I can!” attitude. Alvin related to the kids by showing through his own adversity and by example how limitations are only in the mind and how attitude and effort can overcome anything. “Even if we seem different on the outside,” Alvin reminded the students how “connected we all are and how much the same we really are where it matters, on the inside.”
In the News: Alpine Ski Teams Claim State Titles
Congratulations to the Falmouth girls and boys alpine ski teams! Excerpt from Portland Press Herald article: “I have a bunch of girls who are coachable and who work together and support each other,” [Falmouth girls coach Janelle] Day said. “I’m proud of them for going out there and tearing it up and being able to ski fast and in control.”
In the News: Basketball All-Stars
Navigator athlete Anna Turgeon was named Miss Maine Basketball finalist and Girls Class AA/A/B South All-Star team member. Judd Armstrong was named Boys Class AA/A/B South All-Star team member. Portland Press Herald article.
Reminder: Kindergarten Registration for 2023-2024 School Year Open
Online kindergarten registration for the 2023-2024 school year is open. In order to be eligible for kindergarten in the fall of 2023, a child must be 5-years-old on or before October 15, 2023. There are no exceptions, as this is state law as well as a school board policy. To register, please visit our New Student Registration web page and select 2023-24 Kindergarten Registration, to complete a brief pre-registration form.
Upcoming: Events & Meetings
**SOLD OUT** Falmouth’s Got Talent will be held at the Falmouth High School Theater on Sunday, March 19, 2023 at 4:00 p.m. This annual K-12 competition features a showcase of student talents across the grade levels in front of a supportive audience. Proceeds benefit Project Graduation for the FHS Class of ‘23.
School Board Meetings: A schedule of upcoming 2023 Falmouth School Board meetings, and agendas and minutes from prior meetings, are available. All Board Reports, as well as documents associated with the next School Board meeting can be accessed through the agenda. Past meetings can be viewed on Falmouth Community Television (FCT).
- On Friday, March 19, 2023 at 5:30 p.m. is the Board Budget Rollout / Workshop in the Town Council Chambers.
- The next regular School Board meeting is scheduled on Monday, March 20, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. in the FES Cafeteria.
- On Wednesday, March 29, 2023 at 5:30 p.m. is the Joint Town and School Finance Committee Budget Presentation in the Town Council Chambers
Town Council, Board & Committee Meetings |
Town Council Meeting, Monday, March 13, 2023, 7:00pm
The Town Council will meet on Monday, March 13 at 7:00pm. The meeting will be held in person at Town Hall in the Town Council Chambers as authorized by Section 28, Policy Eight of the Town Council Rules and 1 MRSA §403-B. Members of the public may participate in the meeting by either attending the meeting in person or via Zoom. The agenda and Zoom link can be found here. The Zoom application will allow attendees to connect remotely via computer or phone. The public may also watch (no participation option) the meeting on Channel 2 or on the Town website streaming channel. Check out our Guide to Participating in Virtual Public Meetings. If you have questions, please call (207) 699-5335.
At the Most Recent Town Council Meetings…
The Town Council held a meeting on February 27. An agenda and video can be found here.
- The Council approved the minutes of the January 9 Council Meeting, January 23 Council Meeting and January 27 Mid-Year Work Plan Review Meeting.
- There was an introduction of an Ordinance to Amend the Coastal Waters Ordinance, Ch. II-9, Art. II-9-4. of the Code of Ordinances. The public hearing was scheduled for March 27.
- There was discussion regarding the Falmouth Center Transit Oriented Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District. The public hearing and order were scheduled for March 13.
- There was concept discussion and public input regarding possible zoning amendment to add Veterinary Clinics as a permitted land use in the BP Zoning District.
Planning Board
At the March 7 Planning Board meeting, the board will consider the following items. An agenda and video can be found here.
5 Applewood Drive – Ridgewood Condominium Association – Request for Subdivision Amendment to incorporate certain easements granted to the Town of Falmouth. Map/lot: R04-026; Zoned OSRD, RCZO. APPROVED WITH CONDITIONS
101 Woods Road – Qualtek Wireless – Request for Personal Wireless Facility Approval to add Dish Network equipment to an existing tower. Map/lot R01-006-T; Zoned MUC. APPROVED WITH CONDITIONS
196 US Route 1 - Morong Falmouth Porsche – Request for Site Plan Amendment to construct a rear entrance off Clearwater Drive. Map/lot U51-001-B; Zoned VC1, VC2. TABLED
108 Winn Road – Justin M. Fletcher Inc – Request for Preliminary Approval for a 4-Lot major conservation subdivision. Map/lot R06-006-A; Zoned F, RCZO. TABLED
0 Shoreline Drive – Atlantic Environmental LLC – Request for Shoreland Zone Permit Approval for a Proposed Dock. Map/lot U02-034-A; Zoned RA, RCZO, SZ-LR, WVOD. APPROVED WITH CONDITIONS
330 US Route One – Verdad Real Estate & Construction Services – Request for Site Plan Approval for three (3) 30,000sf 1 story self-storage unit buildings. Map/lot U53-001; Zoned BP. TABLED AT APPLICANT’S REQUEST PRIOR TO MEETING
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 February 28 meeting of the Board of Zoning Appeals, the board will consider the following items. An agenda can be found here.
- 4 Gray Road – Neal M. Gerber – Request for Conditional Use Approval under Section 19-77 to add an accessory dwelling unit above the existing garage. Map/lot U48-029; Zoned MUC, RT100CO. APPROVED
For more information please visit: https://www.falmouthme.org/board-of-zoning-appeals
Stay Informed with the Town of Falmouth Website and E-Alerts
There are many Town committees and boards that meet on a regular basis. The events calendar on the Town of Falmouth website homepage lists upcoming board, committee, and Town Council meetings. We send E-Alerts when Town Council, Planning Board, and Board of Zoning Appeals meeting agendas and minutes are posted to the website. Subscribe via E-Alerts to those that most interest you. Agendas and Minutes for these meetings are also posted online and can be accessed from the home page. Town Council, Planning Board, and School Board meetings are live-streamed on Falmouth Community TV Channel 1301 (Former Channel 2). Recordings of these meetings are also available for viewing online. Board of Zoning Appeals Meetings are not broadcast live but can be viewed online within 24 hours after the meeting. E-Alerts allows you to subscribe to specific e-mail lists about Town-related issues that interest you. The Falmouth Focus, this bi-weekly newsletter, is another way to stay in the loop. Subscribe via E-Alerts. Please let us know what kind of information you would like to see included in your town newsletter.
Town of Falmouth, 271 Falmouth Road, Falmouth, ME 04105207-781-5253
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