2023.06.16--Falmouth Focus, Volume 5, Issue 14
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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 |
Holiday Closure
Town offices and facilities will be closed on Monday, June 19 in observance of Juneteenth National Independence Day. The regularly scheduled Town Council meeting will take place at 7pm on Wednesday, June 21 at Town Hall with a virtual option available. This will be the only Council meeting held in June. An agenda and Zoom link can be found here in advance of the meeting.
Un-Official Election Results
Unofficial election results for the Town of Falmouth Municipal Election and Budget Validation Referendum held on June 13, 2023 can be found at: https://www.falmouthme.org/home/news/un-official-results-june-13-2023
Long-Range Planning Advisory Committee Re-Established
The Long-Range Planning Advisory Committee has been re-established to provide input on the development and implementation of the Comprehensive Plan Update. This committee will have a role in advising Town Council on policies and projects related to growth, capital improvements, affordable housing, economic development, and transportation. If you have experience or perspectives that you feel would be useful, we encourage you to apply. Please apply by July 14 to expedite the Committee's formation. Find an application here. Learn more about the Updated Comprehensive Planning Process at: https://www.falmouthme.org/comprehensive-plan-update
Falmouth Celebrates Solar Array
The Town of Falmouth held a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on June 9 to mark the completion of its landfill solar array. Approximately 30 people attended the event held at the Transfer Station on Woods Road. The solar array sits on the Town’s 4.2 acre capped landfill on Woods Road. The 875 kW AC array has an expected annual output of 1,500,000 kWh and will produce enough renewable energy to offset ~70-75% of municipal electric use. Over its 20-year lifespan, the array is estimated to save the Town of Falmouth nearly $2 million in energy costs.
The array, completed in April 2023, was constructed by Tangent Energy Solutions, and will be operated by Madison Energy Investments. Central Maine Power (CMP) will provide an interconnection from the solar array to the power grid. If the array does not produce enough power to meet the Town’s needs, CMP will continue service to the Town at its current rate. In addition, the Town has contracted Competitive Energy Services, to serve as auditor, ensuring that the power produced by the grid is credited to the Town correctly.
“This solar array stands as a testament to Falmouth’s commitment to renewable energy,” said Council Chair, Pete LaFond. “So many residents and staff came together over several years to make this project happen. It will benefit the community for future generations by producing renewable energy, which is good for the environment, and, on a more practical level, the array will generate immediate savings to the Town.”
More information on Falmouth’s landfill solar array can be found on the Town’s website site, including real time data on energy production, at: https://www.falmouthme.org/energy-projects-resources/pages/landfill-solar-project
July 4 Trash & Recycling Collection
All routes impacted July 4-8
The July 4 holiday falls on a Tuesday this year. As a result, Casella (Falmouth's contracted waste hauler) has revised its collection schedule from July 4 through July 8. The revised schedule will impact all collection routes. There will be no trash or recycling collection on Tuesday, July 4. All collection dates for the week will move forward one day.
- If your trash is normally collected on Tuesdays, it will collected on Wednesday, July 5
- If your trash is normally collected on Wednesdays, it will be collected on Thursday, July 6
- If your trash is normally collected on Thursdays, it will be collected on Friday, July 7
- If your trash is normally collected on Fridays, it will be collected on Saturday, July 8
The normal collection schedule will resume the following week, July 11-14. As usual, bins should be placed curbside by 7:00am to ensure collection. Please contact the Public Works office with any questions at 207-781-3919.
Ongoing Initiatives |
Bucknam Road Bridge Project: Night-time Road Closures
As part of the Bucknam Road Bridge Replacement Project, MaineDOT will close Bucknam Road nightly between the I-295 Northbound & Southbound ramp intersections from June 19-21. The closures will take place from 10:00pm to 5:00am on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday nights (June 19, 20, and 21). The closures are to accommodate the removal and replacement of traffic signals. Detour routes will be posted. For more information on this project visit our project page at: https://www.falmouthme.org/bucknam-road-bridge-replacement-project or the MaineDOT Project Page at: https://www.maine.gov/mdot/projects/falmouth/johnsonrd/
Comprehensive Planning Update
Workshop #3: The Built Environment was held on June 7 at the Elementary School Cafeteria. Approximately 40 attendees gave input on how Falmouth can direct and manage growth by considering three specific growth areas (Route 1 South, Route 1 North, and Route 100) and potential commercial and residential options for each. In advance of the June 7 workshop, Survey #2 was created regarding development, growth, and housing in Falmouth's future. If you have not yet done so, you can still complete the survey. Click HERE to take the survey! You can also still take Survey #1 on Community & People HERE.
In addition, you can get involved in the Comprehensive Planning process by visiting the project website, where you can find:
- a weekly discussion question
- surveys
- a project timeline
- links to the 2013 Comp Plan and the Vision & Values final report
- interactive maps, including housing and growth in Falmouth, conservation lands, recreational facilities, land use, and more.
- opportunities to get involved in the process online by leaving a comment on the Vision Board or Interactive Map
- additional information on upcoming events and activities
Events |
Summer Solstice Event
Join the Falmouth Land Trust in celebrating the start of summer on the longest day of the year! Come meet your neighbors, enjoy snacks and soft drinks, learn more about FLT, and win door prizes from L.L. Bean and more! The event will be held on Wednesday, June 21 between 5:30 and 8:30pm at the Mason-Motz Park & Playground at 190 Middle Road in Falmouth. In case of rain, the festivities will move indoors to the Presumpscot Room in the Mason-Motz Activity Center. Registration is encouraged but not required: please RSVP to info@falmouthlandtrust.org
Concerts in the Park
Summer Concerts in the Park hosted by Falmouth Parks & Community Programs kicks off in June! Bring your lawn chair, blanket, and picnic and join your neighbors for free musical entertainment in Village Park beginning at 6:30pm. The summer lineup includes:
- June 26, The Flukes--Fun-loving ukulele musicians playing styles from Bach to the Beatles.
- July 10, The Few--Recreational musicians from Yarmouth playing music for all ages.
- July 24, 2 For Jackson--National award winning duo playing old country and new.
- August 7, Maine POPS Concert Band--Pop, show tunes, big band, jazz, and more.
In case of inclement weather, contact the FCP office at 699-5302 or check our social media pages. Rain decisions will be made by 2pm.
Take Note |
Celebrity Golf Tournament
The 2023 Drive Fore Kids Celebrity Golf Tournament will be held June 22-24 at the Falmouth Country Club. An anticipated 36 celebrity participants will compete for a $250,000 prize purse with charitable proceeds to benefit The Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital. This will be a well-attended event, bringing large crowds to Falmouth. Residents should expect increased, and even heavy traffic, during the dates of the event, especially along Winn Road.
Falmouth Public Schools |
Highlight: Congratulations Class of 2023!
The Falmouth High School Class of 2023 Commencement was held on Sunday, June 4. As part of the celebration, three members of the Class of 2023 spoke to the audience of
students, administrators, staff, families, and other community members. Visit the graduation page to read the graduation speeches, and watch videos of the Candlelight and Graduation Ceremonies.
In the News: Sports Teams and Athletes Shine with Season-End Accomplishments
- Boys & Girls Tennis: Class A Regional Champions
- Boys Tennis: Class A State Champions
- Girls Tennis: Class A State Runners Up
- Boys Track & Field: Class A State Runners Up; Miles Gay sets school record and top 10 all-time state performance in the 400m; Judd Armstrong sets school record in high jump; Miles Gay, Miles Woodbury, Max Shapiro, and Finn Claxton-Smith set state record in 4x400m relay
- Girls Lacrosse: Advances to Class A State Semifinals vs Yarmouth; Lucy Taylor and Peaches Stucker reach 100 career point milestones
- Boys Lacrosse: Advances to Class A State Semifinals vs South Portland On May 31, 11 seniors from the Class of 2023 signed their National Letter of Intent (NLI) to play a sport at the collegiate level. Congratulations!
Reminders
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. For more information and to register, please visit our Kindergarten Registration page.
Student Art and Summer Reading Programs at Falmouth Memorial Library. On display now at Falmouth Memorial Library is an exhibition of fabulous artwork created by K-12 Falmouth students. We encourage all kids, teens, and adults to read books throughout the summer. FML has a wide selection of books and materials, and offers summer reading programs for all ages.
Upcoming: Events & Meetings
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).
- The next business meeting is on Tuesday, June 20, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. in the Falmouth Elementary School Cafeteria
Multicultural Calendar
Eager to learn more about the holidays and cultural events celebrated by our students and community members? We welcome you to visit the Multicultural Calendar on our website. June is LGBTQ+ Pride Month and National Caribbean American Heritage Month. We honor all those who celebrate.
Town Council, Board & Committee Meetings |
Town Council Meeting, Wednesday, June 21, 2023, 7:00pm
As is customary, there will be only one Town Council Meeting in June. Due to the Juneteenth holiday, the next meeting will take place on Wednesday, June 21 at 7:00pm. An agenda will be posted here in advance of the meeting. The meeting will be held in person at Town Hall in the Town Council Chambers. Members of the public may participate in the meeting by either attending the meeting in person or via Zoom. The Zoom application will allow attendees to connect remotely via computer or phone. The public may also watch (no participation option) the meeting on Channel 2 or on the Town website streaming channel. Check out our Guide to Participating in Virtual Public Meetings. If you have questions, please call (207) 699-5335.
Prior to the meeting, the Town Council Annual Caucus will take place at 6:00pm in the upstairs conference room at Town Hall. An agenda can be found here prior to the meeting.
At the Most Recent Town Council Meetings…
The Town Council held a meeting on May 22. Find an agenda and video here.
- The Council approved the minutes of the April 10 Town Council Meeting and April 24 Town Council Meeting.
- The Council approved the following re-appointment: Danielle Tracy to the Falmouth Memorial Library Board of Trustees.
- And the following appointment: David Skillin to the Shellfish Conservation Commission.
- The Council approved the renewal of a permanent food license for Shaw's Supermarkets (251 US Route 1).
- There was a public hearing on amendments to Chapter II-19 of the Code of Ordinances to implement the requirements of L.D. 2003 “An Act To Implement the Recommendations of the Commission To Increase Housing Opportunities in Maine by Studying Zoning and Land Use Restrictions" as codified at 30-A M.R.S. §§4364, 4364-A, and 4364-B. The Council agreed to schedule the Ordinance for June 21.
- The Council approved an order for a supplemental appropriation of $100,000.00 from unassigned fund balance to partially fund the reconstruction of Twombley Pond at Family Ice.
- The Council approved an order for certain activities and uses on Lot R08-85, known as the Wilshore Farm, for which the Town holds a conservation easement.
- The Council approved an Ordinance to Amend the Traffic and Motor Vehicles Ordinance, Ch. II-17, Art. II-17-1 and Art. II-17-2 of the Code of Ordinances.
- The Council approved an order to Establish a Parking Violation Fine Schedule.
- The Council approved an Ordinance to Amend Ch. II-19, Art. II-19-1, Sec. 19-72 of the Code of Ordinances Regarding Erosion and Sedimentation Control.
- There was an introduction of amendments to CH. II-19 of the Code of Ordinances to add Restaurants and Carry-out Restaurants as conditional uses in certain portions of the RB District. The Council agreed to schedule the public hearing for July 10.
- The Council approved an Order to go into Executive Session to discuss the Town Manager's Performance Review, pursuant to 1 M.R.S.A. § 405 (6) (A).
Planning Board
At the June 6 Planning Board meeting, the board considered the following items. An agenda can be found here.
37 Casco Terrace – Garth & Andrea Connor – Request for Shoreland Zone Permit Approval for slope stabilization. Map/lot U17-040. APPROVED WITH CONDITIONS
356R US Route 1 – SBA Communications Corporation – Request for Personal Wireless Service Facility III modifications to existing cell tower. Map/lot U53-004-T. APPROVED WITH CONDITIONS
17 Greta Way – Jared Dinsmore – Request for Minor Subdivision Amendment Approval to add one residential unit to the existing single-family home creating a two-family dwelling. Map/lot R03-001-U1. APPROVED WITH CONDITIONS
Falmouth Road – Blackstone Development Group – Request for Preliminary Major Subdivision Approval consisting of 9 Conservation Lots and 2 Country Estate Lots. Map/lot R04-022. TABLED- Public Hearings: Amendments to Chapter II-19 of the Code of Ordinances to implement the requirements of L.D. 2003 “An Act to Implement the Recommendations of the Commission To Increase Housing Opportunities in Maine by Studying Zoning and Land Use Restrictions" as codified at 30-A M.R.S. §§4364, 4364-A, and 4364-B. RECOMMENDED
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 Board of Zoning Appeals meeting on June 27, the board will consider the following items. An agenda can be found here.
- 1 & 7 Underwood Road - Underwood Road LLC (Theodore Heidrich) - Request for Conditional Use Approval under Section 19-77 for the construction of a detached structure. Map/lot U18-025; Zoned RA, RCZO, SZ-LR, WVOD. (Previously tabled) THERE WILL BE A SITE WALK ON TUESDAY, JUNE 27TH AT 5:30 P.M. AT 1 UNDERWOOD ROAD. THE PUBLIC IS WELCOME TO ATTEND.
- 11 Hammond Road – Rob King representing Brian & Julie O’Coin – Request for Conditional Use Approval under Section 19-84 for a tear-down and rebuild of existing dwelling. Map/lot U02-020; Zoned RA, RCZO, WVOD.
- 16 Ayers Court – Odette Thurston – Request for Conditional Use Approval under Section 19-77 to extend bump out on north side of dwelling. Map/lot U16-046; 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.
Town of Falmouth, 271 Falmouth Road, Falmouth, ME 04105207-781-5253
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