With Election Day just one month away and the last day of school not far behind, we're anticipating what's ahead and getting everyone ready for summer! We've hired for seasonal positions, are nearing adoption of the next fiscal year's municipal budget, and identifying areas of priority action and investment. Read on for updates spanning across town, from beaches to parks, Town Hall departments, and the Library.

There is a Town Council meeting tonight at 7:00pm. It will be preceded by a Town Council Workshop from 5:30-7:00pm on proposed cannabis amendments. View agendas and get links on our Town Calendar.

Town Offices Closed on Memorial Day

Scarborough Town Hall will be closed on Monday, May 27 for the Memorial Day holiday. It will reopen on Tuesday at 7:00am. Trash pickup will remain on schedule.

Gearing Up for Beach Season

Summer Dog Rules in Effect Today, May 15

Beginning on May 15 through Labor Day, dogs are restricted from beaches from 9:00am-5:00pm. They are allowed off-leash from dawn to 9:00 a.m. They are allowed on leash from 5:00 p.m. to dusk. Please respect these rules for the courtesy of fellow beachgoers.

Please also note, there are some restricted areas on our town beaches where dogs aren't allowed (Higgins and Ferry/Western) or need to be leashed (Pine Point), which went into effect on April 1. Please pay attention to the signs that mark restricted areas. View the maps of restricted areas on all of Scarborough's town beaches.

Parking Passes Available at Town Hall

Beach passes, used for parking in Town-operated lots during the summer season, are now available for purchase in our Clerk's office. All beach passes must be obtained in person. Please bring your vehicle registration, as it is required for the purchase of a beach pass. Cash or check payment is recommended; cards are accepted with an additional convenience fee.

Beach passes cover parking at the following Town beaches:

• Higgins

• Ferry

• Pine Point (Hurd Park)

Passes do not apply to Scarborough Beach State Park.

The season for beach parking passes runs from the start of Memorial Day weekend (May) to the end of Labor Day weekend (September).

Budget: Council Second Reading Tonight

After two months of review and adjustments since the budget was first proposed in late March, the Town Council will have its second reading at tonight's meeting (begins at 7:00pm; view agenda).

The Finance committee conducted detailed reviews of the budget and proposed amendments. The committee is made up of Councilors Jon Anderson, Karin Shupe, and Don Cushing. They spent over twenty hours meeting and connected with the public to discuss the budget.

At its starting point, the proposed budget was a 6.44% net increase from the previous year. The Finance Committee recommendation to the full Council is to reduce the net budget by $2,814,995, bringing the net budget increase to 3.01%. Exclusive of the revaluation, this would result in a relative tax rate increase of 0.30% (for comparison, the net budget increased 4.45% on average over the last four years, while the tax rate increased 2.1% on average). This relatively minimal increase is intended to be cognizant of the impact of the revaluation on property taxpayers.

All budget details, meeting dates, and the full budget document are available on our website.

June 11 is Election Day

Primary Election Day is Tuesday, June 11, 2024. Primary Elections determine each qualified party's nomination of candidates for federal offices and State and County offices. Party candidates who are elected at the Primary qualify to appear on the November General Election ballot. The local ballot is also to elect two members to the Board of Education and to vote on the School Budget Validation Referendum. Voting will be held at the Scarborough High School, located at 11 Municipal Drive on Election Day from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Early Voting Now Available at Town Hall

Early voting by absentee ballot is now available at Town Hall (as of Monday, May 13). Voting is available during regular business hours, Monday-Thursday, 7:00am-5:00pm. The last day to vote at Town Hall is Thursday, June 6.

Absentee Ballots

Request your absentee ballots early for one to be sent to you. Use this online form or fill in this application and mail to the Scarborough Town Clerk's Office at P.O. Box 360, Scarborough, ME 04070-0360. Ballots will be mailed to you when they become available. All absentee ballots must be received no later than 8:00 p.m. EDT on Election Day.

For further information on Absentee Voting and Voter Registration, please contact the Scarborough Town Clerk's Office at 730‑4020.

May 5-11 was Municipal Clerks Week

Thank you for administering our local elections & more!

The first week in May is Municipal Clerks Week! Have you been into our Clerk's office to renew your dog license, register to vote, or apply for a business permit? Then you may have met Katie Duross (Deputy Town Clerk, left), Tody Justice (Town Clerk, center), or Kristen Barth (Deputy Town Clerk, right).

The Office of the Municipal Clerk, a time honored and vital part of local government, exists throughout the world, and is the oldest among public servants. Their office serves as the professional link between the citizens, the local governing bodies and agencies of government at other levels. Municipal Clerks have pledged to be mindful of their neutrality and impartiality, rendering equal service to all and serving as the information center on functions of local government and community.

We recognized the week of May 5 through May 11, 2024 as Municipal Clerks Week, and extend appreciation to the staff in the Scarborough Town Clerk's Office and to all Municipal Clerks for the vital services they perform and their exemplary dedication to the communities they represent.

The Assessor’s Office has completed new assessments for its townwide revaluation being conducted this spring. Notices will be mailed to all residential property owners by the end of May (commercial property owners will receive notices in early June). The notices will indicate your new assessed value as of April 1, 2024 and will also include an estimate of projected 2024-25 property taxes (subject to change; will be finalized in late August).

A revaluation is the process of updating real estate property values to reflect their current market value (i.e., to maintain reasonable estimates of what each property could sell for on the open market). The Assessor’s Office determined new values from a thorough analysis of all available information, especially current sales data. The mailed notice will provide guidance for how to conduct your own analysis and how to cross-check your new valuation and property record for accurate information.

The Assessor's Office is committed to working with property owners to ensure every property is assessed at a reasonable estimate of its fair market value. They will also be sharing Information about how to request/schedule an informal review with the Assessing staff, which will take place from June-August.

For answers to frequently asked questions about the revaluation process, visit www.scarboroughmaine.org/revalfaq.

Traffic Improvement Efforts & Investments

Transportation and traffic improvements can be complex, expensive and take time to adequately study, plan, design, fund and implement. Here are some steps the Town is taking to directly address the concerns and priorities of our residents in order to improve vehicular traffic flow, and bike/pedestrian mobility:

Adaptive Traffic Signals

The Town initiated a multi-phase adaptive traffic signal system program in 2017 for the Route 1 corridor to improve traffic flow. The final phase is expected to be completed this fall. Once complete, the entire Route 1 corridor will be integrated for maximum volume of traffic flow and efficiency from Dunstan Village through to the I-295 spur. The technology will continue to be installed on other major thoroughfares in Scarborough. In FY24, the Town Council approved additional funds in partnership with private development to begin the adaptive traffic signal system integration on the Payne Road corridor, starting from the South Portland town line to Gorham Road.

Townwide Transportation Study

There is a need for an organized plan for addressing traffic flow/safety improvements, with consideration for priority, scale, funding, etc. A Townwide Transportation Study was funded in the FY23 budget and is intended to identify existing and anticipated future demands. It is nearing completion and will provide a holistic review of long-term solutions to be further studied and implemented. Opportunities include infrastructure improvements, transportation demand management, operational improvements, and multimodal improvements and services, while also improving safety throughout the transportation network. 

Traffic Impact Fees

One of the largest barriers to advancing projects intended to improve traffic infrastructure is cost. Funding for some major town traffic projects comes from traffic impact fees, which were adopted by the Town in the 1990s. Impact fees are costs developers pay to mitigate their impacts to the Town’s transportation network based on the expected impact to traffic volumes that the development will generate. The Town Council recently began the process to review, update, and implement a number of new and modified impact fees to be able to fund future projects (public hearing scheduled for tonight's Town Council meeting).

Mussey/Payne Road Safety & More

Another significant project anticipated for the year ahead is the installation of a new traffic signal at Mussey Road. This project is in partnership with a private development and will improve safety on the Payne Road corridor. The FY25 proposed budget continues to look toward the future and proposes to fund the engineering design for projects based on the Townwide Transportation Study’s recommendations. 

View a map of the transportation-related construction projects on our website.

New Clean Energy Program for Commercial Buildings

At the recommendation of the Scarborough Sustainability Committee, the Town Council voted to adopt a Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) ordinance at their May 1st meeting. Through this new program, commercial property owners who want to make energy efficiency improvements to their buildings will have access to special financing for their projects. C-PACE loans typically have lower rates and longer repayment terms than traditional loans. The property owner’s investment is recovered through savings on their energy bills. 

The State Legislature authorized the establishment of C-PACE programs in 2021, and the State tapped Efficiency Maine to manage the program. Municipalities are required to “opt-in” to the C-PACE program by passing an ordinance. C-PACE loans are secured by a property tax assessment with an associated lien on the property, allowing financing for a longer term and the ability to transfer the repayment obligations to another owner if the property is sold. 

Scarborough has had a residential PACE ordinance in place for more than a decade, which allows homeowners access to similar financing for home energy upgrades. For more information about C-PACE, please visit Efficiency Maine’s website.  

Black Point Road Closed Due to Storm Damage

Local Traffic Only Beyond Black Point Inn—All Others Prohibited

Extensive erosion from the 2024 winter storms caused a partial collapse, leaving the far southern section of Black Point Road with only one functioning lane. The road is currently closed to visitors until repairs are completed. Only local vehicles are permitted to travel beyond the Black Point Inn. All others must turn back at the road closure. The target date for repairs is late Fall/Winter 2024. 

The Cliff Walk Closed Until Further Notice

Winter storms caused significant damage to the Cliff Walk, making the trail impassable. The Cliff Walk is closed until repairs can be made. An updated status will be provided in early 2025.

Council Adopts Revised Flood Maps

In their May 1 meeting, the Town Council had a public hearing and second reading on the proposed repeal and replacement of Chapter 405A Floodplain Management Ordinance. The ordinance update is required to maintain standing in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and to recognize the areas of special flood hazard. The Town Council unanimously adopted the updated set of digital flood insurance rate maps (DFIRMs) and floodplain management ordinance, effective June 20, 2024.

Updated FEMA flood maps are available to view on our website—use it to identify properties in the flood zones (access from this page).

May is Mental Health Awareness Month

Community Services Offers Programs

May is dedicated to Mental Health Awareness, and Community Services has some related upcoming programming. We hope to see you at one of these events as we come together to prioritize mental health and well-being:

May 18: Paws for Prevention

Register

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is holding their 3rd annual Paws for Prevention event at Memorial Park. Form a team and bring your pooch to raise funds and awareness.

May 21: Mandala Dot Painting

Register

Mandala dot painting is a form of art therapy that involves creating intricate symmetrical designs using dots known for its therapeutic and meditative qualities.

May 23: Sound Bath

Free; No registration

Join Kristine Keegan from Scarborough Yoga for a sound bath session that incorporates crystal bowls, brass bowls, chimes, drums, tuning forks to bring a state of freedom and peace to the mind. Begins at 4:30pm at the SCS Hub.

All Month Long: 30 Minutes for 31 Days

Join us in celebrating Mental Health Awareness month by dedicating 30 minutes outside every day this May. Whether it's a walk, swim, or just reading on the porch, spending time outside has proven mental health benefits.

Upcoming Workshop on Short Term Rentals

The Town of Scarborough is considering the creation of a Short Term Rental Ordinance. Scarborough is one of few neighboring communities who do not have an ordinance already, but does have a Planning & Code Enforcement Policy, "'Airbnb' Use of or Within Dwelling Units". A Short Term Rental (STR) Ordinance would establish regulations and possible tracking of STRs in Scarborough. The Town Council will be holding a workshop on June 5, 2024, to continue the discussion and gain more insight into the community's needs.

School Building Committee Starts Concept Development

The School Building Advisory Committee (SBAC) has begun concept development on new ideas to address Scarborough’s school needs. Subcommittees have completed their assessment of facilities and programming deficits and analyzed the work of the previous committee.  

New concept development is in early stages. Most ideas focus on ways to preserve the neighborhood schools and address growing school enrollment with a fourth school or significant additions to existing schools. Options being explored include: 

• New K-2 “neighborhood” school 
• Major addition to the Middle School and reallocation of age groupings
• New Grade 2-3 school on the municipal campus. Neighborhood schools to serve K-1 
• Consolidated K-3 school

Other concepts may arise throughout the development phase. The Committee will invite citizens to participate in the concept development process through public forums. Stay tuned for details!

Scarborough Public Schools is hosting a Senior Citizen Appreciation Dinner. Get together and get a peek inside what the school district has been up to! Enjoy a dinner prepared by the Nutrition Department and served by students. Watch some live performances from various school clubs, admire work and achievements on display, and enter to win some raffles!

Event Details:

Thursday, May 30th

4:00-6:30pm, Dinner will be served at 4:30pm

Held at Scarborough High School

Registration deadline: May 19

Sign up by online or contact Community Services via in-person or over the phone

(207) 730-4150 to assist with registration.

Town Council Corner: Prioritizing the Priorities

By Nick McGee, Chair, Scarborough Town Council

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Scarborough Town Council.

“Prioritizing the Priorities” is a phrase that I’m starting to hear more and more frequently. It’s reflective of a general concern that perhaps the Town and its leadership are trying to do too much at one time. I think it’s a fair criticism – it can be difficult to determine what the priorities are when even casual observers can clearly see substantially impactful issues being simultaneously put through the paces over a short timeframe.  Most of these projects and initiatives come with hefty price tags, which understandably adds to the overall anxiety our residents feel as it relates to their individual tax burden.

So, what are the priorities? I think most would agree, we need to tend to our education system and the facility deficiencies above all. Right now, a 50+ strong community member led committee is taking on the task of reviewing and developing potential solutions for Scarborough’s educational facility needs and enrollment projections. The report is due to the Council and Board of Education in mid-June. From that report, we hope to have guidance on our next steps for a solution that solves current and future needs and has the support of the majority of this community. It is highly unlikely a plan and bond question would be completed in time for a November 2024 ballot. A more reasonable expectation would be June of 2025.

Meanwhile, we are in the midst of refining the FY 2025 budget. The revaluation process has added a layer of complexity to the typical budget cycle. This Council is keenly aware of the overall anxiety of the general public as it relates to more financial burdens from government. We are doing our best to blunt the impacts of a revaluation that will hit residential assessments hardest and all the while, attempting to maintain an operating budget that allows us to service existing infrastructure, plan for the future and continue to provide excellent municipal services to the residents. It is a tightrope act for sure. The Council can only manage what we spend – not the value of the homes in our community. With that in mind – we are seeking to keep our municipal spending tax impact closer to 2%, well below inflationary levels.

Other big items include a potential Community Center – a long desired amenity the public has supported in multiple townwide surveys. This planning process is well underway, led by a committee comprised of members of the community. I would caution that this too is another item that will need to wait until we’ve settled the most pressing issue, our schools. I would not expect to see this advanced to voters unless there is a path to achieving this with minimal tax impacts (yes, it is possible) or the school facility situation is resolved.

Two other items are scheduled for this November's ballot: The police department is requesting funds for full body and vehicle camera systems, and in line with our asset replacement schedule, a new pumper fire truck is being requested to replace the 20-year-old one currently in use.

Finally, many have questioned whether or not we will see a Land Bond this November. It is true that the current land bonds are virtually exhausted. These bonds are used for the purchase of conservation land here in Scarborough. These act much like a home equity line of credit – the public approves them, and when the time comes, the appropriate entities borrow the amount needed to complete the transaction. Interest and payments do not accumulate until the money is borrowed. I view this as an ongoing priority here in Scarborough – not a luxury. Money should be made available on an ongoing basis for these efforts. Not only is this best practice for our environment, but it is also part of a longer-term strategy to maintain a balance between nature and human impacts on our surroundings and conserving land is a component of our growth management strategy. People should expect to see a ballot question in November asking for your continued support for conservation efforts here in Scarborough.

Scarborough Town Council

Nick McGee, Chair • April Sither, Vice Chair • Jonathan Anderson • Jean-Marie Caterina • Don Cushing • Don Hamill • Karin Shupe

Town Council meets the first and third Wednesday of each month. Visit our Town Calendar for links to attend and view agendas.

June 1: Scarborough Land Trust Native Plant Sale

Scarborough Public Library: Upcoming Programs

Mac 'n Cheese Potluck & Board Game Night (All Ages!)

Friday, May 17

5:00-8:00pm

Register (Not required)

Let's have a macaroni and cheese potluck and play some games! Do you make "the best" Mac & Cheese? Prove it. Very small prizes awarded to the best mac & cheese, but mostly the honor of being the best! Bring the whole family, a couple of friends, or come on your own for this intergenerational party. Scarborough Public Library and Scarborough Community Services will supply the games with something for all ages.

Part 1: Wonderful World of Insects

Thursday, May 23

5:00-6:00pm

Register

Why do insects matter? Because they rule the world! These marvels of evolution were the first in flight and dominated the skies for millions of years. Insects appear in a staggering array of shapes and sizes and life spans. Insects were first to engage in manufacturing, animal husbandry and farming. Byproducts of insects’ lives have been exploited by humans since pre-civilization.

Part 2: Insect Armageddon

Thursday, May 30

5:00-6:00pm

Register

Insects are suffering population losses so vast that it has been called “Insect Armageddon.” Also “The Death of a Thousand Cuts.” What is causing the damage to insect populations? Can insects adapt to climate change? And can losses be reversed? What will the loss of insects mean for the health of the planet?

Library Summer Hours Start June 4

Library hours change slightly beginning on June 4. They will be:

Monday – 9am to 5pm

Tuesday – 9am to 7pm

Wednesday – 9am to 7pm

Thursday – 9am to 7pm

Friday – 9am to 5pm

Saturday – 9am to 1pm

Sunday – Closed