Election Day Tuesday, Nov. 7: Vote at Thornton Academy

Property Tax Interest Accrual Date Change

On October 16, 2023, Saco City Council voted unanimously to delay the start of interest accrual on the first half of property tax invoices from 10/16/23 to 11/16/23.

For more information: www.sacomaine.org/propertytax

To read or watch a video of our 2024 Property Tax FAQ, visit: www.sacomaine.org/propertytaxFAQ

City Leaf Collection Starts Soon

Saco's annual leaf collection service begins November 13th!

The City of Saco provides a curbside collection* of bagged leaves each fall. We will collect up to a maximum of 20 paper bags per household.

Our process for collection consists of starting at one end of the City and servicing each public street once. Saco Public Works does not have a specific schedule of when they will be in each neighborhood, but we ask that all bagged leaves be out on Monday, November 13th, by 7:00 AM to ensure your leaves are ready for pickup when our crews visit your street. Once each street has been serviced, our collection will end.

Leaves are always accepted for free at the Transfer Station for Saco residents. Paper bagged leaves can be left in the compost pile; anything bagged in plastic will need to be opened and emptied, as we cannot accept anything plastic in our pile.

* Please note the City does not enter into private developments.

Biddeford-Saco Veteran's Day Parade Tradition Continues

Join us as we honor veterans during the 2023 Biddeford-Saco Veterans Day Parade!

The parade will begin at 10:00 AM in Biddeford at the corner of Pool Street and Alfred Street, proceed down Alfred Street to Main Street, cross the bridge onto York Hill in Saco, continue through Saco's Main Street, turn right on Beach Street, left onto Middle Street, and finish at CK Burns School with a closing ceremony. In case of severe weather, the ceremony will be held indoors in the C.K. Burns gymnasium.

Saco Ward 7 City Councilor Nathan Johnston will serve as Grand Marshal of this year’s parade. We'll also get to hear from guest speaker Paul Gagne, Seacoast Band of Biddeford and Old Orchard Beach, Thornton Academy Band, and others.

We hope to see you there.

City Hall Closed Friday, Nov. 10

City offices will be closed on Friday, November 10th, in observance of Veterans Day.

Trash and recycling collection will not be affected by the holiday, so please put your carts out following the normal collection schedule.

Remember, you can still do City business online! We offer a variety of online services, including registration renewal, property tax payment, parking permit sales, ambulance bill payment, and more!

WATCH: Saco Parks and Recreation Community Center Gym Resurfacing

Saco Parks & Recreation Department's gym has a new paint job and finish, just in time for winter basketball season! This is the first time the floor has been fully refreshed in 15 years.

Watch our three-day timelapse video above, revealing the work New England Sports Floors put into this project. And visit Parks & Rec's website using the button below to register for programming today.

New Public Art Installed in Saco through Saco Arts Commission

Saco Arts Commission has installed five new pieces of public art as part of its newest community initiative. These seasonal wheat-paste murals are displayed on buildings in Saco using a centuries-old process of adhering paper replicas of artwork to brick building surfaces using a paste made from wheat flour.

With an open-ended interpretive theme, “Memories,” the Commission gave artists an opportunity to reflect and showcase meaningful moments from life and history, with approaches from a personal perspective, an historical perspective, and concepts of past, present, and future.

Please join us in recognizing the selected artists:

• Kailleigh Archibald

• Sandy Atkins

• Angela Coulombe

• Kellie Hebert

• Amy Roberge

The Saco Arts Commission was created in 2021 to bring together members of the community, elected officials, and staff to improve the aesthetic quality of the City’s public spaces. In support of City beautification efforts, the Arts Commission’s first major project was completed in April 2022, featuring the installation of art-wraps on three downtown traffic light signal cabinets. Learn more about the Saco Arts Commission and each of the new installations on their website: www.sacomaine.org/artscommission

The Saco Arts Commission is currently accepting applications for new members. Fill out an application today if you'd like to take part in exciting local art initiatives alongside this working committee: www.sacomaine.org/advisorybodyapplication

2024 Dog Licensing Underway

You can license your dog(s) in person at City Hall or online at State of Maine Dog Licensing: https://www.maine.gov/online/dog_license/faq.html.

New Licenses - If this is a first-time registration, and the dog has been Neutered or Spayed, please bring in the Certificate showing the dog has been altered as well as the Rabies Certificate. New licenses need to be processed before the dog turns 6 months old, or if the dog is over 6 months old, then within 10 days of taking ownership, otherwise a $25.00 late fee will be assessed.

Renewal Licenses - For renewal registrations, you just need to bring in a current Rabies Certificate. 

The fees are as follows:

• $6.00 for altered dog
• $11.00 for unaltered dog
• $42.00 for a Kennel with up to 10 dogs (Kennel means dogs used for breeding, hunting, show, training, field trials, sledding, competition or exhibition purposes). If more than 10 dogs in a Kennel, an additional fee of $42.00 will be charged.
• New Service Dogs - No Fee (A Service Dog Verification Form for Waiver of License Fee will need to be completed by applicant and a licensed Practitioner). These forms are available in the City Clerk’s Office or online at State of Maine Animal Welfare Applications: https://www.maine.gov/dacf/ahw/animal_welfare/forms.shtml
• Renewal licenses processed after January 31st will incur a $25.00 late fee.  
• $5.00 to have a rabies certificate faxed to City Hall.

Note: Online licenses cost an additional dollar to cover postage for mailing the license and tag out.

You must present the following at the time of registration:



• A current Maine rabies certificate - If you need to have a rabies certificate faxed to City Hall, there will be $5.00 fax service charge in addition to the license fee.
• A neutering or spaying certificate if the dog has been altered.

The Business Buzz...

Welcome to the City of Saco’s Economic Development Department’s “Business Buzz.”

Each month we will feature information about programs, opportunities and highlight Saco’s business sector. 

Saco is designated as a certified Business Friendly community and the Economic Development Department is responsive to the needs of businesses and entrepreneurs in Saco, as well as those looking to establish, expand, or relocate new business here in Saco.

Should you have any questions or would like to learn more, please contact Tracey Desjardins, Director, at tdesjardins@sacomaine.org or Torie Gorman, Economic Development Specialist, at vgorman@sacomaine.org.

NEW PROGRAM LAUNCHED...

The Southern Maine Planning & Economic Development Commission (SMPDC) recently launched the Economic Recovery Hub Program to help small businesses in York and Southern Oxford Counties. This grant was awarded by the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) with Federal ARPA funds.

The purpose of is to strengthen the regional business assistance network. The Program will offer Financial Assistance Grants, Technical Assistance Grants, as well as referral for free counseling, workshops, and classes.

Who May Apply?

Nonprofit and For-profit businesses with 25 or fewer employees.

For-profits may apply for Financial Assistance Grants and Technical Assistance Grants.

Nonprofits may apply for Technical Assistance Grants.

Applications are due by December 7, 2023.



For more information and eligibility, please visit SMPDC Economic Recovery Hub Program

Saco Schools Opens New Outdoor Classroom at CK Burns School

Earlier this week, Saco Schools unveiled their brand-new outdoor learning space at CK Burns School. A ribbon cutting was held with school officials, Rotary Club of Biddeford-Saco, Biddeford Saco Chamber of Commerce + Industry, and community members.

The project was inspired by students, many of whom for their “Someday” project longed to be able to attend classes outside. In Spring 2022, after entering the Outdoor Classroom Challenge run by Project Green Schools, CK Burns won first place and was awarded $10,000 to make the project a reality.

Saco Parks & Recreation Department cleared the area for construction to begin, and Rotary Club of Biddeford-Saco and Jim Godbout Plumbing & Heating, Inc. contributed more funds and assisted with the assembly of the gazebo this past summer, just in time for students to enjoy the space at the beginning of the school year.

The space is equipped with modular benches that convert into desks to allow the classroom to be used for a variety of subjects. It also has portable stadium seats, sunshades, and a whiteboard to provide all the functionality of a classroom in the fresh air.

We want to congratulate and thank everyone involved for providing an environment where students can benefit from educational opportunities outdoors.

Conservation Commission Feature: Atlantic White Cedar

The Atlantic White Cedar is listed as a species of special concern in Maine due to the logging of forested wetlands. While the range for Atlantic White Cedars spans from Florida to Maine, Saco is one of only thirteen communities in the State that contains suitable habitat for this evergreen tree. Our beloved Saco Heath Preserve (163 Buxton Road) is one of those rare habitats and has been officially designated as an Atlantic White Cedar Bog Ecosystem.

The Atlantic White Cedar looks similar to the more prolific Northern White Cedar. When visiting Saco Heath, you can identify the Atlantic White Cedar by its bluish-green foliage, branchlets with rounded leaves, and small, spherical fruits. The bark is also reddish with narrow ridges that may spiral around the trunk. By contrast, the Northern White Cedar has yellow-green foliage, branchlets with flattened leaves, and elongated fruit. The bark is also grayish with wider horizontal ridges.

As the weather cools and Winter approaches, enjoy a stroll on the boardwalk and see if you can spot this rare gem growing in Saco Heath.

If you have an interest in environmental stewardship, consider joining the Saco Conservation Commission. Apply today using the application link found at sacomaine.org/advisorybodies.

Additional Resources:

• Maine Natural Areas Program - https://www.maine.gov/dacf/mnap/features/chathy.htm

• Identifying Atlantic White Cedar - https://bplant.org/compare/106-3347

Staff Appreciation: Code Enforcement

October was Code Enforcement Month and we want to highlight some of the folks that ensure the health, safety, and well-being of the Saco community. Saco’s code enforcement team dedicates its time to making sure projects and existing spaces follow local codes and ordinances.

They are responsible for enforcing compliance with various codes regarding safe and legal construction of all new buildings and building renovations, continued compliance with occupancy and building regulations, zoning regulation enforcement, and all necessary administrative support services.

Saco’s Code Enforcement office issued a total of 1,696 building permits last fiscal year. This number is comprised of 244 Plumbing Permits, 648 Electrical Permits, 505 Building Permits, and 154 Certificates of Occupancy, with each permit requiring no less than 1 inspection, and on average, 3 to 5 for residential and 3 to 10 for commercial projects.

We’re proud of our team that provides these essential services to our city. Thank you for all the work you do!

Planning Department Updates

LD 2003 Housing Ordinance Revisions – LD 2003 housing ordinance revisions became effective in Saco on October 26, 2023. The purpose of these ordinance revisions is to comply with State Law which requires municipalities to revise their ordinances to help increase housing in Maine. Here is an overview of these changes:

• There were a few changes to the current Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU) provisions. The most notable change is the reduction in parking requirements to comply with state law provisions from LD 2003. Saco also increased the maximum ADU size to 1,000 square feet of total floor area. 
• Saco has added a new use, “Dwelling Units Permitted by right per State Statute (30-A §4364-A),” which will provide for more housing to be constructed where Saco currently allows single family homes. The existing minimum lot area per dwelling unit is not changing, so dwelling units will continue to comply with Table 4-1 of Saco’s existing zoning along with the provisions of State law. 
• Saco has incorporated the state’s provisions for Affordable Housing Developments into certain zones. Provided all requirements are met, including rent-restricting or deed-restricting more than half of the proposed units for a 30-year period, a development can apply 2.5 times the base density of the existing zone, subject to all applicable planning and permitting requirements.
• You can learn more about these revisions including accessing your Ward-specific Fact Sheet at this link: www.sacomaine.org/housing.

Climate Adaptation & Action Plan Survey – Saco’s Climate Survey closed on November 1, 2023. The results of this survey will be summarized and available during the next steps of the climate plan process. You can learn more about the Climate Plan at this link: www.sacomaine.org/climate.

Saco Community History Project – Saco’s Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) wants to thank everyone who has contributed their time and knowledge to the Saco Community History Project, a self-guided walking tour that highlights landmarks on Saco Island and Downtown. Through this project, nearly two dozen signs will be installed, each exploring the rich history of Saco through stories about significant buildings, people, and events.

The HPC’s Research Subcommittee has identified a broad list of approximately 48 places, events, and people on Saco Island and in Downtown Saco for potential walking tour signs. While the current list of subjects provides a good amount of history, more stories and information are welcome. The HPC recognizes there may be pieces of information that community members may be able to still contribute to establish a broader view of Saco’s history.

If you have a historic home, know about the location of a significant business, or know the story of a great person of the past, we’d love to hear from you. Send an email to planning@sacomaine.org. To learn more about the Historic Preservation Commission, such as their recent Camp Ellis Architectural Study and Resiliency Report, visit sacomaine.org/hpc.

Planning Board Approvals – The Board held three meetings in October. The Board conditionally approved a 25-lot residential subdivision off Jenkins Road, a 4,000 square ft. expansion of the Whited Saco facility on Portland Road, and a three-lot residential subdivision on Buxton Road. You can learn more about the plans and projects the Department is reviewing at this link: https://www.sacomaine.org/departments/planning/planning_projects_under_review.php.

RECAP: Spooky Success at Fire Dept. Halloween Drive-Thru

Thank you to everyone who stopped by the Saco Fire Department on Halloween for our Drive-Thru Trick-or-Treat! It was a delight to see all the fun and creative costumes worn by our community members of all ages. An estimated 550 bags of candy were handed out that evening!

A special thank you goes out to Saco’s Fire Department, Saco Police Department, Saco Parks & Recreation Department, Public Works, and Water Resource Recovery Department for making this year’s event a huge success.

Thank you to Saco Main Street for donating and repurposing pumpkins intended for the Pumpkin Harvest Festival. Finally, thank you to Saco Bay Community Church for donating candy for this year’s event.

Maine's First Harmonic Egg Roosts on Saco Island

Please join us in welcoming one of Saco's newest businesses, Healing Waves, located at 110 Main Street, Suite 1210.

Judy Stark and Bill Carey offer harmonic egg sessions where you relax in a zero-gravity chair inside the resonant chamber of the harmonic egg while being immersed in high-vibrational music and selected light frequencies.

The benefits include stress relief, improved mental clarity, reduced inflammation, and more, according to their website.

Learn more and book your visit today at www.harmoniceggsaco.com.

Click each item for more information, if available.

City Council Meetings

• November 6, 2023
• November 13, 2023
• November 27, 2023
• City Council agendas are available at www.sacomaine.org/councilagendas. Sign up for e-mail alerts when meeting materials are published at www.sacomaine.org/enotify.

Planning Board Meetings

• November 7, 2023
• November 21, 2023
• December 5, 2023
• December 19, 2023

Other Advisory Body Meetings

• Visit the City calendar here for more.

Saco Parks & Recreation Programs

• Visit www.sacorec.com for a full list of upcoming SPR events!

Saco Main Street Events

• Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony, December 1, 5:30 PM to 6:15 PM, Saco Transportation Center, 138 Main Street.
• 12th Annual Holiday Parade & Festival of Lights, December 9, 9:30 AM to 7:00 PM, Main Street, Downtown. Visit bit.ly/sacolights for more information.

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If you encounter any issues with this system, please reach out to the Saco Communications Department at sacotv@sacomaine.org.

Apply Today to Join Our Team

The City of Saco has open positions.

We encourage you to take a look at the job opportunities currently available with the City of Saco on our Careers page. There is so much important work that goes in to keeping the City running, often behind the scenes.

If nothing is a great fit for you, consider passing the listings along to friends and family who might be looking for a satisfying and important career.