Chilly mornings, the ever-so-subtle change in foliage, and the sight of yellow school buses winding through town are all harbingers of Summer's end. The crew of lifeguards has said goodbye to the beaches as students return to school and the last Summer Concert of the 2024 season will wrap up this weekend. Although Labor Day weekend, and subsequently, Autumn, are upon us, there are still plenty of ways to get out and enjoy the summer season while it is still here. The beaches are still drawing crowds and we are as busy as ever here at the Town Hall.

New staff members have joined our team this month and we are confident they will shine in their new roles. Absentee ballot applications are available for the upcoming November 5th election, with absentee ballots to be available in October. Wells Harbor has welcomed a calico lobster, and has seen impressive changes and improvements to the harbor, thanks to the efforts of our Harbormaster. Van Delivery resumes at Wells Public Library, and Wells Police worked hard this past month to raise money for a great cause.

Read about these updates and more to find out how Wells is welcoming September.

Please join us in welcoming the newest Town of Wells staff members. We are confident that their skills will prove to be an asset to their respective departments and we know they will be a wonderful addition to our team.

The Town of Wells is fortunate to have these individuals join our staff and we are confident they will shine in their new roles. We wish you all the best!

For the second year in a row, Wells Harbor has received the Harbor Access Management Grant from Maine Submerged Lands. We have used the grant money, $30,000.00 in total, to replace all of the main floats at the Pier. The old floats, which are over thirty years old, will be refastened and planked, then put back in service elsewhere in the harbor.

Wells Harbor will also be taking delivery of five new floats from Custom Floats this week. These five floats will have conduit runs down the middle, for future utilities on the East side Slips. The five new floats will be placed at the North end of the Slip dock, and five floats that are there presently, will be moved out to existing pilings that were put in last Spring, giving us six to ten floating dock spaces to be assigned next Spring.

The week of August 19th is the last full week the Wells Harbor Shellfish Lab will be open, as Olivia Hardy heads back to her teaching job on Saturday the 24th. Rachel Carr will continue till the 27th, then weekends till mid to late September.

This week and the next few weekends will be your last opportunity to come see our calico lobster.

On behalf of the Wells Harbor Advisory Committee and Chairman Mike Caplan, we would like to thank our Harbor Master, Michael Yorke, for the fantastic job he did this year in turning our Harbor from a small useable harbor to a new, large state-of-the-art Harbor.

Mike spent many hours coordinating the large Dredge operation, with an end result in making our harbor able to hold more boats than ever before. Mike wrote numerous grants to purchase many new docks, including two large ones already installed and two on the way for the main pier.

Another grant was used to purchase a large number of docks for the Eastern Shore location. These docks have special conduits installed to accept water hoses in the future. Pilings were installed with docks for the new docking area for larger boats. Larger boats have already arrived and are safely moored on the new dock area.

All old white mooring balls have been removed, with the exception of the Lobster Boat mooring area. New chains and balls have been installed. Another grant was also written to rebuild the Eastern Shore Entrance and has been completed.

During the preseason time, Mike was able to hire some assistance. Their responsibility was to upgrade all old docks with new hardware and replace any damaged lumber. Mike and his team had the use of several pieces of equipment during that period.

At Mike’s request, the town allowed him to train a few of the gentlemen to become Assistant Harbor Masters. Mike was involved with a team as recipients of the new dredge to be used in small harbors.



The town is lucky to have a person like Mike who works very hard each and every day. He took a small-town harbor and changed it to a large, professional harbor with all the amenities any boater could want.

The members of the Harbor Advisory Committee thank you for a job well done; we appreciate your hard work and are grateful to have you as our Harbor Master.

Ordinance Changes For The November Special Town Meeting:

As a result of the public forum held in April on growth concerns, the Board of Selectmen and the Planning Board have worked diligently to produce 13 Ballot questions for multiple ordinance changes.

Ordinance Changes include the following:

• Increases in dedicated Open Space requirements for subdivisions
• Increased buffers for cluster subdivisions and multifamily developments
• Elimination of most density bonuses for cluster subdivisions
• Elimination of setback reductions within a cluster subdivisions
• Added restrictions concerning the amount of wetlands within Open Space
• Added restrictions on the amount of wetland on subdivision lots
• Added buffers from structures to wetlands within subdivisions
• Added subdivision default/violation ordinances
• Updated application processes and requirements
• Updated parking and traffic requirements
• Updated nonconforming lot/development standards
• Water/well testing requirements for subdivisions

These specific ordinances and ballot questions are available on the Town website here.

You can find this by navigating to government >Ordinance Changes>November 2024 Proposed Changes.

Other Ordinance Change:

A property owner has applied for an ordinance change to create a use definition for a Funeral Home and allow that use in the Residential A, Residential Commercial and General Business Districts. A public hearing will be held during the Board of Selectmen meeting on September 3rd to place a ballot question on the November special town meeting ballot.

Ordinance Change Application for the June 2025 Town Meeting:

An application has been made to allow adult use (recreation use) cannabis sales in Wells. The application is under review by the Planning Board and a public hearing will be scheduled in the next few months.

Have you been to see Mice in the Bookshelves at the library yet? The Illustration Institute’s exhibit of some of the most famous mice in literary history are on display through November 15. Come check it out!

Van delivery is resuming! The long-awaited return of van delivery has been announced. Patrons will be able to place holds on non-Wells items beginning Tuesday, September 3. Thank you for your patience throughout the summer as the delivery service contract was finalized. We ask for your continued patience as the new delivery company gets up and running and the backlog of holds gets processed.

Children’s programs resume Wednesday, September 4. Teen Wednesday programming resumes September 11.

Adult Programs:

SMAA Medicare Info Session

Monday, September 9, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm

Southern Maine Area Agency on Aging Medicare Program will be here to help answer any questions you may have on Medicare, such as how to enroll, help understand your Medicare coverage or help you understand your billing issues. This unbiased free service is offered through a partnership with the Wells Library to help you make an informed decision about your health insurance.

Conversational French

Thursday, September 12, 19, 26, 4:00 pm

Conversational French returns from its August hiatus. Join us for an informal approach to practicing or re-learning French in person! We welcome anyone with a French Language interest to participate in our meeting. Venez parler français avec nous!

Author Talk

Wednesday, September 25, 6:00 pm

Local author David Florig will be speaking about his debut novel, The Stones of Ailsa Craig and its upcoming sequel, The Shattered Curling Stone, set for release in early September. The Stones of Ailsa Craig is a work of historical fiction, toggling between present-day Belfast, Maine and 1880s Scotland, and is rich with detail about the Maine mid-coast, Scotland, and the sport of curling, which was born in Scotland. It is a deep look into one man’s loss, loneliness, obsession, and vengeance. 

Adult Crafternoon

Thursday, September 26, 2:00 pm

Join Kim in making painted wood slice coasters. Each attendee will take home a set of four wooden coasters, with a design of their choice painted on each! 

Blue Envelope Program

The Blue Envelope Program, offered by Disability Rights Maine, is designed to assist individuals with disabilities during traffic stops. Participants receive a blue envelope to store important medical and disability-related information. This envelope should be kept in the vehicle and presented to law enforcement officers during traffic stops. It helps ensure that critical information about the driver’s or passenger’s needs is communicated effectively, improving safety and understanding during interactions with police.

We have BLUE ENVELOPES available for pick up here at the Wells Police Department. For more information, visit their website here

Special Olympics

Several businesses and residents of Wells recently showed their support for the Wells Police Departments fundraising campaign for Special Olympics Maine. A total of $4,400 was raised and donated.

The funds raised go towards supporting Special Olympics Maine’s programs and events, helping to enhance the lives of participants through sports and community involvement. This collaboration between Wells businesses, residents and local police highlights the community’s commitment to supporting important causes and making a positive impact. Please be on the lookout for our campaign next year so you too can become part of this very important initiative! 

When discussing back to school, we want to outline two specific areas surrounding the operation of your personal vehicle. There are two specific areas which involve schools and motor vehicle law. 

Passing a Stopped School Bus

The first is rules surrounding “Overtaking and Passing School Buses.” (Title 29-A § 2308.2) Within this law, it discusses how the “Operator of a vehicle on a way, in a parking area or on school property, on meeting or overtaking a school bus from either direction when the bus has stopped with its red lights flashing to receive or discharge passengers, shall stop the vehicle before reaching the school bus.”

Something that a lot of people do not know is that if the bus driver, or another witness, identify the registration and description of the vehicle that illegally passed or overtook the bus, the registered owner of the vehicle can be asked to provide the operator’s name at the time of the offense. (Title 29-A § 2308.5). If the registered owner fails to identify the operator, “The investigation may cause the registered owner of the vehicle to be served with a summons for a violation of this subsection.” A violation of the law is a Class E crime, punishable by a minimum fine of $250.00.

Speeding in School Zones

Within the motor vehicle statues, it states, “An operator shall operate a vehicle at a careful and prudent speed not greater than is reasonable and proper having due regard to the traffic, surface and width of the way and of other conditions then existing.” This goes into more detail regarding the “Rates of Speed” which discusses the speed limits in school zones (Title 29-A § 2074.1.A-E).

A major piece to highlight regarding school zones is that when children are going to or leaving school, the speed limit is reduced (15 miles per hour for Wells) ½ hour before and ½ hour after the beginning and end of the school day. Violators who are stopped for speeding in a school zone could pay fines starting at $228.00 and fines up to $531.00. 

Over the years, firefighters are constantly asked “Why do you take an engine to this call and the ladder to that call?” or “Why do you cut holes in roofs at fires?” and “Why do you break windows?" We also get asked why we would take an engine to a medical call, or how mutual aid works.



Today, we want to answer those questions for you.

What is an Engine?

Engines are also referred to as pumpers and are considered your “traditional firetruck.” In the fire service, we refer to these as engines. The typical Wells engine carries 1,000 gallons of water and is equipped with a pump that can deliver up to 2,000 gallons of water every minute when in full demand. During an initial fire attack, we are typically pulling a “handline” or hose off the truck to enter a burning building and will pump 200 gallons of water through that 1-3/4” hose.

With that much water flowing on a typical house fire, we only have 5 minutes before we run out. This forces the driver to quickly establish a water source which typically means hooking into a hydrant nearby or pulling water from a nearby pond.

What is a tanker or tank truck?

When firefighters arrive at a house fire, it is imperative that they know ahead of time if they will be in an area with hydrants, also known as a hydrant district, or if they will need to get water from ponds or other water sources. This typically means the department will take one of the tankers along with one of the engines to the fire. A tanker holds 3,000 gallons of water and buys us much more time when trying to find a water source.

The captain of the shift, also known as the officer, in charge or OIC, must make decisions quickly upon hearing what the call is and be cognizant of where that might be in relation to any nearby water sources. Taking a tanker as well as the engine is standard practice for this type of response and allows up to another 15 minutes of continuous water supply in addition to the 5 from the engine. 



When arriving near the fire, the tanker driver must find a water source, lay as much 4inch supply hose to the engine at the fire scene as would be necessary, and allow the line to be pulled from the back of the truck as it proceeds to the nearest water source. Once at the water source, the driver must work diligently to drop a suction line into a pond or hook into a dry hydrant. Dry hydrants are empty pipes that protrude up next to many ponds in town with a fire truck connection on it. The pipe leads underground to the bottom of the pond where it is connected to a strainer. The tanker can then provide suction from the pump to pull water out of the pond. This is called drafting and takes considerable practice to perform efficiently and quickly. Typically, it takes at least two firefighters to perform this task. However, sometimes that is not possible because the OIC also might need the ladder or tower truck at the scene.

What is a ladder or tower truck and why do we need it?

The tower truck or, Wells Truck 6, is a state-of-the-art aerial device that can carry several firefighters up to 100 feet in the air, or more importantly, and more often, it gives the firefighters access to roofs and second or third floor windows efficiently from the road, which can be a significant distance. The tower allows our firefighters to access people trapped at second and third story windows as well as chimneys, and rooftops. These are very essential areas to get firefighters to the emergency quickly when fighting a structure fire. It is called a tower and not a ladder because it has a platform or bucket at the top. This allows several firefighters to perform a rescue and it also allows several people to exit an upper story window into the bucket for safe removal. The person is not required to climb down, rather they can be transported to the ground with the aerial controls. 

The tower truck serves other purposes as well.  A tower truck is important when staffing is limited. When purchased, only three firefighters were arriving at any structure fire in the town. A ladder takes more time to set up and requires the firefighter to climb the aerial to get to people trapped and then carefully assist them down to the ground since a ladder cannot carry anyone to the ground. Then, the firefighter must move the aerial again, and climb it again to the next occupant. This is time consuming and can be deadly. 

The operator of the tower truck can move the aerial in and out, up and down right from the convenience of the bucket, allowing the tower truck to be run by only one firefighter. This allows the other two to pump water or help with interior rescues or fire suppression. The tower has also been used to retrieve victims from car accidents in the marsh or in low lying areas where access can be tricky or dangerous. The truck is also equipped with a pump and some water. In the event that we arrive at a fire scene first, the truck can deploy hoses and start fire extinguishment. 

Why do we need a 100’ Tower Truck?

Some people want to know why we need a 100-foot tower when we have no buildings that tall in the community. The tower height is not really what is needed when we use the tower, but rather the reach. We use the tower to reach upper floor windows that might be distant from our access point, as well as reaching the roof from the street or from behind parked cars. The Tower truck is used quickly and efficiently, where the use of ground ladders and extension ladders take multiple firefighters to deploy and raise. Each ground ladder must be held in place by a firefighter at its base, using up valuable resources that could be better utilized fighting the fire or performing a rescue.

Why do you cut holes in roofs or break windows at a fire?

We cut holes in roofs to let hot gasses out of the structure. Without cutting the holes, or “venting,” as it is called, the interior firefighters cannot advance into the building to extinguish the fire due to extensive heat buildup inside the building. Without the ventilation, firefighter and occupants would not survive inside the building. Roofs are only cut when the upper floor or attic is burning. Otherwise, firefighters will ventilate the building by removing windows. The emergent necessity of this requires it to be done quickly, so opening windows the traditional way is not an option.

Why do we take an Engine to a medical call?

Most people ask us why we take our large firetrucks to medical calls as it seems like a waste of money. We take fire engines to medical calls because we must always be at the ready. Taking an Engine to a medical call means that an ambulance is also there or is enroute. Our crews are EMTs and Paramedics and do the same work as our partners at Wells EMS (WEMS), only we don’t transport patients. Therefore, we send our crews in the front-line response vehicle so that we are ready to go to another emergency if required. We also have limited firefighters on duty, so sending them in a pickup truck is not effective if we have to rush back to the station to get a firetruck for the next call. This is ineffective and dangerous. Fire engines are readily used for this reason, and they are equipped to handle serious medical calls having everything an ambulance would carry.

How does Mutual aid work?

Mutual aid is an agreement between two towns to assist each other due to staffing concerns. Each building fire is extensive in what is required to extinguish a fire. These are labor intensive efforts and almost always requires other towns to send their engines or tower trucks. Additional alarms bring in more towns and apparatus as well as manpower. When a fire is declared, it is considered a “working fire” and all off duty personnel are called in off duty. All our on-call firefighters also respond.

If the fire is in Wells, Sanford, Ogunquit and Kennebunk are called for mutual aid to assist us in extinguishing the fire and supplying more trucks and hoses and equipment to help in that endeavor. If the fire is in another town, we respond to that town directly to the address requested to assist our neighboring communities with their fire. Our own off duty firefighters are called in to assist them or to cover Wells Fire Station and go on other calls in town while the others fight the fire elsewhere.

Mutual aid is an absolute necessity here in Wells and around Maine due to the limited number of firefighters that each community has. 

We hope this information is helpful to the public and clarifies some common inquiries that we receive. We encourage you to stop by the station or give us a call and we would happy to show you around or answer any questions you might have. Our house is your house!

The Wells Maine Fire Department is thrilled to announce its 2nd Annual Open House, set to take place on Saturday, October 5th, from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm at the Wells Fire Department, located at 1563 Post Rd, Wells, ME 04090. This exciting event promises a day full of family-friendly fun and an exclusive look into the workings of the Fire Department.

The event will showcase the talents and capabilities of the department, with a unique look into the day-to-day operations of the station. Guests can enjoy guided tours of the Fire Department facilities, providing a behind-the-scenes look at the department's operations. The members of our Fire Department team will be conducting two demonstrations throughout the day, one being the donning of their full turnout gear and the other a vehicle extrication demonstration.  An obstacle course activity will allow adults and children of all ages to get first-hand experience wearing firefighting gear and maneuvering through various obstacles, with prizes for the fastest times. The event will also feature a special showcase of the Tower Truck, highlighting its capabilities and advancements. Attendees will have the chance to enjoy the popular Touch-a-Truck experience, offering a hands-on opportunity for children and adults alike to explore emergency vehicles up close.

Family fun extends beyond the fire trucks, with an array of food and activities. The Wells Professional Firefighters Association, IAFF Local 4652, will be firing up their grills and serving cookout style food.  Attendees will also have the chance to win a ride to school in a fire truck, an experience of a lifetime!

Join us for a day of Family, Fun, and Fire Trucks at this annual event.

Household hazardous wastes (HHW) are products disposed of by households that may contain hazardous ingredients or are toxic, flammable or explosive. HHW includes some cleaners, oil-based paints, stains, varnishes, paint thinners, lithium-ion and lead-acid batteries, automotive fluids, pesticides, herbicides, and some electronics. Collecting and managing HHW separately from regular household trash helps ensure these products are managed safely.

If you've been saving your unneeded household hazards, such as paint, pesticides, batteries and more, now is the time to safely dispose of them. Household Hazardous Waste Day will be held on Saturday, October 12th at the Kennebunk Public Services Department, located at 36 Sea Road, from 8am -1pm.

Please refer to the list for items that will and will not be accepted. Proof of residency will be required!

Read more about Household Hazardous Waste on the Maine Department of Environmental Protection website here.

Come one, come all! This year will be our fourth Wells ‘EV Show’ happening on Sunday, September 8th from 1pm to 4pm at the Wells Public Library on Route 1, right next to the Crafts Fair. This event is for everyone to come try out and learn about EVs, E-bikes, and now even lawn and yard equipment tools. Test drives and rides will be available from dealers and owners who are generously offering. Car owners often love to tell stories of their adventures and get into the specifics of finding charging stations, calculating long distance trips, and what got them to buy one themselves so ask away! 

As always, water bottles and snacks will be provided to attendees. We will be circulating throughout the show wearing safety vests, so don’t hesitate to ask us any questions you can think of if you aren’t an owner yet or don’t know if you will be one in the future. Our goal is to learn from you so that we can better advise and represent you, our town. We hope to see you there!

A popular tradition continues the weekend after Labor Day, as the Laudholm Nature Crafts Festival returns to the Wells Reserve at Laudholm for the 36th year. Artwork and fine crafts by many of New England’s finest artisans will be on display September 7 and 8 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. For tickets, details, and a list of participating artisans, visit //wellsreserve.org/crafts.

The Laudholm festival features a selection of 140+ juried artisans, showcasing fine art, ceramics, jewelry, fiber crafts, mixed media work, and more. An array of local food and beverage offerings, including cider donuts and oysters, will round out the lineup to make for a fun and festive weekend in this historic seaside setting. Over 100 dedicated volunteers help to make the show a success, and nearly 5,000 attendees are expected. While on site, visitors will enjoy a stop at the reserve’s Coastal Ecology Center gallery to view “Consider the Lobster,” an exhibition of lobster-inspired works of art.

“In this 40th anniversary year of the Wells Reserve, we’re looking forward to welcoming a record number of artists and thousands of attendees to the best little crafts show in Maine,” said Nik Charov, president of Laudholm Trust, the nonprofit that has organized the festival since 1988. “Food, drinks, and more make the show our most popular event and our largest fundraiser of the year for this center for science, education, and conservation.”

Funds raised from the event support the Wells Reserve’s ongoing research, education, and conservation initiatives. This year’s event is sponsored by Kennebunk Savings, The Fabulous Find, Evergreen Home Performance, Maine Community Bank, and Sevigney-Lyons Insurance Agency.

Tickets for the Laudholm Nature Crafts Festival are available in advance online or at the gate with cash or card. $10 per person, $5 for Laudholm Trust members. Visit //wellsreserve.org/crafts for details.

Come out to the 15th Annual Family Jamboree sponsored by the Wells Chamber of Commerce, held Saturday, October 5th, from 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM, at Wells Harbor Park, 331 Harbor Road.

This is a free family fun day of games, crafts, food, vendors and more! This is a shine only event.

A big thank you to Kennebunk Savings, as the main event sponsor. For more information, please call 207-646-2451 or visit the Chamber of Commerce website.

• Board of Assessment Review - 2 alternate member vacancies
• Budget Committee -2 alternate member vacancies
• Comprehensive Plan Update Committee- 1 member vacancy
• Energy Advisory Committee - 2 alternate member vacancies
• Lodging Facility Advisory Committee- 1 alternate member vacancy
• Recreation Commission - 1 alternate member vacancy
• Shellfish Conservation Commission: 1 Alternate member vacancy
• Committee of Veteran's Affairs - 4 member vacancies 
• Zoning Board of Appeals - 1 associate vacancy

Wells Volunteer donates time and efforts to improve Public Way

Thanks to wonderful volunteer efforts, PW 15 on Atlantic Ave has been completely rehabilitated.

Jeff Hudson, a Wells resident and volunteer, took it upon himself to donate his time and materials to this project, removing invasive bittersweet and replacing it with native Maine plantings.

He plans to continue the project next spring, and will then follow with yearly maintenance trimming. Thank you to Jeff for the generous donation of his volunteer time and materials and for helping to beautify our town!

The Town of Wells has several open employment opportunities.

We encourage you to take a look at the job opportunities currently available with the Town of Wells on our Employment Opportunities page. There is so much important work that goes in to keeping the town 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.

Sign up for the RAVE Alert System for York County to ensure you receive emergency alerts.

​The RAVE Alert System is a reverse 911 application that allows citizens to sign up for emergency alerts. The program allows users to create a profile to alert first responders to their specific needs as well. For example, if there was an evacuation, the program would let first responders know if a user needed evacuation assistance through their profile. The profiles allow users to mark if they need specialized assistance, are dependent on electric supply, or even if they have pets or livestock.

​​

Examples of alerts include: winter storm notices, evacuation notices, flood alerts, bio-terrorism alerts, and boil water notices.

​​

Click here to Sign Up for RAVE Alerts.

We are always looking for ways to improve communication with our community members.

As always, if there is anything we can do to better communicate information, please let us know by emailing rkelley@wellstown.org

Be sure to check out our Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube pages using the buttons below. You can also see news and updates on the Town of Wells website at www.wellstown.org.