City of South Portland, Maine | Official Website

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Community Newsletter

Issue #310

This City of South Portland Community E-Newsletter includes information about City sponsored events, projects and special announcements from South Portland's non-profit community. Sign up if you would like to receive the newsletter directly to your inbox. Having difficulty viewing the newsletter? The newsletter and archives are posted on the City's website here. Please report broken links to news@southportland.org.

Don't forget -- you will need a Transfer Station Sticker! Residents may pick up a free Transfer Station sticker at City Hall or at the Municipal Services Facility.

Get yours at Municipal Services or City Hall by providing two forms of proof of residency (preferably your driver's license and vehicle's registration). See below for additional info:

RESIDENTIAL STICKERS
New Residential stickers are orange and are valid until 12/31/23. Limit 2 per residence (the first one is free; the second is $5.)

PROPERTY OWNER STICKERS
New this year, property owners who do not reside in South Portland but are permitted to use the Transfer Facility for disposing of yard waste (no other use is permitted) from their South Portland properties will have their own (brown) sticker. Property owners must obtain a sticker by showing two forms of proof of property ownership, as well as your vehicle registration. 2022 Property owner stickers are valid until December 31, 2023.

LANDSCAPE CONTRACTORS
Landscape contractors may use our facility for disposal of landscape debris (leaves, grass clippings and brush) from South Portland residential properties. A Contractor's permit must be obtained for an annual fee of $150. (Additional permits cost $20 per vehicle.) Contractors must show proof that the material they are disposing of is from a South Portland resident by providing the resident’s permit number. 2020 Stickers (blue) will expire on December 31, 2021. 2022 Landscape Contractor stickers (green) are now available from Municipal Services or City Hall, and are valid until December 31, 2022.

Street Sweeping has begun! Street sweeping helps to prevent sand and sediment, especially after winter sanding/salting operations, from getting into the City’s catch basins and drainage system, while increasing road safety for motorcycles, bicycles and others. Public Works and contracted help will sweep the entire city through May 11. Street Sweepers will be moved to another route to account for trash day and will not run on the weekends. Click here for the 2022 Street Sweeping schedule.

Notice: The City Council will consider all applicants at a special meeting scheduled for April 26 at 6:30pm via Zoom.

What does the Board do?

Maine state law charges school boards with the responsibility to "manage the schools." This is done essentially by selecting and working with a Superintendent of Schools and providing him/her/them with authority and direction. It is not the duty of the Board to operate the schools but to see that they are well operated. The Board primarily discusses and decides district-wide school policies and budgets.

The South Portland Board of Education consists of seven members, one from each of the five voting districts and two members elected at large. Members are elected in a city-wide election, to serve three-year terms. Two high school students are elected in May of each year to serve a one-year term as non-voting representatives.

No school board member can be an employee or contractor of the South Portland School District, nor can their spouse.

Doing the Job:

1) Regular school board meetings are once a month, almost always on the second Monday. They average 60-90 minutes long.
2) School board members are also encouraged to join a school board committee, which are currently these: Finance, Policy, Buildings and Grounds, Middle School Planning. Average about 1-2 hours per month.
3) There are usually 3-5 special school board workshops per year on various topics, including the schoolwide budget. These are up to 2 hours each.
4) There also are occasional special meetings (not more than an hour, usually). For example, these have been called to discuss/approve plans about safe learning related to the pandemic. Another example is when a board quorum vote is required related to collective bargaining agreements (an issue of employment).
5) There also are opportunities, of course, for board members to participate in the welcoming of teachers and administrators at the start of the school year, the high school graduation, intercultural celebrations, and more.

Submit your Resume & Letter of Intent

Municipal Budget Information
The Fiscal Year 2023 Public Budget Hearing was held on April 5, 2022 at 6:30pm via Zoom during the regular City Council meeting. Please click here for information on the proposed FY23 Budget and a schedule of upcoming budget meetings and workshops: Read More

The first of a series of City Council Budget Workshops will be held on Saturday, April 9th at 8:00am via Zoom to review the following proposed budgets. Click here to join the meeting. Members of the public are welcome to attend and speak for up to 2 minutes on each item:

8-8:55 am City Council, Executive, Corporation Counsel, County Tax, Debt Service, Contingency/Abatements/Reserves
8:55-9:10 am Finance, Assessing
9:10-9:45 am Planning
9:45-10:15 am Economic Development/TIF
10:15-10:30 am Code Enforcement/Street Openings
10:30-10:45 am BREAK
10:45-11:10 am Sustainability
11:10-11:35 am Bus
11:35 am-12:05 pm HR/Civil Service, Social Services/GA, Insurance/Benefits
12:05-12:35 pm BREAK (Lunch)
12:35-12:55 pm Library
12:55-1:10 pm Facilities
1:10-1:40 pm Police
1:40-2:10 pm Fire
2:10-2:40 pm Public Works
2:40-2:55 pm BREAK
2:55-3:25 pm Parks, Recreation, Waterfront/Golf Course
3:25-4:00 pm Water Resource Protection
4-4:30 pm Wrap-Up/Other

The following budgets will be reviewed at the Tuesday, April 12 City Council Workshop at 6:30pm via Zoom. Click here to join the meeting. Members of the public are welcome to attend and speak for up to 2 minutes on each item:

School (30 minutes)
Information Services/SPC-TV (30 minutes)
City Clerk (15 minutes)
Dispatch (5 minutes)

The Police Department has just announced a new Citizen Services Program which is a way the public can access, and request, certain kinds of information from the police department. Main features are completing limited on-line police reports, submitting anonymous tips, viewing a crime map, viewing crime statistics and more. It’s still work in progress with more features to roll out in the near future. You can also access this link on the South Portland Police Department webpage. Bookmark the link: https://southportland.prophoenix.com/

The State Primary and School Budget Validation Referendum will occur on Tuesday, June 14, 2022. You can request your absentee ballot starting March 14. Voters looking to change party enrollment must do so by May 27. Click here for more important dates and election information! Read More

On March 31, the City Clerk received notice of Councilor Katelyn Bruzgo's resignation on the City Council effective April 15, 2022. At the City Council meeting held on April 5 and in accordance with City Charter, the City Council voted not to hold a special election to fill the vacancy for the At Large seat's unexpired term which ends December 5, 2022. Nomination papers for City Council At-Large (both seats) will be available in late July at the City Clerk's office for the election in November. Read more

The City Council is seeking people to serve on a number of city committees. There is a committee for everyone's interest! If you are interested in applying, please click here for more information: https://www.southportland.org/our-city/board-and-committees/

Apply Now

Events & Event Permits
As warmer weather approaches, the City would like to remind residents and groups planning an event taking place on City property of the need to submit an Event Application. The application can be obtained at the City Clerk's office and needs to be completed and returned to the Clerks' office at least 30 days prior to the event date. Read More

Short Term Residential Rentals & Registration
Short-Term Rentals (defined as hosted or non-hosted temporary rentals of less than 30 days) are required to be registered through the City Clerk's office. Non-Hosted Short-Term rentals are prohibited in residential zoning districts. Click here to read more and to apply to register your Short Term Rental online. Read More

The South Portland Land Trust has a series of ways to get involved this month to celebrate Earth Month! Events include City-wide clean-ups, trail work, photo contests, gardening classes and more!
For a full list of events and to register visit: https://www.southportlandlandtrust.org/earthmonth2022

PROPERTY TAX ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
Applications MUST be RECEIVED by May 1, 2022. If you have any questions or need assistance completing the application, please contact Vicki Inman at 767-7609. Click here to download the application and view the FAQs.

Still need to do your taxes? The AARP Tax Aide Program is accepting appointments. Please call (207) 518-8579 to schedule an appointment.

On April 5, 2022, the City Council passed ORDINANCE #17-21/22, making several key changes to the City's Property Tax Assistance Program taking effect for the 2021/2022 season:

Lowering the minimum age from 68 to 65;
Requiring an applicant to have been a resident of South Portland for seven of the past ten years, instead of ten of the last 12; and
Increasing the potential benefit amount from $400 to $500.

The deadline to apply is May 1, 2022. Click below for more information and for a copy of the application! (Note: These changes take effect April 25, 2022. If you have already submitted an application for this year, you do not need to submit another.)

Board of Health Seeking Residents to serve on the Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) Advisory Board

The City of South Portland's Board of Health is excited to announce we are developing a city-wide community health needs assessment (CHNA). We are looking for 10 South Portland residents to sit on an Advisory Board that will help guide the assessment process. We hope the Board will represent a diverse range of perspectives and lived experiences. Young people are encouraged to apply.

Applicants should be:
1. A resident of South Portland (ideally, each of the City’s 5 Districts will be represented by at least 1 Advisory Board member)
2. Able to commit to three (3) meetings (60-90 minutes each) between May-December 2022 (dates/times TBD).

The first meeting will be held via Zoom, with an option for subsequent meetings to be held in-person. If meetings are held in-person, childcare can be provided and transportation costs can be reimbursed.

All Advisory Board members will receive a $25 stipend per meeting ($75 total).

Applications will be accepted through Friday, April 15, 2022. Please click the link below to fill out the Application by answering a few short questions:
https://forms.gle/fTUxSJ7D12zSAt5L9

If you have questions, please contact Madison MacLean (madison_maclean@jsi.com)

04-08-22 Newsletter

Community Newsletter

Issue #310