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TOWN CLERK'S OFFICE CLOSED THURSDAY OCTOBER 5TH:

Newslist

TRUNK OR TREAT - OCTOBER 21st
October 21st  from 5:30-6:30 PM at the Shapleigh Commons
(Intersection of Route 11/Owls Nest/Back Rd)
Candy donations are being accepted at the following drop off locations: 
Shapleigh Memorial School and Shapleigh Town Hall.

Square Pond Drawdown Notice

The City of Sanford, in cooperation with the Towns of Acton and Shapleigh, plans to lower the water level of Square Pond beginning on or about September 25, 2023.  The purpose of lowering the water earlier than normal is to allow for a culvert replacement on West Shore Drive in Acton.  The water will be lowered to the normal winter pool level with the intent that winter level be achieved by October 3.  Residents and recreational users should remove their watercraft and docks.  Boating activity is discouraged after October 3 due to the increased number of unmarked underwater hazards.  For more information about the culvert replacement project, please contact Acton Town Hall at 207-636-3131.

KEY VAULT- A HELPFUL TOOL FOR 1st RESPONDERS!
The Shapleigh Fire Department has suggested that seasonal residents install key vaults or knox box systems so that the Fire Department
can obtain access to your home if an alarm is activated while you are away.  This is also a useful tool for elderly residents or those with serious health conditions
in the case where emergency medical access is needed.  For more information, please reach out to the Fire Chief at firechief@shapleighfire.org or call the station and
leave a message for a return call.  207-636-2211  Also, if you have an alarm system in your home/business please fill out the Site information form found here and return it to
Sanford Regional Communications.

Property Tax Stabilization program update
PROPERTY TAX STABILIZATION PROGRAM
Property Tax Stabilization for Senior Citizens, also known as the Property Tax Stabilization Program (the “Program”), is a State program that allows certain senior-citizen residents to stabilize, or freeze, the property taxes on their homestead. As a result of recent changes in the law, the Tax Stabilization Program will only apply to the property tax year beginning April 1, 2023. However, this same legislation has expanded the eligibility thresholds for participation in the Property Tax Deferral Program and increased the maximum benefit available under the Property Tax Fairness Credit for those age 65 and older.

ATV PUBLIC ACCESS- CANCELLED
After close look at the proposed public access routes proposed by the ATV club, the Board found that portions of the roads being proposed for access were not under Town ownership. The Public Hearing that was scheduled for July 11th was cancelled indefinitely.   Also, the many emails and phone calls received by the Board of Selectmen did not support the effort. The ATV club has been asked to find alternative routes and work with landowners for a solution.

SATURDAY HOURS TO CHANGE at TOWN HALL
Effective July 1st, the Town Clerk/Tax Collector hours on Saturday will be:
The FIRST AND THIRD Saturday of the month from 9AM TO NOON
(Excluding holiday weekends)

Also, the office will be closed for lunch daily throughout the summer from 12:00pm- 12:30pm

VISIBLE HOUSE NUMBERS- PUBLIC SAFETY REQUEST
Shapleigh Fire and Rescue are requesting your help!
PLEASE make sure you have visible house numbers with contrasting colors.
that can be easily read, especially in the dark.
PLEASE have your house number on BOTH sides of your mailbox, if you have a mailbox,
and make sure that numbers have not worn off.
This will help reduce response time and allow the responders to find you in case of an emergency.

Invasive Plant Species found in Mousam Lake
Invasive Aquatic Plant Update promised for Sunday evening:
MLRA Team Members have been out surveying parts the lake today with a resident expert. The areas surveyed include Katos Nose Cove, Pump Brook, Ash Cove, the westside shoreline from Ave D to the MLRA Beach at the foot of the lake, and also the two coves across from Ash cove where the plant was originally found floating. In lower Mousam we surveyed from Roger’s Bridge on the left side about ½ way to the public boat launch.
Our findings so far: One plant was found and removed on the shoreline of Ave C, another plant found around 10th street and we found a large concentration of Utricularia Inflata (Swollen Bladderwort) in Ash Cove. As Ash Cove is heavily populated with this invasive plant, this appears to be the point of origin.
Invasive Plant Expert, Dennis Roberge, and the MLRA will be contacting the State and the Lake Stewards of Maine for instructions and guidance on how to move forward with addressing this issue. Utricularia Inflata (swollen bladderwort) is a plant that floats and is often quite long with its “root” structure getting caught on the bottom of the lake and thus holding it in place.
We ask that you not attempt to remove this plant (unless you find it totally free-floating) until after we hear from the State of ME as we do not want to make this problem worse. (it fragments easily and can spread quicker without proper handling)
Boating - please stay out of Ash Cove and if you live in Ash Cove, please limit your boating activities. Stay clear of all vegetation at this time. We must try to prevent the plants from being fragmented and distributed more widely.
We will add more info as it becomes available. Please report any plant findings to general@mousamlake.org353009325_623965443097713_6157722675974807226_n

Town Clerk Retires after over 37 years of Service
Town Clerk/Tax Collector, Joanne Rankin, has retired after over 37 years of service to the Town of Shapleigh.
A retirement celebration was held at the Shapleigh Baptist Church on Saturday June 17th that was well attended
by the community.  We wish her well in her retirement and are thankful to have Kayla Moulton, who was appointed
to fill the position, begin her official duties as Town Clerk on Tuesday June 20th.

Community Resources Page
Please visit the community resource page for links to services in the area

GET INVOLVED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY!

The Town of Shapleigh needs involved citizens for the following boards and committees:

  • Board of Assessment Review
  • Capital Improvement Committee
  • Comprehensive Planning Committee
  • Conservation Commission 
  • Community Day Committee
  • Recreation Committee
  • RSU57 School Board Director (2) 
  • Saco River Corridor Commission
  • Zoning Board of Appeals
You do not need to have experience in any field to fill these vacancies, just the willingness to learn and work together with your committee members and the taxpayers!

If you are interested or need more information, please fill out a form of interest and contact the Town Administrator

Mousam Lake Watershed Protection Project-Stormwater run off mitigation
Mousam Lake Watershed Protection Project: <--- Click here to see more information on the watershed protection efforts planned for the Mousam Lake Watershed.

What is stormwater run-off, what threats does it pose to our lakes and streams?  Please see the video below

 

HELP WANTED- FLAGGER/LABORER POSITION

The Town of Shapleigh is seeking a Part Time-Temporary Flagger/Laborer for the Roads Department for.  Must be 18years or older, have a high school diploma or equivalent, possess a valid drivers license, have a flexible schedule, be able to stand for long periods of time, and able to lift 50lbs. Duties to include, but not limited to: traffic control on work sites, cutting brush, filling pot holes, sweeping, and shoveling.  Must be able to provide own transportation to job sites.  Pay rate is $24.93 per hour, no benefits offered.
The application can be found on the Town's website at: www.shapleigh.net/town_administrator or can be picked up in person at 22 Back Road- Shapleigh, Maine 04076
Applications can be dropped off at 22 Back Road with the Town Administrator, emailed to townadmin@shapleigh.net, or mailed to PO BOX 26 Shapleigh, ME 04076

Live Stream Board of Selectmen's Meeting
The Board of Selectmen's meetings can now be streamed live via Town Hall Streams.  You can also view previous meetings.

New Veterans Property Tax Credit

A new disabled veteran benefit was enacted earlier this year through LD1986.  This is an additional benefit under the Property Tax Fairness Credit (36 M.R.S. § 5219-KK), which is an income tax credit handled by the Income Tax Division of Maine Revenue Services.  The credit is based on a veteran’s property tax, but it is claimed on the taxpayer’s Form 1040ME.  Here is the web page describing the credit: https://www.maine.gov/revenue/taxes/tax-relief-credits-programs/income-tax-credits/property-tax-fairness-credit. 

 

Any specific questions about the program should be directed to the Income Tax Division at 207-626-8475 or income.tax@maine.gov.

Medical Alert Buttons!
A Request from the Rescue Squad:
If you or a family member own a medical alert button, please update all the information with the company that services it.
This makes dispatching and responding to calls when the button is activated much more efficient.

Hazel Goodwin receives the Boston Post Cane at 100 years young!
IMG_1296


REP_7-28-22.pdf (waterbororeporter.com)