Think Snow? Just ask our public works crew and they will tell you that January was a very snowy month.

In fact, we had nine separate storms totaling 36.5 inches of snow! But who’s counting? We do! Snow removal is a very expensive but vital service that we provide at the municipal level. In an effort to reduce our costs this year, we instituted a policy calling for a reduction in salt use on our less traveled roads. As a result, the Town has used 40% less salt this year than last year at this same time. And, though the total amount of snow is 10 inches less this year than last year, the total number of storms has increased from 21 last year to 24 this year. And when the storms are over, the public works crew job is not finished. The crew is busy cleaning out the hydrants (all 54 of them!) with shovels and a backhoe. Also, snow banks have to be pushed back in preparation for the next nor’easter!

Item 2: Mailboxes – Contrary to popular belief, the snow plow crews do not have it in for our mailboxes (though at times it may seem otherwise!). In the event your mailbox or post is damaged, we ask that you make any needed repairs. If you are not able, please call the Public Works Department at 666-3503 and it will attempt to repair your mailbox. This is a repair first policy; the Town will only replace your mailbox or post if the present post and box cannot be repaired. When mailboxes are replaced it is done with a 4 by 4 inch post and a standard metal box. We will not replace custom boxes or posts. Also, since the Public Works crew is busy during and just after a storm, it may take a few days to get the mailbox repaired/replaced. State of Maine law views mailboxes as an encroachment in the public way and are placed at the owner’s risk. Municipalities are not legally liable for any damage or repairs to mailboxes due to plowing operations. However, the Town of Bowdoinham has a longstanding unwritten policy that it will repair or replace a mailbox as time permits.

Item 3: Dog Licenses were due by January 31, 2009 in order to avoid a late fee. If you did not make it to the town office to license your dog, you will now be charged an extra $15 late fee. The late fee will increase to $25 beginning April 1, 2009. Remember, it is the law to have your dogs licensed at the municipality where you reside.

Item 4: Tony Cox, our Community & Economic Development Director, has been working with folks at Midcoast Council for Economic Development on a grant to expand 3 phase power along the Pond Road to the intersection of Route 201. This will greatly enhance the capabilities of businesses located along this route.

Item 5: Though summer may be furthest from our minds, Tony is working on putting together the Summer Concert Series for this year. The first concert will be held on June 21 and the series will run each Sunday evening (weather permitting) through August 16 for a total of 9 concerts. Tony is looking for a nonprofit organization to sell hamburgers and hotdogs at the concerts. If you are interested, contact Tony on Wednesday or Fridays or email him at tcox@bowdoinham.com

Item 6: Unfortunately there are folks in town that are finding it difficult this winter to heat their homes. Fortunately, the Town was given a large donation from an anonymous source to the Home Heating Fund. In my last newsletter I reported that the amount was $15,000! To date, we have helped sixteen households totaling $4,396.31. This averages out to approx. $275 per household. The fund has a balance of $18,842 as of February 2, 2009.

Item 7: You may have been reading in the local papers that towns are experiencing a decrease in revenues this year which has forced some towns to make decisions to decrease the amount of hours that their town office is open among other cost savings measures. No decision has been made here in Bowdoinham as to how we will respond to the decrease in revenues. For Bowdoinham, the following revenues are down from this same time last year: Solid Waste Department less $6,000, Excise Taxes less $10,600, Investment Income less $8,400, Building Permits less $2,000 to name a few. Of course, this does not take into account the expected decrease in State revenues such as Municipal Revenue Sharing, Homestead Exemption, and Tree Growth. For our part, the town office will not fill the vacant office staff position (20+ hours) and great effort has been made to cut all nonessential expenses. Stay tuned for more information in the next newsletters regarding the upcoming budget.

Item 8: Brooke Cox, our Recreation Director, reports that April 1st is the deadline for students between the ages of 13 and 18 years to apply for the Richard A. Ferrier Scholarship. The scholarship is available to Bowdoinham teens to pursue their artistic, academic, athletic, vocational, or other life’s passion outside of the traditional school environment. The application is available online on www.bowdoinham.com. Click on Town Government, Departments, Recreation Department, Documents, Richard A. Ferrier Scholarship and then Scholarship Application.

Item 9: Brooke also reports that the ice skating rink located by the recreation field parking lot is ready for skaters. She sends special thanks to the public works crew, the fire department and Steve Cox for helping to make the ice skating rink a great place to skate!

Item 10: Free Swimming is available for SAD #75 residents every Sunday afternoon from 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm from now until April 26th (with the exception of February 22) at the Bowdoin College Swimming Pool, located in Farley Field House. This is a family fun open swim time. Please bring proof of insurance the first time and sign in at pool side. This swim program is paid for by our Recreation Department through fundraising activities!

Item 11: Free Passes at the Children’s Museum in Portland – Did you know that the Recreation Department also purchases an annual pass at the Children’s Museum in Portland for Bowdoinham residents? This pass made possible by fundraising efforts and is available at the town office. It may be signed out ahead of time by calling the town office at 666-5531. The pass enables up to 6 persons to visit the museum for free!!

Item 12: The 2nd half payment of the Property taxes is due April 15th. Dotty Baker, our Assessing Clerk, is preparing reminder notices along with the annual canvassing forms that will arrive in your mailboxes in February.

Item 13: Senior Events – some regularly scheduled events are occurring thanks to Glenna Morin, Pastor Jon Stratton, Brooke Cox, Kate Cutko, Betsy Steen, and Leslie Anderson. The events are:

• Every Wednesday at the Bowdoinham Public Library from 2 – 6 pm is reserved for needlework, crafts, a game, some yummy goodies and good gabs!
• 2nd Thursday of each month is a Seniors Lunch at the 2nd Baptist Church. This month the lunch is scheduled for February 12. This is a pot luck luncheon but please join even if you don’t have something to share! Arrive around 11:00 am to shore some stories, photos, or memories. Plan on eating around noon.
• 3rd Thursday of each month is a planning meeting at 10 am at the 2nd Baptist Church. Please join us and help plan for future activities.
• Some more activities that are in the works: Bingo at Bowdoinham Estates, Movie Day, and a Morning Full of Memories to be filmed.

Item 14: Brooke Cox reports that basketball is winding down but baseball/softball/tball is coming up! Registration Forms will be available before February school vacation and will be due by March 13th.

Item 15: Nicole Briand, our Code Officer and Planner, has been very busy with the Land Use Planning Committee on the land use ordinance scheduled to go before the voters at the June town meeting. If you have any questions or want to be involved, please call Nicole at 666-5531 or email her at nbriand@bowdoinham.com

Item 16: Nicole is also working on a Walkable Village Plan thanks to a grant from Maine Department of Transportation through Midcoast Council for Economic Development and Planning.

Item 17: Speaking of walking, did you know that there is evening indoor walking available at the Bowdoinham Community School each Monday through Thursday evening from 6 – 7:30 pm? Please sign in at the desk in front of the office door and join the walkers (and talkers!!).

Item 18: Jack Tourtelotte, Bowdoinham Fire Chief, reports that during January, the fire department responded to a total of 7 calls: Car Fire – 1, Gas Leak – 1, Structure Fire – 1, Chimney Fire – 1, Carbon Dioxide Alarm – 2, and Automobile Accident – 1.

Item 19: Ann Davis, EMS Director reports that during 2008, EMS responded to 145 calls. The average patient age served was 54 years old. Stay tuned for some more statistics for the types of calls that EMS responds to.

Item 20: A volunteer is needed to help change the kiosk (town sign) each week. If interested in helping out, please contact Tony Cox at 666-5531 or email him at tcox@bowdoinham.com.

I welcome your comments and suggestions regarding this monthly newsletter. I have been writing these newsletters since June 08 and I hope that you find them both informative and helpful. Suggestions may be sent to kleighton@bowdoinham.com

Respectfully Submitted,

Kathy Durgin-Leighton
Town Manager