Municipal leaders from Bangor, Grand Isle, Waldoboro and Ludlow and Reed Plantation have joined the Maine Municipal Association’s 12-member Executive Committee, which steers the organization on operational and budgeting priorities. As is often the case, the four local officials bring varied and impressive backgrounds to their positions.

The Eastern States Building Officials Association will hold an all-day workshop on applying building codes to cannabis (marijuana) facilities, recognizing the trend of legalization happening in Maine and throughout the U.S. The April 22 course will help attendees understand how to apply building, fire, mechanical, plumbing, energy, and electrical code requirement to the different types of facilities and a checklist for plan review inspection.

Starting on May 6, the Maine Ambulance Association will begin a series of five workshops this year for EMS providers and municipal officials interested in EMS services dealing with a host of issues that confront people who run first-response departments and agencies. The workshops may also be of interest to other municipal managers and elected officials who want to learn more about this important field.

The Environmental Policy Innovation Center will host an online workshop this Thursday (April 15), from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. to help small municipalities understand the importance of replacing lead water service lines. The workshop will include information on programs, funding and resources available.

MMA’s Legal Services Department has issued guidance for local Planning Boards and Boards of Appeal regarding holding meetings and taking actions during the COVID-19 public health emergency. The document states that planning boards and boards of appeal are expected to keep meeting during these difficult times. Members with questions about the process are encouraged to contact our Legal Services team.

The administration of Gov. Janet Mills today posted updates to four COVID-19 Prevention Checklists, including detailed instructions for holding town meetings. Other checklists updated were: large gatherings/ticketed events; organized racing events; transportation; and, a new checklist was created for private events. The updates maintain public health and safety guidelines, consolidate and streamline language in previous checklists, and reflect the latest science to help mitigate the spread of the virus. The updates are part of the governor’s “Moving Maine Forward Plan,” which aims to provide clarity and predictability for Maine people and businesses in advance of the summer months.  

Please join a Virtual Police Town Hall with municipal managers and Damariscotta Chief Jason Warlick, Waldoboro Chief John Lash, and Wiscasset Chief Larry Hesseltine, facilitated by Maine Community Policing Institute Director Noel C. March and hosted by the Maine Municipal Association. These listening sessions are intended to provide a chance for the wider community to engage with their local police on topics of concern, establish informed open dialogue about policing issues in a local context and discover opportunities for community members to inform policing policy. To join this event, you can sign up using the link provided.

The Maine Department of Disease Control and Prevention updated its FAQ page regarding COVID-19 this week, adding important information about who is eligible for vaccinations in Maine. Specifically, seasonal workers, seasonal residents (See “Who is a Maine Resident?” in the link provided) and college students who live in Maine are eligible to be vaccinated here, when their eligibility dates occur. As of April 19, 2021, all qualifying Maine residents 16 years of age and older will be eligible for COVID vaccinations. Currently, vaccinations are reserved for people 50 and older, and in certain job classifications.

Gov. Janet Mills has accelerated the schedule of Maine’s vaccination plan for COVID-19. As of last Tuesday, all Mainers 50 years of age and older are eligible for a COVID-19 vaccination. As of April 19, 2021, Mainers 16 and older will be eligible. Maine also has a new, pre-registration website so citizens can register for their vaccinations: https://vaccinateme.maine.gov/.

The U.S. government’s Fiscal Year 2022 Appropriations Bill will permit Congress to directly fund projects, for the first time since 2011, in the form of Community Project Funding, also known as “earmarks.” This opportunity is available to local and state governments, and non-profits. For more information, U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingrees’s Office is making available information on the parameters of the project requests, including direction to make the process transparent and accountable.