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A Newsletter by the City of Saco, Maine	January, 2005	Return to newsletter index

Saco has a new city newsletter

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Editor: Michelle Hughes

Welcome to the first issue of Saco....

Why are we doing a Newsletter?

We are seeking to improve the quality and quantity of our communications with our residents.

We want to inform our resident of the significant events happening in their government.

The goal of the newsletter is to highlight local issues and public involvement opportunities.

Web site:
The City's home page www.sacomaine.org provides a section for persons to subscribe or unsubscribe to the Newsletter. Anyone who goes to the web site has the ability to email back to the city valuable feed back on the Newsletter. You can send your comments directly to the editor using this email address mhughes@sacomaine.org.

What can be expected from the newsletter?
Each department will be responsible for headlining one of the monthly newsletters. Each of the City's Boards and Commissions will be provided an opportunity to contribute information during the month when their supporting department is featured. The contribution process will be flexible to accommodate departments who need or want to address a timely issue. The Newsletter may include a monthly personnel update like new board and commission appointments, outstanding achievements and citations as well as new hires and separations from employment. A calendar and description of "upcoming events" will also be included, so interested parties can plan accordingly.

Monthly focus of the Newsletter for 2005
February: The Assessing Department will describe its activities in conducting fees appraisals of various property classes within the City. You can expect to see a description of the two State of Maine programs relating to homestead exemptions and the circuit breaker. We will discuss the current status of "The Adjustment" of values toward full market values for tax assessment purposes. The feature board of the month is - The Board of Assessment Review

March: The Finance Department will describe the 5-year Capital Improvement Program for the city. This program establishes a direct link between City Council goals, capital investments, fiscal capacity and the Comprehensive Plan, School Facilities Plan, Combined Sewer Overflow Plan, Downtown Plan, Storm Water Management Plan, Plan for the Parks, Beach Management Plan, and the Landfill Recreation and Reuse Plan. The capital improvement program is a policy and guidance statement that provides the background, analysis, and direction needed for the city to make capital investment decisions and establish mechanisms to provide sufficient and continuous funding for projects to support Saco's public facility needs. The City's upcoming budget will be reviewed with in-depth analysis of revenues and expenses. The feature board of the month is - The School Capital Improvement Program Committee.

April: The Building Inspection/Code Enforcement Department will review the City's sign and electrical codes. The Department will also describe the process to be used when one is seeking a permit from the City and also what can be expected when the code is violated. The feature board of the month is - The Zoning Board of Appeals

May: The Public Works Department will describe the road construction and resurfacing planned for 2005. The Department will also describe the location of new and proposed public ways within the City. The road-striping schedule will be presented in this newsletter. Additionally, current solid waste issues will be reviewed. The feature board of the month is - The Solid waste Management and Recycling Team (SMART)

June: The Parks and Recreation Department will describe their fees and new programs. The Department will provide an update on how we are doing using the Armory as our Community Center. Additionally, a progress report will be provided for the Landfill Reuse Plan. The feature board of the month is - The Recreation Advisory Board

July: The Police Department will describe the nature and types of criminal investigation being conducted by the department. The one-cop-one-beat community-policing program will be presented. The Department is instituting a new traffic control program and preliminary results will be made available in this newsletter. The department's crime prevention activities will also be described. The feature board of the month is -The Traffic Safety Committee

August: The Fire Department will describe the current status of its fire prevention program. The department's operation of the ambulance/rescue service will also be the topic of part of this newsletter. The department will provide an update on how the City is doing with the "2 in 2 out" requirement for attacking a structure fire. Additionally, the department will provide an update on how mutual aid is provided in Saco. The feature board of the month is - The Historic Preservation Commission

September: The Public Works Department will highlight snow removal activities, priorities in a snow storm, parking bans, and cleanup after a storm. Trash pickup tips for winter storms will also be provided in this newsletter. The feature board of the month is - The Geographic Information System Committee.

October: The City Clerk will describe how to vote absentee, locations for voting and how to determine which Ward you live in. This issue of the newsletter will focus on changes in law such as how School Board nominations are affected by the recent charter change. The feature board of the month is - The Coastal Waters Commission and Shoreline Commission

November: The Planning and Development staff will describe approved and pending subdivision and site plans. They will describe how applications are processed, which Zoning codes have been change. Additionally, staff will describe recent Plans that have been updated and approved. The feature board of the month is - The Planning Board and Economic Development Commission.

December: This month's newsletter will feature the newly elected city council by providing a profile of members as well as their plans for their term. The issue will also describe the Mayor's plans for the coming 2 years. The public opinion survey results will be summarized, and the annual award for "best story of the year" will be presented at the Second Annual Employee Holiday Party on the second Friday of December (9th).

City Calendar: Important dates will be highlighted for residents, and will include not only meeting dates, times and places, but also due dates for various licenses and permits, due dates for tax payments, budget review process, election process, Christmas tree pick up, household hazardous waste day, and all activities of City's business, as well as social and fraternal organizations that choose to participate.