Kevin Waters
Kevin Waters, owner and chief pilot for Penobscot Island Air, passed away on Sunday, July 5th. Here is a letter the Select Board signed in tribute to Kevin's selfless devotion to all of us who live in Maine's isolated communities.
Select Board Meeting - via Phone
The Select Board holds its regular meetings each week on Wednesday at 5:00 pm. During the pandemic, the public may participate by telephone.
Here are the conference call instructions:
Dial: 866.726.3900
Passcode: 6076813#
You may read the agenda for the July 29, 2020 meeting here.
Coronavirus Update - July 30, 2020 - Save the Summer
Testing as an Alternative to Quarantine: If you have been tested within 72 hours prior to arriving on the island and the test results are negative, you do not need to quarantine for 14 days. You may read a summary of Governor Mills' determination here (revised 7.2.20). Unfortunately, we do not have the capacity to perform these tests on island, so please get tested before you travel.
Governor's Orders: The governor has issued an order
requiring people arriving from out of state to quarantine for 14 days,
instructing people from COVID-19 "hotspots" not to travel to Maine. You
may read her Order here.
Summer 2020: Here are a letter about what to expect this summer and Guiding Principles for a Safe North Haven Summer.
Ferry: The Ferry Service has resumed its regular schedule, 7 days a week. Currently, only 5 walk-on passengers are allowed in each cabin. The Ferry Service is working on a plan to deal with the expected increase in walk-on traffic as July gets closer.
EMS Protocol: During the pandemic, our EMS crew must evaluate each patient for COVID-19 symptoms as part of their response. Please read the protocol here, so you are aware before calling 911.
Current situation: There are 3,888 confirmed cases in Maine, with 25 in Knox County. We do not have any confirmed cases on North Haven.
Universal Masking: The U.S. CDC and Governor Mills recommend people wear cloth masks when in public when social distancing is not possible, particularly in enclosed spaces. See the CDC recommendation here.
Coping with Isolation & Anxiety: Anne Cogger, our mental health counselor, is available for consultation through the Clinic. Read her advice here.
Preparation: The World Health Organization, the U.S.
CDC, and federal, State and local agencies are working
together to address new cases and public concerns about the spread of the
disease. Governor Mills has convened a Coronavirus
Response Team led by Maine CDC Director, Doctor Nirav Shah. The Governor has also issued a proclamation of State of Civil Emergency to Further Protect Public Health. Locally, the Knox County Emergency Management
Agency (EMA) is working with communities, including North Haven, and
coordinating with the Governor’s response team. At this point, Maine CDC is holding weekly coordination meetings with
EMA teams across the State. Rick
Lattimer is North Haven’s Emergency Management Director. Sue Ferra and Lorraine Reiser are our Local
Health Officers. Together with North
Haven’s first responders, school officials, and Southern Harbor House staff, they
are working to coordinate activities, keep people up to date, and reduce the
likelihood of the disease spreading, should it come to the island.
Prevention: There is no vaccine currently effective
against Coronavirus. Steps we can all
take to minimize the risk of contracting the disease and spreading it to others
include:
Financial Help: If you are struggling financially, there
may be loans and other programs available to help you. Sandy
& Bruce Gilman have volunteered to help collect and organize
this information as it becomes available. Please contact them via
email if you would like assistance, [email protected]
Updates: For updates on the Coronavirus, please visit
the U.S. CDC website here, and the Maine CDC website here.
Transfer Station -- Schedule and Hours, Payment, and Recycling Guidelines
Starting July 6, 2020, the Transfer Station is open Monday, Wednesday and Saturday from 9:00 to 5:00. We will be accepting cash, but strongly prefer people purchase stickers for household trash at the Town Office. Stickers cost $1.50 each. A $1.50 sticker goes on a 33-gallon bag. Place 1/2 a sticker on a 13-gallon kitchen bag. Place two stickers on a large contractor bag. The Town Office accepts cash, checks, and all major credit cards.
For an updated list of what can and cannot be discarded in the recycling compacter, click here.
Job Opening - Cleaning Position
The Town is looking for someone to clean the Town Office, the Clinic, and the Clinic Residence. You may view the job announcement here.
The position will remain open until filled.
Job Opening - Clinic Assistant Substitute
The Town is seeking a responsible person willing to act as an occasional substitute for the Clinic Assistant. If interested, please contact Rick Lattimer, Town Administrator, at 207.867.4433 or via email at [email protected]
The position will remain open until filled.
Contractor Guidance
If you are a contractor coming to the island to perform essential work, as defined in Governor Mills' orders (see the list here), please observe this guidance.
Please call the Town Office or contact Rick Lattimer, Town Administrator with any questions, 207.867.4433 or [email protected]
Thank you for helping to keep yourselves and others safe from the virus.
Emergency Services
In case of emergency, please dial 911. North Haven participates in the Knox County Emergency Management System. Upon calling, a 911 operator will take your information and immediately contact North Haven's EMS and Fire Department, as appropriate.
Town
of North Haven Planning
Board
Topic:
North Haven Planning Board Meeting
Time:
Apr 8, 2020 05:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
In
accordance with Governor Janet Mills State of Emergency Order, the North Haven
Planning Board will be meeting via Zoom Meeting. To take part in this meeting,
log into Zoom using the information below:
Join
Zoom Meeting
Town Initiatives
For updates on the initiatives discussed during the meeting in August 2019, please go to this page on the Town's website.
2019 North Haven Town Report
For a copy, click here.
Coronavirus - Resolution Encouraging People to Limit Travel
The North Haven Select Board heard several concerns about the order it issued on March 15, 2020. The Governor's legal counsel noted that only the governor has the ability to restrict travel; municipalities do not have that authority. Accordingly, the Board rescinded the order and has instead adopted this resolution. The resolution strongly encourages people not to travel. This is completely consistent with the advice of governments at all levels and healthcare officials.
The resolution is effective
immediately.
Several people raised concerns that the Board's previous order was - at heart - an attempt to protect year-round residents at the expense of occasional residents' rights. Nothing like that was intended. While the intent of the order was perhaps not worded carefully, the gist of the Board's concerns are now stated in the resolution: "Refrain from traveling away from the places where you are currently living - whether that is on North Haven or elsewhere - and that if you reside in places with better access to medical care than North Haven can provide you should refrain from traveling to the island." In other words, if you are on the island, please stay here. If not, please read the resolution carefully before considering coming to the
island during the Coronavirus pandemic.
The Board continues to struggle with how to best protect people from the Coronavirus. The Town has limited resources. The addition of even a few people could strain those resources to the point where more people would become at risk. Thank you for your understanding.
Recycling at the Transfer Station
Click here for a copy of recycling guidelines at the Transfer Station. As many recyclers know, the market for recycled materials has undergone some dramatic changes. Our recycling provider, Ecomaine, has issued new guidelines to match the demand of a shrinking market for some categories of materials. Please consult it.
Burn Pile
Please remember that the burn pile is restricted to brush and untreated wood. (Latex painted construction debris is allowed.) Access to and use of the burn pile is primarily on an "honor system". The Transfer Station staff cannot continuously monitor the pile. The discarding of noxious and toxic debris which ends up being burned may result in drastic action by the state Department of Environmental Protection, up to and including permanent closure.
Ferry Information
Propane Trips: for a copy of the 1-6-16 line-up policy for passengers on propane transport trips, click here.
Line Numbers: Click here for information for how get a line number.
Rockland Line-up Policies: Click here for policies and procedures at the Rockland Terminal, including rules on switching vehicles.
Cancellation Emails: to receive email notice of ferry cancellations, click here and follow the instructions to sign up for the notice.
Water Department
Click here for a copy of the 2017 Consumer Confidence Report
Tax Maps Assessors' Information
Now online. Click here for link
