2021 Town Meeting
Town Meeting/Vote: Due to COVID-19 restrictions, this year we will be voting on the town warrant using a written, secret ballot instead of our normal practice. You can pick up an official ballot at the Town Office beginning Friday, April 9th. You can vote by mail, you can drop off your completed ballot at the Town Office, or you can vote in person on May 8th. The polls will be open on Saturday May 8th from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm in the Town Office.
Hearing: While State rules do not allow us to vote using Zoom or via conference call, we can hold a remote hearing so that people can ask questions and discuss the town warrant. Here are the details:
- Location of in-person meeting: Community Building (YMCA)
- Date: Thursday, April 8th
- Time: 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm
- Ways to attend:
Please email Kathy Macy, Town Clerk, at [email protected], or Rick Lattimer, Town Administrator, at [email protected], with any questions. Also, feel free to call the Town Office, 207.867.4433.
Town Reports: Town Reports, which contain the warrant, will be available starting Thursday, April 1st. We had a glitch with the printing, so better-quality versions will be available as soon as they arrive. You're welcome to pick one up now or wait for the better version.
Budget & Warrant Articles: As you will see in the warrant, much of the budget remains unchanged from last year. Two items are new: Article 12, money to repair the fire station; and Articles 34 & 35, regarding a proposed boat ramp at the end of Waterman Lane, beyond the Sewage Treatment Plant.
- You can read more about the fire station here.
- You can read more about the proposed boat ramp here.
- And you can see the plans for the proposed boat ramp here.
COVID-19 & Vaccine Distribution
Vaccine Update: The vaccine clinic scheduled for Monday, March 29th, has been rescheduled to Wednesday, March 31st. The Clinic will notify eligible people by telephone.
Continued Protections: Maine's case numbers continue to rise, as do the cases in the rest of the
country.
Thankfully, we have no
confirmed cases on the island right now.
Of course, that could change, so please be careful —
· Wear masks
· Maintain 6 feet between people who are not in
your households
· Wash your hands frequently for at least 20
seconds each time
Please contact the Clinic (207.867.2021) or your
healthcare provider if you have any questions about the virus.
The virus remains very concerning and can be
overwhelming. As we move through winter, many of us begin to feel more isolated.
The virus brings its own anxiety, which when combined with more darkness can
lead to depression. If you have any concerns about anxiety, isolation,
depression, or your mental wellbeing, please contact Anne Cogger by email at [email protected] or by telephone at
207.841.3900. Your messages will be treated as confidential.
2020 Town Report
For a copy, please click here.
Invitation for Bid - Cemetery Mowing
The Town is soliciting bids for cemetery mowing. You can find the bid document here.
Select Board Meetings - Wednesday, 5:00 pm
Beginning April 21st, the Select Board will hold its regular weekly meetings on Wednesdays at 5:00 pm. During the pandemic, the public may generally participate by telephone. Here are the conference call instructions:
Dial: 866.726.3900
Passcode: 6076813#
Airstrip: Passenger & Freight Transportation
There has been considerable discussion about Penobscot Island Air's (PIA) use of Watson's airstrip over the summer. As town administrator, I've been involved in this issue since I started in July 2018. But as most people know, this has been an ongoing concern for decades. I've written a lengthy article for the October edition of the North Haven News in which I attempt to lay out the pertinent history up through today. I'm attaching the article and the associated documents below. My thanks to everyone involved. Please be patient as the Town, PIA, the Watson family, and the community at large continue to work through this.
Respectfully,
Rick Lattimer
Mullens Head Park
Our park is a tremendous asset to our community. Please help us take good care of it so
everyone can enjoy it. We recently had a
fire in the forest near Vista Beach that could have been catastrophic were it not
for the quick response of our volunteer fire fighters. We have also found large amounts of garbage —
some left over from picnics and other outings and some that is obviously
household trash. We rely on volunteers
to take care of the park. Please do your
part to help. Carry out what you carry
in, use the designated grills or your own grills - but no open fires, and clean
up if you see a mess. Thanks for your
cooperation. Rick
Lattimer, Town Administrator
Transfer Station -- Schedule and Hours, Payment, and Recycling Guidelines
Starting October 14, 2020, the Transfer Station is open Wednesday and Saturday from 8:00 to 4:00. 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.
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 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
