11/24/2020 - Maine Attorney General, DHHS Clarify Stronger Mask Rules Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey and Department of Health & Human Services Commissioner Jeanne Lambrew on Monday issued a three-page document designed to clarify, and toughen, COVID-related requirements for wearing face coverings in public settings. Two items of note: 1. Municipal buildings are specifically cited in the update. 2. The document says retail and grocery stores, restaurants and social clubs with over 50,000 square feet of space must – not may – enforce masking requirements within their establishments. The document says criminal charges are possible for non-compliance.
11/24/2020 - All America City Applications Once again, it’s time for Maine municipalities to consider entering the National Civic League’s All-America City contest, which will recognize 10 U.S. communities for enhancing health and well-being through civic engagement. More than 500 communities have received this recognition since 1949, including five from Maine. The deadline to submit a letter of interest is Dec. 1, 2020. The deadline to apply is Feb. 10, 2021.
11/20/2020 - COVID Increases Trigger Earlier Closing Times Following an alarming increase in COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and positivity rates in Maine, the Mills Administration announced that beginning Friday, Nov. 20, through Sunday, Dec. 6, 2020, outdoor and indoor amusement venues, movie theaters, performing arts venues, casinos and businesses that provide seated food and drink service, including social clubs, restaurants, and bars and tasting rooms currently open for outdoor service, will close for the night by 9 p.m. The earlier hours are designed to limit extended gatherings at a time when many students and family members are returning to Maine, and at a time when social gatherings are more common, both of which will likely lead to more COVID-19 transmission.
11/19/2020 - Maine’s Paid Leave Law The MMA Legal Services Department has issued an update summarizing the requirements of Maine’s new, first-in-the-nation paid leave law, 26 M.R.S. § 637. The law goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2021. Links to the MMA summary, the statute and Maine Department of Labor guidance are located below.
11/18/2020 - FDA: Flu Shot More Important Than Ever The Food & Drug Administration wants to remind millions of men and women in all occupations, including those on the front lines of growing, processing, preparing, selling and delivering food for both people and animals, to get their seasonal flu shot. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the health-care community are grappling with flu viruses and the virus that causes COVID-19 that will spread this fall and winter.
11/17/2020 - Free Talk: Strengthening Community Development Join David Milan, Director of Community Development, Town of Orono, as he shares some of the lessons he has learned about the ways that university research can strengthen community development initiatives. "Unkicking the can: How community development can make a difference now" is scheduled for Nov. 23 at 3 p.m. The talk is available via Zoom and is free and open to the public. Registration is required.
11/13/2020 - Maine Quarantine Requirement Extended to Massachusetts The Mills Administration announced that, effective Monday, Nov. 16, Massachusetts is no longer exempt from Maine’s quarantine or negative test requirement. People coming here from Massachusetts must either quarantine for 14 days or receive a negative COVID-19 test with a sample taken no longer than 72 hours from arrival in Maine. This protocol applies to Maine residents returning from Massachusetts or another of the non-exempt states.
11/09/2020 - FAQ Clarifying Mandatory Mask Requirements The Mills Administration today released information regarding the more stringent requirements that the Governor issued last week around mask wearing. For example, masks are required indoors -- at fitness centers, movie theaters and other settings, even when people feel that they are six feet apart. Masks are required in many outdoor settings, including while skiing.
11/06/2020 - Community Sports Checklist Updated The Mills Administration on Friday updated its COVID-19 Prevention Checklist regarding community sports. With the winter sports season approaching, the checklist has significant implications for scholastic and community ice hockey, basketball, wrestling and other sports.
11/06/2020 - Corrections Hearing on Detention Standards The Maine Department of Corrections will hold a public hearing on Dec. 7 via Zoom to discuss proposed changes to detention standards for county and temporary municipal detention facilities required to comply with state and federal law. The Maine Municipal Association’s State & Federal Relations staff has produced a high level overview of these changes, and has provided information on how you can provide feedback about these changes.
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