Four statewide organizations have released a statement advising medical first responders to take safeguards at working, including universal masking, in order to protect themselves and their families from COVID-19. The statement includes details on what kind of safety equipment is recommended.

Governor Janet Mills has announced COVID-19 Prevention and Protection Grant Awards to nearly 100 municipalities, totaling almost $9 million as part of her Keep Maine Healthy Plan.  The Maine Municipal Association was pleased to work closely with the Mills’ Administration on the creation of this grant program that helps fund the on-the-ground work of cities and towns across the state in protecting their citizens and visitors, particularly during Maine’s summer and fall tourist seasons.

Summer’s here, as is COVID-19. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently issued guidance for people who go to public beaches, and for communities that oversee them. The CDC says the safest practice is for people to maintain six-feet social distancing when encountering people with whom they do not live. Food, beach chairs, toys and supplies should not be shared. Hand sanitizer should be used by staff and beach goers when soap and water are not practical.

Three leading law enforcement entities -- the Maine Chiefs of Police Association, Maine Sheriffs' Association and Maine Department of Public Safety -- on Monday issued a joint summary about law enforcement in 2020, touching on subjects ranging from implicit bias to chokeholds to best hiring and training practices. They wrote: "We recognize that change starts with us."

The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention today detailed its new grant program – Keep ME Healthy – that will award up to $13.3 million to towns, cities and tribal governments that incur expenses related to the coronavirus public health emergency between June 8 and Oct. 31, 2020, and are willing to help the state with education and complaints about COVID-19 restrictions. The CDC web page is a one-stop kind of destination, where details, the application and other materials are available. The deadline to apply is coming right up: Monday, June 22.

The National Municipal Stormwater Alliance is requesting information about local stormwater projects in order to prepare an estimate of the value of “implementation-ready” projects across the U.S. This inventory is important as the alliance advocates for federal funding of the projects. The information is needed by Friday, July 3.

Today, the Maine Municipal Association posted an 80-minute webinar recorded on Tuesday, June 16 that featured Michael Abbott of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention explaining his agency’s new program, Keep ME Healthy. Particularly, Abbott outlined how the state would like to see municipalities participate in the program, and how towns and cities can be eligible for reimbursement of COVID-19 related expenses if they join in. The deadline for towns and cities to apply to the CDC is Monday, June 22.

The Maine Town & City Clerks Association and Maine Municipal Association teamed up to create a new website that encourages people to become election and poll workers in their hometowns. The website provides basic information about the requirements and benefits of handling absentee ballots and working at election polling places. The website directs interested citizens to their local clerks, by name, so people can follow through.

On Thursday, June 18, Maine Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap will provide a webinar update on the July election which “will certainly look different than in years past,” due to the COVID-19 public health emergency. The free webinar will be hosted by the Maine State Chamber of Commerce. Pre-registration is requested.

The administration of Gov. Janet Mills and the Maine Municipal Association today released updated and comprehensive guidance for the impending election and town meetings, which had been altered by the COVID-19 public health emergency. Town and city leaders have been waiting for this information. The guidance provides communities with two options for conducting traditional town meetings that exceed the current 50-person gathering limit.  Taking into consideration historic importance of the town meeting and the state's strong commitment to home rule authority, this is an important and much appreciated step forward for municipalities.