Wednesday, March 20, 2024
The Maine Governor's Energy Office and Maine Department of Economic and Community Development have established the Maine Community Energy Redevelopment Program, which is designed to foster economic development across Maine by unlocking community energy assets to create family-sustaining jobs while reducing carbon emissions, in line with State economic development and energy priorities. The program will provide communities with high-quality technical support, including...
Wednesday, March 20, 2024
Maine Audubon will be holding 3 introductory Stream Smart workshops this spring at the following dates and locations:
April 3rd at the Forestry Department at UMaine Ft. Kent
April 23rd at the Greenville Public Safety Building
May 8th at the NRCS office in Presque Isle
These workshops will be helpful to all professionals who are responsible for road-stream crossings-including contractors, road commissioners, public works departments, conservation commissions, engineers, planners,...
Tuesday, March 19, 2024
The federal Clean Water Act requires that periodically, but at least once every three years, states hold public hearings for the purpose of reviewing water quality standards and, as appropriate, modifying and developing standards. Maine statute contains similar language in 38 M.R.S. § 464.3.B. This process, known as the Triennial Review, requires consultation with the public and interested state and federal agencies. The Maine Department of Environmental Protection is now...
Friday, March 15, 2024
The Maine Retirement Investment Trust (MERIT) would like to remind municipal officials that local governments are exempted from complying with the requirement that employers with 15 or more employees register with MERIT or certify that they have a qualified workplace retirement plan by April 30th and employers with 5-14 employees register with MERIT or certify that they have a qualified workplace retirement plan by June 30, 2024. Municipalities do not need to take any action regarding...
Friday, March 15, 2024
MMA Legal Services has recently issued two new supplements to the 2016 revised edition of its Guide to Municipal Liens. On March 14, 2024, Supplement No. 4 was issued to update the Manual's discussion of bankruptcy law and its impact on the municipal lien process (contained in chapter 6 of the Manual) and also updated forms in related appendices.
In addition, the Manual was updated in October, 2023 with Supplement No. 3, which revised chapter 3 of the Manual and related...
Friday, March 15, 2024
The Maine Department of Environmental Protection is soliciting grant proposals to support the development, implementation or improvement of programs, initiatives or activities designed to increase the diversion of solid waste from disposal. In the Fall of 2023, the Department funded ten waste diversion projects around Maine with a total of $128,326.07 in awards. These grants are supporting efforts to increase food scrap recovery and composting activities in the Central and Southern Maine...
Thursday, March 7, 2024
The Maine Municipal Association is pleased to again sponsor the Inclusion Maine Conference on May 1-3, 2024 at the Portland Sheraton in Portland, Maine. Our state needs 75,000 new workers by 2029 in order to sustain our economy and growth, and the Inclusion Maine Conference aims to give employers the tools to build belonging for all to attract and retain diverse talent in Maine. More details about the conference and Inclusion Maine can be found at...
Wednesday, March 6, 2024
On Monday, March 11 at 10 a.m., the Tri-State Learning Collaborative on Aging is bringing together representatives working with older adults through parks and recreation organizations in Maine, New York, Massachusetts, Vermont, and New Hampshire to discuss how entities are engaging older adults through dynamic programing that strengthens social connections. Municipal officials interested in participating can register here .
Monday, March 4, 2024
MMA Legal Services issued a new supplement to MMA’s Town Meeting and Elections Manual. Supplement No. 2, which was issued on January 24, 2024, updates the January 2020 version of the Manual to reflect recent legislative changes and court decisions. These changes have been incorporated into the online version of the Manual, but we encourage you to print Supplement No. 2 for use with printed versions. If you have any questions about this Supplement, please contact MMA Legal Services at...
Thursday, February 29, 2024
The Maine Natural Areas Program (MNAP), within the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, has served as a significant source of information on the State's important natural features for over 25 years. Working with the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, MNAP is pleased to announce a pre-acquisition review service for conservation projects. Land trusts, municipalities, and State and Federal Agencies may request this free service. ...