TOWN COUNCIL
Next Meetings:
Monday, August 19 / 7:00 PM Town Hall - Special Meeting
The Special Meeting includes several items that were moved from the August 12, 2024 meeting due to time. The new items on the agenda include the Municipal Election Warrant and consideration of an Outdoor Basketball Court adjacent to the former Thomas Memorial Library with a proposed budget of $165,000 for the project with $16,500 to be raised by the CAPE HOOPS group and $148,500 be appropriated from the Town's unassigned fund balance.
The full agenda with meeting materials is available here.
Thursday, August 22 / 6:00 PM Jordan Conference Room - Executive Session
The Town Council will hold a Workshop Executive Session to conduct interviews for Town Manager candidate finalists. A selection is anticipated following the workshop.
Cape Elizabeth Town Council
Timothy Reiniger, Chair • Stephanie Anderson • Jeremy Gabrielson • Susan Gillis • Caitlin Jordan Harriman • Penelope Jordan • Timothy Thompson
Town Council Meetings generally occur on the second Monday of each month at 7 PM, with exceptions for Monday holidays. Workshops generally occur on the fourth Monday of each month at 7 PM. Residents may subscribe to the Town Council Meetings Notification Email to receive agendas and meeting materials when they become available.
 On August 12, 2024, the Town Council voted unanimously to approve expenditures of up to $94.7 million (plus Bond Premium and Investment Earnings) for a "Critically needed new middle school and for other critically needed building repairs and renovations and safety upgrades to the Pond Cove Elementary and Cape Elizabeth High School, and the 1934 Building on the Cape Elizabeth Middle School Campus and Authorizing Issuance of the Town's General Obligation Bonds." The total amount includes the School Board-approved $89.9 million school project and a Town Council directive to incorporate an additional $4.8 million to renovate the 1930s building. The council also voted unanimously to send the proposed School Construction Project to a November 5 referendum, including language that reflects the Town Council's 4-3 vote against recommending the project. Additionally, the council voted unanimously to authorize expenditures and send to referendum a "Solar Project" of up to $1.65 million in the form of gifts and grants to enhance the new middle school.
Following the Town Council's votes on August 12, the School Board convened a special meeting on Thursday, August 15, to discuss their recommendation on the Town Council's approved referendum question. As the above referendum questions affect the school budget, the referendum questions must include a School Board recommendation on whether such questions should be approved. Although the School Board had previously voted on July 18 to return the 1930s building to the Town and exclude the projected $4.8 million in renovation costs from the $89.9 million School Construction Project, the board voted 6-0 to approve a Resolution recommending the $94.7 million referendum question as drafted by the Town Council and the Solar Project referendum question. School Board member Philip Saucier attended the meeting remotely; Heather Altenburg was absent from the meeting.
Updated tax impact calculations based on the $94.7 M bond amount: CLICK HERE.
Click here to for the latest information.
TOWN MANAGER SEARCH
 The Cape Elizabeth Town Council is pleased to announce that it has selected two finalists for the position of Town Manager from a field of 23 applicants.
One finalist is Patrick W. Fox from Saco, Maine. Mr. Fox is currently Director of the City of Saco’s Public Works Department, a position he has held since 2012 and where he’s worked since 2005. The other finalist is Joshua Reny from Scarborough, Maine. Mr. Reny is currently the Assistant City Manager of South Portland, Maine, a position he has held since 2015 and former Town Manager of Fairfield, Maine.
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Wednesday, August 21: Meet the Candidates at Thomas Memorial Library Community Room 6:30PM
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Thursday, August 22: Finalist Interviews with Town Council 6PM - Executive Session
ELECTIONS 2024
Absentee Ballot Requests
Residents may now request Absentee Ballots for the November 5, 2025, General Election. The preferred method is via the State of Maine's Absentee Ballot Online Request Form. Accessible Ballots are also available on the state's absentee ballot website.
Alternatively, voters may download a paper application from the town's Election & Voting page OR call the Town Clerk's office at 207-799-7665.
WE ARE HIGHLY ENCOURAGING VOTERS TO REQUEST AN ABSENTEE BALLOT FOR THE NOVEMBER ELECTION.
Nomination Papers
Nomination papers for the following seats are available at the Town Clerk's Office:
Town Council - 3 seats for a 3-year term to expire 2027
School Board - 3 seats for a 3-year term to expire 2027
Portland Water District - 1 seat for a 5-year term
⇒ Nomination papers are due by Monday, September 9 at 5:00 p.m.
To be considered qualified, you must be a registered voter of Cape Elizabeth, and residency is required during term of office.
Status on Nomination Papers:
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Town Council Terms Expiring in December: Timothy Reiniger, Jeremy Gabrielson, and Susan Gillis.
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School Board Terms Expiring in December: Heather Altenburg, Kathleen Curry-Sparks, and Elizabeth Scifres expire this December.
As of August 19, the following candidates have returned nomination papers, signatures have been verified, and their names will appear on the November 5 ballot:
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Town Council Candidates: Jonathan Sahrbeck, Elizabeth Scifres, Andrew Swayze
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School Board Candidates: Christopher Boniakowski and Peter Joy S. Engel
As of August 12, the following have taken out nomination papers but have not yet returned for signature verification:
Lee B. Schroeder of 3 Oakhurst Road has taken out papers for a seat on the School Board.
TOWN CENTER INTERSECTION PUBLIC FORUM
Wednesday, August 21 at 7PM
Lower Conference Room, Town Hall
Following Town Council and community appeal for alternative design options, Sebago Technics were retained to complete additional traffic analysis and provide additional intersection treatments for the Town Center Intersection.
In addition to the original "squaring up" design, three more traffic treatments have been added for consideration. These include a roundabout at Scott Dyer Road, a roundabout at Shore Road, and a peanut roundabout. The impacts of operations, right-of-way, abutting access, and cost/funding for each option have been provided.
Next steps include a public forum on Wednesday, August 21, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. at Town Hall. Recommendations will be forwarded to the Town Council in anticipation of a September 9, 2024 vote on how to proceed.
To stay up to date on the Town Center Intersection, please visit Engage Cape Elizabeth!
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ACCREDITATIONS & RECOGNITIONS
 Employee Service Awards! Thank you for your service!
10 Years of Service (2014 - 2024)
Verna Gordon, Community Services (Preschool Teacher)
Linda Winker, Administration (Tax Office)
5 Years of Service (2019 - 2024)
Scott Forrest, Public Works Department (Recycling Center Attendant Lead)
Colby Hilton, Public Works Department (Equipment Operator)
Martha Pulsifer, Community Services (Preschool Teacher)
Officer Tammy Schafran, Police Department (Police Officer)
Tony Nappi, Fort Williams Park (Greeter)
Susan Frost, Community Services (Preschool Teacher)
Jennifer Allen, Community Services (Preschool Teacher)
Maryanne Denison, Fire Department (Administrative Assistant, EMS Captain)*
* 5 Years of Service (2018 - 2023)
BOARDS & COMMITTEE NEWS
Conservation Committee
The Maine Conservation Corps will return to Cape Elizabeth on Monday, August 19, to make improvements to Winnick Woods. The MCC will station its equipment and trailer at Winnick Woods for two weeks. Trail users are encouraged to visit other open spaces during the second half of August so that the MCC can complete its work efficiently.
Many thanks go Public Works Department for providing the group with a camping space.
The Conservation Committee's latest issue of the Greenbelt Gazette is now available!
Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Committee
Have you experienced prejudice, discrimination, or stigma due to some aspect of your identity, such as race, gender, disability, illness, or occupation?
Please consider volunteering to become a Human Book during our second annual Human Library event in October. This event is offered in partnership with the Cape Elizabeth DEI Committee and made possible by the TML Foundation.
Click here to learn more!
Energy Committee
The Energy Committee seeks resident input on the Cape Elizabeth Climate Action Plan Public Survey. CLICK HERE TO PARTICIPATE.
The goal of the Climate Action Plan process is to understand a town’s greenhouse gas emissions sources, to identify key areas of risk that are most vulnerable to climate change, and to create a plan that identifies short and long-term actions that can meaningfully reduce emissions and build resilience to climate change impacts. These actions should also support economic growth and improve the lives of residents.
For the most recent updates, please visit the Climate Action Plan Website.
Fort Williams Park Committee
The Fort Williams Park Committee continues to address projects identified in the Fort Williams Master Plan.
Currently, a playground subcommittee is developing an RFP for a new playground design and a second RFP for construction of the playground. The playground will be moved from its current location to the Children's Garden.
An RFP for the Pond to include sampling of materials and dredging should be ready this August, with work anticipated to begin in the Spring of 2025.
Gorill Palmer Engineering recently completed a feasibility study for Powers Road, which outlines phases for the project. Pricing on phase one is not yet available.
Repair of the tennis courts at Fort Wiliams will begin August 12. Once the paving of the courts is complete, the courts will require approximately 28 days to set. Tennis courts are expected to be ready for use by late September.
Planning Board
The Planning Board will meet on Tuesday, August 20, 2024 at 7:00 PM to review a request for a Major Subdivision Review and a Resource Protection Permit to construct an 18 unit condominium development located at 90 Ocean House Rd (U26-6 and 7), Sec. 16-2-4, Major Subdivision Review Completeness and Sec. 19-8-3 Resource Protection Permit Completeness, Blue Meadow Subdivision. The agenda and meeting materials are available here.
Recycling Committee
The Recycling Center and Thomas Memorial Library are calling on volunteers to play a crucial role in collecting 1000 pounds of non-recyclable plastic through the NextTrex challenge. FMI: CLICK HERE.
RECREATIONAL NEWS
SOUNDS BY THE SEA - FINAL SUMMER CONCERT AUGUST 19 / 6 PM
Sounds By The Sea concert series has rescheduled Maine Marimba Ensemble for Monday, August 19, 2024. The concert will begin at 6 PM at the Bandstand. Maine Marimba Ensemble performs complex polyrhythmic arrangements of traditional and contemporary Zimbabwean music on handcrafted marimbas.
Tennis Courts at Fort Williams to be Closed for Repairs
Repair work on the tennis courts at Fort Williams will begin on August 12. From August 12 until approximately the end of September, the courts will be closed as the new pavement needs to be set.
Community Services Registration Starts August 25
COMMUNITY EVENTS
Looking for something to do while the weather is still hot? Look no further than our Community Events page for a listing of summer events in Cape Elizabeth a neighboring towns, including Sounds by the Sea's last summer concert on Monday, August 12, at 6 PM (weather permitting)!
ENGAGE CAPE ELIZABETH!
Our new Engage hub provides comprehensive information on current issues and projects within Cape Elizabeth. With this new hub, the community can stay informed and engaged with topics concerning our town. Click here to ENGAGE!
Current projects include:
- Town Center Intersection
- Sawyer Road Redevelopment
Coming soon! Fort Williams Master Plan Updates
COMMUNITY LINKS
Cape Elizabeth Community Services • Cape Elizabeth School Department • CETV On Demand •. Thomas Memorial Library •. Meetings Calendar
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