YARMOUTH — Residents have the opportunity to help decide the fate of two dams along the lower Royal River. In a program called “Dams and the Royal River: Films and Forum,” members of Maine Rivers and the Royal River Conservation Trust have joined forces to prompt the public discussion. They hosted a film night on […]

YARMOUTH — A divided Town Council voted 4-3 to extend the Beth Condon Memorial Pathway under the East Main Street bridge, using up to $100,000 of town funds. At a council meeting on Oct. 20, Councilors Erv Bickford, Carl Winslow and Tim Sanders voted against the proposal, siting financial and safety concerns. Council Chairman Steve […]

NORTH YARMOUTH — Residents voted 21-8 at a special Town Meeting to ban the use and sale of consumer fireworks. The Oct. 18 vote was prompted by a state law legalizing consumer fireworks that takes effect Jan. 1, 2012. The law allows municipalities to enact local restrictions, and the Board of Selectmen held a public […]

FREEPORT — The Town Council voted unanimously Monday to hire Eaton Peabody Consulting Group to assist in the search process for a new town manager. It also approved spending up to $5,500 for the service: $4,500 for consulting services and up to $1,000 for services like advertising. Eaton Peabody was picked for the job over […]

FALMOUTH — The Town Council will review bids for the former Plummer-Motz and Lunt school buildings in private executive sessions before deciding which bid to accept. The council decided unanimously Monday night to seal the bids from public scrutiny until negotiations between potential bidders and the town are complete. After that, there will be a […]

FREEPORT — Voters will choose representatives for District 2, District 3 and an at-large seat in the Nov. 8 Town Council elections. The District 2 seat is held by incumbent Councilor Eric Pandora of Birch Point Road. He is challenged by newcomer Katherine Arno of Pleasant Hill Road. The district includes the northeast section of […]

FALMOUTH — Construction may soon begin at the town’s four railroad crossings in an effort to preserve train whistle quiet zones in residential neighborhoods. The Town Council decided Monday night to move ahead with a proposal to make improvements to the crossings on Field and Woodville roads that would be required to achieve a “quiet […]

CUMBERLAND — A unanimous Town Council on Monday essentially decided not to seek creation of no-whistle zones at railroad crossings. Residents had asked the council to look into petitioning the Federal Railroad Administration to create the so-called quiet zones, which, with the exception of emergency situations, would not allow trains to use their horns as […]

PORTLAND — The second accident in as many years involving the city’s $3.2 million fire boat has prompted a comprehensive review of department policies and procedures for using the vessel. City Hall spokeswoman Nicole Clegg on Tuesday said the city is reviewing whether more training is needed for boat pilots and is setting up a […]

PORTLAND — A forum Tuesday morning hosted by the Portland Community Chamber and the Maine Real Estate Development Association offered mayoral candidates a chance to speak about economic development. But several candidates were also given the opportunity to address specific concerns raised by chamber and MEREDA members. During those responses, candidates gingerly took off the […]