MUNICIPAL INFORMATION INDEX
SELECTMEN, ASSESSORS AND OVERSEERS OF THE POOR
Our town government is managed by a board of 3 Selectmen who serve staggered three-year terms. These elected officials oversee all aspects of the town’s affairs, budgets, assessing, General Assistance, committee work, and more. The Board is also supported by an Administrative Secretary who works 15 hours per week. The Selectmen meet at Mallett Hall every Monday evening beginning at 7:00. Weekly meeting agendas are posted at Mallett Hall and the Post Office.
Selectmen & Overseers of the Poor:
Timothy J. Giddinge, Chair, 688-4878(h)
Matthew D. Allen, 688-4022(h)
Alfred N. Fauver, 688-6255
Administrative Secretary:
Kathleen A. Hogue, 688-4431(w)
Mailing Address: Town of Pownal, P. O. Box 95, Pownal, ME 04069
Office Phone: 688-4311 Email: selectmen@pownalmaine.org
TOWN MEETING
Residents of Pownal vote in town affairs and for town officers annually. Secret ballot voting takes place at Mallett Hall is followed by Town Meeting at Pownal Elementary School. The Town will now operate under the fiscal year June 30 through July 1 and Town Meetings will be held annually in June. Annual Reports are mailed to all Pownal residents before Town Meeting and copies are also available at Town Hall. All state and federal elections also take place at Mallett Hall.
TOWN CLERK
The Town Clerk performs all duties and exercises all powers incumbent upon or invested in Town Clerks by State Law. The duties include: attests town codes & ordinances, maintains town records, attends and prepares for town meetings, supervises elections, validates official documents, issues licenses, maintains records of births, deaths and marriages, keeps record of meeting minutes, waits on counter and assists in collection and recording of taxes and fees, does motor vehicle registrations and sticker, and assists in the issuance of tax liens.
Town Clerk: Kathleen A. Malloy 688-4611 townclerk@pownalmaine.org
TAX COLLECTOR
Commitment is set in the summer by the Board of Selectmen and tax bills are sent out the first of July. Property taxes are paid annually and are due in 2 payments: half on August 1 and half on December 1.
Tax Collector: Kelly Wentworth 688-4611 taxcollector@pownalmaine.org
TREASURER
The Town Treasurer collects tax lien payments, does town payroll, reconciles all accounts and pays all town bills as directed by the Board of Selectmen.
Treasurer: Kelly Wentworth 688-4611
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
Our Road Commissioner is appointed by the Selectmen for a 3-year term and oversees all aspects of the maintenance, repair, reconstruction and upgrades of our roads. In addition, the Road Commissioner manages a crew of 3 members which includes 2 equipment operators and an equipment operator / mechanic. For more information click on Public Works.
Road Commissioner: Shawn Bennett 688-4407 publicworks@pownalmaine.org
CODES ENFORCEMENT
This appointed position is held by Craig Vosmus. Craig is also our Building Inspector, Plumbing Inspector and Electrical Inspector. Permit applications are available at Town Hall during regular business hours. Craig is in his office and open for business at Mallett Hall every Monday evening from 6:30 -8:00.
CEO, Craig Vosmus 688-4810(h)
ANIMAL CONTROL
Pownal’s Animal Control Officer is appointed for a one-year term and mostly deals with dogs and cats. For lost or stray dogs or cats or other animal problems, call Allison Whitaker at 653-1757 or email: badddog@maine.rr.com.
CEMETERY COMMISSION
The Cemetery Commission consists of 3 elected officials who oversee the care of the Town cemeteries, sell plots, and oversee burials.
FMI, contact Commissioner, Craig Vosmus 688-4810.
RUBBISH & RECYCLING
TRASH
Trash is collected curbside every Friday morning. Each family may put out up to 4 containers of trash every pick-up day, for a total of up to 40 pounds of trash. Each additional bag or container above the 4 allowed must have a tag. Each additional amount (up to 40 pounds) above the original 40 pounds must have a tag. Tags are available at Mallett Hall during regular office hours and cost $2 each. Trash must be set out in covered trashcans or in water-proof trash bags. Kitty litter, ashes, yard waste, hazardous waste, electronic waste, liquid waste, construction debris, metals, large recliners and sofas, animal and human feces (other than disposable diapers) must not be put in the trash. In additional to the allowed 40 pounds, families may put out 1item of small furniture or 1rimless auto tire per week.
FREEPORT TRANSFER STATION & RECYCLING FACILITY
The Freeport Transfer Station and Recycling Facility is available for use by all Pownal residents. The facility is located on Hedgehog Mountain Road off of Pownal Road and is open Wednesday through Friday from 8:00 - 4:00 and Saturday from 9:00 - 4:00. General use of the facility requires the purchase of a $30.00 annual vehicle sticker, available from the staff. Waste such as universal wastes(see below), drywall, asphalt shingles, metals, large furniture, air conditioners and dehumidifiers, gasoline and oil, automotive batteries, automobile and truck tires, brush and other yard wastes, demo-wood, etc. may be disposed of there. In addition to the sticker fee, there are smaller fees associated with disposal of most items. For specific fees and information, call the Freeport Recycling Facility at 207-865-3740.
HAZARDOUS WASTE
Anything that is ignitable, corrosive, reactive, or toxic is considered hazardous waste.
There are many laws in the state dealing with the specifics of disposal of these wastes. All hazardous wastes must be disposed of in accordance with state law, and none may be discarded in curbside rubbish. Please visit the State of Maine’s Bureau of Remediation and Waste Management’s website to learn more http://www.maine.gov/dep/rwm
UNIVERSAL HAZARDOUS WASTE
These wastes are hazardous wastes that are contained within a product—such as the mercury contained within compact fluorescent light bulbs and thermostats, the nickel contained in certain batteries, etc. Electronic wastes (also known as E-wastes) such as laptop computers, portable dvd players, computer monitors, and televisions are also considered universal waste. All universal waste may be brought to the Freeport Transfer Station and Recycling Facility for disposal. No sticker is required for disposal of universal wastes, but per item fees may apply.
NON-UNIVERSAL HAZARDOUS WASTE
In August or September of each year the Town arranges for residents to dispose of hazardous household wastes at a local collection event. Information and details are posted in the August News Letter.
Household hazardous wastes acceptable for disposal at these events include pesticides and fertilizers, varnishes and polishes, oil based paints, resins, automotive fuels and fluids, pool chemicals, household and bathroom cleaners, etc. .
ADDITIONAL DISPOSAL OPTIONS FOR HAZARDOUS WASTES
In addition to the town collection event and the Freeport Transfer Station and Recycling Facility, residents have several disposal options for hazardous wastes. These include the following three facilities that accept both universal and non-universal hazardous wastes*:
Environmental Products Incorporated’s (EPI) Lewiston facility on River Road is open 8:00 - Noon, the first and third Saturday of each month from April through November. EPI is also available to collect hazardous waste from residences. EPI: 207-786-7390.
The Riverside Recycling Facility on 910 Riverside Street in Portland is open year-round Saturday from 7:00 -4:00 for collection of all hazardous waste, and 7:00 - 4:00 Monday through Saturday for universal wastes.
Riverside Recycling Facility: 207- 797-6200.
Clean Harbors on 17 Main Street in South Portland is open year-round 9:00 -3:00 Monday through Friday.
Clean Harbors is also available to collect hazardous waste from residences. Clean Harbors: 207-799-8111.
*Please contact the facility for site-specific details and pricing.
RECYCLING IN POWNAL
There are roll-off collection units, known as silver bullets, located behind Mallett Hall. In the silver bullets, you may recycle plastics numbered 1-7, paper and paperboard including aseptic drink boxes used to contain juice, soymilk etc., flattened cardboard, steel and aluminum cans, glass bottles and jars. You do not need to separate these materials. A complete list of recyclables is available at the recycling section of the ecomaine website.
Pownal’s Fire Company has a separate building outside of Mallett Hall for the donation of returnable cans and bottles. The money generated from these donations is used primarily to support the Fire and Rescue Department.
COMPOSTING & BURNING
Kitchen scraps, garden waste, leaves, grass clippings, wood ash, etc., may be composted in your back yard. Animal wastes, including kitty litter, may also be composted or buried in your yard (well away from your well). It is generally recommended that pet wastes not be composted within your garden compost pile if that compost is to be used around food crops and unless your compost reaches very high temperatures. Brush and leaves may be burned with a permit obtainable during regular business hours from Town Hall, or on Saturdays from 9-11 at the Fire Department’s Center Station on Elmwood Road.
POWNAL PRIDE DAYS
Each spring, during Pownal Pride Days, the citizens of Pownal participate in a roadside clean-up of litter organized by the Solid Waste Reduction and Recycling Committee.
An important component of Pownal Pride Days is the collection of scrap metal which is placed in a large container behind Mallett Hall. Residents are encouraged to save their scrap metal items for this event, as the town earns substantial money from the sale of the metal.
