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Today we have a reporter in West Paris, where voters will consider whether to purchase the former Agnes Gray Elementary School building. If voters decide to make that purchase, they’ll also have to figure out what to do with the building, which SAD 17 closed in 2024 after deeming it unsafe for students.

We also have a reporter in Weld, where voters are considering whether to borrow up to $1 million to build a new fire station near the town garage and ball field on Dixfield Road.

These are big decisions and big expenditures for these towns, and we hope that our work in recent weeks to highlight this year’s annual town meetings will inspire you to participate in your own town’s meeting this year.

We’ve compiled a list of town meetings in Franklin, Oxford and Somerset counties. Check it out here. 

We hope that you are enjoying this newsletter. We’ll keep bringing you information about town meetings in the coming months, and encourage you to share it with family members and friends. They can sign up on our website to have it delivered to their own inbox each Saturday.

As a 501(c)3 nonprofit, we rely on charitable support to make this public service journalism possible. Support from members and readers is critical. We need your help to keep our reporters at work, telling the stories that matter. 

During our 11-day March Fundraising Drive, will you help us raise $45,000? Thank you for your support of local news, an essential element of healthy communities.

Wilton Board of Selectpersons sets April 1 as tentative date for public meeting on police collaboration with Jay: Wilton officials said Jay’s vote to ask Wilton to contract for police coverage was premature, want to bring the question to residents before making a decision. Read this story by Bob Neal

Waterville chicken owner pushes to expand city residents’ right to raise, slaughter chickens: Leo St. Peter claims city regulations unconstitutionally limit who has a right to raise food. Read this story by Charley DiAdamo

Community School model seeks to lift students, families in rural western Maine: Cape Cod Hill School is one of a half‑dozen Community Schools in the state and the only one in western Maine that provides after‑school enrichment programs for students. Read this story by Ben Hanstein

Rangeley prepares for June revaluation notices to go out to taxpayers: A property owner who disagrees with a new assessment must follow a formal process with strict deadlines to challenge a revaluation. Read this story by Ashton F. LeCraw

Elections and annual town meetings in Franklin County: March 10 to 18

Elections and annual town meetings in Oxford County: March 14 and 15

Elections and annual town meetings in Somerset County: March 13 and 14

While The Maine Monitor does not place its content behind paywalls, some newsrooms we link to in this newsletter may. 

Charts: See what local governments spent on addiction treatment and recovery projects last year | The Maine Monitor

Norridgewock voters approve $3.44 million budget, new ethics ordinance | Morning Sentinel

‘Death Cafe’ in Paris to foster open dialogue about end-of-life experiences | Advertiser Democrat  (Maine Monitor context: Her husband wanted to die with dignity. A death cafe helped them prepare.)

Panel offers initial ideas for providing property tax relief to Mainers | Maine Public

Bill to increase shelter funding in Maine advances | Portland Press Herald  (Monitor Local context: Two bills before Legislature aim to ease municipal costs for emergency services, shelters)

Recordings of Oxford County commissioners meetings now available online | Sun Journal

Judges order release of two workers detained in Skowhegan immigration bust | Morning Sentinel

Artist transforms Wilton cannery into vibrant creative arts space | Franklin Journal

Border agents arrest more farmworkers in Skowhegan, including at least one asylum seeker | Maine Public

Panel recommends name change for school named after former U.S. senator | WABI

This bill could give Maine jails more say over holding federal inmates | Portland Press Herald

UMaine president declares State of the University ‘strong and evolving’ | WABI

New workforce housing opens up in Rumford | Rumford Falls Times

Maine lawmakers consider capping hospital charges amid rising health care costs | News Center Maine

Waterville receives $850,000 grant to support downtown development | Morning Sentinel

Skowhegan board OK’s marijuana grow house plans after appeal | Morning Sentinel

Inland Woods + Trails wins $27,000 grant from Maine Tourism | Rumford Falls Times

Have feedback, a correction or know of something we should look into? Send it to our newsroom. You can reach Monitor Local editor Judy Meyer directly via email: judy@themainemonitor.org.

The Maine Monitor is a publication of the Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting, an independent and nonpartisan nonprofit news organization that produces investigative journalism. We believe news is a public good and keep our news free to access. We have no paywall and do not charge for our newsletters. If you value the reporting we do for Maine, please consider making a donation! We cannot do this reporting without your support.

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