The Winterport Town Council is accepting applications from registered Winterport Residents to serve on the Options for Ambulance Services Committee that was established at the Annual Town Meeting in July. The committee has been charged with researching and reporting back to the Town Council on options for ambulance services for the Town of Winterport. The committee must present their report to the Winterport Town Council no later than one month before next years Annual Town Meeting. Individuals interested in serving on the committee can obtain an application to serve on the committee at the town office or on the Town of Winterport's website www.winterportmaine.gov. The Town Council will begin their review of applications starting at the August 25th, 2020 Town Council meeting. Applications will be accepted until the Town Council has filled all positions on the committee. The committee will consist of 1 member of the Town Council, 1 member of the Ambulance Association, and 5 registered Winterport residents. Completed applications may be dropped off at the Town Office or may be emailed to the Town Manager at winterporttownmanager@outlook.com.
The Victoria Grant Civic Center (VGCC) has reopened on a limited basis. The VGCC can only accommodate groups of 12 people or less using the recommended social distancing guidelines. Individuals or groups desiring to use the VGCC must contact the Town Office to arrange to sign a use agreement and to obtain COVID-19 waivers for all participants and attendees as well as to reserve the space for your event. Please contact the Town Office at 223-5055 if you have any questions.
The Winterport Cemetery District Board of Trustees has announced that Maine Gravesite Maintenance LLC of Glenburn, Maine is working again this summer to repair stones in Oak Hill Cemetery. A copy of the Winterport Cemetery District's complete Notice of Stone Repair may be viewed on this website by clicking on the Services Main Tab then scrolling down to the Winterport Cemetery District tab; if you are interested in learning more about the scope of the work or if you wish to notify the district that you object to work being done on stones in your family lot in Oak Hill Cemetery.
REOPENING SCHEDULE TOWN OFFICE
The Winterport Town Office has partially reopened to the public as of June 15th, 2020. The Town Office has also resumed regular business hours as of June 15th, 2020. The Town Office Hours are as follows:
Monday, Tuesday, & Thursday 7:00 AM to 5:30 PM.
Wednesday 7:00 AM-6:00 PM
FRIDAY CLOSED
TOWN OFFICE LIMITED ENTRY
Entry into the lobby will be limited to no more than two people at a time. If possible, customers with additional individuals in their party should designate one person to come inside the Town Office at a time to conduct town business in order to allow an additional customer to be served at the same time. Customers will have to wait either outside or in their cars until someone leaves the office once two customers have entered the lobby. Customers entering the lobby will be expected to wear a mask/face covering inside the town office unless they have a medical condition that prevents them from wearing a mask/face covering. We encourage residents that would like to meet with members of the Town's staff, such as the Town Manager or Code Enforcement Officer, to call in advance to try to schedule an appointment in advance.
TRANSFER STATION-
The transfer station is open for regular business hours for the disposal of recycling, household residential trash, demolition debris, metals, Freon, and electronic wastes. The Second Time Around Building is closed until further notice.
VEHICLE AND TRAILER REGISTRATIONS – The Town Council approved passage of an Excise Tax Due Date Deadline at the Town Council meeting held on June 2, 2020. The Excise Tax Due Date Deadline requires that all Motor vehicles, all-terrain vehicles, watercrafts, snowmobiles, and trailers required to be registered in the State that expired during the period of the State of Emergency declared by the Governor in accordance with Title 37-B, section 742 due to the outbreak of COVID-19 up to and including June 30th, 2020 must be registered and excise tax paid along with all other registration fees no later than June 30th, 2020.
ONLINE REGISTRATION – Residents of the State of Maine can renew the registration of a motor vehicle, trailer, all-terrain vehicle or watercraft online. Hunting and Fishing licenses can also be obtained on-line as well as Vital records such as birth, death, and marriage certificates. The following links are being provided for your convenience.
State of Maine property tax law requires all property which is subject to property taxation be assessed in accordance with the status of that property on April 1st each year. Property tax is to be assessed by the municipality where that property is located, according to its value and to whoever owns it, all as of April 1 each year. To that end, each year all Tax Assessors and/or their agents generally hit the road around April 1st trying to determine what has changed from the prior year. In towns like ours that do not have any building permit or intent-to-improve system, that work has to be done by observation and visitation. This means driving the roads and looking for new buildings and additions to buildings including garages, barns and the like. In order for property taxes to be assessed fairly, all property must be taxed at or about the same level of market value.
In light of our concerns regarding COVID-19 and how it is impacting our citizens, the Winterport Board of Assessors has asked our new Assessors’ Agent to temporarily hold back from making her annual property visits. At a time when social distancing is being encouraged for all, we do not want out citizens to feel put upon with a visit from our Agent. However, we would ask that property owners who have made substantial improvements to their property to be forthcoming regarding any new construction and when it has occurred. We ask that you contact the town office to let us know what construction and improvements you have made over this past year. When the authorities tell us it is safe to resume work as normal, the Agent will be back out on the road to continue her work by visiting and documenting new properties.
As of today, we have made the decision to hold off on any direct property visits for at least two weeks. Our previous Agent, who retired last fall, had been with us for 20 years and had a pretty good grasp of the town and what was on the ground. Our new Agent will still be driving our roads, trying to get familiar with our town and making notes as to where she must visit in the future when things return to normal.
Thank you for your patience and understanding, and if you have been made uncomfortable in any way by her visit, we apologize. If you have any questions, please contact the Town Office and they will take your phone number and either myself or the new Assessors’ Agent will call you back.
Tom Skratt, Chair Winterport Board of Assessors
Winterport is a small town located in Waldo County, Maine. Incorporated March 12, 1860 and once home to far-ranging sea captains, Winterport retains a 19th century charm that blends well with 20th century conveniences.
Located just 12 miles south of Bangor on Route 1A, Winterport faces the deep and fast-flowing Penobscot River. Older homes, many built for Winterport sea captains, stand along the downtown roadways. Sidewalks encourage people to stroll through the town.
From the historic downtown, where people can find a variety of restaurants and small businesses, visitors can walk the short distance to the Winterport waterfront and watch boats make their way to and from the Penobscot Bay and open waters just beyond.
Winterport is fortunate to have abundant natural resources including the Penobscot River, Marsh Stream, numerous brooks, acres of gravel deposits, rolling hills and hardwood forests. Such abundance allows our hard-working businesses to prosper.
The Union Meeting House, built in 1834, is a special meeting place for townspeople. This building shelters a bell cast by Paul Revere, a belfry clock installed in 1861, and a Masons and Hamlin hand-pumped reed organ installed in 1859. Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973, the Union Meeting House is the subject of ongoing preservation efforts and local pride.
State of Maine property tax law requires all property which is subject to property taxation be assessed in accordance with the status of that property on April 1st each year. Property tax is to be assessed by the municipality where that property is located, according to its value and to whoever owns it, all as of April 1 each year. To that...
"Sam Butler is saluted by some of Winterport's finest as he passes the Fire Station for the last time. Sam was an invaluable member of both the Fire Department and Ambulance Service for over 20 years. Day or night, sun, rain or snow, hot and humid or absolutley frigid...he was always there when the call went out. All the brethren of the...
Disclaimer: The Town of Winterport provides links to our residents on our site for educational and informational purposes and by no means are an endorsement by the Town of a candidate, political party, point of view, business, or ideology.
