Sewer pipe installation underway in North Windham

By Ed Pierce

A significant step to improving public health and sustainable economic development has started in North Windham, as a contractor has begun to install sewer lines there.

Work to install sewer pipes along Route 302 near the Shaw's
Supermarket Plaza and on Route 115 at Boody's Corner 
started on the night of April 20. The installation will be
performed between the hours of 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. and
is expected to be completed by sometime in June.
COURTESY PHOTO 

Windham Communications Director Roger Cropley said the project is a collaboration between the Town of Windham and the Portland Water District with sewer line installation work starting in the Shaw’s parking lot area of North Windham.

Cropley said the sewer line will span the Shaw’s parking lot through the Walmart lot, and over to Landing Road before crossing Route 302 to the Windham Mall. Shaw Brothers Construction also started installing another section of the sewer line April 20 along Route 115 in North Windham, he said.

“The installation will begin on the Gray side of Walgreens, progressing across Boody’s Corner and over to a section of Route 35, eventually connecting to the line being installed through the Shaw’s parking lot,” Cropley said. “That work will run through early May.”

According to Cropley, the sewer line work is scheduled to be performed at night in order to cause as little disruption for motorists as possible.

“Construction will start at 6 p.m. and go to 6 a.m. with start times varying depending on traffic volume,” he said. “Flaggers and police will be set up each night to control and redirect traffic when lane closures are in effect. The sewer work is scheduled to be completed by June.”

Voters approved installation of a sewer system in Windham during a special referendum in June 2022.

By installing a sewer system treating 50,000 gallons per day, Windham Town Manager Barry Tibbetts said that business growth in North Windham will be of significant benefit to the community, leading to economic growth and the creation of new housing, new hotels, new office and retail space and affordable options for small-scale manufacturing development.

Tibbetts said that environmental benefits will also be realized by installing sewers in North Windham including preventing 7,500 pounds per year of nitrogen and 1,000 pounds of phosphorous from entering the aquifer.

“This project will be the first of this magnitude in Maine and can be a model for other communities who lack receiving waters,” he said. “It will be the most advanced micro-filtration system in the state for handling contaminants.”

Along with the sewers, construction of a public wastewater system will result in the removal of about 100 septic systems that are currently discharging into the North Windham aquifer, Tibbetts said. A collection and pumping system over three miles in length will connect businesses and residents to the system and will treat wastewater through the advanced micro-filtration system.

“Current businesses will be able to further grow and expand while new businesses can be situated without further degrading the aquifer and using valuable real estate for septic systems,” Tibbetts said.

The overall estimated cost of the sewer project is $40.4 million. Partnering with the Portland Water District and RSU 14 to create the massive infrastructure project, the Windham Town Council covered the initiative through a combination of grant funding, a $38.9 million award by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, and North Windham TIF funding supported by North Windham businesses.

Because of construction costs and materials increases since receiving voter approval in 2022, Tibbetts said that a warrant article approved by voters at the 2024 Windham Annual Town Meeting authorized the town to issue a bond of $4 million through the state’s Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund. In doing that, the sewer project shortfall will have no impact for taxpayers.

The new system includes the creation of a new pumping station near Windham High School and RSU 14 that would service from the high school campus to a new treatment facility in North Windham and establish a wastewater treatment facility on the grounds of Manchester School and a new pumping station at Windham Middle School. <

In the public eye: WMS special education teacher forges lasting relationships with students

Editor’s note: This is another in an ongoing series of Windham and Raymond town employee profiles.

By Ed Pierce

Special education teachers are uniquely trained to support the learning needs of students with disabilities and to ensure their educational, behavioral, social, and emotional success. Windham Middle School has one of the best in Adam Deveau.

Adam Deveau is now in his eighth year as
a special education teacher at Windham 
Middle School and provides specialized
instruction to support students when
they are challenged or struggling.
SUBMITTED PHOTO

Deveau is now in his eighth year working at WMS and says he considers himself fortunate to be part of the RSU 14 team. In his job, Deveau is challenged to find specific interventions that fulfill the needs of his students, kind of like trying to solve a new puzzle every day.

“My responsibilities vary a bit from year to year. This year, my main responsibilities include providing specialized instruction and supporting students throughout the day when they are challenged or struggling,” Deveau said.” Since starting at WMS, I have taught reading, writing, math, and science on the academic side as well as social skills, social-emotional learning, and executive functioning. I also create and manage educational plans and positive behavior support plans.”

At the middle school, special education teachers work with fewer students than their general education counterparts and they also work with the same group of students over the course of several years they attend classes there. The smaller class sizes in special education coupled with the increased time of working with the same students at WMS gives him the opportunity to forge strong relationships with his students and their families.

“The best thing about what I do in my job is that I am in a unique position to help improve the quality of life for students and help them enjoy and benefit from their time at school,” he said. “I get to help shape their overall experience at Windham Middle School and when I do my job well, I see amazingly positive outcomes in the way they feel about school in general.”

But the most challenging aspect of Deveau’s job is the fact that he can only be in one place at a time and sometimes there are many things that he would like to be doing and many people he would like to be supporting.

“People don’t always understand that special education is not just a service to address academic needs, but it also can help students that struggle in many areas including behavior, daily living skills, and social skills,” he said.

Born in Dayton, Ohio, Deveau’s family moved to Maine when he was just an infant. He has spent much of his life living in Bridgton and graduated from Lake Region High School. He originally studied philosophy at the University of Southern Maine but when I graduated, he found out that “philosopher” is not exactly a job in high demand. He enrolled at USM again and earned enough additional credits to become a special education teacher.

According to Deveau, he first applied to work at WMS when the school that he was working for moved to a new location further away.

“I have taught nearly every subject in special education. I started my career in a private day treatment program for students with emotional and behavioral health challenges,” Deveau said. “After that I came to WMS, and have worked as a functional academic teacher, a resource room teacher, and a behavior support teacher.”

He says he’s enjoyed many memorable moments working for WMS.

“Some of my favorite memories include seeing them perform in talent shows, participate in door decorating contests, and other moments where they chose to step up to the plate to show us their unique skills and talents,” Deveau said. “The moment that stands out the most is when I worked with a group of students who came into my room almost every day to learn how to sing three or four songs. Our goal was to bring some joy and entertainment to the residents of Ledgewood Manor, a local assisted living facility. On the day they performed, my students showed courage, compassion and kindness in so many ways, and I was honored to help them.”

The most important thing that Deveau says he’s learned working for WMS is that all students want to do well.

“If we create the right conditions for student success, they will almost always meet us halfway,” he said. “They communicate their needs with not only their words but their actions, so we need to listen to them on so many different levels to be effective educators.” <

Windham Historical Society to host Victorian Tea Party at Little Meeting House

By Masha Yurkevich

The Little Meeting House in North Windham will be decorated in a Victorian style setting for a special High Tea at High Noon on Saturday, May 31. This event is being held in honor of the passing of the Windham Historical Society’s Secretary Karen Lougee in January.

A special 'High Tea at High Noon' event will be held on
Saturday, May 31 at the Little Meeting House in North 
Windham to remember Windham Historical Society
member Karen Lougee, who died in January.
COURTESY PHOTO

Haley Pal is one of three Event Coordinators for High Tea at High Noon with the other coordinators being Susan Simonson, the Society's President and Carol Manchester, the Membership Chair.

“This is the first time we are doing a tea,” says Pal. “It was inspired by the passing of our Secretary Karen Lougee in January. Lougee loved all things British, was an avid reader and Steward of the Windham Center Library on the Society's Village Green. Her favorite flowers were lilacs, so we decided to host an event in her memory during lilac season.”

Lougee’s love of books and history came together when she joined the Windham Historical Society after retiring from Unum. She joined the Society’s Board and served as Secretary and on the Programs Committee. Lougee enthusiastically helped and led in the restoration of the original Windham Center Library building for the Society’s Village Green, proudly completing this large and complex project in the fall of 2024.

She also worked hard to restore the library and has left this piece of Windham history as her lasting gift to the community.

“Lougee’s first exposure to Windham Historical Society was at a fundraiser held in 2017,” says Susan Simonson, President of the Windham Historical Society. “As a way to encourage more membership and exposure of the society, we held a History Tour around Windham, highlighting the historical sites and building while providing local Windham history. Lougee and her husband, Gerry, were on that tour. It was not long afterward Lougee showed interest in becoming an active member of the society. She ran and was elected Secretary the following year. It did not take long for her to blend into the fabric of the historical society, helping in any way she could. Lougee was retired from Unum’s legal department, and her administrative and professional skills were much welcomed by the organization. She was able to juggle many hats, and most importantly her love for her family.”

High Tea at High Noon will start at noon on May 31 and run about two hours long. It will open with a greeting from Simonson. Then, a buffet luncheon will be served with the meal consisting of quiche, tea sandwiches, hot and cold hors d'oeuvres, mini muffins, scones, and a large assortment of delicate desserts.

“During lunch, Ray Marcotte and Elle Kanner of Teafarers will do a talk about the history of tea and talk about some of the teas that guests will be sampling with their lunch,” says Pal. “Dessert will be served by Society members and be delivered to each table. Desserts range from cupcakes to mini cheesecakes, to tea breads to cream puffs, plus cookies and mini lemon tarts.”

Tickets are $25 per person with 60 seats available. People can purchase tickets by emailing Haley Pal at haleypal@aol.com.

“Lougee was the steward of the Windham Center Library which had not been open for several years” says Simonson. “She has put a lot of time, energy, and research into getting the library open to the public as part of the society’s Village Green. The building had a major structural issue and took a year or two to get it addressed. Once those repairs were completed, the roof was re-shingled, windows were puttied, the exterior painted. The next step is to get electricity brought over to the building. The funds raised by the tea will help to offset the electrical costs, remaining interior painting, and other small miscellaneous projects.”

If you are looking to enjoy a high tea in an historic old building, you are highly encouraged to join this event.

“The Little Meeting House will be decked in Victorian style using china teacups and porcelain and glass plates,” says Pal. “Tablecloths will be color-coordinated, and it should make for an elegant, but fairly inexpensive way to spend a couple of hours.”

This event is also an opportunity to meet Society members and learn about some of the things that they do for the community.

“It is also a wonderful way showing those who attend that the Windham Historical Society truly does know how to ‘have fun with history’ which is our slogan,” says Pal.

Lougee’s unexpected passing had a major effect on the society board members. She was very much a part of their team, always lending a hand where needed.

“The fundraiser in her memory is a way for us to heal and let the community know how much she meant to the society,” says Simonson. “The society has been fortunate to have Becky (Plummer) Delaware step in as the new steward of the Windham Center Library. Becky is a retired schoolteacher and grew up in Windham. Her knowledge of Windham and as an avid history buff will provide the tolls needed to continue Lougee’s vision while adding her own touch to displays on Windham’s organizations of the past.” <

Lions Club honors volunteer work of Windham resident

By Ed Pierce

When Evelyn Brissette’s husband passed away from lung cancer in 2016, she decided that she had more time on her hands to do some of the things that would make her happy and be able to help others. She joined the Windham Lions Club, and that decision has led Brissette to be awarded the highest form of recognition possible for a Lions Club member.

Evelyn Brissette of Windham was presented 
the Melvin Jones Award for her humanitarian
efforts and devotion to the community. It's
the highest honor that a Lions Club member
can receive. From left are Gene Tanguay,
Windham Lions Club President Camille
Swander, Evelyn Brissette, and Patricia
Tanguay. SUBMITTED PHOTO

The Windham Lions Club presented Brissette with the Melvin Jones Fellowship Award during its April meeting for her humanitarian qualities such as compassion, concern, and generosity to the Windham community. The award is named after the original founder, secretary and treasurer of Lions International who established the organization to improve health and well-being, strengthen communities and support those in need through humanitarian services and grants that impact lives locally and globally, and encourage peace and international understanding.

Brissette served as president of the Windham Lions Club for several years and created the club’s Adopt-A-Family program that provides Christmas gifts to families in need in the Windham Community. She also has participated in community meals and the RSU 14 Backpack Program and volunteers for the Windham Parks and Recreation Department and at senior citizen luncheons. She’s active in the Lions Club’s eyeglass screening, Touch-A-Truck, the Windham Lions Annual Craft Fair, Stuff the Bus, and many other community activities.

“I saw an article in The Windham Eagle, I think that first summer, that the town was looking for volunteers to give out lunches to the children at Dundee Park,” Brissette said. “I thought I can do that and totally enjoyed it. When they stopped distributing food at the park but did it at the middle school one summer with parents picking up a much larger quantity of food, I joined to help there. I heard about the weekly backpack program, so I joined our Tuesday morning group of fellow volunteers at least four or five years ago at this point. We started at Windham Primary School and have been at Windham Middle School for several years now. During COVID when the children were home, I made home food deliveries.”

She joined the Windham Lions Club in 2019 after being invited by longtime friends Gene and Patty Tanguay.

“I have always enjoyed doing whatever I can to make life as good as possible for others,” Brissette said. “The Windham Lions Club has given me the opportunities that I needed to get out there and do even more.”

Receiving this award means a lot to Brissette.

“I did not do what I have done for the past several years to be rewarded but just to help others in need,” she said. “I feel very fortunate that my family and children have never gone without. We were never rich, but we always managed. Knowing how hard some families have it today really concerns me when the children’s needs are not met, especially when it comes to food.”

Originally from Portland, Brissette and her husband moved to Windham in 2012.

“We needed a more accessible home with one floor living only,” she said. “Stairs are not my friends anymore. As much as my husband liked to keep busy, he had to cut back on keeping up with our big, older home. Moving to Windham was the best move we could have made, especially since I became a widow a few years afterward. I have met wonderful people through the Windham Lions Club and the businesses, and others that I have established relationships with while organizing our Lions Club events. I also enjoy working with the Parks and Recreation Department as a volunteer and participating in their events.”

Working at Shaw's Supermarkets for 29 1/2 years, Brissette spent the majority of her career in the Payroll and Human Resources departments and she helped to organize in-store United Way fundraising drives and was a United Way Loan Executive twice.

“When I left Shaw's, I became a companion/caregiver with Home Partners for 12 years, a job I truly enjoyed,” Brissette said. “At 73 years young I thought I finally deserved to spend more time to pursue other interests as well. As it happened, I left Home Partners and joined the Windham Lions Club that same year.”

According to Brissette, besides organizing United Way campaigns in the Shaw’s store, she was occasionally asked to solicit volunteers to donate blood for Red Cross blood drives.

“The personnel and training coordinators would sometimes set up a little competition between ourselves and other stores to see who could convince the most associates to donate blood,” she said. “One year I convinced and really begged 40 associates to donate. That was one out of every three or four of the associates in my store, including me. I have no shame for a good cause. Our store ended up having the most associates that donated blood. The joke in the store afterwards was to watch out if you see Evelyn coming. She will be asking you for either your money or your blood.”

The Windham Lions Club was formed in 1969 and is a small but active group of service-minded men and women who want to make Windham a better place to live by serving the community in a variety of ways. It is part of the world’s largest and most active service club organization, Lions Club International.

Windham Lions Club members work with their fellow Lions in more than 170 counties and geographical areas to seek out and help the needy in their own communities, their country, and the world.

The Windham Lions Club meetings are held at the Windham Hill United Church of Christ, 140 Windham Center Road in Windham Maine on the first Wednesday of each month.

For more details about the Windham Lions Club send an email to windhamlionsme@gmail.com or visit http://sites.google.com/site/windhamlionsclubmaine/announcements <

Town of Raymond property tax revaluations ongoing

By Kendra Raymond

The Town of Raymond is currently conducting property tax revaluations and anticipating a steady process while asking for cooperation from residents as they move through the process, which should wrap up during the summer of 2026.

Town of Raymond property revaluations for
the area included in this map are currently
underway by KRT Appraisal and the Town
of Raymond. The revaluation process for
the entire town will stretch into 2026.
SUBMITTED PHOTO

KRT Appraisal of Haverhill, Massachusetts has been contracted to collect data by making a site visit to each property in the Town of Raymond. Employees will measure buildings on each property and perform a quick interior inspection, which allows for accurate determinations of value.

Raymond Assessors Agent Curt Lebel says that things are going smoothly so far. His role is to implement the program as the town moves through the steps.

“Right now, probably for the next five months or so we will be in the data collection phase,” he said. “KRT staff will be visiting every property in town measuring every house through the summer into the fall.”

With over 4,000 properties to visit, Lebel said that KRT staff are focused on working area by area. If property owners are not at home, a letter will be sent to schedule a return visit.

Lebel says that obtaining solid information on each property will allow the town to build a valuation model for the appraisal process. Currently, KRT staff members are visiting homes in the Mill and Main Street neighborhoods as well as the first part of Webbs Mills Road.

KRT continues to send out batches of post cards for various neighborhoods. Once you receive a card, you can plan on a visit within the next 60 days. KRT employees are working through a methodical process street by street. Unfortunately, homeowners are not able to pre-schedule appointments. If the property owner is not home, a letter will be sent requesting an interior inspection appointment.

Property owners can be reassured that KRT personnel will clearly identify themselves with name badges and signage on their vehicle, Lebel said. They will also present a letter from the Raymond Contract Assessor and Raymond’s Town Manager.

So far, Lebel says that the data collection has been sporadic, but residents are becoming more aware of the visits.

“Overall, residents know what is going on. Most of our feedback will be later in the process,” he said. “Right now, like a lot of towns, our average assessment is 40 to 50 percent of the market value. Valuations can double but there could be a corresponding decrease in the tax rate."

The KRT Appraisal in Raymond website provides the following FAQs:

What is a Full Revaluation?

The Town of Raymond has hired KRT Appraisal (KRT) to complete a Full Revaluation. According to Maine Revenue Service, “Revaluation” means the development of new property valuations by a firm through the introduction of new grading and pricing schedules, the updating of existing grading and pricing schedules, or the maintenance of an existing valuation system.

A “Full Revaluation” includes measuring and listing all properties to verify existing assessment data. The end goal is for assessments to be adjusted to reflect market value as of April 1, 2026. This creates equity and ensures a fair distribution of the tax burden across all property owners. The last Revaluation was implemented in 2005.

Stages of a Full Revaluation

KRT will be updating existing grading and pricing schedules for property valuations and maintaining the existing valuation system by performing a Full Revaluation of assessment values. To accomplish this, KRT will complete five phases: (1) Data Collection, (2) Sales Review and Validation, (3) Market Analysis/Valuation, (4) Field Review, and (5) Informal Hearings. During these phases, many tasks will be completed to ensure the Full Revaluation is successful. Below is a general outline and explanation of each phase of the project.

Phase 1: Data Collection

The first phase, Data Collection of all property, began in February 2025. During this phase "Data Collectors" go to each property in the Town to measure the exterior of each building and attempt to inspect the interior if the owner is available at the time of the visit. These Data Collectors note the buildings’ location, size, age, quality of construction, improvements, topography, utilities, and numerous other characteristics both inside and out. They may also ask the homeowner a few questions regarding the property. To confirm that a home was inspected, the homeowner is asked to sign a data collection form. The data collected is subject to verification by the Town Assessor and a KRT Supervisor. KRT Field Representatives will carry Picture IDs, Municipal Letters of Introduction, and have their vehicles listed with both the Assessor’s Office and the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Department.

Prior to starting the data collection in your area, a postcard will be mailed to each property as notification that the property will be visited in the next few weeks. Data Collectors will arrive at your property unannounced shortly after the postcard is mailed and ring the bell and knock on the door. If someone is home, they will explain who they are, with their KRT badge visible, and ask for an interior and exterior inspection. Due to the large volume of properties to be inspected, we are unable to conduct this portion of the project on a pre-scheduled appointment basis.

If no one is home, they will assume it is ok to measure the outside of the building and proceed to do so. A letter will be mailed out towards the end of the project (early spring of 2026) asking for a phone call to schedule an appointment for an interior inspection. The visit from KRT should not take more than 15 minutes from start to finish. Data Collectors will not visit a property posted “No Trespassing.” Posted properties will receive a letter asking for permission to visit the property at a scheduled time convenient for everyone.

Phase 2: Sales Review and Validation

During this phase, KRT appraisers will field review each property that sold between April 1, 2024, and March 31, 2026, to verify the information on the property record card for data accuracy. The appraiser will make notes regarding the property location, size, condition, quality of construction, and numerous other characteristics that may affect value. The goal is to gain a clear understanding of what sold and for what price. In conjunction with the Assessing Office, KRT will begin the process of qualifying sales as “arm’s length”. Only sales with market exposure between a willing buyer and willing seller (in other words, an “arm’s length” sale) will be used in the analysis.

Phase 3: Market Analysis/Valuation

A variety of resources are used to analyze the real estate market. KRT will be analyzing property sales that occurred between April 1, 2024, and March 31, 2026, to determine which market factors influenced property values. KRT will gather and use information from Maine Multiple Listing Service (MLS), property managers, developers, and local real estate professionals. Once all the data is collected and reviewed for accuracy, the appraiser will determine land values and delineate neighborhoods, which rate the desirability of locations throughout the town as determined by actual market activity.

During this phase, individual characteristics of the buildings are analyzed using information gathered in both Phases 1 and 2. Each property is compared to other comparable properties with similar characteristics. Then the market values of the improvements are added to the land value that was previously determined. This value is the final estimate for each parcel of property, building and land.

Valuation is done using one of the three recognized appraisal methods: Cost Approach, Income Approach and Sales Comparable Approach. Mass appraisal uses a market adjusted cost approach to generate assessments. The income approach will be used for all income producing property and will be reconciled with the market adjusted cost approach.

Phase 4: Field Review

Field Review is the method of checking and re-checking both the values that have been determined and the accuracy of the data used. During this phase, properties are viewed in the field by experienced appraisers to ensure that the appraisal methodology established from the sale properties is consistently applied to the entire population of properties within the town.

Phase 5: Informal Hearings

Once the Field Review is completed and the values are approved by the Assessor’s Office, a notice stating the proposed value will be mailed to each property owner. The goal is for this phase to be completed in July of 2026. At that time anyone with questions concerning the revaluation process or the value established for their property will have an opportunity to meet with a member of KRT’s staff. After the five phases are completed, all data, files and records used in the revaluation will be turned over to the Assessor’s Office for retention.

Lebel explained the logic behind the property valuations.

“The goals in Maine property valuations are used to apportion property taxes. The total tax includes schools, town, and county budget,” he said. “The values determine who pays what share. Over time, old models become less accurate. The new model better fits the current sales market,” he said. “Some folks will see no change, but some may see increases depending on how the market sees the property. It’s the appropriate sharing of tax with more fairness to distribute it.”

Raymond residents with questions are welcome to contact Lebel at 207-655-4742 to discuss the process.

To keep up to date on the current neighborhoods where data is being collected, or to learn more, visit the KRT website at: https://www.krtappraisal.com/dist/raymond

Visit the Town of Raymond website for additional information or to view the current map at https://www.raymondmaine.org <

Windham Public Works sets dates for residential leaf disposal site

By Ed Pierce

After a long and dreary winter of removing ice from the driveway and shoveling snow from sidewalks, Windham residents are now taking a long look at their yards and once again collecting leaves and brush that may have built up on their property since last fall.

The Windham Leaf and Brush Disposal
Site will open starting at 7 a.m. Saturday,
April 19 and will close for the season at
6 p.m. Sunday, May 11. The facility is at 
the end of Enterprise Drive off Route 302
behind the self-storage building in
Windham. COURTESY PHOTO  

This week Windham’s Department of Public Works has announced the window of availability and hours for dropping off leaves and brush for disposal after spring residential clean-ups. The Windham Leaf and Brush Disposal Site will be open starting at 7 a.m. Saturday, April 19 and will close for the season at 6 p.m. Sunday, May 11.

The site will be open only for the disposal of leaves and brush and is located at the very end of Enterprise Drive off Route 302 behind the self-storage building in North Windham.

Windham DPW officials ask that residents dropping off items for disposal separate leaves from brush and place them in the appropriate areas where the marked and posted signs indicate.

For those transporting leaves to the site in paper or plastic bags, DPW requests that the leaves be removed from the bags and the bags taken back home for proper disposal. They also ask that residents not take any brush or branches larger than 12 inches in diameter to the site for disposal. Grass clippings are allowed but large heavy tree stumps are not.

As a reminder, residents are not allowed to dump garbage, metal trash, used televisions or appliances at the town’s Leaf and Brush Disposal Site.

Windham DPW reminds town residents that leaves are not collected at the curb by the town, and bags of leaves should not be placed in recycling bins for collection.

Typically, about 400 to 500 yards in cubic feet of leaves and unwanted brush are collected each spring at the town disposal site every year during the spring season.

To use the service, load up your vehicle and take it to the site, which is located behind the self-storage units on Enterprise Drive to the left. It will be open 24/7 to town residents.

While Windham's Public Works department once handled both spring and fall brush disposal services, the town now is assisted in this bi-annual collection by R.J Grondin and Sons, a family-owned construction company.

Larry Grondin, vice president of Grondin and Sons, said that it was a "good fit" to offer the town assistance with brush disposal.

"After we helped with Public Works' new building, the initial plan was to just help out while construction was taking place,” he said. “Though we settled on us taking over with the brush disposal entirely since they no longer had the room for it. It's worked out so far for us both and we like working with them."

All materials gathered during the spring and fall brush seasons are given new life through Grondin and Sons.

Instead of burning the leaves and brush like residents in the past once would, Grondin and Sons instead repurpose the organic materials. The leaves are composted, and wood-based materials go toward creating heating materials.

Grondin said it’s great knowing that the leaves and brush gathered are repurposed rather than sent to a waste facility. The disposed materials gain a new purpose, and it also provides residents with a local site place to self-dispose of leaves and brush free of charge.

For further details about Windham’s Leaf and Brush Disposal Site, call the Windham Public Works Department at 207-892-1909 or visit www.windhammaine.us. <

Windham continues 2025-2026 budgeting process

By Ed Pierce

Members of the Windham Town Council will review 2025-2026 proposed budget subtraction and additions during a meeting on April 23 and then listen to public comments about the budget during a public hearing on May 13.

Windham Town Manager Barry Tibbetts and Assistant Town Manager Bob Burns presented the budget proposal to town councilors in February. It estimated a town budgetary increase of 5.26 percent with budget figures from RSU 14 and Cumberland County still being formulated.

Burns told councilors that town revenues for the next year are expected to be $18,224,864 which is up slightly from 2024-2025’s $18,083,104 and an overall increase of 0.78 percent.

“We’re projecting stable and increasing revenues for Windham,” Burns said.

According to Burns, town expenses will rise in 2025-2026 if this proposed budget is adopted by about 5.23 percent, going from $33,497,270 to $35,248,462.

He said that town overlay and TIF funding will remain the same as the previous town budget, leaving the overall estimated Windham Town Budget at $48,601,147. That’s a 3.4 percent increase from 2024-2025’s $46,991,715.

“We feel this budget fairly and accurately meets the needs of the town,” Burns said.

Tibbetts said the annual budget proposal is calculated based upon many different factors and influences, including slightly increased projected revenues, the town’s general operating budget and fixed expenses, insurance costs, contractual obligations, energy costs, debt expenditures and personnel changes.

Fixed expenses for the town included in the budget proposal take into account insurance costs, employee healthcare, contractual obligations for municipal organizations, long-term contracts, debt expenditures and wage adjustments.

Barring any significant changes to the proposed budget, Windham’s mil rate for tax purposes will rise from $11.47 to $11.74 which Tibbetts and Burns say is among the lowest of towns in Cumberland County.

Among items included in the proposed budget are funding to add a part-time General Assistance employee, a projected Cost of Living increase for municipal employees of 3.5 percent, and funding three potential projects including a new North Fire Station on Franklin Drive behind Hannaford Supermarket and across from Home Depot, renovation work to turn the current Windham Middle School into a community center for the town when it is vacated when construction is completed on the new Windham Raymond Middle School in 2027, and $1.5 million for acquiring land from Portland Water District for expansion of youth athletic fields at Gambo Park and building a new public ice rink and playground by the new North Windham Fire Station.

The existing North Windham Fire Station on Route 302 is more than five decades old, and has experienced electrical issues, heating and cooling problems, and insufficient crew space, as the building was not designed to accommodate round-the-clock fire department staffing. The new location would be much easier and safer for firefighters when answering calls for assistance.

The proposed budget also would include a four-year incremental bond for construction of the new Windham Raymond Middle School, the purchase of new radio equipment for first responders, creation of a pocket park at Forbes Lane, purchasing two new snowplow trucks, a new dump truck, and a digital sign for the Windham Central Fire Station. Other expenditures included in the proposed budget are $960,000 for continued roadwork and street maintenance, and $1,466,110 for town building and facilities improvements.

The budget proposal was reviewed by the town’s Finance Committee in March and was discussed again by town councilors on Tuesday evening. The council will hold a public hearing about the budget proposal on May 13 and final voting for the budget will be conducted during Windham’s annual Town Meeting on Saturday, June 14. <