8747-R2_ML&P_Hollis_2022-2023_AnnualReport_Web

Town of Hollis Annual Report

July 1, 202 To June 30, 2023 2

Town of Hollis Annual Report

July 1, 202 To June 30, 2023 2

Table of Contents Town of Hollis Annual Town Report July 1, 2022-June 30, 2023 Dedication to Sylvia Smith 5 Centurion Denyse Parent 7 In Remembrance 9 Municipal Officials Elected 10 Municipal Officials & Employees Appointed 11 June 13, 2023 Annual Town Meeting 13 Select Board’s Report 38 Town Clerk’s Report 40 Code Enforcement Office 41 Fire-Rescue Department 43 Parks and Recreation Department 45 Road Commissioner’s Report 47 Salmon Falls Library 48 Hollis Center Public Library 49 Appointed Boards and Committees 50 Appeals Board 52 Christmas Fund Committee 53 Community Day Committee 54 Conservation Commission 55 Finance Committee 56 Saco River Corridor Commission 57 Sports Complex Committee 59 Governor Janet T. Mills 60 U.S. Senator Susan M. Collins 61 U.S. Senator Angus S. King, Jr. 62

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Table of Contents (Cont.) Town of Hollis Annual Town Report July 1, 2022-June 30, 2023

U.S. Congress, Chellie Pingree

63 64 66 67 68 74 75 81 90

York County Commissioner, Justin Chenette

House of Representatives District #137, Nathan Carlow

State Senator District #32, Henry Ingwersen

Auditors’ Report

Tax Information for 2023-24

Delinquent Taxes

June 11, 2024 Annual Town Meeting Warrant

General Information

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Town of Hollis 2022-2023 Annual Report Dedication

Sylvia Smith 1937-2023

It is with great honor and pride that the Hollis Select Board dedicate this year’s Annual Report to resident Sylvia Smith. Her daughter, Jean McInnis, was asked to assist with the writing of our dedication. The following is in the words of Jean. First, one would think Sylvia was born and raised in Hollis, but for the first 10 years of her life she was raised in South Portland. Her parents, Lawson and Barbara Nichols, packed up the family and moved to Hollis. This is where Sylvia would start her young career at her parents Esso filling station at the intersection of Routes 202 and 35 in Hollis Center. She would help with the lunch counter and pumping gas while her mother was busy out back with her younger siblings. The Esso station was where the first TV was sold in Hollis. Her father was a mechanic and the Fire Chief in Hollis. Sylvia was witness to the fires of ’47. She recalled the volunteers and any able-bodied men coming to the filling station to get fed and then literally sleeping where they sat or on the floor to rest up for the next round of firefighting. She was also witness to the building and opening of the flood gates of Skelton Dam, recalling that her mother brought her to the brook the day before Skelton Dam would be released, and her mother said, “It will all

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change after today.” Sylvia attended a one room school house in Hollis and later graduated valedictorian of her 11 member class at Hollis High School in 1955. That same year she married Howard Lee Smith. Sylvia and Lee raised their five children on the banks of the Saco River, where they also took over running the Nichols Trailer Park until the 1980’s. They decided to change careers and purchased Your Country Store from Ron Sargent in 1986, which they successfully ran for ten years. While running all these businesses, Sylvia became Town Clerk where she worked from home. As children, we recall the night before hunting season started, all day long vehicles would pull into the yard and even line the sides of the road to get their hunting licenses. This would get extra crazy when the day before hunting season also fell on Halloween and the trailer park was the place to drop the kids off by the station wagon full to go trick-or-treating. The Clerk’s office eventually moved into the Hollis Elementary School with the Selectmen’s office and Tax Collector. She was not there long however, due to the new Town Hall being built across the road in 1976. That was also the year we remember our mother being involved heavily with the bicentennial committee. Whatever Mom was signed up for meant that we were too. It was fun to be along for the parades, parties, and dedications. She repeated her dedication when Hollis turned 200 years old in 1998. This was when she was a Selectperson. Sylvia was not done yet done with the many hats she wore. She was able to get her real estate license, she was a paralegal, and she even ran for State Legislature only losing by 5 votes. I think Dad said “Not again, Sylvia” and I was relieved since we had to paint the campaign signs and attend all the fairs and parades. As a volunteer, Sylvia was even more remarkable. Helping others was always her calling. She was a volunteer at the Hollis Center Public Library, Secretary of the Meeting House Hill Cemetery Association, and she volunteered for Opportunity Alliance as a senior companion at the Gorham House. In the Hollis community, she was a life long member of the Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, Buxton-Hollis Alumni member as well as TOPS and The Sunshine Club. In between all this hard work she found time for her hobbies: knitting, reading, gardening, bird watching, spending summers at Pine Point and spending time with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was selfless to her community and her family. I don’t know how she did it all, but she did it exceptionally well.

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Town of Hollis 2022-2023 Centurion Dedication

Denyse Parent Denyse Parent was born in Paris in 1924 and was only 15 years old when World War II broke out. Her journey from Paris to a small town in Maine was interesting, eventful and often challenging. When Germany invaded France, her father, a well-known clarinetist and member of the French Republican Guard Orchestra, moved his family to the unoccupied city of Chamalières. Denyse stayed in occupied Paris with her grandparents so that she could attend school there. As much of France was under German Occupation, life was difficult. Denyse remembers being constantly hungry and riding her bike everywhere to find food. After the war, Denyse studied law and met her first husband, a wine merchant, whose business took them to Morocco to live. After their divorce, she met her second husband, a First Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Infantry. When the

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King of Morocco returned to power, it became unsafe for French citizens to stay.

Her husband Maurice, a Lewiston native, suggested moving to Maine to find a business to buy. In 1957, they purchased Clear Spring Fish Hatchery in Hollis, whose name they changed to Shy Beaver Trout Hatchery. It is the oldest continuously running trout hatchery in the United States. After her husband died, Denyse ran the business for 10 years and it has been recently taken over by her grandson. As a newcomer to Hollis, she was impressed by how Mainers made her feel welcome, although she initially felt like a bit of a curiosity. Denyse was involved with the Portland Symphony Women’s Committee and the Junior League. She was President of the Alliance Française du Maine for many years. She is an avid reader and has always encouraged education through reading by donating to the Portland Public Library and the West Buxton Library. Denyse has enjoyed an active retirement. She enjoys nature and walking her land, reading, swimming, watching the French television channel and staying in touch with a large family that live all over the world. She has 4 children, 11 grandchildren and 25 great grandchildren.

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IN REMEMBRANCE

The Town of Hollis wishes to remember our residents who passed away from July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023:

Decedent Name

Age

Decedent Name

Age

Anderson, Donna Ann Binette, Sharon Elaine Bongiovanni, Barbara E. Curtis, Thomas Duane

74 78 68 73 64 80 66 84 89 75 78 84 82 67 89 27 64 74 24 53 87 66

McKay, Ruth A. McAllian

83 88 49 83 70 63 67 44 63 70 65 76 61 57 85 82 76 59 56 57 75

Nolette, Joan G. Ouellette, Lori L.

Patterson, Louise Marie Pinard, Priscille R. Poland, Cynthia Lee Rakestraw, Gerald Lee Rodriguez, Sarah Elizabeth Sawyer, Richard Douglass Sellner, Randall Patrick Sheahan, John Daniel Silver, Debra Vivian Smith, Shannon Renee Townsend, Ernestine L. Turgeon, Roland Joseph Tweedie, Todd Arthur Sr. Ross, Mark Allen Smith, Sylvia Ann

Day, Robin Lee

Doughty, Elaine C. Drummond, Lora J.

Emery, Shirley I.

Emmons, Alfred Louis

Gardner, Wilbur

Garland, Donald Robert Sr.

Gerry, Beverly June

Gibson, Alice P.

Gross, Glendon Allison Hanson, Mildred Elinor Harmon, Travis Raymond

Henry, Priscilla Susan Hodgdon, Edward J.

Howe, Cody S.

User, John Elwin Jr.

Howe, John Arthur Jr. Johnson, Erik Haakon Libby, Angelina Susan

Walker-Butler,Cynthia Diane

Young, Rachel

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Elected Municipal Officials for the Town of Hollis, Maine Municipal Officials are elected for three-year terms unless specified

Select Board & Overseer of the Poor Mary Hoffman 2023 John “Jack” Rogala 2022 David McCubrey 2021

Tax Collector Motor Vehicle Registry Agent Anna M. McClay 2022

Town Clerk Martha E. Huff 2022

Treasurer Diane M. Meserve 2021

Road Commissioner (two-year term) Robert M. Hanson, Jr. 2022

Maine School Administrative District #6 School Board Director Donald G. Marean Kelley C. Heath

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Appointed Municipal Officials & Employees Town of Hollis, Maine July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2023

Animal Control Officer Town of Buxton ACO/Dispatch (Jan. 2023 to present) Amber King (Oct. - Dec. 2022) Sharlene Jeremy (Sept. 2021 - Sept. 2022) Assessing Office Assessing Agent: Parker Appraisal (Sept. 2022 - Nov. 2023) Administrative Coordinator: Tammy Thompson Code Enforcement Office Code Enforcement Officer, Building Inspector, Plumbing Inspector and Electrical Inspector – Duane Hanson (July 2023 to present) Jennifer Leeman (June 2022 – March 2023) Administrative Coordinator: Tammy Thompson Deputy CEO, Deputy Building Inspector, Deputy Plumbing Inspector: Patti McKenna Deputy Registrar of Voters Deputy Tax Collector

Deputy Town Clerk Deputy Treasurer Faith Plummer Fire-Rescue Department Fire-Rescue Chief & EMA Director - Christopher Young Assistant Fire-Rescue Chief - Crystal Berry Freedom of Access Officer Martha E. Huff General Assistance Administrator Mary Hoffman Health Officer Chad Poitras Maintenance & Custodian Allen Scott

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Appointed Municipal Officials & Employees Town of Hollis, Maine July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2023

Parks & Recreation Department Director – Debbie Tefft Assistant Director – Amy Paul Administrative Assistant – Dawn Lundeen Registrar of Voters Martha E. Huff Secretary - Planning Board Angela Chute (Eff. March 2023) Martha Turner (Resigned Feb. 2023) Secretary - Finance Committee Vacant Martha Turner (Resigned Feb. 2023) Secretary - Appeals Board Bennet Flinner (Eff. March 2023) Martha Turner (Resigned Feb. 2023) Select Board Office Assistant Information Technology Coordinator Website & Mail Server Manager Bennet Flinner

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Town of Hollis Select Board Annual Report July 1, 2022 - June 30, 2023

During the FY of July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023, the Town of Hollis Select Board continued to work closely with all aspects of the proposal for a New Town Hall. This included finalizing plans for the construction to include landscaping, location, core sampling, and other aspects of development. We also continued to explore additional resources for funding to include a Congressional Grant for $2,000,000, placing APRA funds in a protected account, selling additional excess Town property, and working with the Maine State Legislature to change the specific rules of how Tax Increment Financing (TIF) funds can be spent. The overall goal of the Select Board is to be able to construct a new Town Hall building without obtaining any long-term bonds or increasing the taxes to the residents of the Town of Hollis. With the assistance of knowledgeable concerned citizens, the Select Board drafted a point paper concerning the Bar Mills Dam Decommissioning Plan with specific expectations of the citizens’ of Hollis. This project included a tour, a town sponsored meeting with Brookfield Renewable and ongoing monitoring of what is being done. The date for the submission of reports that were agreed upon have been delayed due to the high waters over the spring and summer months. The Select Board has been attending meetings with the Maine Department of Transportation concerning the update of the Route 202-4 corridor; installation of a traffic light at intersection of Routes 35 and 202; and the replacement proposals of the Salmon Falls Bridge; as well as the improved corridor from Portland to the western towns. We’ve also worked closely with the Road Commissioner to maintain the Town roads during the winter months with a “magic solution” applied to prevent icing; determining which roads need to be updated; and necessary clean-ups required from the increased power of storms. The Select Board continues to support the Fire Rescue Department, Parks and Recreation Department and Town Hall staff with voiced concerns of pay, retirement plans and benefits, as well as additional staffing needs throughout the Town. Despite significant increases in both school and town budgets, the Select Board was able to minimize the impact on residents by implementing the LD 290 tax break for eligible senior citizens in the 23/24 property tax season. The General Assistance program has expanded to provide services to asylum seekers as well as residents who are unable to make timely utility and rent payments. The overall goal is to help provide housing, heat, electricity, and food to those who are unable to do so. A key concern remains the lack of housing within the Southern Maine region.

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The Select Board continues to actively participate with Maine Municipal Association in voicing their opinions on legislative bills being proposed by the State Legislators. The Select Board is an active member of the Budget Advisory Committee for MSAD 6 and meets frequently with the Superintendent of Schools on issues that involve the Town. We continue to meet frequently with the staff of the Hollis Plant at Blue Triton-Poland Spring to resolve concerns voiced by the community and provide the residents of the Town with an opportunity to be heard. Blue Triton-Poland Spring continues to provide community support for projects throughout the Town. As the needs of the community increase, the Select Board has authorized the utilization of TIF funds for the purchase of a new fire truck, as well as a new ambulance to be delivered in the spring of 2024. The Town continues to offer an EMS Subscription Plan to all residents which allows them to utilize our ambulance services within the Town for a minimal fee.Thank you to the Town staff for assisting in the administration of this plan. The Select Board is an integral part of planning for the Hollis Community Day event as well as support for the Parks and Recreation Department’s After School Walking Program. The Select Board continues to explore opportunities to acknowledge contributions made by members of the community through submissions for the Spirit of America Awards; Annual Town Report Recognition; and special acknowledgement of a job well done through announcements at our board meetings. The Select Board continues to apply for grants available to provide additional services to the community as well as being an active liaison to all Town Boards and Committees. Through the support of our residents and grants, the Select Board can provide many programs and upgrades to its facilities at minimum cost to the community. The entire Select Board invests time and energy in obtaining bids and exploring alternatives to provide additional services to the community. Thank you to each of our residents for your continued and ongoing support. It is through the individuals that reside in the Town of Hollis and voicing concerns to us that we are able to make Hollis a great community to live in. All the members of the Select Board remain committed to making our future together shine!

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Town Clerk of Hollis Annual Town Report for Fiscal Year 7/1/2022- 6/30/2023

Births

55

Deaths

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Marriages 33 IFW – Fish & Game licenses sold: $5,953.25 Dogs Licensed in Hollis from July 1, 2022 - June 30, 2023

745 Dog licenses sold 2 Dog Kennels issued

1 Service Dog 2 Transfer tags

Submitted by Martha E. Huff, Hollis Town Clerk

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Hollis Code Enforcement Office Permits fees collected the past 3 fiscal years are as follows: Type Fees Fees

Fees

2020/2021

2021/2022

2022/2023

Building Electrical

$ 87,521.88 $ 6,295.00 $ 350.00 $ 4,425.00 $ 12,560.00 $ 600.00

$242,403.50 $ 7,950.00 $ 2,850.00 $ 5,770.00 $ 11,165.00

$ 76,062.00 $ 7,375.00 $ 3,050.00 $ 7,380.00 $ 600.00

Demolition/misc. Internal Plumbing Septic Systems Home Occupation

$

225.00

$

675.00

Total

$111,751.88

$270,363.50

$ 95,142.00

Our philosophy of continuing to provide excellent service to our customers remains the primary goal of the Code Enforcement Office. If we are unable to provide a prompt answer, we inquire about the issue with our experts in the field. The staff is always there to listen, look for alternatives and find the best solution for any issue. The Code Enforcement Office continues to provide outstanding resources to the community as well as to both the Planning and Select Boards. Articulate and able to clearly communicate, all office staff are willing to assist with special projects as needed. Attentive to the special concerns voiced by the community, the Code Enforcement Office is prompt in returning phone calls and letting the community know that they are available and ready to serve. The Code Enforcement Office continues to uphold the high standards that need to be met to make each project that they are involved in safe and reliable in the service that is provided. In February 2022, this office experienced the resignation of the Code Enforcement Officer. We thank Jennifer Leeman for her services to our community as our Code Enforcement Officer from June 2022 until February 2023. We would like to welcome and thank Duane Hanson, Code Enforcement Officer from the City of Portland, for helping us out after Jennifer’s departure.

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Goals for the upcoming year: 1. Continue to work on streamlining the application process so that all forms are easy to read, complete and submit. 2. Continue to work closely with the Select Board to resolve ongoing code issues and violations throughout the Town of Hollis. There are many thanks that need to be said for the individuals in our Town Hall with whom the Code Enforcement Office interfaces. All staff provide support and encouragement to enable our office to succeed.

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Hollis Fire-Rescue 34 Town Farm Road Hollis , ME 04042 207-727-3623 Office of the Fire Chief

Hollis Fire-Rescue has a very dedicated staff, many of whom are cross trained iLni cbeontshe df i rPeaar na md Ee dMi cSs. ,O4f aoruer l ti oc et anlssetda fAf do vf a4n0c, e3d0 EaMr eTt’ rs aai nn ed d6 f ai rreef ilgi chet ne rs se ,d1B3 aasri ec EMT’s. I am proud to say that Hollis Fire-Rescue has made a name for itself as a lPeraorgnri anmg ahnads abdl ovsasnocme me de, natnfdo cwues ecdo ndtei pn aurotums el yn ht . aOvue rmReemc rbuei trms aecntti vaenl dy Re ne rt eo nl l tei do ni n ab da sviacnEc Me mT esncth toroali na inndg .t wC uor irne nf itrl eyf, i wg het ehra vr oe of ok ui er smc heomobl . eLras sitnypeaarrasme ve edri ca lsmc heomo lb, eornse i n p v at e r t o r e s v n e i d d d e e i d n r e c e g l v a u o s l s l a v e r i s n d t g e o p t b e a c e r h c tm o n m i e q n e u t e F w s i r t i e d h e a In t t s r m t a r a i u n k c i e n t o u g r s t s o b a e o s t u w t r e e r m l a l e t a m s s e b F r e i v r r i e s n O g to f t f h k ic e e e e c r p o c m o la u m s r s u e s n t s a . i t f W f y . w e ell It is my intent to continue these trends of improvement for our department ay ne adr c. oI nwt ii snhu et ot or eocfof eg rn it zhee tbhees dt es edri cvai ct ee dp, ohsasri db l we toor koiunrg ci onmd imv i ud nu iatlys ewahc ho ma nadk ee vuepr yo u r av me r ayzpi nr go us dt aaf fnfdo ra pc op nr et icni auti invge toof pa rl lotvhi ed ewpornodf ee sr sf ui ol nmael ms ebr ev ri cs eotf oHooul lri sc oF mi r em- Ru en si tcyu. eI . a m Respectfully submitted with pride, Chris Young Fire Chief Hollis Fire-Rescue Annual Report for 2023 Overview: Hollis Fire-Rescue is pleased to present its annual report for the year 2023. This report highlights our commitment to serving the community through various emergency response services, training initiatives, and community engagement efforts. Emergency Responses: In the past year, Hollis Fire-Rescue responded to a total of 819 calls for service. Of these, 594 were Emergency Medical Services (EMS) responses, 225 were fire-related incidents, and 124 were mutual aid requests. We actively sought mutual aid 89 times, with 30 of those instances involving automatic aid due to the nature of the emergency. Operational Hours and Training: Our dedicated staff contributed over 27,000 hours throughout the year. This includes time spent on training, work details, call-company responses, and on-duty hours. The training curriculum covered a wide range of topics, including Hazardous Materials Operations, Ice Water Rescue, Propane and Class A live fires, as well as monthly EMS and basic Firefighter operations. Apparatus Updates: This year we acquired our new Engine 2, ordered in September 2021, and finally taking delivery in late June. With upgrades in safety, pump, and equipment capacity as part of our ongoing commitment to efficiency and safety, this 6-man truck is our primary response for all hazards, with fire attack equipment, 2,000 gallons of water, vehicle extrication and technical rescue equipment. This vehicle replaced the 31-year old Engine 201 which was the first class A pumper purchased by the West Buxton Fire Department. Community Engagement : Hollis Fire-Rescue actively participated in various community events throughout the year. Highlights include our involvement in the Parade and Fireworks for Community Day, Trunk n’ Treat, Deck the Halls, Touch a Truck at Plummer’s 100th-anniversary celebration, station tours with home school students and scout troops. Additionally, we conducted fire prevention programs at several daycares, the Hollis Center Library, and the Elementary School.

Chief Chris Young

43 Chief Chris Young

Hollis Fire-Rescue 34 Town Farm Road Hollis , ME 04042 207-727-3623 Office of the Fire Chief

Response Time Metrics: Our team takes pride in our prompt and efficient response times. The following metrics showcase our dedication to rapid and effective emergency response: • Dispatch to Enroute: Hollis Fire-Rescue has a very dedicated staff, many of whom are cross trained iLni cbeontshe df i rPeaar na md Ee dMi cSs. ,O4f aoruer l ti oc et anlssetda fAf do vf a4n0c, e3d0 EaMr eTt’ rs aai nn ed d6 f ai rreef ilgi chet ne rs se ,d1B3 aasri ec EMT’s. I am proud to say that Hollis Fire-Rescue has made a name for itself as a lPeraorgnri anmg ahnads abdl ovsasnocme me de, natnfdo cwues ecdo ndtei pn aurotums el yn ht . aOvue rmReemc rbuei trms aecntti vaenl dy Re ne rt eo nl l tei do ni n ab da sviacnEc Me mT esncth toroali na inndg .t wC uor irne nf itrl eyf, i wg het ehra vr oe of ok ui er smc heomobl . eLras sitnypeaarrasme ve edri ca lsmc heomo lb, eornse i n p v at e r t o r e s v n e i d d d e e i d n r e c e g l v a u o s l s l a v e r i s n d t g e o p t b e a c e r h c tm o n m i e q n e u t e F w s i r t i e d h e a In t t s r m t a r a i u n k c i e n t o u g r s t s o b a e o s t u w t r e e r m l a l e t a m s s e b F r e i v r r i e s n O g to f t f h k ic e e e e c r p o c m o la u m s r s u e s n t s a . i t f W f y . w e ell It is my intent to continue these trends of improvement for our department ay ne adr c. oI nwt ii snhu et ot or eocfof eg rn it zhee tbhees dt es edri cvai ct ee dp, ohsasri db l we toor koiunrg ci onmd imv i ud nu iatlys ewahc ho ma nadk ee vuepr yo u r av me r ayzpi nr go us dt aaf fnfdo ra pc op nr et icni auti invge toof pa rl lotvhi ed ewpornodf ee sr sf ui ol nmael ms ebr ev ri cs eotf oHooul lri sc oF mi r em- Ru en si tcyu. eI . a m Respectfully submitted with pride, Chris Young Fire Chief • 91% of responses were under 4 minutes. • 71.9% of responses were under 2 minutes. • 8.9% of responses were greater than 4 minutes. • Dispatch to On-Scene: • 83.7% of responses were under 10 minutes. • 60.1% of responses were under 7 minutes. • 16.3% of responses were greater than 10 minutes. Conclusion: Hollis Fire-Rescue remains committed to the safety and well being of our community. We extend our gratitude to the dedicated members of our department, whose hard work and commitment make it possible for us to fulfill our mission. Looking ahead, we will continue to strive for excellence in emergency response, community engagement, and training initiatives. It is our pleasure to serve the community of Hollis and thank the citizens for their continued support. Respectfully submitted,

Respectfully, Chris Young Chris Young Fire-Rescue Chief

Chief Chris Young

Chief Chris Young

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Parks & Recreation Department July 2022 – June 2023 Town Report

Our Parks & Recreation staff are as follows: Recreation Director – Debbie Tefft Recreation Assistant Director – Amy Paul Administrative Assistant – Dawn Lundeen

We want to thank all of our volunteers who make our major programs possible! We appreciate everything you do to make our programs successful and positive for everyone involved. SUMMER: Our summer recreation program is a seven-week program for children going into Kindergarten through tenth grade. The program includes trips to Splash Town, Kiwanis Beach, local state parks, and Spring Point. We also offer many theme days with scavenger hunts, survivor activities, and a treasure hunt. Parents may begin making early payments for the summer program at any time to avoid having to come up with the entire sum at one time. Please call the Recreation Office at 929-5142 to set up a payment plan. We offer a limited Extended Rec program after our seven-week program ends to provide a place to be for one of the weeks before school starts. FALL & AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES: In the Fall, we offer a soccer League for pee wees (3 & 4 year olds), Kindergarten, 1 st – 2 nd , 3 rd & 4 th , and 5 th – 8 th . We usually practice during the week and have games on Saturdays. As the school year begins, we offer after school activities. These programs include drawing, crafts, oil painting, indoor soccer, track and field, and floor hockey. Amy Paul directs our before and after care programs. She has a staff that helps implement these programs. As part of the aftercare program, for every mile the children walked, a food product is donated to the Hollis Food Pantry. Each child has an adult sponsor who donates the food for each mile walked. We have a party for the sponsors and the children at the end of the year. Each year we donate over 4,000 cans or boxes of food! The children are very proud of their community service! We are always looking for people who are willing to be a sponsor. Let us know if you are interested. Thank you to all of our sponsors. We organize a Fall Foliage trip each year, and a trip to Gardens Aglow. If anyone has any ideas of where we might go in the future, please let us know. We have a Halloween party in the Hollis School gym with games and a costume contest for a minimal fee. We also hold an event at the Sports Complex with ghostly lights along the walking path and a bonfire and smores and a Haunted Mile walk. There was also some pumpkin carving. Fun is had by all! WINTER: The Recreation Department offers two leagues for girls’ Basketball. There is a 3 rd -4 th grade League, and a 5th & 6th grade league. We also have a Sunday league for girls

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and women 7 th grade through adult. We support a team for senior women (over 50) who play 3 on 3 half court. All boys’ teams are offered through Bonny Eagle Boys Youth League. We also offer indoor soccer and floor hockey after school in the winter months. SPRING: Spring Track is usually held on Mondays and Fridays after school. We have meets with Buxton, Wells, and Old Orchard. This program includes running, jumping, and throwing. We also usually offer a Spring Bus trip for adults. We are always looking for new ideas for trips, so please share your requests and ideas with us! The State stocks Memorial Pond by the Community Building with trout so that we can host a fishing derby each May for children under 15 years old. YEAR-ROUND PROGRAMS: We offer the following year-round programs: Adult exercise: 8 – 9 am Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, 9 – 10 am Monday, Wednesday, and Friday Kindergym: 10 – 11 am Monday, Wednesday, and Friday (gym class for preschool, crafts, and snack) Senior Women’s Basketball (50 and over): Mondays 7:00 – 8:30 PM at Hollis Gym Men’s Open Gym Basketball: 8:30 – 10:00 PM at Hollis School Gym, Monday & Wednesday Cribbage on Wednesdays at 9:00 AM The Recreation Department wants to continue offering programs at a reasonable cost. We appreciate the continued support of our budget each year! We are always looking for new ideas for activities and programs. We usually send out newsletters 2 or 3 times a year. Information can also be found on our website www.hollismaine.org/parks-recreation and on our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/hollisrec If you have suggestions or questions or if you want to volunteer, please call us at 929 5142. Drawing: Thursdays 3:00-5:00 pm Oil Painting: Tuesdays 3:00-5:00 pm

Respectfully submitted, Debbie J. Tefft Director of Parks & Recreation

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TOWN OF HOLLIS ROAD COMMISSIONER’S REPORT 2022-2023

As the Town of Hollis Road Commissioner, I work with the Taxpayers, Select Board, Code Enforcement Office, Planning Board, Utility Companies, MSAD 6, MDOT, and neighboring towns to oversee the maintenance and repairs of all the roads within the town. I am continually working to provide the residents of Hollis with the best service possible, while constantly looking for new cost savings methods to maintain and improve our roads in our growing community. Some of the highlights for this year were: • Cut brush, clean ditches, and replace culverts as needed on the following roads to prepare for resurfacing and shouldering by Dayton Sand and Gravel • Responded to help keep roads open during the December 23rd Storm. • Total Snow fall for winter of 2022-2023 was approximately 40 inches, • Post all town roads in the spring to minimize damage from use by heavy weight vehicles. Activities for the 2022-2023 year included: • Replace culverts and/or ditching and shouldering on the following roads: Mansion Rd, Sand Pond Rd, Shy Beaver Road etc. • Continued assisting the Hollis Fire Department and State Police as needed. • Mowing shoulders of town roads, cutting brush, and tree removal • Grading and dust control on dirt roads, Cold patching and shoulder repairs on paved roads Bobbi Ln • Christine Ln • Clarks Mills Rd • Dennett Rd Forest Ln • Georgie Ln • Landry Dr • Larswood Cir Oxford Dr • Pinecrest Dr • Swanton Dr • Wakefield Rd

• Sign and guardrail repair or replacement • Sweeping, striping and crack sealing roads

2022-2023 has been a busy and eventful year. Working with the Selectboard we have been able to rebuild and improve many of our town roads and have several more to lined up to do in the future. I appreciate your continued support while we work to maintain and improve our roads. It is a privilege for me to continue to serve the residents and taxpayers of the Town of Hollis.

Robert M. Hanson, Jr. Road Commissioner

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Salmon Falls Library 2022-2023 Hours: Monday 3-6pm, Wednesday 4-7pm, Thursday 3-8pm, Saturday 9am-Noon This year, Salmon Falls Library increased its memberships by 36 households and 44 individuals. Our numbers for the 2022-2023 period: • 45-48 patrons per month • 1,157 items checked out this year • 6-7 people used the computer each month • 13 days every month volunteers worked in the library We launched “Paint Night” (“Paint Bars” are very popular throughout the country); everyone paints the same scene with instructions from the library director/artist/instructor. By the end of the workshop, participants leave with a finished painting and maybe an interest in a new hobby. We purchased all the materials we needed with a grant from the Maine State Library. SFL started a Puzzle Exchange, with puzzles donated from a patron who previously owned a puzzle store and had lots of leftover stock. It has been very popular, especially during the winter months. 15 people have participated. The Book Club continues with meetings every 6 to 7 weeks, with 5-6 people participating. SFL also ran a Summer Reading Program from June to September. Kids got prizes each time they returned the books and their reading logs. This year 9 kids signed up. We continued subscribing to the Bibliotheca Cloud Library e-book borrowing service through the Maine State Library and Tumbledown, a free reading resource for kids and teens. We increased the number of our volunteers this year. They help to make the library run

smoothly and efficiently. Respectfully submitted, Lynn Ericson, Library Director

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Hollis Center Public Library Annual Report 2023

In 2023, the library experienced a unique donation moment:

Memphis Currier of Hollis recently had his seventh birthday. He decided that instead of receiving presents, he would ask family and friends to make a donation to the Hollis Center Library. A frequent patron and participant in library activities, Memphis raised $500.00 for the library. The funds will be used to add to the children’s collection. Thank you Memphis and Happy Birthday! Pictured: Memphis, Children’s Librarian - Nancy Olds and Library Director - Gus Hedden

The library hosted a free wreath-making workshop in November. Many thanks to volunteer Deb Harvey for leading the workshop and providing free materials. A new book club has started, facilitated by volunteer Jocelyn Gallagher, PhD. Copies of the chosen titles are provided by the library. The club meets 2nd Wednesdays of each month at 5:30. Our interactive children’s storytime with Miss Nancy has become a very popular place for preschoolers to interact. Mondays at 10 am. Join us! The library collections include books, magazines, DVDs, Books on CD, digital cameras, craft kits and themed backpacks provided by local Girl Scouts. E-books and audios can also be downloaded using the “Cloud Library”. The library has something for all ages. Services include inter-library loans from other libraries, free internet access from two patron computers and 24 hour wireless which can be reached from the parking lot. Fax, scan and copying services are also available. Library news can be found on Facebook and Instagram and the library website www. holliscenterpubliclibrary.org . The library board and I thank the town of Hollis Center and surrounding communities for their continued support during these challenging times.

Respectfully, Gus Hedden, Director

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Appointed Boards and Committees - Town of Hollis, Maine From July 1, 2022 - June 30, 2023 Appeals Board Bart Sughrue, Chair Rebecca L. Bowley, Vice Chair Nancy Ponzetti, Secretary Carrie Cote Katharine Harriman

Martha Turner, Secretary (Resigned February 2023) Bennet Flinner, Secretary (Effective March 2023) Christmas Fund Committee Faith Plummer, President Tootsie Johnson, Vice President Diane Meserve, Treasurer

Bonnie Johnson Kristina Teneyck Clothing Closet Committee Diane Meserve Mona Meserve Barbara Miller Amanda McConihe Conservation Commission Madison Moody, Chair Catherine Hewitt, Vice Chair John Mattor Joanne Toone Margaret Hartley Tootsie Johnson

Doris Luther Lee Klarman Mary Hoffman, Select Board Liaison Ecomaine Board of Directors David Durrell

Finance Committee Joshua Morse, Chair Daniel Yarumian, Vice Chair Donald G. Marean Shelly M. Brooks Rita Perron Martha Turner, Secretary

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Appointed Boards and Committees - Town of Hollis, Maine From July 1, 2022 - June 30, 2023

Planning Board Paul Mattor, Chair Gregg McPherson, Vice Chair

Donald Roth, Jr. Heather Sullivan Thomas Witkowski Stephen Stark Seth Davis

Martha Turner, Secretary (Resigned February 2023) Angela Chute, Secretary (Effective March 2023) Saco River Community Television – Board of Directors Donald Marean Bennet Flinner (alternate) Saco River Corridor Commission Donna M. Hanson Lee Klarman (alternate) Sports Complex Committee Coco Hirstel, Chairperson Debbie Tefft, Recreation Director Mary Hoffman, Select Board Liaison

Cheryl Joyner Jennifer Kessy Joshua St. Pierre

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Hollis Board of Appeals Volunteers Serving the Community Annual Report Fiscal Year July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023 The Hollis Board of Appeals is a five-member Board with Alternate members; all are appointed by the Hollis Select Board. The Board of Appeals’ authority and jurisdiction are limited by Town ordinances and State statutes. The outcome of the Board of Appeals decision has legal implications and the meetings are procedurally quite rigid. The theory and intent of zoning laws are to preserve the character and quality of the community of Hollis by causing all planning and development to adhere to these regulations. These restrictions are, theoretically through enforcement, reducing non-conforming uses to properties to secure their gradual elimination. As strict adherence to these zoning rules occurs, eventually all the properties within that zone should evolve to meet the zoning standards of that zone. The Board of Appeals cannot grant variances in excess of what the Town and State have empowered the Board to grant. As a result, all actions and outcomes are typically very uniform and consistent. The Town’s objective in enacting the Zoning Ordinance initially was to protect ground water, address safety issues, and preserve property values. If an appeal submitted to the Board does not bring the result requested by the applicant there are possible courses of action that may be taken. These include options such as a request to the Select Board for a letter or waiver for “non-action for non-compliance with the ordinance,” an appeal to Superior Court, or a petition to put on a warrant for public vote the ordinance change that will allow the result requested. Local ordinances are enacted by the voters of Hollis at a Town Meeting. The voters have the power and right to change the ordinances when such ordinances become contrary to what the voters want and need. As the nature of our community changes, the people’s needs and desires change relative to their surroundings, and so the ordinances that regulate their property may also need changes.

In the fiscal year July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023 the Board conducted the following business:

1. November 13, 2022 -- Annual Meeting and Election of Officers.

Sincerely,

Bart Sughrue, Chairman

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Christmas Fund Committee 2022-2023

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all the supportive residents, businesses and organizations who have so generously offered help to our program this year. The Hollis Christmas Fund would not be the successful program that it is without all of us coming together to support one another in this community. Once again, there was a giving tree at the Hollis Town Hall, the Hollis Center Public Library, and for the fifth year in a row at Salmon Falls River Tap & Grill. The committee gave each location several tags to hang on the giving trees. Each tag has a suggested item written on it as well as instructions on when and where to return the items. The locations decorated their giving trees and encouraged staff, volunteers, and patrons to get involved by choosing tags from the tree and shopping for those items. The committee volunteers would stop by routinely and gather all the presents that had been collected. Several truck loads were collected from these locations. Because of the outpouring of generosity from our community, the Hollis Christmas Fund committee has not had to apply for any grants for several years. Request letters are sent out to local businesses, organizations, and residents early in the Fall months and donations are collected all the way up until Christmas. Many of our donors like to remain anonymous and do not want any recognition for what they do. Because of this, we are very cautious to publicly recognize one business or person over another. You All are wonderful assets to this community. This year we had 40 children participate in the program from 19 Hollis families ranging in age from 3 months to 18 years. Each child received at least 2 warm winter outfits, hats and gloves, shoes and/or boots as well as several age-appropriate toys, games, puzzles, books, and gift cards. Some received winter jackets and snow pants, if needed. Each family was also given a gift card to Hannaford so they could shop for a Christmas dinner. All applications are processed through the Deputy’s desk at the Town Hall with a cut off date of December 8th, leaving just 2 weeks to get all the shopping and sorting done. The committee is considering making some changes to the program including making a cut off date for applications to be turned in no later than the first of December to lessen the time restraining burden on the small group of volunteers who run this program. If you are a Hollis resident and need some assistance providing your kids with Christmas presents, or would like to volunteer with our program, please reach out to the Hollis Christmas Fund at Town Hall, 929-8552 ext. 17 or send an e-mail to fplummer@ hollismaine.org.

-Hollis Christmas Fund Committee

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Community Day Committee July 2022 - June 2023

The Community Day Committee put together a fun filled day for Hollis residents and surrounding towns. The theme for the Hollis Community Day is Pirate Fest. The theme may change in the future, but this will continue to be a yearly event. The Committee is trying to make each year special! Maine State Representative, Justin Chenette was the Master of Ceremonies again and did an amazing job! The day started with the parade along Lower Tarbox, led by our Fire Department. We hope that more people will get involved and join the parade in the future. Poland Springs – Blue Triton Brands is our major sponsor. Their donation helped us a great deal! Many other local businesses were very generous and helped make the day a success. We appreciate everything the sponsors do for us! Many of the local community organizations were in attendance and supported the event. There were also several local vendors there sharing information and promoting their products. Party Palooga drew a crowd waiting to get a creation from the balloon artist. We had lots of inflatables to entertain the children during the day. There were also several pirate themed games run by the Parks and Recreation Department for children and adults to enjoy. Face painting, temporary tattoos, a gaming truck and lots of food added to the day. There were several bands providing music throughout the day including Featherbed Lane, a Hollis based band! The Buxton/Hollis Rod and Gun Club made cotton candy all day to add to the atmosphere. The event ended with a great display of fireworks in the evening. It was a really good gathering and a great setting to bring people together! We continue to look for ways to improve the event and would welcome any suggestions and anyone willing to help! The Committee works very hard to pull it all together. We are looking forward to the next event and hope you will be there! The funds raised at this event go towards the Summer Rec Scholarship Fund and start-up money for the next year’s event.

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Report of the Hollis Conservation Commission July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023

Current Members: Madison Moody, Chair; Catherine Hewitt, Vice-Chair; Lee Klarman, Joanne Toone, Doris Luther, John Mattor, Ruth Leavitt, Sarah Sorenson, Mary Hoffman, Select Board Liaison

Indian Cellar continues to see very high usage by those near and far, and our community was extremely helpful with maintaining the trails and keeping them clean. Many folks walk, walk their dogs, mountain bike, and swim along the river. With the purchase of the tea house property, our goal is to eventually remove the building and move the trailhead kiosk closer to the parking area. Googins Woods, the other beautiful preserve we have in town doesn’t see the traffic that Indian Cellar does, but those that did visit were just as considerate helping keep the trails clean! I encourage our community to visit and walk the many trails that take you through a piece of forest that had been greatly damaged during the fire of 1947, though difficult to imagine now. There are benches and a picnic table along the way. Our Commission’s future goals are to continue the maintenance and upkeep of our two beautiful preserves and to start the process of putting together an Open Space tool for the town to help with planning and foresight in future development and growth of the town. Another goal is to expand outreach and educational opportunities offered by the commission. With two of our members, Joanne Toone and Ruth Leavitt completing their Master Maine Naturalist certifications, we are going to be offering guided walks through the preserves to give community members insight into the flora and fauna, and ecological diversity along the trail systems. We also look forward to more engagement at Community Day and community activities for Earth Day.

Respectfully submitted,

Madison Moody, Hollis Conservation Commission Chair

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Finance Committee Report The Finance Committee consists of five members, appointed by the Select Board for 3-year terms. We are an advisory committee to the Select Board with the below responsibilities quoted from the committee’s ordinance: 1). Annual Operating Budget - The committee will review and make recommendations to the Select Board. 2). Annual Capital Budget - The committee will review and make recommendations to the Select Board. 3). Warrant Articles - The committee will review Warrant Articles pertaining to financial issues and recommend or not recommend to the Select Board. 4). Review of revenue and expenditures - The committee will make quarterly reviews of revenues & expenditures and present issues/questions to the Select Board. 5). Other - The committee shall review and make recommendations to the Select Board on supplemental appropriations, expenditures, and investments of Town funds. This year the committee had a total of five (5) meetings. The committee worked with the Select Board on a Town Salary Policy which has not yet been completed. The goal of this new policy is to have a process in place for determining salary increases for all Town employees. The Select Board requested approval for using emergency funds up to $30,000 for furnace replacement and leak repairs in the Community Building and $94,876.54 to fulfill the Plowing Contract. The committee reviewed and made recommendations on all individual budgets to include Capital Expenses for the Community Building for $30,000 to replace the doors and basement flooring, as well as recommending an increase in the Snow budget to cover the increased cost in the bid that was selected. The committee reviewed and made recommendations for increased salaries for the Parks and Recreation Department to try to maintain staff levels for programs such as Before & Aftercare, and the recruitment and retention of staff. The committee advised the Select Board to accept the budget submitted by the Hollis Center Public Library. The Hollis Center Public Library was able to obtain signatures on a citizen’s initiative petition to receive the full funding amount they requested. As the chair of the committee, I encourage any residents to reach out or come to the Finance Committee meetings. We welcome public comment and participation as we execute the responsibilities of our committee. Respectfully submitted, Joshua Morse, Chair

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SACO RIVER CORRIDOR COMMISSION “Communities Working Together to Protect Our Rivers”

The Saco River Corridor Commission (SRCC) was created with one purpose in mind – to protect the rivers in the Saco Basin and all that these rivers represent to the people who live and work here. The Maine legislature provided the performance standards to initiate our program, and the current cleanliness of the river is a testament to that effort. The Commission’s role is one of partnership with our communities, and our standards apply to the first 500-1000ft of land around the Saco, Ossipee, and Little Ossipee (i.e. the Corridor). All twenty towns with lands in the Corridor can appoint one regular and one alternate Commissioner, and we are grateful to have Donna Hanson and Lee Klarman as Hollis’s Commissioners at this time. Representation from Hollis means that your community is weighing in on development patterns along the rivers, from Fryeburg to Saco and south to Acton/Shapleigh. Together, representatives from our twenty municipalities help to keep the water clean and preserve natural resources, ultimately protecting public health and quality of life in our region. Clean water is one of Maine’s greatest assets, and our volunteer Commissioners work hard to ensure the Saco and its major tributaries are protected from unsustainable or incompatible development. Development in Maine has been booming in recent years. As areas are built up, inappropriate land-use planning can cause degradation to the shoreland area, along with water quality problems. The SRCC has kept up with the recent surge and continues to review each application for new development within the corridor for its compliance with the Saco River Corridor Act, and the best practice standards that we know can protect our waterways. In FY23, the Commission carefully reviewed 119 applications for development within the Corridor. The SRCC has now completed its 22nd successful year of the Water Quality Monitoring Program. Staff and volunteers monitor for dissolved oxygen, conductivity, pH, turbidity, temperature, total Kjeldahl nitrogen, orthophosphates, alkalinity, nitrogen (NH4, NO3 + NO2), total phosphorous/ phosphates, ammonium, and either Escherichia coli (E. coli) or Enterococci. Our testing takes place bi-weekly along the Saco, Ossipee, and Little Ossipee Rivers at 43 different locations from May through mid-September, with weekly E. coli testing at certain recreational sites from June to September. In 2022, SRCC purchased advanced bacteria monitoring equipment, which has expanded our capacity to analyze samples in-house and continued to serve us well in 2023. This means our reports are available faster, and towns can more quickly take action to advise the public when high levels of E. coli or Enterococci occur. With assistance from the Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund, the Commission is also exploring applications of environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis, in hopes of developing a new method to determine the source of bacterial contamination. To help communicate water quality testing results to the public, the map available on our website highlights sites with recently elevated bacteria levels. The site also provides links to the most updated E. coli test results. While the monitoring program is currently at capacity for new sites, the SRCC is happy to discuss the possibility of expanding testing locations in future. We are especially grateful to our volunteer water quality monitors, who make our current set of testing locations possible. We encourage those interested in volunteering to contact us ahead of the April

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