Town Manager

Schoodic Symposium Committee Meeting

Tue, 06 Mar 2012 11:03:57 -0500

The Schoodic International Sculpture Symposium Committee will meet on March 8, 2012 at 4:30 pm in the Council Chambers, 59 Main Street. Please join us if you would like to get involved. For more information, contact Maria Weinberger at mariaw@orono.org or call 866-2556.

2012 Schoodic International Sculpture Symposium to Be Held in Orono

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 10:13:01 -0500

The Schoodic International Sculpture Symposium, a cultural event that brings together artists, municipalities, and businesses throughout Maine for the purpose of creating public art, will be held here in Orono from July through August 2012. Artists selected from all over the world will design and fashion sculptures using Maine stone at the University of Maine’s Steam Plant Lot. Orono is one of eight entities that will receive a sculpture, which will be placed at a public site for the enjoyment of all residents and visitors; our sculpture will also become a part of the state-wide Schoodic Sculpture Trail.

An Orono Schoodic Sculpture Citizens Committee has been formed in order to begin the community fund raising effort in support of this exciting event. The Committee’s first official meeting will be held on February 16, 2012 at 4:30 p.m. in the Orono Council Chambers, 59 Main Street, Orono. There will be a variety of opportunities to participate throughout the year, so please call the Town Office at 866-2556 if you would like to learn more about the Schoodic Symposium, or if you would like to serve as a member of the Citizens Committee.

Be sure to check future Orono Observers for more information and updates as we prepare to host the 2012 Schoodic International Sculpture Symposium!

RSU#26 Board Vacancy

Wed, 28 Dec 2011 12:55:00 -0500

Town of Orono Seeks Candidates Interested in Serving on the RSU#26 Board

The Orono Town Council seeks applications from residents interested in serving on the Regional School Unit 26 Board of Directors until June 30, 2012. The Interim Director will represent the citizens of the Town of Orono and play an important role in establishing the RSU#26 FY2013 School Budget and policy making. Please consider volunteering to serve on this important Board. Your input will make a difference for our community. Applications are available online at www.orono.org under “Departments/Human Resources” or at the Orono Town Office. Please submit an application/letter of interest to the Town of Orono, 59 Main Street, Orono ME 04473 by 2:00 PM, Friday, January 13, 2012. Click here for Application/Letter of Interest Form

Boil Water Order for Colburn Drive and Marsh Lane

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 16:30:13 -0500

The Town has been advised by the Orono-Veazie Water District that due to construction related activity, a Boil Water Order has been issued for those residents on Colburn Drive and Marsh Lane in Orono. This is a safety precaution and affects only those living on Colburn Drive and Marsh Lane. Residents will be advised when the order has been lifted.

For more information, contact the Orono-Veazie Water District at 866-4449.

Vacancy on Planning Board & Board of Appeals

Fri, 28 Oct 2011 08:00:00 -0400

The Town of Orono seeks applications from residents interested in serving on the Planning Board and Board of Appeals. One Associate Member vacancy exists on the Planning Board, with an unexpired term until April 2012, and two Associate Member vacancies exist on the Board of Appeals with an unexpired term until April 2013. Please consider volunteering to serve on these boards. Your input makes a difference!

For information on what the positions involve, please call the Assistant Town Manager at 866-2556 or Code Enforcement Office at 866-5051. Applications are available on this website under “Council & Committees/Town Committees” or by calling the Town Office at 866-2556. Please submit an application no later than Friday, October 28, 2011 for the current vacancies.

Orono receives MMA Risk Management Dividend

Wed, 14 Sep 2011 11:53:17 -0400

Municipal officials are pleased to announce that the Town of Orono has received a $9,440 dividend check from the Maine Municipal Assocation as a result of its good loss experience and loss prevention programs.

The Maine Municipal Assocation offers three self-funded pools for municipal and quasi-public entities in Maine: the Workers Compensation Fund formed in 1978, the Property & Casualty Pool formed in 1987 and the Unemployment Compensation Fund formed in 1978.

The programs are overseen by governing boards of elected and appointed municipal officials. Each year the boards review the programs' loss experience to determine if dividends may be paid. Patricia Kablitz, Director of Risk Management Services for MMA, said more than 75 percent of program participants receive dividends each year for their good risk management practices and loss experience.

This year the Workers Compensation Fund has distributed almost $600,000 in dividends to participants and the Property Casualty Pool has paid dividends of nearly $500,000, for total payments of over $1 million provided directly to MMA members.

Since 1997, the three programs have returned close to $14 million in dividends to participating members. For more information about any of the MMA Risk Management Services programs, including online training programs and other services, check the offerings on their website at www.memun.org and click on the the Risk Management Services link, or call 1-800-590-5583.

S & P Upgrades the Town's Bond Rating

Tue, 07 Dec 2010 15:56:29 -0500

In November 2010, Standard & Poor's Ratings Services raised its long-term rating on Orono’s General Obligation Debt from an A to an A+, reflecting the town's consistently strong financial reserve position and stable local economy.

At the same time, Standard & Poor's assigned its A+ long-term rating to the town's $4.53 million series 2010 taxable GO refunding bonds.

The ratings reflect the town's:

• Access to employment opportunities throughout the Bangor metropolitan statistical area and its own employment base, anchored by the University of Maine, which have contributed to consistently low unemployment rates;

• Adequate median household income and per capita market valuation levels;

• Very strong financial reserve position, coupled with good financial management policies and practices; and

• Moderate debt burden with manageable capital.

The primary benefit to the town is that an upgraded bond rating will result in lower borrowing costs for the town. The town is currently refinancing existing bonds at a total potential savings of $1.2 million realized over 10 years.