Raymond voters to weigh short‑term rental ordinance aimed at balancing tourism and neighborhood peace

By Dina Mendros

As short‑term rentals continue to expand across Maine’s lake communities, Raymond residents will soon vote on a proposed ordinance designed to regulate the fast‑growing industry. Supporters say the measure would protect neighborhood character and ensure accountability, while critics argue it adds unnecessary oversight for responsible property owners.

Raymond residents will vote on June 9 on a proposed
Short-Term Rental Ordinance that would establish a
comprehensive registration and enforcement system
for any dwelling rented for fewer than 30 consecutive
days to ensure they operate safely and responsibly.
PHOTO BY ED PIERCE 

The proposed Short‑Term Rental (STR) Ordinance was placed on the warrant by a 2–1 vote of the Raymond Select Board and will be voted on by residents June 9. It outlines a comprehensive registration and enforcement system for any dwelling rented for fewer than 30 consecutive days and Select Board Vice Chair Kaela Gonzalez said the goal is not to eliminate STRs but to ensure they operate safely and responsibly.

“A Short‑Term Rental is defined as a permanent dwelling unit that is rented to guests for a period of time less than thirty consecutive days for compensation,” Gonzalez explained. “STRs must register annually, provide septic data, and proof of insurance. Some of the rules include providing a 24‑hour emergency contact, occupancy limits, off‑street parking, and displaying Good Neighbor guidelines.”

Raymond, like many Maine towns, has seen a surge in short‑term rentals as platforms such as Airbnb and Vrbo attract seasonal visitors. The ordinance’s stated purpose emphasizes the town’s desire to preserve “the peace and quiet character of residential neighborhoods” while acknowledging that many property owners rely on rental income.

“To preserve the fabric of residential neighborhoods and to protect the safety of existing residents and visitors, the Town of Raymond believes the operation of short‑term rentals must be monitored,” the draft ordinance reads. It goes on to stipulate that the proposal aims to “balance the desires of the property owners who wish to rent their properties… with the desire for residents wishing to preserve the character of their residential neighborhoods.”

Gonzalez says that Raymond is not alone in pursuing STR regulation.

“Many municipalities are creating and passing similar ordinances,” she said. “The Select Board directed the Planning Board to create a draft ordinance. After a lengthy process with the Planning Board, it was brought to the Select Board for consideration.”

If approved, all STR owners – existing and new – would be required to register annually with the town.

Registration would include:

• An application and fee

• Septic system information or proof of public sewer connection

• Evidence of insurance

• An inspection by the Code Enforcement Officer

A registration certificate would list the approved occupancy and must be displayed inside the rental.

The ordinance also outlines performance standards. Occupancy would be capped at two overnight guests per legal bedroom or the septic system’s permitted capacity, whichever is lower. Owners must provide off‑street parking for all guests and supply a local emergency contact able to respond promptly. Subletting and event hosting that interferes with parking would be prohibited.

The ordinance establishes a complaint process through the town’s Code Enforcement Officer, who would maintain records and determine whether violations warrant suspension or revocation of a registration. Violations - such as operating without registration, excessive noise, trash issues, or advertising higher occupancy than allowed - could result in fines, with each day counting as a separate offense.

Supporters say this structure gives residents a fair and accessible way to address problems.

The Raymond Short‑Term Rental Initiative, a local advocacy group, argues that the ordinance “restores accountability to you, the environment and the community.” The group says that with the ordinance in place, “the town has a way to collect critical data on this expanding industry, provide guidelines for them to follow, and recourse if they fail to operate properly.” They emphasize that residents would finally have “a method of recourse that won’t cost you a fortune to pursue if you’re being negatively impacted and ignored by an unresponsive STR owner with deep pockets or their unruly customers.”

The group also contends that responsible STR owners stand to benefit: “These minimum standards will improve the industry in town, allowing owners to charge a premium and promote the continuity that standards bring to the market.”

As Raymond prepares for its vote, residents face a choice that will influence the town’s character, economy, and quality of life for years to come.

The complete text of the proposed short-term rental ordinance can be found online in the Raymond Voter Guide at raymondmaine.gov/news/voter-guide. Voting takes from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, June 9 at the Jordan-Small Middle School Gymnasium at 423 Webbs Mill Road in Raymond. Also on the ballot are Municipal Election of Officers, Select Board (two 3-year terms; one 1-year term to fill a vacancy), Budget-Finance Committee (one 3-year term; two 1-year terms to fill vacancy) and RSU 14 Board of Directors (one 3-year term); the Annual Town Warrant; RSU 14 Budget Validation; and the State Primary. <

Poised for permanent role, Raymond’s interim town manager reflects on first months on job

By Dina Mendros

Raymond has weathered a turbulent stretch in town leadership, cycling through four town managers in just two years. Interim Town Manager Glenn Michalowski hopes to bring that instability to an end – and to put down long‑term roots in the community.

On Feb. 3, the Raymond Select Board voted to offer Interim
Town Manager Glenn Michalowski the position permanently,
pending final approval of an employment agreement at an
upcoming meeting, He joined the Town of Raymond in
November on an interim basis after serving as the
Lisbon Town Manager. SUBMITTED PHOTO  

After longtime Town Manager Don Willard retired in January 2024, former Town Clerk Sue Look stepped into the role. She resigned in March 2025 and was succeeded by former Parks and Recreation Director Joseph Crocker. When Crocker announced his resignation in the fall, Michalowski, who had been the other finalist during that hiring process, was appointed interim town manager and began work in November. On Feb. 3, the Select Board voted to offer him the position permanently, pending final approval of an employment agreement at an upcoming meeting.

Originally from New Jersey, Michalowski said he is grateful to be in Raymond, which he called “an incredibly beautiful community … a special place with tremendous natural resources.”

But what has impressed him the most, he said, is the people. “The dedication of the staff, residents, and elected officials stands out. I arrived during a period of transition, following some leadership gaps over the prior 18 months,” Michalowski said. “I found an organization that was fundamentally stable and a community that was welcoming and eager to move forward. That collective commitment has made the work both meaningful and enjoyable.”

Raymond is a shift from the larger communities where he previously worked, most of which operated under a council‑manager form of government. From 2014 to 2018, he led a regional shared‑service paratransit organization serving five towns in Morris County, New Jersey, while earning a master’s degree in public administration from Rutgers University. He later served as assistant business administrator in Maplewood, New Jersey, a community of about 25,000 residents. After moving to Maine in 2021, he became Lisbon’s first assistant town manager in 2022 and then town manager from October 2022 until November 2025.

“Transitioning to a traditional New England town meeting form has been the biggest change – and a positive one,” he said. “I genuinely enjoy the direct democracy aspect, where citizens serve as the legislative body. It can mean a more deliberate process, but it also creates flexibility and strong community ownership of decisions.”

Maine’s strong home‑rule tradition, he said, offers municipalities meaningful local authority compared to states with more restrictive frameworks.

Since arriving in Raymond, Michalowski’s primary focus has been the Fiscal Year 2027 budget. “Beyond the budget, we are working on standardizing internal procedures, strengthening training and HR functions, finalizing the fire union contract, establishing the Jordan‑Small Middle School Committee and Comprehensive Plan Implementation Committee, and supporting department heads and the Select Board in achieving their priorities,” he said. “Equally important has been relationship‑building: meeting with residents, community stakeholders, and regional partners. After budget season, I look forward to expanding community engagement efforts.”

He acknowledges that Raymond faces challenges, though none he considers alarming. Rising external costs, particularly in solid waste and recycling, remain a concern. The town is also completing its revaluation this spring and ensuring that residents understand the process will be important. More broadly, he said, municipalities across Maine and the country are grappling with an aging workforce and fewer people entering public service.

“Retaining and developing the talent we have is a long‑term concern for local government everywhere,” Michalowski said.

Still, he sees significant opportunities ahead. “There are meaningful opportunities to capture additional grant funding and federal resources,” he said. Recent census changes have positioned Raymond to qualify for both urban and rural funding streams, especially for highway and infrastructure projects. “Those urban classifications may also create opportunities related to public transportation funding, which I would like to explore further.”

Despite the town’s recent leadership turnover, Michalowski is optimistic. “Trust is built over time and through consistent action. By supporting staff, maintaining transparency, and focusing on steady progress, we will continue to strengthen confidence with our neighbors.” So far, he said, “the atmosphere has been positive and collaborative. Staff have been engaged, and morale appears strong.”

Michalowski and his wife have family ties to Maine, and they’re eager to settle in with their two dogs, Fern and Pepper. He’s also looking forward to enjoying his favorite pastimes – backcountry skiing, sailing, fly fishing, and exploring Maine’s mountains and waterways.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to serve Raymond,” he said. “My focus is on steady, professional management; supporting the Select Board’s policy direction; and ensuring the town is well positioned for the future.” <

WHS students explore morality in upcoming play competition

By Dina Mendros

Windham High School’s one-act play entry for this year’s Maine Drama Festival will challenge audiences to reflect on morality, as 25 students bring the classic work “Everyman” to the stage next month.

Windham High School's cast of 'Everyman' gather following
a rehearsal at the school. The late 15th century English
morality play will be directed by CJ Payne and is the
school's one-act play entry for this year's Maine Drama
Festival which will be presented at South Portland High
School on March 6 and March 7.  COURTESY PHOTO    

The cast – supported by student crews handling backstage operations, sound, and lighting – is preparing the late fifteenth‑century English Catholic morality play under the direction of Christopher (C.J.) Payne.

Some 69 schools across Maine will compete at eight regional sites on March 6 and 7. Windham High School will perform at South Portland High School, while WHS itself will host the state festival for advancing teams on March 20 and 21. The New England Drama Festival will follow at the Paramount Theatre in Rutland, Vermont, from April 30 to May 2.

Payne, who became WHS technical director in 2009 and theater director in 2023, cited the long history of the event. 

"The earliest Maine High School One Act Drama Festival dates back to 1931 and was held at Bath High School,” he said. “Windham has a plaque in the trophy case showing our participation going back as far as 1961.”

The author of “Everyman,” written between 1490 and 1510, remains unknown. Payne describes the play as both humorous and dramatic, using symbolic characters, such as Death, Fellowship, and Cousin, to explore deeper questions of human morality.

“The play centers on Everyman confronting death, which rarely arrives welcomed,” he said. “Because it was written in Catholic Europe, it uses symbols audiences then and now can easily recognize to examine what makes someone a good person and what Good Deeds that they’ve done in their lifetime.”

This production marks a shift for WHS theater.

“The time period of the script is a big departure from the shows we’ve done in recent years,” Payne said. “And this will be the largest cast Windham has taken to the festival in the last five years.”

Junior Ashlynn Cuthbert is assisting Payne as student director. She joined theater in eighth grade and says it has become a major source of joy.

“My primary role is to be a second pair of eyes for our director,” she said. “I weigh in on everything from costumes and sets to acting choices and blocking. CJ and I work together to make the show as powerful and seamless as possible. One of my favorite parts is helping other actors develop their characters.”

Cuthbert appreciates the collaborative nature of the production. “Every detail is discussed and sometimes debated until we find the best option,” she said.

Working on a script originally written in Middle English has also taught Cuthbert some valuable lessons.

“I’ve learned how important it is to truly understand and believe what you’re saying,” she said. “Bringing a character’s emotion into yourself is always important, but with this language, it’s even more challenging – and even more essential.”

She said that she hopes the performance sparks reflection.

“I don’t think it’s art’s job to tell an audience what to think or feel,” Cuthbert said. “Good art inspires people to have conversations with themselves about emotions and morals. I want our audience to leave contemplating what it means to be a good person—and, on a lighter note, thinking our show was really cool.”

According to Cuthbert, she plans to pursue law, specializing in prosecution or civil rights.

“It may sound far from theater, but both involve performance,” she said. “You’re standing in front of people, trying to capture their attention and take them on a journey. Both law and theater help people in different ways.”

Payne said he is excited to see what the students bring to the festival this year. “It’s rewarding to get students excited to perform for other schools,” he said. He chose “Everyman” because he wanted something different. “This show really fits the group of actors we have.”

The goal, he added, is always to deliver a production that exceeds expectations. “We hope to bring a professional‑level performance to the festival. Our actors and technicians always bring strong competition to the Class A sites. Hopefully the judges agree.” <

Digital kiosks promoting Windham’s outdoor assets arriving soon

By Dina Mendros

Windham’s abundant parks, trails, lakes, and outdoor amenities continue to shape its identity as a destination for nature lovers. As part of the town’s ongoing effort to elevate its profile among outdoor recreation enthusiasts, new digital kiosks will soon be installed to highlight local fresh‑air activities and natural attractions.

New digital kiosks promoting Windham outdoor recreation
facilities and displaying community announcements,
weather-related trail updates, events and links to social media
will be installed soon at Windham Town Hall, Donnabeth
Lippman Park and Lowell Preserve. The project is funded 
through a Community Outdoor Recreation Assistance
Grant from the Maine Department of Economic and
Community Development. SUBMITTED PHOTO  

Final design work is underway for kiosks planned at Windham Town Hall, Donnabeth Lippman Park, and the Lowell Preserve. Delivery of the kiosks is expected within the next few weeks.

“Once the kiosks arrive and have been installed, we will be spreading the word so that people can check them out when they head to one of the three locations,” said Windham Parks and Recreation Director Linda Brooks.

The project is funded through a Community Outdoor Recreation Assistance Grant from the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development. Windham received $163,750 to support this and other components of the Windham Outdoors initiative, with no local match required.

Windham Outdoors is jointly led by the Parks and Recreation Department, the Windham Economic Development Corporation, and Communications Director Roger Cropley. The mission of the Windham Outdoors initiative “is to connect residents and visitors with outdoor spaces that inspire healthy living, community engagement, and a deeper appreciation of our town’s resources,” he said.

According to Brooks, one side of each kiosk will feature a map of all outdoor recreation facilities in town, complete with QR codes linking visitors to the Windham Outdoors website. The opposite side will include four digital screens capable of displaying community announcements, weather‑related trail updates, event promotions, and links to social media.

Brooks said the digital format will allow the town to keep information current and relevant. “In addition to providing information specific to Windham residents – such as town council meetings or community updates – we can also share details that may interest visitors, like Food Truck Nights, the Summer Concert Series, the Farmers Market, or places to shop, dine, or play.”

She said that the new kiosks will replace traditional wooden kiosks, which are difficult to keep updated. Electronic displays will make it far easier to refresh messaging across the town’s parks and trailheads.

“The kiosks are a promotional tool designed to keep visitors informed about everything available to them,” Brooks said. “Many people using our parks and trails are from outside the region, and we want to take every opportunity to showcase what Windham has to offer. The Mountain Division Trail, East Windham Conservation Area, Lowell Preserve, Donnabeth Lippman Park, and Dundee Park are major draws and have helped put Windham on the map within Maine’s tourism industry.”

Before the kiosks, one of the first steps in building the Windham Outdoors brand was launching https://windhamoutdoors.com/ which features information on parks, trails, activities, events, restaurants, and lodging opportunities.

Windham aims to position itself as a regional hub for outdoor recreation, Cropley said, and the Windham Outdoors initiative is central to that vision. “

As we continue to build the Windham Outdoors brand, we want to enhance our outdoor facilities to improve the visitor experience and gather data that will guide future decisions,” he said.

Cropley says that attracting more outdoor enthusiasts will support the local economy. Outdoor recreation accounts for 3.7 percent of Maine’s economy, making it the sixth‑highest state in the nation for economic impact from outdoor activities. Visitors drawn to Windham’s natural assets often spend money at local restaurants, theaters, lodging, and at other businesses. These businesses can provide incentives via Windham Outdoors that may encourage people to stay longer and spend more.

Additional communication tools are also in development. Brooks said that the town is working on a free app that will help park and trail users access information about amenities, trail lengths, playgrounds, picnicking areas, fishing and boating options, and more.

Meanwhile, Cropley continues to develop new promotional materials to strengthen Windham’s reputation as an outdoor destination. <

Raymond skating rink to reopen at Sheri Gagnon Memorial Park

By Dina Mendros

Public ice skating is back in Raymond. After several years on hiatus, residents can once again lace up their skates and enjoy a favorite winter pastime at the newly reopened rink in Sheri Gagnon Memorial Park.

Workers put together a public skating rink on the basketball
courts at Sheri Gagnon Memorial Park in Raymond last
week. The rink will be opened once staff determine that
the ice is safe and solid enough for public skating.
COURTESY PHOTO  

The rink, overseen by the Raymond Parks and Recreation Department, was first created in 2021 on the park’s baseball field under then–Raymond Parks and Recreation Director Joseph Crocker. COVID restrictions, warmer winters, and an expanding slate of Parks and Recreation programs kept the rink closed in recent years. But the demand for a place for public ice skating in Raymond never went away.

“It was popular enough that people kept asking when it would return,” said Raymond Parks and Recreation Director Riley Silvia. “I think people are super excited about it this year.”

This winter, the rink has been relocated to Sheri Gagnon Memorial Park’s basketball court at 63 Mill St. in Raymond, and was chosen for its benches, sturdier infrastructure, and easy access to parking. Measuring 85 by 50 feet, the rink was assembled last week through a town-wide effort.

Parks and Recreation staff worked alongside Raymond Public Works, Raymond Fire and Rescue Department firefighters, and other Raymond town employees to put up boards, install a liner, and fill the rink with water. The final step, which is waiting for the ice to freeze, depends upon the weather.

Raymond Public Works Director Nathan White said that his team was eager to pitch in. “

Anything to do with helping the public, helping another department – that’s what we’re here for,” he said. “We do everything from roadwork to maintenance to putting ice rinks up. Any time you can do something that brings the community together, that’s what we’re here for.”

The rink is named in recognition of Sebago Lake Boat Rentals, which donated the liner to be used for it. The rink will be opened once staff determine that the ice is safe and solid enough for public skating.

According to Silvia, skating will be open daily from dawn to dusk throughout the winter, weather permitting. Residents can check the Raymond Parks and Rec Facebook page for updates on the rink’s opening times and conditions.

The return of the rink reflects the Raymond Parks and Recreation Department’s growth since its founding in 2020. Originally a one-person operation, Parks and Recreation now has three full-time and two part-time staff members. Silvia said that the expansion and popularity of programs has allowed the department to broaden its offerings.

Current programs include afterschool care, summer camp, youth and adult sports, while some new offerings are vacation camps in February and April, and RECreate, a youth program design lab. The Raymond Age Friendly program has also joined Raymond Parks and Recreation, along with Together on the Trail, a new walking program led by a registered Maine guide.

In September, the Parks and Recreation Department revived and then expanded the UCan 5K, which honors the legacy of Candace Woolston, a mentor in Raymond schools who passed away in 2012.

“This run is more than just a race,” a post on the Raymond Parks and Recreation Department’s Facebook page says. “It’s a chance to rally together as a community and raise support for incredible local causes.”

For Silvia, the return of the skating rink at Sheri Gagnon Memorial Park is just one more way to strengthen Raymond’s sense of community.

“My goal is really just bringing the community together,” she said. “That’s something the town has been focusing on, not only children, which was our original focus, but all ages.” <

  

Raymond appoints new interim town manager

By Dina Mendros

The Town of Raymond will welcome a new interim town manager, Glenn Michalowski, who will be starting later this month. He will replace Joseph Crocker, who submitted his resignation as the Raymond Town Manager in early October.

Glenn Michalowski has been appointed as
Interim Town Manager for the Town of 
Raymond and will start his duties on Nov. 17.
Michalowski has served as the Lisbon Town
Manager for the past three years. 
SUBMITTED PHOTO 

The Raymond Select Board approved appointing Michalowski to the position on Oct. 21 and he will officially start duties with the town on Nov. 17. Michalowski is leaving his position as town manager for the Town of Lisbon, where he has served for three years, to work for the Town of Raymond.

The interim Raymond town manager position is initially for six months but could be extended to a year. To extend the position “the Board would have to be content with his accomplishments and how well he worked with the staff,” said Raymond Select Board Chair Denis Morse. He says that the town has not yet begun the process of looking for a permanent town manager.

Michalowski was one of two finalists out of 42 applicants when the board was originally looking for a town manager earlier this year, Morse said.

Crocker, who had worked for Raymond as the director of the Parks and Recreation Department for about five years, was appointed interim town manager in March and became the permanent town manager in May. He also took over as the town’s finance director in the summer of 2024 when the former finance director stepped down.

“Speaking for myself,” Morse said, “I voted for Joe as he had spent four to five years as our Recreation Department head building our growing recreation program that had been long overdue and looking for a leader.”

Although Crocker is moving to another job, he will still be around Raymond Town Hall for a while and will be helping out with some specific town projects.

“He has been in touch with Glenn and will be coming back to work for us providing help with the web page and hopefully other projects,” Morse said. “I know I can speak for the Board when I state we are delighted to hear Glenn has hired him back for a few weeks.”

In the search for an interim town manager, “We were looking for someone with the energy and passion to move forward with several large upcoming initiatives, such as the re-envisioning of the Jordan Small Middle School and our recently accepted Comprehensive Plan,” said Raymond Select Board Vice Chair Kaela Gonzalez.

Additionally, Morse said, the board was looking for someone with town manager experience and a degree in Public Management. Michalowski has both town manager experience and he holds a master’s degree in public administration from Rutgers University.

According to his LinkedIn page, in serving as Raymond’s interim town manager Michalowski says that he is “under contract to guide the organization through a leadership transition and strengthen its operational foundation ahead of future recruitment. My work focuses on continuity, fiscal management, and organizational stability – ensuring the town is positioned for long-term success and ready to attract strong leadership.”

In addition, Michalowski said, “I’m passionate about helping municipalities navigate periods of change, build administrative capacity, and modernize systems to deliver more effective, responsive public service - whether in a direct leadership role or as an advisor.”

Michalowski will be Raymond’s fourth town manager in 20 months. He replaces Crocker, who succeeded former Town Manager Sue Look, who resigned in March. Look had previously served as Raymond Town Clerk before being appointed by the Raymond Select Board to the role, succeeding longtime Town Manager Don Willard in January 2024 upon his retirement. Willard had worked as Raymond’s Town Manager for 23 years until he suffered an illness and while recovering chose to retire from the town manager’s role. <

Windham residents can provide information to assist in emergencies with Community Connect

By Dina Mendros

When disaster strikes, whether it be fire or a loved one having a medical emergency, providing important information about your property or other matters may be the last thing on your mind. Now, a new program that Windham residents and business owners can sign up for will provide that information for emergency responders ahead of time so they can know how best to enter a home, who to contact, and any special concerns.

Windham firefighters assist at a structure fire earlier 
this year. Under a new program called Community
Connect, Windham Fire & Rescue crews can receive
vital information about residents and the property
during an emergency situation. COURTESY PHOTO    

“Community Connect is a secure online portal that connects directly to the software program we use for pre-planning, response and incident reporting,” Windham Fire Chief Brent Libby said. “Residents and businesses can create a login and submit information that may pertain to their property like contact information, specific access instructions, special instructions or information about the property or those who occupy the property like needs for the elderly, children, etc.”

Crews can access the information when en route or when they arrive on scene to assist emergency responders to provide good customer service and care, Libby said. “With this information added,” he said, “it can help provide piece of mind for property owners that we will have important information. It will also allow them to be notified if a call has been generated to their address.”

“Most specifically,” Libby said, “we are hoping it will help us to check in on elderly or home-bound folks in critical weather events or other serious incidents. … The goal being to assist those that may need extra assistance in the time of a natural disaster or emergency.”

Community Connect is a brand new program for Windham so it’s too early to tell whether it will be received by the public. Libby said he’s hopeful many Windham property owners will sign up. He noted that participating in Community Connect is relatively easy and people can add as much or as little information as they’d like.

To sign up, go to the website: https://www.communityconnect.io/info/me-windham and then it’s simply a three-step process which consists of first creating a free account by inputting an email address, phone number and address; then enter valuable information that can assist public safety personnel respond more effectively during an emergency; finally make updates to the account as needed so first responders are always prepared.

Whether one is a homeowner or a business owner, there is a variety of information that can be entered to increase chances of a positive outcome during an emergency.

For homeowners, information about who lives there and how to contact them, whether anyone has mobility issues or other medical conditions and information about pets can all be entered to an account to help first responders know what to look for when rolling out to someone’s home.

That same information can be entered for businesses but additional information like, where are the access points, are their elevators and other pertinent business features can be entered into their account. Information on whether there is hazardous material and the location of fire protection systems on the premises would also be helpful to those responding.

In addition to providing information for firefighters and/or paramedics, there is also a function that could help the public in the event of more widespread emergency. “There is a notification feature that could be rolled out in the near future for emergency or regular public safety information notifications,” Libby said.

For those worried about the security of their personal information, Libby assured that “this is a secured website. … It is (linked) with our secured website that we use for all out inventory, pre-planning, response and reporting system. When there is an incident at the location, it will show us that additional information is available through Community Connect.”

For further information or to sign up, go to the website https://www.communityconnect.io/info/me-windham. <

Towns consider how to repurpose middle schools

By Dina Mendros

In September 2027, the new Windham Raymond Middle School is set to open, welcoming about 1,000 students from Windham and Raymond fifth to eighth grades. Not only is the new school exciting for students and staff of RSU 14, but it also creates an opportunity for both towns to repurpose the two schools that will be closing to provide benefits for local residents.

Repurposing committees for the towns of Windham and
Raymond will make recommendations abut the best uses
for Jordan-Small Middle School, left, and Windham
Middle School once the new Windham Raymond Middle
School opens in September 2027. Ownership of both
properties will be transferred to the towns at that time.
PHOTOS BY ED PIERCE   

Committees have been set up and are mulling over ideas for how to best use these spaces. Proposals range from a community center, a rec center, a new library, moving town hall there and a combination of these and more.

In Raymond, a Jordan-Small Middle School Visioning Committee was formed and came up with a slew of ideas.

“The JSMS Visioning Committee is recommending to the Select Board and the future Building Development Committee to use the school building to house the Parks and Recreation Department, the Library, Town Hall Offices and Community Services,” Committee Chair Peter Lockwood said in an email earlier this year. “Our focus is to create a Community Center that supports all ages and residents of Raymond.”

After the work that committee was tasked with was completed, the committee assembled a report, presented it to the Select Board and was disbanded. The town is in the process of creating another committee, and on Sept. 16, it asked Raymond Town Manager Joseph Crocker to come up with a plan to form a new committee to move the process forward.

Select Board member Kayla Gonzalez asked Crocker to come up with a plan on what the committee should look like, such as the number of members and who should be included along with a timeline.

The formation of a new committee was to be taken up on Sept. 16 during a Select Board workshop and again later that day during the board’s regular meeting, but they ran out of time. Instead, it will be taken as an agenda item during a future meeting.

“It’s going to be important to speak I think publicly on how we want to move forward with it,” Raymond Select Board Denis Morse said when postponing the discussion.

He did say that “a lot of the Jordan-Small Middle School could be used immediately without spending a lot of money because the town already has to start to absorb all the utilities and expenses.”

The town of Windham is also working toward a plan on how to reuse the Windham Middle School once the new school opens and the old one is no longer needed by the RSU 14 School District.

The Middle School Repurpose Advisory Committee serves as an advisory body to the Town Council and to analyze the potential re-uses for the school and a potential benefit as a community center.

The 20-member committee was charged with, during its deliberations, to use a community engagement study conducted in August 2019 “which identified the need to create a multigenerational home for all residents, that enhances the quality of life for Windham, provides flexible spaces for a range of activities, and is a self-sustaining business practice that fosters fun,” according to the committee webpage on the town’s website.

Also during the process, committee members are to “incorporate the migration of the services and space required for the Windham Public Library, Windham Parks and Recreation Department, Windham Social Services/Food Pantry facility and the Windham Medical Loan Closet facility into the new spaces as well as flexible spaces for the community to engage in various activities,” the webpage says.

The committee was also established to review the condition of the building and improvements that would be needed to accommodate new uses and come up with a budget and then report back to the Windham Town Council.

Windham Town Manager Robert Burns said the Town Council “is interested in the use of that facility” and is considering many different purposes such as a community center or for a town hall.

Moving the Windham Parks and Recreation Department to the building is another possibility, Burns said.

“It has a fair amount of some athletic opportunities over there. There’s a basketball court inside,” he said, saying that the large rooms at the school would be useful for that department.

He said the committee is about halfway through the process of coming up with a conceptual design along with an estimated cost.

He said an architect is looking at the square footage and to see how many different departments and functions the building could serve as home for.

“We’re excited to see where this leads,” Burns said.

Both towns will need support by their respective town council and select board as well as approval by residents before moving forward with any plan that committees develop.

“There’s a lot of steps yet to go through,” Burns said. He added, “it’s a very exciting opportunity for Windham residents.” <

Windham Primary School to start school year with popsicles

By Dina Mendros

It doesn’t get much better for kids on a summer day than enjoying an icy cold popsicle. To keep the summer fun going before heading back to school, Windham Primary School will once again be holding “Popsicles on the Playground with Principals” on Monday, Aug. 25. Two days after that on Aug. 27 is the official first day of school for first- through third-graders. Pre-kindergarten and kindergarten students start after Labor Day with half the students on Sept. 2 and the other half on Sept. 3.

Windham Primary School will once again be conductiing
the 'Popsicles on the Playground with Principals' event
to welcome students and their families back to school
from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 25.
COURTESY PHOTO  

According to WPS Principal Dr. Kyle Rhoads, a lot has taken place while students were having fun during summer vacation.

Some students didn’t have the whole summer off as a number were attending summer school. “Summer Academies, both online and in-person, were successful and well-received by families,” Rhoads said. “Like during the school year, our concerted efforts to support students make a difference. Impressive work indeed! Thanks to all the staff for their help this summer.”

There will be some new faces during the 2025-2026 school year. New WPS teachers include Pre-K teacher Tatum Ledue; Special Education teacher Ashley Dunham-Conway; Grade 1 teacher Kim Courtemanche; music teacher Sara Wolfe; part-time music teacher Marie Jacques; and part-time music teacher Eric Yim. Other new WPS staff members include Special Education Site Coordinator Kim Guptill; school psychologist Kaylee Jipson; and Special Education Ed Tech Amanda Day.

In addition to new faces some physical changes took place at the school over the summer. “The construction crews, tech department and custodial crews have been very busy getting our school ready on time,” Rhoads said. “Our school has been under construction with roof upgrades and a new gym floor. Many of our spaces have gotten a new paint job, too.”

WPS is one of the largest elementary schools in the state with about 780 registered students for school this fall. It serves students from Pre-K through third grade. The school's core values are teamwork, growth, creativity, and acceptance, with learners at the center.

Among the changes this year is the addition of a Pre-K classroom. “We are adding one Pre-K classroom because we had the chance to expand the overall RSU 14 Pre-K program,” Rhoads said. “In the future, we will expand Pre-K classes at Windham Primary School. Our program is just beginning, and it is exciting to welcome our first 4-year-olds.”

The school will be using the Building Assets, Reducing Risks (BARR) model for the second year.

“The model has been research-based for over 20 years and addresses the needs of students by strengthening teacher-student relationships and using real-time data to inform interventions,” Rhoads said. “However, successful implementation requires expert coaching and support. Teaching staff will have two full days of training with the organization this year.

Before the school year starts, students and their families will have a change to meet with Principal Rhoads and Assistant Principal Diana Jordan and other WPS staff at the “Popsicles on the Playground with Principals” from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Aug. 25. The event will include school tours, directions for the Parent Square app, playing on the playground, and of course, popsicles.

Rhoads said he started the event when he first became principal of WPS in 2008. “I used this event as one of my first opportunities to get to know the families of students. The following summer staff and families shared that they hoped I would continue the event. I decided to continue it. When our new playgrounds were built, it also became an opportunity to celebrate and enjoy them, too.”

“Popsicles with the Principal highlights many important parts of our school community,” he said. “Most importantly, it provides a great chance for the students, staff and families to reconnect after summer and build new relationships while enjoying popsicles and our beautiful playgrounds! We are looking forward to this opportunity to meet with the students and their families. The event is an indicator that school is returning, and summer is winding down.”

Later in the fall the annual WPS Fall Festival free school community event will take place from 1 to 4 p.m. on Oct. 25. Other family events for the year can be found at tinyurl.com/mw4a56x7.

Those wishing to volunteer at WPS for the first time should contact the office at 207-892-1840 or attend the Volunteer Orientation scheduled for Sept. 17 in the school library from noon to 6 p.m. <

Statewide alliance provides valuable guidance for private road residents

By Dina Mendros

Private roads are prevalent throughout Maine, especially in the Lakes Region. They are so commonplace in Windham and Raymond that both towns have resource pages on their town websites providing information about how to form a road association, references to state statutes regulating such roads as well as how to get in touch with the Maine Alliance for Road Associations.

Terrace Road at Thomas Pond is a privately
maintained road off Route 32 in Raymond 
and administered by a road association for
sharing costs of plowing, grading and
upkeep. PHOTO BY JIM BUNTIN 

The alliance, known as MARA, provides a wealth of information on road associations from how to form them to helping provide solutions for individuals and associations when problems arise.

MARA is a nonprofit corporation with a volunteer board of directors. It was formed in 1998 by Betsy Connor Bowen. “The alliance,” according to the MARA website, “is an online volunteer-sponsored community in response to the need to disseminate information to property owners who wish to form road associations for sharing maintenance costs of private ways under the continually evolving statute.”

MARA board member Andrew “Sandy” Allen says the organization helps members deal with “the challenges in common that face the people living along private roads in Maine, whether they belong to an informal road association, or a statutory road association, or a nonprofit corporate road association. Allen says they are concerned with road maintenance and sharing of expenses, understanding the laws that apply to road associations, and state laws.

He says they often have neighbor disagreements, and differences of opinion that we need to resolve to move forward with our maintenance in harmony and have a need for resources and answers to questions about the state laws that are now in existence.”

“MARA,” Allen said, “is formed to help answer questions that road association members might have and to provide perhaps some solutions to those problems that they might face.”

Maine’s road association statutes go way back stemming from archaic statutes having to do with private ways, MARA board member Roberta Manter said.

“Private ways were roads that were laid out at the request of an individual whose property was not yet connected to the public road system. Through changes in legislation and court cases it got to a point where the statutes didn’t apply to anything anymore,” she said. “Many people from lake associations and some other people went before the legislature and said, ‘look right now these statutes don’t apply to anything but it would be very useful if you just reworded it so they would apply to private roads rather than these private ways.’

“Although informal road associations may be successful for some owners, MARA favors the more formal ‘Statutory’ structure permitted by the Private Ways Statute,” according to the alliance website,” Manter said. “This statute offers road association governance through democratic processes, cost-sharing that is enforceable, and gravel road maintenance that is sustainable and environmentally friendly.”

Statute 23, sections 3101 through 3106, lays out how statutory road associations are formed and run. It also covers what happens when a private road property owner neglects to pay required fees for road maintenance, which can involve civil action; and it describes how a notice of claim at the county registry can be attached to the land for unpaid fees which must be paid upon the transfer of the land.

MARA is important because “many towns have more private roads than public roads,” Allen said.

In Windham, about 115 miles of roadways, roughly half, are private roads, according to Town Manager Robert Burns. He says that figure, which is from 2021, includes roads which are totally private as well as roads with public easements. Of the 108 private roads, 95 have public easements which allow the town to provide winter maintenance such as snow plowing.

According to Allen, private roads are very prevalent in Maine in part because of their expense, an expense that often municipalities don’t want to take on. When subdivisions are built, often the developer is responsible for building the road. Sometimes a town or city will accept a road as public and take on the expense for maintaining the roadway. However, even if a community had the will to do so, such roads would have to be built to the municipality’s standards, with shoulders, room for emergency vehicles, etc., and many private roads are not built to those standards.

To learn more about the Maine Alliance for Road Associations or become a member, go to the website maineroads.org. MARA’s website has resources regarding private road state laws, guidance on how to form a statutory road association, templates for road association bylaws, a discussion forum where members can post questions and other members can post answers and more.

In addition, to provide more information to its members the alliance holds an annual conference where attorneys, Maine Department of Environment Protection staff members and others hold workshops on specific topics like road maintenance and keeping roads environmentally friendly, liability insurance for road associations, conflict resolution, and more.

This year’s MARA conference will be held Oct. 4 at Maple Hill Farm Inn and Conference Center in Hallowell. To register or for more details, go to maineroads.org/ <

Raymond appoints new lead Code Enforcement Officer

By Dina Mendros

The Raymond Code Enforcement Office has a new head of the department, but he isn’t exactly a new face. Jason Williamson was hired last July as the assistant head of the town’s Code Enforcement Office, and after some on-the-job training by Chris Hanson, he was promoted to his new position by the Raymond Select Board on June 9.

Jay Williamson has been promoted from
Assistant Code Enforcement officer to
be the head Code Enforcement Officer
for the Town of Raymond by the
Raymond Select Board. He has worked
for the town since July 2024.
COURTESY PHOTO   

Williamson, 46, who is married with two young children built a home in Raymond and he and his family moved there about four years ago. He graduated from the University of New Hampshire and has a background in carpentry and building.

He says he got to a point where he didn’t think carpentry and building was a kind of work that he could do for many more years, so he decided to go into code enforcement.

“I thought maybe this would be a good transition for me,” he said.

Williamson says he enjoys his code enforcement job, which he finds both challenging and rewarding.

“The biggest challenges, I would say are when you’re dealing with some issues that crop up with neighbors,” he said. “It seems like you’re taking sides … but you’re really trying to be fair and not infringe on anybody’s rights.” Getting people to see the other side’s point of view “can be extremely difficult,” he said.

Some of the most rewarding parts of his job, Williamson says, include “I’ve gotten to meet a lot of really great people.” He said, “it’s nice when you can help someone figure out and navigate the ordinances and the codes to build a house.”

Also rewarding, Williamson said, is helping people figure out how to work with some of their land so they can sell it to a relative for them to build a house.

“It’s definitely rewarding if you can get somewhere for someone to live,” he said. “Housing is difficult to find these days and when someone can put on an addition to bring in an aging parent or for their child who can’t afford a place. I would say that’s probably the most rewarding.”

An important part of the job, Williamson says, has to do with enforcing shoreline zoning and protecting the waterways, as much of the building that takes place in Raymond is along or near lakes.

For example, in 2021 the town of Raymond was alerted to significant changes along Sebago Lake that violated shoreline zoning. The property owner reached a settlement in the past year which included payment to the town of $640,000 for legal fees and damages as well as replanting trees and shrubs and more, according to a report aired on WGME television.

Although this took place before Williamson was hired, he says that he’s responsible for making sure the remediation takes place and is on track.

“Protecting the water quality, making sure and informing homeowners when they are doing projects in and around the lakes and showing them how to do it in a manner that’s going to be respectful to the lake,” is one of his biggest responsibilities. Williamson said, “Everybody wants to do what they want with their property, but most people understand that there’s a responsibility of being down by the water. When you get people who understand is the most rewarding, I would say.”

According to Williamson, there’s no such thing as a typical day in code enforcement because “each situation can be so different.”

“Some days you might have two, three, four people come in just to make a complaint,” he said. “Other days you’ll have a lakefront property come up for sale and you’ll be fielding calls from real estate agents pretty much one right after the other because the competition is so fierce.”

Other reasons a typical day is hard to define, Williamson said, can be because the types of duties the department takes on not only includes code enforcement but also building inspections and land use. There are a lot of different responsibilities to the job and with only four people in the department, with only two of whom are code enforcers, staff are filling a lot of different shoes.

During his tenure with the town of Raymond’s Code Enforcement Office, Williamson says, “I’ve learned how difficult and multifaceted the job is. I hope I can perform in the job as well as I can.” <

Raymond voters to determine van program’s fate

By Dina Mendros

Raymond voters will decide Tuesday whether to approve funding a transportation system that would provide rides to grocery stores, doctors’ appointments and the like. The ride system would provide transportation for seniors, those without licenses and others who find it difficult to get where they need to go.

Raymond voters will decide on June 10 whether to fund a
mini-van for RTP's QuickRide program which would
schedule and provide transportation for local residents
anywhere within the town. SUBMITTED PHOTO 

At the June 10 election, residents will vote on whether to approve $67,500 in funding – Article 19, Referendum Question Q on the Town Warrant – which would be the town’s share for the QuickRide program. The town would partner with the Regional Transportation Program which would provide the service.

Unlike a typical bus service where people wait at established bus stops to catch a bus that drives a specific route, riders using QuickRide would schedule, either via telephone or online, a micro-van that would pick them up at their home and take them where they want to go within the Raymond community.

Raymond Town Manager Joseph Crocker compared the bus to an Uber service that provides door-to-door service.

“The thought is to get people to be transported to groceries or doctors’ appointments, things like that, in the area,” Crocker said. “Use almost like an Uber that comes to your house but through RTP. They have an app or office to call to schedule (a ride). They’ll pick you up at your location and then drop you off at either appointments or groceries. So it’s kind of like a scheduled transportation service. So, it’s a little more customizable than just a regular bus stop.”

The Quick Ride program is needed in Raymond, Crocker said.

“Public transportation has definitely been on the radar for people,” he said. “Obviously, being a rural area, it’s kind of tough to get to certain areas for like shopping or anything like that. It’s definitely been something that’s been heard in our community.”

Currently, Age Friendly Coordinator Debbie Tarr has been taking seniors to appointments in her own car, Crocker said. If voters do approve funding for the RTP mini-van program it will take the strain off Tarr and offer the ability to accommodate more people.

If approved, the QuickRide program would run Mondays through Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. It would start sometime this summer and continue year-round. Customers would pay about $3 per ride.

RTP Executive Director Don Libby said if Raymond voters approve funding, RTP and the town would run a 12-month QuickRide pilot program and then reevaluate how the program is working.

The program was started in January 2024 in Windham; it also runs in Gorham and Standish.

“The goal,” Libby said, “is to run in every town up and down the 302 corridor to Bridgton.”

The QuickRide program is working well in Windham, said Windham’s Age Friendly Coordinator Erica Bell-Watkins.

One of the reasons that Windham adopted the program was because transportation was identified as one of the top needs in a community survey, she said.

Anyone of any age can take advantage of the program, but it’s especially important for seniors, Bell-Watkins said.

“As people get older and decide not to drive or people sometimes use it because they’re getting their eyes dilated or getting a colonoscopy so it’s not just for people who don’t drive it’s for people who are not driving that day,” she said. “That QuickRide program has been very helpful. “It’s all been successful.”

She said she shared Windham’s experience with a town staffer in Raymond.

“I told her I thought it would be great for Raymond because it has been a great success here,” Bell-Watkins said.

Election Day voting in Raymond will take place from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, June 10 at Jordan-Small Middle School. <

Windham student first graduate from Integrated Studies Program at Saint Joseph’s College

By Dina Mendros

When Joanne Haibon graduated from high school, she didn’t consider going to college. The 26-year-old Windham resident has autism. Then her mother, Mary Haibon, learned of a pilot program at Saint Joseph’s College of Maine that seemed like it would be a good fit for her daughter.

Windham resident Joanne Haibon was the
first graduate from Saint Joseph's College
of Maine's new Integrated Studies Program.
She graduated from the program  on May 10.
SUBMITTED PHOTO  

Joanne was the first to apply to, be accepted into, and complete the Integrated Studies Program at the Standish school. The program is designed to provide a college experience for students with intellectual disabilities. It seeks to support every participant at their current academic level. Joanne was the first to graduate from the two-year non-credit certificate program on May 10.

Both Joanne and her mother said the program was “awesome.”

Initially, Joanne said she wasn’t interested in pursuing higher education. She said the last two years of high school “was not a pretty experience.” But after a little nudging from her mom, she applied to Saint Joseph’s.

“I was accepted, and it turned out to be a great experience,” Joanne said.

“The confidence and self-esteem that Joanne was able to build through this program,” Mary said, “all the skills that we’ve worked on for so long she really got to put into practice.”

In the beginning, going to college and attending classes was “overwhelming,” Joanne said. “But once you get past the overwhelming, you see it’s a lot easier.”

Students who enroll in the Integrated Studies Program can register for up to 16 credits per semester. Participants audit classes based on a modified curriculum tailored to their person-centered plans, said Shanna Webster, Associate Dean of Academic Success and Retention at Saint Joseph’s.

Joanne took a variety of courses in subjects like science, philosophy, communications and leadership at Saint Joseph’s. She also participated in internships each semester. A number of accommodations had to be made to help Joanne succeed.

For instance, she attended classes with a peer partner. Peer partners are students studying education and other programs that gave them the skills to help students like Joanne. Her peer partners helped Joanne by taking notes for her and helping her complete her assignments. Other accommodations that are available include having more time to take a test, completing fewer assignments and more.

During the two-year program, Mary said that she saw her daughter’s abilities grow.

“They really built up Joanne’s ability from the first semester, and the first class, to really doing much more the last semester,” Mary said. “By the end of her experience, Joanne was taking more notes, participating more fully in group projects and completing more of her assignments.”

“Everything was geared for her to be successful in the classroom,” Mary said.

Students in the Integrated Studies Program not only take classes but they can also participate in clubs and other college events and activities, like every other Saint Joseph student. Although Joanne was a commuter, those who want to live on campus to get the full college experience can do so.

The icing on the cake was when Joanne graduated.

“The ceremony was amazing,” Mary said. “When Joanne got up to get her certificate, the graduating class and everyone stood up and gave her a standing ovation.”

Although she has graduated, Joanne said that she plans to continue commuting to campus and work in the college mailroom.

Since Joanne, more students have been accepted into the program, and the Integrated Studies Program has been officially institutionalized.

“In the past year, we had three students enrolled in our Integrated Studies Program,” Webster said. “Two of these students were residents on campus, and we are thrilled that both will be returning for a second year. For fall 2025, we have already accepted another student participant and have a final interview scheduled this week for another promising candidate.”

Mary said she’s thrilled the program is continuing and growing. “Obviously we’re so proud of Joanne,” Mary said. “She worked through so much and a lot of anxiety to do this and we just want to see this program grow because it’s a wonderful opportunity for others.”

For those who are unsure if the Integrated Studies Program is for them, Joanne advises them to go for it.

“It will be worth it in the end,” she said. <