Windham Town Council establishes sewer rate for North Windham wastewater system

By Ed Pierce

During the final Windham Town Council meeting of the year on Dec. 9, councilors established a sewer rate for the new North Windham Sewer District, setting the amount at $16 per cubic feet per month based upon usage effective April 1, 2026.

Members of the Windham Town Council listen to a
presentation about Freedom of Access Act rules during
a meet8ing at Windham Town Hall on Dec. 9. From
left are Councilors Katie Cook, Maggie Terry, David
Nadeau and Mark Morrison. PHOTO BY ED PIERCE

Windham Town Manager Robert Burns said that this initial rate is offset by Tax Increment Financing funding, and the rate could eventually decrease as more businesses in North Windham start using the sewer system.

“We have put in a terrific amount of time doing research and analyzing our budgets and trying to project into the future the operational costs in conjunction with the water district for this facility,” Burns said. “Recognizing that at initial startup the plant will not be anywhere near full capacity or even at half capacity. We will be subsidizing some TIF funds to keep those rates affordable for our businesses.”

Still under construction, a new wastewater treatment facility is being built on the grounds of Manchester School in North Windham. It was approved by voters in 2023 and is expected to remove 25,000 pounds of nitrogen and phosphorus pollutants each year being dumped by septic systems into the aquifer and watershed. The installation of sewers is expected to stimulate significant economic growth in Windham and lead to development in the area by industries and businesses not willing to locate here because of associated septic system issues and costs.

Through an agreement between RSU 14 and the Town of Windham, in exchange for locating the new wastewater treatment site at Manchester School, the town has created four new playing fields for youth sports at the school. RSU 14 will also be able to shift its wastewater treatment operations at Windham High School to the new facility.

The new North Windham Wastewater Treatment facility will use Membrane Bio-Reactor technology with innovative drip dispersal and will be the first system to use drip dispersal of this scale in Maine. This technology is designed to improve the quality of local groundwater and local waterways, and was selected for its reliability, flexibility, and cost effectiveness.

Burns told the council that the TIF subsidy is $6 per cubic feet per month and amounts to more than $1 million in TIF funds.

Councilors also awarded $1.2 million to Wyman & Simpson, Inc. for the town’s portion of $607,250 in general obligation bond funding for replacing Varney’s Bridge on William Knight Road in conjunction with the Maine Department of Transportation. Seven bids were submitted to replace the bridge, which was originally built in 1950.

During a MaineDOT inspection six years ago, issues were found with the bridge’s concrete abutments, and reduced the allowable load to 3 tons, making it not possible for construction trucks, dump trucks, garbage trucks, and other large vehicles to cross the bridge because of the weight limitation.

The bridge is a steel structure and scouring from the river has caused erosion where the bridge’s concrete abutments contact the water. There has also been rusting on the steel supports which need to be replaced.

Bridge replacement work is expected to start this coming spring and be completed by summer 2026.

The council also awarded a disbursement of $3,766 from the Substance Prevention Grant Program Fund to fund Windham Middle School’s orchestra and choral student participation during the Trills & Thrills Music Festival in New Hampshire next spring. Councilor Maggie Terry questioned how the funding fits the criteria for a substance prevention grant but was informed that the program allows grants for healthy and positive activities. The Trills and Thrills Music Festival is a non-competitive, motivational, one-day music festival for students attending elementary, middle school and high school bands, orchestras and choirs.

In other actions, the council voted to appoint Councilor Katie Cook as representative to the Natural Resources Advisory Committee, and the Master Fee Schedule pertaining to Shoreland Zoning application review fees.

Councilors approved updating the town’s Shoreland Zoning District fees to $75 for clearing or removal of vegetation and the zoning review fee to $250. Burns said that the fee changes are intended to better reflect the complexity and staff time involved in reviewing applications within the shoreland zoning districts, particularly those involving expansions of non-conforming structures and "greatest practical extent" determinations which often require moving structures away from the waterbody or wetland.

The council also received Freedom of Access Act training presented by Town Attorney Ben McCall of the Drummond Woodsum Law Firm and reviewed an informational handout regarding the upcoming sewer connection process in the new year. Windham Planning Director Steve Puleo briefed councilors about a new timeline for an updated 2016 Town Comprehensive Plan requiring changes mandated by the Maine Legislature’s approval of LD 1751 requiring legal compliance, address housing affordability, and sustainable growth for the next decade. LD 1751 requires municipalities to adopt housing-friendly policies, including density allowances and streamlined permitting. <

Winning candidates to be sworn into office following municipal election

By Ed Pierce

The voters have spoken and three new Windham Town Councilors and two members of the RSU 14 Board of Directors representing Windham will be sworn in prior to the next meeting for both entities this month.

Winning candidates in Tuesday's election are from left top
row, Maggie Terry (Windham Town Council North District),
Doug Fortier (Windham Town Council South District),
Katie Cook (Windham Town Council At-Large), bottom
row from left are Christina Small (RSU 14 Board of
Directors) and Matthew Irving (RSU 14 Board of
Directors).  COURTESY PHOTOS
  

For the Windham Town Council, three incumbent councilors, including Jarrod Maxfield (North District), Nick Kalogerakis (South District) and John Henry (At-Large) chose not to seek re-election to those positions.

Voters elected three new councilors to serve three-year non-partisan terms on the town council during Tuesday’s municipal election.

In the North District, Margaret “Maggie” Terry will succeed Maxfield, picking up 3,221 votes to defeat Deborah Devou, who had 2,621 votes.

Terry is the business owner of Legal Label Inc. and Seahorse Alley LLC. During her campaign, she said she was seeking a town council position to address Windham’s increasing property tax burden and the challenges posed by rapid growth.

“I am particularly concerned about the impact of new state housing mandates on our infrastructure and community character,” Terry said. “My goal is to promote responsible development, preserve Windham’s heritage, and pursue alternative revenue strategies that reduce reliance on property taxes while maintaining essential services.”

For the South District, Doug Fortier received 3,736 votes to defeat Michael Russin, who had 1,826 votes.

Fortier owns a Christmas tree farm and had served for 20 years as Public Works Director for the Town of Windham before retiring in 2023. He says he grew up and has lived in Windham since 1970.

“I feel working for the town has given me insight of how the town works and what its needs are and help move it forward,” he said.

In the race for the At-Large council seat, Cook’s 2,273 votes earned the position, topping former town councilor Clayton Haskell’s 2,234 votes and Joseph Campbell’s 1,575 votes.

Cook is an Information Technology and Litigation Support Manager. She said she was running for town council because she believes Windham deserves leadership that listens, plans wisely, and protects taxpayers.

“I’m not here to play politics, I’m here to serve,” she said. “I want to make sure every decision made at Town Hall reflects the values and priorities of the people who live here. That means clear communication, smart budgeting, and a commitment to keeping Windham a place we’re proud to call home.”

In a five-candidate race with the top two vote tallies earning seats for three-year terms on the RSU 14 Board of Directors, incumbent Christina Small and first-time candidate Matthew Irving will be sworn in later this month.

Currently serving as RSU 14 Board Chair, Small picked up 2,888 votes, while Irving received 2,483 votes. Adam Zajac was third with 2,327 votes, while Megan Potter had 1,644 votes and Destiny Johnson received 1,629 votes.

Small has served on the RSU 14 Board of Directors for five years. She is a stay-at-home mother who says she sought re-election because she cares deeply about this community and public education.

“My goal has only ever been to support the staff and students of RSU 14,” Small said.

Irving is a former classroom counselor and community mental health worker who is now a stay-at-home father. He said he was running because he wants the best future possible for area children.

“I am a graduate of public schools and a first-generation public university graduate, so I can vouch for the value of public education,” he said. “Our kids need relevant skills and confidence in their ability to think critically in a tumultuous world. Our board needs people who engage respectfully with our community and contribute with well-researched ideas, which I will do.”

Voters in Windham and Raymond were among state residents casting ballots in Tuesday’s election to decide the fate of two statewide referendum questions.

Referendum Question 1 asked voters “Do you want to change Maine election laws to eliminate two days of absentee voting, prohibit requests for absentee ballots by phone or family members, end ongoing absentee voter status for seniors and people with disabilities, ban prepaid postage on absentee ballot return envelopes, limit the number of drop boxes, require voters to show certain photo ID before voting, and make other changes to our elections?”

The question failed statewide, with 256,326 no votes to 144,925 yes votes, or a margin of 63.9 percent to 36.1 percent. In Windham, 4,321 no votes were cast, on Question 1, while 2,558 voted yes. In Raymond, 1,185 no votes were received to 800 yes votes on Question 1.

Referendum Question 2 asked “Do you want to allow courts to temporarily prohibit a person from having dangerous weapons if law enforcement, family, or household members show that the person poses a significant danger of causing physical injury to themselves or others?”

The question was approved statewide, with 252,687 yes votes to 147,022 no votes, or a margin of 63.2 percent to 36.8 percent. In Windham, 4,403 yes votes were tallied for Question 2 to 2,465 no votes. In Raymond, 1,189 yes votes were recorded, while 793 voted no. <