City News Round Up: Friday, August 26, 2022
Please check our agenda center for the full schedule of upcoming Committees, Boards, and Commission meetings. Read the recap of the August 8 City Council meeting here.  To view agendas, backup materials, and videos from past meetings, please visit www.portlandmaine.gov/agendas. The next City Council meeting is Thursday, September 1 at 5:00 PM. Along with regular city business, this is a special meeting for Public Hearings on Charter Commission proposals as well as Council consideration of action to place the proposals on the November ballot.

High Street Closed from Spring Street to Congress St for Emergency Utility Repair Work
Due to an unforeseen incident related to construction work in Congress Square, High Street is closed from Spring Street to Congress Street for emergency utility repair work. The closure is in effect immediately and is expected to last for several days. We will provide updates as they become available. All non-industrial and commercial traffic will be detoured from High Street onto Spring Street southeast (right) and southwest (left). It is recommended that industrial and commercial traffic use West Commercial Street to St. John Street and Commercial Street to Franklin Street to avoid the closure. 

9/5: Upcoming Holiday Closure 
City Hall and City offices will be closed Monday, September 5 in observance of Labor Day; trash and recycling will be collected as normal. See the full Trash and Recycling Holiday schedule on our website.

Barron Center Staffer Receives Excellence Award
We are proud to announce that Joshua Stevens, Nurse Manager, at the Barron Center is one of 13 caregivers across the state chosen as a recipient of the 2022 Excellence in Long Term Care Award. Read the full story via our news update here.

8/29 Hiring Event: Police Officers and Telecommunicators
The Portland Police Department is holding an in-person hiring event on Monday, August 29, 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM in the plaza at 109 Middle Street. This event requires no pre-registration and is a great opportunity for applicants to learn about becoming a Portland Police Officer or Telecommunicator (911 Dispatcher). Read job descriptions and learn more about this hiring event here. 

City JDEI Director Search Begins
We are currently looking for our first Justice, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (JDEI) Director. The JDEI Director will lead the City’s first Office of Justice, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and report to the City Manager. This position will also act as an advisor on issues of diversity, equity, and inclusive practices throughout the City, within City government and throughout the broader community. Learn more about the JDEI position.

Recreation Programmers Needed for After School Program
Do you have excellent customer service skills and enjoy working with children? Our Recreation team has an opportunity for you to engage with the community through a variety of recreational activities. This position is responsible for monitoring and engaging with program participants in the After the Bell Program. The After School Program schedule begins in late August, and the hours vary to include the After School program: 2:00 PM to 5:30 PM (M-F). CEBA Union – Grade 4 - $16.67/hour. Learn more about this position and apply here.

Save the Date, 9/8: City Hosts Navy Band Northeast Brass Quintet
We're hosting the Navy Band Northeast Brass Quintet at Fort Allen Park (49 Eastern Promenade) on Thursday, September 8, 2022 at 5:30 PM, learn more about the quintet here.

Save the Date, 9/10: Sustainable Land Care Event, Deering Oaks Park
Visit our Sustainability staff at Deering Oaks Park on Saturday, 9/10, 10:00 AM - 12:00 Noon. They will be joined by experts from Cumberland County Soil and Water Conservation District, UMaine Cooperative Extension, and the Maine Department of Agriculture to share information and resources on organic land care, soil testing, composting and more! See more event details on our City calendar.

Survey: Portland Public Library wants to hear from you!
Can you give the Portland Public Library five minutes of your time and feedback? Please take their quick survey here. Don't use the Library? That's okay! They would love  to hear from everyone in our community. The survey is open through Monday, August 31 at 9AM.

Redlon Woods Expanded in the Rosemont Neighborhood
We're happy to announce the Land Bank Commission has added a new parcel of land to expand the wooded area known as Redlon Woods in the Rosemont neighborhood. Maintaining this open space will contribute to healthy forest, wetlands and most importantly climate mitigation benefits. Read the full story of the expansion here. The Land Bank also added a new parcel of land to expand the Riverton Trolley Park this month. Read more about the Riverton Trolley Park expansion here.

Vital Records Can Now Be Requested Online
You can now request vital records online and have them directly mailed to you without coming into City Hall! Learn more on our website via the City Clerk.

November 2022 Election: Request Your Absentee Ballot Online
The online portal is now open to request absentee ballots for the November 8 General Election, visit portlandmaine.gov/absentee. Residents may also call the City Clerk's office to request a ballot: Mon-Fri, 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM: 207-874-8677. Please visit portlandmaine.gov/elections for additional information regarding the upcoming election. 

Parks and Recreation Updates

Don’t miss this great story in the Portland Press Herald featuring our Park and Play program. Learn more about these updates, and more,  via the July Parks and Recreation newsletter.

Work With Us!
We currently have multiple job openings across a variety of departments, view the full list of openings here. 

DPW Paving Updates and Ongoing Construction Projects

Please visit portlandmaine.gov/PublicWorks for information links to all the most recent DPW project updates. The current and ongoing paving projects have been updated on our website here

New: Stevens Avenue Paving Extended Through August 29
Stevens Avenue paving was rescheduled today due to wet conditions, and will now take place Monday, 8/29; the side streets will be paved Tuesday, 8/30. The speed tables will be installed the week of 9/5/22 to allow the pavement to settle. Long line striping should be completed that week as well with the crosswalk the following week (9/12). Read the full alert on our website here.

Update: Elm Street Painting Delayed
Supply chain issues delayed the crosswalks and hatching painting on Elm Street (specialized paint products on backorder); project tentatively completed the week of 8/29-9/2.

Update: Forest Ave Paving Starts September 6
MaineDOT is preparing to pave Forest Avenue from Congress Street to Park Avenue. This street is currently proposed for repair and resurfacing during the 2022 construction season.

Reminder: Alder Street Changed To Southbound

Veranda Street Bridge Update
8/22-8/23: Shaw Brothers will be paving Veranda Street and the ends of Wordsworth, Olympia, and Oregon streets, as well as the on and off ramps. Extended delays should be anticipated between 8AM-5PM and possibly into Wednesday, 8/24. Read the full details here. 

Forest Ave. and Avalon Rd Sewer Separation Starts August 15, 6 weeks
Construction is anticipated to begin the week of August 15 on the Forest Ave. at Avalon Road sewer separation project for six weeks. Read the full traffic alert here.