City of Portland Alerts

City News Round Up for Friday, September 2, 2022

9/2/2022 - 11:54 AM

City News Round Up: Friday, September 2, 2022
Please check our agenda center for the full schedule of upcoming Committees, Boards, and Commission meetings. To view agendas, backup materials, and videos from past meetings, please visit www.portlandmaine.gov/agendas. Read a recap of the City Council’s September 1 meeting. The City Council meets next on September 19.

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.

Tonight: First Friday Art Walk + Summer Stage
Join Creative Portland tonight, 5:00-8:00PM, in Monument Square for a free concert (get the details and line-up here); the Summer Stage Series is a live local showcase and free concert series that takes place during the summer First Friday Art Walks. Download the First Friday Art Walk map for tonight here.
Save the date! All are invited to the ribbon-cutting events for 5 new creative bus shelters, happening next Thursday, 9/8, 10AM to 3PM. Click here to visit the Creative Portland website for times and location.

High Street Traffic Alert
High Street - from Spring Street to Congress Street - will continue to have periodic closures due to emergency utility work. As much as possible, one lane will remain open while crews perform the restoration work. Please anticipate delays when traveling in this area. If you think you may have lost service due to this work, please contact Consolidated Communications’ Customer Service at 844-968-7224. We apologize for the inconvenience. 

Franklin Towers Update
You may have read about the power outage at Franklin Towers due to the storm last week. Our Housing Safety and Fire Prevention staff have been working closely with Portland Housing Authority this week, helping to create an implementation plan to ensure tenants' safety, as well as compliance with building and fire codes. 

Public Restrooms: New Locations Now Available

We’ve added additional public restrooms across the city. To view all locations, please visit this GIS map

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. Learn more about this position and apply here.

Greater Portland METRO Updated Service Changes

Service changes went into effect Sunday, August 28 for the METRO, read the full updates on their 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.

City JDEI Director Search in Progress

We are currently looking for our first Justice, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (JDEI) Director to 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.

Thursday, 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

Friday, 9/9: September Coffee and Climate, EV Charging
Join our Sustainability staff for this month's Coffee and Climate chat with a focus on Electric Vehicles and EV Charging. Efficiency Maine will be there to answer any and all of your EV questions. Register and get the Zoom link here.

Saturday, 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.

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, read the full story of the 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. 

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

Back Cove West Project Update & Upcoming Road Closure: Paving will start soon. Read the full alert here.

Stevens Avenue Roadwork: Read the full alert on our website here.
Speed tables will be installed the week of 9/5/22, and long line striping should be completed that week as well with the crosswalk the following week (9/12).

Update: Elm Street Painting Delayed
Supply chain issues delayed the crosswalks and hatching painting on Elm Street (specialized paint products on backorder). This street will soon have proper markings to identify vehicle lane, bike lane, and bus lane. 

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. 

Project Update: Fore Street/Eastern Promenade Sewer Separation Project
Read the full project update here