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Portland, Connecticut                      New to this site?

Click picture for From the 1st Selectwoman.   Portland Businesses Economic Development Located in Central Connecticut, Portland was once famous for its brownstone quarries, shipbuilding industry and quality tobacco farming.     Mindful of its heritage, today's Portland retains its proud New England character while embracing the challenges of the 21st century.        Whenever you see this image, place your cursor over it to see what information it may lead to. Headlines New Cub Scout Registration-Portland There will be a joint registration for new cub scouts joining Cub Scout Pack 15 and Pack 49 on Tuesday, May 13, 2008, 6:30pm, at the Senior Center, 7 Waverly Avenue, Portland.      Boys entering grades 1 through 5 are eligible to join Tiger, Wolf, Bear, Webelos I and Webelos II ranks. Cub Scouting is designed to teach positive values and skills that will last a lifetime, while having fun. It is a family oriented program aimed at maintaining family values while beginning to foster leadership skills.      Over the years the packs have enjoyed parades, baseball games, summer activities, hikes, sleep-over’s, pinewood derbies and much more. Anyone interested in joining Cub Scouting is encouraged to attend the registration. If you are unable to attend the registration or have any questions, please contact the Pack 15 Cubmaster Joe Balskus at 342-5410 or the Pack 49 Cubmaster Rob Wojciechowski at 342-4932 or cubmaster@portlandpack49.org. Is your Home Property Identified The Annual Portland Memorial Day Parade is scheduled for Sunday May 25th starting at 2:00 PM, Rain or Shine. The parade route will commence at the intersection of Victoria Road and Main Street, stopping briefly for a moment of respect at the Civil War Monument located at the corner of Main and William Streets; the review stand will again be located in front of the Brownstone Intermediate School (314 Main Street), the parade will travel onto Waverly Avenue, onto East Main Street past the Town Hall, onto Fairview Street and ending behind the Town Hall at the Veteran's Memorial Park. Revised Proposed FY 2009 Budget Work on Veterans Memorial Coming Together Brick by Brick People can still apply for the IRS Economic Stimulus Payment until 10/15/2008 Vets Collecting Items for Overseas No brush pickup! As approved by the voters in this year's budget and reaffirmed by the Board of Selectmen at their March 5, 2008 meeting, there will be no brush pickup this spring. Basic Financial Statement 2007* *Public viewing copies are available at the Library and in the Town Clerks’ office. Wood Burning Stove Safety Ethics Ordinance, Adopted Chatham Health District Promoting American Heart Month during February The Chatham Health District urges Residents to Test for Radon Gas during January Radon Action Month Radon Fact Sheet (5.09 Megabytes) 2007 Election Results Town Charter Proposal 5 or... Town Charter Proposal 5 with Explanatory Notes Please read the DRAFT changes to the Portland Town Charter as proposed by the Charter Revision Commission - Version 5. The current Town Charter is also available for review. Playground at Brownstone Intermediate School State funds bring new playground equipment to Portland. Images from Road Race 2007 2007 Come on Over Road Race Map (TIF) Terrorism Hotline Posters (PowerPoint, 4.33 Megabytes)) Wildlife in Town DARE Graduation Photos Portland High School Graduation 2007 Veterans Memorial Dedication 2007 Approved Budget (large file, 6.12 MG) May 14, 2007 First Referendum ($28,381,039) YES: 528 NO: 681 Budget failed May 30, 2007 Second Referendum ($27,989,141) YES: 607 NO: 493 Budget passed The Mill Rate will be set June 6, 2007 at the Board of Selectmen's Meeting. Financial Statements & Supplemental Schedules Residents! Please notify the Public Works Department if you notice a street light in your neighborhood is out or stays on continuously. Call 342-6733 to specify the exact location and, if possible, the pole number. Clean Energy Enrollment Form Stormwater Pollution (A message from Public Works) Gildersleeve Education Trust Application Emergency Preparedness   (See From the First Selectwoman for information from Susan Bransfield.)

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IRS Stimulus Payment – It’s Not Too Late!

Do you qualify for an Economic Stimulus Payment? Have you filed a 2007 federal tax return? Then your rebate will automatically go out by mail or direct deposit starting early May. If you normally don’t have to file taxes because your income is low, this year you need to file Form 1040A to get a Stimulus Payment. This includes people who receive at least $3,000 in earnings and/or benefits from Social Security, VA disability or a Retired Railroad Worker’s pension.

By law, the IRS cannot issue any economic stimulus payment checks or Direct Deposits after Dec. 31, 2008. Individuals must file the simple tax form with enough time left in the calendar year for the IRS to process it and issue the economic stimulus payment before the end of the year. If you didn’t make the April 15 deadline, you automatically have until October 15 to file a tax return solely to receive an economic stimulus payment. You do not have to file a form to be granted an extension. However, you must file by October 15 so the IRS can process your return and issue a stimulus payment before the end of the year.

Ask for tax forms at the Information Desk at the Library.

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The Veterans Affairs Committee is again collecting items to send to deployed service members as a token of appreciation. Items will be collected from March 28 to April 14 and sent to Jim Stotler (Portland teacher) and Colleen McBrien (Portland resident).

Collection sites: Tri Town Grocery Store, Portland Country Market, Quonset Hut, all four Portland Schools, and the Barber Shop (321 Marlborough Street — across from Tri Town Plaza)

List of acceptable items:

• International Calling Card (AT&T)
  
• Magazines
  
• Baby wipes
  
• Razors
  
• Foot powder
  
• Socks – preferred: Brown, Black, Green; but any color will be accepted
  
• Brown Army t-shirts
  
• Q-tips
  
• AA Batteries
  
• Ziploc baggies
  
• Deck of Playing Cards
  
• Stick-up Air Fresheners (industrial strength if possible)
  
• Chapsticks
  
• Sweat bands
  
• Ramen Noodles
  
• Breakfast bar snacks
  
• Slim Jims (pocket sized for long patrols)
  
• Listerine Pocket Packs (specifically pocket packs)
  
• Chewing Gum
  

Please, NO liquids, NO canned goods, No pork products.

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Wildlife in Town

The Town has recently received a number of questions concerning coyotes, foxes, and other Wildlife animals in our neighborhoods.

The State Department of Environmental Protection is a wonderful resource for information concerning wildlife. The following information is from the DEP (www.ct.gov/dep):

Dealing with Distressed Wildlife
Be Cautious! Never touch any wild animal if it can be avoided. Always keep children and pets away. If you must touch an animal, always wear gloves. This will protect both you and the animal. In many cases, an animal that bites or scratches a person will need to be killed to test it for rabies.

If an animal appears to be sick, it may not be safe to handle it! If an animal is stumbling, staggering, walking in circles, dragging a limb or the hind end, or if it is acting strangely (approaching people or pets in an aggressive manner) never attempt to handle the animal. Call your local Animal Control Officer, Police Department or DEP Dispatch (860-424-3333) immediately to get assistance.

Wild animals can be dangerous! Their behavior is often unpredictable. Do not attempt to rescue a potentially dangerous animal without assistance from someone with experience.

Assess the situation before picking up an animal!
Wild animals often leave their young unattended for several hours or more. Be aware that animals thought to be orphans may not need your assistance. Do not intervene unless you are certain that the animal is orphaned, it is obviously injured or it is in immediate danger. If you suspect that an animal is orphaned, watch from a distance for a minimum of several hours and attempt to reunite the orphan with its mother.

Remember that it is illegal for any person, other than a state appointed rehabilitator, to care for wildlife. If you think an animal needs help, make sure to contact a wildlife rehabilitator. Get more information by calling DEP Dispatch (860-424-3333).

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Is Your Home Properly Identified?

You may not notice or think about it often, but on a regular basis emergency personnel respond to addresses both residential and business that are not properly or readily indentified by clear, easy to read numbers. Even though the technology of global positioning systems have made things easier for responders in recent history, if an address is not properly identified it is confusing and costly in response time to save lives.

The Town of Portland's Code of Ordinances states: "It shall be the duty of the owners of all residential, commercial, industrial and other buildings within the Town of Portland to identify such buildings or parts thereof as herein provided." The ordinance outlines the assignment of numbers to be performed by the Town and reserves the right to authorize changing any building's number. It is the property owner's responsibility to comply with this ordinance at their expense and to maintain these numbers in good repair throughout the life of the building.

The identification number shall be located on the exterior front of the building and/or on a post, sign, mailbox or other device located between the building and the street fronting the building. The numerals shall be at least 3-1/2 inches in height and shall be of a contrasting color of the background material to which they are affixed and of substantially permanent materials. Spelled out numbers are not acceptable. They shall be affixed as to not be easily effaced or removed and shall be located between 4 feet and 10 feet in height above the ground directly below them. When a building is more than 100 feet from the fronting street or obstructed from view, the driveway entrance must also be identified with the given street number. Entrances of common driveways must have all associated numbers at the street entrance and at each intersecting driveway in addition to the house mounted number.

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Last Updated: May 5, 2008