Town Contact Information

Town of Castine, 67 Court St., P.O. Box 204, Castine, ME 04421

Telephone: 326-4502 Fax: 326-9465

Website: castine.me.us

Email: townoffice@castine.me.us

Hours: Open Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

Selectmen meet: 1st and 3rd Mon. 4 p.m.

Tax Collector & Town Clerk: Same as town office hours

Municipal Information

Town Description

Historically, the flags of four nations have flown over Castine. With the village listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Castine has worked to keep its storied past vivid, with an active historical society, signs indicating locations where notable events occurred, and continuing efforts to maintain the elegant elm trees that still line many streets.

On Main Street, the post office, opened in 1814, is the second oldest in continuous operation in the United States. Witherle Memorial Library is Maine’s oldest municipal library, established as such by the town in 1855.

Castine has been the prize sought in a number of military engagements, starting with a raid by the English in 1613, which was the beginning of disputes over the boundary between French Acadia and the English colonies.

Since 1867, the town has been home to an institution of higher learning. The Eastern State Normal School prepared students to meet the growing need for teachers in Maine. Its facilities became the basis of Maine Maritime Academy, a college of engineering, business, science and transportation, when the normal school closed in the spring of 1942. With the academy vessels’ year-round presence and summer boaters, the town has an active waterfront.

Town Officials

Town elections are held in November. Town meeting is held in May.

Town Manager

Shawn Blodgett 326-4502

Selectboard

Gordon MacArthur, chair 326-4042

Roberta Boczkiewicz 326-5016

Daniel Leader 914-388-1533

Clerk, Registrar of Voters

Susan Macomber 326-4502

Finance Officer, Tax Collector, Treasurer

Karen Motycka 326-4502

Code Enforcement Officer

Shawn Blodgett 326-4502

Plumbing Inspector

Peter Vogell 326-9334

Health Officer

Ingrid Scott 610-9193

Animal Control Officer

Henry Erhard 326-4502 after hours, call 326-8509

Planning Board

Douglas Wellington, chair, Beverly Bishop, Tom Comiciotto, Don Tenney, Jim Bernard

Board of Appeals

James Shanley, chair, Michael Coughlin, Amy Gutow, Bobby Vagt; Bill Lyons, alt., Mark Morgoini, alt.

Recreation Committee

Karen Cukierski, chair 326-8774

Jessica Simmons, Sara Kneisel, Therese Biggie Daniel Gardner, alt. and Ryan Jarvis, alt .

Harbor Committee

Zander Parker, chair, Bill Corbett, J.T. Loomis, David Wyman; Tim Leach, Dan Willis, MMA representative; Amelia Griffith, alt., John Legg, alt.

Harbormaster

Scott Vogell 266-9392

Utility Board

Kirk Langford, chair, Josh Adam, Gordon “Mac” MacArthur, Carl Olson

Historic Preservation Commission

Marc Pelletier, chair, Kelly Gaultieri, Brooke Tenney, and George Trinovitch, alt.

Tax Information

Types of properties assessed and subject to tax: land, building, personal property. Bills mailed mid-July and due mid-Sep. Interest on unpaid bills changes annually, per state rate. Rules used to determine value: state statutes. Tax exemptions: homestead; veterans; blind; state, federal, municipal properties; churches; hospitals, etc. To appeal assessment, file for abatement first. To calculate property tax: assessment multiplied by mill rate. Mill rate changes annually.

Town Ordinances

Zoning, subdivision, historic preservation, entrance and excavation, flood plain management, sewer, solid waste, waterfront, E-911.

Permits

Types of permits needed: building, flood plain, subdivision, sewer connection, plumbing, historic preservation (if applicable) and fire permits. Available at town office. Burning permits available from fire chief and asst. chief.

Post Office

Castine 04421 326-8551

Lobby: Mon.-Fri. 7:45 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Sat. 7:30-11:30 a.m.

Window: Mon-Fri. 9 a.m.-12 p.m. and 1-4:30 p.m. Sat. 8:30-11:30 a.m.

Passports processed by appointment: Mon.-Fri. 9 a.m.-12 p.m. and 1-3:30 p.m.

Castine by

the Numbers

Geographic Profile

Total area: 5,053 acres (7.9 sq. mi.)

Land: 5,053 acres

Bog: 0

Flood: 120 acres

Inland water: 0

Population

1990: 1,161

2000: 1,343

2010: 1,366

2020: 1,320

Education

Education Contact Numbers

Union 93 Superintendent of Schools

20 Hinckley Ridge Rd.

P.O. Box 630, Blue Hill

Derek Perkins, supt.

Dawn McLaughlin, asst. supt.

374-9927

schoolunion93.org

Adams School

27 School St. Castine

Fred Cole, principal 326-8608

adamsschool.com

School Board

Kate Noel, chair 484-433-2205

Johanna Barrett 326-5099

Kathryn Kana 322-8568

Enrollment

Pre-K-8—Adams School 51; home school 9. Grades 9-12—George Stevens Academy 15; Blue Hill Harbor School 2; John Bapst 7, Bucksport 1, MDI 1.

Emergency and

Public Services

Trash & Recycling

Transfer Station hours: Tue.-Fri., 8 a.m.-1 p.m., Sat. 8 a.m.-noon, closed Sun. and Mon. Curbside pick-up of stickered, non-recyclable waste is each Mon. These items should be out by 7:30 a.m. When a holiday falls on a Mon., pick-up will be on Tue. Notice of this will be posted. Recycling days are the first and third Tue. of each month. All recyclable items must be placed by the curb by 7:30 a.m. in clear plastic bags to ensure pick-up. In case of inclement weather, hold materials for the next scheduled recycling day. Recycling guides are available at Emerson Hall.

Note: During the summer months, if there is enough demand, curbside recycling will take place weekly.

Public Restrooms

Summers dockside, Emerson Hall.

Parking Restrictions

Review Traffic Ordinance posted at castine.me.us as parking regulations are enforced.

Fire Department

To report a fire: 911

Non-emergency numbers:

Randy Stearns, fire chief 557-7721

Jack Spratt, asst. fire chief 812-2705

Tom Gutow, asst. fire chief 266-8331

Fire Station (non-emergency) 326-8767

Fire permits need fire chief or asst. fire chief approval. Contact them for permit or call the town office for assistance.

Recreation

Walking Trails

A town walking map is available from the town office.

Witherle Woods Preserve, 132 acres of old-growth woods maintained by Maine Coast Heritage Trust, offers a network of trails, including 300 feet of ocean frontage along Blockhouse Point; Hatch Cove Preserve, Castine Road; Rene Henderson Natural Area, The Shore Road, Rte. 166A; Starr Virginia Lampson Preserve, Rte. 199, just off Rte. 166A; Greenbie Natural Area, Rte. 166A; Dunc’s Meadow, Rte. 166.

Public Landings

Town dock, ramp, float, launch and tie-up, timed parking is available.

Cemeteries

Castine Cemetery

Bradford Tenney, chair Victoria Blackwood, Kathy Eaton, Ruth Eaton, Don Small