Keep an eye out for your copy in the mail or fill it out online!

https://bit.ly/AF-Fayette-MTV-​Vienna-Survey

DO YOUR CIVIC (and personal) DUTY!

Have you filled out your Aging in Place Survey yet? Deadline May 15th!

Please take 10 minutes and fill it out. We want to hear from every household.

You may respond via a printed survey with a prepaid return envelope (should have received one in the mail 2 weeks ago)

─ OR fill it out at a town office or library (we have more copies!)

─ OR go online at your convenience anytime from now until May 15 using this link or QR code:

https://bit.ly/AF-Fayette-MTV-Vienna-Survey

Funding for the needs assessment has been provided by the Maine Health Access Foundation, the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development and the UMaine Center on Aging in partnership with AARP-Maine. We are grateful for their support.

When: Thursday, April 30th, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM\ Where: Starling Grange Hall, 2769 Route 17, Fayette, ME

30 Mile will host a Basic and Advanced Erosion and Sediment Control Workshop through the Maine DEP’s Nonpoint Source Training Center. This course is required for contractors to become certified in Erosion and Sedimentation Control Practices by the DEP, but is also useful for code enforcement officers, public works employees, consultants, and engineers. Please contact Ellie Hatt, gabrielle@30mileriver.org, if you have any questions.

REGISTER HERE

It is with great disappointment that I announce to you that the on Tuesday December 5, 2023 Matrix notified Maine Connectivity Authority (MCA) that they are declining their grant awards in Fayette and Wilton.

• Since Spring 2023, MCA has been working with Matrix to develop contracts for the Wilton and Fayette grant awards. In September, MCA requested final contract information, including budgets for the two contracts. At this time, Matrix identified their lack of awareness and the impending issues caused by the fact that the grant funding through the Connect the Ready program was taxable by the federal government.
• This information has been part of MCA and federal program guidance and has been clearly presented in the IRS code since 2017. All other MCA grant recipients are currently abiding by these rules and have factored the tax liability into their financial models.
• MCA worked diligently with Matrix and the communities to understand the challenges faced by the company and to try to find creative solutions, but ultimately was unable to reach a financially and legally compliant option that worked for Matrix.

MCA provided Matrix with a deadline of Tuesday, December 5, to either provide MCA with the outstanding information needed to finalize the grant contract as it was originally awarded, or to notify both MCA and Fayette that they would be unable to fulfill their contractual obligations and would be declining the grant award.

• On Tuesday December 5, Matrix notified MCA that they are declining their grant awards in Fayette and Wilton. The notice of Matrix’s declination of these two awards was shared with the MCA Board (and the public) at the monthly meeting on Tuesday, December 12.
• MCA is committed to serving the people of Fayette and Wilton and will continue to work with both communities to identify creative solutions to leverage private investment and investigate funding options through MCA programs to bring connectivity to the communities in a timely and efficient manner.
• While this is not necessarily the route we would have chosen to arrive at this point, we are hopeful that this development will help create a more sustainable, resilient broadband solution in the long run.
• In declining their award, Matrix cited their challenges in managing the income tax revenue associated with the grants. All MCA awards funded through the American Rescue Plan’s Capital Projects Funds are subject to income tax for subgrantees.  This has been a long documented challenge at a state and national level.

Regardless - ALL MCA awardees have been aware of and subject to the same requirements - and this is not a requirement unique to Matrix. What is unique to Matrix is their lack of awareness around the requirement given how prominent it has been at a state and national level. This issue - combined with Matrix’s lack of marketing to hit required pre-subscription rates and challenges with other awards in Maine cast a degree of uncertainty as to the company’s viability in achieving their growth goals.

The funds forfeited by Matrix will be reallocated by MCA to address connectivity needs throughout the state.  However, MCA acknowledges the significant burden and disappointment at this development in Fayette and is committed to continuing to work with Manager Robinson in understanding how best to identify a solution as soon as possible.

Andrew Butcher, President –Maine Connectivity Authority

Call the town office with any questions at 207-685-4373.

Click here for the current Administrative Ordinance with highlighted changes

A Citizens Guide to the Referendum

STATE BALLOT

Question 1 Yes - 277 No - 297

Question 2 Yes - 275 No - 299

LOCAL BALLOT

Question 1 Yes - 265 No - 303

Question 2 Yes - 361 No - 176

Thank you all for voting!

December 25, Christmas Day

January 1, New Years Day

To watch the meeting live please click on the link below.

• Zoom Meeting Link

To watch the meeting live please click on the link below.

• Zoom Meeting Link

Local elections for Select board will be from 8am to 4pm at Starling Hall on June 10, 2025

MARK ROBINSON is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.\ \ Topic: My Meeting\ Time: Feb 3, 2026 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)\ Join Zoom Meeting\ https://us02web.zoom.us/j/​89001928449?pwd=​y80plsTbMxwveJWaGbgDvtTae4DVrL​.1\ \ Meeting ID: 890 0192 8449\ Passcode: 128826\ \ —\ \ One tap mobile\ +13126266799,,89001928449#,,,,​128826# US (Chicago)\ +16465588656,,89001928449#,,,,​128826# US (New York)\ \ Join instructions\ https://us02web.zoom.us/​meetings/89001928449/​invitations?signature=​9UWQWC7PqZInIAN-​Ui44spTAIZi3jkXgngNBZjON1Qc

- Fayette Town office Memorial at 7:20 A.M.

- Brettuns Square,  at 7:45 A.M.

- Livermore Falls Bridge,  at 8:10 A.M.

OPEN POSITIONS

Select Board: 2 open positions, 3 year terms

School Committee: 2 open positions, 3 year terms

February is Browntail Moth Awareness Month, visit the DACF page to find out what you can do to help prevent the spread of BTMs here in Fayette.

DACF Browntail Moth Page

Browntail Moth Fact Sheet

The Fayette Planning Board will hold a public hearing regarding proposed Land Use Ordinance Changes on Monday, March 16, 2026 at 6:30pm at Starling Hall and via ZOOM

Find proposed changes here.

Health Officer: Vacancy

KVCOG Member Representative: 2 Vacancies

Planning Board: 1 Vacancy - alternate position

Please find a Committee Application here and return it to the Town Office.

Return application in person or by:

email: fayette@myfairpoint.net

mail: 2589 Main St. Fayette, ME 04349

Going on inside the Hall:

We’ll be having vendors, house plants and guest speaker Bob Capers, Bob will talk about invasive plants in general, invasive plants that are prohibited in Maine – can’t buy them, own them, give them away, plant them or anything else! Also, information about native plants that are good substitutes for invasives that people might otherwise want to plant. Many people just don’t know much about invasives and why they’re treated as invasives and why we care about them.\ Bob has a Ph.D. in Botany from the University of Connecticut.\ Happening on the grounds of the Hall

• A variety of Plants (Vegetables, Perennials, Annuals)\ • We will be grilling and serving Breakfast Sandwiches and Hot Dogs for sale Baked goods also.\ Don’t forget to bring your flat boxes or reusable bags to carry your greens home in!\ FOSH is very grateful to the members of the community for their support. 

Please note: We will NOT BE DISCOUNTING ANY PLANTS at the end of the sale, instead we’ll be beautifying the Hall or other area with any leftovers.

We will be receiving plant donations at the Hall May 21-23 between 1- 3pm if you have an abundant garden and want to share.

Here is the link to the garden fair on our website Annual Garden Fair - Friends of Starling Hall

and here is the link to it on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/​events/1027785665967744/

The LD 290 “Property Tax Stabilization for Senior Citizens” program was enacted in August 2022 and allowed Maine seniors 65 and older who owned a permanent residence for at least 10 years and were receiving (or eligible for) a homestead exemption to freeze taxes at the previous year’s level regardless of income.

In July 2023, the Legislature amended this program by LD 258, which states that the Property Tax Stabilization program only applies to the current tax year, which began on April 1, 2023.

It is important to note that this is a State program and while the Fayette plays a role in the administration of it, the town is not responsible for the policy objectives of this initiative. Any questions or concerns owners have regarding this program should be directed to your legislative representative. To find your representative, please visit: https://legislature.maine.gov/senate/

The regularly scheduled Board of Selectmen meeting will follow.

Question 1: To see if the Town will vote, pursuant to 23 M.R.S sub section 3105-A, to authorize the Select Board to use Town highway equipment and Town funds on the private way known as the Young Road between Richmond Mills Road and 139 Young Road (approx. 0.65 mile) to plow, maintain, and repair said private way to the extent required for fire and police protection when the Select Board consider advisable in the best interest of the town.

(This shall not be interpreted to create an ongoing obligation of the Townto maintain any private way or portion of private way nor shall it be considered an acceptance of any private way as a Town road)

Question 2 To see if the Town will vote to amend the Town Administrative Ordinance approved June 10, 2008, amended June 13, 2015 as proposed by the Select Board.

Public Hearing dates for these two items are scheduled for September 16th at 6pm and October 14th at 6pm at Starling Hall.

Christmas Day, December 25: CLOSED

New Years Eve, December 31: 8am - 12pm

New Years Day, January 1, 2025: CLOSED

Wednesday & Friday: 11:00 am - 6:00 pm 

Saturday & Sunday: 8:00 am - 3:00 pm  

To watch the meeting live please click on the link below.

• Zoom Meeting Link

To have your 2025 license in place on January 1, file your application by December 1. Applications are available now at the town office or at https://fayettemaine.org. Contact Jess Leighton (fayetteceo@gmail.com) for more information.

The Annual Starling Hall Online Auction, our biggest fundraiser of the year,  opened for bidding Saturday. All of the proceeds are dedicated to restoring the Town of Fayette’s Community Center, Starling Hall.

https://new.biddingowl.com/​FOSHSpringFundraisingAuction

We have over 180 fabulous items that have been donated by businesses across Maine, Friends of Starling Hall and several locals too! We have been blessed to have many Maine Crafters/Artists who have donated their fabulous items also.

Please also share the link to the auction with all your friends and relatives. If you have any issues with the site please reach out to Lori Beaulieu@ lbeaulieu63@gmail.​com.

The auction ends promptly at 7am on May 1st, and high bidders will receive an email notifying them of their winnings. That email will contain a link so you can pay for your winnings. Item pick-up is the next day Saturday May 2nd (at the Starling Hall breakfast) from 7:30AM-noon, or other arrangements can be made. 

 https://new.biddingowl.com/​FOSHSpringFundraisingAuction

HAPPY BIDDING!!

-No Fayette tax dollars are spent on the restoration of Starling Hall.

There will be no Veterans Day ceremony in Fayette this year.

Wednesday, December 24: UPDATE: Due to the upcoming storm, the Town Office will not be open.

Thursday, December 25: Office closed

Wednesday, December 31: Closed at noon

Thursday, January 1: Office closed

Call the Town Office at 207-685-4373 with any questions

• Lets find out together!