Hello Islanders! There might be snow, but the days are getting unmistakably longer and the vitamin D is starting to work its magic! Spring is on the way, along with mud, posted roads, local elections ... and probably some more snow before we're done. 

• Special Town Meeting Saturday, Feb. 24 at 10 a.m.: There are two ways that towns can handle determining property taxes: an elected Board of Assessors or a professional assessor. Westport Island uses the former method, with our Selectboard also serving as our Board of Assessors. They contract with a professional assessor to do the actual assessing, but are responsible for all other assessing-related tasks. The reason for this Special Town Meeting is to consider switching to the other method and having the professional assessor take full responsibility for all aspects of assessing, under the oversight of the Selectboard. See the warrant for details. To vote on this matter, we need a quorum of 10% of the voters from the last gubernatorial election, which for us is 51 voters. We realize a Special Town Meeting at 10 a.m. on a Saturday may not be high on your list of things to do, so we are shamelessly bribing you with coffee and donuts. Hope to see you there! 

• Local nomination papers available March 3: The offices of Selectboard Member 2 and RSU #12 Board of Directors member will be on the June 11 local ballot. If you are interested in running, please see the Town Clerk to take out nomination papers. See the Nomination Papers Notice for details. 

• March 5 Presidential Primary Election: Buckle up, another presidential election is upon us! You can now vote absentee in person at the Town Office during our regular hours through Thursday, Feb. 29. You can also request an absentee ballot to pick up or have sent to you by filling out an absentee ballot application online, in-person at the Town Office, or by calling the Town Clerk at 882-8477 x.3. Polls will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, March 5.

• Don't pass a stopped school bus! Look, we're all in a hurry, but buses stopped with the lights flashing means kids on the road. In case that's not reason enough, RSU 12 is now equipping the buses with cameras. The fine for passing a stopped school bus is $311, and if it happens twice, license suspended for 30 days. Don't do it! 

• Public Sand Shed: Whatever the weather has in store, the Town of Westport has you covered with free sand from our public sand shed in the Town Office parking lot. Limit of two buckets per storm please! 

• Firewood donations: The Town of Westport Island is accepting donations of cut, dry, ready-to-burn firewood to make sure all our neighbors stay toasty warm. Reach out to Select Board Chair Donna Curry if you are interested in donating or receiving firewood.

• WCA Events: 
  • Game Day Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2pm-4pm: Join the WCA for an afternoon of fun and games! Bring your favorite game or try something new!  
  • If you have any suggestions for WCA events, or would like to join the WCA, they would love to hear from you! westportcommunityassociation@gmail.com  

Please see the Town of Westport Island webpage for more information and follow us on Facebook. If you know any Westport Islanders who are not receiving these emails, feel free to forward this and let them know they can be added to the list by emailing townclerk@westportisland.gov. 

You can find us at the Town Office at 6 Fowles Point Road, during our office hours of Tuesdays 10:00 - 6:00, Wednesdays 10:00 - 2:00, and Thursdays 10:00 - 2:00. Call us at 882-8477 or email us anytime!