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 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 June.
Town Manager
Derik Goodine 326-4502
Select Board
Roberta Boczkiewicz, chair 326-5016
Daniel Leader 914-388-1533
Amy Gutow 326-4502
Town 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
Nina Desmond 326-4502 after hours, call 322-5803
Planning Board
Tom Comiciotto, chair, Jim Bernard, Beverly Bishop, Penny Carlhian,
Don Tenney
Board of Appeals
Bill Lyons, chair, Michael Coughlin, Mark Morgioni, Bobby Vagt, Patricia Bixel, alt., Justin Cooper, alt.
Recreation Committee
Daniel Gardner, chair 326-4502
Therese Biggie, Julie Bohan, Sara Kneisel, Jessica Simmons, Ryan Jarvis, alt.
Harbor Committee
Zander Parker, chair, Bill Corbett, J.T. Loomis, David Wyman; Tim Leach, Dan Willis, MMA representative; Amelia Griffith, alt., Roger Marks, alt.
Harbormaster
Scott Vogell 266-9392
Utility Board
Kirk Langford, chair, Josh Adam, Gordon “Mac” MacArthur, Carl Olson, Bruce Boczkiewicz
Historic Preservation Commission
Marc Pelletier, chair, Brooke Tenney, Jeff Stammen, 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
Johanna Barrett, chair 326-5099
Kathryn Kana
Danielle Morgioni
Enrollment
Pre-K-8—Adams School 45; home school 1. Grades 9-12—George Stevens Academy 11; Blue Hill Harbor School 2; Ellsworth 1; John Bapst 5, Bucksport 1, Kents Hill 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