Town Contact Information
Town of Surry, 741 North Bend Rd., Surry, ME 04684
Telephone: 667-5912 Fax: 667-5187
Website: townofsurrymaine.com
Office Hours: Tue.-Fri. 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Closed 12-1 p.m. for lunch.
Selectmen meet 1st and 3rd Tue. 7 p.m., town office.
Code Enforcement Office: Tue. 4-7 p.m. (on a first come, first served basis), and Thu. by appt. only, town office.
Municipal Information
Town Description
Surry occupies a beautiful section of the Maine coast, sharing borders with Blue Hill, Ellsworth, Orland and Penobscot. Until the end of the 19th century, there was a large business done in building small vessels that were engaged in the coasting trade and supported the local fishing interests. Several boat builders still make Surry their home while Wesmac Marine builds fiberglass-hulled lobster boats, yachts, sportfishing boats, and USCG certified passenger boats.
With a strong tradition of hospitality, Surry welcomed stage and steamship passengers and still accommodates seasonal visitors, with a number of establishments offering food and lodging. Guests can choose from several bed and breakfasts and many vacation rentals. For year-round residents, The Gatherings offers community and activities, while the 1872 old village school house on Toddy Pond Road is undergoing restoration.
View the new alewife fish passage at the culvert on Route 172 next to Surry Gardens, which was completed in 2016. Nearby, Patten Stream trail offers recreational hiking, while Carter Nature Preserve on Cross Road offers shore access and links with Furth and Talalay trails at the larger parking area.
Town Officials
Town meeting was held April 23, 2023, after press time. Elected officials might have changed at that time.
Board of Selectmen/Board of Assessors
Chris Stark 667-5912
Mary Allen
Thomas Welgoss
Town Clerk
Emily Morrow 667-5912
Office Manager/Tax Collector
Darcel Winslow 667-5912
Treasurer
Stacey Salsbury 667-5912
Animal Control Officer
Carol Ann Cutler 667-5912
Board of Appeals
667-5912
Dave Hollenberg, Katherine Lane, Lucy Leaf, Mike Locke, Sue Sokol, Don Ervin alt., Margaret Smith alt.
Building Inspector/Code Enforcement Officer
Bill Booth 667-5912
Plumbing Inspector
Darcel Winslow 667-5912
Cemetery Trustees
Gerald Lord 667-8054
John Curtis 667-4877
Patricia Saunders
Stanley Saunders 667-7157
Darcel Winslow 667-5912
Comprehensive Plan Committee
Catherine Engel, John Kurtz, Katherine Lane, Lucy Leaf, Valerie Moon, Patricia Saunders, Irene Schmidt, Susan Sokol, Seth Cote, Pat Jencks, Bill Matlock, Eilon Zboray
Conservation Commission
667-5912
Ralph Topham, chair, Nancy Hathaway, Mike Jensen, Tom Minogue, Irene Schmidt, Susan Guilford, Lucy Leaf
Finance Committee
667-5912
Alfred Judd, chair, Irene Schmidt, Tom Welgoss, David Hollenberg, Ralph Topham
Planning Board
Meets monthly, 4th Wed., 7 p.m.
667-5912
Valerie Moon, chair, Alfred Judd, vice-chair, George Borowsky, Pat Kane, Tom Minogue, Phil Roberts, Jessica Silvestrone, Mary Allen, assoc., Alden Saunders, assoc.
Recreation Committee
Erica Garvey, Maria Ream, Katrina Scot-Willette, Darcel Winslow, Jamie Carter, Patrick Carter, Kristi Miltner
Road Commissioner
Stanley Saunders 667-7157
Tax Information
Types of properties assessed and subject to tax: land and buildings. Bills are mailed in July and first installment due Sep. 30, second installment due Mar. 30. Interest rate for unpaid bills: 5 percent. Rules to determine property value: assessment. Tax exemptions: Homestead, blind and veteran. Apply for abatement: assessors. Tax calculated: mill rate multiplied by valuation.
Mill rate 2023: 8.14
Town Ordinances
Parking, town landing, dog, unified development, tower communications, waterways, fireworks, E-911, recall of elected officials, active duty military excise, retail marijuana.
Permits
Permits are needed for building and driveway; available at town office; issued by Code Enforcement Officer.
Post Office
Surry 04684 667-4086
Lobby: Mon.-Fri. 7 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat. 7:30-11:30 a.m.
Window: Mon.-Fri. 7:30-11:30 a.m., 1:30-4:30 p.m. Sat. 7:30-11 a.m.
Surry by
the Numbers
Geographic Profile
Total area: 25,124 acres (39.26 sq. mi.)
Land: 24,458 acres
Bog: 659 acres
Flood plain: 456 acres
Inland water: 666 acres
Shoreline: 24 miles
Population
1990: 1,004
2000: 1,361
2010: 1,466
2020: 1,632
Education
Education Contact Numbers
School Union 93
20 Hinckley Ridge Rd., P.O. Box 630, Blue Hill
374-9927
Surry Elementary School
754 North Bend Rd.
Larry Clement, prin. 667-9358
School Board
Nick Nodden, chair 460-0081
Jared Benner 812-0979
Donald Driscoll 667-3130
Kristen McFarland 460-4078
Kerry McKim 266-9741
Enrollment numbers (Oct. 2022)
Grades pre-K-8—Surry Elementary 145; Bay School 8; home school 21. Grades 9-12—George Stevens Academy 44; Blue Hill Harbor School 1; Ellsworth 10; HCTC 6; Bucksport 1; John Bapst 2; MDI 1, out of area 1.
Emergency and
Public Services
Trash & Recycling
Blue Hill/Surry Transfer Station, Tue.-Sat. 7 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. Closed all major holidays except Labor Day. See listing under Blue Hill. 374-5458
Public Restrooms
Municipal Town Office, Tue.-Fri.
Fire Department
To report a fire: 911
Non-emergency numbers:
Bryan McLellan, chief 481-1037
Meets every Mon. 6:30 p.m., at municipal building.
Recreation
Walking Trails
Carter Nature Preserve, crossroad near Morgan Bay Bridge (no dogs please), Furth-Talalay Preserve, Patten Stream, The Surry Forest.
Public Landings
Town landing, Wharf Rd. ramp, trailer access, parking available.
Cemeteries
Morgan Bay, Newbury Neck, North Bend, West Surry Village, Cunningham Ridge.