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Potholes & Politics: Local Maine Issues from A to Z is a podcast about municipalities in Maine and the people and policies that bring local government to your doorstep. Through stories, experiences, current events, and interviews with municipal officials this podcast will spotlight the everyday challenges and successes of local governments in our home state. Potholes & Politics is brought to you by Maine Municipal Association. Comments and suggested topics can be sent to mmapodcast@memun.org
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Inside the Eleventh-Hour Legislative Scramble: Budget Battles, Housing Solutions, and the Quest for Transparent Governance
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The statutory adjournment day of the 131st was April 18th, but the Legislature only recessed carrying many pieces of legislature over that was indefinitely postposed in a chaotic and partisan late night. As the Legislature did not adjourn "Sine Die" the start of the enactment clock on all but emergency legislation has not yet begn, including the mu…
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In a surprise move, the legislature came into session today and upended the Governor’s supplemental budget request. After spending the weekend consulting with municipal officials in their home communities, the tone changed drastically. Rebecca Squared (Lambo & Grahambo) breakdown what is municipally relevant in Augusta as the Legislature returns an…
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Much delayed first legislative breakdown of the second session has dropped. This week we only go over what has happened for the First week of February though staff has been underwater with carryover initiatives during the entire month of January. We very much hope the Legislature will adjourn mid-April as planned but until then, the proposed legisl…
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Why should you care about stormwater? What is a MS4 regulated community? Why do people pick up their dog poo and put it in a bag only to dump it on the trail or in the storm drain? What is a harbor trout? In this episode, Rebecca Squared & Amanda the new kid talk with Stormwater Super Heros - Giants of municipal water protection activities; South P…
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The sensationalized headlines around heated municipal meetings targeting municipal tax assessment changes, and property reevaluation haven't offered much in the way of educating the public around the root causes of Mill Rate and property tax bill increases. So Potholes & Politics is taking a deeper dive. Trust us...this is 58 minutes you won't want…
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This week we are highlighting one of the conversations from MMA's 87th Annual Convention held at the Augusta Civic Center, October 4 & 5, 2023. This year's convention theme was "Lead, Motivate, Communicate" and featured dynamic speakers like Leila Brammer, Director of Outreach and Instructional Development of the Parrhesia Program for Public Discou…
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While it seems like we may have been on vacation, the intersession work has been in full swing and Legislative Committees including Judiciary and Housing are back at it next week! This episode we dive into the Maine Law Enforcement Accreditation Program managed by Dirigo Safety and speak with one chief in the tail end of the accreditation process; …
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Last year, LD 290, An Act To Stabilize Property Taxes for Individuals 65 Years of Age or Older Who Own a Homestead for at Least 10 Years, was enacted with little discussion and a host of very expensive unintended consequences. This year, the law was amended to address those consequences and bring property tax relief where it was most needed. Howeve…
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Rebecca Squared took a break from Augusta last week and spent some time talking with local government leaders in Aroostook County. The week before they hit the National League of Cities Staff Convention in Boston. What are the unique challenges of the northern communities, what makes them special, and what do Augusta policy makers need to understan…
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Well, the 1st Session was meant to end June 15, but we are in the 1st Special Session that won't end....at least amicably so it seems. Here is where we are this week...and soon we will be in your communities too! LD 1857- Resolve, to Establish a Public Safety Health and Wellness Grant Pilot Program, sponsored by Rep. Lynn Copeland of Saco. Reconsid…
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Our necessary hiatus from our weekly podcast has been afforded a brief reprieve. Advocacy staff have been drinking from a firehouse of legislation and hearings on platform bills that have been waiting since cloture for printing and assignment to committee hearings. For the first time, MMA has needed to hold a May LPC meeting as bills are still cran…
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Episode 14 - Planning for ADU's, School Board Election Timing, Funding Jail Health Care Much delayed episode in a midst of a crazy session! This week we break down the public hearings on MMA Platform bills on: LD 665 - An Act to Extend the Date by Which Compliance is Required for Affordable Housing Development, Increased Numbers of Dwelling Units a…
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Episode 13 - Public Safety Cardiac Health, Chicken Fingers & Weed This week, Lambo & Grahambo breakdown legislation from March 23rd Legislative Bulletin; Rebecca Graham has a sit down with Dr. Benjamin Stone of Sigma Tactical Wellness at the MFCA Professional Development Conference last week who discusses how to identify the real risks to public sa…
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As we prepare for Holocaust Remembrance Day, Maine Municipal Association, Maine Chiefs of Police Association, and several other stakeholders had the opportunity to receive an important history lesson in context from the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington D.C.. In this episode, Rebecca Graham sits down with Noel March who facilitated bring…
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Episode 12 - The Greed & Weed Episode With surprise guest star, Dexter Kimball future MMA podcast host. This week our Legislative Bulletin we cover MMA's platform bill for Cannabis Revenue Sharing LD 88 -An Act to Provide Qualifying Municipalities a Percentage of Adult Use Cannabis Sales and Excise Tax Revenues, sponsored by Rep. Sean Paulhus of Ba…
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Episode 11- The Newspaper Empire Strikes Back! This week we break down hearings on: LD 422- An Act to Eliminate the Requirement That Municipalities Provide Public Notice in Newspapers, sponsored by Rep. Daniel Newman of Belgrade and preview: LD 405 - An Act to Prevent False Reporting Leading to Evacuation , Shutdown or Lockdown sponsored by Sen. An…
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Episode 10 - ELDT, What to do with Dead Bodies & Engineering Projects Over 100K A Qui*t (We don't say that word out loud, just like actors refer to the "Scottish Play") week in Augusta on the municipal front except for our monthly LPC meeting, trainings targeting municipal public works and CDL training, and bills of interest. This week we break dow…
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Episode 9 - Tax Acquired Property, Elections & Cops Oh My! This week, an exhausted Potholes Crew, Rebecca Squared, break down legislative proposals around: LD 101 - An Act to Return to the Former Owner Any Excess Funds Remaining After the Sale of Foreclosed Property LD 34 - An Act to Require a Person to Show Photographic Identification for the Purp…
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The Legislature is back in session and back in person! What has changed since Covid? What has remained? How does it effect the public policy debate? These will be the continued questions we explore. This week our podcast and Legislative Bulletin covered bills effecting municipal operations and the public hearings that happened. 5:00 - LD 202 - Clar…
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Episode 7 - New Year, New Legislature, New Co-Host How does the Advocacy Team determine what bills to place before the Legislative Policy Committee to determine the municipal position on any Legislative proposal? What is more important than a title of a bill? What is in store for our newest Co-Host and part-time advocate full time Municipal Issues …
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Housing and Homelessness in Maine is primarily discussed through the lens of Maine's largest cities. This episode Potholes and Politics features three local government leaders, Aroostook County Administrator, Ryan Pelletier, Madawaska Town Manager, Gary Picard and Presque Isle City Manager, Martin Puckett discussing the housing crisis, and growth i…
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Episode 5 – Elections and Security
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As Maine prepares for elections next week, Rebecca sits down with, current Deputy Director of the Georgia Peace Officers Standards and Training Council and former 2020 Director of Elections for the State of Georgia, Chris Harvey, to discuss the increasingly hostile environment for those delivering democracy in our towns and cities. Chris and Rebecc…
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Bonus Episode: From the Convention Floor
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Join us on the exhibit floor at MMA’s annual convention, where your podcasts hosts capture the sounds and energy from members, vendors, and partners in attendance. Check out this bonus episode to find out who sat down at Potholes & Politics’ recording booth and what was on their mind during this celebratory two-day event. Interview Timestamps: 7.05…
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Episode 4 - How We Get There From Here: Step 1
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Episode 4 - How We Get There From Here: Step 1 Join us as we “drive” around the topic of Maine’s road. In the course of three interviews, Episode 4 travels from the Town of Jackman, through Augusta to chat with MDOT, all the way south to Town of Gray. In Jackman we explore the local reality of maintaining a network of roads. The conversation covers…
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Episode 3 – The Invisible Blue Line Episode 3 of Potholes & Politics examines a vital state and local partnership, “the invisible blue line”, in which state law enforcement support the operations of local police departments. Examining the cooperation between state law enforcement and local officials to safely host “Maine Day” in Orono highlights wh…
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Episode 2 - MMA 101 – What is MMA and What do They Do? Episode 2 of Potholes & Politics offers listeners an overview of the Maine Municipal Association, our services, governance structures, and plans for enhanced support of municipalities as they face unprecedented challenges. This episode will be good to revisit for new listeners who may want to u…
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Join us for MMA’s first podcast episode! This episode summarizes the themes and purpose of the podcast and introduces its hosts Rebecca Graham and Neal Goldberg. Email the show hosts with your ideas at at mmapodcast@memun.org . Corrections and Clarifications 6.55: While the MMA office does have two levels, with many wonderful people working on both…
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