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 and is full of Easter Chocolate chipping away at the Governor's Supplemental budget request in meaningful ways.  ..read more

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 legislation is painful thus far. To that end we encourage you to subscribe to the Legislative Bulletin and pay attention to calls for action. The initiatives discussed this week are: General Assistance  bills LD 1664   (not the amended fis ..read more

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 to miss. (Hint: It ain't because of those "greedy" volunteer municipal select boards and councils.) This episode is the first installment of many that could be renamed a new series called: "Why did my property taxes go up?" with Kerry Le ..read more

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 Discourse, University of Chicago on "Civic Leadership and the Imperative of Effective Communication" and Yellow Light Breen, President & CEO, Maine Development Foundation on "Leading for Economic Innovation and Prosperity", and an uplifting remind ..read more

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; Jason Warlick of Damariscotta Police Department on the benefits of being a certified MLEAP agency. After talking about the process, we touch on what it is like to be Chief in a tiny (population wise) town in Maine with major big city issues, and on ..read more

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. However, it will now be up to municipal officials to address the fall out of public misunderstandings as one law sunsets and two more programs expand. In this episode, we talk with leading municipal policy architect and boss extraordinaire, Kate Du ..read more

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 understand about the 5 hours of Maine north of  the Augusta Bubble? In this episode we introduce you to our newest colleague, and former Georgetown Town Administrator, Amanda Campbell. We also chat with St. Agatha Town Manager Michelle Bernier, F ..read more

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. Reconsidered, House amendment “A” provided the Department of Public Safety with 10% of the $2 million grant for the administration of the program. The amendment was adopted and engrossed by both House and Senate.  This bill was advanced on behalf ..read more

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 safety employees at greater risk to cardiac event and one way to address it by looking for the right red flags in health screenings.  (This section has poorer audio we apologize in advance) We have a surprise interruption from MMA's ..read more

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 - Clarifies the rules on sales of cannabis products at outdoor events.   8:00 - LD 96 - Disclosing background checks back to a current employer for police officers applying to another agency. 12:30 - LD 23 - Making all persona ..read more