Welcome to Columbia Falls, Maine

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 21, 2026

Columbia Falls Select Board Statement Regarding Proposed Special Town Meeting

The Columbia Falls Select Board would like to address some of the questions and concerns

surrounding the petition brought forward by Richard Poirier and the proposed Special Town

Meeting scheduled for September 24, 2026.

At the July 14, 2026 Select Board meeting, the Board decided to place the articles contained in

Mr. Poirier's second petition before the voters at the regular Annual Town Meeting rather than

call a Special Town Meeting. That decision has not changed.

The Select Board believes that decisions involving the development and future use of Town-

owned property deserve proper planning and careful consideration before moving forward. We

also believe these articles should be heard at a meeting where as many Columbia Falls voters as

possible can participate. Our Town has historically had much lower voter turnout at special town meetings held at other times of the year, even though decisions made at those meetings can have

a lasting impact on the entire community.

The articles in the petition have not been denied. They will be brought before the voters at the

Annual Town Meeting. The Board's decision has been about when that vote should take place

and making sure a decision involving Town property has the planning, consideration, and

community participation it deserves.

The Select Board remains committed to following Maine law and conducting Town business

through the proper public process.

On September 18, 2026, the Select Board held a publicly noticed Special Select Board meeting

to consult with Town legal counsel. Following that consultation, the Board voted to declare the

“Special Town Warrant” dated September 16, 2026 and signed by a notary public invalid. The

Board also directed the Town Clerk, Treasurer, and all other municipal officials and employees

not to expend municipal funds or resources in support of the meeting called for in that warrant.

As a result, the Select Board does not recognize the proposed September 24 meeting as an

authorized Special Town Meeting of the Town of Columbia Falls and does not recognize any

vote resulting from that meeting as official Town action.

There have also been questions about the September 18 executive session. The Select Board

meeting itself was publicly noticed and open to the public. The Board voted publicly to enter

executive session to consult with Town legal counsel, as allowed under Maine law. The Board

returned to public session before taking any official action.

We understand that people have different opinions about this project and about the decisions the Board has made. We respect that. Our responsibility is to consider the Town as a whole, follow the law and the proper municipal process, and make the decisions we believe are in the best interest of Columbia Falls.

We encourage residents to stay involved, attend meetings, ask questions, review Town meeting

minutes and records, and participate when these matters come before the voters.

The Select Board will continue to keep residents informed as this moves forward.

Columbia Falls Select Board

Town of Columbia Falls, Maine   

Town of Columbia Falls Request for Bids

Developing an engineering master plan to the Town Landing/old fire station lot area for improvements to the utility of the area and its resilience to storms.

The firm will work with the town to determine the general direction of the plan, and to help the town determine what the realistic possibilities for improvements are. Current directions include repaving of the upper parking lot, investigating the possibilities of widening and improving the boat launch area, investigating the possibilities of a walking path with bog bridge to complete a loop. To investigate and mark existing underground service/utilities. 

The development of the plan is to happen in phases.

* Phase 1: Firm Creates a design and engineering report for the town landing property based on initial feedback from selectboard.

* Phase 2: Firm presents a preliminary design for feedback from town through public informational meetings, allowing for more discussion on what realistic possibilities are.

* Phase 3: Firm presents final plan to town, signed and stamped.

The master plan will position the town to pursue funding for these future improvements.

All bidders must provide certificates of competency in the appropriate fields.

Work would start as soon as possible and to be completed by February 2027.

Bids must be clearly marked “Shore & Harbor Planning Bid” and submitted to the Columbia Falls Town Office, P.O. Box 100, Columbia Falls, Maine, 04632, no later than 4pm on Sep 28th, 2026

For any questions, please reach out to the Columbia Falls Town Office, 207-483-4067 townofcolumbiafalls@gmail.com

The Town of Columbia Falls reserves the right to accept or reject any and all bids. The Town of Columbia Falls is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

The Town is conducting a town wide revaluation over the next two years.  

Marc Perry, from Downeast Revaluation Services d/b/a/ Downeast Reval will be administering the revaluation.  If you have any questions regarding the revaluation please reach out to Marc at

Downeastrevals@gmail.com or call  207-460-3737.