Town Contact Information
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Town of Castine, P. O. Box 204, Castine, ME 04421
Telephone: 326-4502, Fax: 326-9465
e-mail: townoffice@castine.me.us
Web: http://www.castine.me.us
Hours: Open Mon.-Fri., 8 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Selectmen meet: every other Mon. at 7 p.m.
Tax Collector & Town Clerk - same as town office hours.

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Municipal Information
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Town Description

This charming village is on the National Register of Historic Places. Historic markers can be found throughout the town, which is dominated by 18th and 19th century architecture. The town has had success keeping many of its beautiful elm trees healthy, and Castine still looks much like other New England towns before Dutch elm disease decimated the trees.

The post office, located in the 1803 customs house, is the oldest continuously operating post office in the United States. Castine was occupied by the British during the American Revolution in 1779 and during the War of 1812. Two forts remain from those eras: Fort George and earthwork remnants from Fort Madison. The British canal, built during the War of 1812 between Hatch’s and Wadsworth coves, defines onneck Castine.

Today the town is the home of Maine Maritime Academy, founded in 1941, a college of engineering, business, science and transportation with 825 students. With summer residents and visitors, the town’s population doubles during the summer months.

Town Officials

Town Manager
Dale Abernathy 326-4502
Selectmen
Gus Basile 326-9210
Peter Vogell 326-9334
David Unger 326-8201
Clerk, Registrar of Voters, Deputy Tax Collector
Susan Macomber 326-4502
Finance Officer, Tax Collector & Treasurer
Karen Motycka 326-4502
Code Enforcement Officer
Dale Abernethy 326-4502
Plumbing Inspector
Peter Vogell 326-9334
Health Officer
Ingrid Scott 326-9193
Animal Control Officer
Henry Erhard 326-8509
Planning Board
Dick Starke, Chm. 326-8065
Frank Wiswall, Doris Russell, Robin Mass, Douglas Wellington, William Corbett, Alt., Par Kettis, alt.
Board of Appeals
James Stone, Patrick Haugen, Robert Kilpeck, Thomas Beck, Clark Kimball, assoc.
Comprehensive Plan Committee
Jean Cass, Sheila Corbett, Dan Gregorie, Jeff Loustaunau, Robin Mass, Liz Parish, Lynn Parsons, Scott Vogell, Lee Wylie, Don Mordecai
Recreation Committee
Paul Fallow, Co-Chm. 326-2006
Debi McLaughlin, Co-Chm. 326-8787  Dianna Paine, Dennis Colson Jr., Karen Cukierski, Susan Macomber, assoc., Lance Burton, assoc.
Utility Board
Don Small 326-8230
Lauren Sahl, Jarlath McEntee, James Goodson, Colin Baker, alt.
Historic Preservation Commission
Arnold Berleant, Chm. 326-4306
David Adams, Elaine Gardner, Michael Coughlin, Ruth Basile, David Schoonover
Harbormaster
Don Mordecai 266-7711
Assistants TBA or 326-4502

Tax Information

Types of properties assessed and subject to tax: land, building and personal property.

Bills are mailed mid-July and are 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 times mill rate. Mill rate: changes annually.

Town Ordinances

Zoning, subdivision, historic preservation, entrance and excavation, flood plain management, sewer, solid water, 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
Lobby Open Mon.-Fri., 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Sat., 7:30 a.m.-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.
Process passports daily, Mon.-Fri., 9:30-11:30 a.m. and 1:30-3:30 p.m.
326-8551

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Castine by the Numbers
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Geographic Profile

Total area: 5,053 (7.9 sq. mi.)
Land: 5,053 acres
Bog: 0
Flood: 120 acres
Inland water: 0

Population

1990: 1161
2000: 1343

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Education
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Education Contact Numbers

Union 93
20 Hinckley Ridge Rd.
P.O. Box 630, Blue Hill
Arthur Wittine, Superintendent
374-9927
fax 374-2951

Adams School
Todd Nelson, Principal   326-8608
www.adamsschool.com

School Board
Joe Spinazola, chm. 326-2050
Tom Gutow 326-8062
Susan Adam 326-7123

Enrollment numbers (10/08)
K-8 65
Grades 9-12 25

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Emergency & Public Services

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FOR ALL EMERGENCIES—
FIRE, AMBULANCE & POLICE— CALL 911.

Fire Department

To report a fire: 911

Hancock County
Regional Communication Center,
non-emergency 667-8866

Non-emergency numbers:
Randy Stearns, Fire Chief 326-4997
Peter Vogell, Asst. Fire Chief 326-9334
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.

MEDICAL SERVICES
Non-emergency numbers:
Blue Hill Memorial Hospital (Blue Hill) 374-2836
Bucksport Regional Health Center (Bucksport) 469-7371
Castine Community Health Services (Castine) 326-4348
Island Medical Center (Stonington) 367-2311
Maine Coast Memorial Hospital (Ellsworth) 667-5311
MedNow Clinic (Ellsworth) 667-4655

POLICE
Non-emergency numbers:
Hancock County Sheriff's Department
667-7576
State Police Information
1-800-432-7381

PUBLIC SERVICES
The Next Step Domestic Abuse Hotline
1-800-315-5579/667-4606
Poison Control Center 1-800-442-6305
Winter Road Information 511

Cemeteries

Cemetery Association
Castine Cemetery
Bradford Tenney, Chm.
Donna Sawyer, Treas.
Don Small, Janis Fitch, Bente Hartmann
Laura Hatch, Ray Nualla.

Trash & Recycling

Transfer Station hours: Mon., 7 a.m.-3 p.m.; Tue., 12-1 p.m.; Wed., 7 a.m.-1 p.m.; Thu., 12-1 p.m.; Fri., 7 a.m.-1 p.m.; Sat., closed; Sun., 12-3 p.m. Curbside pick-up of stickered, non-recyclable waste will be 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. All recyclable items must be placed by the curb by 8 a.m. to ensure pick-up. In case of inclement weather, hold materials for the next scheduled recycling day. Recycling guides are available at Emerson Hall. Recycling days are on the first and third Tue. of each month.

Public Restrooms

Summers dockside.
Emerson Hall.

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Recreation
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PUBLIC RESTROOMS
Summers dockside.
Emerson Hall.

Walking Trails

Town walking map available from Castine Merchants Association members or Town Office.
Witherle Woods Preserve, 132 acres of old-growth woods maintained by the 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
Starr Virginia Lampson Preserve, Rt. 199, just off 166A

Public Landings

Town dock

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