Interest in the “office hours” that Scarborough’s state representatives and senator hold at Town Hall varies due to the weather, date and the issues facing constituents.
There are times where one has to wait in line to meet with Democratic Sen. Phil Bartlett or Republican Representatives Darlene Curley and Harold Clough, but on other occasions, especially during nice weather, few if any people come to their monthly office hours at the Scarborough Town Hall.
Still the politicians feel the time is well spent, giving them an opportunity meet their constituents, listen to their issues, and try to help them work out problems.
“The face-to-face, I think is really important,” Curley said.
Many of the issues that people raise with the politicians do not require legislation, but need the politician’s expertise in navigating the state’s bureaucracy and knowing whom to talk with and where.
One issue that Bartlett was able to handle without legislation was allowing cardiovascular technicians to distribute medication. Specifically, they were requesting that the state recognize a national cardiovascular license, he said, which he was able to handle with the state’s nurse organization.
Curley and Clough hold monthly office hours on the first Saturday of the month, and they think they are amongh the few representatives who so regularly offer them. Bartlett, whose district encompasses Scarborough, Gorham and Westbrook, does not hold hours here as regularly, but does so every few months.
“To me it’s important to be available,” Bartlett said.
One issue that started out as a constituent request and became legislation is a change requiring police and prosecutors get specialized training to deal with people with developmental disabilities. This legislation is in response to a stabbing that occurred near the Scarborough Public Library earlier this year.
The meetings also allow the representatives to get first-hand understanding of how particular law changes will affect their constituents.
For example, when increases in Medicaid reimbursements for ambulance services were being considered, several ambulance drivers came to the meeting to support the change, which was ultimately included in the budget. Curley said this feedback was important for her work on the Appropriations Committee.
The office hours also allow the politicians to distribute information to the public. In August Bartlett was distributing information about and applications for the state’s circuit-breaker program, which provides rebates on property taxes for low-income residents.
“One problem we’ve had in the past is people don’t know about it,” he said.
Another benefit of having regular office hours is that it tells people that they are available and often someone who can’t make the in-person meeting will call them on the phone with an issue, Curley said.
With Clough serving as the Republican lead on the Taxation Committee and Curley serving on the Appropriations Committee, the two have direct knowledge of many of the hot-button issues affecting the state, which helps answer some of their constituents’ questions.
“Between us by doing it together I think we are able to bring that experience to people in Scarborough,” Curley said.
One issue that Curley is getting a lot of comment on is the recent property revaluation in Scarborough. While there is little the legislators can do since Scarborough is following state law, they can work to change the law to better reflect the changing costs associated with property here, especially on the coast.
Another issue that started locally which Curley and Bartlett are working on is legislation to restrict the ability to drive of people with suspended licenses. The law change is in response to the highway accident that killed Scarborough resident Tina Turcotte in July. One of the vehicles in the crash was a truck driven by a man with a suspended license.
The first step in ensuring increased safety on Maine roads is enforcing current laws and opening the truck weigh stations, Curley said.
“It seems like there are many areas we can improve on,” she said.
Constituents can contact Clough at: 839-4696 or haclough@juno.com; Curley at: 883-6278 or djcurley@maine.rr.com; Bartlett at: 839-7827 (home), 324-4198 (work), or by e-mail at phil@philbartlett.com.
Representatives Darleen Curley and Harold Clough
Sen. Phil Bartlett
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