About the City of Westbrook

• Westbrook became a town in 1814 and was named for Colonel Thomas Westbrook who came to Maine in 1727; Westbrook was incorporated in 1891

• The City of Westbrook was a traditional mill city that has grown and diversified significantly over the last two decades to become a residential hub and business center for the region

• Westbrook works hard to create a sense of place for the best qualify of life for our citizens, complete with vast multi-use trails, public open spaces, recreational amenities, and innovative mixed-use projects

• Westbrook has a population of over 20,000 and covers 17.36 square miles

• Westbrook is centrally located to both urban and rural amenities  

• Currently, the City employs approximately 195 full-time and 80 variable hour employees covered by five different Collective Bargaining Agreements.  The departments contained within the City are the Mayor’s Office, Economic Development, City Clerk, Finance, Human Resources, Planning, Code Enforcement, & Assessing, Public Services, Community Services, General Assistance, Library, Police, Fire & Rescue, and Dispatch

• Mayor - Council form of government led by a 7-member elected city council. Council meetings are held at 7pm on the 1st and 3rd Monday of each month

Department Overview

Mayor’s Office: 

The Westbrook Mayor is elected to serve for a term of 3 years. The Mayor’s Office consists of the Mayor, the City Administrator, and an Executive Assistant. The Mayor’s Office provides the City Council with information and reports relative to the operation of the municipal affairs of the City. All City departments report to the Office of the Mayor. The City Administrator provides the day-to-day oversight of all municipal operations.

Economic Development: 

Westbrook has been recognized as a business-friendly community.  ED assists businesses with the perfect place to relocate, grow and prosper and is staffed with 3 full-time employees.

City Clerk: 

The City Clerk's Office is the first point of contact for residents seeking information or municipal services. The City Clerk’s office maintains Westbrook's historical records, and also coordinates many other services, such as vital records (birth, marriage, death, and burial), business licenses, dog licenses, event permits, notary & Dediumus Justice, records access (Freedom of Access Act), and records management.

Finance: 

The Finance department is responsible for accounting, city budget and financial reporting, discharges, motor and recreational vehicle registrations, tax payments, hunting/fishing licenses, and sewer and tax liens. The Finance department is staffed with 9 full-time employees.

Human Resources: 

Human Resources supports and services full and part time employees who work for the City of Westbrook. 

Planning, Code Enforcement, and Assessing: 

The Code Enforcement Department is responsible for administrative and technical work in carrying out land use, building, plumbing and electrical permitting and inspections and obtaining compliance with City ordinances, codes and zoning regulations. The Planning Department advises the Planning Board in the review and approval of new development or redevelopment projects as well as to work with development applicants through the review process. The Assessor is responsible for discovering, describing and determining property value of all Real and Personal Property subject to property taxation. These departments are staffed with 8 full-time employees. 

Public Services: 

The Public Services Department provides a safe and enjoyable environment for the City of Westbrook through construction, operation and maintenance of municipal service systems. This work includes drainage system construction and maintenance, fall and spring clean up, residential waste management, roadside and municipal property mowing, street and sidewalk maintenance, and winter street and sidewalk maintenance. The department is staffed by 31 full-time employees. 

Fire & Rescue:

It is the mission of the Westbrook Fire Rescue Department to be the leading force in the provision of fire and rescue services through our commitment to professionalism, superior training, advanced skill development and superior service. The department is staffed with ten Call Fire, 19 per diem, and 42 full-time team members.

Police:

The Westbrook Police Department is proud to provide community policing and law enforcement services to our city. Today the Westbrook Police Department consists of 45 sworn officers and 6 civilian employees, men and women committed to providing our community with the best in public safety. We are dedicated to working in partnership with our citizens, business owners, and civic leaders for the purpose of deterring crime, protecting our city and improving the quality of life in our neighborhoods. 

Dispatch:

The City of Westbrook's Emergency Communications Center is a State certified Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) for 911 emergency calls. The Westbrook PSAP is staffed with 9 full-time and 2 per diem dispatchers handling all 911 calls for the City of Westbrook as well as the Towns of Falmouth and Yarmouth. In addition to it's regional 911 duties, Westbrook Emergency Communications dispatches all emergency and non-emergency calls for service for Police, Fire and Rescue within the City of Westbrook.

Community Services: 

The Department of Community Services encompasses the Westbrook Community Center and all municipal recreational opportunities available throughout the City, including the Cornelia Warren Four-Season Rink, Fraser Field Recreational Complex, and various fields and outdoor spaces. Community Services is staffed by 47 full and part-time employees.

General Assistance: 

General Assistance is a state mandated, municipally administered financial assistance program for residents who are unable to provide for their basic needs such as shelter, food, utilities, prescriptions, etc.  

Walker Memorial Library: 

The Walker Memorial Library was one of the earliest to be established in the state. In 1891, Joseph Walker, a successful local businessman, died and left money for a library building to be built and called the Memorial Library. In February 1989, a large addition increased the library from 4,000 to 17,000 square feet and was designed to complement the original library building. The library is staffed with 4 full-time and 5 part-time employees providing lending services, curbside pickup, programming, printing, copies and faxing, and meeting rooms to all residents.