Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Washington County Council of Governments (WCCOG)?
Where is the WCCOG located?
How is the WCCOG organized?
How is the WCCOG funded?
Is the WCCOG a State agency?
What is the Washington County Council of Governments (WCCOG)?
The Washington County Council of Governments (WCCOG) is a municipal membership organization that delivers a wide range of customized planning, advisory and resource development services to help communities build the future of Washington County. Back to top
What does the Washington County Council of Governments (WCCOG) do?
The WCCOG provides local and regional land use planning and technical assistance to municipalities in Washington County. Our purpose is to support local self-government; combine resources to meet challenges that may exceed the capacity of municipal government; facilitate communication and coordination among governments and agencies; identify opportunities and bring resources into the county; and provide a regional voice for the people of Washington County.
The services and accomplishments of the WCCOG are reported to its municipal members every year and are posted here:
WCCOG Services and Accomplishments Summary 2015
WCCOG Services and Accomplishments Summary 2016
WCCOG Services and Accomplishments Summary 2017
WCCOG Services and Accomplishments Summary 2018
WCCOG Services and Accomplishments Summary 2019 Back to top
Where is the WCCOG located?
WCCOG has two offices located on the second floor of the City Building in Calais, ME (207-454-0465) and at 19 Main Street in Milbridge, Me 207-546-3600 Back to top
How is the WCCOG organized?
The WCCOG is owned and operated by its member communities. In addition to municipalities, we offer membership to the County, Tribal Governments, Unorganized Territories and local development groups.
WCCOG consists of a General Assembly, Executive Committee, Officers, and professional staff. The General Assembly, which meets at the annual meeting, is composed of municipally appointed representatives of member communities, such as town managers, planning board members, or concerned citizens. Back to top
How is the WCCOG funded?
The WCCOG receives funding for specific contracted services from local, regional, state and federal levels as well as several private foundations. Member municipalities also contribute dues to support the organization and provide essential matching funds to enable the WCCOG to be eligible for other contract funds.
The County of Washington contributes funds to the WCCOG annually that are used as matching funds as well. As a project and contract driven budget the exact amounts of funds vary from year to year.
Back to topIs the WCCOG a State agency?
No, the WCCOG is a municipal membership organization and is governed by its member municipalities in Washington County. The WCCOG receives funds to perform specific work for several state agencies on a contractual basis. However, the client for the technical assistance supported by these state contracts, is invariably a municipality or local board. Back to top