City alleges misconduct by former manager

Did Jim Bennett manipulate the tax obligations on his own home?

According to court documents obtained by the Biddeford Gazette, former Biddeford city manager James Bennett allegedly used his position to lower the tax assessment for his personal property.

Earlier this year, after being removed from his office in February, Bennett filed a civil lawsuit against the city of Biddeford, claiming that he was still owed salary and benefits from the city.

According to the city’s counterclaim to Bennett’s lawsuit, the former city manager behaved in an unethical manner and acted inappropriately by allegedly using his position for personal gain.

Specifically, the city alleges that Bennett interviewed former assistant assessor Nicholas Desjardins for the position of assessor on June 29, 2018. 

Three days later, on July 2, 2018, the city alleges that Bennett drove Desjardins to Bennett’s private property located at 9 Sky Oaks Drive “for the purpose of reviewing” the property.

The city also alleges that Bennett promoted Desjardins from assistant assessor to the position of assessor on the next day, July 3, 2018.

Then, one week later, the city says that Bennett received a reduction in his property tax assessment.

The city has hired an outside attorney who is expected to testify that Bennett’s conduct — of driving an applicant for the city tax assessor position to his own home; in his own personal vehicle and then asking Desjardins to conduct a tax abatement — is behavior that constitutes cause for termination.

Bennett adamantly denies the city’s claims.

Bennett says that he and his wife received a “justified abatement” on their home that was authorized by former city assessor Frank Yattaw in 2018. 

Furthermore, Bennett says that Desjardins did not make the “final” decision on the abatement. According to Bennett, Desjardins was recommended to become the next assessor for the cities of Biddeford and Saco by an independent committee consisting of three officials from each community.

That committee, Bennett says, was chaired by former Biddeford Mayor Alan Casavant.

Bennett says he simply forwarded Desjardins’ name as his nomination to the Biddeford City Council.

“All of this is known by the leadership of the city,” Bennett said. “They have elected to ignore the facts to avoid the city’s contractual obligations to me.”

“I look forward to the resolution of the legal process that will confirm these facts,” Bennett wrote in an email response to the Gazette.

Bennett says his lawsuit against the city will provide “an independent validation” of his integrity and will ‘begin to restore the damage” to his character and reputation. 

“It is most unfortunate that the leadership of the city, with support of some members of the [Biddeford] City Council have chosen a path that has and will cost the taxpayers additional money,” Bennett added.

According to the city assessment database, Bennett’s home was built in 1950, has 3,360 square-feet of living area and is situated on a 2.25-acre land parcel.   Bennett purchased the home in 2015 for $322,500.   As of 2024, the home was assessed at $497,900.  

Bennett was hired by the city in June 2015. Facing mounting public criticism, Bennett announced in October 2024 that he would be resigning his office in April 2025, roughly one year before his latest contract was set to expire. 

The city removed Bennett from office and placed him on administrative leave on February 20, 2025, roughly two months before Bennett’s planned retirement date. 

When contacted by the Gazette, Biddeford Mayor Marty Grohman issued a statement saying that “the city will not comment on any pending litigation.”

Bennett was the city’s fourth professional city manager.  Over the course of his 40-year career, Bennett has served as the manager in the cities of Lewiston and Westbook, and in the towns of Dixfield, Old Orchard Beach and Presque Isle. 

Truc Dever was hired by the city to replace Bennett.  She began her new position on August 11.  

Bennett’s lawsuit against the city is now making its way through the docket in York County Superior Court.

This story will be updated as more information becomes available.

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Randy Seaver is the editor and founder of the Biddeford Gazette. He may be reached by email: randy@randyseaver.com

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