By RANDY SEAVER, Editor
The Biddeford Gazette asked the three At-Large city council candidates to share their thoughts and concerns about the controversial pier being proposed by the University of New England (UNE).
Last week, we reached out to the two candidates vying for the Ward One seat, which represents Biddeford’s coastal neighborhoods, about their thoughts and concerns regarding UNE’s proposal.
At-Large candidate Lisa Vadnais attended last week’s Citizen’s Grievance meeting about UNE’s proposal but did not address the council.
At-Large candidate Marc Lessard – currently serving as an At-Large representative — was required to attend the meeting.
At-Large candidate Nasreen Sheik-Yousef was not seen at Thursday’s meeting. She also did not return our requests for comment about the pier or the city’s review process.
During the Grievance meeting, several citizens raised concerns about the controversial pier project. Most of the commentary focused upon how the city has handled the review process for the university’s project.
Vadnais said she heard little about UNE’s proposal until last year, when media scrutiny of the project caused controversy.
“I attended the citizen’s grievance meeting to have a better understanding of the impact to the people that will be affected by this decision,” Vadnais said.
“After hearing from the citizens, there is no doubt the entire process was handled badly,” she added. “I do not feel it was in the best interest to remove the harbormaster from a process that would have benefited greatly by his expertise.”
Lessard agreed with Vadnais about the removal of both the harbormaster and assistant harbormaster. He also objected to Mayor Marty Grohman’s attempts earlier this year to remove Roch Angers from the Biddeford Planning Board, after Angers raised concerns about the review process.
“I suppose if you eliminate enough of the people that question the path we are on, eventually you only have one path left.” Lessard said.
“I suppose if you eliminate enough
— Councilor Marc Lessard
of the people that question the path
we are on, eventually you only have
one path left.”
Lessard said the former city manager’s removal of the harbormaster was just another example of why the citizens “have little to no trust in our city’s leadership.”
Vadnais described UNE’s insistence regarding the pier’s location as “hypocrisy” on the school’s part.
“Their focus is all about sustaining and protecting the environment, but it seems like they are ready to abandon an agreement they made about a 250-foot buffer zone,” she said. “Their proposed location will have a negative impact on both commercial fishing and the environment. It makes no sense.”
Lessard says he has tried — on multiple occasions — to have a discussion about the controversial pier at a city council meeting.
“We have missed numerous opportunities to give all parties more time to discuss their concerns and come to a mutually agreed to resolution.” Lessard said. “Instead, the city decided to remove the Harbor Master and Assistant Harbor Master and thought this would help the process.”
If reelected, Lessard said his plan would be to review the decision, accentuate where the city went wrong, and come to an agreement that everyone can support.
He also offered some advice to the university: “Be a better neighbor.”
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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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