On Monday, March 2 at 6 p.m., the Institutional Zone Review Committee will hold its first public hearing at City Hall. The meeting begins the public input phase of a broader review of how Biddeford regulates institutional development.
For many residents, the term “Institutional Zone” may not be familiar. In practical terms, it is the zoning framework that governs development at the University of New England’s Biddeford campus.
UNE’s campus sits largely within an area that, under typical zoning rules, is generally limited to single-family houses.
In 2001, the city created a dedicated zoning district to allow the university to build and grow in ways that no other entity could within that setting. The ordinance established a structured process requiring a comprehensive Institutional Master Plan, a document outlining anticipated growth over five to ten years and analyzing impacts on traffic, parking, infrastructure, municipal services, and campus design standards.
Biddeford Mayor Liam LaFountain, City of Biddeford photo
The University of New England has long been an important part of Biddeford’s civic and economic fabric. It is one of the city’s largest employers and contributes to the local economy, research activity and cultural life.
Students, faculty, and staff are neighbors and active participants in Biddeford. The relationship between Biddeford and UNE has evolved over time, shaped by growth on both sides.
The City’s zoning has long provided a clear pathway for institutional growth. However, the Institutional Zone ordinance has not been comprehensively updated in nearly 25 years. As both the university and the city have evolved, it is reasonable to review whether that framework remains aligned with current conditions and future expectations.
In recent years, several development projects within the Institutional Zone have generated strong reactions. Often, disagreements have centered less on whether development should occur and more on how clearly the ordinance defines what is permitted, how impacts are evaluated, and how decisions are made. When expectations among the university, the city, and residents are not fully aligned, even well-intended projects can become contentious.
That context, in part, led the city council to establish the Institutional Zone Review Committee at the beginning of this council term.
The committee serves in an advisory capacity. It does not approve projects, determine property sales, or make final legislative decisions. Its responsibility is to review the ordinance, gather public input, and recommend whether revisions are warranted. Any proposed changes will proceed through the standard public legislative process before the Planning Board and City Council.
Formed through the regular public appointment process, the committee operates in open session under Maine’s Freedom of Access laws. All members are Biddeford residents. The membership includes two city councilors, the president of the University of New England, the president of the Hills Beach Neighborhood Association, a facilities manager who previously worked for UNE and is a UNE graduate, and a local real estate professional. Together, they reflect a range of civic, professional, and neighborhood perspectives within the city.
Meetings are open to the public, materials are posted online, and the process is structured to ensure transparency, accountability, and broad participation before any ordinance changes are considered.
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The process is structured to ensure transparency, accountability,
and broad participation before any ordinance changes are considered.
As part of this review, the City Council adopted a temporary six-month moratorium on new institutional development and university uses. The pause is not directed at any single proposal and does not prohibit the purchase or sale of property within the Institutional Zone, nor does it prevent any property owner, including the University of New England, from entering into a real estate transaction.
It applies only to new development activity or changes of use during the review period, allowing the city to evaluate and, if necessary, update the ordinance before additional projects proceed under standards that may soon change.
Zoning ordinances shape municipalities for decades, influencing infrastructure investments, traffic patterns, public safety demands and neighborhood character.
Recent institutional projects have underscored the need for clearer expectations and a more consistent and transparent framework. As public interest has grown, so too has the expectation that development decisions be predictable and participatory. Reviewing the ordinance openly and deliberately is a responsible step toward that goal.
Public comment from Biddeford residents on March 2 and in the months ahead will help inform this work and strengthen the final recommendations. The objective is a regulatory framework that provides clarity, consistency, and confidence as institutional growth continues in Biddeford.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Liam LaFountain is serving his first term as Mayor of Biddeford and previously served two terms on the Biddeford City Council. He welcomes questions, comments, and ideas and can be contacted directly at liam.lafountain@biddefordmaine.org. The views and opinions herein are solely those of the author.
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THE BIDDEFORD GAZETTE | A Legacy of Trusted, Independent Journalism
City is on the right track in its thoughtful, measured review of UNE development plans
I read the recent letter regarding the University of New England review committee with concern, but also with a sense that the issue deserves a more balanced perspective.
It is important to remember that residency alone does not disqualify someone from serving fairly or objectively. Hills Beach residents are citizens of Biddeford, just as much as anyone living downtown, in the mills district, or elsewhere in the city. Suggesting that they are inherently incapable of acting in the broader public interest risks dividing our community rather than strengthening it.
The committee’s role is to review plans and gather input — including through a public hearing — not to act as “plaintiffs” or to obstruct progress. The public hearing itself is evidence of a transparent process that invites participation from the entire community.
The University of New England is indeed an asset to Biddeford. Its educational, economic, and cultural contributions are significant. At the same time, thoughtful review of development proposals is not the same as impeding progress. Responsible growth benefits from careful consideration of environmental impact, neighborhood character, traffic, infrastructure, and long-term planning. That is not obstruction — that is governance.
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“Thoughtful review of development proposals
is not the same as impeding progress.”
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If residents are concerned about representation, the solution is engagement. Attend the hearing. Submit comments. Volunteer for boards and committees. Run for office. Democracy functions best when more voices participate — not when we question the legitimacy of neighbors simply because of where they live.
Biddeford is stronger when we work together — university community, beach residents, mill district entrepreneurs, and long-time families alike. Let’s focus on collaboration rather than division.
Mark Poirier,Biddeford
NOTE: The Biddeford Gazette strongly encourages reader feedback and public commentary regarding our coverage and issues directly related to the city of Biddeford. To submit a letter to the editor or guest column, please contact us at biddefordgazette@gmail.com
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THE BIDDEFORD GAZETTE | A Legacy of Trusted, Independent Journalism
David Kurtz takes in a deep breath – pauses – and looks away, toward the coffee shop’s window before answering one of our questions during an informal and candid interview.
Kurtz, 39, is one of the three new Biddeford city councilors who were each first elected to office in November.
Despite the relaxed setting on a Tuesday afternoon at the Time & Tides coffee shop on Main Street, Kurtz approaches our questions with the same style of deliberative and thoughtful responses that are becoming his public trademark.
He is a serious man but is also equally funny and somewhat self-deprecating.
Biddeford City Councilor David Kurtz (Seaver photo)
Our hour-long conversation is free-wheeling. At times the mood is light and jovial. But Kurtz also doesn’t pull any punches when talking about growing up as “a geek” with divorced parents in southern Maine.
And he is as serious as a heart attack when discussing some of the issues now facing the city of Biddeford.
“There is absolutely no question,” he said. “We need to do better, but I also think we’re on the right track.”
Kurtz’s childhood was much less than anything that could be described as idyllic. His father struggled with a drug addiction. His mother did her best to raise her son alone on a meager income.
Despite those somewhat gritty circumstances, Kurtz heaped praise on both of his parents.
“They both loved and supported me unconditionally,” he recalled. “They were doing the best that they could do. Yes, my father had a substance use disorder, but he read to me every night when I visited him on weekends or vacation days.”
Here are three things everyone should know about David Kurtz.
First, he wore open-toed sandals to the interview, despite piles of frozen snow on the sidewalks and mid-February freezing temperatures.
A few hours later, he was dressed in a jacket and necktie for a meeting with his constituents at City Hall to discuss priorities for the city’s recreational assets. No sandals. Polished shoes.
Secondly, Kurtz worked in a liquor store when he was just 17 years old. “I looked more like 39 back then, than I do today,” he laughed.
Finally, Kurtz is often accompanied by his mother, Cynthia, during public events, including last week’s ward meeting and while enjoying the city’s annual downtown Winterfest celebration.
Sometimes people need to be willing to grab a shovel and help pick up some shit.”
In his very first bid for public office, Kurtz was unopposed in his quest for the council’s Ward Five seat.
Kurtz received 553 votes – a little less than 73 percent of the total ballots cast in that council race. According to the city clerk’s office, 211 voters in Ward Five left that particular ballot choice blank.
Ward Five – previously represented by Neva Lance, Julian Schlaver, Victoria Foley and Amy Clearwater – includes the city’s downtown area and a sprawling collection of repurposed former mill buildings.
While Biddeford is, in fact, Maine’s youngest city (35.6 median age), Ward Five is also arguably the most diverse, youngest and politically progressive of Biddeford’s seven voting wards.
Kurtz is a corporate lawyer. He graduated from the University of Southern Maine’s Law School in 2016.
Today, Kurtz is employed as a corporate lawyer for Robert S. Gitmeid & Associates, a New York-based firm with offices in all 50 states. Kurtz runs the firm’s Maine and Vermont offices.
Kurtz “shares a bed and custody of two cats” with his girlfriend, Dani, a veterinarian. The couple lives in a newly constructed residential building on Upper Falls Road (formerly Gooch Street).
Meet the new guy
Kurtz takes a sip from his coffee as we begin the Q & A portion of our meeting.
“Okay, I’m ready,” he laughed. “Let me have it.”
You double-majored in economics and bio chemistry at Hampshire College. Bio chemistry?
“All my friends were pre-med. I couldn’t keep up with their conversations, so I decided to try a new tact.” (Laughs)
How and why did you get involved in city politics?
“I served on the Recycling & Waste Management Commission. I found it fascinating. I got to work closely with [Public Works Director] Jeff Demers. Man, that guy knows a lot.”
“On that committee, I worked alongside [city councilors] Brad Cote, Jake Pierson and Abigail Woods and with Liam [LaFountain] before he became mayor.”
You’re not a Biddeford native.
“No. Almost, but not quite.” (Laughs) “I wasn’t born here, and I’m a bit self-conscious about that. I am from Maine, if that helps. (Laughs). My dad lived in Biddeford. My mom lived in Kennebunk. I commuted between the two communities during my childhood.”
You say you grew up in a financially challenged household, yet you ended up at Waynflete, a prestigious private high school. How did that happen? Good grades?
“Exactly. I was as shocked as anyone that I got in.”
Serving on the city council is often a thankless and tedious endeavor. Did you think it through before taking out nomination papers?
“Oh sure. I talked with [former Mayor] Marty Grohman and Norm [Belanger] and Liam – the three guys running for mayor. They didn’t try to talk me out of it.”
What motivated you to run?
“I saw where the city was heading, and I had my own concerns, I’m of the belief that sometimes people need to be willing to grab a shovel and help pick up some shit.”
What are your current committee assignments?
“I serve on the Policy Committee, the Citizens Advisory Committee and the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee. I also serve as the city council liaison on both the Biddeford Housing Authority and the Heart of Biddeford.”
You’re keeping busy.
“Pretty much. I also have a pretty time-consuming job. Dani and I are planning a vacation in 2028.” (Laughs)
You seem to be a good fit for this particular ward.
“Well. Thank you for that, kind sir. I feel at home in this ward. Many of my constituents are just like me – – relatively new arrivals in the city. I want to make sure their voices are heard.”
Future political plans?
“Nope. This is the end of the line for me.”
Your father read to you nightly. What books?
“Rudyard Kipling, Robert Heinlen, Issac Asimov – all the good Jewish writers.” (Laughs)
Hobbies? Background?
“I’m a big fan of long-distance hiking. I was actually a ‘ridge runner’ with the Appalachian Mountain Club.”
Is gentrification a concern for Biddeford?
“I think so, and I’m part of the issue. Higher-income, newer professional resident. We have to work through it without denying the challenges.”
You describe yourself as a “political leftie.” What’s your mission statement as a city councilor?
“I want the lowest taxes possible without cutting essential services.”
Note:The Biddeford Gazette will be conducting similar interviews with the other eight members of the city council over the next few weeks.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR | Randy Seaver is the editor and founder of the Biddeford Gazette. He has been covering Biddeford news and politics for nearly three decades. He may be reached by email: randy@randyseaver.com
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THE BIDDEFORD GAZETTE | A Legacy of Trusted, Independent Journalism
Weighted UNE committee is appalling and patently unfair to UNE
By DIANE SNOW, Special to the Gazette
A recent Portland Press Herald story regarding the committee set up to review the plans for University of New England [Biddeford Committee plans public hearing, Feb. 24, 2026] left me appalled because the committee is comprised primarily by Hills Beach residents.
That the chairman of the committee [Councilor Patricia Boston] is a Hills Beach resident was surprising enough. Now to find out that three of the six committee members are Hills Beach residents, was not just surprising, it was shocking.
How can anyone expect an honest and objective assessment when the “plaintiffs” have become the “jury”?
This issue affects not just the residents of Hills Beach; it affects the entire community.
The university is a major prize in Biddeford. Most cities would give their right arm for this privilege.
A more disturbing question: Whose welfare do our elected officials represent? The wealthy beachfront residents or the community at large?
Members of the newly former Institutional Zone Review Committee held their first meeting on Feb. 19, 2026. The committee’s first public hearing will be held on Monday, March 2, beginning at 6 p.m., at City Hall in Biddeford (Gazette photo)
That the Hills Beach residents wield outsized power is clear. How long has this been going on? Do we need to remind city officials that the taxes in the city are paid by all property owners, not just the beachfront owners?
There is plenty of real estate in vacant mills that need interested entrepreneurs willing to establish flourishing businesses. A university, with its educational and cultural benefits, is a major attraction.
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The university is a major prize in Biddeford. Most cities would give their right arm for this privilege.
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Impeding the progress of UNE is harmful to Biddeford. This outsized influence of a small, privileged group has also clarified the means by which beach access has become so restrictive.
Has anyone noticed how difficult it is to access our beaches? I once received a parking ticket at Goose Rocks beach when I stopped there to give a young girl from New York City — who was staying with us through the Fresh Air Fund — a chance to put her feet in the ocean for the first time.
The beauty of the world does not only belong to a select privileged group.
The mayor and city councilors were elected to represent the interests of the entire community, not just a single group.
It is time to address this travesty. Citizens of Biddeford, know whose interests your elected officials represent. Let them know of your concerns, and above all, think carefully next time you are at the polls.
Diane Snow was born and raised in Biddeford. Today, she lives in Cumberland, Maine
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NOTE: The Biddeford Gazette strongly encourages reader feedback and public commentary regarding our coverage and issues directly related to the city of Biddeford. To submit a letter to the editor or guest column, please contact us at biddefordgazette@gmail.com
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THE BIDDEFORD GAZETTE | A Legacy of Trusted, Independent Journalism
Affordability isn’t just some buzzword, nor the latest political fad or a hoax. It is a core concern of Biddeford residents and Mainers throughout our state, and it has been for years.. We’ve all witnessed how even folks with solid middle class jobs and good incomes have struggled with the high cost of housing, health care, child care, electricity, heating oil and more. Making it easier for hard-working people to get ahead and afford to live life with dignity is at the core of my legislative work.
Of course, not all of the factors which influence affordability are within the Maine Legislature’s control. We cannot control when an impetuous and unaccountable president levies tariffs. We cannot control the global prices of fossil fuels – natural gas, for instance, is the leading driver of our high electrical costs. Global instability and chaos in Washington, D.C., are unfortunately impacting the cost of basic goods and services in Maine.
But that doesn’t mean we are helpless – there are things we can do in Augusta to lower costs and their impacts on our community. I am blessed to be part of a team of legislators who are focused on finding real solutions to make life more affordable. This work does not always draw headlines – sadly, in this political environment, there are too many incentives for politicians to act outrageously to garner attention. I’d rather work collaboratively to solve problems big and small, even if doing so means flying under the radar.
As anyone who has read this column knows, one of the most important issues to me is housing – it costs too much to buy a home, it costs too much to maintain homeownership and it costs too much to rent. Some of this is due to our lack of supply. We need to build more housing of all types for people of all income levels if we want to put downward pressure on prices. This session I am supporting measures that would increase the development of affordable housing and reduce the cost of purchasing a home for first-time homebuyers.
Additionally, I am working in my committee on efforts to reform regulatory burdens on housing construction to ensure that our regulations make sense, protect people where needed and allow builders and property owners to create more units.
I am also closely following the work of two committees working on issues which have a direct impact on Biddeford: the Education Committee and the Taxation Committee. The Education Committee is working on legislation to reform the school funding formula. This is sorely needed, because the current formula – to be blunt – screws over Biddeford. We are one of the higher-poverty school districts in the state, yet we are a low-receiver of state funding. This is a fundamental inequity which hurts students and families of all income levels in Biddeford, and it needs to be fixed. I have vocally advocated for this change, amplifying the excellent advocacy of Superintendent Jeremy Ray and our local elected officials.
The Taxation Committee is reviewing recommendations aimed at lowering the cost of property taxes, which continue to be a huge burden on residents. Cities like Biddeford are required to assess property and levy taxes within a certain percentage of property values, and that becomes a problem when a grossly overheated real estate market inflates those values beyond reason. I will support efforts to expand property tax relief, but I also will continue to fight for more structural reforms.
Biddeford is constrained by the Maine Constitution, which does not allow flexibility in how these taxes are levied. We will likely need a constitutional amendment in order to allow them to give more grace to longtime residents and make wealthy second-homeowners pay a little bit more because they can afford to. If none of this is on the table this session, I plan to introduce it myself in the next one.
These are just some of the things we are doing to address affordability in Maine and here in Biddeford. There are other important things we can do to support workers, such as raising teacher salaries, and I will look at anything we can do to help. Some politicians, including the current Republican leadership in the House and Senate, would rather make noise and grab headlines by demonizing immigrants and supporting President Trump’s unpopular tax policies. I’m more interested in working with others – from both sides of the aisle – on solutions.
Let’s roll up our sleeves and get this done.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR | Rep. Marc Malon is serving his second term in the Maine House representing a portion of Biddeford. He serves as a member of the Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee and the Housing and Economic Development Committee. He can be reached via email at marc.malon@legislature.maine.gov.
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THE BIDDEFORD GAZETTE | A Legacy of Trusted, Independent Journalism
With the pressure of a Top Chef-style showdown—and none of the usual kitchen comforts—Biddeford Regional Center of Technology (BRCOT) Culinary and Hospitality students competed in the Maine ProStart State Invitational on February 24, 2026, placing second and third, respectively.
Biddeford Regional Center of Technology’s Culinary Arts students place second in the Maine ProStart State Invitational culinary competition. Pictured L-R: Maya Serrano (Thornton Academy), Marcus Ciccariello (Old Orchard Beach High School), Dominic Earl (Biddeford High School), and Elise Kazukiewicz (Thornton Academy). Missing from Photo: Team Manager Caleb Tardif (Biddeford High School). Contributed photo
Hosted by Hospitality Maine at the Holiday Inn By The Bay, the statewide competition challenged culinary students to prepare a three-course meal in just 60 minutes using only two butane burners—without access to running water or electricity. The BRCOT team prepared a “Dia De Los Muertos” menu featuring Mexican-style lobster tacos, pan-seared habanero-orange-glazed duck breast, and white chocolate mango mousse.
Teams were evaluated by industry professionals on taste, skill, teamwork, safety, and sanitation, requiring students to rely on preparation, precision, and collaboration under intense time pressure. The high-pressure format mirrored the pace and expectations of professional kitchens, and BRCOT students rose to the occasion with creativity, precision, and confidence, impressing judges with both their technical ability and composure under the clock.
Biddeford Regional Center of Technology’s Hospitality students place third in the Maine ProStart State Invitational hospitality management competition. L-R: Instructor Nicki Bean, Aaleyah Sullivan (Thornton Academy), Olivia Hayford (Biddeford High School), Lyly Chhang (Biddeford High School), Jaice Cebula (Thornton Academy), and Noah Yum (Thornton Academy). Contributed photo
BRCOT’s Hospitality team presented in the Restaurant Management competition of the Maine ProStart State Invitational. The group submitted a comprehensive restaurant proposal for an international airport dining concept called World Table, featuring flavors from around the globe.
As part of the competition, students developed a complete business plan including menu design and pricing, marketing strategies, floor plan and decor, and operational planning before presenting their concept to the panel of industry judges. The project showcased not only their creativity, but also their critical thinking, financial literacy, and entrepreneurial skills—hallmarks of the Hospitality pathway at the Biddeford Regional Center of Technology.
“Watching our students compete was like seeing classroom learning come to life,” said Nicki Bean, Hospitality, Travel & Tourism Instructor at the Biddeford Regional Center of Technology. “They had to think on their feet, trust each other, and deliver under pressure—and they did all of that with professionalism and creativity. It’s exactly the kind of experience that helps them sharpen their skills and opens doors for their future.”
The second-place culinary students receive a $1,500 scholarship, and the third-place hospitality students receive a $1,000 scholarship. Their placement reflects the hands-on, immersive nature of BRCOT’s Culinary and Hospitality programs, where students learn far more than just recipes and how to work in a restaurant.
Coursework includes food preparation and presentation, quantity food production, bakeshop, catering, classical sauces, and restaurant service, alongside hospitality fundamentals such as customer service, marketing, teamwork, and problem-solving. Students also explore careers through field trips, job shadows, and projects like designing their own restaurant concepts—building skills that translate well beyond the kitchen. Those enrolled can also earn transferable college credits, giving them an early advantage as they pursue college, careers, or entrepreneurial paths in Maine’s largest industry.
“This event captures exactly what career and technical education is all about,” said Paulette Bonneau, Director of the Biddeford Regional Center of Technology. “Our students aren’t just learning technical skills—they’re discovering their passions, building confidence, and seeing how their interests can turn into real opportunities. Experiences like ProStart spark that interest and help students envision a clear path forward, whether they enter the workforce directly, continue their education, or pursue entrepreneurial paths in hospitality and beyond.”
The Maine ProStart State Invitational connects students with chefs, managers, and hospitality leaders while offering opportunities for scholarships and national recognition. BRCOT’s awards underscore how career and technical education can be both rigorous and exciting—preparing students not just to compete, but to thrive in fast-paced, real-world careers. The other schools involved included Sanford Regional Technical Center, Westbrook Regional Vocational Center, and Capital Area Technology Center.
BRCOT is currently enrolling students for the 2026-2027 school year.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR | Karen Garnett is Director of Communications for Biddeford, Saco and Dayton schools. She can be reached at kgarnett@biddefordschools.me
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THE BIDDEFORD GAZETTE | A Legacy of Trusted, Independent Journalism
ALFRED, Maine – On a recent Saturday as the Mass at York County Jail neared its end, those eligible for Holy Communion moved to partake. Others were asked by Bishop Robert Deeley if they would like a blessing, and several residents stepped forward with their arms crossed on their chests, as instructed. He smiled at each one as he made the sign of the cross.
A York County Jail resident receives a blessing administered by Bishop Robert Deeley, who says Mass at the jail once a month for inmates who sign up to attend. While retired from administrative duties since 2024, he remains a priest and a Bishop and says Mass weekdays in his home parish.(Courtesy photo)
It was a special moment in an hour of special moments, as 17 general population jail inmates – some sentenced, some awaiting trial – took part in the Mass, repeating the familiar, and to some, not so familiar readings, and listening as Bishop Deeley delivered the homily.
Catholic Prison Ministry, a joint initiative of St. Therese of Lisieux Parish in Sanford and The Brothers of Christian Instruction in Alfred, has provided a regular Catholic presence at York County Jail since 2018, after planning for a year, said member Raymond Wallace.
“They need to know what they’ve done is not who they are,” said Wallace of jail residents. “God has a better plan.”
The prison ministry group had long desired a Saturday evening Mass for inmates, but, as Bishop Deeley noted, Saturdays are busy times for priests, who regularly say Mass on Saturday evenings in their own parishes. Deeley retired from his administrative duties when James Ruggieri was appointed Bishop of Portland in 2024, but he remains a Bishop and a priest and recently began offering the Saturday evening Mass at the jail once a month.
Brother Henry Monday, left, of the Brothers of Christian Instruction in Alfred, and Bishop Robert Deeley take part in a recent Mass at York County Jail.
Having Mass at the jail requires additional corrections officers to provide security, said Sheriff Bill King, and staffing levels are challenging so he, and Jail Administrator Maj. Lori Marks or an alternate attend to ensure the service is not cancelled. “It is truly an honor to have a retired Bishop come to the jail and celebrate mass,” King said. He said several inmates have become regular attendees and seem to have developed a connection with the Bishop – who recognizes “the regulars.”
Many of those attending on a recent Saturday weren’t Catholic – the Bishop said most aren’t. They listened and participated respectfully.
“I emphasize to the inmates how fortunate they are to have a Bishop celebrating mass at the jail,” said King. “Even amongst the non-Catholics, they seem to recognize the Bishop’s importance to the Catholic faith.”
York County Jail has an average daily population of about 230 people, who hail from many walks of life. Religious or spiritual services are offered to the majority of the jail population, who sign up to attend, said King.
He said groups like Catholic Prison Ministry provide mentorship. “I’ve seen where people released relied on them for guidance,” King said.
In addition to the Mass, Brother Henry Monday is a regular visitor to the jail, and is often sought out by residents for counsel, Bishop Deeley said.
Brother Monday put it simply: “When we come together, we are all children of God,” he said.
There are other services and opportunities for religious and spiritual counsel. Maj. Marks, the jail administrator, said Calvary Chapel hosts a Tuesday Bible study at the jail.
Rabbi Levi Wilansky is available to provide guidance to those of the Jewish faith, said King.
And York County Jail provides the services of a chaplain.
“Unlike chaplains in state facilities who often have the chance to build longer-term relationships, county jail chaplaincy mostly involves short-term care, meeting people facing an uncertain future and planting seeds of hope that may hopefully grow later,” said Chaplain Trent Boyd. “The Chaplain does their best to support each inmate’s right to practice their faith and to request reasonable accommodations for sincere beliefs.”
Bishop Robert Deeley, shown here greeting a York County Jail resident, is retired from his administrative work for the Diocese of Portland but remains a Bishop and priest, and says Mass once a month at York County Jail.
Boyd said chaplains listen, care, and are there to offer hope.
“A county jail chaplain tries to bring what we call “a ministry of presence” into the jail,” Boyd said.
On a winter Saturday evening, as the Mass was said, there was a warmth and a sense of peace and goodwill in the meeting room.
“I hope, through our presence with them, and having the Mass, they will know that whatever has gone wrong in their lives does not remove them from the love of God,” Bishop Deeley said of those who attend. “Remember that Jesus reached out to the prisoner next to him on Calvary. That prisoner is today in heaven. In whatever way we can help the people in the jail to know they are of great worth, and capable of doing great things, we have fulfilled our mission.”
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR | Tammy Wells is a media specialist with York County government. You may reach her at tlwells@yorkcountymaine.gov
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THE BIDDEFORD GAZETTE | A Legacy of Trusted, Independent Journalism
Biddeford Mayor Liam LaFountain ran his campaign last year on a platform dedicated to restoring accountability and increasing transparency at City Hall.
Those were good messages, and the voters agreed with LaFountain, giving him the edge over the incumbent former mayor.
LaFountain pledged to hit the ground running, and he’s already made good on those campaign promises.
As an example, LaFountain – with unanimous support from the city council – was able to revive a new committee to review ongoing development at the University of New England.
LaFountain has also steadily pushed for transparency on issues ranging from the city’s overdue financial audits to how city spending is handled; and how major development projects are reviewed by city staff.
We applaud LaFountain’s commitment to transparency and accountability, but we would caution the new mayor to carefully consider and weigh a proposed change to how the city handles its legal matters.
Shortly after his inauguration in December, LaFountain proposed an idea to do away with having an outside, private attorney represent Biddeford as its city solicitor.
While the council supported renewing City Attorney Harry B. Center’s contract for only six more months, it’s unclear whether a potential change would ultimately be supported by every member of the council, when push comes to shove.
Harry B. Center, a native son, has served the city of Biddeford for many years, first appointed by former mayor Roger Normand in 1992 (Courtesy photo)
Regardless of how the council feels about ditching Center and instead hiring an in-house, full-time city attorney, we think such a move would be a mistake.
The basis of our opinion is founded upon three basic points: experience, local knowledge and financial costs to the taxpayers.
EXPERIENCE:
Center began serving Biddeford as its city solicitor more than 30 years ago, first appointed to the job by former mayor Roger Normand in 1992.
Since that time, Center has served as city solicitor under five different mayors, including James Grattelo, Donna Dion, Alan Casavant, Marty Grohman and now Liam LaFountain.
Although Center resigned his position in 2004 to pursue a new job in the private sector, he returned after being appointed by Casavant to replace Keith Jacques upon his retirement as city solicitor in 2022.
Over the last three decades, Center has served as the city’s chief legal counsel on a wide range of issues – including controversial matters related to the former Maine Energy trash incinerator and widespread citizen concerns about a controversial research pier being proposed by the University of New England.
Simply put, Mr. Center’s institutional knowledge cannot be matched.
LOCAL KNOWLEDGE:
Center is much more than just another department head or city employee. His roots in the community go back for generations.
He was born and raised in Biddeford. He attended St. Mary’s parochial school and then graduated from Biddeford High School in 1980.
If Biddeford needs representation on issues involving far-reaching implications for the city’s future, we think it makes sense to have an attorney who truly understands the community he is fighting for and representing.
Mr. Center is not only a highly qualified attorney and a partner in a Biddeford-based firm, he also understands the city’s history, its culture and its people.
Mr. Center’s blood runs black and orange, and that should count for something.
Although we have sometimes found ourselves in disagreement with some of Center’s opinions, we also feel strongly that he has consistently represented the city with passion, dedication and a deep commitment to the highest standards of his profession.
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Mr. Center’s blood runs
black and orange; and
that should count for something.
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FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS:
Finally – although we recognize and appreciate some calls for a new approach and a breath of fresh air, we should all consider the financial implications of hiring an in-house attorney to serve as the city solicitor.
Currently, Center bills the city at an hourly rate of $255 per hour, a fraction of what most attorneys with his experience and credentials charge in the Portland metropolitan area.
The city’s primary financial advantage – in addition to Mr. Center’s deeply discounted fee — is the fact that he is not a full-time employee. Mr. Center receives no benefits from the city, unlike full-time department heads.
Center’s firm is headquartered on Main Street, almost directly across the street from City Hall’s main entrance. For all intents and purposes, he’s practically already ‘in-house’ counsel for the city.
Could the city hire a new attorney for less than what Center is charging? We strongly doubt that possibility, especially if the city wants someone with experience.
Moreover, creating yet another administrative position comes with all sorts of other somewhat hidden considerations, including office space, equipment and support staff, not to mention personnel benefits, including vacation and retirement benefits.
In summary, Harry Center has served the city of Biddeford with distinction and honor for many years. In our opinion, there is no compelling reason to throw away that experience and commitment on the gamble of a new approach.
That’s our opinion, and we welcome yours. You may submit either a guest column of the same length or a letter to the editor by contacting us at biddefordgazette@gmail.com.
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THE BIDDEFORD GAZETTE | A Legacy of Trusted, Independent Journalism
Guy Gagnon has been excited about this particular project for several years.
The project is Adams Point, a 39-unit affordable family housing project on the upper end of Adams Street in Biddeford.
Following more than three years of planning and construction, Adams Point is expected to finally open in April.
The four-story building will feature one, two, three and even four-bedroom apartments — all with competitive rental rates below current, average rental prices in Biddeford.
The Adams Point family housing project is expected to open in April (Seaver photo)
“This is huge for Biddeford,” Gagnon explains. “Our population is the youngest in Maine, but we don’t have a lot of housing opportunities for young families. True family housing hasn’t been built in Biddeford for many years.”
A native of Biddeford, Gagnon has served as executive director of the Biddeford Housing Authority (BHA) since 2010.
The BHA is a non-profit organization with a mission “to provide lower income families, including the elderly, disabled and unhoused, the opportunity to live in decent, safe and sanitary housing within the community.”
According to Gagnon, the rental rates at Adams Point will be “extremely competitive,” and each unit will include all utilities and free internet service.
For example, a two-bedroom unit will range between $1,200 and $1,500 per month. A three-bedroom unit will rent between $1,400 and $1,600 per month.
One- bedroom apartments will start at $1,000 per month.
“When you consider the fact that all utilities – heat, water and electricity — are included, it becomes really affordable,” Gagnon said.
Gagnon points out that providing affordable housing is not just a Biddeford problem.
Since 2018, the rental cost burden across the state has increased sharply for most households, especially for those with household incomes between $35,000 and $75,000 in total household income.
A Community Comes Together
Guy Gagnon, executive director of Biddeford’s Housing Authority, provided the Gazette with a preview tour of the Adams Point family housing project
The Adams Point project, Gagnon said, is the result of collaboration with private banks and contractors willing to offer competitive financing and rates. The project is also supported by the Maine Housing Authority and received some funding from the city of Biddeford’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund.
The city’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund is supported from required donations by private real estate developers.
When Gagnon requested a financial commitment from the city, he told the council that the BHA would refund any monies that were not used or left over from the project’s construction.
“I’m happy to report that it looks like we came in under budget on this project,” Gagnon said.
Residents at Adams Point will not only enjoy the convenience of included utility services, they will also have access to free internet services being provided by a grant from GoNetSpeed.
“This is a really exciting project for Biddeford,” Gagnon said.
Editor’s Note: For more information about availability and income guidelines, please contact theBiddeford Housing Authority.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Randy Seaver is the editor and founder of the Biddeford Gazette. He has been covering Biddeford news and politics for nearly three decades. He may be reached by email: randy@randyseaver.com
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THE BIDDEFORD GAZETTE | A Legacy of Trusted, Independent Journalism
Political newcomer John Salamone, a Republican who recently moved to Hollis from Portland, announced on social media Monday that he is withdrawing from the Dist. 32 State Senate race.
In a brief post on his personal Facebook page, Salamone wrote: “After a great deal of reflection and prayer, I’ve decided to withdraw my campaign for state senate.”
John Salamone of Hollis
Salamone was the second candidate to announce a challenge to incumbent Henry Ingwersen, a Democrat who is hoping for a third term. Jason Litalien, a former Biddeford mayoral candidate, remains in the race as an independent, unenrolled candidate.
“Over the past several months, I’ve been humbled by the encouragement and generosity of so many people who believe in our shared vision for Maine,” Salamone wrote. “Your support, whether through kind words, time, or financial contributions, has meant more to me than I can express.”
Salamone said he and his wife recently welcomed a newborn daughter into the world.
“As any parent knows, this is a profound and life-altering moment,” Salamone said. “The responsibility of fatherhood is immediate, personal, and sacred. At this time, my focus needs to be fully on my family.”
Salamone said he cares deeply about the direction of state government. His decision to withdraw, he said, was not easy.
“I remain committed to the principles we discussed, and I look forward to continuing to engage in our community as my capacity allows,” he added.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:Randy Seaver is the editor and founder of the Biddeford Gazette. He has been covering Biddeford news and politics for nearly three decades. He may be reached by email: randy@randyseaver.com
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THE BIDDEFORD GAZETTE |A Legacy of Trusted, Independent Journalism
Given recent complaints about the city of Biddeford’s sidewalk snow removal policies, Jeff Demers, the city’s public works director, recently sent the Gazette a detailed explanation regarding his department’s priorities when it comes to clearing snow from city sidewalk policies.
Jeff Demers, Biddeford Public Works Department director (Seaver photo)
Demers said resources are stretched thin, and if residents want changes, they should contact the city council and request more funding and manpower.
Here is a recent memo from Demers regarding sidewalk snow clearing:
“Sidewalks are a major concern for many people throughout our community year after year,” Demers wrote.
“Public Works can never do them all. As of today, we do an average of 34 miles of sidewalks taking up around 30 to 100 hours after any given storm.
“Not to mention the ongoing cleanup. More equipment and personnel are needed to add on more sidewalks at this time.
“If the City Manager and city council want to re-prioritize the way we do them today more discussion is warranted, in my opinion,” Demers said.
Demers said sidewalks are done by the following priorities.
Outside the Good Shepherd Food Bank in Auburn, the morning felt unmistakably like Maine. The sun was bright, the air was cold, the wind was sharp, and snow clung to the edges of the parking lot. It was the kind of day that makes you hurry from your car to the door.
Inside, the world felt entirely different.
The warehouse moved with purpose. Volunteers sorted boxes beneath lights that cast winter light across the concrete floor. Pallets of apples, pasta, cereal, and canned vegetables rose in every direction, bound for all corners of the state.
“This is Good Shepherd Food Bank,” says President Heather Paquette. “We are the Feeding America Food Bank for the state of Maine.”
She gestures to the vast space around her.
“You are in the Auburn facility, which is about 55,000 square feet. We also have a 48,000 square foot facility in Hampden, so in total we operate about 100,000 square feet of distribution space that services 33,000 square miles.”
On a cold Maine morning, the warmth of this place, its people, and its purpose feels even larger.
Good Shepherd Food Bank of Maine in Auburn, Maine.
One statewide food bank with rising need
Good Shepherd Food Bank is Maine’s only Feeding America affiliate, which is unusual.
“Every state in the nation has at least one Feeding America food bank,” Heather says. “There is not one food secure state in the United States. Maine is one of only a handful of states that has one Feeding America food bank that serves the entire state. We see that as an incredible responsibility and privilege.”
The numbers weigh heavily.
“When I took this job, Maine was at 11% percent food insecurity. We are currently at 13.8% percent and growing,” she says. “191,000 people in Maine are experiencing food insecurity. Within that number are 55,000 children.”
Good Shepherd receives USDA food, donated food from retailers, purchased food, and fresh produce from Maine farms through the Mainers Feeding Mainers program.
The food security ecosystem
Good Shepherd Food Bank Ecosystem
Early in her role, Heather began describing their work as a food security ecosystem.
“We provide food and support to more than 600 partners, who then provide direct service to the 191,000 neighbors experiencing food insecurity. That is the straight up and down part of our model,” she explains.
“But everything surrounding that line is just as important. Lawmakers, the business community, 22,000 donors, 1200 volunteers, other nonprofits, and our retail partners all affect the system.”
Retail pickup is especially significant. “Half of our distributed food comes directly from grocery retailers,” she says. “There are 215 pantries that pick up from 150 retailers, and that schedule operates every day of the year.”
The system works, but it is fragile. “When one part shifts, we must rely more heavily on the other parts,” she says.
This year brought a major shift.
A sudden crisis in SNAP
On October 21 (2026), Good Shepherd Food Bank received word that if a federal government shutdown continued, SNAP benefits scheduled for November 10th would not be funded.
“It was quite a crisis,” Heather says. “People who were food secure because they received SNAP were suddenly at risk of losing the ability to buy food.”
Agencies across the state felt the impact almost immediately.
“We heard from partners that lines were thirty to fifty percent longer overnight,” she says. “There were dozens of first time enrollments at food pantries. Our partners were looking to us to do more, and we needed to rise to that challenge.”
Meanwhile, federal food and federal funding had already been reduced.
“We receive less so we do less is not an acceptable answer,” she says. “We have agencies and people counting on us.”
The team increased its pace instantly.
When Maine stepped forward
Media attention intensified. Heather completed more than thirty interviews in a short period. “The media is very good to us,” she says. “They help us tell our story so people can understand what is happening and stand with us.”
Then came a call she will never forget.
“It was a first time donor who gave two hundred thousand dollars and wished to remain anonymous,” Heather recalls. “She said she could not sit back and do nothing.”
“After the governor’s contribution and the foundation gift, we distributed the funds to our 600 partner agencies,” she says. “Everyone received $1000 dollars. Biddeford Food Pantry, for example, spends about $190,000 dollars a year on purchased products. They were grateful, but the need is much larger.”
Still, every gift mattered. And then one gift changed everything.
The Onions and the gift of sunlight
Years ago, Susan and Fritz Onion, yes – that’s their last name, funded solar panels on the Auburn and Hampden facilities, saving Good Shepherd Food Bank about $200,000 thousand dollars annually. The plan was for the food bank to eventually purchase the panels from the Onions.
“We had the money set aside, but then we lost $1.2M dollars in federal funding and half of our food distribution. I was not comfortable writing that check,” Heather says.
During a meeting on October 22nd, the Onions surprised her. “Fritz said, ‘We have decided to donate the solar panels to the food bank,’ which is essentially an $800,000 dollar gift, plus $200,000 dollars in annual savings,” she says. “I was moved to tears. None of us knew that was coming.”
The panels now generate about 65% of the energy used in both facilities. “It was a beautiful sign of partnership and an enormous financial relief,” she says.
Small donations add up
During the SNAP crisis, donations surged.
“We saw about 900 new donors between late October and mid November,” she says. “We might normally see a couple hundred during that period. People really stepped up.”
Many gifts were small.
“We operate with 22,000 donors. Half give less than one thousand dollars,” Heather says. “We rely on generous Mainers who give what they can.”
Your $5 or $100 donation is not small. It truly matters. It is part of the lifeblood of the ecosystem.
A Biddeford upbringing and a path she never expected
Heather’s work ethic traces back to her childhood.
“I am a proud Biddeford Tiger alum,” she says. “Biddeford is a mill town at heart. There is a sense of pride and work ethic that comes from that.”
After graduating from the University of Southern Maine, she spent 24 years at Hannaford and its parent company, serving in 14 roles across three states.
One of her favorite roles brought her back home.
“I got to be the assistant store manager in the Biddeford store,” she says. “I loved seeing the people I grew up with and experiencing that incredible work ethic again.”
She tells the story of a 70-year-old seafood department employee whose daughter worked at corporate.
“He was very mad at me one day because he told me I could not force him to take a break because he had too much work to do,” she says, laughing. “This is an hourly employee and breaks are paid. I had to tell him that I was going to get in trouble if he didn’t take his break.”
Later, while working for Hannaford, a blind date with “some guy from Portland” turned out to be even more familiar.
“Four sentences into a blind date, it turned out he was from Biddeford and had graduated five years prior to me,” she says about her husband Brian. They have two children, Ben and Audrey.
‘This was always meant to be’
Heather never expected to leave Hannaford – until a restructuring eliminated her team. “I had an unfortunate event that many people have in their careers, where my team was part of a reduction in force and the entire team that I was leading was cut,” she says.
Around the same time, Good Shepherd Food Bank’s previous president, Kristen Miale, announced she was stepping down.
“The same day I learned about the significant reduction in force was the same day that Kristen announced to her team that she was departing,” Heather says. “And I truly believe that it was meant to be.
This was always meant to be.”
She knows herself well enough to know she might not have applied otherwise. “I think I would have seen that announcement in the paper and been like, drooling, like I would love to have that job, but I’m pretty sure I would not have been brave enough to actually put myself in a job search for it,” she says. “So I think the universe stepped in, and I’m grateful every day.”
The search took nine months and spanned the country.
“It was a nationwide search. There were several hundred candidates,” she says. “I’m really grateful to the selection committee.”
In the truck and at the pantry
Heather immerses herself in every part of the work.
She spent one memorable day riding with Sandy Swett of the Harrison Food Bank. “It was a twelve-hour day of lifting banana boxes full of frozen meat,” she says. “It was the hardest physical work I have ever done. Sandy is 71 and never slowed down.” At the end of the day, Sandy went to a bar to watch her husband play guitar and catered a wedding the next day. Heather, meanwhile? “I didn’t move off my couch,” she says. “My friends were texting me to go meet them. It was 8:00pm. I had my pajamas on. I just got my butt totally kicked. It was so humbling.”
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At a pantry during the SNAP crisis, she met a woman named Jasmine. “She arrived with a binder, ready to justify why she should be allowed to get food,” Heather says. “The pantry director told her, ‘You do not need the binder. Please fill your bag. That is why we are here.’”
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Another man refused a ten dollar gift card to Walmart. “He said, ‘I have everything I need. I have this place where I can get food,’” she recalls. “It was incredibly moving.”
Her first pantry visit revealed a heartbreaking truth.
“I watched one hundred people line up for seventy spots,” she says. “Those who received boxes shared items with those who did not.”
“The work is tough, it’s emotionally tough,” Heather says. “I often shake my head thinking about the things that stressed me out in corporate America that very much do not matter in the real world. “
“That is when it hit me,” she says quietly. “This work is gratitude and service.”
Looking ahead
Good Shepherd had finalized a strategic plan before the SNAP crisis. It focuses on improving food distribution while addressing root causes of hunger and reducing stigma.
“My leadership purpose is always ‘press forward and always give back,’” Heather says.
The crisis made the mission more urgent, but also more visible.
“We have had a powerful spotlight these past months,” she says. “People who never knew our story now know it. That gives us hope.”
What Mainers can do — starting today
When asked what people can do to help, Heather doesn’t hesitate.
“The number one thing people can do for us is be our ally,” she says. “Be able to tell our story. This is who Good Shepherd Food Bank is. There’s 600 partners throughout the state and a 13.8% and growing population with food insecurity. These are people who you see at stores. These are people you go to church with. These are people whose children go to school with your children.”
“If you think you don’t know somebody who’s experiencing food insecurity, you do,” she adds. “So be an ally to that.”
Part of being an ally is practical:
“Go on to www.feedingmaine.org. There’s a button where you can donate. Every dollar you give the food bank, we can do really great things with,” she says.
“There’s also a button that says ‘Find Food,’ and you can type in ‘04005’, for example, and you’ll see Youth Full Maine, which is in the Biddeford High School parking lot, the Biddeford Food Pantry, and a number of different food pantries around the area. Reach out directly to ask them, what specifically do you need?”
“Some need volunteers, others are being overwhelmed with volunteers right now, which is a good problem to have. So they need food, and everyone needs money. Ask the question about what people need and give generously.”
In a state where one food bank shoulders the responsibility for all 30,000 square miles, Heather brings Biddeford grit, Hannaford know-how, and a simple conviction that “we receive less so we do less is not an acceptable answer.”
Thousands of Mainers – from anonymous donors quietly wiring $200,000 to neighbors giving $5 online – and everyting in between – are standing with her.
And somewhere in Auburn and Hampden, under solar panels given by a family named Onion, forklifts are moving, volunteers are packing, and boxes are headed out to 600 partners, so that another neighbor, on another hard day, can hear four simple words:
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Cy Cyr www.cycyr.com) grew up in Biddeford and returned after 25 years away. He started BrickTides.com as a way to reconnect with the community that shaped him, using photography and longform storytelling to document the people shaping southern Maine today.
BRICK+TIDES is a weekly digital magazine based in York County, Maine. We share positive and inspiring stories about local businesses, people, and places that make Southern Maine special. If you’d like to read our free weekly email, we’d love for you to subscribe!
When journalists compete, readers win | Good news for people in Biddeford
Whether you’re buying a new car or just picking up the week’s groceries, you are always better off when you have choices and competition in the marketplace.
It’s no different when it comes to the highly competitive world of journalism. Having choices about where you get your local news ensures that you are well-informed and up to date about what is happening in your community.
Most journalists I know – me included – would rather have “exclusive rights” when it comes to local news reporting. We’re doing just fine. There’s no need for competition. Thank you very much.
But if there is only one dominant media outlet in any market – large or small –news consumers suffer.
Competition keeps journalists on their toes, hungry to find new and more detailed information. Competition also serves the public as an appropriate ‘check and balance’ on each reporter and every media outlet.
Bias and inaccuracy are exposed when multiple journalists cover the same beat.
The idea – and the importance – of “getting the scoop” is a well-known mantra, that even those outside the realm of the so-called Fourth Estate understand and appreciate.
But getting the scoop should be much more focused on getting the story right rather than getting the story first.
So, how does all of this impact local news consumers in Biddeford?
What’s the buzz? Media competition in Biddeford
The local news landscape in the Biddeford area has changed dramatically over the last 30 years.
I have written about this subject ad-nauseam on my personal blog, Lessons in Mediocrity.
I grew up here, and when I returned to Biddeford in the mid-1990s, there were three newspapers regularly covering City Hall, local politics, news and events.
The Portland Press Herald – Maine’s largest daily newspaper – had a fully-staffed regional bureau on Main Street. The legendary and award-winning Journal Tribune – an afternoon daily – was then “the paper of record.”
At the same time, the weekly Biddeford-Saco-OOB Courier – a locally-owned publication — was keeping the big boys on their toes, filling the gaps and providing (during my tenure as editor) a somewhat manic approach to covering City Hall.
What happened?
For all intents and purposes, it was like a slow-acting bomb was triggered. There were a lot of things at play, most notably corporate restructuring of local media and big changes in how consumers accessed their news and information.
Welcome to the internet and social media.
Suddenly, everyone was a reporter. The Fourth Estate was being overrun by a mob of discontented citizens who no longer trusted the media or valued its self-described role as guardians of local news and information.
The Journal Tribune – after more than a century of providing local news in Biddeford – permanently closed its doors in October 2019. The Press Herald closed its regional bureau; and the Courier was sold and then – just last year – ceased publishing its print edition and was folded into an electronic newsletter distributed by the Press Herald.
Rising from the ashes
It may have happened slowly, but over time folks in the Biddeford area realized that they were living in a vacuum of local news coverage. The local newspapers were always taken for granted.
Many of us didn’t recognize how lucky we were to have three independent, professional publications covering Biddeford news.
Not surprisingly, it was a local journalist who took the very first step in filling the news vacuum in Biddeford.
Liz Gotthelf, a former Journal Tribune reporter, launched Saco Bay News – a digital publication – only months after her employer sent her and her co-workers packing in 2020.
Liz Gotthelf (Saco Bay News photo)
It likely would have been easier for Liz to find a job at another newspaper or go into the much more lucrative field of public relations. But with tenacity and grit, she almost single-handedly built a trusted, local media source.
Saco Bay News does an excellent job of covering local news, but since Liz is basically running it as a one-person show, she is stretched thin and challenged by simultaneously covering three communities: Biddeford, Saco and Old Orchard Beach.
Another fighter enters the ring
Almost two years ago, I found myself increasingly frustrated about some local issues, including Biddeford’s brash and rather obnoxious former city manager and a lack of coverage about a controversial project put forth by the University of New England.
In November of 2024, I tentatively launched the Biddeford Gazette as a special section on my blog. Two months later – following my wife’s suggestion – I formally launched the Gazette as a stand-alone publication.
Biddeford is the largest community in York County, and the eighth-largest city in Maine. I thought the city deserved its own news source.
I doubt that Liz – a good friend and former co-worker – was very happy about a new competitor, but readers almost immediately embraced the Gazette because of its commitment to be a Biddeford-only publication.
There’s an old saying: “Write what you know.”
Well, I know Biddeford. My family’s roots here go back generations. I was raised on the third-floor of a Quimby Street triple decker and received First Communion at St. Mary’s.
Heck, I even had a paper route delivering the Journal Tribune in the 1970s.
As a professional journalist, I have been covering the city of Biddeford for nearly 30 years. Thus, I have a somewhat unfair advantage over Liz and various reporters from the Press Herald. I know this city and its people, and they know me.
The media landscape continues to change
Today, any person with a smartphone and an internet connection can set themselves up as a journalist or as “a community reporter.”
That’s a good thing, and that’s a bad thing. Allow me to explain.
Last year, during a small, community symposium about local media issues that was hosted by The Maine Monitor at the McArthur Library, several folks raised concerns about how to “separate the wheat from the chaff.”
In an age of rampant internet communication, how are consumers supposed to discern and distinguish the news being fed to them, asked Susan Gold, a veteran journalist who once worked at the Journal Tribune.
Sadly, there is no easy answer to that question.
As I said at the top, increased competition among the media is good for you, but you have to be careful.
A few months ago, another digital media outlet emerged in Biddeford.
The Biddeford Buzz was launched last summer by Josh Wolfe, a man who was reportedly less than satisfied with the area’s existing news coverage, especially the Gazette.
The Biddeford Buzz may not be my cup of tea. Josh has had no editorial training or professional news experience prior to launching his own publication. For example, the Buzz recently published a story about a political candidate simply by “copying and pasting” something the candidate wrote on Facebook. She called me to complain. “He [Wolfe] never even called me,” she said.
But what Mr. Wolfe may lack in experience, he more than compensates with enthusiasm and a dogged desire to keep other reporters on their own toes.
Unlike many other reporters, Wolfe has become a regular fixture at Biddeford City Council meetings. He has a near perfect attendance record, always sitting up front and eager to cover even rather benign city issues.
Furthermore, — and perhaps most importantly — the Biddeford Buzz gives its readers and others another platform to share their own news and opinions about the city of Biddeford. That’s very important, especially for people who have a rather dim view of the Gazette or other local publications.
More choices often lead to better outcomes, and at least Biddeford consumers are no longer living in a news vacuum
CORRECTION: The original article contained an error. The Journal Tribune closed in October 2019, not in 2020. The story has been updated, and we apologize for the error.
New partnerships, expanding technology will help the Gazette stay connected to you
I don’t believe this could have been a better week for the Biddeford Gazette.
I am especially excited about several new partnerships that will allow us to give you more news and information about your community.
Earlier this week, I was invited to a meeting at the University of New England, where I enjoyed a really nice lunch with Michael Cripps, a professor and director of UNE’s School of Arts and Humanities and the College of Arts and Sciences.
Dr. Cripps and I had a fascinating and free-wheeling conversation about the state of today’s media landscape and some of the challenges he faces in working to provide his students with real life experiences to support their education outside of the traditional classroom.
Bottom line: Dr. Cripps and I began laying the groundwork of a partnership that will allow his students who are pursuing careers in journalism and communications to work as interns with the Biddeford Gazette.
It has the potential to be a dynamic relationship, one that will allow us an opportunity to expand our coverage and learn the valuable perspective of students attending classes in Biddeford.
But wait, that’s not all . . .
Cy Cyr of Biddeford (Courtesy photo)
If you don’t know Cy Cyr of Biddeford, you’re really missing out. A Biddeford native, Cy recently launched Brick + Tides, a digital magazine that features his photography and some very compelling document-style storytelling about the people shaping southern Maine today.
I am a huge fan of Cy’s work, and I am ecstatic that he and I will be working together to promote and share his work on the Biddeford Gazette’s site.
We’ll be posting our first story from Brick + Tides on Monday in which Cy does an in-depth interview with Heather Paquette, another Biddeford native who is the president of Good Shepherd Food Bank of Maine.
But wait, there’s more . . .
As you can see from a story we posted yesterday, the Biddeford Gazette is continuing its ongoing media partnership with The Maine Monitor, a nonpartisan, independent publication of the Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting.
The Maine Monitor– another digital only publication — has earned an outstanding reputation across the state, providing readers with in-depth, comprehensive reporting on the issues that affect Maine people on a daily basis.
Our partnership with The Maine Monitor is especially valuable as we approach the upcoming election season in which Maine voters will choose a new governor, a U.S. senator, Congressional representatives, not to mention numerous state legislative and county races.
The party primaries are now less than 90 days away. We look forward to sharing more stories from The Maine Monitor in the days and weeks ahead,
A busy week in our own newsroom.
Neva and Samanntha Lance speak in favor of funding for the city’s skatepark during Tuesday’s Biddeford City Council meeting (Seaver photo)
As a reporter, I had a new experience this week.
A local politician voluntarily told me that he was partly to blame for some financial issues that are now plaguing the city of Biddeford.
I don’t recall ever hearing a politician accept responsibility for a problem. Gotta say, it was refreshing to hear City Councilor Marc Lessard talk about his own role in a mess the city is still working through. “You can spread the blame like peanut butter,” Lessard told me. We thought that quote made a perfect headline.
Hopefully, other reporters were watching the meeting remotely on-line. It’s convenient for me to be the only reporter in the room, but it’s bad for you, as I explain in this week’s upcoming editorial: Life During Wartime.
We covered several other stories this week. UNE is considering extending a natural gas line from downtown to its Biddeford campus; and several residents spoke in favor of reopening the city’s skatepark during Tuesday’s council meeting.
Video killed the radio star
On a final note, we began experimenting this week with using video and other technology to expand our news and commentary. It’s in a very rudimentary, early stage and well-beyond my experience as a print journalist, but it is fun and somewhat exciting.
The move was inspired by my conversation with Dr. Cripps this week. For younger news consumers, it’s all about video. You can find that video in our new section: Video Commentary & Reporting.
A close friend of mine – a media expert – tried to be as supportive as possible.
“You know,” he said. “You could always do a second take.”
And that, my friends, is the beauty of being a digital publication.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Randy Seaver is the editor and founder of the Biddeford Gazette. He is a Biddeford native who has been covering Biddeford news and politics for nearly three decades. He may be reached by email: randy@randyseaver.com
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THE BIDDEFORD GAZETTE | A Legacy of Trusted, Independent Journalism
Republicans are trying their best to tie Democrats to fraud this election cycle.
President Donald Trump has spent months hammering Minnesota for its handling of a welfare scheme. The Republican National Committee has referred to Maine’s governor, who is now running for Senate, as “Fraudulent Janet Mills.”
And the National Republican Congressional Committee has singled out multiple candidates who they say failed to stop fraud on their home turf.
The National Republican Congressional Committee criticized Maine House (CD 2) candidate Matt Dunlap for his work as a state auditor. (Photo by Robert F. Bukaty of the Associated Press)
“Billions of dollars intended for families and communities in need have been diverted to benefit fraudsters,” NRCC spokesman Mike Marinella said in a statement. “Working families are furious, and Democrats can’t run on ‘anti-corruption’ while their own states are ground zero for massive fraud.”
Both parties are seeking to mix other alleged malfeasance into their affordability messaging. Democrats are emphasizing anti-corruption policies and the Epstein files scandal, saying their opponents are protecting elites over ordinary Americans.
Republicans are countering that Democrats have looked the other way on fraud, allowing people to take benefits meant to go to the people who need them.
Republican strategist Matthew Bartlett, who served as a political appointee in the first Trump administration and is co-founder of Darby Field Advisors, said fraud is on voters’ minds right now, particularly after the federal government sent large amounts of money out via the states.
“Very legitimate questions about ‘where did all this money go?’ exist,” Bartlett said. “Very sadly, I think there are instances of waste, fraud and abuse. So that is in the public interest, that is a legitimate question if you’re an elected official.”
However, he said, “Is this the top priority of the American voting public right now? No.”
Emily Cain, former Maine state senator and executive director of EMILYs List, agreed that fraud is important to root out but not at the top of voters’ minds.
“If someone is breaking the law or taking advantage of a system they should be held accountable. That is just true. But is fraud the thing that people are thinking about when they’re going to the grocery store this week? No, it’s not,” Cain said. “Republicans are feeding them a narrative of fraud because they don’t have anything else to campaign on right now.”
Democrats largely argue that the ties between them and alleged fraud perpetuated by outside actors is tenuous, such as pinning alleged health care fraud on a candidate for supporting a health care policy.
In Maine, there is a potential fraud scandal underway. The state paused payments to Gateway Community Services, which overbilled MaineCare, the state’s Medicaid program, for interpretation services by more than $1 million, according to an audit by the Department of Health and Human Services. Gateway denies the allegations of fraud.
The NRCC is targeting state auditor Matt Dunlap, who is running for Maine’s 2nd Congressional District, by claiming he failed in his role and should have included Gateway as part of his audit that included Maine Department of Health and Human Services.
In a statement in response to the allegations, Dunlap campaign manager Harry Burke said, “The work of the Auditor of Maine is confidential. Period. Matt will not comment on any audit that may or may not be conducted. The audit work will speak for itself.”
In a conversation about general audit practices, Dunlap explained that his job as state auditor is to audit the major agencies, such as the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, and not the smaller nonprofits or programs which get their funding from the major agencies.
For example, in the 2024 audit report, there are recommendations for the state DHHS on how to better operate, but none of the smaller organizations it works with are listed in the audit; that is something DHHS audits internally.
“The purpose of an audit is to improve an organization. We’re not trying to play gotcha, we’re trying to help these agencies be better,” Dunlap said. “If business is the language, auditing is a spellcheck.”
Republicans also singled out one of Dunlap’s Democratic opponents, state Sen. Joe Baldacci, saying he was tied to the potential fraud. Baldacci voted in favor of expanding MaineCare.
“Anyone who defrauds MaineCare should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Period,” Baldacci said, adding that he has long been a champion for affordable health care.
The Republican National Committee has targeted Senate candidate Gov. Janet Mills, connecting her to fraud in multiple statements pointing to Medicaid overbilling and refusing to turn over SNAP data to the federal government.
Mills accused the Trump administration of using fraud as an excuse to attack Maine with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
“This is part of President Trump’s malicious playbook of using his administration’s power to punish anyone who dares to stand up to him or who disagrees with him,” Mills said in the Feb. 9 statement. “That is why as governor, my Administration has implemented new and unprecedented licensing requirements for Medicaid providers, prioritized audits, and worked directly with State and Federal authorities to hold accountable individuals who attempt to defraud our state.”
The push goes beyond Maine.
The NRCC accused Democratic Rep. Dave Min in California’s 47th Congressional District of trying to cover up fraud because he dismissed the administration’s investigation into Minnesota as “partisan and racist” during a House Oversight Committee hearing.
The Min campaign pointed out that the lawmaker started out his remarks in the hearing by calling what happened in Minnesota “ fraud of the worst kind” and calling for “aggressive enforcement and accountability when it comes to taxpayer dollars and their disbursement.”
Min called the hearing “partisan and racist” because “we have not had other hearings when it comes to fraud that takes place in Republican-led states. We have not had hearings in this committee as far as I am aware or on any other committee this year as long as I’ve been in Congress that go after those who are not Somali-American.”
The NRCC said that Min should be more concerned about fraud at home in California.
“I started my career as an SEC enforcement attorney, where I cracked down on corporate greed and fraud. As a member of the Oversight Committee, I will always fight for accountability with your taxpayer dollars, weeding out fraud wherever it is discovered,” Min said in a statement to NOTUS.
In New York, then-Republican candidate for attorney general Khurram Dara called for an investigation into New York’s Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program — with a dig at Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul.
“In Minnesota, a fraud measured in the hundreds of millions triggered indictments, federal coordination, and asset seizures,” Dara, who dropped out of the race last week. “In New York, a program with more than $10 billion a year flowing through it was allowed to operate for years with virtually no enforcement. The scale here is far larger, yet the response was far weaker.”
A spokesperson for Hochul called the claim “old news.”
“Governor Hochul already put an end to waste, fraud and abuse in CDPAP by cutting out hundreds of middlemen over a year ago — and it’s already saving over $1 billion for New York taxpayers,” the spokesperson said.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Torrie Herrington covers the Maine and Vermont congressional delegations for NOTUS, in partnership with The Maine Monitor and VT Digger. Torrie grew up in Arkansas and graduated from the University of Central Arkansas with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and public relations. At UCA, she was editor in chief of the student newspaper, The Echo, where she reported on local political races, a professor accused of misconduct, campus events and more. She has also interned at the Log Cabin Democrat, where she covered community events and nonprofits. You can contact her at TorrieHerrington@notus.com
NOTE: This story was produced as part of a partnership between NOTUS, a publication from the nonprofit, nonpartisan Allbritton Journalism Institute and The Maine Monitor, a nonpartisan, nonprofit news organization covering the state of Maine.
Representatives from the University of New England say they are now in “early conversations” with Biddeford city officials about the possibility of extending a natural gas line from the city’s downtown area, along the Rte. 9 corridor, to the school’s Biddeford campus.
A UNE spokesperson said the potential infrastructure project could bring significant benefits to the broader Biddeford community.
A Unitil employee checks some of the company’s infrastructure. (Courtesy photo)
According to Sarah Delage, associate vice president of communications at UNE, the university is now “exploring the possibility” of partnering with Unitil – an industrial, commercial and residential provider of natural gas — to extend the natural gas main from downtown to the UNE campus.
The potential project first came to light during Tuesday’s city council meeting when City Manager Truc Dever mentioned the potential project during her regular update report to the council.
In a recent press release, Delage said the university is proactively sharing information with city officials and the media at the outset of the project to ensure transparency and to explore opportunities for collaboration.
Delage said the project supports UNE’s long-term goals of reducing its carbon footprint and improving operational sustainability.
She also said the potential community benefits are “equally compelling.”
“Extending the natural gas line along Route 9 would meaningfully reduce heavy fuel delivery truck traffic through the corridor,” Delage wrote in a statement issued to local media outlets earlier this week.
Delage said the natural gas line extension could be made available for homes and businesses along Rte. 9 — potentially expanding access to natural gas service for the surrounding community.
“We look forward to continued conversations and potential collaboration on this project,” Delage said.
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THE BIDDEFORD GAZETTE |A Legacy of Trusted, Independent Journalism
The first meeting of Biddeford’s revived Institutional Zone Review (IZR) Committee was held Thursday evening, giving members a chance to introduce themselves and to complete several organizational and administrative tasks, including scheduling their first public hearing.
The committee was launched earlier this year, at the direction of Biddeford Mayor Liam LaFountain who attended Thursday’s meeting as an observer.
Members of the newly formed Institutional Zone Review Committee begin their work during their first meeting Thursday. Left to right: Betsy Martin, Christine Stone, Matt Haas, Dr. James Herbert, Chair Patricia Boston and Code Enforcement Officer Roby Fecteau (Seaver photo)
The mission of the committee is to review planning documents that have been submitted by the University of New England over the last 20 years; to seek public input and make recommendations regarding future growth at the school’s Biddeford campus.
From the public podium, LaFountain spoke only briefly to welcome and thank the committee members for their willingness to “dig deep” into issues that will likely impact the city and the University of New England.
“You have taken on an ambitious timeline,” LaFountain told the committee, reminding them that the city hopes to receive their preliminary recommendations in May for city council review and input.
The final recommendations are expected for a public hearing in July, LaFountain said.
“The council will rely upon your diligence and judgment,” LaFountain told the committee. “What matters most is that you approach this work respectfully and thoughtfully and encourage public input and feedback.”
On that note – following a rather arduous process of coordinating various schedules and available meeting times at City Hall – the new committee tentatively scheduled its first public hearing for Monday, March 2, at 6 p.m.
The committee is scheduled to have at least two more meetings before the first public hearing.
Nearly a quarter-century ago, a previous IZR committee was tasked with similar objectives.
City Councilor Pat Boston, a Hills Beach resident, is serving as chair of the current committee. She recalled serving on the first IZR Committee in 2001.
“I recently came across a note from [former mayor] Donna Dion, thanking us for our service,” Boston laughed.
Thursday’s meeting was sparsely attended by members of the public.
John Shafer – an outspoken critic of the university’s controversial pier proposal – sat in the back of the room, carefully watching the meeting. UNE vice president Alan Thibault also attended the meeting along with City Planner David Galbraith and City Manager Truc Dever.
For more information about the Institutional Zone Review Committee, you may visit the committee’s webpage, which is a section of the city’s larger website.
In addition to Councilor Boston, other committee members include City Councilor Marc Lessard; Dr. James Herbert, the university’s president; Matt Haas, a former UNE employee and graduate; Christina Stone, a real estate agent and Hills Beach resident; and Associate member Elizabeth Martin of Biddeford.
Lessard did not attend Thursday’s meeting.
Code Enforcement Officer Roby Fecteau will serve as the committee’s staff liaison.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Randy Seaver is the editor and founder of the Biddeford Gazette. He has been covering Biddeford news and politics for nearly three decades. He may be reached by email: randy@randyseaver.com
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THE BIDDEFORD GAZETTE | A Legacy of Trusted, Independent Journalism
York County Commissioners understand the need to support the unhoused through shelter subsidies and are urging legislators to seek ways to support them within the state’s coffers, not the counties’ far slimmer purse.
In testimony to the Legislature’s Housing and Economic Development Committee at a public hearing Feb. 10, commissioners urged the committee members to vote “ought not to pass,” on L.D. 2124, a bill that would further dip into each county’s share of the real estate transfer tax.
And despite a 2025 state law that increased real estate transfer taxes on properties that exceed $1 million, York County officials say the increase won’t offset a further one percent hit L.D. 2124 would impose on their already modest share of the real estate transfer tax.
Photo: via York County Government, Facebook
A committee work session took place on Tuesday and was ultimately tabled. That means committee members will continue their research, and another work session that could potentially include a vote will be scheduled, possibly as soon as the week beginning Feb. 23, a committee staffer said.
Real estate transfer tax is collected by each county Registry of Deeds, which until recently sent 90 percent of the collected tax to the state, with counties retaining 10 percent. The county share was reduced to 9.2 percent in the first session of the 132nd Legislature, with 0.8 percent directed to a housing affordability program for two years.
L.D. 2124, if passed as written, would direct an additional 1 percent of the county share to subsidize shelters, leaving the counties with an 8.2 percent share going forward, and the state with 91.8 percent share.
The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Drew Gattine of Westbrook, whose district includes a portion of Saco, said as a result of a 2025 increase in the Real Estate Transfer Tax for home sales exceeding $1 million, counties are projected to receive an increase in revenue.
“This bill proposes that additional ongoing support be provided for shelters by utilizing a portion of the percentage of increased Real Estate Transfer Tax revenue that currently goes to the counties,” Gattine said in testimony to the committee on Tuesday. “To be clear, the intent here is not to reduce funding to the counties, but to redirect extra funds from the increased tax on high end homes.”
York County Manager Greg Zinser said the amount of money the bill’s sponsors believe will be generated for the counties through the 2025 increase in real estate transfer tax on properties that exceed $1 million will not materialize because of the current 90.8 percent state share and the 9.2 percent county share.
“With their cut, the only people receiving the windfall is the state of Maine,” Zinser said. “Taking an extra 1 percent from the counties’ small share as proposed in L.D. 2124 will further reduce the county share of real estate transfer tax. It is taking a greater percentage of the transfer tax retained by the county as a whole than the high-end home tax is putting in.”
Zinser said York County recognizes the shelters need assistance. He noted York County Commissioners have helped local housing initiatives, awarding $440,000 from York County’s share of ARPA funding to Sanford Housing Authority to assist with a supportive housing project, and about $750,000 to Kittery-based Fair Tide to develop supportive housing and a social services hub. York County Commissioners also voted to use APRA and a variety of other funds to build the York County Substance Use Treatment and Recovery Center.
Under construction now, the 58-bed center is expected to play a role in the circumstances of those seeking recovery services who may also be unhoused.
In their testimony, York County Commissioners said the proposal to further reduce the county share of the real estate transfer tax by 1 percent would mean direct annual revenue loss to York County of $244,000. They calculated that the additional state revenue gained if the bill is approved would yield about $1.2 million annually to subsidize shelters statewide.
County operations are funded primarily through a portion of property tax and have few outside revenue streams – among them deeds recording fees and the real estate transfer tax.
In practice, this (bill) simply shifts limited funds from one unit of government to another, without creating new resources,” York County Commissioners testified.
Commissioners also wondered where the subsidy would go in York County, noting the 2025 closure of the sole emergency shelter that had been operated by the private nonprofit York County Shelter Programs, Inc. As well, they said some parts of the bill as currently written would require clarification to avoid a possible greater impact on counties.
“Please understand registers of deeds are not against funding of emergency shelters. In fact, we agree shelters need a funding source, but not at the expense of further burdening our property owners,” said Oxford County Register of Deeds and Maine Registers of Deeds Association secretary Cherri L. Crockett, who was among those testifying at the public hearing.
In practice, this (bill) simply shifts limited funds from one unit of government to another, without creating new resources,
Emily Flinkstrom, executive director of Fair Tide, testified on behalf of 10 organizations that are among members of the York County Committee on Homelessness. She said shelters in Portland and Portsmouth, NH have seen increased demand as has Seeds of Hope Neighborhood Center in Biddeford as a result of the closing of the York County Shelter Programs Inc. emergency shelter.
Flinkstrom said the group recognizes “there is some friction” regarding specifics of the funding mechanism and its impact on county budgets, but encouraged legislators to move the bill forward, with an understanding that the Legislature, counties, and state partners continue work to resolve implementation details.
Sanford Housing Authority Director Diane Small testified that state funding for emergency shelter operations has remained flat at $2.5 million annually since 2016, even as demand and costs have increased, creating an unsustainable funding gap.
Small noted the closure of the York County Shelter Programs emergency shelter has had a profound impact and urged an “ought to pass” vote.
Oxford County Commissioner Sawin Millett, a former longtime Maine legislator, testified that his county sensitive to and supportive of homeless shelters, but opposes the manner in which the subsidy would be funded.
“If you need $1.1 million, why take it away from us,” he asked, noting the shortfall created would impact property taxpayers. “We would like to work with you and look at other alternatives.”
Co-sponsors of the bill include Maine House Speaker Rep. Ryan Fecteau of Biddeford, Rep. Traci Gere of Kennebunkport, and Rep. Daniel Sayre of Kennebunk, along with state representatives from Penobscot, Waldo, and Androscoggin County and a Cumberland County state senator.
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Tammy Wells is a media specialist with York County government. You may reach her at tlwells@yorkcountymaine.gov
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THE BIDDEFORD GAZETTE | A Legacy of Trusted, Independent Journalism
City Councilor Marc Lessard falls on his own sword by saying he is partly responsible for some of the city’s ongoing financial problems
By RANDY SEAVER, Editor
Tuesday’s meeting of the Biddeford City Council’s Finance Committee made one fact abundantly clear.
The city is still struggling to clean up the damage done over the last few years by a Finance Department that was beleaguered by rapid staff turnover and minimal supervision from city leaders.
“You can spread the blame around like peanut butter,” said City Councilor Marc Lessard during a telephone interview with the Gazette on Wednesday.
“But you know what?” Lessard stated. “I’m partly responsible for the problem.”
Council President Roger Beaupre and Mayor Liam LaFountain discuss the city’s finances during Tuesday’s Finance Committee meeting about upcoming sewer work. (Seaver photo)
The city’s ongoing financial problems were raised again Tuesday evening when Finance Committee members took up the subject of how to pay for another state-mandated sewer update project.
The city is currently trying to catch-up on several of its long overdue financial audits. The city is now working to finalize the FY 2024 audit, now more than two years overdue.
The problem impacts the city in numerous ways, most notably preventing city departments from accessing bond funds that were approved by voters.
In November, voters approved a $20 million bond to complete long overdue sewer updates that are mandated by the state of Maine.
Last year’s major project on Elm Street was paid for from money in the city’s general fund versus an account that is replenished by sewer fee revenues.
That situation put Public Works Director Jeff Demers in an uncomfortable position. When he asked the former city manager about the lack of funds for the project, he was told to move forward and that funding for the project would come from another line item in the budget.
“I did what I was told,” Demers told the committee. “I took my marching orders, but I’ve lost sleep over it.”
Lessard – a member of the committee — asked how that decision to move funds around impacted other parts of the city’s budget.
“If we took $4.1 million from one part of the budget – roughly 5 percent of our budget – what item or work didn’t get funded?” Lessard asked.
City Manager Truc Dever said city staff is working overtime to sort out numerous issues that took place over the past few years, in addition to performing all of their current day-to-day responsibilities.
Although Mayor Liam LaFountain rang alarm bells about the situation, describing it as a “DEFCON 1 financial scenario,” he also offered at least one point for optimism during a follow-up conversation with the Gazette on Wednesday.
“We are doing everything possible to regain public trust and confidence in City Hall,” LaFountain said. “It’s nearly impossible to fix everything that took place over several years in just a few months.”
More importantly, LaFountain noted that the conversation – although difficult and somewhat concerning – took place in a public meeting with cameras rolling and members of the press in the room as opposed to “a couple guys meeting in an office behind closed doors.
LaFountain was able to oust former Mayor Marty Grohman in November by using a campaign pledge to bring “accountability and transparency” back to City Hall.
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“It’s nearly impossible to fix
all of these problems
in just a few months.”
— Mayor Liam LaFountain
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“It may not seem like it on the surface, but we are moving in the right direction,” LaFountain said. “It’s frustrating, but we now have the right people in place to help us in our overall course correction.”
Lessard said he was also feeling frustrated.
“There’s plenty of blame to go around,” he said. “And frankly part of that responsibility lies at my feet.”
Lessard – a veteran member of the council – said that, in retrospect, he should have pushed harder for accountability and transparency.
“There were many times when we allowed the former city manager and others to skirt, delay or obfuscate the issues,” he said. “That should not have happened, and I have to accept my own share of responsibility for that, even though that’s not what most politicians do.”
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Randy Seaver is the editor and founder of the Biddeford Gazette. He has been covering Biddeford news and politics for nearly three decades. He may be reached by email: randy@randyseaver.com
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THE BIDDEFORD GAZETTE |A Legacy of Trusted, Independent Journalism
Despite some misinformation floating about on social media, the Biddeford City Council did not vote Tuesday against funding for emergency shelters to assist unhoused residents.
Instead, the council took up a resolution introduced by Mayor Liam LaFountain to express support for a bill now being considered by the Maine Legislature.
The bill – LD 2124 – would change how some county tax revenues are used. The proposed legislation calls for shifting revenue generated by real estate transfer taxes to a fund that could be used to help municipalities offset the cost of providing emergency services to unhoused residents.
Before debating the proposed resolution, the council heard testimony from Richard Dutremble of Biddeford, the current chair of the York County Commissioners.
“We are totally against this,” Dutremble told the council, saying the transfer of county revenues to the state’s coffers for new spending would ultimately hurt individual cities and towns in York County.
County Commissioner Richard Dutremble addresses the Biddeford City Council. (Seaver photo)
“This will decrease our revenue and impact our ability to provide services,” Dutremble told the council. “If this bill passes, it will have an immediate impact on our communities. We’ll have to make up that budget loss by asking for additional tax money from communities such as Biddeford.”
“Once again, people in Augusta are trying to extract more money from the counties,” Dutremble said, noting that the county does provide funding for unhoused services.
One of the bill’s co-sponsors is State Rep. Ryan Fecteau of Biddeford, the Speaker of the House.
City Councilor Dylan Doughty — Fecteau’s domestic partner — asked permission to abstain from discussion or voting on the issue because of what could be perceived as a conflict of interest.
Doughty’s recusal set the stage for a 4-4 split on whether to vote in support of the legislative resolution.
LaFountain told the council that the city’s legislative delegation – including State Representatives Marc Malon and Traci Gere, along with State Sen. Henry Ingwersen – are all supporting the bill.
LaFountain serves on a group known as the Mayors Coalition, an advocacy group made up of the state’s 11 mayors, including Saco Mayor Jodi MacPhail and the mayors of Portland, Lewiston, Westbrook, South Portland, Bangor and others.
That coalition, LaFountain said, is supporting the bill.
Following rigorous debate and questions about the bill’s potential impacts on county government and Biddeford taxpayers, the council split evenly on whether to approve the expression of support for LD 2124.
Councilors Roger Beaupre, Brad Cote, David Kurtz and Abigail Woods voted to support the legislative resolution.
Councilors Patricia Boston, Marc Lessard, Jacob Pierson and Lisa Vadnais voted against supporting the resolution.
Councilor Doughty abstained from voting.
By council rules, the mayor only votes when the council is tied.
LaFountain – who supported the resolution – said he felt compelled to vote against the measure since it did not receive a majority vote of the council.
“This is a strange position to be in,” the mayor laughed.
During a follow-up interview, the mayor said residents should contact their state representatives to express support or concerns about the bill.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Randy Seaver is the editor and founder of the Biddeford Gazette. He has been covering Biddeford news and politics for nearly three decades. He may be reached by email: randy@randyseaver.com
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THE BIDDEFORD GAZETTE |A Legacy of Trusted, Independent Journalism
BIDDEFORD GAZETTE 