By RANDY SEAVER, Editor
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.
RELATED | City considers hiring ‘in-house’ attorney
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.
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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