By RANDY SEAVER | Editor
Biddeford City Manager Truc Dever announced Sunday that she will be resigning her position, effective August 3 – a little more than a year after being hired.
In her resignation letter to Mayor Liam LaFountain and the Biddeford City Council, Dever said her decision was “not made lightly,” indicating that she was feeling overwhelmed by several ongoing issues that have been plaguing City Hall for more than two years.
“Despite my best efforts, there are simply too many demands and not enough time in a day to tackle what’s needed,” Dever said.
Dever’s announcement comes at a difficult and challenging time for the city of Biddeford as both elected leaders and senior city staffers are wrestling with a myriad of nagging issues that began more than four years ago.
The city is also in the midst of an especially difficult set of deliberations regarding development of next year’s municipal budget.
Public tension about the pending budget is intense, and public battle lines have been drawn between those who want to fully support city services and a wide range of non-government social programs and those who are feeling anxious and concerned about a string of yearly tax increases and current inflationary pressures.
“Despite my best efforts,
— City Mgr. Truc Dever
there are simply too many demands
and not enough time
in a day to tackle what’s needed.”
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LOTS OF PROBLEMS
Dever is confronted on a daily basis with a growing laundry list of problems, many of which have been ignored or stalled because of political nuances.
The city’s delayed financial audits have been troubling and still nearly two years behind. Earlier this month, City Clerk Robin Patterson announced her sudden resignation, rounding out a revolving door of senior staffing turnover in several departments, including finance, administration and assessing.
The city’s comprehensive plan has not been updated for more than a decade. An independent accounting firm described some of the city’s previous financial audits as “troubling,” pointing to weaknesses in cash reconciliations.
Brian Phinney, the city’s former chief operating officer and assistant city manager, announced his resignation shortly after the Nov. 2025 municipal election that ushered in a new mayor and several new city councilors.
Phinney’s position remains vacant.
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In March, the city hired Patricia Finnegan — an independent consultant – to conduct a 90-day examination of day-to-day operations at City Hall and make recommendations for improvement.
Finnegan’s report is expected to be issued sometime in June.
Meanwhile, the city is facing increasing tensions with the University of New England and is involved with a pending appeal of a Superior Court case that revolves around a controversial pier that UNE wants to construct on the Saco River.
To address increasing public concerns about rapid and substantive development taking place on UNE’s Biddeford campus, LaFountain and the entire council decided to institute a temporary, six-month development moratorium that would give the city some breathing room as it looked at possible changes to zoning rules that have not been updated in more than 25 years.
The council’s unanimous decision to approve the moratorium drew harsh criticism from the university and some of its most ardent supporters, all of whom said they were surprised and angry about the decision.
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NEW LEADERS | HIGH EXPECTATIONS
Dever joined the city’s staff only four months before the city’s biennial elections in November.
In that election, Biddeford’s voters denied Mayor Marty Grohman’s hope for a second, consecutive term.
Grohman faced challenges from LaFountain, the former city council president; and Norman Belanger, a veteran city councilor who also previously served as the council’s president.
Both LaFountain and Belanger ran their own campaigns by each saying the city needed “stronger leadership.”
The city’s voters agreed that a new direction – or at least a course correction – was needed. Slightly more than 63 percent of the 6,601 votes cast for mayor indicated a strong desire for change.
Dever was suddenly thrust into a sea change of a shifting public policy approach.
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LaFountain pledged to bring “accountability and transparency” to City Hall, promising to bring fresh ideas and a more community-centric approach to running the city, vowing to break down barriers and put an end to a “back-door” approach that left many residents wondering what was actually happening in the city.
When Dever was hired in June, city leaders said she would bring a “breath of fresh air” and a new perspective to the city.
Dever was seen by many political observers to be the antithesis of her predecessor, James Bennett — a brash, outspoken and controversial city manager who had moved from town-to-town during his 40-year career, often leaving each post under a cloud of controversy.
Dever stepped into her new job without any experience as a city manager. Her previous position was serving as the public works director for the city of Kirkland, Wash., a Seattle suburb with a population of roughly 94,000 residents.
In a unanimous vote, the former city council opted to give Dever a two-year contract with a $200,000 annual salary.
Although that salary seemed steep to some observers, the previous city manager was paid much more when considering his salary and all the other perks he was allowed to write into his own contract.
LaFountain — and current City Councilors Marc Lessard, Dylan Doughty and Roger Beaupre – were all members of the former council that opted to hire Dever.
Grohman said Dever was the right candidate for the job, noting both her enthusiasm and her ideas about how to address some of the city’s long-standing and “systemic” challenges.
“I was feeling pretty bummed when I learned that she [Dever] will be leaving,” Grohman said Monday afternoon. “I am sorry to see her go, and wish her nothing but the best in her future endeavors.”
Council President Roger Beaupre said there was no ambiguity when Dever was hired. Expectations were high, he said.
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CITY REACTIONS
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The Biddeford Gazette spoke Monday with several city leaders, community members and senior city employees in preparing this story.
Public Works Director Jeff Demers has been working for the city of Biddeford for nearly three decades.
Demers described Dever as a “passionate and committed” leader who required accountability but also worked tirelessly to restore and improve employee morale.
“From my point of view, she [Dever] always acted like the consummate professional,” Demers said. “She was rigorous about wanting to dot the Is and cross the Ts, but she was also respectful.”
Veteran city councilor Marc Lessard has been an elected official in Biddeford since 1993.
Lessard said he was sorry to learn that Dever was leaving her post, and hopes that she will be able to find a position that better meets her needs.
“These are challenging times for Biddeford,” Lessard said. “There is no denying that fact, but it’s also important to remember that this council and Mayor LaFountain are committed to delivering the results that our voters asked for in November.”
Despite what seems to be an endless stream of negative stories engulfing City Hall over the last few years, Lessard said the city is “on the right trajectory,”
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“It may not feel like it at this exact moment, but we are moving in the right direction,” Lessard said. “If the city manager feels that this job is not the right fit, then I don’t blame her for wanting a position that better serves her needs.
“Our city is facing tough issues, and we need a city manager who is ready to roll up their sleeves,” Lessard added.
Jake Pierson is one of the council’s three new members. Councilors Patricia Boston and Brad Cote served years ago on previous councils.
Pierson – who manages a family business – said he understands why Dever may be feeling overwhelmed and ready for something different.
Pierson said every member of the city councilor is feeling some intense pressure and the public demands for accountability and change.
“As a new councilor, I was elected to face our community’s challenges,” Pierson said. “I have nothing but respect for our city manager, and I am sorry to see her go. I’m choosing to look at this situation as an opportunity for us to find someone new and for her to find a job that better meets her needs.
Councilor Brad Cote agreed with Pierson.
“It’s not an easy or pleasant situation for any of us to be in,” Cote said. “There are many different points of view about how we, as a community, are going to proceed. I really liked working with Truc, and I wish her nothing but the best.”
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THE CITY MANAGER’S PERSPECTIVE
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Dever declined the opportunity to offer additional comments beyond the statements she made to the mayor and city council in her resignation letter that was sent by email on Sunday evening.
“I came to this role deeply committed to public service and with optimism about contributing to a city with so much opportunity,” Dever wrote. “However, over time it has become apparent that the scope and complexity of the issues facing us—many of which are long-standing and systemic—cannot reasonably be addressed within the timelines or structure under which I’m expected to operate.
RELATED | PROFILE Meet the new boss, Dever hired to lead city
Dever said the current environment at City Hall has made it increasingly difficult to perform her job in a way that “is consistent with my professional judgment, experience and best practices.”
She said the level of control and oversight imposed by city leaders has made it “difficult to effectively collaborate on thoughtful solutions, build mutual understanding, and empower [city] staff.
“This position is no longer healthy or productive for me, nor is it beneficial for the city, “Dever said. “Stepping away is a matter of professional integrity and self-respect.”
In her letter, Dever said she felt somewhat duped during last year’s hiring process.
“I will be candid and say that had the full extent of these conditions—and the limitations imposed on this role—been apparent when I applied, I would not have pursued the position.” Dever wrote.
“This position is no longer
— City Mgr. Truc Dever
healthy or productive for me,
nor is it beneficial for the city”
Dever said she has “sincere appreciation for the “dedicated city employees who work tirelessly on behalf of this community. Their professionalism, resilience, and commitment are what enable the city to function day to day, often under very challenging circumstances.”
Although Dever’s contract requires a six-month notice, she is hoping the council will allow her to leave her post on August 3.
Mayor LaFountain said he appreciates Dever’s service and efforts on behalf of the city.
“Transitions like this are part of public service, and Biddeford has weathered them before,” LaFountain said. “The work ahead is significant — finalizing a tight budget, addressing long-deferred priorities, and strengthening the foundation of city government.”
LaFountain said Biddeford is a city built on the strength of its people, and he is confident about the city’s future.
“We will build our future together,” LaFountain said. “I look forward to continuing to work alongside the city council and city staff to serve the people of Biddeford by putting the public interest at the center of every decision.”
“I’ve appreciated working with Truc over the past nine months, and I wish her the best in what comes next.”
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OUTSIDE PERSPECTIVE
On the LinkedIn social media site media site, Perry Newman — the executive director of a non-profit organization — quipped, “”What the heck is in the water there (Biddeford)?” after reading the Gazette’s post about Dever’s planned departure. Newman previously served as CEO of Dorchester Bay Economic Development Corporation, a community development corporation based in Boston.
Matt Jacobson, a former gubernatorial candidate and Air Force veteran, today works in the private energy sector. Upon hearing of Dever’s departure, Jacobson noted that city administrators seem to be moving with increasing frequency all over the state of Maine.
After a quick online search of city manager transitions over the last year, Jacobson discovered a notable trend, pointing out that Biddeford is only one of more than 20 Maine communities that faced changes in administrative leadership.
Jacobson list includes small and mid-sized communities from Westbrook, Cumberland and Old Orchard Beach to Winslow, Gardiner, Lisbon, Skowhegan and North Yarmouth.
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BIDDEFORD’S NEXT STEPS?
Delilah Poupore is a Bideford resident and the executive director of the Heart of Biddeford, a non-profit downtown booster organization.
The Heart of Biddeford’s leased first-floor office is located almost literally one-floor below the city manager’s office, and Poupore has worked closely with Dever on a variety of issues over the last several months.
“I consider this really sad news,” Poupore said. “From my perspective, Truc was making good progress increasing employee morale and fostering an environment of collaboration and creative problem solving.”
Poupore said she understands the many challenges the city is facing, but wonders if the city is ready to make a change in its approach to public policy development.
“Things like this are hard,” Poupore said. “But I think this a time when we should all consider putting down our phones and stepping off our individual perches where we tend to point fingers at one another. If we’re going to succeed, then we need to work together, even if that means we don’t all get everything we want as individuals.”
LaFountain has called a special city council meeting to consider Dever’s request for an early resignation date. That meeting will be held tomorrow, Tuesday, April 28, at 5:30 p.m. in the Biddeford City Hall Council Chambers.
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YOUR THOUGHTS?
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