The Biddeford City Council voted 6-1 Tuesday to give the city’s non-union employees a one-half percent pay increase.
Earlier this year, the council completed negotiations with union employees. Those negotiations resulted in a four percent cost-of-living raise. Meanwhile, during this year’s budget process, non-union employees were allocated a 3.5 percent increase.
All city employees — union and non-union are now on a level playing field when it comes to cost-of-living adjustments.
Those supporting the half percent increase said it was a matter of fairness, arguing that non-union employees should get the same increase given to union employees.
“All of our employees are facing the same inflationary pressures when it comes to housing food and utilities,” said Councilor Doris Ortiz. “Citizens want and demand services, and we have to acknowledge employee turnover. We’re not going to be able to recruit or retain employees if we ignore their challenges.”
According to acting city manager Brian Phinney, the half-percent increase this year could be covered by a personnel reserve account in the city’s budget.
Phinney also said the modest increase would bring the city closer to salaries offered by other nearby communities
Phinney told the council that personnel reserve account has a balance of approximately $26,000.
Former city councilor Stephen St. Cyr, however, told the council that he could see no new information since the council finalized the city’s annual budget in June.
“Taxpayers are also facing inflationary pressures, and you have to look out for them too,” St. Cyr said.
Councilor Marc Lessard also raised concerns about the proposal, pointing out that the recent Consumer Price Index reporting showed only a 2.7 percent increase in June.
“When we were working on the budget – just a few weeks ago – we were hoping for and expected a 3.5 percent increase or less,” Lessard said. “How many times to do we go back to the budget just because we want to spend more money?”
“This is a never-ending story of us spending more than what we budgeted,” he added.
Mayor Marty Grohman reminded councilors and members of the public that the city already has the funds in reserve to cover the increase.
Councilors William Ehmiser and Dylan Doughty were absent from the meeting.
Lessard was the only councilor who voted against the increase.
The city’s non-union employees include department heads and some administrative positions, such as emergency dispatchers.
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Randy Seaver is the editor and founder of the Biddeford Gazette. He may be contacted by email: randy@randyseaver.com
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This week’s installment of Taking Care of Business features the three DiPietrantonio brothers and their popular Main Street convenience store in Biddeford
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While Three D’s Variety on Main Street in Biddeford relies heavily on foot traffic, owner Peter DiPietrantonio says his neighborhood convenience store is also being impacted by an ongoing sewer upgrade project in the downtown area.
“We’re definitely taking a hit, but not as bad as some other businesses,” DiPietrantonio said. “I’d estimate that our sales are down somewhere between 10 and 15 percent.”
Peter, Rob and Mark DiPietrantonio have been operating their Main Street convenience store for more than 30 years. (Seaver photo)
We caught up with Peter just a few days after traffic was allowed to turn right from Lincoln Street to Elm Street, north toward Saco.
“That’s making a huge positive difference,” he said. “Now, we just need to get rid of that temporary traffic light on the corner of Alfred Street.”
Three D’s Variety is one of the longest operating businesses on Main Street.
Peter and his brothers — Mark and Robert — started the business in 1994.
Today, their relatively small shop, located on the corner of Main and Washington streets, is often bustling with activity seven days a week, a mecca of sorts for loyal clientele and others seeking a measure of convenience in downtown Biddeford.
Peter says his family-owned store has benefitted from ongoing downtown revitalization and new community events that take place near the city’s core.
“All the revitalization, new businesses and downtown activities have all been good for us. The more people coming to downtown, the better our business is,” he said.
Robert DiPietrantonio says that more people are living in renovated and formerly vacant downtown mill buildings, substantially increasing foot traffic in the downtown area.
“The more people coming to downtown, the better our business is.”
— Peter DiPietrantonio
“Those residents want the convenience of buying batteries, Band-Aids, aspirin and things like that,” he said.
While new energy and interest in downtown is on an upward trajectory, there are still challenges.
“Just about everything happening in downtown has been very good for us,” Mark DiPietrantonio said during a previous interview. “But thirty years ago, we didn’t have people sleeping in the streets and in our entryways. We want to be helpful, but it is a problem.”
The three brothers say they are optimistic about their future and excited by downtown’s ongoing revitalization.
“We’ve seen a lot of businesses come and go since we opened our store,” Peter said. “You have to be ready to work hard. You have to be constantly keeping an eye on it. It’s not easy, but it is rewarding.”
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Randy Seaver is the editor and founder of the Biddeford Gazette. He may be contacted by email: randy@randyseaver.com
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The Biddeford Planning Board voted 3-2 Wednesday to give final approval for the University of New England’s controversial proposal to build a research pier on the Saco River in front of their Biddeford campus.
The board’s decision caps off almost two years of a somewhat complex regulatory review process that included both state and federal agencies.
UNE has now cleared the final hurdle of the review process, which allows them to begin applying for the necessary construction permits.
The university has indicated that they are hoping to begin construction in the fall.
A frustrated group of residents and mooring owners watch as the Biddeford Planning Board deliberated whether to give final approval for the University of New England’s research pier. (Seaver photo)
Once again, tensions were high as the board deliberated their final review of the project.
The board’s decision was not well received by several members of the public who attended the meeting to speak against the project.
The planning board has seven-members, including board chair Alexa Plotkin and two non-voting members.
Planning Board members Susan Deschambault and Larry Patoine voted in favor of the proposal, while members Roch Angers and Matt Dubois voted against the proposal.
Plotkin broke the tie, voting in favor of the application and also voted against an earlier motion to table review of the university’s application.
Opponents feel frustrated, ignored
Several residents and others approached the podium to express their concerns about the proposal.
A common theme heard from opponents were several complaints about the former city manager’s decision to remove both the city’s harbormaster and assistant harbormaster from the review process of the university’s proposal.
Gary MacMullen told the board that he had a good and close relationship with the late Marshall Alexander who served 37 years as the city’s harbormaster and resigned a few years ago because of health concerns.
“There is so much value and so much to be said regarding the importance of local knowledge,” MacMullen told the board. “Out-of-town engineers are great, but they lack specific, local knowledge about the intricacies of the Saco River.”
MacMullen described the person selected by the city to provide harbormaster review of the proposal is a “railroad engineer,” not familiar with the Saco River.
“When I have a problem with my neck, I don’t go see a podiatrist,” MacMullen said.
City Attorney Harry Center, however, strenuously objected to the term of “railroad engineer” as both inaccurate and misleading.
Center, clearly frustrated, told the board he was tired of hearing remarks that the city’s harbormaster was replaced by a “railroad engineer.”
Center reminded the board that TEC Associates – based in South Portland — is an experienced, professional engineering consulting firm that also has a division, which offers marine structural consulting services.
“This issue has become a red herring,” Center told the board. “It is a fake argument.”
Feeling abused and ignored
Capt. Shawn Tibbetts, and other mooring owners who will be impacted by the pier, attended Wednesday’s meeting.
“Not only have you sidelined the benefits of local knowledge, but we are also being ignored,” Tibbets told the board. “The harbormaster has been silenced by the city, but the city is also ignoring those of us who make our living on the water.”
Biddeford resident Matt Haas said no one in the city should be worried about whether the university will file a lawsuit if the proposal were to be denied.
“That’s not your concern,” Haas told the board. “Your job is to make sure you are representing the city and its people.”
Hills Beach resident Chris Stone lives not far from the university’s campus.
“We need to stop treating this like a slam dunk,” she said. “I do feel bad for this board, however. You are the only ones who have given this any daylight.”
Walter Alexander said the entire review process was flawed.
“I feel bad for you guys,” Alexander said. “This should have started at the city council level. You guys have been drastically misguided.”
Alternate board member Kayla Lewis said she feels torn on this issue, saying the city’s own ordinances on the subject are less than clear. “I understand why people are upset, but I also feel the university did all the right things in submitting their application.
“This should have started at the city council level. You guys have been drastically misguided.”
— Walter Alexander
Lewis urged residents to consider working with the planning board and the city’s policy committee to help update and clarify the ordinances. “Please keep engaging with us,” she said.
Following the meeting, a UNE spokesperson said they we were pleased by the final vote.
“This was a challenging process, and we appreciate the planning board’s careful consideration of UNE’s application and adherence to the city’s ordinances,” said Sarah Delage, associate vice president of communications. “We look forward to moving ahead with the next phase of the project.”
Note: An earlier version of this story mistakenly identified Gary MacMullen as Gary Plamondon. It was a reporting error, and we apologize for any confusion.
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Randy Seaver is the editor and founder of the Biddeford Gazette. He may be contacted by email: randy@randyseaver.com
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One of Biddeford’s best-known and respected political leaders has decided that she is going to seek one of the two at-large seats on the Biddeford City Council.
Lisa Vadnais, 64, has served on the Biddeford School Committee for 16 years, including four years as that board’s chair. Over the last few years, Vadnais has demonstrated strong popularity among Biddeford voters and political observers.
In the last two election cycles (2023 and 2021), no one candidate has earned more overall votes than Vadnais. In 2023, she earned 3,374 votes for school committee. The next highest vote-getter was At-Large Councilor Marc Lessard with 3,021 votes and Mayor Martin Grohman with 2,894 votes.
Lisa Vadnais (Contributed photo)
Two years earlier, Vadnais garnered 3,297 votes for her return to the school committee. The next highest vote-getter that year was former mayor Alan Casavant with 3,237 votes, easily fending off a challenge by Victoria Foley for a sixth consecutive term.
“I just think it’s time for me to open a seat on the school committee for someone new; someone who can bring a fresh perspective to the table,” Vadnais said while explaining her decision to leave the school committee.
Vadnais said she is running for the city council because she is concerned about several things happening in the city, most notably rapid growth of large-scale housing projects that do little to benefit people who grew up in the city.
“I just think we need to take a pause and carefully consider what direction we want for our city.”
–Lisa Vadnais
“We can’t just keep spending taxpayer money without understanding the impact that has on people who are struggling to make ends meet,” Vadnais said.
Vadnais spent 35 years as a special education teacher in local schools. Today, she describes herself as “semi-retired,” working for a heating fuel company that she and her husband have operated for many years.
“I am not a politician,” she said. “I grew up here, I just think we need to take a pause and carefully consider what direction we want for our city.”
According to the Biddeford City Clerk’s office, Vadnais is the only at-large candidate who has turned in qualifying nomination papers in order to appear on the November ballot.
Other candidates hoping for one of the two at-large seats include incumbent Marc Lessard, former school committee member Dominic Deschambault, and political newcomers Greg Shapiro and Sterling Roop.
Note: Once the nomination process is completed in early September, the Biddeford Gazette will be providing comprehensive reporting on all of the candidates.
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Randy Seaver is the editor and founder of the Biddeford Gazette. He may be contacted by email: randy@randyseaver.com
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In a surprise move, Roch Angers — a former Biddeford city councilor and current member of the city’s planning board – told members of the city council Tuesday that he has serious concerns about the University of New England’s plans to construct a large pier on the Saco River.
“Something about this whole mess doesn’t feel right to me,” Angers told the council. “The way I see it, something seems fishy about this.”
The Biddeford Planning Board voted 3-2 on July 16 to give UNE preliminary site plan approval for their proposed pier, a project that has stirred considerable controversy in the community.
The Planning Board is scheduled to make a final vote on the project at their next meeting later tonight (August 6).
Angers is one of two planning board members who voted against the project during the board’s July 21 meeting.
Although the city council and mayor have no oversight or control over the Planning Board, Angers told the Gazette he thinks everyone should “be made aware of what is happening.”
Planning Board member Roch Angers told the Biddeford City Council that he has serious concerns about how the city has handled the review process of UNE’s controversial proposal to build a large pier on the Saco River(Seaver photo)
Angers addressed the council during the “public comment” portion of Tuesday’s council meeting. During this time, members of the public can address the council on any topic for up to three minutes.
Following his remarks, Angers said he was still feeling frustrated about the issue, especially after Mayor Marty Grohman told Angers that he had exceeded his three-minute limit for public comment.
“I couldn’t finish what I wanted to say,” he said while standing outside the council chambers.
Angers says he has no animosity toward the university, but does have “serious concerns” about how the application has been handled by the city.
“There are rules, laws and procedures we have to follow,” Angers said. “We can’t just pick and choose the ordinances or laws that we want to follow.”
Angers said he is going to make a motion during tonight’s planning board meeting to table further discussion of the university’s proposal until he “can get some answers.”
Specifically, Angers said he is troubled by a noticeable lack of public input during a complex review process that involved both state and federal agencies.
“Why was everything so quiet during their presentation to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers?” he asked, pointing out the fact that the federal agency did not hold any public hearings nor seek public input, despite the fact that university was able to secure a $3.5 million federal grant for the project from Senator Susan Collins.
We can’t just pick and choose the ordinances or laws that we want to follow.”
— Roch Angers
Angers said the Maine Department of Environmental Protection also gave its approval for the project without holding any public hearings, nor did they seek public input before making their decision.
During a previous interview with the Gazette, a UNE spokesperson said the university has followed all state, federal and local requirements when submitting their application.
“The University of New England has provided, and will continue to provide, all required and relevant documentation to the regulatory agencies and governmental bodies conducting the permitting process for our proposed research pier, said Sarah Delage, assistant vice president of communications.
During his commentary before the council, Angers also criticized former city manager James Bennett for removing both the city’s harbormaster and assistant harbor master from the review process of UNE’s application last year.
“Well, lo, and behold, he [Bennett] then appointed a railroad engineer with no local knowledge of the river to approve the plan,” Angers said.
Angers declined to speculate if he will be able to find support from his fellow planning board members to table the university’s application.
“I just did what I thought needed to be done,” Angers said. “The people of Biddeford need to know how the city is handling this affair.”
Angers said he was not able to complete his remarks, but offered a strong suggestion for Mayor Marty Grohman and members of the council.
“If this passes at the Planning Board, the mayor and city council should take a hard look at this project and ask themselves if they think everything is on the up and up,” Angers said. “All that matters to me is that we have transparency and a willingness to consider the impacts on mooring owners and other people in that area.”
“We’ll see how it goes tomorrow,” he said. “This is just my opinion.”
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Randy Seaver is the editor and founder of the Biddeford Gazette. He may be contacted by email: randy@randyseaver.com
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The Biddeford City Council Chamber came alive with excitement Tuesday as members of the state champion high school baseball team filed into the room amidst a buzz of respect and admiration.
Biddeford Mayor Marty Grohman said, “today is a proud day for Biddeford,” as the players and coaches stood against the wall, holding the giant golden-baseball glove trophy.
Players and coaches from the 2025 State Championship Biddeford Tigers Baseball Team pose with Biddeford Mayor Marty Grohman and members of the city council (Seaver photo)
On June 21 this year, the BHS Tigers rallied from two three-run deficits to beat Mt. Ararat and win their first state championship since 1984.
During a previous interview with the Gazette, Coach Keith LeBlanc described his team, which includes seven seniors, as “battle-tested” and always ready to play their hearts out.
On Tuesday, LeBlanc once again referred to his players as “some of the hardest working young men I have ever met.”
LeBlanc pointed out that his team was also recognized with the statewide Sportsmanship Award. “That is something that is pretty impressive,” LeBlanc told the crowd. “Generally, that award is given to a team that has put in a lot of effort but came up short in the playoffs.”
Team Captain Landon Sirois presents Mayor Grohman with a jersey featuring the signatures of every member of the Championship Team (Seaver Photo)
From across the room, someone yelled out. “Don’t forget to mention you were named as coach of the year!”
“The community support we received was nothing less than amazing,” LeBlanc told the mayor and council. “It is something I will never forget.”
Councilor Neva Gross described her excitement while watching the state championship game. “We were all so pumped,” she said. “We had so much fun, cheering them on, and Marty was right there, keeping the fans focused and excited,” she said, gesturing toward the mayor.
The entire team and all the coaches posed for a photo with the mayor and council.
On her way out of the chamber, one person was heard, saying, “I’m just so damn proud of these boys. They worked so hard for this.”
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Randy Seaver is the editor and founder of the Biddeford Gazette. He may be contacted by email: randy@randyseaver.com
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In reference to the old gas station sign located at the Five Points intersection:
Firstly, let me say that I love the idea as well as the submitted artwork. I can honestly say that as silly as it is, yes that sign is a landmark to the city as much as the mills are, in my opinion.
I have just one thought/concern. I know that it is being regarded as a project welcoming people to the city, but where that sign is, aren’t they theoretically already pretty far into the city?
Also, in reality, I am thinking that traffic driving by will be moving too fast to really appreciate the details in the new design. Add to that all of the existing wires and other infrastructure, I feel that maybe the sign will be shorted its due deserve.
Lastly, and this is kind of stupid but valid in this day and age. Suppose a truck tries to make that turn and screws the pooch, or an accident pushes a car into the pole. Who is footing the bill for the repairs? Would it be the city of the property owner?
I know that is hopefully a far-out idea, but you KNOW that sooner or later it will happen. And when it does, you know the lawyers and insurance companies will be fighting that one for years.
But as they say, don’t bring up a problem unless you can offer a solution, so here is my thought:
Take the whole sign, shorten the pole and move it to the corner down by Main Street and Mechanics Park (picture attached).
Rotate the sign so that the “blocks” are off to the left side, sort of facing traffic in both directions.
Following the design submitted by the artist, use one side coming into Biddeford to show 04005, and the side leaving Biddeford to show 04072. (When the sign is refurbished, place a blank in the center of the blocks so that the opposite sides don’t show through on each other.)
Instead of standard white lighting inside, line the internals with basic color changing LEDs so that during holidays and events, the sign can display in colors. (Example: red/green for Christmas, orange/purple for Halloween, red/white/blue for patriotic holidays, etc.
If you want to get really fancy, landscape a circular sitting area around the base with some benches and a plaque of some sort talking about the sign.
Lastly, thinking for the future, be sure to run extra electricity inside the pole and think about possibly adding (in the future) a permanent informational display board below the “blocks” more in the driver’s eyeline since so often we end up just placing a temporary sign on that patch of land anyway for parades, festivals, parking bans, etc.
Possibly Saco would throw some money at the project since it will display their zip as well and the informational sign in the future would be used to benefit both cities.
Oh, and my thoughts on painting the pole: some shade of standard Hunter Green or something to fit in with the park and local landscaping there.
I would also do what I can to aid in the project. I am sure the money set aside would fall short but I know we can find it somewhere.
The maintenance time saved over the years would be substantial I bet because you could use our own trucks and lifts to access the sign if it were shortened, as compared to needing a crane to access the top of the sign where it currently is.
I really feel that this is a great alternative to the current placement of the sign to pair with the sign’s new use: a great welcoming to the city — both cities, really.
Can you think of a better way to say “Welcome to our Main Street District”?
NOTE:James Krause is a resident of Biddeford. If you would like to submit a column or letter to the editor for publication in the Biddeford Gazette, please emailbiddefordgazette@gmail.com
John Chisholm has been interested in sharks as long as he can remember. Growing up in Plymouth, Mass. in the 1970s, he spent a lot of time searching for great whites on his dad’s commercial fishing boat.
An adjunct scientist at the New England Aquarium’s Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life, Chisholm wasn’t the first in his family to take an interest in great white sharks. In 1921, Chisholm’s great-great grandfather caught white sharks on Prince Edward Island in mackerel nets while working as a lighthouse keeper.
Chisholm spent summers on Prince Edward Island as a kid and heard that story from his grandparents. Now, he says there’s scientific evidence, including fossil shark teeth, that white sharks have long been swimming in northern waters.
A great white shark swims off the coast of Cape Cod in 2021. Photo courtesy Kyle Oliveira.
“White sharks have always been here. They predate colonization by Europeans,” said Chisholm. “So it’s kind of frustrating when you see people saying they’re now moving into Canadian waters. They’ve always been in Canadian waters. They’ve always been in Maine waters.”
The presence of sharks are an indicator of an ecosystem’s good health, according to shark biologist Kyle Oliveira, a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Maine and Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences. Between the late 1800s and mid 1900s, the white shark population took a hit due to overfishing, meaning there were less recorded sightings of white sharks along the East Coast.
Thanks to protection measures like the Shark Finning Prohibition Act of 2000 and Shark Conservation Act of 2010, which make it illegal to remove shark fins from sharks at sea and promote sustainable shark management, those who track white sharks are beginning to see the populations recover.
As with any predator, sharks will tend to go where the food is. That could be one factor driving the sightings reported in Casco Bay in July. Both Chisholm and Oliveira pointed to a high concentration of striped bass in the Gulf of Maine, which is a source of prey for sharks.
“Everybody thinks the sharks are here for seals,” Chisholm said. While catching a seal is a “metabolic windfall” full of the lipid-rich nutrients adult sharks need, the predators have plenty of other food sources, too. Juvenile and sub-adult sharks tend to feed on schools of fish, according to Oliveira, who said recent research has found younger sharks are often the ones visiting Maine.
When it comes to finding food, Oliveira said convenience is key. “White sharks are really lazy animals, and they try and get whatever meal is gonna be easiest for them to catch,” Oliveira said. One favorite is a floating whale carcass because it provides easy access for sharks to chomp off pieces of blubber, another source of lipids.
Independent of shark population numbers, technology may be another driver of reported white shark sightings. When Chisholm started tracking white sharks in the Atlantic in the late 1970s, he’d hear about sightings second or third hand. He’d spend weeks, months, or occasionally years tracking down witnesses to interview them about what they thought they saw, being careful not to ask leading questions that would sway the answers one way or another.
“White sharks are really lazy animals, and they try and get whatever meal is gonna be easiest for them to catch,”
— Kyle Oliveira
“In 1985 I might have only had three sightings for that year. That doesn’t mean there were only three white sharks. It just means I tracked down three people that saw them,” Chisholm said.
Nowadays, Chisholm opens up social media to track sightings across videos and photos posted to Instagram and X. Many of those sightings turn out to be basking sharks rather than white sharks, but the information contributes to data on multiple shark species and their behavior throughout New England.
Through his role at the New England Aquarium, Chisholm is also responsible for verifying shark sightings reported on the Sharktivity app. The app is a form of citizen science, allowing witnesses to contribute to a growing database that helps inform work done by researchers across the region.
As of July 31 this year, there have been 15 confirmed sightings of white sharks off of Maine’s coast, with one sighting reported as far north as Camden.
In addition to reporting shark sightings on the app, Chisholm recommended that those who spot a shark contact their local harbor masters with the location and time of the sighting.
Doing so can help spread awareness and reduce paranoia. One rule of thumb is to avoid swimming with the bait, Chisholm said. Beyond that, Oliveira encouraged beachgoers to remember that the ocean is home for sharks.
“It’s a sign of a healthy, productive ecosystem, so having white sharks around is a really good thing,” Oliveira said.
As the climate changes, researchers like Oliveira are working to understand how white sharks will be affected. Sea surface temperatures in the Gulf of Maine are warming faster than 99 percent of the global ocean as a result of climate change, yet sharks can regulate their internal body temperature and find suitable habitat in waters ranging from 37-89 degrees Fahrenheit.
What’s unclear, Oliveira said, is how lower levels of the food chain will fare under changing conditions. Impacts there could eventually work their way up to white sharks at the top.
Note: This story was originally published by The Maine Monitor, a nonprofit and nonpartisan news organization. To get regular coverage from The Monitor, sign up for a free Monitor newsletter here.
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ABOUT THE REPORTER: Julia Tilton is a freelance reporter covering climate and the environment, contributing to The Maine Monitor and The Daily Yonder. At the latter, she co-hosts the Keep it Rural podcast, a biweekly podcast that digs into the nuance of the latest science and politics news impacting rural America.
Julia previously worked on NASA’s Curious Universe podcast and her reporting has been featured in news outlets from Nashville to Mexico. She grew up in southern New Hampshire and is partial to the mountains and forests of the Northeast.
Understandably, the mayor was less than pleased by what I wrote about him in that editorial. How do I know the mayor was upset? After all, he didn’t contact me directly to offer his perspective on the matter.
I learned about the mayor’s displeasure from back-channel sources. This is becoming a regular trend with this mayor.
When I pissed off former mayors Alan Casavant, JoAnne Twomey, Jim Grattelo, Wallace Nutting or Donna Dion, trust me — I heard about it — from them. Sometimes I apologized, sometimes I didn’t.
Marty does his very best to avoid difficult or challenging subjects. He would much rather post a “selfie” of himself in a variety of locations, always posing. Always smiling.
Here I am with an unhoused person. Here I am with a Vietnam veteran! Here I am with a downtown merchant! Here I am watching traffic!
Mayor Marty Grohman buys an Italian sandwich and wants you to know about it (Photo: Facebook, Marty’s Community Corner)
A few weeks ago, I joked that the most dangerous place in Biddeford is the space between Marty Grohman and an available camera.
Marty isn’t so much supporting Biddeford as he is supporting himself — always ready for the next photo-op, the next group photo, the next feel-good proclamation, avoiding controversy and difficult questions at all costs.
Marty doesn’t want pesky reporters like me looking under the carpet at City Hall or writing stories that are difficult to explain and reconcile.
What Marty seems to want from the media is an enhanced level of public relations, not hard-hitting journalism about an out-of-control city manager, a blistering report from the city’s financial auditors or problems with delayed sewer bills.
George Orwell reportedly once opined that “Journalism is printing what someone else does not want printed; everything else is public relations.”
I happen to agree with Mr. Orwell. The Biddeford Gazette is not here to support the mayor’s or anyone else’s PR strategies. We’re here to tell you all the news; the good, the bad and the ugly.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
To be honest, Marty was not the only one upset about my July 13 editorial. I also heard from a few of the mayor’s closest supporters, all telling me that I was making a mountain out of a molehill. They extolled all the good things that Marty has done and continues to do for the city.
They are right. Marty deserves plenty of credit for some good things, and no one can reasonably argue that he has anything less than enthusiastic passion for his adopted hometown.
In fact, I would say that cheerleading is an important part of what the mayor should be doing. On this front, Marty gets an A+ from me, and I mean that as a sincere compliment.
But was I wrong about a lack of leadership from the mayor’s office?
Marty Grohman announces that he will be seeking reelection with – – another selfie photograph. (Photo: Facebook, Marty’s Community Corner)
Over the last three weeks, we have seen some mounting evidence that supports my argument, most notably from two men who watch the mayor much more closely than most everyone else in the city.
Councilor Norman Belanger and Council President Liam LaFountain have each announced that they will be challenging Grohman for the mayor’s seat.
Both men say the city is currently lacking strong leadership. Belanger is 68, LaFountain is 28. They are very different individuals. They sometimes disagree but they are saying the same thing here: Biddeford needs and deserves strong leadership.
Consider this: Belanger and LaFountain both have a front row view of the mayor. They all attend the same meetings, even those behind-closed-door-executive session meetings where discussions about city personnel or legal matters take place.
Belanger is more of a traditional, old-school Biddeford politician. He is smart, friendly and truly wants what’s best for Biddeford. LaFountain is a younger and more dynamic candidate who will likely appeal to a broad range of citizens with his pledge to increase transparency and data-driven solutions.
Despite their differences, both men say the same thing: Biddeford is lacking real leadership.
During a fairly recent meeting with a resident, Grohman threw up his arms and joked: “I don’t even have the power to decide what sodas are available in the City Hall soda machine.”
Do you think if Jim Grattelo wanted a Mountain Dew in City Hall that his request would be rebuffed by some mid-level bureaucrat?
Are you kidding me? Do you think if Jim Grattelo wanted a Mountain Dew in City Hall that his request would be rebuffed by some mid-level bureaucrat? Or if Joanne Twomey wanted a Dr. Pepper?
Almost one year ago today, I bumped into Marty at a Chamber of Commerce function. At the time, I had given up my role as a reporter in order to orchestrate a full-throttle campaign to get rid of former City Manager Jim Bennett. (Hindsight now reveals that I was on the side of the angels with that campaign).
Marty was not happy about my work. “Why are you doing this to me?” he asked in a frustrated tone. “I’ve only been in office six months.”
Marty didn’t complain that I was making the city look bad, or even that I was making the city manager look bad. His complaint was that my work to oust Bennett also made Marty look bad. And that’s a big no-no.
I do not think Marty is a bad mayor, but I do think the city needs strong leadership.
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That’s my perspective, and I welcome yours. The Biddeford Gazette is always more than happy to publish letters to the editor, op-eds or columns about Biddeford, its people, places and politics from our readers.
Randy Seaver is the editor and founder of the Biddeford Gazette. He may be contacted by email: randy@randyseaver.com
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The race to become Biddeford’s next mayor has now turned into a three-way contest.
City Council President Liam LaFountain told the Biddeford Gazette this week that he will give up his Ward Seven council seat to join the race for mayor.
LaFountain now joins fellow city councilor Norman Belanger in opposing incumbent Mayor Marty Grohman.
“I’ve had many conversations with neighbors across the city, and there’s a clear message coming through. Too many decisions are being made without enough accountability, and I agree,” LaFountain said. “City government exists to serve the public. People are frustrated because they feel unheard, and in recent years, we’ve drifted away from the kind of leadership that takes responsibility and delivers results. It’s time for a course correction.”
LaFountain, a former member of the city’s Recreation Commission, first joined the council in 2021. Two years later, he was unopposed for his reelection to represent Ward Seven. He then won a bid to become the council president (6-3) ousting Belanger from that role.
Liam LaFountain (File Photo)
“The public interest must be at the center of every decision Biddeford makes,” LaFountain said.
LaFountain, 28, is employed as a senior data analyst for Healthcare Purchaser Alliance, a non-profit organization headquartered in Falmouth. He grew up in Biddeford, and his father Llyod LaFountain served on the Biddeford School Committee and as a state senator in the late 1990s.
The younger LaFountain is often described by his peers and other political observers as “thoughtful, analytical, measured and hard-working.”
LaFountain said that his professional experience as a data analyst will help him bring a fact-based, detail-oriented approach to City Hall. “I know for sure that smart decisions start with good information,” he said.
In recent months, LaFountain has pointedly raised concerns about controversial development deals involving credit enhancements and tax increment financing, proposals that have drawn the ire of many residents.
“Pointing out only the good news doesn’t solve problems. The voters know we have serious problems, and they want hard facts.
True leadership is telling the truth about a difficult issue and then finding the best solution.”
“Voters are smart, and the last thing I’ll ever do is insult their intelligence,” LaFountain said. “Yes, Biddeford is a great city, yes, fantastic things have been happening here in the last decade, and yes, that will continue. But we can no longer gloss over the very real staffing, financial, and accountability challenges.
“Pointing out only the good news doesn’t solve problems,” he added. “The voters know we have serious problems, and they want hard facts. True leadership is telling the truth about a difficult issue and then finding the best solution.”
LaFountain said he is encouraged that he’s already drawing support from a wide range of Biddeford residents, people with different perspectives, experiences, and priorities, who also strongly agree that a fresh approach and much more transparency are needed.
“I’m getting tons of encouragement for the idea that Biddeford should work for the people, not around them,” he said. “Voters are not inconvenient obstacles, in fact, quite the contrary. I look to Biddeford residents as a source of wisdom for city officials, and we need their full participation as we get back to basics with honest conversations, thoughtful planning, and decisions that serve the public good.”
LaFountain said his goals include increasing public engagement, strengthening oversight of city operations, and upholding the city’s fiduciary responsibility to manage taxpayer resources wisely, while advancing priorities like recreation investment, capital infrastructure, and responsible development that serves Biddeford’s long-term interests.
“I want every resident and taxpayer to know that, in my opinion. we need to right this ship and guesswork isn’t good enough. Data analysis will get us to evidence-based, forward-thinking policies that prioritize the public good over narrow interests. I hope to win the support of every Biddeford voter who agrees with that,” LaFountain said.
LaFountain graduated from Cheverus High School in 2015 and then attended Gonzaga University, a Jesuit school in Washington state, where he earned a degree in international relations.
He and his partner, Eisha, have been married five years and live on Elm Street.
Note:The Biddeford Gazette previously reported that both Marty Grohman and Norman Belanger are running for the mayor’s seat in the upcoming election. The Gazette plans to continue its comprehensive coverage of this year’s election, and we will have future stories about all the candidates,
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Randy Seaver is the editor and founder of the Biddeford Gazette. He may be contacted by email: randy@randyseaver.com
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Several private mooring owners in Biddeford say they are being ignored by city leaders and will not move their moorings on the Saco River to accommodate the University of New England’s proposal to build a new pier for its research vessel.
The proposed pier would extend from UNE’s riverfront Biddeford campus toward the center of the river near the mouth of Saco Bay. The pier is designed to be roughly 130-foot-long with an 80 by 23-foot pier head section, a floating dock and gangway.
The pier’s location would displace at least two private moorings. But Paul Lariviere, the city’s harbormaster, says the university’s proposal would also adversely impact at least five other private moorings.
A view from the Saco side of the river where UNE wants to construct a large pier.
The mooring owners say they are frustrated and feeling as if they are being steamrolled by the city and other regulatory agencies.
“Nobody – no one – has talked to us about the impacts we’re going to be facing,” said Capt. Shawn Tibbetts, a commercial fisherman who has owned his mooring on the Saco River for 14 years. “No one will return my calls. No one is answering my questions or telling me what my next steps should be.”
Tibbets and others say they have tried contacting Mayor Marty Grohman, city officials including the former city manager and planning department personnel.
“We even called Senator [Susan] Collins’ office, and no one has even returned our calls,” Tibbets said.
Last week Tibbets and other mooring owners distributed a press release, essentially informing the city and the university that they will not move their mooring locations.
Biddeford Mayor Marty Grohman refused to answer any questions about the mooring owners who could be impacted by the university’s proposal.
Grohman sent the Gazette a terse email statement on Thursday.
“Based on the advice of the City Solicitor, Harry B. Center, I cannot respond to your question at this time,” Grohman wrote. “There is a pending application before the Planning Board. Following any final determination, the city will act in accordance with the law with regard to any subsequent steps.”
The university has indicated that they would like to begin construction of the new pier later this year, but it remains unclear about how they can proceed if the impacted moorings are not relocated.
Lariviere told the Gazette that he is the only person legally authorized to relocate moorings issued by the city of Biddeford. Lariviere also said he understands the concerns of the mooring owners and that he will not remove or relocate those moorings.
“There is no legal basis to remove those moorings,” Lariviere said, pointing to city ordinances, state law and long-standing maritime rules that have been in place for nearly 300 years.
“Unless the annual fees are not paid, or if the mooring is in disrepair; or preventing public access for fishing, fowling and navigation, my hands are tied,” Lariviere said. “I don’t care what the city manager says. I don’t report to the city manager. I report to the city council.”
AN ABSENCE OF LEADERSHIP?
The mooring stalemate comes at a time when new city manager Truc Dever is expected to begin her work on August 11; and while several city council and mayoral candidates are beginning their bi annual political campaigns.
Former city manager James Bennett – who is now suing the city – removed Lariviere from the review process of UNE’s proposal last year. At the time, Bennett said Lariviere was biased against UNE and that the city could face litigation if the pier proposal was denied.
“This whole thing has become a big cluster,” said John Shaefer, the former chair of Biddeford’s harbor commission. “Much of this would not be an issue and could have been resolved if city leaders had just stuck to a review process that is based in transparency and public engagement.”
Shafer said he was pleased by how the Planning Board has handled its review of the proposal.
“They [the planning board] did an awesome job,” Shafer said. “I was not happy with their decision, but they did an awfully good job and provided plenty of opportunity for public input.”
Shafer, however, also said he believes that the mayor has missed an opportunity to “be a leader and to advocate for all citizens.”
He [Mayor Grohman] is either too afraid or unable to lead.”
— John Schafer
A spokesperson for the university said it would not be appropriate for the university to comment on a matter regarding city policies and procedures.
“[We are] aware of two moorings that would need to be relocated if the pier is approved,” said Sarah Delage, associate vice president of communications for the university.
Delage said university officials met with the owners of one of the moorings in August 2024 but have not met with the owner of the second mooring because they have not been able to confirm that individual’s identity with any official information from the city.
“If the project is approved, the relocation of the impacted moorings would be the city’s responsibility, and it would not be appropriate for the university to speak on the city’s behalf about that process,” Delage added.
Lariviere said there is currently a list of more than 15 people waiting for an appropriate mooring location. “Even if I was willing to move them, where would I put them?” he asked.
Tom Hatch is a mooring owner who would be directly impacted by UNE’s proposal.
“Moving a mooring is not as easy as it might look,” Hatch explained. “Different vessels need different moorings. The size of the vessel, tide changes and many other factors impact moorings.”
Hatch also said he is frustrated by a lack of communication from the city. “We are being left in the dark,” he said.
Hatch owns a 29-foot vessel that requires a mooring location with a 65-foot diameter. He has owned his current mooring for a little more than four years. “Nobody from the city has reached out to me,” he said. “Nobody seems to care.”
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Randy Seaver is the editor and founder of the Biddeford Gazette. He may be contacted by email: randy@randyseaver.com
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Roughly a dozen people gathered Tuesday at the McArthur Library in Biddeford to discuss local journalism and a rapidly changing media landscape.
The event was part of a statewide listening tour coordinated by The Maine Monitor, an online publication of the Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting, and intended to collect public feedback about how people perceive and access local news.
The July 29 event in Biddeford was co-sponsored by Saco Bay News, an online digital news outlet founded by former Journal Tribune reporter Liz Gotthelf in 2020.
“We’re here tonight to listen to you,” said Micaela Schweitzer-Bluhm, executive director of the Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting. “We want to know what matters to you when you access news about your community. How do you get your news, and what are the essential things you look for from local media?”
Biddeford Mayor Marty Grohman and Saco Mayor Jodi MacPhail attended the workshop meeting.
Josh Keefe, a government accountability reporter with the Maine Monitor, shares highlights of a break-out group discussion about local journalism during Tuesday’s event at the McArthur Library. (Seaver photo)
“One of the things I hear all the time from my constituents is that they often don’t know about things happening in the city because they don’t know where to find the information,” MacPhail said.
During his remarks, Grohman touched upon a common theme that was shared by many of the attendees: a lack of a daily print newspaper.
“I’m constantly looking for credible news,” Grohman said. “With so many different things online, it can be difficult to find credible news.”
Those attending the meeting were largely over the age of 50 and many of them reported having a hard time getting news that is both locally relevant and comprehensive.
Susan Gold of Saco is a former reporter and editor who worked many years at the Journal Tribune, the former daily newspaper that served northern York County for more than a century.
“It’s great that local governments are doing more to share news about what is happening in the community, but we also need an unbiased person to explain what is actually happening, and we need to be able to trust the accuracy of those reports,” Gold said.
According to Schweitzer-Bluhm, rural communities across Maine are being hit especially hard by a changing media landscape that has seen newsrooms shrink and local coverage evaporate.
“The heyday of print journalism gave readers coverage of town government but also issues that bind the community, whether it’s high school sports, obituaries or public notices about meetings and events,” she explained.
In just the last decade, the Biddeford-Saco area has seen a seismic change in how local news is gathered and shared.
The Portland Press Herald once maintained a local bureau on Main Street in Biddeford that housed operations for reporters, photographers and editors who covered news and events throughout Northern York County.
In 2020, the Journal Tribune, an afternoon daily newspaper based in Biddeford, ceased publication. And the weekly Biddeford-Saco Courier, which was locally owned and operated, was sold to a media conglomerate and ceased print publication earlier this year.
Those changes have many residents wondering where to turn when it comes to finding credible and accurate local news.
Several people said social media sites such as Facebook are filling some of the void when it comes to news and information, but also said social media has many pitfalls, including questionable accuracy and fairness.
“You have people attempting to report news who have no editorial oversight or training,” one woman said.
Ted Sirois of Saco said he misses the opportunity to write letters to the editor and finds himself concerned about bias in news reporting.
Today the Biddeford Saco area is served by three digital news platforms. Saco Bay News is an independent online-only publication that covers the communities of Biddeford, Saco and Old Orchard Beach.
The Biddeford Gazette, started in January this year, is another independent, online-only publication that provides hyper-local coverage of Biddeford news and events.
The Courier is now delivered as an electronic, weekly newsletter that also covers Northern York County.
The Portland Press Herald, Maine’s largest daily newspaper, today rarely covers day-to-day, local news in the Biddeford-Saco area.
“It’s certainly not like the old days,” bemoaned former Biddeford City Councilor Patricia Boston. “I miss the days of print newspapers, but I do my best to follow news in both the Gazette and Saco Bay News. It’s important for people to know what is happening in their community.”
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Randy Seaver is the editor and founder of the Biddeford Gazette. He may be contacted by email: randy@randyseaver.com
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Several potential candidates have taken out qualifying nomination forms for mayor, city council and school committee races in Biddeford.
Some familiar names are hoping to make a political comeback, but there are also several people seeking office who have never served before.
Former City Councilors Roger Hurtubise, John McCurry and Bobby Mills are all hoping to return to the council. Former candidate Gregg Shapiro who ran for an at-large seat on the council in 2023 is making another run for that seat this year. Shapiro has also taken out papers for the Ward Six seat being vacated by Norman Belanger who will be running for mayor this year.
Bobby Mills/Facebook photo
Political newcomers Dominic Deschambault, David Kurtz, Jim LaBelle, Sterling Gray Roop and Abigail Woods have all expressed interest in city council seats. Deschambault has been previously elected to the school committee.
Current councilors Roger Beaupre, Dylan Doughty and Marc Lessard have all indicated that they will seek reelection.
Political heavyweight Lisa Vadnais — a current member of the school committee — has also taken out papers for one of two at-large seats on the council.
In the last two election cycles (2023 and 2021), no one candidate has earned more overall votes than Vadnais. In 2023, she earned 3,374 votes for school committee. The next highest vote-getter was At-Large Councilor Marc Lessard with 3,021 votes and Mayor Martin Grohman with 2,894 votes.
Two years earlier, Vadnais garnered 3,297 votes for her return to the school committee. The next highest vote-getter that year was former mayor Alan Casavant with 3,237 votes, easily fending off a challenge by Victoria Foley for a sixth consecutive term.
City Clerk Robin Patterson said her office will be making weekly updates regarding who has taken out papers and who has turned them in for verification. All elected positions in the city — including mayor, city council and school committee — are up for grabs.
In order to have their names on the November 4 ballot, all candidates must turn in their papers no later than 4p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025.
As of Tuesday, July 29, two candidates — Incumbent Martin Grohman and City Councilor Norman Belanger — have taken out papers for the mayor’s seat. Grohman is currently serving his first term and Belanger is a former council president.
CITY COUNCIL RACES:
Ward One. Incumbent Bill Emhiser will not seek a fourth term. Jim LaBelle, former director of the Biddeford-Saco Chamber of Commerce, has expressed interest in that seat, but has not yet taken out nomination forms, according to the city clerk’s office.
Ward Two: Incumbent Scott Whiting announced on social media that he will not seek a third term. Former city council president John McCurry told the Gazette last week that he will seek a return to the council. Abigail Woods, a former city employee, announced on Facebook that she will also seek the seat. Both McCurry and Woods have taken out papers but not returned them.
Former Council President John McCurry, hoping to return to the Ward Two seat.
Ward Three: Incumbent Roger Beaupre is looking for a second term and has already submitted his nomination papers. So far, no other candidates have expressed interest in that seat.
Ward Four: Former Councilor Bobby Mills is once again hoping to make a political comeback. Mills resigned his council seat just four months after the last election, following an interaction with the Biddeford Police Department. Mills also resigned his position as York County Treasurer.
Just days after submitting his resignation, Mills tried to rescind that decision, saying he was pressured by Mayor Marty Grohman to resign. Grohman adamantly denied that claim. Dylan Doughty, a former Planning Board member, was unopposed in a special election to replace Mills. Doughty is hoping to keep the Ward Four seat.
Mills has already turned in his nomination forms.
Political Newcomer Abigail Woods is seeking the Ward 2 seat
Ward Five: Incumbent Neva Gross said she will not seek re-election after being appointed by Mayor Grohman to replace former councilor Julian Schalver who resigned the seat in April 2024. Dominic Deschambault submitted his name for consideration, but Grohman instead chose Gross to fill the seat.
Deschambault has been active in Biddeford policy for more than a decade. He previously served on the school committee; and was chair of the Biddeford Housing Authority’s board of directors. Deschambault also served on the Charter Revision Commitee, Capital Improvements and the Downtown Parking Committee.
Dominic Deschambault has taken out papers for Ward 5 and At-Large
Deschambault also took out papers for an at-large seat on the City Council. He told the Gazette Tuesday that he is not yet sure which seat he will pursue
David Kurtz, a Biddeford attorney and member of the city’s Waste Management Commission, said he has been attending council meetings for the last several months and would like to be more involved in the city’s policy making arena.
Ward Six: Former Councilor Roger Hurtubise is hoping to return to the council. Incumbent Norman Belanger is giving up the seat in order to run for mayor. Hurtubise has already turned in his nomination forms. Gregg Shapiro who ran unsuccessfully for an at-large seat on the council two years ago– has taken out papers for both Ward Six and at-large.
Ward Seven: City Council President Liam LaFountain has not yet taken out nomination forms.
At Large: There is a crowded field for the two available at-large seats. Marc Lessard is hoping to keep his seat. Incumbent Doris Ortiz will not be seeking reelection.
In addition to Deschambault, Lessard, Shapiro and Vadnais, Sterling Gray Roop of Pinewood Circle, has taken out nomination forms for one of the two at-large seats.
Today, July 24, is the first day that political hopefuls in Biddeford can take out nomination forms in order to have their names on the November 4 ballot.
Every local office is up for grabs: mayor, city council, school committee and ward clerks.
I have been covering Biddeford politics for 30 years, and I always look forward to this day and all the inside-baseball stuff that is going on behind the scenes.
This morning, I received no fewer than 22 text messages from people wondering about who is running and who is not. They want the latest scoop, the latest gossip.
NEW BOSS, NEW RULES
Traditionally, pesky reporters and political observers were able to get updated information daily from the City Clerk’s office, but that tradition ended two years after Robin Patterson was sworn in as city clerk.
Patterson is putting a new procedure in place. She will update a list each Tuesday of candidates who have turned in qualifying nomination forms. This procedure, Patterson told me, meets all state requirements and makes it fair for all involved.
While I miss the informality of just popping into City Hall to get the latest scoop about who is running, Patterson’s new process does strike me as a fair compromise and will likely cut down on the rumor mill about who is running for what.
INSIDE BASEBALL
Traditionally, the nomination process was akin to a city-wide poker tournament, like a game of Stratego gone haywire.
Some candidates would pull out three or more nomination forms just to throw others off their game. In the late 1990s, it was not uncommon to see candidates simultaneously pull papers for mayor, council, at-large and school committee.
And then? Christmas morning, usually near Labor Day: the deadline day for submitting one set of nomination papers per candidate.
Yes, I miss the old days, but I also think City Clerk Patterson is making the right move. It may be a game for me and some others, but it is serious work for the person entrusted to making sure that our election processes are held to the very highest standards.
All that said, if you want the all the latest updates, you can count on the Biddeford Gazette. We have created a new page dedicated to the 2025 municipal elections in Biddeford. We will update this page as soon as new information becomes available. In fact, we have created a spreadsheet that you can view or download to get the very last updates.
This morning, former city council president John McCurry said he will seek to recapture his Ward Two Seat. Incumbent City Councilors Roger Beaupre (W3) and Dylan Doughty (W4) said they will seek reelection.
To all those stepping forward — or about to step forward — thank you for your willingness to serve.
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Randy Seaver is the editor and founder of the Biddeford Gazette. He may be contacted by email: randy@randyseaver.com
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A little more than 24 hours before nomination papers are available from the City’s Clerk’s office, and the landscape for this year’s municipal election in Biddeford is already taking shape.
As we first reported on July 11, Incumbent Marty Grohman is hoping for a second term but will face a challenge from Ward Six Councilor Norman Belanger, a former council president who says the city “needs strong leadership.”
Ward One Councilor William Emhiser told the Gazette that he will not seek a fourth term on the council.
Ward One City Councilor William Emhiser (City photo)
Emhiser said he is supporting former Chamber of Commerce executive director Jim LaBelle for the seat. Although the Gazette spoke to LaBelle last week, he has yet to confirm his decision to run.
“Jim is a terrific guy and the right person to take over my seat,” Emhiser said of LaBelle during a brief interview Tuesday. “Jim knows Biddeford, and he brings both passion and integrity to the table.”
LaBelle, a close friend of Mayor Grohman, said he would only run for the seat if Emhiser declined to seek a fourth term.
Jim LaBelle, former executive director, Biddeford-Saco Chamber of Commerce (Courtesy Photo)
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During the last council meeting, Grohman paused the meeting to express a sentiment of appreciation for LaBelle and “his hard work” during a seven-year tenure as the Chamber’s executive director.
Emhiser said he has enjoyed his six years on the council and had high praise for his fellow councilors. “We’re a diverse bunch, but we’ve always been willing to work together and pulling in the same direction.”
At-large Councilor Doris Ortiz told the Gazette last week that she will also not seek another term on the council. Ortiz has served on the council for three terms, beginning in 2019.
At-Large City Councilor Doris Ortiz will not seek reelection (City Photo)
Ward Five Councilor Neva Gross told the Gazette that she also will not seek a return to her seat. Gross was appointed to the council by the mayor after former councilor Julian Schlaver announced that he was resigning in April 2024.
Gross said that she and her partner are looking for real estate that will likely be outside of the Ward Five boundaries.
Abigail Woods, a former city employee, has said on social media that she is interested in the Ward Two council seat now occupied by Scott Whiting. There is no word on whether Whiting will seek reelection for a third term.
Abigail Woods announced on Facebook that she will seek the Ward Two Council seat
Former Ward Six City Councilor Roger Hurtubise told the Gazette that he will be running for the Ward Six seat being vacated by Belanger.
Hurtubise said he is especially concerned about city spending and back-to-back property tax hikes.
“This council needs people who are going to look out for the taxpayers,” Hurtubise said. “I watch all the meetings, and I shake my head at some of the stuff I see,” he said.
Roger Hurtubise is hoping to return to his former Ward Six Council seat
Other potential candidates have said they are watching the political landscape closely and still deciding whether to toss their hats into the ring, including both the mayor’s seat and council seats.
Nomination papers for all open positions will be available, beginning July 24, at the City Clerk’s office.
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Randy Seaver is the editor and founder of the Biddeford Gazette. He may be contacted by email: randy@randyseaver.com
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Hopefully, you are all enjoying the beautiful weather this week! I am on semi-vacation, pinging back and forth between our campsite at Rangeley Lake and Biddeford.
No matter where you find yourself, this is a good week to be living in Maine.
This is also a very good week for those of us who closely follow local politics.
WELCOME TO BIDDEFORD POLITICS
Every two years, Biddeford voters select a mayor, city councilors and school committee members.
If you’re considering running for one of these positions, you first need to take out nomination papers and get the required number of signatures to place your name on the November ballot.
This will be the Biddeford Gazette’s first election season, but I have been watching and reporting on this city’s local elections for nearly 30 years, and I can guarantee you the Gazette will be providing comprehensive coverage and the latest daily updates.
We are already running down information, including all the latest developments: reports of former councilors seeking a return; new faces considering a run, and incumbents who may or may not seek reelection.
There are already two candidates vying to be the city’s next mayor: Incumbent Marty Grohman and Councilor Norman Belanger. I would not be surprised to see some other people toss their hats into the ring. Stay tuned, and we’ll have some fun!
Nomination papers will be available beginning Thursday (July 24) at the City Clerk’s office.
A BIG MILESTONE
When Laura and I decided to formally start the Biddeford Gazette in January, we told ourselves we would not invest too much money into the venture and would wait six months before committing more time or resources.
Last week, the Gazette hit that six-month marker, and I am very proud of what we have accomplished so far.
The Gazette is not about me. The Gazette is about Biddeford, and our mission has not changed. We believe the city of Biddeford and its people deserve a dedicated, community-driven news source, something that has been missing for a few years now.
Over the last six months, the Biddeford Gazette has published 81 news stories, many of which were exclusive and most were reported days and even weeks before other media outlets filed reports.
We have also published 14 feature stories and seven “Community Voices” stories, which are written or submitted to us by other community members. That’s the part we’re really hoping to grow as we move forward.
WHAT’S NEXT?
We have started a new business section, a rudimentary community calendar — and beginning this week we will launch our newest feature, FLUFF PIECES – a project we are doing in partnership with the Animal Welfare Society to feature a different pet available for adoption each week.
We received hundreds of clever and funny suggestions from the community about the naming of this new section. Thank you to all who offered so many very cool suggestions!
I am especially pleased to announce that we are also now in the process of putting together a seven-member community advisory board.
If the Gazette is going to truly serve the community, it must have the pulse of the people who live, work and play here. We need and want constructive feedback from the community. We want to hear a diversity of new ideas and suggestions.
I think that’s more than enough for one newsletter. Get out there and enjoy Maine’s beaches, lakes and public parks. Be safe and have fun!
As always, thank you for reading!
—Randy Seaver, editor
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Residents and visitors to Biddeford now have access to a free online community calendar that is designed to be a one-stop resource regarding local events.
The Yodel Event Calendar represents a collaborative project between four organizations: the Heart of Biddeford; the Biddeford Saco Chamber of Commerce; the Biddeford School Department and the city of Biddeford.
According to a press release sent to the Biddeford Gazette, the new calendar is designed to makes it easier for businesses, residents and visitors to stay informed about local happenings in one convenient location.
The new online calendar will include all types of events, from live music and family-friendly activities to business networking events and city meetings.
“There are so many activities and events to explore in Biddeford, especially as we approach the summer months,” said Delilah Poupore, executive director of the Heart of Biddeford. “But we often hear feedback that people aren’t sure where to go to find information about those events. We are thrilled to provide this user-friendly calendar as a solution to that problem.”
The Yodel Event Calendar allows users to filter events by type, making it easy to find exactly what interests them in a streamlined, organized experience. Yodel’s technology automatically curates most events seen on the calendar, saving local organizations time and effort while also promoting their events for them.
The new event calendar can be accessed on the websites for Heart of Biddeford, the Biddeford Saco Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Biddeford School Department and the city of Biddeford, as well as at https://events.yodel.today/biddeford-me/community.
Additionally, community members can access the calendar on the go by downloading the Yodel app on the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
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Following a rather tense and emotionally-charged discussion, the Biddeford Planning Board voted 3-2 Wednesday to give preliminary site approval for the University of New England’s proposed research pier.
The controversial pier proposal has generated widespread public discourse for more than a year, even before the application was formally submitted in June 2024.
This aerial photograph shows the proposed location of the University of New England’s proposed research pier (UNE Photo)
This aerial photograph shows the proposed location of the University of New England’s proposed research pier (UNE Photo)
Opponents – including area fishermen, private mooring owners and neighbors – have consistently said they wanted the university to consider an alternative location that was proposed by Harbormaster Paul Lariviere nearly two years ago.
City Attorney Harry Center, however, told board members that the so-called “alternative location” was not part of UNE’s application and thus, not subject to review and/or approval by the board.
City Planner David Galbraith began the discussion with an emotional statement, saying he has been vilified by project opponents and that “personal attacks” have called into question both his integrity and professionalism.
“I have been doing this for 30 years, and I have never been subjected to such malicious comments,” Galbraith told the board. “I and others involved in the review of this proposal have gone out of our way to be open, transparent and accommodating.”
Galbraith told the board that he was especially angry about a recent YouTube video that was posted by a anonymous Facebook page known as “UNE Pier Review.”
“Frankly, I am appalled,” Galbraith said. “I assure you that my integrity is worth much more than what any developer could offer me.”
“I have been doing this for 30 years, and I have never been subjected to such malicious comments.”
— City Planner David Galbraith
Planning Board Member Susan Deschambault reminded her fellow board members that the university’s proposal has already been reviewed and approved by several other agencies, including the Saco River Corridor Commission, the Maine Department of Environmental Protection and the U.S, Army Corps of Engineers.
But alternate board member Kayla Lewis said she could understand why opponents and other members of the public were feeling angry and frustrated.
“UNE did exactly what they were supposed to do in submitting their application to us,” Lewis said. “But we also have to acknowledge and recognize that this review process has had a shaky foundation. Somewhere along the line, things got very blurred.”
Roch Angers was one of the two board members who voted against approval of the project.
“I have a lot of mixed feelings about the process,” Angers said. “But that has nothing to do with our city planner, who I think has done an outstanding job.”
Center told the board that the city’s ordinances are clear and that there is no legal basis for consideration of potential impacts to mooring owners or fishermen in the Shoreland Zoning Ordinance. Center also told the board that any concerns about the harbormaster being removed from the review process were also not relevant for the board’s consideration.
Resident Kyle Noble questioned why the Planning Board was even considering the application after what he described as a “faulty review process.”
“This is a once in a lifetime project,” Noble told the board. “And it’s forever.”
A UNE spokesperson said the university was pleased about the board’s preliminary vote.
“We were also encouraged by the comments made by city staff and planning board members correcting a number of false statements that have been made about the project,” said Sarah Delage, associate vice president of communications for the university. “We look forward to a final vote at the next meeting.”
John Schafer, the former chair of Biddeford’s Harbor Commission, has been a leading opponent of the university’s proposal.
“Obviously, I am very disappointed,” Shafer said during a brief interview Thursday. “There was a lot of misinformation thrown at the board and they acted mostly in lock-step. From my perspective, it seems that their decision was already made before the meeting started.”
NOTE: Board members Roch Angers and Matt Dubois voted in opposition to the application; Board Members Larry Patoine and Susan Deschambault voted in favor of the application. Board Chair Alexa Plotkin broke the tie, voting in the affirmative for the applicant (UNE). Kayla Lewis is an alternate, non-voting member of the board.
Randy Seaver is the editor and founder of the Biddeford Gazette. He may be contacted by email: randy@randyseaver.com
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According to a recent press release, he Biddeford Cultural and Heritage Center (BCHC) is now seeking nominations for the 2025 Biddeford Hall of Fame.
Now in its eighth year, the annual BCHC program recognizes and celebrates citizens of Biddeford or others who have contributed to the history, heritage, and culture of the city or the world at large in a significant way.
Honorees will be inducted at a ceremony tentatively set for Saturday, October 4, at Biddeford Little Theater at Biddeford High School.
“It’s great to be able to share some of the stories, the people and events that make Biddeford what it is today. It’s important to remember where we came from and how far we can go,” said Diane Cyr, BCHC board president. “BCHC is proud to host this event again this year.”
Nominations should be sent in on the official nomination forms available on the BCHC website. Official nomination forms are also available at the McArthur Library.
Deadline for submissions is August 1st, 2025.
Along with this year’s nominations, most nominations that were submitted but not selected in past years, will also be considered. Hall of Fame nominations and future inductees are selected by a vote of the Hall of Fame (HOF) Selection Committee.
The committee, composed of members of BCHC, Biddeford Historical Society, and members of the public, will take into consideration the significance of a nominee’s ethnic background as well as their other contributions. People may nominate themselves.
According to Susan Deschambault, chair of the (HOF) Committee, “The history of Biddeford is rich with stories of people who made contributions to our community.
“We must preserve our past and strive to inspire our future.”
–Susan Deschambault
“The current growth is evidence of the spirit we share with our past. The BCHC Hall of Fame recognizes and honors the benefactors, workers, religious, artists, athletes, musicians, educators, volunteers, philanthropists and business leaders in the community,” she said, “We must preserve our past and strive to inspire our future.”
The inductees are featured prominently in a display at the Biddeford City Hall, which is open to the public for viewing during business hours. They are also featured on banners hung from the streetlights on Main Street in Biddeford for a period of time.
Immediately following the induction ceremony, Hall of Fame members, and other participants will be treated to a special reception at the school. Representatives of BCHC will be present for those interested in learning more about the organization and its other programs serving the community and will answer any questions about getting involved.
To nominate someone for the Biddeford Hall of Fame, please submit no more than two pages of text along with the nomination form and supporting information to: BCHC PO Box 896, Biddeford, ME 04005-0896 or email documents to bchc04005@gmail.com.
Biddeford voters could be asked to approve more than $47 million in municipal bonds to support ongoing sewer separation work and improvements to the city’s parks and recreational facilities.
During their July 15 meeting, city councilors discussed the prospect of an overall spending package intended to address items that would be much more costly if they were to be funded through the regular budget.
According to Acting City Manager Brian Phinney, the city will likely need to spend as much as $100 million over the next decade to continue state-mandated sewer separation projects.
(Photo courtesy of Associated Press)
The city is currently under a consent agreement with the Maine Department of Environmental Protection.
The city could face significant state and federal penalties if it fails to fund those sewer projects, Phinney told the council. Potential penalties could run as high as $10,000 per day.
Phinney said that in the near term, the city will need approximately $40 million to address the most pressing sections of the overall sewer separation work that needs to be done, as outlined in the consent agreement with the state.
Several councilors said they are concerned that voters might reject the bond because of its hefty price tag.
“We’re in this situation because prior councils – if you go back decades – didn’t make those investments.”
— Liam LaFountain
One option that many councilors seemed to favor was to break the $40 million into four separate bond questions or the ability to stagger the withdrawal of bond funds from their designated accounts.
According to Councilor William Emhiser, the impact of a $40 million bond would be approximately $350 per year for the average homeowner, based on an average $382,000 home.
Mayor Marty Grohman pointed out that current interest rates are running between 5.5 and six percent.
“It’s not fun to spend money on these types of projects,” said Council President Liam LaFountain. “But we really don’t have a choice. We have to do these projects. It’s the responsible thing to do, and we’re in this situation because prior councils – if you go back decades – didn’t make those investments.”
Most councilors agreed that a voter education effort will be critical in order to get the bonds approved at the Nov. 4 municipal election.
In a later discussion, LaFountain raised the idea of another bond package to support long overdue improvements and upgrades to the city’s recreational facilities, including Mayfield Park, Clifford Park, Rotary Park, Shevenell Park and the J. Richard Martin Community Center.
“It may seem like a lot, and it is,” said Councilor Marc Lessard. “But people ask us for these things, whether it’s a new skatepark or a Splash Pad. Now it’s going to be up to the people to decide if they want to spend the money on these items.
Councilor Doris Ortiz said she liked the idea of doing recreation funding through a bond package.
“I think it’s a good idea because there never seems to be enough funding for these needed items when get to the annual budget process,” she said.
The council is expected to vote at its next meeting scheduled for August 5 on whether to send the bond requests to voters in November.
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Randy Seaver is the editor and founder of the Biddeford Gazette. He may be contacted by email: randy@randyseaver.com
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BIDDEFORD GAZETTE 