Biddeford Mayor Marty Grohman seems ready to take another bite at the apple when it comes to ousting Roch Angers from the planning board, despite broad public opposition.
On Tuesday, Grohman presented the council with his recommendation to remove Angers from the Biddeford Planning Board. Only councilor William Emhiser was willing to take up the matter, but his motion failed to get a second from another member of the council.
While most people considered the issue dead on arrival, Grohman says he is still exploring ways to remove Angers from the board.
Biddeford Mayor Marty Grohman
On August 5, Angers, a member of the planning board, brought his own personal concerns to the council regarding how the city was handling the University of New England’s proposal to construct a large pier near its Biddeford campus.
When contacted by the Gazette on Friday, Grohman remained steadfast in his effort to remove Angers.
“I don’t think it is something that can be ignored,” Grohman said. “We can’t have people doing whatever they want on boards and commissions, there are rules that need to be followed.”
Grohman says the complaint, which was lodged by Alexa Plotkin, chair of the planning board, should be heard before the council.
Several councilors we spoke to say they do not understand why or how the mayor intends to move forward.
When asked that question, Grohman acknowledged that he does not have an approach or plan worked out. “I’m not sure, I’m not going to do it. I think it has to come from the council chair or someone else.”
Emhiser was unavailable for comment as of press time. He was the only councilor willing to bring the mayor’s proposal forward. Emhiser represents the city’s coastal area including the University of New England’s campus. He is not seeking reelection.
Other members of the council say that they are somewhat baffled as to why Grohman is pursuing something that has so little support.
Councilor Marc Lessard said the mayor has the prerogative to pursue the item, but he also said “It’s really weird. It’s got me scratching my head.”
It’s really weird. It’s got me scratching my head.
— Councilor Marc Lessard
Council President Liam LaFountain said “It’s perplexing, but it’s the mayor’s prerogative.”
Councilor Norman Belanger echoed what Lessard and LaFountain said.
“I don’t get it,” he said. “Under Robert’s Rules of Order, it can be brought back up, but I don’t see this as proceeding forward.”
When contacted by the Gazette, Angers said he also does not understand the mayor’s dogged approach to remove him from the planning board.
“I have no clue why he is continuing to go after me. I see it as Marty just being Marty,” Angers said.
Angers added that he has no plans to step down from the planning board but did say that his relationship with Board Chair Alexa Plotkin feels strained and awkward.
Randy Seaver is the editor and founder of the Biddeford Gazette. He may be reached by email at randy@randyseaver.com
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The Biddeford City Council is expected to vote Tuesday about Mayor Marty Grohman’s request to remove a member of the city’s planning board.
And now, another member of the planning board is rising to the defense of his colleague, saying a removal is not necessary and that a written reprimand would be more appropriate.
Grohman issued a public statement last week, announcing that he will be asking the council to oust Roch Angers – a longtime board member and former city councilor – from the planning board.
Roch Angers addresses the Biddeford City Council on August 5
Grohman says Angers acted inappropriately during the August 5 city council meeting.
At that August 5 meeting, Angers approached the podium and said he was speaking to the council as a citizen, not in his official capacity as a member of the planning board.
During his remarks, Angers raised several questions about the process connected to the municipal review of the pier project being proposed by the University of New England. Specifically, Angers said that he was disturbed about the city’s move to remove harbormaster Paul Lariviere from the review process.
While Grohman says that all planning board members sign a statement agreeing to be impartial and follow the board’s code of ethics, Angers said that his motivation for speaking out is rooted in the fact that people should know what is happening in the city with regards to the project.
Grohman says he has “tremendous respect” for Angers and his many years of service to the city.
“This was not an easy thing for me to do,” Grohman said. “But it is my responsibility to make sure that every applicant is treated fairly and consistently by the city’s review agencies, including the planning board.”
Angers said he was not especially surprised by the mayor’s move to oust him.
“I have always given my best effort to the city of Biddeford,” Angers said. “I also have a responsibility to make sure that the city is well represented on every application that comes before the board.”
According to the planning board’s rules of procedure and code of ethics,
“appointment to the Planning Board…represents a public trust”
The code of ethics also reminds members of the importance of seeking as much information as possible. The code of ethics states, that “members have the responsibility to insist that they are provided…information of sufficient scope and depth to allow them to fully understand the issues before the Board and the alternative actions available to the Board.”
Also, the protocol spells out what a member should do if they do not fully understand the issues immediately before the board. The board member has the responsibility to ask questions and to acquire the necessary understanding.
“I did what I did because I was speaking for the people of Biddeford,” Angers said. “There have been too many questionable things, and I have a reputation for calling it like I see it.”
Grohman said the decision was a hard one for him to make. He also acknowledged that the timing of his decision is less than ideal, given that citywide elections will be taking place in less than 90 days.
“I realize this is very bad for me politically, but I have got to do what is right, rules are rules,” Grohman said.
When contacted by the Gazette, planning board chair Alexa Plotkin said she was the one who filed the complaint against Angers.
“A joint request was made by myself and the vice chair of the planning board (Larry Patoine) to Mayor Grohman to begin the process of removing Mr. Angers from the board due to his actions at the August 5th, 2025 city council meeting,” Plotkin said.
However, when contacted by the Gazette on Friday, Larry Patoine — vice chair of the planning board— said he is reconsidering his position.
“I now think we are being a bit too harsh,” Patoine said. “I would be more supportive of issuing a written reprimand.”
Angers says he will personally attend Tuesday’s council meeting to defend his position as a member of the planning board.
“I am not going to walk away with my tail between my legs,” Angers said. “I have no regrets.”
Randy Seaver is the editor and founder of the Biddeford Gazette. He may be contacted by email at Randy@randyseaver.com
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Did Jim Bennett manipulate the tax obligations on his own home?
According to court documents obtained by the Biddeford Gazette, former Biddeford city manager James Bennett allegedly used his position to lower the tax assessment for his personal property.
Earlier this year, after being removed from his office in February, Bennett filed a civil lawsuit against the city of Biddeford, claiming that he was still owed salary and benefits from the city.
Former City Manager James Bennett
According to the city’s counterclaim to Bennett’s lawsuit, the former city manager behaved in an unethical manner and acted inappropriately by allegedly using his position for personal gain.
Specifically, the city alleges that Bennett interviewed former assistant assessor Nicholas Desjardins for the position of assessor on June 29, 2018.
Three days later, on July 2, 2018, the city alleges that Bennett drove Desjardins to Bennett’s private property located at 9 Sky Oaks Drive “for the purpose of reviewing” the property.
The city also alleges that Bennett promoted Desjardins from assistant assessor to the position of assessor on the next day, July 3, 2018.
Then, one week later, the city says that Bennett received a reduction in his property tax assessment.
The city has hired an outside attorney who is expected to testify that Bennett’s conduct — of driving an applicant for the city tax assessor position to his own home; in his own personal vehicle and then asking Desjardins to conduct a tax abatement — is behavior that constitutes cause for termination.
Bennett adamantly denies the city’s claims.
Bennett says that he and his wife received a “justified abatement” on their home that was authorized by former city assessor Frank Yattaw in 2018.
Furthermore, Bennett says that Desjardins did not make the “final” decision on the abatement. According to Bennett, Desjardins was recommended to become the next assessor for the cities of Biddeford and Saco by an independent committee consisting of three officials from each community.
That committee, Bennett says, was chaired by former Biddeford Mayor Alan Casavant.
Bennett says he simply forwarded Desjardins’ name as his nomination to the Biddeford City Council.
“All of this is known by the leadership of the city,” Bennett said. “They have elected to ignore the facts to avoid the city’s contractual obligations to me.”
“I look forward to the resolution of the legal process that will confirm these facts,” Bennett wrote in an email response to the Gazette.
Bennett says his lawsuit against the city will provide “an independent validation” of his integrity and will ‘begin to restore the damage” to his character and reputation.
“It is most unfortunate that the leadership of the city, with support of some members of the [Biddeford] City Council have chosen a path that has and will cost the taxpayers additional money,” Bennett added.
According to the city assessment database, Bennett’s home was built in 1950, has 3,360 square-feet of living area and is situated on a 2.25-acre land parcel. Bennett purchased the home in 2015 for $322,500. As of 2024, the home was assessed at $497,900.
Bennett was hired by the city in June 2015. Facing mounting public criticism, Bennett announced in October 2024 that he would be resigning his office in April 2025, roughly one year before his latest contract was set to expire.
The city removed Bennett from office and placed him on administrative leave on February 20, 2025, roughly two months before Bennett’s planned retirement date.
When contacted by the Gazette, Biddeford Mayor Marty Grohman issued a statement saying that “the city will not comment on any pending litigation.”
Bennett was the city’s fourth professional city manager. Over the course of his 40-year career, Bennett has served as the manager in the cities of Lewiston and Westbook, and in the towns of Dixfield, Old Orchard Beach and Presque Isle.
Truc Dever was hired by the city to replace Bennett. She began her new position on August 11.
Bennett’s lawsuit against the city is now making its way through the docket in York County Superior Court.
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
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Randy Seaver is the editor and founder of the Biddeford Gazette. He may be reached by email: randy@randyseaver.com
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It is a community project that has been in the “conceptual phase” for nearly two decades, but now the conversation about a new ‘multimodal’ bridge connecting the cities of Biddeford and Saco is once again bubbling to the surface.
On Tuesday, the Biddeford City Council will hear a proposal about the multimodal bridge that would connect Saco Island to the planned Pearl Point Park in Biddeford.
Representatives from the city of Saco and the Maine Department of Transportation will update the council about the project, a plan that will likely cost millions of dollars and require federal funding to complete.
The concept for a new bridge (City of Saco)
“It is an exciting concept,” said Biddeford City Council President Liam LaFountain. “But obviously, this is something that the two cities cannot take on alone. We would new federal and state funding.”
Although there is already a pedestrian bridge connecting the two cities closer to the Saco River falls, the new bridge is designed to be more user friendly
Creating a link between Saco and Biddeford is a long-term goal that has been identified in Saco’s comprehensive plans since 2011.
The new bridge is designed to improve walkability; promote equitable access to public transit and help alleviate traffic congestion by creating a shift away from personal vehicle use.
Proponents of the project also say the new bridge will encourage further economic development near the downtown core shared by both cities.
“It really is a very interesting project,” said Saco Mayor Jodi MacPhail. “We’ve been talking about this for a long time. It’s nice to see some forward momentum.”
MacPhail said the project has been an ongoing topic of conversation between the two cities during past joint workshop meetings.
She said conversation about the bridge “sort of fizzled” because former Biddeford City Manager James Bennett did not view the project as a priority.
Joint meetings between the two communities slowed for a period of time until both MacPhail and Biddeford’s Marty Grohman were elected as their respective city’s mayor in 2023.
“We’ve been talking about this for a long time. It’s nice to see some forward momentum.”
–Saco Mayor Jodi MacPhail
Today, both Grohman and MacPhail say the cities have an “excellent working relationship.”
The project is expected to cost roughly $5.5 million to construct. If the two cities decide to move forward and apply for federal funding, the project could start construction as soon as 2028.
“I think we can get back on track, and continue looking at things we can do together,” MacPhail said. “When you step back and look at it, we really are joined at the hip and one community.”
Disclosure:Saco Mayor Jodi MacPhail is the step-sister of Biddeford Gazette editor Randy Seaver.
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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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After almost two years of frustration, mixed signals and delays, it appears that a local charity will finally receive the roughly $35,000 that they raised to help develop a playground in Biddeford’s downtown area.
Roxi Suger, a well-known business owner in Biddeford, is also known as the driving force behind the annual Biddeford Ball, a gala event that raises funds to benefit the community.
In addition to ticket sales, the annual event also attracts corporate sponsors. All proceeds are then donated to the community via the Heart of Biddeford, a non-profit organization.
But Suger said something went wrong two years ago, following the fourth annual Biddeford Ball in 2023.
“It’s been a nightmare,” she said, pointing to the national company that handles online ticket sales for the event.
Suger says she has always used Brown Paper Tickets, a Seattle-based firm, to handle online sales and reservations for the Biddeford Ball.
According to Suger, the company has been withholding payment of more than $35,000 since April 2023.
“There were never any problems until then,” she said. “I was shocked because we used the same company before with no problems.”
Suger described her efforts to recoup those funds as an “exhausting ordeal” that has involved dozens of unanswered calls and emails.
Delilah Poupore, the Heart of Biddeford’s executive director, said she even tried contacting the Maine Attorney General’s office to no avail.
“It just felt like we were going round and round and chasing our tails,” Poupore said.
Brown Paper Tickets was acquired by Events.com nearly three years ago.
Events.com, based in La Jolla, Calif., operates all over the globe. According to their website they have provided services for “millions of events.”
“It just felt like we were going round and round and chasing our tails,”
— Delilah Poupore
Though both Suger and Poupore said they have been ignored by the company, the company responded almost immediately when contacted by the Biddeford Gazette.
“Thank you for bringing this to our attention,” read an email from an unnamed media spokesperson. “We have located this account and it is part of the final set of groups slated for payments as part of the last phase of the Events.com acquisition.
“We expect the payment issuance to be initiated no later than Friday of next week, August 22.
“We understand the acquisition of Brown Paper Tickets by Events.com took time. We apologize for the delay and sincerely hope the funds can still be used for their initial intent.
“We appreciate your patience and understanding throughout this process.”
When contacted about the company’s response to the Gazette, Poupore said the news brought tears to her eyes.
“That is amazing news for Biddeford,” she said.
For her part, Roxi Suger said she is grateful that this process will likely come to a close. “Thank you, thank you, thank you,” she said.
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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 most beloved local businesses is also located in the epicenter of the so-called ‘Nightmare on Elm Street’, the six-month-long sewer upgrade project that has significantly interrupted traffic flow on Elm Street.
Dupuis Hardware is an old-fashioned hardware store, where knowledgeable employees can help you figure out what parts you need to repair a toilet or help you select the perfect grass seed for your lawn.
In an age of big-box stores, Dupuis Hardware remains as a community staple, and their customers are willing to put up with traffic in order to purchase a garden hose or get a new house key made.
Stewart Dupuis stands ready to help you with your next project (Seaver photo)
“I think people really appreciate our friendly service,” said manager Stewart Dupuis. “We’re able to offer personalized service and can really focus on each customer’s particular needs.”
Dupuis Hardware has been in business since 1957, and they have a loyal and dedicated customer base.
But they have also been hit very hard by the ongoing construction project taking place just outside their front door.
Dupuis said the family-owned business had to let go of two employees because of plunging sales likely connected to the massive construction project.
“It’s certainly been challenging, that’s for sure,” Dupuis said. “We just have to keep pushing forward. You do what you gotta do to survive.”
Dupuis says his store is best known for its expert locksmith department that provides resources for people with missing keys or malfunctioning electronic key fobs and many other services.
“We just have to keep pushing forward. You do what you gotta do to survive.”
— Stewart Dupuis
In addition to their professional locksmith services, customers can roam the store’s aisles and find everything from power tools to cleaning supplies; and from paint to gas grills.
If you have DIY project happening at home, a visit to Dupuis Hardware would be a good idea.
Dupuis Hardware is open from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday and from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays.
Age has – apparently — become a factor in Biddeford’s upcoming municipal election.
Today, the Biddeford Gazette published an update to its ongoing updates of potential candidates, pointing out that two more former councilors are hoping for a political comeback: Patricia Boston in Ward One and at-large candidate Clem Fleurent.
Former city councilor Clement Fleurent
The Gazette has been publishing these updates for several weeks. No one has questioned the age of any candidate – until today.
It should be noted that these brief updates are not stand-alone news stories, such as recent stories about both Liam LaFountain and Norm Belanger who are each hoping to replace Mayor Martin Grohman.
Once the dust settles from all the flurry of the nomination process, our real news coverage of each and every candidate will begin.
Who raised the red flag about age?
Ironically, it was State Rep Ryan Fecteau who first asked for information (via a Facebook post) about Fleurent’s age. He did not make any inquiries about Boston’s age, nor did he reach out to provide us with the age of his partner, Dylan Doughty – another council candidate.
Fecteau – as I have previously reported – was only 16 when he stepped up to serve as a student representative on the Biddeford School Committee. A few years later, Fecteau became the youngest person to ever serve as Speaker of the Maine House of Representatives.
Last year, the age of political candidates became a big deal when President Joe Biden stumbled through his first televised debate with Donald Trump.
State Rep. Ryan Fecteau
For the record, Trump is only three years younger than Biden. Both men were in high school at the same time.
Fecteau was only 19 when he decided to seek a seat on the Biddeford Charter Commission and said during a prior interview that his decision created a bit of a stir in the community.
“There were certainly a lot of skeptics who wondered about this new kid and what he was trying to prove,” Fecteau said, pointing out that the commission was chaired by one of the city’s most well-known politicians. “I was only 19, and I think some people wondered about my motivations.”
Today, I wonder a little about Fecteau’s motivations.
If we’re going to promote and celebrate diversity, well – that also includes older people and senior citizens.
I don’t think age matters. I think competence and positions matter much more.
This is Maine: Our governor is over 65. Both of our senators (King and Collins) are over 65. Congresswomen Chellie Pingree is well over 65.
Is Fecteau concerned about those candidates and their age? Maybe, but I haven’t heard anything from him about it.
In closing, Fleurent is 90. I don’t know how old Pat Boston is, but I have asked her to call me back and reveal that secret.
The election ballot will not be finalized until September. At that point, the Gazette will begin in-depth coverage of all candidates — and their age.
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 organizers, the relief effort to help families that were displaced by last week’s fire on Brackett Street has received wide and ‘overwhelming support” from the community.
Jessica Johnson, a downtown business owner and former city council candidate, has been coordinating the effort to help provide essential items and clothing for people who “lost everything” during Wednesday’s fire.
“On the one hand, it’s heartbreaking to hear the stories of total loss, on the other hand, it is so heartwarming to see the response,” Johnson said. “This is an awesome community, and people from all over are pitching in and doing whatever they can to help.”
On Monday evening, Johnson coordinated a drop-off event at the Academy of Dance on Elm Street in Biddeford. There, volunteers spent several hours sorting through piles of donated clothing and small household furnishings.
Mayor Marty Grohman joined volunteers for a photo during the distribution event that took place at the Academy of Dance (Contributed photo)
“It was so amazing that Amanda and Nate Braley were willing to let us use their business space to get things organized,” Johnson said.
According to Johnson, four roommates and a family of six were living in the house that was destroyed by the fire at 10 Brackett Street.
But Johnson said a mother and her infant who were living next door were also displaced because of water, smoke and fire damage to their apartment at 12 Brackett Street.
Johnson said representatives of the American Red Cross were on the scene almost immediately and helped the family with emergency funding via donated debit cards.
Johnson says she has set up a GoFund Me account to help raise money for the displaced families. A link to that account can be found on the Biddeford Maine Facebook group, where she is an administrator.
During a brief interview Monday morning, Fire Chief Lawrence Best said he was proud of his department and impressed by the coordinated response of out-of-town firefighters who responded to the call.
“These are always tough situations.” Best said. “Our crews and those who responded from other departments did an extraordinary job and demonstrated sheer professionalism and commitment.”
According to Best, the apartment building next door suffered damage from wind-driven fire. No occupants from either building next door were injured, he said.
Two Firefighters were transported to the hospital due to heat exhaustion and were later released.
Eleven fire companies from surrounding communities responded to the scene. Four other communities, including Portland, South Portland, Waterboro and Hollis responded to Biddeford to cover other emergencies in the city.
Crews spent hours battling the blaze at !o Brackett Street (Seaver photo)
The State Fire Marshall’s Office is investigating the fire and no cause has yet been determined.
Johnson said any leftover funds from the relief effort’s fundraising campaign will be donated to the non-profit Pillars of Pride organization, an extension of the Biddeford Education Foundation,, which is a 501(c)(3) organization.
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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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Jessica Johnson — a well-known community volunteer, business owner and former city council candidate — is coordinating a community relief effort to help the families that were displaced by a significant fire Thursday near the corner of Brackett and Myrtle streets.
“I know this community, and I love that so many people are rallying to help these families” Johnson told the Gazette on Friday morning.
Jessica Johnson
Johnson said she is coordinating her efforts with city officials and non-profit agencies.
“My heart aches for these families, and I want to do everything possible to help them,” she said.
In less than 24 hours after the fire was contained and extinguished, Johnson said she has already heard from dozens of people who all want to donate funds, clothing and furniture for the affected families.
Johnson, 41, is the owner of Soul Stitcher, an alteration and sewing craft store on Main Street. She is also married, the mother of five children, a moderator of a local social media page and volunteers her time as a trumpet player for the Alumni Band, a collection of musicians who performed during their high school years with either the Biddeford High School or Thornton Academy bands.
If you want to help the victims of Thursday’s fire, Johnson said people should send her an email to soulstitchersewing@gmail.com
“I just want this to be coordinated so that we can maximize our efforts to help these families,” Johnson said.
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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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Former Biddeford City Manager Jim Bennett is asking the city of Biddeford to financially reimburse him for expenses he incurred while performing as a Shriner’s clown in June and July this year.
According to documents obtained by the Biddeford Gazette, Bennett is asking the city for a total of $798.92 in expense reimbursements, including an overnight hotel stay in Wilton and for mileage to and from the Yarmouth Clam Festival Parade.
Bennett routinely dresses as a clown named Ginjo as part of his support for Kora Temple Shriners.
Former city manager James Bennett as Ginjo (Facebook photo)
Bennett is currently in the midst of a lawsuit he filed against the city earlier this year.
City Attorney Harry Center told the Gazette that the city has no plans to reimburse Bennett for those expenses.
Bennett was hired as Biddeford’s city manager in June 2015. His management style became a subject of community controversy over the last two years.
Bennett announced his resignation on October 14, describing it as phased “retirement,” despite the fact that he had more than a year remaining in his current contract.
Bennett publicly announced that he would step down in April.
On February 20, city officials booted Bennett from his office. City officials say they cannot comment about why Bennett was shown the door earlier than planned.
Although the Biddeford Gazette filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) asking for more details, Center said the city could not comment on personnel issues.
Earlier this year, Bennett filed a civil lawsuit in York County Superior Court against the city, claiming he is still owed salary. The city responded with a counter claim, saying Bennett was in breach of his contract.
That case is still pending in court.
One Biddeford resident, who asked for anonymity, told the Gazette that she is “dumbfounded” by Bennett’s request to be reimbursed for activities that happened months after he was removed from office. “You simply cannot make this [stuff] up,” she said. “He wants me and other taxpayers to cover his expenses as a clown in another community? Unbelievable.”
Bennett told the Gazette: “It is not [a] reimbursement request.”
“My employment agreement required the city to pay for my civic and community activities,” Bennett said. “However, I never asked the city to pay for those costs.
“Instead, I turned in any costs at on offset to my mileage stipend. There is no truth to it being any additional cost to the city.”
Bennett has been a member of Kora Temple Shriners for nearly 40 years. Shriners operate hospitals and facilitate medical treatment for children with serious illnesses.
NOTE: This story was updated to include Mr. Bennett’s remarks.
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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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According to a press release issued Friday, Biddeford Police arrested Emil Girard, a 26-year-old transient, on multiple charges on Thursday, August 7, stemming from two shooting incidents.
Girard was arrested on Elm Street in Biddeford, and is now facing multiple charges, including parole violations in Maine and New Hampshire.
Girard is also being charged with Elevated Aggravated Assault, a Class A felony.
Emil Girard is facing multiple criminal charges in connection with two shooting events.
Girard was transported to the York County Sheriff’s Department when he was unable to make the $50,000.00 cash bail.
The Biddeford charges stem from two separate shooting incidents, July 31, and August 4. Both incidents occurred on Pearl Street in Biddeford.
Police say the July 31 victim is a 46-year-old man who received medical treatment. The August 4 victim is a 21-year-old male who also received medical treatment.
Through investigation by the Criminal Investigation Division, evidence in both attacks linked Girard as the sole shooter, according to police.
Police are not providing any additional information at this time because both incidents are active, ongoing investigations.
Police say it is likely that Girard will face additional charges.
Police Chief JoAnne Fisk said — “out of an abundance of caution” the incidents led to the cancellation of this year’s Night Out event
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 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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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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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.
BIDDEFORD GAZETTE 