David Kurtz, 38, is running unopposed for the Ward 5 seat on the Biddeford City Council.
Kurtz — an attorney specializing in corporate law and debt restructuring — grew up in the city and serves on the city’s Waste Management Committee. He said his legal background gives him tools to serve both residents and businesses in the ward, which stretches from the Saco River to the Five Points intersection and includes Main Street’s business district and the mills complex.
David Kurtz will be the only candidate on the ballot to represent Ward 5 (downtown) on the city council
Top issues:
Kurtz said affordability is the city’s most pressing challenge.
“Affordability, and not just housing — though that is a big issue these days — but also affordability in daily living,” he said.
Kurtz pointed to rising rents and landlords who leave properties vacant rather than offering them at lower rates, a trend he argued both worsens the housing crisis and reduces tax revenue.
“If we can’t attract people into homes and apartments, and we can’t encourage more affordable building, then the system itself could become unsustainable,” he said. “If we lose the people because of housing that isn’t affordable, then we lose the customer base at the businesses, which, in turn, drops the tax revenue from the businesses as well.”
Kurtz also emphasized public safety as another top issue, recalling Biddeford’s reputation decades ago as a city with high crime and struggling neighborhoods.
“We aren’t that Biddeford anymore, but we need to continue to grow with the city in terms of safety infrastructure and within the communities,” he said.
Kurtz praised Police Chief Fisk and the department’s reputation in the region, pointing to improvements in community policing and public confidence
“It isn’t always about housing and community projects,” he said. “We need to invest in the safety surrounding it all, and that safety is more than just policing.”
Kurtz also said the city’s unhoused population remains a challenge that extends beyond local government.
“This is more than just a city issue,” he said. “The cities rely on the state, and the state relies on the country. It isn’t as simple as just putting up a building for people to go to. You have to have resources, and those resources take funds.”
Kurtz also expressed concerns about the stability of federal funding for communities.
Why is he running for office?
Kurtz said his decision to run stems from frustration with communication at City Hall.
“I couldn’t get answers to a lot of my questions,” he said. “I’m not alone. My neighbors are always asking me about this issue or that because they’ve sent emails and haven’t gotten responses.”
Kurtz said one of his campaign goals is to create a single webpage tracking all of the city’s ongoing projects.
“I really just want to be involved, and I want to be able to communicate what is going on in the city better for everyone,” he said.
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Jim Krause is a freelance writer living in Biddeford. He can be contacted at jiggyjim@live.com
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According to a press release from the City of Biddeford, the city recently announced its annual Employee and Volunteer of the Year awards.
City Manager Truc Dever and Mayor Martin Grohman presented the awards at the annual Employee and Volunteer Banquet.
Volunteer of the Year: Kim Cochrane This award is presented by the mayor to a volunteer who goes above and beyond in service to the city. Grohman selected Kim Cochrane as the 2025 Volunteer of the Year.
Kim Cochrane receives her award from Mayor Grohman
Cochrane serves currently serves as the head coach of Biddeford Recreation’s Youth Field Hockey program and served as a volunteer assistant coach during basketball season. Outside of coaching, she has donated her time for various projects, including work at Rotary Park during the Fall 2024 community playground build initiative and spearheading the construction campaign of the new Biddeford Little League Softball cantina facility at Mayfield Park..
“I’m so proud of Kim and her company and everything she stands for. She runs a successful business and always steps up for every community need,” Grohman said. “Whether she’s coaching on the field, repainting the lodge at West Brook Skating Rink, or rallying support for new facilities, Kim gives her time, talent, and heart to make this community stronger.
“Her leadership shows our kids what true teamwork looks like on and off the field. We are proud to recognize Kim as Biddeford’s Volunteer of the Year, and grateful for all she has done to make our city a better place,” Grohman said.
Employee of the Year – Shelly MacNeill, Executive Assistant to the City Manager and Mayor
This award can go to any employee who is nominated by the peers for their positive impact on the organization.
MacNeill has made an extraordinary impact on City Hall in her three years in her position, especially through her leadership during a time of major transition,” said city officials
“MacNeill brought a wealth of knowledge about government with her to Biddeford and is a go-to person for problem solving or for brainstorming new ideas. She is known for her professionalism, warmth, and willingness to step in wherever she is needed, whether that means mentoring new staff, supporting leadership, troubleshooting building issues, or even rolling up her sleeves to take on tasks far outside her job description. Her coworkers consistently describe her as the person who keeps things running smoothly behind the scenes,” according to the press release.
MacNeill always shows up with a positive attitude and has a genuine commitment to serving both colleagues and the public with kindness.
“Even in my short time here, I have quickly seen just how invaluable Shelly is to City Hall and to our entire organization,” Grohman said. “She is the steady hand behind so much of what we do, and her knowledge and positivity set the tone for our workplace. Shelly has been a tremendous support to me personally as I’ve gotten started in this role, and I know her impact is felt across the city. This recognition is so well-deserved.”
Management Team Member of the Year – Jeff Demers, Director of Public Works
This award goes to a team member in a management or supervisory position who is an exemplary leader.
Public Works Director Jeff Demers (center) receives his award from City Manager Truc Dever and Chief Operations Officer Brian Phinney
Demers has been with the public works department since 1996. As Public Works Director, he oversees a number of divisions that require unique expertise: wastewater, engineering, streets, solid waste, the airport, parks, and the cemetery.
Despite the enormous scope of his responsibilities, Grohman said that Demers leads with dedication, honesty and loyalty, often working long hours, nights, and weekends to make sure the city runs smoothly.
According to the press release, Demers’ employees recognize him not only a leader but as someone who is willing to step in alongside his crews to get work done, whether it’s working overnight to handle a major snowstorm, pitching in on trash collection, or troubleshooting major infrastructure projects. His “innovative approach has saved the city millions of dollars by completing projects in-house, all while maintaining high standards of service.
Though his role often comes with intense pressure, Grohman said Demers continues to put the needs of the community and his staff first and asks for little recognition in exchange.
“Jeff is honest, dedicated, loyal, and always has the city’s best interest in mind,” said Joey Lovejoy, assistant director of Biddeford Public Works. “He is proud of where he works and of the work that his team completes to serve Biddeford residents, but he never looks for praise for his important contributions. He leads by example, and it is special to be a part of.”
Technical and Service Team Member of the Year – Daniel Hammond, Safety and Training Coordinator
This award goes to an employee whose work may not be customer-facing, but impacts the organization more broadly, from technology to safety to positions that require technical expertise.
Hammond has worked in two different departments with the city in the past three years, starting with a role in the Recreation Department before moving to the Human Resources Department.
Daniel Hammond (center) receives his award from Phinney and Dever
His colleagues say that since he accepted a position in the HR department, he has risen to every challenge with “energy, enthusiasm and professionalism. His commitment to helping both employees and residents with safety issues and training has made him a trusted resource for all, while reducing risk and saving the city money in the process.”
As the leader of the City of Biddeford’s Wellness Committee, Hammond has played a key role in bringing fun employee-driven activities to life. His dedication and contributions have touched all city departments.
“Daniel’s leadership in safety, training, and wellness has measurably raised our standards, strengthened our culture, and ensured our workplace is safer and more supportive for everyone, said Diana DePaolo, Human Resources Director.
“Beyond his expertise, he is a hardworking, kind colleague whose positivity and dedication make him an invaluable member of our team.”
Customer Service Team Member of the Year – Starr Cloutier, Executive Assistant to the Chief of Police
This award goes to an employee who goes above and beyond to provide exceptional customer service to residents and colleagues.
(L-R) Brian Phinney, Starr Cloutier, Police Chief JoAnne Fisk and City Manager Truc Dever
Cloutier has served the city for nearly 26 years. Her coworkers at the police department know her as “the heart of the department” and as someone who keeps a positive and friendly attitude every single day, all day.
According to the press release, Cloutier is an incredible source of knowledge about the Police Department because of her long tenure. She is willing to step up to help out coworkers and take on new tasks above and beyond the normal duties of her position without complaining – and her coworkers say she excels at all of them. She does her job extremely well, with a smile and is always ready to help wherever necessary while juggling many things at once.
“Starr’s commitment to our team is constant and unwavering, and her dedication, integrity, and positive spirit make a lasting impact every single day,” said Chief JoAnne Fisk. “Through some of our darkest hours, Starr’s calming presence has gotten us through. I cannot think of anyone more deserving of the award than Starr and I thank our coworkers for recognizing her.”
Two well-known political heavyweights and one newcomer to the city’s political arena are each vying for one of the two at-large seats on the Biddeford City Council.
Marc LessardNasreen A. Sheikh-YousefLisa Vadnais
Incumbent Marc Lessard, 62, has served on the council for the better part of the last 30 years. School Committee Chair Lisa Vadnais, 64, has served on the school committee for 16 years.
Nasreen A. Sheikh-Yousef, 34, currently serves on the board of directors for Heart of Biddeford, a non-profit organization that promotes the downtown area. She moved to Biddeford a little more than three years ago. She was elected to serve the city of Portland’s Charter Review Commission from 2021 to 2022.
Lessard and Vadnais have both led in vote totals during the last several municipal elections.
In 2023, Vadnais garnered 3,374 votes, leading the pack of all other candidates on the ballot, including Marty Grohman who won the mayor’s seat with 2,894 votes.
In that same election two years ago, Lessard was the clear front-runner among council candidates with 3,021 votes.
During a recent candidate forum hosted by Better Biddeford, Sheikh-Yousef said she offers a Biddeford a fresh voice and new perspective. Lessard and Vadnais were both born and raised in Biddeford.
Housing and taxes are top issues
When asked to identify the top challenges facing Biddeford, Sheikh-Yousef said issues regarding housing affordability and homelessness top the concerns of many people she has spoken to. She described housing as a “basic human need.”
“Tenants cannot afford rent increases,” she said. “I am one of those people who are affected by the rent increase. Homelessness is growing. The minimum wage is insufficient to cover the cost of living for most individuals or families.
Lessard said he is concerned about back-to-back property tax increases over the last four years.
“The tax rate has gone up nearly 25 percent over the past four years and is a substantial “black eye” for the administration,” Lessard said. “Too much focus has been placed on low-income housing — housing that is not dedicated to a Biddeford taxpayer — all to impress the limousine leadership with a sound bite about creating the largest number of low-income housing in the state of Maine”
“The tax rate has gone up nearly 25 percent over the past four years and is a substantial “black eye” for the administration,”
— Marc Lessard
Vadnais echoed Lessard’s concerns about property tax increases.
“Most people I talk to say that increasing taxes are just not sustainable, especially for seniors on fixed incomes,” Vadnais said. “So, the question becomes how do we put less strain on existing homeowners? I believe there needs to be a greater focus on attracting industry to Biddeford.”
Traffic and public safety
Vadnais also listed concerns about increased traffic near the center of the city as more inner-city housing is constructed or developed in former mill buildings.
“Our current course [of downtown development] will soon become unmanageable,” she said. “We are putting most of our focus on one demographic of the population. It’s time to take a pause and direct our attention to what’s best for all residents.”
“It’s time to take a pause and direct our attention to what’s best for all of us”
—– Lisa Vadnais
Sheikh-Yousef listed public safety as one of her top concerns.
“I believe we should create a public safety committee,” she said. “[We should] focus on funding public safety initiatives, partnering with community organizations and allocating funds to public safety and human services.
Additionally, Sheikh-Yousef said the city council should create or support “alternative models of public safety and implement solutions that focus on preventing crime, addressing trauma, and repairing harm in our community.”
Sheikh-Yousef said she would support a moratorium on what she described as “luxury housing,” and require developers to build more affordable housing for low-income individuals and families.
“The need for mental health care has continued to grow, putting more pressure on already limited resources,” she said.
“Biddeford is growing, but I feel like too many neighbors are being left behind,”
— Nasreen A. Sheikh-Yousef
Lessard shared his concerns about the city’s ability to attract and retain municipal employees.
“We need to develop new ways to attract and maintain our associates so they can feel appreciated,” Lessard said. “All cities are dramatically increasing pay to lure employees away. This does not, however, secure loyalty and future commitment to their families which should be our key focus.”
One of Lessard’s other top priorities involves recreational opportunities for the city’s youth.
“If the city does not provide free recreation for our youth, “for-profit” developers will not do it for us,” he said. “This is why properties like the JFK [school] need to be used for recreation and not just another low-income housing project for people that do not currently live here.”
Why run for council?
When asked why she is seeking a seat on the council, Vadnais said she sees it as her opportunity to give back to the greater community.
“My life has changed in the last 16 years,” she said. “I am no longer working in education, and I no longer have children in the school district. I feel it’s time to lend my voice to city issues.”
“I also have great support from my constituents,” Vadnais said. “Many people have encouraged me to run and be their voice.”
Sheikh-Yousef said she wants to take a more active role in her new community.
“Biddeford is growing, but I feel like too many neighbors are being left behind,” she said. “I am running to put people first, ensuring everyone can find stable housing, that our local economy works for working families and small businesses, that we protect our environment, and that every resident is treated with dignity and respect.”
I have called Maine home for 21 years,” she added. “I’ve lived in Lewiston, studied in Portland, and for the last three years, I’ve made Biddeford my community.”
Lessard said his public service is part of a larger promise.
“My main reason for seeking public office is to fulfill a promise that I made years ago to myself, my family, and my creator,” he said. “People need to try and share their knowledge and expertise with their community, for the benefit of all. I’m just trying to help others. I want to bring peace and balance for everyone.”
Lessard lives on Thacher Brook Lane. Sheikh-Yousef lives in the Lincoln Lofts and Vadnais lives on Granite Street.
NOTE:For more information about Biddeford’s upcoming elections, please visit ELECTION 2025 INFO
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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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Tomorrow, October 1, the Biddeford Gazette will officially begin its coverage of the 2025 municipal elections in Biddeford.
It’s hard to explain why I am so excited about this time of year. I feel like a little kid on Christmas morning.
After working at other newspapers, I began covering news in Biddeford during the month of October, nearly 30 years ago. I jumped right in with almost no historical perspective.
Former mayor Alan Casavant (right) was not happy when I snapped this photo during a tense city council meeting.
I was immediately hooked and fascinated by the city’s political machinations, the stories and the legends.
I found myself intrigued by long-winded tales about people like ‘Babe” Dutremble, “Papa” Lausier and “Tiny” Frechette.
Sure, I was already a lifelong political junkie. At 10 years old, my parents had to pry me from the television as I watched the culmination of the Watergate scandal.
In middle school, I would brag that I had shaken hands with Ed Muskie and Jimmy Carter. Yup, I was a weird kid.
During my junior year of high school, I found myself working in an actual newsroom during a brief internship at the Journal Tribune. We had IBM Selectric typewriters. Everyone in the newsroom drank coffee, most of them smoked – at their desks.
Bob Melville, the city editor, wore his glasses perched on the end of the nose. He referred to me only as “kid.” He almost made me cry when he questioned my loose grasp of the English language.
We got lunches at Poli’s at Five Points, and profanity was acceptable in the workplace. I was working among titans who kept the city’s political players in check.
It was a glorious time. I knew then and there what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I wanted to be the next Carl Bernstein.
I feel a special connection to Biddeford City Hall. I am one of the lucky ones. I still remember smoke-filled, off-the-record meetings in “Ward Eight” with guys like Bob Dodge and Bruce Benway, the city’s first manager.
Secrets were carefully revealed. Suggestions were made. Deals were struck – all behind the scenes.
Former City Councilor George “Pete’ Lamontagne discusses a photo collection he helped curate for the Biddeford Mills Museum. The former president of the local textile workers union, (UNITE) Lamontagne became one of the most respected and well-liked members of the city council (Seaver photo)
Back then, there were 11 members of the city council. The city had four at-large representatives. I still remember the meeting when Mayor Donna Dion appointed Maria Martin to fill the vacancy created by her father’s death.
J. Richard “Dick” Martin was another of those local political legends.
Today, I still love the creak and groan of those old wooden stairs that lead to the Council Chamber on the third floor. The smell is the same. If you pause, silent — you can almost hear the whispers of those now ghosts who were so eager to climb those stairs for more than a century.
Today, I am honored to be entrusted by so many people to report the news that happens in Biddeford. It’s not an easy gig, and that’s what makes it great.
In the 1990s, I and my colleagues from the Tribune and Portland Press Herald sat in the back row during council meetings. We respected one another, but we were fiercely competitive.
We would have stabbed one another in the neck for an exclusive story. The people were well served by the local press. I got to work with top-notch reporters like Ted Cohen and Kelley Bouchard.
Over the years, I became more and more immersed in Biddeford politics. I got to interview people like former mayors Michael Cantara and Bonnie Pothier. I listened as former councilor Kitty Goodreau recalled a story about an angry businessman who threatened to “kneecap” a councilor because of a zoning change.
Former mayor Wallace Nutting (center) and former City Councilors John McCurry and Ken Farley devised a plan to “get tough” on MERC, the former waste-to-energy incinerator located in downtown Biddeford (Seaver photo)
Former mayor Alan Casavant once lost an election by one vote because he did not vote for himself (true story).
I vividly recall the battles like a council order to re-route all trash trucks through Saco and the predictable, regular chorus of “Peaker’s Squeakers,” the three men from Biddeford Pool who were politically aligned with Councilor Ron Peaker.
And I cannot forget the marvelous “after council” meetings that would take place at that round corner table tucked away near the bar at the Wonderbar Restaurant.
I would give almost anything to have Vinny Keely pour me another perfect pint of Guiness while I chatted, laughed and fought with people like Jim Grattelo, Kent Webster, Kyle Noble and even my old editor Bob Melville — who didn’t even remember that I briefly sat next to him in a newsroom.
Yup, I am one of the lucky ones.
The next chapter of Biddeford’s ongoing political story begins tomorrow. I only hope for two things:
First, that you find my coverage to be helpful in making your decisions about who should run our city for the next two years. Secondly, that you are unable to figure out which candidates I am personally supporting. Now, let the games begin.
NOTE:For more information about the local issues, elections and candidates, please click THIS LINK
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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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I know this newsletter is long overdue, but I feel as if I have a decent excuse.
As most of you know, I broke my right arm in two places while on vacation a few weeks ago. Since then, I have had surgery and am making good progress toward full recovery.
The accident, however, did impact the Biddeford Gazette in a big way, especially because I was not able to use a keyboard, but we’re getting back on track.
And yes, Laura and I got a new puppy two weeks ago — as if we didn’t already have enough pets. To introduce Moose, I offer her as the featured photo for this newsletter installment.
We have a lot to get to, so let’s get started.
Campaign Coverage:
The local election season is upon us. Every two years, Biddeford voters choose a mayor, city councilors and school committee members. This year, voters will also be asked to decide two significant bond questions and a referendum regarding whether Biddeford needs a fresh look at the city’s charter.
For your convenience, the Gazette has created an entire section of our websiteto be a landing page for detailed information about the upcoming election. Here, you can find Frequently Asked Questions about the election and profiles about the candidates and issues, as well as a list of related public events.
Parts of this section are still under construction, and we plan to officially launch our comprehensive campaign coverage on Oct. 1 (We sure do love alliteration!)
Advisory Board:
I am happy to report that we are now in the process of scheduling and coordinating the very first meeting of our Advisory Board. I am so honored that these nine community members are willing to help the Gazette achieve its mission of being a trusted, community-driven news source.
Continued Growth/New Faces:
Our subscriber list continues to increase by leaps and bounds, but we are also experiencing some internal growth. I would like to introduce you to Jim Krause, a Pennsylvania native who lives in Biddeford. Jim has written a few pieces for us including our recent profile of Biddeford’s new city manager.
Jim Krause, contributing writer for the Biddeford Gazette
The thing that amazes me is that Jim is willing to work without financial compensation. Look for more stories from him in the very near future.
We have also forged a relationship with the Maine Monitor, a statewide, non-profit digital media source that is dedicated to in-depth reporting and media collaboration with independent journalists across the state.
Recent/Exclusive News Stories:
Despite my broken arm, I am proud of the fact that the Gazette has still been able to bring you several exclusive and important news stories over the last few weeks, including:
On a final note, I want to offer a really big shout out to the Gazette’s publisher, my wife Laura. Laura is the reason we were able to keep publishing over the last few weeks. She has been a typist, a therapist and something else beginning with the letter ‘t,” that I can’t think of now. (Yes, we really do love alliteration)
Take care and be good to each other!
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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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Members of a grassroots coalition that are pushing for a public airing of grievance meeting announced Thursday that they have collected far more than the 100-signatures of registered Biddeford voters they need in order invoke a “General Meeting of Citizens.”
“It really wasn’t hard to get the signatures,” said Carole Alexander, the wife of Biddeford’s former harbormaster, the late Marshall Alexander.
Carole Alexander spearheaded the effort to collect the signatures and force the public meeting regarding the University of New England’s planned research pier on the Saco River.
Carole Alexander (right) drops off more than 100 signatures of registered voters to Biddeford City Manager Truc Dever (Seaver photo)
Alexander told the Gazette she that became angry during the review process of UNE’s proposal, especially when University of New England officials publicly implied that her late husband supported the school’s desired location for their large research pier.
“They just made that up,” Alexander said. “Marshall never approved that site. They [the university] are just trying to cover their butts now because our current harbormaster also doesn’t approve of the site.”
In March 2024, former Biddeford City Manager Jim Bennett removed both the city’s current harbormaster and assistant harbormaster from the review process, stating that the harbormaster demonstrated bias and the city could face possible litigation from the university.
According to city ordinances, members of the public can petition the city council to host a public meeting that will be run by citizens while the mayor and members of the city council listen to the public’s concerns.
The rarely invoked “General Meeting of the Citizens” is allowed if 100 valid signatures are collected. The mechanics of a General Meeting require the city council to listen and not speak — as citizens fully air grievances about the topic at hand.
Former city councilor Kyle Noble, one of the most vocal opponents of UNE’s plan, said many residents — throughout the city — are concerned about what he described as a rushed public review process that “often seemed less than transparent.”
“This is not just a bunch of NIMBYs in the Hills Beach area,” Noble said. “We got signatures from across the city.”
John Schafer – another outspoken opponent of the pier’s proposed location and former chair of Biddeford’s Harbor Commission – said he was able to get dozens of signatures simply by talking to residents who were dropping off trash and recyclable materials at the city’s transfer station on Saturday.
“I was stunned by how many people were so eager and willing to sign the petition,” Shafer said.
“We could have collected a thousand signatures if we had to,” Noble said. “In all my years of public service, I can’t remember any issue galvanizing people like this one has.”
Alexander pointed out that her signatures were collected over a period of just four days. She delivered several sheets of signed petitions to City Manager Truc Dever on Thursday morning.
As of press time, it remains unclear when the airing of grievance meeting will take place.
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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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Bridgestone/Firestone Auto Care opens its first Maine location
Several Biddeford city officials joined with dozens of Bridgestone employees for Thursday’s grand opening event at Maine’s first Firestone Complete Auto Care location in Biddeford.
The auto care store first opened its doors on Alfred Road to the public on August 11, according to store manager Amanda Miller.
Miller said the Biddeford operation employs 13 people and is open seven days per week.
Although it took three attempts, company representatives and local leaders were able to cut the ceremonial ribbon to launch the grand opening. (Seaver photo)
In addition to all the pomp and circumstance of a typical ribbon cutting event, the company also announced a $3,000 donation plus some equipment and supplies for the Biddeford Regional Center of Technology (BRCOT)
The BRCOT serves high school students from Biddeford, Saco, Dayton and Waterboro with several areas of vocational training including plumbing, welding and automotive repair.
During his brief remarks at the ceremony, School Supt. Jeremy Ray thanked the company for their donation, adding that the BRCOT relies heavily on educational partnerships with area businesses.
According to Ray, the BRCOT has its largest enrollment in 15 years, serving more than 530 high school students who are exploring careers in the trades.
“This is a big win for us,” Ray told the crowd. “You often see things on social media pointing out the value of vocational training, but the city of Biddeford has been a proud leader in offering that type of education.”
According to company officials, the Biddeford location’s grand opening coincides with Firestone’s 100th anniversary. The Biddeford store, they said, is the first Firestone Complete Auto location in Maine and joins more than 2,000 other locations across the country.
City Manager Truc Dever told the audience she is in need of new tires after moving to Maine from Washington last month. “At least now I know where to get those tires,” she laughed.
Bridgestone/Firestone representatives said they will continue to provide ongoing support for the BRCOT’s automotive programs.
According to a company press release, Firestone Complete Auto Care is part of the largest network of company-owned automotive service providers in the world, with more than 2,200 tire and vehicle service centers across the United States.
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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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Several city council hopefuls and one of the three candidates for mayor in Biddeford attended an event Tuesday that was billed as a “Community Roundtable” discussion between candidates and members of the public.
The forum was held in an ante room at Pizza By Alex and was attended by 18 members of the public. Delilah Poupore, executive director of the Heart of Biddeford, served as moderator of the 90-minute Q & A session.
The event was organized by Better Biddeford, a non-profit organization focused mainly on residential tenant rights. On its website, the group describes its mission as follows: “to connect, inform and empower the community through shared resources and civic engagement.”
ModeratorDelilah Poupore (far right) kicks off the candidate roundtable meeting
Several candidates were not able to attend the forum. Those who did attend provided short answers to a wide range of topics and questions from the audience, including concerns about affordable housing, ICE enforcement actions, sustainable development and making Biddeford a more walkable community.
Each candidate was also allowed to make brief opening and closing remarks.
Although Mayor Marty Grohman stopped by shortly before the event began, he said he was unable to participate because of a Traffic Committee meeting at City Hall. Mayoral candidate Norm Belanger also did not attend the event, telling the Gazette last week that he will be out of town on vacation.
City Council President Liam LaFountain did attend the event and said he is hoping that candidates will have even more opportunities to connect with residents and talk about their priorities.
Of the three at-large candidates, only Nasreen A Sheikh-Yousef attended Tuesday’s forum. Neither Councilor Marc Lessard nor Lisa Vadnais attended the meeting. The two council candidates from Ward Six — Roger Hurtubise and Jake Pierson – also did not attend. And Ward Two candidate John McCurry said he had a prior engagement.
Ward Seven council candidate Brad Cote pointed out that all Biddeford residents are facing increasing costs for food, utilities and healthcare on top of skyrocketing housing costs.
Council candidate Nasreen A Sheikh-Yousef answers a question while candidates Sam Pecor (left) and David Kurtz (right) listen.
“Sometimes it’s easy to simply say we should spend more on various projects, but we have to balance and prioritize our wants and needs,” Cote said. “We need to be creative in searching for sources of revenue that are not just reaching into the pockets of taxpayers.”
On the topic of how to increase “environmentally sustainable” housing, Sam Pecor, the other Ward Seven candidate, pointed out that Biddeford’s current housing stock is among some of the oldest in the nation.
Pecor — who owns a rental property on May Street – said housing is one of the biggest issues facing the city. “We have to be creative,” he said. “We have to look at different options. This is a really complex puzzle.”
Many of the candidates said the city needs to improve how it communicates with residents.
“As councilors, we have a responsibility to help educate and organize people into action,” said Sheikh-Yousef. “Citizens need to know what is happening in their own community.”
On the topic of accessible public information,” LaFountain pointed to the plans last year to convert apartments into market-rate condominiums at the Pepperell Mill complex.
“What really disturbed me is that we councilors were kept in the dark about those plans,” LaFountain said. “None of us were told about it until the news was dropped on the tenants in that building.”
Mayoral candidate Liam LaFountain (center) and Ward One council hopefuls Jim LaBelle and Pat Boston listen to a question from an audience member during Tuesday’s event.
Ward Five candidate David Kurtz will be unopposed on the ballot. He used some of his speaking time to warn residents that things happening on the national stage could and will impact the city, including federal funding cutbacks.
Kurtz also said he would like to see the city “slow down” its push for housing developments. “We are in a much different position now than we were 20 years ago,” he said. “We no longer need to offer commercial and residential developers sweetheart deals.”
LaBelle reminded the small audience that the demand for all types of housing is quite high in Biddeford, and private sector employers are also struggling to find workers who can afford to live close to the city.
Former Ward Four Councilor Bob Mills said he has long been an advocate for rent stabilization programs but found little support for any kind of rent control from his peers during his prior service on the council.
“I am one of those people in Biddeford who is earning more than $100,000 and still feels poor,” Mills said.
On the issue of ICE enforcement actions, all of the candidates said they do not want the Biddeford Police Department to enter into agreements or cooperate with the federal agency’s enforcement activities.
Ward Two council candidate Abigail Woods was one of the organizers of Tuesday’s event, and said the council should always act with compassion, especially for its most vulnerable citizens.
Former Ward One Councilor Pat Boston talked about the difficult realities of serving on the council.
“We have to be fiscally responsible,” she said. “But the hard part is ‘the how.’ How do we balance the city’s needs without pushing taxpayers over the edge?”
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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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Many people get excited about this time of year. They order pumpkin everything, pick apples, decorate their yards with mums and fret about having the cleverest Halloween costume for themselves and their kids.
I get excited this time of year for an entirely different reason. I am a political junkie with a local focus, and every two years Biddeford voters choose who will represent them as mayor, on the city council and as members of the school committee.
Unlike the rather dull 2023 cycle two years ago, this year’s upcoming elections are bringing some heat to the game.
We have three mayoral candidates this year, and almost every ward race will feature two candidates, except Wards Three and Five.
Marty GrohmanNorman BelangerLiam LaFountain
The last time Biddeford had more than two people running for mayor was in 2013, when former mayor Joanne Twomey and former councilor Perry Aberle both tried to deny Alan Casavant a third, consecutive term.
And one of the most interesting mayoral races in Biddeford took place in 2003 when Gen. Wallace Nutting – a Republican and Saco native – upset the ballot with a decisive win over School Committee member Dan Boucher and City Councilor Marc Lessard.
Few people predicted that outcome, and I was not one of them. For the record, that race generated a whopping voter turnout of more than 67 percent of registered voters.
Typically, turnout during local elections rarely break the 45 percent mark.
Today’s political landscape in Biddeford
Voters will also be asked this year to decide the fate of two rather significant municipal bond issues; and whether to convene another Charter Review Commission.
In my opinion, there are at least three significant issues driving more candidates and voters to participate in this year’s election.
First, issues connected to former city manager James Bennett angered many people in the community on almost every front: how federal grant money was being used, excessive staff turnover at City Hall, questions about discrepancies in the Finance Department, a blistering report from the city’s auditors and the city’s inability to pay a private contractor for his services to the city.
Former City Manager James Bennett
And Bennett was also a central figure in the controversy surrounding the University of New England’s plan to construct a large pier on the Saco River. Bennett sidelined both the city’s harbormaster and deputy harbormaster during local review of the pier proposal.
The council finally removed Bennett from office but not before he left a shitty taste in a lot of mouths across the city. Bennett filed a lawsuit against the city.
City officials, in turn, are pointing to concerns about how Bennett used his office for his own gain.
Secondly, the UNE pier proposal raised local concerns on a number of fronts as opponents raised questions about possible conflicts of interest and a lack of transparency during the project’s review.
Members of the public voiced concerns and anger earlier this year about the University of New England’s controversial plan to construct a large pier on the Saco River (Seaver photo)
Finally, continuing property tax increases are always an issue in local elections. Over the last two years, the city has passed on increased spending budgets of nearly six percent per year.
Not surprisingly, several incumbent candidates are now raising concerns about property tax burdens, yet many of them actually approved increased spending over the last two years.
Politicians will be politicians.
How will the Biddeford Gazette cover all the election news?
Our in-depth election coverage will begin on October 1.
We are now in the process of collecting questionnaires that were sent to all city council candidates. We will use those surveys as the basis for upcoming stories about each of the contested ward races. We will also periodically examine each of the races and how they align with public concerns.
The contested ward races will be covered in a single story. For example, candidates Patricia Boston and Jim LaBelle from Ward One will be featured in the same story.
Likewise, the three at-large candidates will be introduced in one story, but we will also do follow-up stories on that race.
When it comes to the mayor’s race, we will publish three separate stories regarding each candidate during the first full week of October.
Profiles and interviews with Norman Belanger, Marty Grohman and Liam LaFountain will be published in alphabetical order on three consecutive days.
Obviously, we will be writing many other stories, especially about the mayoral candidates and their campaigns.
Upcoming mayoral debate
Finally, I am proud of the fact that I was able to organize at least one public debate among all three mayoral candidates. It took a lot or work to get this thing organized but I think it’s well worth the effort.
I am especially pleased that my colleagues from Saco Bay News, and the Biddeford-Saco Courier agreed to participate as panelists with me.
That debate will take place on Friday, October 10, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Biddeford High School’s Little Theater on Maplewood Avenue.
The debate will be streamed live and recorded for later viewing on social media sites.
While there will be no public comment during this event, we are hoping that most of the questions will come from the public in the form of written submissions before the debate.
Up until only a few years ago, the American Legion Post 26 in Biddeford was in danger of closing.
The former schoolhouse building on Route One – almost directly across from the new courthouse complex — was in serious disrepair with a leaky roof.
Other non-profit organizations, such as the American Red Cross, could no longer use the building for activities such as hosting blood drives or community meetings. The group’s membership of roughly 100 veterans was struggling for ideas about how to keep their club headquarters open.
Veterans Richard St.Onge and Ted Sirois stand near the trailer they use to collect redeemable bottles and cans to fund a number of activities at the American Legion Post 26 in Biddeford. Unfortunately, a few individuals — despite security cameras and warning signs — regularly steal some of the donated items (Seaver photo)
Biddeford Mayor Marty Grohman – then a state legislator who was trying to help a couple of local veterans – came up with a winning idea.
Grohman donated a small garden trailer and suggested that the club should ask for donations of redeemable bottles and cans that could be dropped off in the trailer, parked near the side of the busy Route One corridor.
Grohman’s fundraising idea took off. Soon the veterans were collecting between two and three thousand dollars in donations each month.
They used that money to make long overdue repairs to their headquarters: a new roof, a new furnace and the parking lot was repaved.
But the community’s donations of bottles and cans didn’t just help local veterans. The funds kept alive a regular meeting place for the Girl Scouts and a function hall that is used by other community groups, including local wedding receptions, celebrations and non-profit activities.
But as the old saying goes, no good deed goes unpunished.
On a regular basis, a small handful of people help themselves to the bags of bottles and cans that were intended as donations for the non-profit veterans’ organization.
“It started happening frequently, so we moved the drop-off trailer a little closer to the building,” explained Ted Sirois, adjutant commander of Post 26. “We were stunned, a couple people just kept stealing bags and bottles. They were pretty brazen about it.”
Sirois said the group decided to install exterior surveillance cameras and posted warning signs on the trailer.
But the thefts continued and the bandits were rather brazen, seemingly unfazed by the cameras and warning signs.
“It was really quite unbelievable that the same people would keep stealing from us, over and over again,” said Post Commander Richard St. Onge.
Grohman also said he was discouraged about the ongoing thefts.
“These veterans do a lot of good things for our community, and they are always ready and willing to help others,” Grohman said. “All thefts are bad and unwarranted, but this really is a new low — to steal from people who risked their lives to serve our nation. Moreover, when you steal from these veterans, you’re stealing from the whole community.”
After reviewing some of the surveillance footage, the Biddeford Police Department conducted an informal sting operation.
“We sort of knew exactly who we were looking for, but we are also able to catch a couple of people red-handed,” said Biddeford Police Chief JoAnne Fisk. “It really is quite unbelievable how callous some of these individuals were, even after we caught them.”
“It was really quite unbelievable that the same people would keep stealing from us, over and over again,”
— Post Commander Richard St. Onge
Although police cannot be conducting surveillance 24 hours a day, Fisk said that anyone taking bottles and cans from the donation trailer will be summonsed and charged with theft and possible criminal trespass.
Meanwhile, St. Onge and Sirois say they much appreciate how the community has supported Post 26 with donations of bottles and cans.
“But that’s only half the battle,” Sirois explains. “Collecting and transporting those donations takes a real team effort, and we’re lucky to have some hard-working volunteers in our midst.”
In addition to serving as the local American Legion headquarters, the building also houses the local chapter of the Vietnam Veterans of America.
Next week, the Red Cross will be conducting another community blood drive at the post.
“We’re always looking for ways to help the community,” Sirois says, pointing to a recently installed outdoor water spigot. “If some group wants to have a car wash, we can accommodate them right here, in our parking lot.”
The American Legion Post is alcohol free, making them a popular place for hosting family functions and youth activities.
“All we want to do is help people,” St. Onge says. “I can’t understand why anyone would think it’s okay to steal from the community.”
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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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You have probably seen the signs as you drive through the city of Biddeford, and unless you’re driving a big truck – you may not understand the impacts of a traffic ordinance that was revised by the city council four months ago.
With very little fanfare, the Biddeford City Council voted 7-1 (Lessard) on May 20th, to extend the prohibition of engine braking on a permanent basis, 24 hours per day.
The city’s engine braking ordinance was revised in May, but caught at least one resident off-guard (Seaver photo)
Engine braking is used to safely increase the stopping power of large trucks with less wear on their wheel brakes. Though engine braking can provide as much as 25 percent more stopping power, the process makes a loud noise.
Previously, operators of large trucks were allowed to use engine braking – also known as “the Jake Brake” – before 9 p.m. and after 6 a.m. because of the noise that is produced when a driver uses engine braking.
John Chretien is the second-generation owner of the family-owned Bob’s Garage in Biddeford, a hauling and trucking company founded by his father in 1961.
A large part of Chretien’s business involves hauling heavy equipment – such as excavators and plows — to and from job sites. The company has also worked as a city contractor for towing and snow removal.
Chretien says the ordinance change caught him completely off guard.
“I knew nothing about it until I got a call from the police chief a few days ago,” he said. “Everything was going fine, and then they [the city] decided to change the ordinance because of just a couple of complaints.
“I don’t understand why no one asked us – or someone else who does trucking – about the ordinance,” Chretien added. “This is a safety issue. What happens if an animal or a pedestrian darts out on the road? Large trucks cannot just stop on a dime.”
John Chretien of Biddeford says the city is sacrificing safety because of occasional nose (Seaver photo)
City Councilor Roger Beaupre is the chair of the city council’s Traffic Committee. He is also the city’s former chief of police, a position he held for 40 years.
Beaupre says he can understand Chretien’s frustration, but also says the ordinance change went through a very “thorough and transparent” public process.
“The [Traffic] Committee received several complaints about engine braking,” Beaupre said. “From there, the committee recommended revising the ordinance. To change an ordinance, the council has to hold two publicly advertised public meetings.”
Beaupre said the council does not have the resources to reach out to every person who may be impacted by a proposed change to the city’s ordinances.
“I can understand why he [Chretien] is frustrated,” Beaupre said. “But there is only so much we can do to make sure that people know what is happening at City Hall. This was a very public and transparent process.”
Chretien’s business is headquartered near the western end of Guinea Road, a quiet residential neighborhood with manicured lawns and single-family homes.
Chretien says he likely knows the “one person” who filed a complaint about his company.
Beaupre, however, says the Traffic Committee received several complaints, most of which came from the city’s downtown area and on the southern side of Elm Street (Route One) near the new courthouse building.
Chretien said he would have been happy to work with the city in revising the ordinance, including an agreement not to use engine braking when a truck is empty.
“I really don’t understand this,” Chretien said. “It seems like we’re willing to sacrifice increased safety because of occasional noise.”
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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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According to a press release issued Thursday, the Maine Water Company and Maine Coast Heritage Trust (MCHT) announced a partnership that will permanently conserve more than 250 acres of forest and open space in a key watershed area of the Saco River in western Biddeford.
The signed agreement between Maine Water and MCHT has full support from the city of Biddeford, which helped facilitate the initiative. The Biddeford City Council unanimously passed a resolution supporting the agreement in 2022.
The protected forest land is located on the southwest side of South Street, adjacent to Maine Water’s new Saco River Drinking Water Resource Center, which delivers drinking water to customers in Biddeford, Saco, Old Orchard Beach and Pine Point.
The Maine Water Company and the Maine Coast Heritage Trust have reached an agreement to place more than 250 acres of land near the Saco River into permanent conservation. (Contributed photo)
The 257 acres of land includes 4,000 feet along Swan Pond Brook and a large swath of forest and wetlands, including an exemplary red-maple swamp and a rare oak-hickory forest, providing vital habitat to a suite of Maine’s native species. The agreement will permanently preserve the land and prevent development, thus helping protect the high quality of the Saco River, which is a critical natural and cultural resource and the sole drinking water source for about 40,000 residents served by Maine Water.
“Our top priority is always clean, high-quality water, which is why we have such a strong drive to protect the resource,” said Mark Vannoy, president of Maine Water. “But we also want this land to be available for low-impact recreational use for the people of Biddeford and nearby towns.
“Working with the city and Maine Coast Heritage Trust has been rewarding, because the result is an environmentally responsible and visionary arrangement that will benefit southern Maine people for decades to come. MCHT is an ideal steward.”
MCHT is a nonprofit land conservation organization that protects and cares for vital lands on the coast of Maine.
“We’re focused on conserving healthy coastal ecosystems, actively responding to a changing climate, and contributing to the wellbeing of people and communities across Maine,” said Chris Schorn, MCHT’s southern Maine project manager. “Protecting a large forest block in this relatively developed part of the state is critical for helping our diverse plants and animals adapt to change, and we’re excited to offer residents of Biddeford and visitors to the city a new opportunity to find connection and wonder in this special landscape.”
Kate Stookey, president and CEO of MCHT, emphasized the value of collaborations like this in the work of protecting and caring for lands and waters in Maine. “We’re honored that the City of Biddeford and Maine Water have put their trust in us. This is a significant piece of land, just miles from downtown, that will be forever protected from development and available for the enjoyment of those seeking time outside in nature,” Stookey said.
An aerial view that shows the land that the Maine Water Company has placed into a permanent conservation easement
MCHT is fundraising to support the long-term care of this land, with goals to improve accessibility and recreational opportunities while remaining mindful of the land’s ecological significance. In the coming months and years, Southern Maine Regional Stewardship Manager Andrew Deci will work with community members, staff, and volunteers to develop an ecologically sensitive trail network.
“For the city, fresh off doubling the size of Clifford Park, this is fantastic news,” said Biddeford’s Mayor Marty Grohman. “It will provide more outdoor recreational access and is sure to be welcomed by residents and visitors. We applaud Maine Water for their dedication to conservation. This is a great example of corporate leadership dedicated to a common goal of preserving open spaces and finding more opportunities for time in nature.”
“We applaud Maine Water for their dedication to conservation.”
— Biddeford Mayor Marty Grohman
Vannoy said a historic infrastructure investment helped move the resource protection and conservation measure forward. The preservation initiative is directly tied to building the company’s new $60 million Drinking Water Resource Center, the design and construction of which included many environmental safeguard and sustainability measures.
The Resource Center, a long-term infrastructure investment, began producing water in June of 2022 and replaced a facility that was 138 years old. The old building also sat exposed in the flood plain of the Saco River and had been flooded at least three times in the last century.
“The quality of the water from the river is extremely high and we want to keep it that way,” said Vannoy. “In charting a smart course of reliable water service for the next 150 years and building the new drinking water resource center, we put environmental stewardship at the top our list.”
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Truc Dever – Biddeford’s new city manager – took over the helm at City Hall just a few weeks ago. She sat down with us for a one-on-one interview and happily answered a wide range of questions about her background, hobbies and management style.
Before taking on her new job in Biddeford, Dever served as the public works director in Kirkland, Washinton, a Seattle suburb.
We hear that you are a self-proclaimed Connect Four champion.
(Laughs) Yes! I love social time with good friends and backyard parties; and sometimes you bring out the board games.”
Biddeford’s new city manager, Truc Dever (Krause photo)
My mother was a schoolteacher, and I remember one of her first-grade kids with a similar name and it made me curious, are you familiar with any of the origins or meanings of your name at all?
“So Truc is short for Truc Mai, and Truc is a type of bamboo while Mai is a type of flower [apricot blossom] which normally appears around the Lunar New Year. Bamboo symbolizes strength while Mai adds a little more of a delicate touch to it. Though I have also gone by a few nicknames like 4×4, Mack truck and all sorts of things.”
You made the move here with your husband and your dogs. Are they acclimating to the East Coast?
“I think so. My husband and I moved here with our two French Bulldogs. And I can say that we adopted them before they became known as America’s favorite breed, long before Lady Gaga’s dogs were dognapped at gunpoint, before they got really popular so I can say I fell in love with the breed before it became super popular. They’re old boys, but they still think they are puppies (Laughs).
Hobbies or vices?
“I am an outdoors person, I love paddling on the water, kayaking, I’m a huge hiker. My husband and I did a lot of backpacking as well, off-roading with the Jeep, just all the outdoors stuff. We do also like the arts and music. I would say we are pretty well rounded in our interests.
If New England is playing the Seahawks in the Superbowl, which jersey are you wearing?
“Seahawks! (pounds on her desk) I know it’s not gonna fly here, I met with all of the firefighters, I get it, but Seahawks all the way!”
What is it about Biddeford that brought you here?
“My husband and I have been very fortunate. We have travelled all over the country as well as around the world. When we came out here to Maine years ago, we just fell in love with it. We both love the outdoors, the history, the people and the nature in Maine so when we decided some years ago to buy a place to vacation, we chose a camp in central Maine.
“We knew that we wanted to retire out here and with my husband working remotely when this job opportunity came up, we decided to jump at it. We have our camp up north, but we also just purchased a home here in Biddeford, we are invested in this community.
Your work experience includes job in the media. Was that your original plan in life or was it a basis for what you were eventually aiming for?
“When you’re in your youth, and you are pursuing the job options out there, you sometimes find opportunities that come along and change your path. I worked as a news reporter, a news producer, a news editor on an assignment desk and had the good fortune to work with some really amazing and talented people covering some hard-hitting news.
“I worked in San Diego and Los Angeles, and it gave me some exceptional experience on the communications side of things. At some point, I realized how different and challenging the lifestyle is. You work long hours, holidays and weekends and it’s a tough schedule.
“At some point, I decided to make the pivot to the public sector. I started off working as a public information officer, then moved to director of communications for a large public agency.
“I realized I enjoyed working for the community, working for a bigger cause and so I pursued my master’s degree in Public Administration and work in executive management.”
Kirkland’s population is about four times larger than Biddeford. Kirkland’s budget is about $1.1 billion biennial compared to Biddeford’s roughly $100 million (municipal and school). The two cities are quite different, with Kirkland being considerably more modern and populated. What is it about Biddeford that brought you here?
“You know, I wouldn’t say it was so different. I think the principles and values of those that live and work in Biddeford are not so dissimilar from Kirkland. We are experiencing the same challenges here.
“Kirkland was a smaller community with waterfronts and open areas that just exploded in growth. It became more attractive to industry and tech sector companies. With that comes people, and the need for housing. The city staff were trying to deal with the growth with limited resources and trying to look at infrastructure and the challenges that come along with it.
“Here in Biddeford. we are faced with the same things, a growing city with limited resources and expanding issues requiring study and action. In the end, I feel that there is a lot I can bring to Biddeford with my experience dealing with the growth, the unhoused community, and with the infrastructure.”
When your predecessor left the office, many residents felt as if the city went backwards from where it started under his management. There are still many questions about his 10-year tenure, and those questions are probably going to linger for a while.
What do you feel you bring to the office that will assure Biddeford residents that the city is back on an even keel?
When I interviewed for the position and I spoke to council, obviously I didn’t know all the history, I just knew what I could bring to the table. I feel that council chose me for this position because of what I bring to the table.
“I operate with transparency, honesty, integrity, compassion; these are principles that I live by. This is what the city needs and what the staff need. I learned a long time ago from my mentors that what I should lead by is to make sure that I am serving this community and do what is in the best interest of this community, the people I serve, and the people I work with.
“It’s not about individual needs or individual power or authority or whatever else. As a public servant, I am here to do what is in the best interest of this community and here to serve the council that is elected by the community members.
“Today we are trying to move past what has happened and we don’t want to make the same mistakes. We are looking at recruitment and retention, figuring out why do people stay, why do they want to come work here.
“I operate with transparency, honesty, integrity, and compassion; these are principles that I live by”
— Truc Dever
Biddeford is facing several controversial issues, and public confidence is low. We are seeing high employee turnover, overdue audits and questions regarding several development projects.
“My job right now is to figure out the lay of the land. We have a governing body in council. They have deliberated, made decisions and made policy. My job is to carry out and operationalize those policy decisions.
“If there are things that are within my purview in terms of contracts, these are the things that I am very quickly trying to come up to speed on. My job isn’t to push back on our governing body, I’m here to support them. The comprehensive plan has just been posted on the city’s website, and I would encourage everybody to look at it.
There are also two very important bonds that will be on the ballot in November. First is the combined sewer overflow project and second is the recreation bond. These are important issues and it is important for the community to make their decisions on them. It’s our job as government to “information share” and get the word out there.”
Homelessness is a growing problem throughout the country, and in Biddeford we see it on almost every major street and in every public space. Is Biddeford dropping the ball somewhere, and are we losing both residential and commercial opportunities because of it?
“What I am learning as I am delving deep into this with staff is there is a lot of effort happening, and most residents aren’t going to see all the internal workings of it.
“We have a very active General Assistance program, and we have two coordinators out of the police department that work with people with substance abuse and with people with behavioral health issues. There is a program we are working on internally that we will be rolling out in the coming months to assist from an interdepartmental and interagency approach.
“We need to look at solutions instead of pushing people across the river or across the train tracks. It’s going to be an effort that requires intense cooperation and to solve the problem we have to put resources behind it. And yes, that might mean some property tax dollars would have to go towards it. We look at every grant possible out there, partnerships with non-profits and churches, and whatever we can do.”
Winter is coming, which will bring the dreaded parking bans in Biddeford. What can the city and residents do to make it easier and less stressful overall?
“When the community was developed for the mills, it wasn’t a “master plan community” and that leaves us with very narrow roads, especially in the downtown area. We need these bans during snow events for the safety of our public works staff.
“This is an old city and parking is an issue. There isn’t even enough parking here at City Hall for our own staff. There just isn’t enough parking in general in the area and it’s something that we have to tackle.
“I believe in solutions over problems, so bring some ideas. What can we do to make the garage more accessible during inclement weather? I don’t have the answer now, but we have to come up with solutions.”
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Jim Krause is a freelance writer and Biddeford resident.
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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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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.
Looking back over the last few days, I have to tell you, I am really looking forward to spending some relaxation time with Laura during our annual vacation on Moosehead Lake.
Mount Kineo sits in the distance of Maine’s largest lake
But back to Biddeford.
We’ll talk more about some big developments here at the Gazette, including our newly formed advisory board and our new media partners, but let’s start with some of our recent headlines.
Biddeford’s former city manager was back in the news, asking the city to reimburse him for expenses he incurred while performing as a Shriner clown in other communities – roughly five months after he was shown the door at City Hall.
The Gazette is keeping a close eye on the city’s political landscape. You can always get the latest updates here.
There is a lot more, including reports and opinion pieces submitted to us by people like you. (Keep ‘em coming, folks!)
EXCITING DEVELOPMENTS:
I recently attended an event at the McArthur Library that was co-hosted by The Maine Monitor and Saco Bay News, both online publications.
The meeting was part of a statewide listening tour being conducted by The Maine Monitor, intended to explore how people are accessing local news and what they expect from local media outlets.
Josh Keefe of the Maine Monitor, shares highlights of a break-out group discussion about local journalism.
As the digital age of journalism continues, the new media landscape offers both opportunities and challenges for local journalists and news consumers.
Bottom line? Local newsrooms are fighting for survival. Reporters are expected to do more with fewer resources. Corporate media consolidation is shrinking news rooms and local coverage.
How do we do more with fewer resources?
Collaboration is the name of the game. Local media can break down traditional walls of competition and look for opportunities to work together and share resources.
That concept, I am proud to say, has been one of our core values. We are always looking for Biddeford news produced by other outlets. We use our social media pages to share those stories and direct readers to those media sources.
I was so pleased to be able to share a story about great white sharks that was originally published in The Maine Monitor. That’s how we leverage the internet to benefit our readers.
Thursday’s fire was a difficult story to cover. Of course, I went to the scene. It’s my job, but I was really tired and felt emotionally drained. Then I received a call from a news producer at WGME-TV (Channel 13). They asked permission to use my photos and video.
I breathed a sigh of relief. I could go home and not have another story to write. I could simply share WGME’s story on the Gazette’s website. That’s collaboration.
Another big step forward
Finally, most importantly, I am so proud and honored to announce that our advisory board is now a reality. We have seven members on the volunteer board and are actively seeking nominations from the community about possible candidates to fill the remaining two positions. Please contact us with your suggestions.
Check out the profiles of the individual members. It’s an impressive list and represents a diversity of backgrounds, perspectives and experience that will be invaluable as we move forward in our mission of providing community-driven news.
Our first meeting will likely take place sometime in September.
That’s it for now. Let the vacation count-down clock begin!
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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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BIDDEFORD GAZETTE 