Tag: Biddeford Gazette

UNE pier approval tainted by glaring SRCC mistake

~ Randy Seaver ~ 8 Comments

Although the University of New England has cleared all the reviews and hurdles needed to begin construction of a large pier on the Saco River, the Saco River Corridor Commission (SRCC) has now admitted it made a crucial mistake while approving the university’s application in 2024.

 The Saco River Corridor Commission (SRCC) voted in August 2024 to approve the university’s pier project, which includes construction of an access road that can accommodate large vehicles including fire/rescue trucks.

That access road, however, will be constructed within a 250-foot non-development “buffer” zone that was created by an agreement between the university and the SRCC in 2001.

Alan Thibeault, a UNE vice president, leads members of the planning board and the public through a wooded area where an access road will be built to accommodate the university’s planned research pier. (Seaver photo)

The agreement came as the result of a quid-pro-quo arrangement between the SRCC and the university, which allowed the university to build two new dormitories that would exceed a 35-foot height restriction.

In return for the height variance, the university agreed to create a 250-foot buffer zone along the river frontage on the school’s campus to protect the “environmentally sensitive” area.

Although the minutes of that June 2001 meeting shows no ambiguity on the matter, the SRCC today admits that the approval they granted last year did not take the previous agreement into consideration.

“It does appear that there was an omission of relevant information provided to the commissioners before last year’s vote,” said Cherie Dunning, the SRCC’s executive director.

Dunning said there is nothing that can be done today to fix the situation since a 30-day appeal window has come and gone.

Dunning added that her agency has been “overwhelmed” by the number of applications filed by the university over the last few years, describing the agency’s workload as an “administrative burden.”

The SRCC is a quasi-state agency with statutory control over all development along the Saco River.

“It does appear that there was an omission
of relevant information provided to the
commissioners before last year’s vote.”

— Cherie Dunning, SRCC exec. director

A group of commissioners is made up of representatives from all municipalities along the river. Don Furman, Biddeford’s representative on the SRCC, abstained from voting on UNE’s application in August 2024.

Ben Pinault, the commission chairperson, did not return our request for comment, as of press time.

For her part, Dunning said she and other staff are “working to prevent similar errors in the future.”

When asked if UNE’s permit should be revoked since new information has come to light, Dunning said there is nothing the SRCC can do about the past mistake, suggesting that the matter could be settled in the courts.

Sarah Delage, a UNE spokesperson, said the Saco River Corridor Commission did not impose a ‘no-build’ or ‘no construction’ zone within a 250-foot zone from the river.

Delage also said that Sandra Featherman – the university’s former president – “did not make any commitment that UNE would never seek to build a research pier on the Saco River.”

Many members of the public have expressed concerns about the location of UNE’s proposed research pier (Seaver photo)

However, the minutes of the July 2001 SRCC meeting clearly show that both UNE and the SRCC did work out an arrangement including the creation of the buffer zone so that the new dormitory buildings could be constructed.

These meeting minutes illustrate UNE’s unambiguous endorsement to achieve the same goal: environmental protection.

Featherman attended the July 2001 meeting in which several commissioners voiced strong support for the creation of a 250-foot buffer.

Featherman stated that “the University of New England has absolutely no plans to build within 250 feet of the river, and that the city as well as the university believe this buffer to be very sensitive and necessary for the protection of the river.”

From the SRCC’s 2001 meeting minutes: “The applicants are hereby required to retain and maintain a 250-foot-wide vegetative buffer along the entire shoreline of the property, measured horizontally starting from the mean high-water line and proceeding inland, described herein. Failure to do so will result in revocation [of the permit] and all subsequent amendments.’”

Also, Dunning left no doubt that the order issued by the Saco River Corridor Commission in 2001 is, in effect, state law, quoting the legislative act that created the Commission, she wrote, “Standards, rules and orders issued by the SRCC have the force and effect of law.’”

Local reaction to the SRCC’s error

The city of Biddeford now finds itself in a bewildering predicament, since UNE has not yet put a shovel in the ground and a building permit has not been issued.

Yet, city officials now know for certain that an SRCC order, which has the effect of state law, prohibits construction in the 250-foot buffer where the access road is supposed to be built.

Will the city continue to green light a project it knows to be illegal? The Gazette contacted Mayor Marty Grohman a week ago for comment, but he has still not responded.

The two candidates who are hoping to replace Grohman, however, responded quickly to our request for comment.

City Councilor Norman Belanger said he does “not want to be hasty with an opinion” until he has the opportunity to closely review the documents sent to him by the Biddeford Gazette.

“On its face, it does appear that the SRCC had imposed a 250-foot vegetation buffer,” Belanger said.  “I believe, however, that the enforcement of this order would be within the purview of SRCC and not the city unless it was a formal party to the order. 

“It is something that definitely deserves research and clarification along with an understanding of how it impacts the prior approvals for the pier,” he said.

“It is something that definitely
deserves research and clarification”

— City Councilor Norman Belanger

City Councilor Liam LaFountain said his “initial reaction was one of major concern.”

“Many residents have already expressed frustration about the pier review process, and I understand why,” LaFountain said.

LaFountain noted that a special citizens grievance meeting about the controversial pier project will be held next week at City Hall.

RELATED: Citizens collect enough signatures to force special meeting

“Given the public’s interest in the integrity of the city’s regulatory review is extremely high, the [newly revealed] information raises serious questions,” LaFountain said.

LaFountain said that the city council is expected to take up the issue at its next regular meeting on Oct. 21.

“In my view, outreach to the SRCC and possibly the Attorney General’s office, for legal clarification, is necessary. If an SRCC order carries the force of law, the city has an obligation to understand the implications and ensure compliance. Biddeford must obey all laws.”

City solicitor Harry Center was asked to comment on this story last week. Center said he needs time to review all of the documents, including the SRCC minutes.

“Many residents have already expressed
frustration about the pier review
process, and I understand why,”

— City Councilor Liam LaFountain

An insider’s look at UNE’s ongoing development

Biddeford resident Matt Haas graduated from the University of New England in 2005 with a degree in organizational leadership.

Haas was also employed by the university for nearly 18 years and served as a public affairs liaison between the university and its residential Hills Beach neighbors.

In fact, Haas – a registered Maine Guide — said he did extensive work in the creation of the Institutional Zone that covers all of UNE’s Biddeford campus, a process that was guided and promoted by Featherman, the university’s former president.

“This whole process has been mishandled by both the city and the university,” he said. “There absolutely was and is a 250-foot buffer zone in place. This pier is in the wrong location and was approved as part of a mismanaged process.”

Haas is one of several Biddeford residents who are appealing the Biddeford Planning Board’s approval of the large research pier on August 6, 2025.

The Zoning Board of Appeals meeting is scheduled to take place on November 13.

Click here to view and/or download a PDF copy of the SRCC’s July 2001 meeting minutes:

2001_07_11 Commission Meeting MinutesDownload

Note: 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

c.) 2025 All Rights Reserved

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City manager outlines goals and objectives

~ Randy Seaver ~ Leave a comment

Biddeford City Manager Truc Dever took to the podium during Tuesday’s city council meeting to provide a snapshot of her objectives and goals over the next several months.

According to Dever’s employment contract, she is required to provide the council with “specific, measurable performance goals” within 60 days of taking over the helm at City Hall.

Biddeford City Manager Truc Dever presented the city with a list of six objectives she is hoping to achieve over the coming year (Seaver photo)

“I just completed my first two months with the city, and I’m happy to report that I still wake up every morning excited to come to work,” she laughed.

Dever presented the council with six goals that she says are aligned with the city’s strategic priorities.

City Finances

Because voters will be faced with two bond questions in November, Dever said her top objective is working closely and quickly with Finance Director Gerry Matherne to ensure that the overdue FY ‘24 and ‘25 annual audits are completed and reported to credit agencies.

“We need to get this done in order “to re-establish the city’s credit rating,” Dever said, pointing out that a better credit rating will have a positive impact on the interest payments if voters approve $26 million in borrowing for sewer and recreation upgrades in November.

Dever also listed preparing the annual municipal budget as another objective, along with staff training for new software for Finance and Human Resources functions.

Dever also said she will provide monthly and quarterly financial reports to council.

Other strategic priorities identified by Dever include employee retention strategies, economic development and affordable housing.

Dever said she is hoping to reach an agreement on a three-year labor contract with police officers and she wants to have “fireside chats” with city employees in order to learn and understand their needs and ideas.

As spelled out in Dever’s contract, her goals and objectives will be reviewed and updated annually, serving as a basis for formal performance evaluations.

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Randy Seaver is the editor and founder of the Biddeford Gazette. He may be reached by email: randy@randyseaver.com

c.) 2025 All Rights Reserved

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Date set for ‘Citizens Grievance’ meeting

~ Randy Seaver ~ Leave a comment

Biddeford Mayor Marty Grohman told the Biddeford Gazette Tuesday that a special, “Citizens Grievance” meeting has been scheduled for Oct. 23 and will be held in the council chambers at Biddeford City Hall, beginning at 6 p.m.

The special meeting will focus on the controversial pier project that the University of New England wants to build on the Saco River.

Several opponents of UNE’s proposed pier location attended the Biddeford Planning Board’s meeting when the project was approved in a 3-2 vote (Seaver photo)

The Citizens Grievance meeting was triggered last month when a group of residents were able to collect more than 100 signatures of registered voters to demand an opportunity to publicly address the mayor and city council about their concerns.

The university’s proposal — although controversial — has already been approved by several regulatory agencies, including the Saco River Corridor Commission, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Maine Department of Environmental Protection and the Biddeford Planning Board, which voted 3-2 on Aug. 5, 2025, to approve the project.

The special meeting comes only a few weeks ahead of a scheduled Zoning Board of Appeals meeting about the pier on Nov. 13.

The ZBA appeal was requested and filed by John Shafer, an outspoken opponent of the pier project and the former chair of Biddeford’s Harbor Commission.

Although Shafer said he helped gather signatures to trigger the special Citizens Grievance meeting, he said he is not actively involved in coordinating the Oct. 23 citizens meeting.

Carole Alexander, the wife of the late Marshall Alexander – Biddeford’s former harbormaster – spearheaded the signature campaign and presented the signatures to City Manager Truc Dever last month.

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.”

Other members of the public have expressed concerns about how former Biddeford City Manager Jim Bennett removed both the city’s current harbormaster and assistant harbormaster from the review process.

A number of residents also expressed anger about Grohman’s push to remove Roch Angers from his position on Biddeford’s planning board.

Grohman said Angers violated the board’s code of ethics by publicly addressing the city council regarding his concerns about how the city has handled its review of the university’s application.

According to the city’s charter, a special grievance meeting requires the mayor and council to be present and listen to the concerns of residents. Organizers will choose their own moderator for the meeting.

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Randy Seaver is the editor and founder of the Biddeford Gazette. He may be reached by email: randy@randyseaver.com

c.) 2025 All Rights Reserved

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Boston, LaBelle both hoping for Ward One seat

~ Randy Seaver ~ 1 Comment

Two candidates have stepped forward in hopes of representing Biddeford’s coastal neighborhoods (Ward One) on the city council.

Patricia Boston
Jim LaBelle

Pat Boston of Hills Beach is hoping to make a return to the city council after a 14-year hiatus. Political newcomer Jim LaBelle recently retired after serving seven years as the executive director of the Biddeford-Saco Chamber of Commerce and lives in Biddeford Pool.

Boston, 71, says she wants to help renew trust and confidence in local government by exercising fiscal responsibility and promoting “transparency and citizen engagement” at City Hall.

LaBelle, 61, said he is concerned about the high cost of living for residents, pointing out that regional incomes have grown, but have not been keeping pace with increasing property taxes and soaring utility and food costs.

Both candidates say that housing issues are among Biddeford’s biggest challenges.

“The housing issue presents several concerns,” Boston said, pointing to issues surrounding the city’s unhoused population, the need for more workforce housing and the need to promote “smart growth” strategies. “While some of these can be addressed through local funding, policies and ordinances, others require us to reach out to other local and state entities,” she said.

LaBelle pointed to his experience in the private sector world of management and business and said, “constrained resources have been the norm, requiring frugality and creativity.”

“For the city, this will require limited spending growth, creative sourcing of alternative funding and continued business growth to expand and diversify the tax base,” he said.

Boston said “preserving our natural environment, which includes our beaches and river, where recent storms took their toll” will be a top priority for her in addition to increasing walkability and use of alternate forms of transportation.

LaBelle said the city “needs to enhance our partnering with local and regional community organizations to expand solutions toward a future where none of our residents are unhoused.”

LaBelle currently serves as a voting member of the Saco River Corridor Commission. He also served as executive director of the Biddeford & Saco Chamber of Commerce for seven years, retiring a few months ago.

Boston served one term on the Biddeford School Committee, from 2005 to 2007. She was then elected to Biddeford City Council and served one term as Ward One councilor until 2009. She was then elected as an at-large representative, serving in that role from 2009 until 2011

Today, Boston serves on the St Louis Alumni Association Board; as treasurer of Age Friendly Biddeford and the McArthur Library Association Board.

When asked why she is seeking a return to the council, she said “Biddeford is my hometown, and I care about its future.”

“I have previously served the city as a councilor, school committee member, and as a member of several ad hoc committees. I have also held leadership positions in neighborhood, civic and professional organizations.

“My commitment to my community is clear. I would be honored to have the opportunity to utilize my experience to assist in moving Biddeford forward,” she said.

LaBelle served as executive director of the Biddeford-Saco Chamber of Commerce, retiring a few months ago.

LaBelle – who moved to Biddeford in 2018 – said he has come to “love the city, its many amenities and its spirited and can-do residents” and wants to bring his 40 years of business experience to the city.

“I think Biddeford is an ideal place to live and work and enjoy, a big-enough city to have so much to do, but small enough that you get to know your neighbors, the business community, and the special character that makes it feel like home for all of us,” he said. “I would be honored to give back to this community in public service to keep advocating for community progress, improved standards of living for everyone, and ongoing quality-of-life enhancements new developments.”

________________

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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New cookie business opens in Biddeford

~ Randy Seaver ~ 1 Comment

In a modest, second-floor apartment on Alfred Street, Zimra Winters is making his dream come true.

Winters, 29, has a daytime job working as a baker at Rover Bagel in Biddeford. But his real passion is cookies – cookies so delicious that after your first bite, you may think you have died and gone to heaven.

Earlier this week, Winters formally launched his own small business – Thank You Cookie Box, a boutique, mini bakery he operates in his own kitchen with a standard oven that you would find in most homes.

Zimra Winters of Biddeford shows off a tray of his artisan cookies that are made in his own kitchen. (Seaver photo)

Winters says he cleared all the hurdles necessary before launching his business, including inspections by the city’s code enforcement office and a state inspection.

“This is something I have wanted to do for as long as I can remember,” Winters said. “When I was just 10 years old, I would bake cookies and sell them at the end of our driveway.”

Winters is truly passionate about cookies.

“I like how they look, and especially how they smell” he said.

Although the focus is on making handmade cookies from scratch with local ingredients, Winters points out that a standard artisan box of cookies comes in a recyclable cardboard box with eco-friendly wrapping.

“It really does make the perfect thank you gift for individuals or companies,” Winter says. According to their website, giving someone a custom-made box of cookies is “an effortless, consistent and customizable way to show gratitude.”

Winters says he can add a company’s logo to each gift box and provides online ordering and free delivery in the Biddeford-Saco area.

Thank You Cookies come in four signature flavors with a gourmet twist, including:

Chocolate Chunk – Fudgy soft with a rich brown butter flavor and generous chunks of milk chocolate – an elegant twist on the classic cookie;

Birthday Cake – A buttery vanilla sugar cookie is studded with creamy white chocolate chips and bright sprinkles for a birthday party in every bite

Red Velvet Crinkle – A delicate dusting of powdered sugar tops this velvet soft cocoa cookie on a local version of the classic red velvet cake;

Snickerdoodle – The timeless snickerdoodle with a rich brown butter flavor that perfectly complements the warm cinnamon.

Winters is also proud of his new company’s commitment to sustainability. Each cookie is individually wrapped in biodegradable cellophane sleeves to keep it fresh and soft for over a week while also reducing single-use plastic waste.

While Zimra is the cookie expert, his partner Katie Schraeder handles all other aspects of the new business. “We make a good team,” Winters said.

“I hope that someday we can expand this business,” he said. “For now, we’ll just have to see how it goes.”

For more information about Thank You Cookie Box, please visit their website.

_______________________________

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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Biddeford Politics: Another chapter begins tomorrow

~ Randy Seaver ~ 2 Comments

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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NEWSLETTER: Surgery & Local Politics

~ Randy Seaver ~ Leave a comment

Greetings!

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 website to 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:

Biddeford’s former city manager and questions about his own property tax assessments

A grassroots group of citizens collected enough signatures to force a special citizens’ meeting before the city council.

A roundtable public forum that included several of the candidates hoping to be elected in November.

A deeper look at Biddeford’s revised ordinances regarding engine braking.

A story about ongoing thefts of bottles and cans collected by local veterans.

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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Residents collect enough signatures to invoke a special meeting

~ Randy Seaver ~ 3 Comments

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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Bigfoot comes to Biddeford

~ Randy Seaver ~ 1 Comment

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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Candidates, residents meet during roundtable event

~ Randy Seaver ~ 3 Comments

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.”

Moderator Delilah 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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OPINION: Are you ready to rumble?

~ Randy Seaver ~ Leave a comment

Today is the first full day of autumn.

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 Grohman
Norman Belanger
Liam 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.

If you would like to submit a question or comment, please email us at biddefordgazette@gmail.com

I have been covering Biddeford politics for three decades. I promise you that we will leave no stone unturned during our in-depth coverage.

Let the games begin!

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Randy Seaver is the editor and founder of the Biddeford Gazette. He may be reached by email: randy@randyseaver.com

You may view and learn more about our editorial standards and policies here:

Biddeford Gazette | Standards & Policies

© 2025 All Rights Reserved; Biddeford Gazette, Inc.

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OPINION: Councilors offer us a lesson about respect

~ Randy Seaver ~ Leave a comment

Something happened at last night’s Biddeford City Council meeting that should be a template for all of us.

In a time of seemingly unprecedented political tension on the national stage, two city councilors showed us all a valuable lesson about respect, collaboration and friendship – despite being almost polar opposites when it comes to political ideology.

Councilors Doris Ortiz and Marc Lessard are the city’s two at-large council members, and they about as different as you can get — but they both love Biddeford and that is what drives their friendship.

Doris Ortiz

Lessard has been a member of the council since the late 1990s. He is the longest serving council member.

Ortiz decided to run for council in 2019, saying she was inspired by my wife’s service on the council.

Like all new councilors, Ortiz recalled being nervous and feeling a little overwhelmed when she was sworn in and later attended her first meeting on the other side of the council dais.

Lessard was her seatmate on the council. He knew they would probably struggle to find consensus, but that didn’t matter. Lessard immediately took Ortiz under his wing. He coached her, advised her and reassured her that she was in the right place.

Though the city council is non-partisan, there is no denying that Ortiz and Lessard are fundamentally on different sides of the political spectrum.

That didn’t matter. They just worked together. They listened to one another and they even shared jokes and laughed together.

More than that, they often formed what was jokingly called an “unholy alliance.”

I have been watching their relationship for six years. There were times when you could almost see and feel the tension between them as they tackled a myriad of policy issues, from housing to budgets.

Marc Lessard

But they also found a lot of common ground; and they always acted with respect and civility.

Last night, Ortiz announced her resignation from the council because she is moving outside of the city.

It was an emotional announcement that encapsulated Ortiz’s philosophy and modus operandi: she was humble, authentic and grateful for the opportunity to serve.

At the end of her brief statement, it was Marc Lessard who was first on his feet to offer Ortiz a standing ovation. Everyone else in the council chamber quickly followed Lessard’s lead.

Lessard and Ortiz offered all of us a timely and relevant lesson.

No matter how discouraged we may feel about our nation’s political divisiveness, we can still choose to treat each other with civility and respect.

Godspeed, Councilor Ortiz. Thank you for your service and commitment to our city.

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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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Angers will not go quietly into the night

~ Randy Seaver ~ Leave a comment

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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Get on the bus! Check out ‘Childish Things’

~ Randy Seaver ~ 1 Comment

Why run from your problems, when you can drive?

Although they are not yet as famous as the Coen brothers, Cash and Nick Cassidy are already making quite a splash in the world of independent (indie) filmmaking.

Their latest film – Childish Things – will kick off this year’s Vacationland Film Festival at City Theater in Biddeford on Thursday, August 21.

The movie’s tagline – ‘Why run from your problems, when you can drive?’ —encapsulates the 95-minute film’s premise, preparing the viewer for what could be described as a gritty docudrama.

In his publicly released director’s commentary, Nick Cassidy explains the film’s essence.

“I like to call Childish Things a “coming-of-more-age” story because, let’s face it, movie characters tend to come of age before graduating high school, but for many people, me included, it took a bit longer,” the elder Cassidy said.

The film is about a 30-year-old musician who is facing pressure from his girlfriend to get engaged. Thus, he embarks on a cross-country road trip to sell his beloved tour bus.

During that jaunt across America – from Portland, Maine to Los Angeles, Calif., –the main character is forced to question whether he really wants to marry his girlfriend, especially after he meets a free-spirited woman near Nashville.

We caught up with the Cassidy brothers this week to ask them about their film, the vitality of the indie-film world and how technology, including AI, has impacted movie making.

Cash Cassidy, 22, is the film’s producer. In addition to editing the film, he was also in charge of the lighting, sound and location management.

Nick Cassidy, 32, is the film’s director and also portrayed one of the lead characters in the movie.

“We basically figured most of it out as we moved through it,” Cash explains. “We had a friend with a small bus. He was already planning a road trip across country, so we jumped on that opportunity.”

Today, even independent films not produced by major studios can still cost millions of dollars to produce.

While Cash and Nick did not have access to that kind of money, they relied on resources they already had available to them, such as free software that is available on the internet.

Cash and Nick Cassidy say new technology empowers people to produce quality independent films. (Seaver photo)

To say their budget was bare bones is an understatement.

“I was able to tap in to some of my college funds because I described the project as an independent study endeavor,” Cash said. “I already had a camera, and was able to borrow some other equipment.”

In order to take advantage of their friend’s planned trip across the United States, the brothers found themselves on a tight timeline that only allowed three months for planning and pre-production.

The Cassidy brothers did a lot of improvising to make the film possible.

In fact, some of their primary casting was done via Instagram, where they met Guinevere Berthelot of Nashville.

In her video audition for the role, Berthelot placed her laptop on the floor and then roller-skated from across to the room to participate in an online Zoom audition.

“We felt the connection immediately,” Nick Cassidy said. “We knew she was perfect – exactly what we were hoping for.”

The brothers say they were both surprised that Berthelot agreed to join them on a road trip across the country simply after an online Instagram meeting.”

Nick said the film’s vibe required all the actors to be in character throughout the filming even when cameras were not rolling.

“We were looking for authenticity,” he explained. “Some of the scenes are pretty emotional and we wanted the viewers to be fully engaged, wondering whether what they are watching is a true story or a made-up adventure.”

Cash, who began making movies when he was eight years old, described Childish Things as “guerilla filmmaking.”

“We wanted the viewers to be
fully engaged, wondering whether
what they are watching is
a true story or a made-up adventure.”

— Nick Cassidy

“We wanted all the elements and the true sense of an indie film,” he said. “We weren’t looking for polish. We were looking for a raw connection that would fully engage our audience.”

Principle shooting of the film’s scenes took two weeks of filming: two days of footage in South Portland, 10 days of shooting across the country and then two more days of shooting in Los Angeles.

In all, the brothers accumulated roughly 25 hours-worth of footage, which Cash edited into a 95-minute movie.

“Today, thanks to technology, just about anyone can make a movie,” Nick explained. “You no longer need a big budget to make a feature film. Audiences are craving things that are not glossy.”

Asked about the impact of AI (Artificial Intelligence) in the movie industry, both Nick and Cash said the only thing that really matters is “having the ability to tell a really good story.”

For more information about the upcoming Vacationland Film Festival, please visit vacationlandfilmfestival.com

Randy Seaver is the editor and founder of the Biddeford Gazette. He may be contacted by email: randy@randyseaver.com

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Dupuis Hardware: A local staple trying to survive

~ Randy Seaver ~ 1 Comment

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.

For more information, you visit their website at dupuishardware.com.

Relief effort continues for fire victims

~ Randy Seaver ~ 1 Comment

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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Ex-city manager wants city to pay expenses for Shriner clown events

~ Randy Seaver ~ 2 Comments

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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City gives non-union employees a modest pay increase

~ Randy Seaver ~ Leave a comment

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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Rollin’ with the punches: 3 Ds Variety

~ Randy Seaver ~ Leave a comment

This week’s installment of Taking Care of Business features the three DiPietrantonio brothers and their popular Main Street convenience store in Biddeford

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While Three D’s Variety on Main Street in Biddeford relies heavily on foot traffic, owner Peter DiPietrantonio says his neighborhood convenience store is also being impacted by an ongoing sewer upgrade project in the downtown area.

“We’re definitely taking a hit, but not as bad as some other businesses,” DiPietrantonio said. “I’d estimate that our sales are down somewhere between 10 and 15 percent.”

Peter, Rob and Mark DiPietrantonio have been operating their Main Street convenience store for more than 30 years. (Seaver photo)

We caught up with Peter just a few days after traffic was allowed to turn right from Lincoln Street to Elm Street, north toward Saco.

“That’s making a huge positive difference,” he said. “Now, we just need to get rid of that temporary traffic light on the corner of Alfred Street.”

Three D’s Variety is one of the longest operating businesses on Main Street.

Peter and his brothers — Mark and Robert — started the business in 1994.

Today, their relatively small shop, located on the corner of Main and Washington streets, is often bustling with activity seven days a week, a mecca of sorts for loyal clientele and others seeking a measure of convenience in downtown Biddeford.

Peter says his family-owned store has benefitted from ongoing downtown revitalization and new community events that take place near the city’s core.

“All the revitalization, new businesses and downtown activities have all been good for us. The more people coming to downtown, the better our business is,” he said.

Robert DiPietrantonio says that more people are living in renovated and formerly vacant downtown mill buildings, substantially increasing foot traffic in the downtown area.

“The more people coming to downtown,
the better our business is.”

— Peter DiPietrantonio

“Those residents want the convenience of buying batteries, Band-Aids, aspirin and things like that,” he said.

While new energy and interest in downtown is on an upward trajectory, there are still challenges.

“Just about everything happening in downtown has been very good for us,” Mark DiPietrantonio said during a previous interview. “But thirty years ago, we didn’t have people sleeping in the streets and in our entryways. We want to be helpful, but it is a problem.”

 The three brothers say they are optimistic about their future and excited by downtown’s ongoing revitalization.

“We’ve seen a lot of businesses come and go since we opened our store,” Peter said. “You have to be ready to work hard. You have to be constantly keeping an eye on it. It’s not easy, but it is rewarding.”

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Randy Seaver is the editor and founder of the Biddeford Gazette. He may be contacted by email: randy@randyseaver.com

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OPINION: Biddeford is craving leadership

~ Randy Seaver ~ Leave a comment

Three weeks ago, I wrote an opinion piece about Biddeford Mayor Marty Grohman and what I described as a “missed opportunity for leadership” on his part.

Understandably, the mayor was less than pleased by what I wrote about him in that editorial. How do I know the mayor was upset? After all, he didn’t contact me directly to offer his perspective on the matter.

I learned about the mayor’s displeasure from back-channel sources. This is becoming a regular trend with this mayor.

When I pissed off former mayors Alan Casavant, JoAnne Twomey, Jim Grattelo, Wallace Nutting or Donna Dion, trust me — I heard about it — from them. Sometimes I apologized, sometimes I didn’t.

Marty does his very best to avoid difficult or challenging subjects. He would much rather post a “selfie” of himself in a variety of locations, always posing. Always smiling.

Here I am with an unhoused person. Here I am with a Vietnam veteran! Here I am with a downtown merchant! Here I am watching traffic!

Mayor Marty Grohman buys an Italian sandwich and wants you to know about it (Photo: Facebook, Marty’s Community Corner)

A few weeks ago, I joked that the most dangerous place in Biddeford is the space between Marty Grohman and an available camera.

Marty isn’t so much supporting Biddeford as he is supporting himself — always ready for the next photo-op, the next group photo, the next feel-good proclamation, avoiding controversy and difficult questions at all costs.

Marty doesn’t want pesky reporters like me looking under the carpet at City Hall or writing stories that are difficult to explain and reconcile.

What Marty seems to want from the media is an enhanced level of public relations, not hard-hitting journalism about an out-of-control city manager, a blistering report from the city’s financial auditors or problems with delayed sewer bills.

George Orwell reportedly once opined that “Journalism is printing what someone else does not want printed; everything else is public relations.”

I happen to agree with Mr. Orwell. The Biddeford Gazette is not here to support the mayor’s or anyone else’s PR strategies. We’re here to tell you all the news; the good, the bad and the ugly.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

To be honest, Marty was not the only one upset about my July 13 editorial. I also heard from a few of the mayor’s closest supporters, all telling me that I was making a mountain out of a molehill. They extolled all the good things that Marty has done and continues to do for the city.

They are right. Marty deserves plenty of credit for some good things, and no one can reasonably argue that he has anything less than enthusiastic passion for his adopted hometown.

In fact, I would say that cheerleading is an important part of what the mayor should be doing. On this front, Marty gets an A+ from me, and I mean that as a sincere compliment.

But was I wrong about a lack of leadership from the mayor’s office?

Marty Grohman announces that he will be seeking reelection with – – another selfie photograph. (Photo: Facebook, Marty’s Community Corner)

Over the last three weeks, we have seen some mounting evidence that supports my argument, most notably from two men who watch the mayor much more closely than most everyone else in the city.

Councilor Norman Belanger and Council President Liam LaFountain have each announced that they will be challenging Grohman for the mayor’s seat.

Both men say the city is currently lacking strong leadership. Belanger is 68, LaFountain is 28. They are very different individuals. They sometimes disagree but they are saying the same thing here: Biddeford needs and deserves strong leadership.

Consider this: Belanger and LaFountain both have a front row view of the mayor. They all attend the same meetings, even those behind-closed-door-executive session meetings where discussions about city personnel or legal matters take place.

Belanger is more of a traditional, old-school Biddeford politician. He is smart, friendly and truly wants what’s best for Biddeford.  LaFountain is a younger and more dynamic candidate who will likely appeal to a broad range of citizens with his pledge to increase transparency and data-driven solutions.

Despite their differences, both men say the same thing: Biddeford is lacking real leadership.

During a fairly recent meeting with a resident, Grohman threw up his arms and joked: “I don’t even have the power to decide what sodas are available in the City Hall soda machine.”

Do you think if Jim Grattelo wanted
a Mountain Dew in City Hall
that his request would be
rebuffed by some mid-level bureaucrat?

Are you kidding me? Do you think if Jim Grattelo wanted a Mountain Dew in City Hall that his request would be rebuffed by some mid-level bureaucrat? Or if Joanne Twomey wanted a Dr. Pepper?

Almost one year ago today, I bumped into Marty at a Chamber of Commerce function. At the time, I had given up my role as a reporter in order to orchestrate a full-throttle campaign to get rid of former City Manager Jim Bennett. (Hindsight now reveals that I was on the side of the angels with that campaign).

Marty was not happy about my work. “Why are you doing this to me?” he asked in a frustrated tone. “I’ve only been in office six months.”

Marty didn’t complain that I was making the city look bad, or even that I was making the city manager look bad. His complaint was that my work to oust Bennett also made Marty look bad. And that’s a big no-no.

I do not think Marty is a bad mayor, but I do think the city needs strong leadership.

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That’s my perspective, and I welcome yours. The Biddeford Gazette is always more than happy to publish letters to the editor, op-eds or columns about Biddeford, its people, places and politics from our readers.

Randy Seaver is the editor and founder of the Biddeford Gazette. He may be contacted by email: randy@randyseaver.com

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