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!
_____________
Randy Seaver is the editor and founder of the Biddeford Gazette. He may be reached by email at randy@randyseaver.com
Never miss another update! Subscribe for free today!
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.
______________________
Randy Seaver is the editor and founder of the Biddeford Gazette. He may be reached by email at randy@randyseaver.com
Never miss another update! Subscribe for free today!
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.
________________________
Randy Seaver is the editor and founder of the Biddeford Gazette. He may be reached by email at randy@randyseaver.com
Never miss another update! Subscribe for free today!
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?”
__________________
Randy Seaver is the editor and founder of the Biddeford Gazette. He may be reached by email at randy@randyseaver.com
Never miss another update! Subscribe for free today!
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.”
_______________________
Randy Seaver is the editor and founder of the Biddeford Gazette. He may be reached by email at randy@randyseaver.com
Never miss another update! Subscribe for free today!
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.”
____________________
Randy Seaver is the editor and founder of the Biddeford Gazette. He may be reached by email at randy@randyseaver.com
Never miss another update! Subscribe for free today!
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.”
___________
Never miss another update! Subscribe for free today!
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.”
__________
Jim Krause is a freelance writer and Biddeford resident.
Never miss another update! Subscribe for free today!
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.
____________
Randy Seaver is the editor and founder of the Biddeford Gazette. He may be reached by email: randy@randyseaver.com
Never miss another update! Subscribe today for free!
Ryan Paige grew up in Biddeford, and he has now taken the worst part of his life and turned it into a resource that has helped hundreds of people achieve sobriety all across Maine.
Paige, 43, has been sober and drug-free since 2019. Flash forward six years, and he is now running a statewide non-profit organization dedicated to helping others achieve sobriety.
“I would not be able to do this if I hadn’t gone through all the pain and my own poor decision making,” he said. “My own past, including incarcerations and all sorts of other stuff, has allowed me to build a reserve of empathy for others who are struggling.”
As part of his own recovery process, Paige started an informal support network to help those who want to pursue recovery.
Ryan Paige talks about the recovery network that he built from the ground up (Seaver photo)
At first, it was just him and his cell phone, interacting with people he met on the street. People he knew. People his friends knew.
Over time, the calls increased . . . dramatically.
“It was just word of mouth,” he said during a recent interview. “I was just staying busy, focusing on helping others, which is a big part of the recovery process.”
Before he knew it, Paige was helping people by driving them to recovery facilities between Kittery and Caribou.
“In the beginning, I was getting maybe 20 calls a month from people seeking help in their own recovery journey,” he said. “Before too long, that turned into a hundred calls a month.”
Today, Paige’s non-profit organization fields between 800 and 1,000 calls per month.
The AccessDirect Recovery Network partners with several other non-profit service providers across the state, including Opportunity Alliance, Spurwink and the Seeds of Hope Neighborhood Resource Center. Paige said.
“Our phones are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” he said.
“I would not be able to do this if I hadn’t gone through all the pain and my own poor decision making,”
— Ryan Paige
Paige said he would not be able to do what he is now doing without the help of his wife, Cynthia.
“She’s the business part of it,” he explained. “She does all the office stuff and so much more.”
Ryan and Cynthia were able to transform AccessDirect into a stand-alone non-profit organization. From there, Cynthia was able to apply for grant money to help keep the network running.
“I was doing everything out of my own pocket,” Ryan explained.” The expenses can add up quickly.”
Just two months ago, AccessDirect was able to secure a $500,000 grant from the Maine Recovery Council, the agency that was charged with dispersing Maine’s share of the federal opiate settlement funds provided by several pharmaceutical companies.
Ryan and Cynthia are using that money to add staff for their inbound call center, which is based in Biddeford. They are now also able to reimburse mileage expenses for their volunteer drivers.
AccessDirect has worked closely with the Biddeford Police Department and the city of Biddeford.
Paige says he has been asked to help train police officers about dealing with addicts and those struggling to achieve sobriety.
He also credits former Mayor Alan Casavant and current Mayor Marty Grohman for helping his organization grow and provide services.
In fact, Paige says City Council President Liam LaFountain was proactive in reaching out to learn how the city could support the recovery network.
Paige feels a strong connection to his hometown of Biddeford, which is why his organization is headquartered in the city.
“This is where I grew up,” he said. “These are the same streets where I was using.”
“None of this would be possible if I hadn’t lived through the darkest time of my life,” Paige said. “I was sick, desperate and hopeless. Today, I can leverage that part of my life to help others who are struggling.
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.”
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.
————————-
Randy Seaver is the editor and founder of the Biddeford Gazette. He may be contacted by email: randy@randyseaver.com
NEVER MISS ANOTHER UPDATE!Subscribe for free today!
“And these children that you spit on As they try to change their worlds Are immune to your consultations They’re quite aware of what they’re going through”
Thirty-six is not the average age of Biddeford residents, it is the median age. Thus, half of all people living in the city are 36 and younger. Amazing!
How did this happen? How did an old mill town in Maine suddenly become such a dynamic and desirable place for young people?
According to research completed by the city’s department of economic development, this youthful energy is being largely driven by the revitalization of the city’s downtown area.
Photo: City of Biddeford, Greg Tansley
City officials point to “a significant influx” of young professionals and families moving here because of a “vibrant” downtown and a flourishing arts and food scene.
People are also coming to Biddeford because of its “affordable housing” options, especially in the downtown area.
Now, before you have a stroke or an aneurysm about what is (or what isn’t) “affordable” housing, take a deep breath and consider the following:
People who have lived here for a long time see their affordable housing options basically evaporate, most notably during the last decade – since the city was able to close MERC, our infamous downtown trash incinerator.
But newer residents – able to telecommute to their higher paying jobs in Boston, Portsmouth or Portland – see Biddeford as ripe for the picking. From their perspective, housing is super cheap in Biddeford, especially when compared to much of New England.
The bad news (and the good news) is that Biddeford is now hip and trendy; a desirable place to live. We are no longer “Trashtown, U.S.A.” as we were described not so long ago in a Portland Press Herald editorial.
We are not “Lewiston by the Sea” or all the other insulting names that have been slung toward our community for more than two centuries, when a wave of immigrants — searching for jobs and new opportunities — flocked to Biddeford from Quebec, Greece, Ireland and Albania.
Despite the fact that we are still a predominantly white community (91 percent), we were diverse long before diversity was a thing or so celebrated as a virtue.
Yes, the Klan tried to march here because they hate Catholics almost as much as they hate people of color.
“Biddo”: What say you?
Roughly 15 years ago, some people began using the word “Biddo” as slang to describe the city of Biddeford.
Many older residents get very riled up by that term. They see it as a put-down or at the very least as a lazy moniker for the city, much too close to the word “ghetto.”
More than a decade ago, I decided to examine this underlying current of resentment between “old” Biddeford and “new” Biddeford. You can find that story here: Biddeford: Thunderdome or Mr. Holland’s Opus?
When I was working on that piece, Roch Angers, a former city councilor, told me in no uncertain terms: “This is Biddeford, not Biddo. It has three syllables. Deal with it.”
Angers is “old school” Biddeford, like so many others who can trace their roots back to their Franco-speaking ancestors – the people who were instrumental in building this city.
As a native son, the word Biddo used to bug me too. Then again, I have a tendency to wear my heart on my sleeve.
“This is Biddeford, not Biddo. It has three syllables. Deal with it.”
— Roch Angers
Today, I am one of the admins on a community Facebook page, and I have to say, I see lots of examples where ‘Biddo’ can also be used as a term of an endearment, not just as an insult.
Consider this: does anyone get upset when people refer to the city of South Portland as “SoPo?” Or how about describing Kennebunkport as K’Port? Or closer to home, does anyone get frosty when the town of Old Orchard Beach is called “OOB?”
The young kids are just trying to be hip, and they are bringing their own vernacular to the larger conversation about our community.
Let’s embrace these new voices.
I cannot predict the future, but I can guarantee you one thing.
About 40 years from now, today’s young kids are going to be bemoaning the young kids of the future. They will complain about a lack of respect for your elders. It happens to every generation. Every generation.
We’re gonna be okay.
__________________
Randy Seaver is the editor and founder of the Biddeford Gazette. He may be contacted by email: randy@randyseaver.com
NEVER MISS ANOTHER UPDATE!Subscribe for free today!
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.
____________
Randy Seaver is the editor and founder of the Biddeford Gazette. He may be contacted by email: randy@randyseaver.com
NEVER MISS ANOTHER UPDATE!Subscribe for free today!
One of Biddeford’s best-known and respected political leaders has decided that she is going to seek one of the two at-large seats on the Biddeford City Council.
Lisa Vadnais, 64, has served on the Biddeford School Committee for 16 years, including four years as that board’s chair. Over the last few years, Vadnais has demonstrated strong popularity among Biddeford voters and political observers.
In the last two election cycles (2023 and 2021), no one candidate has earned more overall votes than Vadnais. In 2023, she earned 3,374 votes for school committee. The next highest vote-getter was At-Large Councilor Marc Lessard with 3,021 votes and Mayor Martin Grohman with 2,894 votes.
Lisa Vadnais (Contributed photo)
Two years earlier, Vadnais garnered 3,297 votes for her return to the school committee. The next highest vote-getter that year was former mayor Alan Casavant with 3,237 votes, easily fending off a challenge by Victoria Foley for a sixth consecutive term.
“I just think it’s time for me to open a seat on the school committee for someone new; someone who can bring a fresh perspective to the table,” Vadnais said while explaining her decision to leave the school committee.
Vadnais said she is running for the city council because she is concerned about several things happening in the city, most notably rapid growth of large-scale housing projects that do little to benefit people who grew up in the city.
“I just think we need to take a pause and carefully consider what direction we want for our city.”
–Lisa Vadnais
“We can’t just keep spending taxpayer money without understanding the impact that has on people who are struggling to make ends meet,” Vadnais said.
Vadnais spent 35 years as a special education teacher in local schools. Today, she describes herself as “semi-retired,” working for a heating fuel company that she and her husband have operated for many years.
“I am not a politician,” she said. “I grew up here, I just think we need to take a pause and carefully consider what direction we want for our city.”
According to the Biddeford City Clerk’s office, Vadnais is the only at-large candidate who has turned in qualifying nomination papers in order to appear on the November ballot.
Other candidates hoping for one of the two at-large seats include incumbent Marc Lessard, former school committee member Dominic Deschambault, and political newcomers Greg Shapiro and Sterling Roop.
Note: Once the nomination process is completed in early September, the Biddeford Gazette will be providing comprehensive reporting on all of the candidates.
——————-
Randy Seaver is the editor and founder of the Biddeford Gazette. He may be contacted by email: randy@randyseaver.com
NEVER MISS ANOTHER UPDATE!Subscribe for free today!
In reference to the old gas station sign located at the Five Points intersection:
Firstly, let me say that I love the idea as well as the submitted artwork. I can honestly say that as silly as it is, yes that sign is a landmark to the city as much as the mills are, in my opinion.
I have just one thought/concern. I know that it is being regarded as a project welcoming people to the city, but where that sign is, aren’t they theoretically already pretty far into the city?
Also, in reality, I am thinking that traffic driving by will be moving too fast to really appreciate the details in the new design. Add to that all of the existing wires and other infrastructure, I feel that maybe the sign will be shorted its due deserve.
Lastly, and this is kind of stupid but valid in this day and age. Suppose a truck tries to make that turn and screws the pooch, or an accident pushes a car into the pole. Who is footing the bill for the repairs? Would it be the city of the property owner?
I know that is hopefully a far-out idea, but you KNOW that sooner or later it will happen. And when it does, you know the lawyers and insurance companies will be fighting that one for years.
But as they say, don’t bring up a problem unless you can offer a solution, so here is my thought:
Take the whole sign, shorten the pole and move it to the corner down by Main Street and Mechanics Park (picture attached).
Rotate the sign so that the “blocks” are off to the left side, sort of facing traffic in both directions.
Following the design submitted by the artist, use one side coming into Biddeford to show 04005, and the side leaving Biddeford to show 04072. (When the sign is refurbished, place a blank in the center of the blocks so that the opposite sides don’t show through on each other.)
Instead of standard white lighting inside, line the internals with basic color changing LEDs so that during holidays and events, the sign can display in colors. (Example: red/green for Christmas, orange/purple for Halloween, red/white/blue for patriotic holidays, etc.
If you want to get really fancy, landscape a circular sitting area around the base with some benches and a plaque of some sort talking about the sign.
Lastly, thinking for the future, be sure to run extra electricity inside the pole and think about possibly adding (in the future) a permanent informational display board below the “blocks” more in the driver’s eyeline since so often we end up just placing a temporary sign on that patch of land anyway for parades, festivals, parking bans, etc.
Possibly Saco would throw some money at the project since it will display their zip as well and the informational sign in the future would be used to benefit both cities.
Oh, and my thoughts on painting the pole: some shade of standard Hunter Green or something to fit in with the park and local landscaping there.
I would also do what I can to aid in the project. I am sure the money set aside would fall short but I know we can find it somewhere.
The maintenance time saved over the years would be substantial I bet because you could use our own trucks and lifts to access the sign if it were shortened, as compared to needing a crane to access the top of the sign where it currently is.
I really feel that this is a great alternative to the current placement of the sign to pair with the sign’s new use: a great welcoming to the city — both cities, really.
Can you think of a better way to say “Welcome to our Main Street District”?
NOTE:James Krause is a resident of Biddeford. If you would like to submit a column or letter to the editor for publication in the Biddeford Gazette, please emailbiddefordgazette@gmail.com
The race to become Biddeford’s next mayor has now turned into a three-way contest.
City Council President Liam LaFountain told the Biddeford Gazette this week that he will give up his Ward Seven council seat to join the race for mayor.
LaFountain now joins fellow city councilor Norman Belanger in opposing incumbent Mayor Marty Grohman.
“I’ve had many conversations with neighbors across the city, and there’s a clear message coming through. Too many decisions are being made without enough accountability, and I agree,” LaFountain said. “City government exists to serve the public. People are frustrated because they feel unheard, and in recent years, we’ve drifted away from the kind of leadership that takes responsibility and delivers results. It’s time for a course correction.”
LaFountain, a former member of the city’s Recreation Commission, first joined the council in 2021. Two years later, he was unopposed for his reelection to represent Ward Seven. He then won a bid to become the council president (6-3) ousting Belanger from that role.
Liam LaFountain (File Photo)
“The public interest must be at the center of every decision Biddeford makes,” LaFountain said.
LaFountain, 28, is employed as a senior data analyst for Healthcare Purchaser Alliance, a non-profit organization headquartered in Falmouth. He grew up in Biddeford, and his father Llyod LaFountain served on the Biddeford School Committee and as a state senator in the late 1990s.
The younger LaFountain is often described by his peers and other political observers as “thoughtful, analytical, measured and hard-working.”
LaFountain said that his professional experience as a data analyst will help him bring a fact-based, detail-oriented approach to City Hall. “I know for sure that smart decisions start with good information,” he said.
In recent months, LaFountain has pointedly raised concerns about controversial development deals involving credit enhancements and tax increment financing, proposals that have drawn the ire of many residents.
“Pointing out only the good news doesn’t solve problems. The voters know we have serious problems, and they want hard facts.
True leadership is telling the truth about a difficult issue and then finding the best solution.”
“Voters are smart, and the last thing I’ll ever do is insult their intelligence,” LaFountain said. “Yes, Biddeford is a great city, yes, fantastic things have been happening here in the last decade, and yes, that will continue. But we can no longer gloss over the very real staffing, financial, and accountability challenges.
“Pointing out only the good news doesn’t solve problems,” he added. “The voters know we have serious problems, and they want hard facts. True leadership is telling the truth about a difficult issue and then finding the best solution.”
LaFountain said he is encouraged that he’s already drawing support from a wide range of Biddeford residents, people with different perspectives, experiences, and priorities, who also strongly agree that a fresh approach and much more transparency are needed.
“I’m getting tons of encouragement for the idea that Biddeford should work for the people, not around them,” he said. “Voters are not inconvenient obstacles, in fact, quite the contrary. I look to Biddeford residents as a source of wisdom for city officials, and we need their full participation as we get back to basics with honest conversations, thoughtful planning, and decisions that serve the public good.”
LaFountain said his goals include increasing public engagement, strengthening oversight of city operations, and upholding the city’s fiduciary responsibility to manage taxpayer resources wisely, while advancing priorities like recreation investment, capital infrastructure, and responsible development that serves Biddeford’s long-term interests.
“I want every resident and taxpayer to know that, in my opinion. we need to right this ship and guesswork isn’t good enough. Data analysis will get us to evidence-based, forward-thinking policies that prioritize the public good over narrow interests. I hope to win the support of every Biddeford voter who agrees with that,” LaFountain said.
LaFountain graduated from Cheverus High School in 2015 and then attended Gonzaga University, a Jesuit school in Washington state, where he earned a degree in international relations.
He and his partner, Eisha, have been married five years and live on Elm Street.
Note:The Biddeford Gazette previously reported that both Marty Grohman and Norman Belanger are running for the mayor’s seat in the upcoming election. The Gazette plans to continue its comprehensive coverage of this year’s election, and we will have future stories about all the candidates,
______________
Randy Seaver is the editor and founder of the Biddeford Gazette. He may be contacted by email: randy@randyseaver.com
NEVER MISS ANOTHER UPDATE!Subscribe for free today!
Several private mooring owners in Biddeford say they are being ignored by city leaders and will not move their moorings on the Saco River to accommodate the University of New England’s proposal to build a new pier for its research vessel.
The proposed pier would extend from UNE’s riverfront Biddeford campus toward the center of the river near the mouth of Saco Bay. The pier is designed to be roughly 130-foot-long with an 80 by 23-foot pier head section, a floating dock and gangway.
The pier’s location would displace at least two private moorings. But Paul Lariviere, the city’s harbormaster, says the university’s proposal would also adversely impact at least five other private moorings.
A view from the Saco side of the river where UNE wants to construct a large pier.
The mooring owners say they are frustrated and feeling as if they are being steamrolled by the city and other regulatory agencies.
“Nobody – no one – has talked to us about the impacts we’re going to be facing,” said Capt. Shawn Tibbetts, a commercial fisherman who has owned his mooring on the Saco River for 14 years. “No one will return my calls. No one is answering my questions or telling me what my next steps should be.”
Tibbets and others say they have tried contacting Mayor Marty Grohman, city officials including the former city manager and planning department personnel.
“We even called Senator [Susan] Collins’ office, and no one has even returned our calls,” Tibbets said.
Last week Tibbets and other mooring owners distributed a press release, essentially informing the city and the university that they will not move their mooring locations.
Biddeford Mayor Marty Grohman refused to answer any questions about the mooring owners who could be impacted by the university’s proposal.
Grohman sent the Gazette a terse email statement on Thursday.
“Based on the advice of the City Solicitor, Harry B. Center, I cannot respond to your question at this time,” Grohman wrote. “There is a pending application before the Planning Board. Following any final determination, the city will act in accordance with the law with regard to any subsequent steps.”
The university has indicated that they would like to begin construction of the new pier later this year, but it remains unclear about how they can proceed if the impacted moorings are not relocated.
Lariviere told the Gazette that he is the only person legally authorized to relocate moorings issued by the city of Biddeford. Lariviere also said he understands the concerns of the mooring owners and that he will not remove or relocate those moorings.
“There is no legal basis to remove those moorings,” Lariviere said, pointing to city ordinances, state law and long-standing maritime rules that have been in place for nearly 300 years.
“Unless the annual fees are not paid, or if the mooring is in disrepair; or preventing public access for fishing, fowling and navigation, my hands are tied,” Lariviere said. “I don’t care what the city manager says. I don’t report to the city manager. I report to the city council.”
AN ABSENCE OF LEADERSHIP?
The mooring stalemate comes at a time when new city manager Truc Dever is expected to begin her work on August 11; and while several city council and mayoral candidates are beginning their bi annual political campaigns.
Former city manager James Bennett – who is now suing the city – removed Lariviere from the review process of UNE’s proposal last year. At the time, Bennett said Lariviere was biased against UNE and that the city could face litigation if the pier proposal was denied.
“This whole thing has become a big cluster,” said John Shaefer, the former chair of Biddeford’s harbor commission. “Much of this would not be an issue and could have been resolved if city leaders had just stuck to a review process that is based in transparency and public engagement.”
Shafer said he was pleased by how the Planning Board has handled its review of the proposal.
“They [the planning board] did an awesome job,” Shafer said. “I was not happy with their decision, but they did an awfully good job and provided plenty of opportunity for public input.”
Shafer, however, also said he believes that the mayor has missed an opportunity to “be a leader and to advocate for all citizens.”
He [Mayor Grohman] is either too afraid or unable to lead.”
— John Schafer
A spokesperson for the university said it would not be appropriate for the university to comment on a matter regarding city policies and procedures.
“[We are] aware of two moorings that would need to be relocated if the pier is approved,” said Sarah Delage, associate vice president of communications for the university.
Delage said university officials met with the owners of one of the moorings in August 2024 but have not met with the owner of the second mooring because they have not been able to confirm that individual’s identity with any official information from the city.
“If the project is approved, the relocation of the impacted moorings would be the city’s responsibility, and it would not be appropriate for the university to speak on the city’s behalf about that process,” Delage added.
Lariviere said there is currently a list of more than 15 people waiting for an appropriate mooring location. “Even if I was willing to move them, where would I put them?” he asked.
Tom Hatch is a mooring owner who would be directly impacted by UNE’s proposal.
“Moving a mooring is not as easy as it might look,” Hatch explained. “Different vessels need different moorings. The size of the vessel, tide changes and many other factors impact moorings.”
Hatch also said he is frustrated by a lack of communication from the city. “We are being left in the dark,” he said.
Hatch owns a 29-foot vessel that requires a mooring location with a 65-foot diameter. He has owned his current mooring for a little more than four years. “Nobody from the city has reached out to me,” he said. “Nobody seems to care.”
________
Randy Seaver is the editor and founder of the Biddeford Gazette. He may be contacted by email: randy@randyseaver.com
NEVER MISS ANOTHER UPDATE!Subscribe for free today!
Several potential candidates have taken out qualifying nomination forms for mayor, city council and school committee races in Biddeford.
Some familiar names are hoping to make a political comeback, but there are also several people seeking office who have never served before.
Former City Councilors Roger Hurtubise, John McCurry and Bobby Mills are all hoping to return to the council. Former candidate Gregg Shapiro who ran for an at-large seat on the council in 2023 is making another run for that seat this year. Shapiro has also taken out papers for the Ward Six seat being vacated by Norman Belanger who will be running for mayor this year.
Bobby Mills/Facebook photo
Political newcomers Dominic Deschambault, David Kurtz, Jim LaBelle, Sterling Gray Roop and Abigail Woods have all expressed interest in city council seats. Deschambault has been previously elected to the school committee.
Current councilors Roger Beaupre, Dylan Doughty and Marc Lessard have all indicated that they will seek reelection.
Political heavyweight Lisa Vadnais — a current member of the school committee — has also taken out papers for one of two at-large seats on the council.
In the last two election cycles (2023 and 2021), no one candidate has earned more overall votes than Vadnais. In 2023, she earned 3,374 votes for school committee. The next highest vote-getter was At-Large Councilor Marc Lessard with 3,021 votes and Mayor Martin Grohman with 2,894 votes.
Two years earlier, Vadnais garnered 3,297 votes for her return to the school committee. The next highest vote-getter that year was former mayor Alan Casavant with 3,237 votes, easily fending off a challenge by Victoria Foley for a sixth consecutive term.
City Clerk Robin Patterson said her office will be making weekly updates regarding who has taken out papers and who has turned them in for verification. All elected positions in the city — including mayor, city council and school committee — are up for grabs.
In order to have their names on the November 4 ballot, all candidates must turn in their papers no later than 4p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025.
As of Tuesday, July 29, two candidates — Incumbent Martin Grohman and City Councilor Norman Belanger — have taken out papers for the mayor’s seat. Grohman is currently serving his first term and Belanger is a former council president.
CITY COUNCIL RACES:
Ward One. Incumbent Bill Emhiser will not seek a fourth term. Jim LaBelle, former director of the Biddeford-Saco Chamber of Commerce, has expressed interest in that seat, but has not yet taken out nomination forms, according to the city clerk’s office.
Ward Two: Incumbent Scott Whiting announced on social media that he will not seek a third term. Former city council president John McCurry told the Gazette last week that he will seek a return to the council. Abigail Woods, a former city employee, announced on Facebook that she will also seek the seat. Both McCurry and Woods have taken out papers but not returned them.
Former Council President John McCurry, hoping to return to the Ward Two seat.
Ward Three: Incumbent Roger Beaupre is looking for a second term and has already submitted his nomination papers. So far, no other candidates have expressed interest in that seat.
Ward Four: Former Councilor Bobby Mills is once again hoping to make a political comeback. Mills resigned his council seat just four months after the last election, following an interaction with the Biddeford Police Department. Mills also resigned his position as York County Treasurer.
Just days after submitting his resignation, Mills tried to rescind that decision, saying he was pressured by Mayor Marty Grohman to resign. Grohman adamantly denied that claim. Dylan Doughty, a former Planning Board member, was unopposed in a special election to replace Mills. Doughty is hoping to keep the Ward Four seat.
Mills has already turned in his nomination forms.
Political Newcomer Abigail Woods is seeking the Ward 2 seat
Ward Five: Incumbent Neva Gross said she will not seek re-election after being appointed by Mayor Grohman to replace former councilor Julian Schalver who resigned the seat in April 2024. Dominic Deschambault submitted his name for consideration, but Grohman instead chose Gross to fill the seat.
Deschambault has been active in Biddeford policy for more than a decade. He previously served on the school committee; and was chair of the Biddeford Housing Authority’s board of directors. Deschambault also served on the Charter Revision Commitee, Capital Improvements and the Downtown Parking Committee.
Dominic Deschambault has taken out papers for Ward 5 and At-Large
Deschambault also took out papers for an at-large seat on the City Council. He told the Gazette Tuesday that he is not yet sure which seat he will pursue
David Kurtz, a Biddeford attorney and member of the city’s Waste Management Commission, said he has been attending council meetings for the last several months and would like to be more involved in the city’s policy making arena.
Ward Six: Former Councilor Roger Hurtubise is hoping to return to the council. Incumbent Norman Belanger is giving up the seat in order to run for mayor. Hurtubise has already turned in his nomination forms. Gregg Shapiro who ran unsuccessfully for an at-large seat on the council two years ago– has taken out papers for both Ward Six and at-large.
Ward Seven: City Council President Liam LaFountain has not yet taken out nomination forms.
At Large: There is a crowded field for the two available at-large seats. Marc Lessard is hoping to keep his seat. Incumbent Doris Ortiz will not be seeking reelection.
In addition to Deschambault, Lessard, Shapiro and Vadnais, Sterling Gray Roop of Pinewood Circle, has taken out nomination forms for one of the two at-large seats.
Today, July 24, is the first day that political hopefuls in Biddeford can take out nomination forms in order to have their names on the November 4 ballot.
Every local office is up for grabs: mayor, city council, school committee and ward clerks.
I have been covering Biddeford politics for 30 years, and I always look forward to this day and all the inside-baseball stuff that is going on behind the scenes.
This morning, I received no fewer than 22 text messages from people wondering about who is running and who is not. They want the latest scoop, the latest gossip.
NEW BOSS, NEW RULES
Traditionally, pesky reporters and political observers were able to get updated information daily from the City Clerk’s office, but that tradition ended two years after Robin Patterson was sworn in as city clerk.
Patterson is putting a new procedure in place. She will update a list each Tuesday of candidates who have turned in qualifying nomination forms. This procedure, Patterson told me, meets all state requirements and makes it fair for all involved.
While I miss the informality of just popping into City Hall to get the latest scoop about who is running, Patterson’s new process does strike me as a fair compromise and will likely cut down on the rumor mill about who is running for what.
INSIDE BASEBALL
Traditionally, the nomination process was akin to a city-wide poker tournament, like a game of Stratego gone haywire.
Some candidates would pull out three or more nomination forms just to throw others off their game. In the late 1990s, it was not uncommon to see candidates simultaneously pull papers for mayor, council, at-large and school committee.
And then? Christmas morning, usually near Labor Day: the deadline day for submitting one set of nomination papers per candidate.
Yes, I miss the old days, but I also think City Clerk Patterson is making the right move. It may be a game for me and some others, but it is serious work for the person entrusted to making sure that our election processes are held to the very highest standards.
All that said, if you want the all the latest updates, you can count on the Biddeford Gazette. We have created a new page dedicated to the 2025 municipal elections in Biddeford. We will update this page as soon as new information becomes available. In fact, we have created a spreadsheet that you can view or download to get the very last updates.
This morning, former city council president John McCurry said he will seek to recapture his Ward Two Seat. Incumbent City Councilors Roger Beaupre (W3) and Dylan Doughty (W4) said they will seek reelection.
To all those stepping forward — or about to step forward — thank you for your willingness to serve.
______________
Randy Seaver is the editor and founder of the Biddeford Gazette. He may be contacted by email: randy@randyseaver.com
NEVER MISS ANOTHER UPDATE!Subscribe for free today!
BIDDEFORD GAZETTE 