Tag: Marty Grohman

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.

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 at randy@randyseaver.com

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UNE pier opponents ramp up their efforts

~ Randy Seaver ~ 5 Comments

Even as the University of New England begins construction of its controversial research pier, opponents of the project are ramping up their own efforts and raising new concerns about how the City of Biddeford handled its review of the project.

A group of Biddeford residents are now circulating a petition to require the mayor and city council members to host a citizens’ grievance meeting.

This aerial photo from UNE shows where the university is planning to construct its new research pier

According to the city’s charter, any Biddeford resident can force the council to publicly hear their concerns during a meeting in which only the citizens are allowed to speak if they can collect at least 100 signatures from registered voters.

Carole Alexander is one of the key organizers of the proposed Citizen Grievance meeting.

Alexander is the wife of the late Marshall Alexander who served as the city’s harbor master for 37 years. She says her husband proposed an alternate location for UNE’s pier more than 10 years ago.

“I’m angry,” Alexander said. “The city has bungled the entire process and the truth has been distorted. First, they removed our harbormaster, and now they are going after a planning board member who raised concerns. It’s time for citizens to stand up.”

RELATED: Planning Board member: ‘Something Smells Fishy”

Alexander says she is more than confident that her group can collect more than 100 signatures in order to force the meeting.

Meanwhile, questions are now being raised about the law firm that the city hired to represent the Zoning Board of Appeals and some potential conflict of interest issues.

Following the Planning Board’s approval of the university’s pier project, John Schafer – one of the project’s most vocal opponents — filed an appeal of that decision with the city’s Zoning Board of Appeals.

Schafer said that he and several other residents are appealing the planning board’s decision because it hinges largely on one central point: whether the university’s plan required the expressed approval of a harbor master.

“All I can hope for is that the zoning board will send this item back to the planning board,” Schafer said. “The planning board got bad information about whether a harbormaster approved the project.”

During the planning board’s review of the proposed pier, City Attorney Harry Center repeatedly told the board that the project had been approved by a harbormaster.

This audio clip of a discussion between Planning Board Chair Alexa Plotkin and Center during one of the Planning Board’s meetings shows that the role and definition of the harbormaster was a central issue of the board’s review.

RELATED: Planning Board approves UNE pier proposal

But Schafer and others point to the city’s own ordinances and say the private engineer who was hired to replace the city’s harbormaster does not meet the definition of a harbormaster from both city and state regulations.

According to city ordinances, a harbormaster must meet specific requirements to hold that title, including being a “city resident for no less than five years; must have five years of marine experience and must attend annual Maine Harbormasters Association training.”

Center, however, argues that the engineer hired by the city only needs to “facilitate” the review process and ensure that other local, state and federal agencies have approved the project.

But opponents say the city’s ordinances are crystal clear in what defines a ‘harbormaster’ and what his or her responsibilities are.

Section 74-35 of Biddeford’s ordinances reads: “Permission for the construction of any new wharf or pier within the jurisdictional limits of the city shall not be granted without approval of the Harbormaster, along with federal, state and local governing authorities.”

“The planning board never heard from an actual harbormaster,” Schafer said. “That’s a big oversight that needs to be addressed.”

More conflicts of interest?

Earlier this month, the city hired Archipelago Law, a small Portland-based law firm to represent the Zoning Board of Appeals.

Former city councilor Kyle Noble says that particular firm has several conflicts of interest issues because four of the firm’s 12 employees graduated from the University of New England’s Marine Sciences program.

Keith Richard, the attorney who will be representing the Zoning Board, refused to comment for this story.

Mayor Marty Grohman declined to comment on the matter because it is a pending legal issue for the city.

Council President Liam LaFountain also said he could not comment directly on the story, but did indicate that he is hoping to learn more about the firm and why they were chosen.

In an email response to Schafer, City Manager Truc Dever wrote: “While I cannot speak to your assertions regarding potential conflicts of interest, I will be looking into this in advance of the appeals hearing to ensure there is, in fact, no conflict.”

Next steps?

A UNE spokesperson said the university is currently searching for a contractor and has initiated a bid process for the project.

Sarah Delage, Associate Vice President of Communications, said an actual construction schedule has not yet been established and that the university will need a building permit from the city’s code enforcement officer.

“The total work can be done in six to eight months,” Delage said, pointing out that both the land portion of the project and the water portion can be done in phases, as opposed to concurrently.

Delage said the university has not reached out to mooring owners who may be impacted by the project, saying that responsibility rests with city officials.

Delage also said the university will periodically update construction information on the school’s website.

The Zoning Board of Appeals hearing has been set for October 9 and residents who are now gathering signatures for a Grievance meeting with the council say they expect to have more than the required number of signatures they need within a few days.

Editor’s Note: A copy of the citizens petition may be viewed or downloaded using the link below:

General MeetingDownload

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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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A new bridge between Biddeford and Saco?

~ Randy Seaver ~ 1 Comment

It is a community project that has been in the “conceptual phase” for nearly two decades, but now the conversation about a new ‘multimodal’ bridge connecting the cities of Biddeford and Saco is once again bubbling to the surface.

On Tuesday, the Biddeford City Council will hear a proposal about the multimodal bridge that would connect Saco Island to the planned Pearl Point Park in Biddeford.

Representatives from the city of Saco and the Maine Department of Transportation will update the council about the project, a plan that will likely cost millions of dollars and require federal funding to complete.

The concept for a new bridge (City of Saco)

“It is an exciting concept,” said Biddeford City Council President Liam LaFountain. “But obviously, this is something that the two cities cannot take on alone. We would new federal and state funding.”

Although there is already a pedestrian bridge connecting the two cities closer to the Saco River falls, the new bridge is designed to be more user friendly

Creating a link between Saco and Biddeford is a long-term goal that has been identified in Saco’s comprehensive plans since 2011.

The new bridge is designed to improve walkability; promote equitable access to public transit and help alleviate traffic congestion by creating a shift away from personal vehicle use.

Proponents of the project also say the new bridge will encourage further economic development near the downtown core shared by both cities.

“It really is a very interesting project,” said Saco Mayor Jodi MacPhail. “We’ve been talking about this for a long time. It’s nice to see some forward momentum.”

MacPhail said the project has been an ongoing topic of conversation between the two cities during past joint workshop meetings.

She said conversation about the bridge “sort of fizzled” because former Biddeford City Manager James Bennett did not view the project as a priority.

Joint meetings between the two communities slowed for a period of time until both MacPhail and Biddeford’s Marty Grohman were elected as their respective city’s mayor in 2023.

“We’ve been talking about this
for a long time. It’s nice
to see some forward momentum.”

–Saco Mayor Jodi MacPhail

Today, both Grohman and MacPhail say the cities have an “excellent working relationship.”

The project is expected to cost roughly $5.5 million to construct. If the two cities decide to move forward and apply for federal funding, the project could start construction as soon as 2028.

“I think we can get back on track, and continue looking at things we can do together,” MacPhail said. “When you step back and look at it, we really are joined at the hip and one community.”

Disclosure: Saco Mayor Jodi MacPhail is the step-sister of Biddeford Gazette editor Randy Seaver.

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

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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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BHS Champions recognized by city leaders

~ Randy Seaver ~ 1 Comment

The Biddeford City Council Chamber came alive with excitement Tuesday as members of the state champion high school baseball team filed into the room amidst a buzz of respect and admiration.

Biddeford Mayor Marty Grohman said, “today is a proud day for Biddeford,” as the players and coaches stood against the wall, holding the giant golden-baseball glove trophy.

Players and coaches from the 2025 State Championship Biddeford Tigers Baseball Team pose with Biddeford Mayor Marty Grohman and members of the city council (Seaver photo)

On June 21 this year, the BHS Tigers rallied from two three-run deficits to beat Mt. Ararat and win their first state championship since 1984.

During a previous interview with the Gazette, Coach Keith LeBlanc described his team, which includes seven seniors, as “battle-tested” and always ready to play their hearts out.

On Tuesday, LeBlanc once again referred to his players as “some of the hardest working young men I have ever met.”

LeBlanc pointed out that his team was also recognized with the statewide Sportsmanship Award. “That is something that is pretty impressive,” LeBlanc told the crowd. “Generally, that award is given to a team that has put in a lot of effort but came up short in the playoffs.”

Team Captain Landon Sirois presents Mayor Grohman with a jersey featuring the signatures of every member of the Championship Team (Seaver Photo)

From across the room, someone yelled out. “Don’t forget to mention you were named as coach of the year!”

“The community support we received was nothing less than amazing,” LeBlanc told the mayor and council. “It is something I will never forget.”

Councilor Neva Gross described her excitement while watching the state championship game. “We were all so pumped,” she said. “We had so much fun, cheering them on, and Marty was right there, keeping the fans focused and excited,” she said, gesturing toward the mayor.

The entire team and all the coaches posed for a photo with the mayor and council.

On her way out of the chamber, one person was heard, saying, “I’m just so damn proud of these boys. They worked so hard for this.”

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

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LaFountain joins mayoral race in Biddeford

~ Randy Seaver ~ 2 Comments

By RANDY SEAVER, Editor

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.

Biddeford City Council President Liam LaFountain is the second candidate to announce that he will challenge first-term incumbent Mayor Marty Grohman (Photo: City of Biddeford)

“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.”

— Liam LaFountain

He has also pushed for stronger financial accountability after Biddeford received sobering results from a recent fiscal audit in June.

“Voters are smart, and the last thing I’ll ever do is insult their intelligence,” LaFountain said.  “Yes, Biddeford is a great city, yes, fantastic things have been happening here in the last decade, and yes, that will continue. But we can no longer gloss over the very real staffing, financial, and accountability challenges.

“Pointing out only the good news doesn’t solve problems,” he added. “The voters know we have serious problems, and they want hard facts. True leadership is telling the truth about a difficult issue and then finding the best solution.”

LaFountain said he is encouraged that he’s already drawing support from a wide range of Biddeford residents, people with different perspectives, experiences, and priorities, who also strongly agree that a fresh approach and much more transparency are needed.

“I’m getting tons of encouragement for the idea that Biddeford should work for the people, not around them,” he said.  “Voters are not inconvenient obstacles, in fact, quite the contrary. I look to Biddeford residents as a source of wisdom for city officials, and we need their full participation as we get back to basics with honest conversations, thoughtful planning, and decisions that serve the public good.”

LaFountain said his goals include increasing public engagement, strengthening oversight of city operations, and upholding the city’s fiduciary responsibility to manage taxpayer resources wisely, while advancing priorities like recreation investment, capital infrastructure, and responsible development that serves Biddeford’s long-term interests.

“I want every resident and taxpayer to know that, in my opinion. we need to right this ship and guesswork isn’t good enough. Data analysis will get us to evidence-based, forward-thinking policies that prioritize the public good over narrow interests. I hope to win the support of every Biddeford voter who agrees with that,” LaFountain said.

LaFountain graduated from Cheverus High School in 2015 and then attended Gonzaga University, a Jesuit school in Washington state, where he earned a degree in international relations.

He and his partner, Eisha, have been married five years and live on Elm Street.

Note: The Biddeford Gazette previously reported that both Marty Grohman and Norman Belanger are running for the mayor’s seat in the upcoming election. The Gazette plans to continue its comprehensive coverage of this year’s election, and we will have future stories about all the candidates,

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

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Old faces, new faces vying for office in Biddeford

~ Randy Seaver ~ 1 Comment

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.

For the latest updates, please visit the Gazette’s special section: Biddeford Elections 2025

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

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Biddeford’s political landscape is heating up

~ Randy Seaver ~ Leave a comment

By RANDY SEAVER, editor

A little more than 24 hours before nomination papers are available from the City’s Clerk’s office, and the landscape for this year’s municipal election in Biddeford is already taking shape.

As we first reported on July 11, Incumbent Marty Grohman is hoping for a second term but will face a challenge from Ward Six Councilor Norman Belanger, a former council president who says the city “needs strong leadership.”

Ward One Councilor William Emhiser told the Gazette that he will not seek a fourth term on the council.

Ward One City Councilor William Emhiser (City photo)

Emhiser said he is supporting former Chamber of Commerce executive director Jim LaBelle for the seat. Although the Gazette spoke to LaBelle last week, he has yet to confirm his decision to run.

“Jim is a terrific guy and the right person to take over my seat,” Emhiser said of LaBelle during a brief interview Tuesday. “Jim knows Biddeford, and he brings both passion and integrity to the table.”

LaBelle, a close friend of Mayor Grohman, said he would only run for the seat if Emhiser declined to seek a fourth term

.

Jim LaBelle, former director of the Biddeford + Saco Chamber of Commerce and Industry, is a likely candidate for Ward One

During the last council meeting, Grohman paused the meeting to express a sentiment of appreciation for LaBelle and “his hard work” during a seven-year tenure as the Chamber’s executive director.

Emhiser said he has enjoyed his six years on the council and had high praise for his fellow councilors. “We’re a diverse bunch, but we’ve always been willing to work together and pulling in the same direction.”

At-large Councilor Doris Ortiz told the Gazette last week that she will also not seek another term on the council. Ortiz has served on the council for three terms, beginning in 2019.

At-Large City Councilor Doris Ortiz will not seek reelection (City Photo)

Ward Five Councilor Neva Gross told the Gazette that she also will not seek a return to her seat. Gross was appointed to the council by the mayor after former councilor Julian Schlaver announced that he was resigning in April 2024.

Gross said that she and her partner are looking for real estate that will likely be outside of the Ward Five boundaries.

Abigail Woods, a former city employee, has said on social media that she is interested in the Ward Two council seat now occupied by Scott Whiting. There is no word on whether Whiting will seek reelection for a third term.

Abigail Woods announced on Facebook that she will seek the Ward Two Council seat

Former Ward Six City Councilor Roger Hurtubise told the Gazette that he will be running for the Ward Six seat being vacated by Belanger.

Hurtubise said he is especially concerned about city spending and back-to-back property tax hikes.

“This council needs people who are going to look out for the taxpayers,” Hurtubise said. “I watch all the meetings, and I shake my head at some of the stuff I see,” he said.

Roger Hurtubise is hoping to return to his former Ward Six Council seat

Other potential candidates have said they are watching the political landscape closely and still deciding whether to toss their hats into the ring, including both the mayor’s seat and council seats.

Nomination papers for all open positions will be available, beginning July 24, at the City Clerk’s office.

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

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NEWSLETTER: Summer In the City

~ Randy Seaver ~ Leave a comment

Hopefully, you are all enjoying the beautiful weather this week! I am on semi-vacation, pinging back and forth between our campsite at Rangeley Lake and Biddeford.

No matter where you find yourself, this is a good week to be living in Maine.

This is also a very good week for those of us who closely follow local politics.

WELCOME TO BIDDEFORD POLITICS

Every two years, Biddeford voters select a mayor, city councilors and school committee members.

If you’re considering running for one of these positions, you first need to take out nomination papers and get the required number of signatures to place your name on the November ballot.

You should also read this piece I published last week regarding the pitfalls and benefits of public service.

This will be the Biddeford Gazette’s first election season, but I have been watching and reporting on this city’s local elections for nearly 30 years, and I can guarantee you the Gazette will be providing comprehensive coverage and the latest daily updates.

We are already running down information, including all the latest developments: reports of former councilors seeking a return; new faces considering a run, and incumbents who may or may not seek reelection.

There are already two candidates vying to be the city’s next mayor: Incumbent Marty Grohman and Councilor Norman Belanger. I would not be surprised to see some other people toss their hats into the ring. Stay tuned, and we’ll have some fun!

Nomination papers will be available beginning Thursday (July 24) at the City Clerk’s office.

A BIG MILESTONE

When Laura and I decided to formally start the Biddeford Gazette in January, we told ourselves we would not invest too much money into the venture and would wait six months before committing more time or resources.

Last week, the Gazette hit that six-month marker, and I am very proud of what we have accomplished so far.

The Gazette is not about me. The Gazette is about Biddeford, and our mission has not changed. We believe the city of Biddeford and its people deserve a dedicated, community-driven news source, something that has been missing for a few years now.

Over the last six months, the Biddeford Gazette has published 81 news stories, many of which were exclusive and most were reported days and even weeks before other media outlets filed reports.

We have also published 14 feature stories and seven “Community Voices” stories, which are written or submitted to us by other community members. That’s the part we’re really hoping to grow as we move forward.

WHAT’S NEXT?

We have started a new business section, a rudimentary community calendar — and beginning this week we will launch our newest feature, FLUFF PIECES – a project we are doing in partnership with the Animal Welfare Society to feature a different pet available for adoption each week.

We received hundreds of clever and funny suggestions from the community about the naming of this new section. Thank you to all who offered so many very cool suggestions!

I am especially pleased to announce that we are also now in the process of putting together a seven-member community advisory board.

If the Gazette is going to truly serve the community, it must have the pulse of the people who live, work and play here. We need and want constructive feedback from the community. We want to hear a diversity of new ideas and suggestions.

I think that’s more than enough for one newsletter. Get out there and enjoy Maine’s beaches, lakes and public parks. Be safe and have fun!

As always, thank you for reading!

—Randy Seaver, editor

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Biddeford voters could face $47 million bond package

~ Randy Seaver ~ 1 Comment

Biddeford voters could be asked to approve more than $47 million in municipal bonds to support ongoing sewer separation work and improvements to the city’s parks and recreational facilities.

During their July 15 meeting, city councilors discussed the prospect of an overall spending package intended to address items that would be much more costly if they were to be funded through the regular budget.

According to Acting City Manager Brian Phinney, the city will likely need to spend as much as $100 million over the next decade to continue state-mandated sewer separation projects.

(Photo courtesy of Associated Press)

The city is currently under a consent agreement with the Maine Department of Environmental Protection.

The city could face significant state and federal penalties if it fails to fund those sewer projects, Phinney told the council. Potential penalties could run as high as $10,000 per day.

Phinney said that in the near term, the city will need approximately $40 million to address the most pressing sections of the overall sewer separation work that needs to be done, as outlined in the consent agreement with the state.

Several councilors said they are concerned that voters might reject the bond because of its hefty price tag.

“We’re in this situation because prior
councils – if you go back decades –
didn’t make those investments.”

— Liam LaFountain

One option that many councilors seemed to favor was to break the $40 million into four separate bond questions or the ability to stagger the withdrawal of bond funds from their designated accounts.

According to Councilor William Emhiser, the impact of a $40 million bond would be approximately $350 per year for the average homeowner, based on an average $382,000 home.

Mayor Marty Grohman pointed out that current interest rates are running between 5.5 and six percent.

“It’s not fun to spend money on these types of projects,” said Council President Liam LaFountain. “But we really don’t have a choice. We have to do these projects. It’s the responsible thing to do, and we’re in this situation because prior councils – if you go back decades – didn’t make those investments.”

Most councilors agreed that a voter education effort will be critical in order to get the bonds approved at the Nov. 4 municipal election.

In a later discussion, LaFountain raised the idea of another bond package to support long overdue improvements and upgrades to the city’s recreational facilities, including Mayfield Park, Clifford Park, Rotary Park, Shevenell Park and the J. Richard Martin Community Center.

“It may seem like a lot, and it is,” said Councilor Marc Lessard. “But people ask us for these things, whether it’s a new skatepark or a Splash Pad. Now it’s going to be up to the people to decide if they want to spend the money on these items.

Councilor Doris Ortiz said she liked the idea of doing recreation funding through a bond package.

“I think it’s a good idea because there never seems to be enough funding for these needed items when get to the annual budget process,” she said.

The council is expected to vote at its next meeting scheduled for August 5 on whether to send the bond requests to voters in November.

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

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OPINION: A missed opportunity for leadership

~ Randy Seaver ~ 1 Comment

According to his Facebook campaign page, Biddeford Mayor Marty Grohman is “feeling frustrated” about being called out for not disclosing some relevant campaign donations made to his mayoral campaign nearly two years ago.

Apparently, Marty still doesn’t get why I mentioned his failure to disclose those donations in my story about a large-scale development that was approved by the city council during its June 17, 2025 meeting.

Allow me to explain.

Just a few weeks ago, Biddeford Planning Board Member Susan Deschambault made a point of offering a public disclosure even before the planning board was set to begin considering an application from the University of New England to build a controversial pier on the Saco River.

Biddeford Mayor Marty Grohman (Facebook photo)

Deschambault knew that the project had created controversy. She knew that both opponents and proponents of the project were sitting in the room, all waiting to see how the board was going to tackle the issue.

She began the meeting by saying she thought it was important for everyone to know that she had been a student at the university, even though it was many years ago – back when the school was then called St. Francis College.

Does anyone really think that Deschambault may be biased about the pier project simply because she went to college at the Biddeford campus nearly 50 years ago? No. Of course not.

But to her credit, Deschambault just wanted to make sure that everyone at the table was aware of a fact that was already a matter of public record.

Unless you have been living under a rock for the past year, most people know that Biddeford has been facing some serious “red-flag issues” at City Hall. Public confidence in local government is not exactly overflowing.

Just minutes before the mayor provided his tie breaking votes regarding the proposed development project, the council and public heard a scathing report from an independent accounting firm about the city’s two-year overdue audit.

The accounting firm said they found “several serious deficiencies,” including how the city handles cash reconciliations and federal grant monies.

Furthermore, Mayor Grohman stalled this reporter, only reluctantly confirming information about the former city manager and his lawsuit against the city, not to mention the city’s counter claims.

This is all stuff that has come to light in just the past 30 days, never mind the upcoming stories or the last several months of various problems at City Hall.

Let’s be real. Grohman only received about $391 from the developers who came before the council on June 17. Those donations happened two years ago. There was no way for the developers to know that Grohman would be in a position to break several tie votes.

There is no criminal conspiracy here. After selling his company several years ago, Grohman is financially speaking quite comfortable. To think that his votes could be bought for less than $500 is laughable.

But that’s not the point.

There was absolutely NOTHING wrong about Marty accepting those donations. There was absolutely NOTHING wrong in how the mayor chose to exercise his rare voting power. Honestly, I would have probably voted the same way.

Marty’s mistake was one of poor leadership.
If he had just briefly mentioned
the small donations he had received
two years ago, we would not
be having this conversation today.

Marty’s mistake was one of poor leadership. If he had just briefly mentioned the small donations he had received two years ago, we would not be having this conversation today.

Maine voters are vigilant about government transparency. We have a “clean elections” law and rigorous reporting requirements even for local candidates.

Campaign finance reports are not intended to just “check the box” and then reside in the bottom of a dusty file cabinet. Sure, they are public records, but the public relies on the media and other observers to stay on top of those issues.

Given the current atmosphere at City Hall; given the magnitude and benefits of the development project, Grohman should have simply disclosed that he received donations from the very same developers sitting in the room.

Susan Deschambault understood the importance of integrity and leadership. Sadly, Mayor Grohman missed this point.

I think we’re all “feeling frustrated.”

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

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EXCLUSIVE: Belanger will run for mayor in Biddeford

~ Randy Seaver ~ 2 Comments

Biddeford City Councilor Norman Belanger confirmed Friday that he will be running against Mayor Marty Grohman to become the city’s next mayor.

Belanger, 68, has served on the council since 2017, including two years as council president.

When asked why he is running, Belanger said: “The city needs strong leadership, and I believe I am the best candidate for the job.”

City Councilor Norman Belanger (City photo)

Belanger describes himself as a semi-retired attorney.

I want the city to be
the best it can possibly be.”

— Norman Belanger

A 1982 graduate of Harvard Law School, Belanger currently works at Verrill Dana, a well-known, prominent law firm in Portland.

“This campaign has the same basic themes as my previous campaigns,” Belanger said. “I want the city to be the best it can possibly be.”

Grohman, elected in 2023, told the Gazette last week that he will be seeking a second term,

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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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Tempers flare at city council meeting

~ Randy Seaver ~ 2 Comments

Mayor breaks several tied votes

Although the Biddeford City Council recently approved the creation of more than 150 housing units, several people who watched the June 17 Biddeford City Council meeting said they were “stunned” by the raw emotion and frustration on display by councilors and others who attended the meeting.

The rather tense, marathon meeting lasted more than six hours, ending shortly after midnight on June 18.

The meeting included discussion of a planned affordable housing development near the Pearl Street parking garage; a mixed-use development of three phases planned for the other side of the garage; and a joint development agreement for the ongoing redevelopment of the Marble Block building on Main Street, where a street-level bowling alley is scheduled to open later this summer.

Absence of disclosure

Mayor Marty Grohman — who appeared quite frustrated at several points in the meeting — was able to cast the deciding vote on a number of key issues that favored the developers, including an investment group known as 3 Lincoln LLC, which is planning a large-scale, mixed-use development near the site of the former Maine Energy trash-to-energy incinerator on Pearl Street.

Councilor Roger Beaupre was out of town with an excused absence. During rigorous and often emotional discussion, the remaining eight city councilors found themselves evenly split (4-4) on several key votes regarding development projects.

Council rules allow the mayor to vote only to break a tie.

Mayor Grohman received campaign
donations from the same developers
who appeared before the council
for approval of their projects,
according to campaign finance reports

During his votes, Grohman did not provide any disclosure or a brief statement regarding contributions made to his 2023 mayoral campaign by many of the very same developers who appeared that evening before the council.

According to campaign finance reports, Jim Brady one of the developers tied to the 3 Lincoln, LLC project, donated $100 to Grohman’s first bid to become mayor.

Although Grohman received several other donations—many of which were of greater amounts, the second round of required campaign finance reports showed that he also received contributions from others directly tied to the 3 Lincoln, LLC project, including Brian Eng of Portland ($191.70) and Marieke Thormann ($100.)

“It’s a reported donation, and it didn’t influence my vote one way or the other,” Grohman told the Gazette during a follow-up interview. “It has absolutely no relation to anything.”

In fact, Grohman said he was proud of the meeting’s outcomes, saying he is “excited” about the prospect of new development near the city’s core.

“The city doesn’t build anything, we simply till the soil,” the mayor said. “I do support all the efforts to make the pathway clearer and more consistent for future projects.”

Grohman pointed to the condominiums being proposed by 3 Lincoln, LLC as a coup for the city of Biddeford. The starting price for those condominiums with a river view will be $280,000, according to the developers.

“We pulled off a hell of a project,” Grohman said. “Where in southern Maine can you buy a brand-new home with a river view for $280,000?”

“The city doesn’t build anything,
we simply till the soil.”

— Mayor Marty Grohman

Grohman told the Gazette that it’s critical for the city to address the need for workforce housing to meet the region’s employment needs, including teachers, nurses and police officers.

Concerns raised, frustrations vented

Several councilors – including those who voted in support of the developers’ positions – also complained about a council process that is often chaotic, pressure-driven and last minute.

“I don’t want to ever have
a meeting like this again,”

–– Councilor Dylan Doughty

Councilor Dylan Doughty – a former Planning Board member – expressed frustration about an ongoing pattern of last-minute maneuvering presented to the council as crucial, time-sensitive matters that need immediate approval.

“We don’t really have a strategy to develop affordable housing,” Doughty said. “What we’re doing is piecemeal, and we are effectively knee-capping other potential developers.”

Doughty ultimately supported many of the proposals that came before the council during the meeting, but said his patience was at an end.

“I don’t want to ever have a meeting like this again,” Doughty said from the council dais. “Many times, we are getting information only hours before the meeting. I find this approach and the delay of information to be demeaning, patronizing and incredibly insulting.”

At-large councilor Doris Ortiz, however, said she empathized with developers such as Westbrook Development Corp., a non-profit organization that wants to build as many as 80 units of affordable housing for those over the age of 55.

“This makes me ridiculously uncomfortable,
This is not a good look for the city.”

— City Council President Liam LaFountain

She also praised Fathom Development, the company behind the 3 Lincoln, LLC project.

“They (Fathom) have been very gracious and accommodating,” Ortiz said, pointing to the fact that Fathom was willing to make changes to the plan and working closely, in-tandem, with Westbrook Development on the construction of affordable housing units.

“We have an incredible opportunity tonight,” Ortiz said. “And they (Fathom) are taking all the hits.”

Council President Liam LaFountain offered a sometimes scathing and emotional critique of several items that came before the council, most notably the plans for a mixed-use commercial development that would also include market-rate condominiums that would sell for an average of $450,000.

Taxpayers are still paying off a $6.5 million
bond that was used to purchase the
former MERC site.
The city will continue making $350,000
annual payments for the property,
despite selling the parcel to developers
for one dollar.

Taxpayers are still paying off a $6.5 million bond that was used to purchase the former MERC site. The city will continue making $350,000 annual payments for the property, despite selling the parcel to developers for one dollar.

“I have always supported every credit-enhancement agreement for affordable housing because it is a good goal,” LaFountain said. “But we can’t be expected to do deals when they just don’t make sense.”

LaFountain pointed out that the city spent $6.5 million for the former MERC site in 2012. Today, city taxpayers are shelling out roughly $330,000 in annual debt service for that property, a payment arrangement that is scheduled to continue until 2033.

The city has now offered to sell that parcel of land to Westbrook Development for $1. LaFountain raised concerns about what could happen if the developers chose to walk away from the project. “Once we give up the land, it’s gone,” he said.

RELATED: Council pauses on major development project

Later in the meeting, while seeking some detailed information from City Planner David Galbraith about a different proposal, LaFountain expressed shock and disbelief that Galbraith turned to the developers for the information.

“This makes me ridiculously uncomfortable,” LaFountain said. “This is not a good look for the city.”

Local real estate developer Mike Eon gave the council a visual reminder of why they need to be careful and deliberate in their review of complex projects.

Eon held up a large photo of the former MERC waste incinerator that occupied the lower end of Lincoln and Pearl streets for nearly three decades.

“This is the kind of stuff that happens when things get rushed through,” Eon said. “All kinds of promises were made. This time, let’s make sure we really do our homework.”

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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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Tensions in Biddeford increasing

~ Randy Seaver ~ Leave a comment

A number of elected and appointed officials in Biddeford are now expressing increasing frustration about how the city is handling some large development projects, including an affordable housing development in downtown and a large-scale research pier being proposed by the University of New England.

This short video clip was distributed Tuesday as part of a press release by a Facebook group called UNE Pier Review.

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 alleges ‘breach of contract’ by former city manager

~ Randy Seaver ~ Leave a comment

According to documents filed in York County Superior Court, the city of Biddeford is asking the Court to dismiss a complaint filed earlier this year by former city manager James Bennett.

In his lawsuit against the city, Bennett claims that he is entitled to more than $200,000 in wages and other compensation, as outlined in his employment contract with the city.

The city, however, is asking the Court to reject Bennett’s claim. The city said Bennett’s claim is not valid and further alleges that Bennett committed a breach of contract and a failure to comply with the contractual terms of his employment agreement.

In his brief to the Court, City Solicitor Harry B. Center argues that Bennett should not receive any further benefits, citing legal doctrine of “estoppel, laches, waiver and unclean hands,” which means the city is alleging that Bennett engaged in “misconduct or wrongdoing” related to his employment contract.

Bennett (center) toots his own horn explaining his resignation

Mayor Marty Grohman told the Biddeford Gazette Wednesday that he could not offer specifics about Bennett’s lawsuit or about why he was ousted from office in February, roughly two months prior to his announced resignation date of April 18.

“The city is committed to transparency but must also follow the applicable law in regard to employment and legal matters,” Grohman said. “We appreciate the public’s interest and will share more when we are able.”

The court documents obtained by the Gazette do not offer any specifics about why Bennett was removed from office or any details about his alleged “misconduct.”

Grohman said the city complied with all of its contractual obligations to the former city manager through the last date of his employment, April 18, 2025.

Because the issue is part of a pending legal matter and related to personnel issues, Grohman declined to answer why Bennett was abruptly removed from office on Feb. 20 of this year.

In his initial complaint to the Court filed on May 9, Bennett says he fulfilled all his contractual obligations to the city, thus arguing that he is entitled to several benefits that are spelled out in his employment contract.

Bennett claims that he is entitled to one full year of base compensation ($170,000). He also says that he is entitled to seven weeks of vacation pay ($22,848); 12 months-worth of reimbursements for his cell phone and internet ($4,200) and 12 months of mileage reimbursements ($8, 224).

As part of his employment contract, Bennett stipulates that the city is prohibited from publicly saying “anything negative” about him or his performance.

According to an addendum to Bennett’s employment contract:

“The city will limit references to James A. Bennett’s desire to retire, and the extended notice was in no way related to performance issues or any other issues.”

“Any public comments by the city and its agents and representatives will be limited to the positive contributions made by James A. Bennett and to the leadership he has provided to the city during his tenure.”

See below to view/download PDF of Bennett’s amended employment contract:

Bennett Contract AMDownload

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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 manager files lawsuit against Biddeford

~ Randy Seaver ~ 4 Comments

Despite receiving a blistering and somewhat embarrassing report last week about the city’s financial controls and procedures, Biddeford officials are remaining tight-lipped about the abrupt departure of former city manager James Bennett.

In fact, Bennett has filed a civil complaint against the city in York County Superior Court.

During a public review of the city’s long overdue FY ’23 audit, accountants from Runyon, Kersteen and Ouellette (RKO) told the mayor and city council last week that they found “several serious deficiencies” in how the city handled its finances over the past two years.

Sarah Dodge – an accountant at RKO – told the council that her firm found an absence of cash reconciliations and what appeared to be mismanagement of federal grant money that was awarded to the city.

New questions now being raised about Biddeford’s former city manager, James Bennett. Bennett has filed a lawsuit against the city (File photo)

Although Dodge stressed that RKO found no evidence of fraudulent activity at City Hall, new questions are now being raised about Bennett’s performance and responsibilities.

“How can a city, run by a professional city manager, lack basic financial controls for critical financial management including an absence of cash reconciliation?” asked Biddeford resident Kathy Russell.

Russell was a city council candidate in 2017, and she says the auditor’s report should be a “wake-up call” for Mayor Marty Grohman and members of the city council.

“The taxpayers were providing Mr. Bennett with a very nice salary and benefits,” Russell said. “We expected that he would be responsible and transparent.”

After learning of the auditor’s report, Russell and many other residents are now asking why Bennett was abruptly removed from office nearly two months before his planned resignation date.

“We expected that he (Bennett)
would be responsible and transparent.”

— Kathy Russell

Bennett – hired by the city in 2015 – was facing increasing public pressure on a number of fronts, most notably about rapid employee turnover, including seven finance directors in a five-year-period at City Hall.

Bennett publicly announced his resignation in October last year. He said that he would “retire” on April 18. Bennett, however, was ousted from City Hall on February 20.

“I sure hope that we are not still paying Bennett for the remainder of his contract,” said Mark Poirier, another Biddeford resident.

Poirier said he was especially concerned about the city’s deficient cash reconciliation processes.

“I want to know how long this has been going on,” Poirier said. “Taxpayers have a right to know what’s really happening at City Hall.”

Mayor Marty Grohman said he understands the inquiries about Bennett, but said he is legally prohibited from answering specific questions about the city manager because of state and federal laws regarding personnel issues.

“The city is committed to transparency but must also follow the applicable law in regard to employment and legal matters,” Grohman said. “We appreciate the public’s interest, and we’ll share more as we are able.”

Grohman, however, did confirm the Gazette’s inquiry about whether Bennett has filed a lawsuit against the city.

“This matter is now before the court, and we are confident in the city’s position,” Grohman said. “There are relevant filings in York County Superior Court that are part of the public record.” (Docket No. YORSC-CV-2025-98).

“The city has submitted both an answer and a counterclaim for declaratory judgment in response,” Grohman said.

Although Bennett was dismissed from his City Hall office in February, Grohman said the city continued paying Bennett’s salary until April 18, the date of his effective resignation.

Brian Phinney, the city’s chief operating officer, has been serving as acting city manager since Feb. 20. Truc Dever will take over as the city’s full-time manager on Aug. 11.

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

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Biddeford receives ‘troubling report’ about the city’s financial management.

~ Randy Seaver ~ 3 Comments

Biddeford Mayor Marty Grohman and members of the Biddeford City Council received a blistering report Tuesday from the city’s independent financial auditor, Runyon, Kersteen and Ouellette (RKO).

Although Tuesday’s audit presentation focused on the FY 2023 audit — overdue for more than two years — it also painted a troubling picture about how the city’s finances have been handled during the last two years.

Sarah Dodge – an accountant at RKO – told the council that she found “several serious deficiencies” in how the city handled its finances, including an absence of cash reconciliations and mismanagement of federal grant money that was awarded to the city.

Dodge stressed that RKO found no evidence of fraudulent activity at City Hall.

Still, it was clear to those in the audience that many members of the council seemed troubled by the presentation.

Dodge made several recommendations to the council, saying the city should hire a grant manager.

In an interview with the Biddeford Gazette, Grohman said he knows that residents are frustrated by the continued news of financial management issues at the City Hall.

Grohman said that he and the council are also frustrated about the situation, but are also “fully committed to turning things around.”

“Completing the FY23 audit is an important milestone, and it shows that the investments we’ve made in stronger oversight are starting to pay off,” Grohman said. “Presenting the audit to the public in a full council meeting is part of the open book approach we are committed to.”

“What we’re facing is a need for better systems, tighter controls, and more timely reporting—and we’re making those changes,” Grohman added.

“What RKO presented this week
confirmed the depth and duration
of the city’s breakdown in basic
financial oversight.”

— Council President Liam LaFountain

Grohman said that the city has already implemented a new sewer billing program, and that payroll software upgrades are next.  “All of these steps will bring more accuracy and predictability for both residents and employees,” he said.

Grohman also pointed out that the city’s “rainy day fund,” known as the “Fund Balance” remains healthy and strong.

“This turnaround won’t happen overnight, but it is happening,” Grohman said, pointing out that Gerry Matherne, the city’s new finance director, has been making tremendous progress in getting the city’s financial controls back on track.

City Council President Liam LaFountain chairs the city’s Finance Committee.

LaFountain agrees with Grohman, saying the city is working hard to address financial deficiencies.

“There is absolutely no excuse for what Biddeford’s FY23 audit report revealed,” LaFountain said. “What RKO presented this week confirmed the depth and duration of the city’s breakdown in basic financial oversight.”

LaFountain said the absence of timely reconciliations, delays in reporting, and failure to manage cash controls and grant compliance should never occur in any city, let alone persist across multiple fiscal years.

“The point is that it happened, and Biddeford residents and taxpayers deserve direct acknowledgment of that,” LaFountain said. “There is no sugarcoating it. The audit report is an embarrassing document, but it also serves as a valuable tool. It gives the city a roadmap. It shows us clearly what went wrong and what must be fixed.”

“Responsible public stewardship is not optional,” LaFountain added. “Without it, the risk of further financial damage is real.”

RKO’s entire summary report to the council can be viewed or downloaded below:

RKO analysisDownload

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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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Downtown merchants struggle, remain hopeful

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There has been almost endless talk on local social media sites about recent traffic congestion in Biddeford and Saco.

The seven-month sewer upgrade project began in April and is expected to be completed in November. In the meantime, traffic sometimes becomes snarled near the cities’ downtown core.

That traffic and constant negative chatter on social media is taking a significant toll on several small, downtown businesses.

Linda Dobnikar and Anastasia Rizas, bartenders at Mulligan’s. say they have taken a “big hit” in tipped wages while their revenues have dropped by more than 40 percent during the last two months (Seaver Photo)

From restaurants to boutique stores, many merchants say they are seeing a drop of roughly 40 percent in revenues, compared to this same time last year.

“It’s really scary, especially for those of us who rely on tipped incomes,” said Linda Dobnikar, the night bartender at Mulligan’s on Lincoln Street.

Travis Kern, co-owner of Nibblesford– a gourmet cheese shop on Washington Street in Biddeford — says he’s trying to keep an open mind about the situation and is open to hearing suggestions from other merchants about creative ways to bring more customers downtown.

“It’s really frustrating,” Dobnikar said. “We had one regular customer from Old Orchard Beach who told us she won’t be coming back to Biddeford until this is all over.”

Biddeford Mayor Marty Grohman says he is also feeling frustrated about the issue.

Grohman has begun weekly community meetings in his office at City Hall in order to “brainstorm” with merchants, residents and others to find creative solutions that might ease the burden.

RELATED: Downtown merchants, others meet with mayor to discuss traffic concerns

In response to what is becoming a local economic crisis, the Biddeford Gazette is teaming up with other organizations, including the Chamber of Commerce, Heart of Biddeford and Saco Maine Street in creating a new section called Taking Care of Business.

This new initiative is aimed at helping support local businesses by raising public awareness about the many different businesses and services that are located in downtown Biddeford and Saco.

Each week, a new business profile will be added. We will be working with our social media partners to share these stories with as many people as possible.

If you are a local merchant or would like to nominate a business to be profiled, please contact us.

We kick off this series with a profile about New Morning Natural Foods in Biddeford: A Family Affair Continues at New Morning Natural Foods

Chase and Kelsey Caras, the new owners at New Morning Natural Foods in Biddeford (Seaver photo)

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

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Biddeford kicks off Pride month

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A crowd of roughly 50 people gathered Monday for the raising of the Pride flag at Biddeford City Hall.

Monday’s ceremony kicks off at a month-long celebration of activities and events, all aimed at promoting the ideals of inclusivity, respect and diversity — especially for members of the LGBTQIA+ community — in Biddeford and beyond.

Mayor Marty Grohman addressed the crowd just before the flag was raised, telling them that he will later read an official proclamation regarding Pride month at the city council’s next regular meeting on Tuesday.

Colin McKauge (left) and Jeniece Wilder of Tiger Allies help raise the Pride flag at Biddeford City Hall to kick off the city’s annual celebration of Pride month as Micayla Budd, president of Tiger Allies, look on.

“We gather to raise the Pride flag as a symbol—not just of visibility, but of belonging. In Biddeford,” Grohman said. “We believe that everyone deserves to live openly and be celebrated for who they are.”

Grohman said the flag represents a community that is vibrant, resilient, and proud. “[This flag] represents our shared values of inclusion, dignity, and respect. And it reminds us that progress is made not just through big milestones—but through everyday acts of support and solidarity.”

“We gather to raise the Pride flag as a symbol
—not just of visibility, but of belonging in Biddeford

— Mayor Marty Grohman

“We raise this flag together, let it be a message to all—especially our youth—that you are seen, you are valued, and you are welcome here.” the mayor added.

Jamie and Krista Shaw attended Monday’s event. The couple recently moved to Biddeford from the city of Westbrook. As members of the LGBTQIA+ community, they say they feel welcomed in Biddeford.

“There is no such thing as safe, just safer” Jamie Shaw said.

Krista Shaw said they have found Biddeford to be “a very warm and welcoming community.”

Delilah Poupore, executive director of the Heart of Biddeford, said there are a number of activities and celebrations scheduled throughout Pride month in Biddeford.

For more information about Pride events in Biddeford, the Heart of Biddeford has created a web page that includes information and details regarding Pride month activities and events. For more information, please visit https://heartofbiddeford.org/pride-3/

Flag raised at City Hall (Seaver photo)

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

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