Saco official blasts Biddeford officials

December 28, 2025December 28, 2025 ~ Randy Seaver ~ 1 Comment

By RANDY SEAVER, Editor

Kevin Roche — a former Saco city councilor and current member of the Saco School Board — has publicly criticized Biddeford Mayor Liam LaFountain and the Biddeford City Council for the way they are handling the review of a large pier being proposed by the University of New England.

In addition to serving on the Saco School Board, Roche is also the president of SOS Saco Bay, an organization formed to address erosion issues in Saco’s Camp Ellis neighborhood.

In a Dec. 19 email to LaFountain that was also sent to Biddeford City Manager Truc Dever and Saco Mayor Jodi MacPhail, Roche begins by suggesting that Biddeford and Saco officials should be working collaboratively on issues regarding the Saco River.

*Kevin Roche (right) stands near a piece of dredging equipment (Facebook photo)*

He then asserts that the city of Biddeford is being unduly influenced by a few residents who have raised concerns about UNE’s large-scaled pier project.

Specifically, Roche harshly criticized the city’s decision to file a formal complaint against the Saco River Corridor Commission (SRCC) regarding that agency’s approval of the proposed pier.

The city filed the complaint after learning that a 250-foot buffer zone was created more than 20 years ago through an agreement between UNE and the SRCC.

Roche described the city’s complaint as a “fruitless endeavor” that will surely be rejected by the court.

“We are greatly troubled that the city of Biddeford has now taken the position that NO pier should be allowed due to a misreading of the 250-foot buffer zone,” Roche wrote in his email.

In his email, Roche strongly defended the university against complaints from residents who raised questions about the controversial project.

*A view from the Camp Ellis Pier across the river to where the University of New England is hoping to construct a large-scale pier to support its marine research activities (Seaver photo)*

Roche pointed out that UNE students regularly volunteer to help put up holiday lights in downtown Biddeford, and how the university is involved in monitoring coastal issues as well as projects to replace dune sands on both sides of the river.

Roche describes the university as a “key partner” in a planned dredging project on the Saco River that is scheduled to begin next year.

In his email, Roche said a “larger pier research vessel is critical in providing even more benefit to our greater shoreline communities.”

Roche says the goal of those opposed to the pier project was never about the location of the pier, “they simply did not want UNE to have any presence on the river.”

It is unclear whether Roche spoke to or communicated with any of those who raised concerns about the pier project.

Roche said opponents of the project “utilized slick PR guys, often posing as the press” in their attempt to derail the pier proposal.

He went on to say that the city of Biddeford has chosen to “govern based on hate and lies.” He provides no details or documentation regarding the “lies.”

Roche advised the city to do things “the right way” and should “follow facts, not fiction.” He also suggested that Biddeford should get rid of its own harbormaster and instead share Saco’s harbormaster for joint jurisdiction of river activities.

LaFountain told the Gazette that he has no plans to change the city’s current course in regard to review of UNE’s proposal or moving ahead in creating an ad-hoc Institutional Zone Review Committee to review development at UNE’s Biddeford campus.

“Our complaint with the SRCC is now before the court, so it would not be appropriate for me to comment on that matter until the court renders its decision,” LaFountain said.

“I believe we did the right thing and we are fully committed to moving forward by following criteria based upon fact, process and law, not inflammatory rhetoric.”

According to their March 20, 2025 quarterly report to their members and affiliates, SOS Saco Bay stated “We have grown our relationship with the University of New England which is doing some amazing work.”

According to that report, SOS Saco Bay was “also invited to participate in the UNE Summer Sustainability Fellowship Program, and stated that “UNE has committed to be a Platinum Supporter at our October Conference.”

Saco Mayor Jodi MacPhail told the Gazette that it would be inappropriate to comment on the views of a private organization, saying only that she is looking forward to working with Biddeford’s new mayor.

Roche did not answer any of the questions sent to him by the Biddeford Gazette. He did, however, offer a brief statement, saying “SOS Saco Bay takes no formal position on the pier location debate, but we maintain that a research pier would be a huge asset in our fight against coastal erosion.

“We feel that anyone standing in opposition to the pier is in opposition of what we are trying to do. We have not heard any arguments that a research pier will cause undue harm to our coastal waterways and shorelines.”

You can view/download a copy of Mr. Roche’s Dec. 19 email here:

Roche Email A Download

_____________

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 for free today!

OPINION | Biddeford’s disappearing coast

October 10, 2025October 10, 2025 ~ tommcpheeters ~ 1 Comment

By Thomas McPheeters, Contributing Writer

In our not-too-distant future, the coast of Maine will look nothing like it does today — fewer beaches, many houses and businesses displaced, roads and utilities either abandoned or relocated further inland.

That’s a certainty, according to Dr. Cameron Wake, a University of New England professor who served as the keynote speaker during Tuesday’s SOS Save Our Shores conference, which was held at the Ferry Beach Conference and Retreat Center.

The only variables, Wake said, are how much and how fast the Atlantic Ocean rises and how quickly we realize that our treasured coastal communities and waterfronts require immediate action.

The annual SOS Saco Bay conference, now in its fourth year, has historically focused on strategies to mitigate the impact of sea rise on beaches and nearby properties in Biddeford, Saco, Old Orchard Beach and Scarborough.

SOS Saco Bay was formed six years ago by citizens concerned with the beach erosion that has taken homes and roads in Camp Ellis — still an unrealized issue. The conference has grown steadily to become a major information source and a starting point for organizing coastal residents and owners.

Roughly, 175 people attended this year’s conference.

Over the last two years — since the devastating January 2024 storms — citizen groups have formed in Hills Beach, Biddeford Pool and around the health of the Pool itself.

The Biddeford Coastal Preservation Coalition (BCPC) continues to build chapters along the coast. The city of Biddeford’s Sustainability Committee is focusing more on coastal issues, as well.

“The University of New England has emerged
as a major source of support
for coastal communities”

Sea rise is generally associated with global warming, but Wake also pointed to glacier melting as the wild card. It is now clear that glaciers are melting at an accelerated rate, faster even than temperatures. Wake displayed graphics of Greenland and some of the ice shelves in Antarctica and explained how feedback loops of warming air and water lead to ever-increasing calving of icebergs that float away and melt.

The University of New England has emerged as a major source of support for coastal communities, finding ample research opportunities for faculty and students.

Research projects include a recently published report on beach and dune loss and an on-going study of changes to the tidal pool at Biddeford Pool. This year, dozens of UNE students attended the conference and displayed their research on posters. The university has a new master’s degree track for “climate change leadership.”

To be sure, many of the conference workshops were clearly focused on the short term — new ways and materials to rebuild dunes and arrest beach erosion, information on how other coastal communities have managed their shorelines; and successes in protecting shore bird migration at Maine’s beaches. New this year were discussions about retreat, the most realistic and most difficult of the long-term responses to sea rise.

No answers were offered.

_____________

Tom McPheeters is a life-long lover of Maine and a year-round resident of nearly three years. After a journalism career or 25 years at three newspapers in Ohio and New York State, Tom spent the last 30 years as a community organizer and advocate in Albany, NY. He lives in Biddeford Pool.

The Biddeford Gazette welcomes commentary and feedback from our readers. To learn more, please CONTACT US

Never miss another update! Subscribe for free today!

Board members get front-row view of UNE’s controversial pier proposal

June 9, 2025June 9, 2025 ~ Randy Seaver ~ 2 Comments

A small group of slightly more than 40 people attended a Biddeford Planning Board site walk near the location of where the University of New England wants to construct a new pier to dock its marine research vessel.

The proposed pier includes a 130-foot approach pier with an 80 by 20-foot pier head jutting out into the channel almost directly across from the Camp Ellis pier on the Saco River

*UNE Vice President Alan Thibeault answers questions for planning board members (Seaver photo)*

The university’s proposal has generated considerable controversy over the past several months. During a preliminary Planning Board meeting last month, several members of the public raised concerns about the proposal including its potential impact to existing moorings and impacts on navigation and recreational fishing during low tide.

No members of the public spoke in favor of the proposal at that May 22 meeting.

Monday’s site walk lasted almost 45 minutes, requiring board members and the public to hike through a wooded area behind the school’s marine sciences center.

There was no opportunity for public comment or questions, but planning board members did ask several questions about the project, including the proposed height of the pier, how river current and tides could impact the pier and how exactly the pier would be constructed.

Alan Thibeault, the university’s vice president of operations, led board members to a spot overlooking the Saco River to answer questions and point out the exact area where the university hopes to build their pier.

*Ken Buechs of Biddeford made his feelings about the project known during Monday’s site walk* (*Seaver photo.)*

Behind Thibeault, critics of the pier were sharing their own information about the project. Two small boats were anchored near the shore; one boat closest to the school’s proposed location and another boat slightly downriver where the city’s harbormaster and others say the pier should be located.

People on each of the small boats held up large placards to display the data from their depth-finding equipment. During the site walk, at low tide, the vessel closest to the school’s preferred location showed a water depth of six feet, while the other vessel showed a water depth of 12-feet.

Former City Councilor Patricia Boston was one of those who attended the site walk. Although water depth is technically not part of the criteria for the planning board, Boston said the board should pay attention to that issue.

A private boat owner holds up a placard showing a water depth of only six feet during low tide where the university hopes to build their pier. Another boat, slightly downstream, showed a water dept of 12 feet at the location where Biddeford’s harbormaster says the pier should be built. (Seaver photo)

“To me, it seems like a simple issue to objectively address,” Boston said. “This project is going to have significant impacts on the Saco River for generations to come. I’m hoping the planning board will consider all of the issues – from a planning perspective, it’s important to know all the information.”

“This project is going to have significant
impacts on the Saco River for
generations. I’m hoping the
planning board will consider
all of the issues”
— Patricia Boston, former city councilor

Boston said she is disappointed by how the university has been pushing the project forward. “Based just on what I have been reading and hearing, there seems to be some missed opportunities for collaboration, and I find that sad,” she said.

A few people from Saco also attended Monday’s site walk, including Kevin Roche, the president of SOS Saco Bay, a non-profit group focused on erosion issues in the Camp Ellis area. Roche did not return a phone call for comment, as of press time.

Matt Dubois, the newest member of the planning board, described the site walk as “informative and comprehensive.”

*Former city councilor Kyle Noble — an outspoken critic of the project, holds a pole to demonstrate the height of UNE proposed pier*

Susan Deschambault, another Planning Board member, said she appreciated the opportunity to see the exact location and ask questions about the project. “There are still more questions to be asked,” she said.

*Members of the public paid close attention to UNE’s presentation during Monday’s site walk. (Seaver photo)*

Earlier in the day, a group of private mooring owners who would be impacted by the proposal, issued a press release stating that they “are ready to be sued by the university” because they are unwilling to give up their mooring locations.

“I guess they don’t understand the English language over there at the college,” said Capt. Shawn Tibbetts, a commercial fisherman with a mooring location that would need to be moved. “We’re not moving. The site they want for their pier is unavailable to the University of New England.”

Planning board chair Alexa Plotkin described the site walk as somewhat unique. “This is not like driving into a parking lot and looking around,” she said. “I’m glad we had the opportunity to see the area that is not really visible on a daily basis.”

Plotkin said she was pleased by the turnout and said the university’s proposal will be back on the planning board’s agenda for its next meeting on June 18.

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!