Biddeford Mayor Marty Grohman and members of the city council set aside some time at the beginning of Tuesday’s council meeting to remember and honor one of the city’s most iconic Irish residents.
Patrick “Vincent” Keely, a former city councilor and the owner of the Wonderbar, died on April 8 this year. He was 90.
According to his obituary, Keely was born on August 20, 1934, in Galway, Ireland, to John and Delia (Walsh) Keely. He moved to Boston, Massachusetts in 1960 and later to Biddeford in the early 1970s, according to his son, Brian.
Grohman described Keely as a bridge builder and community leader who had a special talent for bringing people together to resolve their differences. “He also could pour a perfect pint of Guiness,” Grohman fondly recalled, describing the downtown Wonderbar as a popular gathering spot for people of all backgrounds.
Members of Vincent Keely’s family pose with Mayor Marty Grohman (far right) and members of the Biddeford City Council to honor a man who has left a lasting legacy of respect and cordiality (Seaver photo)
Brian Keely told the council that his father “fell in love with Biddeford,” recalling how his father moved his family to Biddeford more than 50 years ago.
“It was a big change from Boston,” the younger Keely recalled. “There was no mass transit and we all kind of wondered why we were here, but we quickly fell in love with this community, too. My father made us see what Biddeford could become.”
My father made us see what Biddeford could become.”
— Brian Keely
Brian Keely told the council that his father knew everyone who came into the Wonderbar by name, and everyone — regardless of their political differences — was treated the same by the smiling man behind the bar.
“We could all learn a lot from my father,” Brian told the council. “About being kind to one another, about treating everyone with respect.”
Brian told the council that his father always envisioned Biddeford as a “gem in the rough.” He would be proud of what the city has become today, the younger Keely said.
Keely was also known for doggedly ensuring the annual raising of the Irish flag at City Hall to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day each year.
Patrick Vincent Keely
Grohman asked the council and members of the public to stand for a moment of silence to honor Keely’s legacy of community service in Biddeford.
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It’s really not that surprising, and I’m not so sure that I disagree with Maine Governor Janet Mills.
Here’s the set-up: Maine Democrats – who have majority control of both chambers in the State House – are in a tough spot.
Why? Because there is a possible and significant state budget shortfall on the horizon.
To pay for everything their party approved last year, and to keep pace with the additional spending the governor wants — not to mention that Mills’ latest budget proposal is roughly 10 percent higher than the last biennial budget — the Democrats are going to need to find some new revenue.
Stat!
And where is the easiest place to find new tax revenue without inciting street riots from Sanford to Caribou?
You go for the low hanging fruit – a.k.a. the people who don’t have a team of lobbyists and consultants in their back pockets; the people easiest to demonize.
You go for the smokers. Nobody – except other smokers – really likes cigarette smokers. They stink, they tend to be less educated and low-income workers. . . you know? . . . the very same people that Democrats claim to love and care for so dearly.
Although no can really blame Republicans for crowing about this targeting of low wage earners (Why not? It kind of makes Democrats look bad) but there is plenty of hypocrisy here for the Maine GOP, as well.
Sure, sure, sure . . . Mills has also set her sights on some other relatively easy targets for additional revenue.
After all, we can’t expect the smokers to live long enough to become a reliable revenue stream for our ever-increasing state budget. Many of these folks can’t even walk down a grocery aisle without coughing and feeling out of breath.
In addition to an increased cigarette tax, Mills and her gang are also eyeing increased taxes on streaming services such as Netflix and Spotify; as well as a four percent increase on cannabis taxes.
Nobody – except other smokers – really likes cigarette smokers.
That’s okay. The stoners won’t even notice that they are paying more for weed while watching back-to-back reruns of Breaking Bad.
Right on cue, Republicans have stepped forward to skewer the governor for supposedly hurting the very same people she claims to care so much about.
“We’re already one of the highest taxed states in the country so we don’t see a need to increase any taxes,” House minority leader Rep. Billy Bob Faulkingham said, according to a story filed by WMTW-TV.
In that same news story, Mills defended her decision to go after smokers for additional revenue.
“Let me just say Maine has the highest adult smoking rate and the second highest youth smoking rate in New England, Mills told reporters. “We also have the cheapest cigarettes of nearly every state in New England, and we haven’t raised the cigarette excise tax in two decades.”
In her defense, Mills makes some excellent points.
There is no question whatsoever that people who smoke on a regular basis are much more likely to develop serious health problems.
They say that no one is more stridently opposed to cigarettes than former smokers. That may be true.
Up until just a few years ago, I smoked more than two packs of unfiltered cigarettes every day. It was a habit I started during basic training in the U.S. Air Force. The guys who smoked got frequent breaks while the rest of us did not.
When I quit smoking in 2016, the owners of 3Ds Variety on Main Street in Biddeford filed for federal relief funds to help offset the loss of revenue. (Relax, that is a joke). At that time, I was spending roughly $20 per day to support a habit that benefitted no one, especially me.
Last year, I did some rough calculating. By quitting smoking, I saved more than $45,000. But by then, some irreversible damage had already been done.
I lost several of my upper and lower teeth near the front of mouth. Remember that kid playing the banjo in the movie Deliverance?
Yeah, well — that kid has more of his teeth than I do. I will have to wear partial dentures every day for the rest of my life or figure out how to consume all my meals through a straw.
I don’t blame the Air Force or the R.J. Reynold’s Tobacco Company for the damage I caused by choosing to smoke.
I am also not holier than thou when it comes to addictive behavior. If I found myself unhoused, with no family, no car and sleeping outside in freezing weather, I’m pretty sure that I would pick up the habit again.
Yup, smokers have a pretty weak lobby in the Legislature. And most people – Democrats and Republicans — will likely support a tax increase on cigarettes.
As the old saying goes, “smoke ‘em if you got ‘em.”
Editor’s Note:If you or someone you know wants free help in quitting smoking, please visit theMaine Quit Link
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Once again, I have some good news and some bad news. Let’s start with the good news.
Roughly 24 hours ago, Laura told me it was time for me to get a bit more serious about the Biddeford Gazette, an online multi-media news source focused on the city of Biddeford.
Instead of trying to run the Gazette as a subpage here — on my personal blog site — I went ahead and purchased a new domain so that the Gazette could stand on its own without all the clutter and distraction of my blog, Lessons in Mediocrity.
Going forward, as time and funding allows, I will be making enhancements to the Biddeford Gazette site to improve its functionality and design.
My goal is to give you an alternative and comprehensive overview of what is happening in the Biddeford area.
Now the bad news.
As I continue working to build the Biddeford Gazette, I am going to need your help. Mainly, I’m hoping you will subscribe (for free) and follow us on social media.
By subscribing, you will get an email update every time a new story is published. Your email address will NOT be shared with anyone else. Go here to subscribe.
I hate to be a pain in the ass, but if you are already a subscriber of my blog, you will need to subscribe separately to the Biddeford Gazette. It’s free and it’s worth it.
Throughout all of this, I will continue my blog on a more personal scale. To learn more about the Biddeford Gazette go here.
If all goes as planned, the city of Biddeford could gain 60 new affordable housing units that would be built near Rotary Park and within walking distance of Biddeford High School.
On Tuesday, the Biddeford City Council heard a presentation from Nathan Bateman, vice president of Bateman Partners, about the Forest Green project.
The proposal would include construction of two three-story buildings near some existing housing on outer Main Street. The two buildings would share a “central atrium space” so that one elevator could service both buildings.
George Gervais, the city’s economic and development director, told the council that he is excited about the proposal and pointed out that it would help meet the city’s goal to create more affordable housing opportunities.
Because the developers are hoping to use state and federal tax credits for construction of the units, the rental costs of the one and two-bedroom apartments would need to meet state guidelines issued by the Maine Housing Authority for those earning at or below 60 percent of the area’s median income.
But the project is still facing some significant hurdles, most notably from the Saco River Corridor Commission (SRCC), which has oversight on any development within proximity of the river.
More than 50 years ago, in 1974, the then newly created Saco River Commission designated the land as part of a 100-year flood plain, preventing any further development of affordable housing on the parcel.
Bateman told the city council that technology has improved exponentially since 1974. Today it is documented that the parcel where the development would be located is actually well outside the 100-year flood zone.
According to Bateman, the Saco River Corridor Commission is willing to consider the project but only if the city first approved a “resolution” to change the current zoning designation, from “limited residential” to “general development.”
The council voted unanimously Tuesday to approve a resolution of support for the project, which will be presented at the next Saco River Corridor Commission meeting on January 22.
Bateman told the council that his firm has conducted significant research, including the use of GIS technology and low-level drones to record and analyze the area and its viewshed. “It’s a very appropriate location for an expansion of the project that’s already there,” he said.
Following the council’s decision, Bateman told the Biddeford Gazette that timing of the project is “critical” because there are limited opportunities for the state and federal tax credits that are administered by the Maine State Housing Authority (MSHA). Each year, affordable housing developers are forced to compete for limited funding.
Bateman acknowledged Tuesday that there is a long road ahead.
If the Saco River Corridor Commission approves the project, the developer will still need to go through the city’s planning board review process, a regulatory review by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection as well as funding from the Maine State Housing Authority in September.
“We certainly have a long path ahead, but we are excited about this project,” Bateman said. “If all goes as planned, we could begin construction in June 2026.”
The city of Biddeford is now seeking public input about the hiring of a new city manager. You can take a quick, anonymous online survey by clicking this link to share your thoughts about the hiring process.
Our current city manager, Jim Bennett, announced his resignation in October. His last day on the job will be April 26, 2025. Roughly 1-1/2 years before the expiration of his current contract.
Few people – if any — have been as publicly outspoken in their criticism about Bennett’s performance as yours truly.
Biddeford City Manager James Bennett
But as I reflect on Bennett’s time in Biddeford, I realized that I was missing the real story – – the most important part of the controversy surrounding Bennett and his impact on the city.
Let’s back up a bit.
The Deadbeat Club
Jim Bennett came to Biddeford nine years ago. On paper, he was an ideal candidate to replace John Bubier who had announced his retirement.
Sure, there were lots of stories and rumors about Bennett and his performance in seven other Maine communities. There seemed to be a lingering dark cloud of controversy that followed Bennett wherever he went – from Presque Isle to Lewiston and everywhere in between.
In fact, Bennett only averaged five years in any one community over the last 40 years. Biddeford became his longest gig.
I have said it before, and I will say it again: Bennett is a smart and a well-qualified city manager – on paper.
But he also had a reputation for being arrogant, brash and condescending toward his subordinates and other members of the community, including business people and municipal officials in other communities.
Bennett also had a reputation for having a quick temper and for dodging responsibility when something went wrong.
Over the last few years, Bennett became increasingly arrogant, even when addressing the city council during public meetings. He demanded absolute loyalty from his subordinates and has a penchant for referring to himself in the third person. “Staff recommends . . . staff realized too late about the problem . . .staff thinks this . . .”
But he also had a reputation for being arrogant, brash and condescending toward his subordinates and other members of the community, including business people and municipal officials in other communities.
It was a perfect way for Bennett to deflect responsibility and accountability. It was always “staff,” never him.
Bennett is very skilled in developing convenient narratives to explain away any problems. He excels at playing victim, being defensive and wearing his heart on his sleeve.
When announcing his resignation in October, Bennett said he was announcing his “retirement.” Mayor Marty Grohman and the city council supported that narrative, a much gentler version of events.
But it was all bullshit.
You don’t “retire” halfway through your contract. You don’t suddenly “retire,” and leave a $15,000 retention bonus on the table.
Bennett didn’t “retire,” he finally resigned — unless you believe that Richard Nixon actually decided to “retire” from the presidency.
Why did Bennett resign? Because the jig was up. Bennett’s back was against the wall. There was growing dissatisfaction about his job performance from the public. City Hall was in chaos. He had no other choice other than await the council’s vote of no confidence.
Bennett also used the announcement to pat himself of the back several times, once again avoiding responsibility and taking credit for work done by others without the slightest hint of gratitude.
He brazenly took much of the credit for the revitalization of the city’s downtown area.
He also defied reality, declaring that he was leaving the city in better financial shape than it’s ever been, conveniently ignoring the fact the city was not paying vendors on time, that property tax and sewer bills were delayed; that the city had failed to seek state reimbursements for general assistance for nearly a year.
He cherry picked a few examples of improvements and never shared credit for the successes.
I was so happy to hear that Bennett was finally leaving Biddeford that I forgot – or glossed over – a very important point. My criticism was focused on Bennett, but there are others who bear responsibility for the “toxic work environment” that was created inside City Hall.
Bennett was just being Bennett.
I don’t know why I love you
From the outside looking in, it appeared that Bennett was able to run amok because there was no one willing to stand up and call him out.
But you can’t lay all the blame on Mayor Grohman or the current city council. Bennett started leading the mayor and city council by the nose almost immediately after being hired in 2015, when Alan Casavant was in the middle of his 12-year run as mayor.
The city council then was different than it is today.
Biddeford was facing some big challenges when Bennett was hired. It became easier to just let Bennett run the ship. Casavant, especially, wanted to change the city’s reputation.
When Bennett was hired, the Teamster’s union was vocally protesting contract negotiations and the city was somewhat under siege regarding multiple allegations of sexual misconduct by a former police officer.
Council meetings were raucous, full of anger and controversial allegations. From a PR perspective, it was not a good look for the city. The escalating controversy was overshadowing efforts to change and improve the public perception of Biddeford.
It was all a bit overwhelming for the city’s elected leaders, and the council was more than happy to turn over the reins to Bennett.
Of course, things eventually calmed down. But Bennett had been given carte blanche by the city’s elected leaders. Over the next few years – even in the face of growing controversy – the mayor and council were either too intimidated or otherwise reluctant to rein in Bennett’s attempts to build his own empire within City Hall.
Yes, Bennett had a contract, and who knows what the council and mayor thought or said about Bennett’s performance during behind-closed-doors meetings regarding his contract extensions.
Again — from the outside looking in — it would appear that over the last nine years, Casavant, Grohman and multiple city councilors were unwilling or unable to leash the barking dog that routinely intimidated anyone who dared crossed its path.
So, my advice to the current mayor and city council about a new city manager is this: hire the best applicant but be clear that you are seeking a professional manager, not a policy maker.
Hire a candidate who is strong enough to lead, but not a tyrant.
And finally, be willing to dig deep into the candidate’s past performance in other communities.
The city manager is supposed to report to the city council and mayor.
The city council and mayor are supposed to report to the citizens of Biddeford.
Remember that during the upcoming interviews.
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More than four years after it was opened, several Biddeford officials remain frustrated about how the city’s parking garage is being operated, saying the garage operators still have no incentive to increase efficiency and lower the city’s financial obligations.
Over the past year, the city has paid the garage owners nearly $570,000 in stabilization payments in order to guarantee a profit from the garage.
On Tuesday, the city council heard a presentation from Premium Parking, a New Orleans-based company that operates parking facilities all over the country.
Councilors said they were hoping to hear and see more “hard data” about how the garage is used and what can be done to lower the city’s ongoing financial commitment.
“We got a lot of icing, but I was looking for cake,” said Councilor Marc Lessard during an interview after the meeting. “There was no substance. They [Premium Parking] have no incentive to increase efficiency and lower costs.”
Under a contractual agreement with the garage developers, every six months the city is required to make a “stabilization payment” to the developers in order to guarantee a profit for the private company, regardless of customer usage.
In June of this year, the city paid $208,227 as a stabilization payment. Previously, in December 2023, the city paid $169, 695; and in June 2023 the city paid $191,246 to the developers.
During Tuesday’s council meeting, Charlie Grab, a “market president” from Premium Parking made a brief and rather perfunctory presentation to the council.
Grab, who has handled his company’s New England operations for roughly six months, was scheduled to appear in person but said he was ill and conducted his presentation via ZOOM.
Grab told the council that almost half of customers use smart phone cameras to pay for parking over the last three months. Use of the company’s mobile app has increased 47 percent Grab said while direct cash or credit card payments at a kiosk have decreased by 41 percent.
Grab also said that most customers use either the garage or surface lots for a duration of two hours, making up 56 percent of all transactions.
Earlier this year, parking at the Washington Street parking lot was reconfigured converting to more short-term parking versus day-long parking. Grab described that change as a “nice success story” by doubling revenue at that lot.
But once again, Grab was somewhat vague when asked for recommendations about how to improve efficiency and usage at the garage.
Grab said many other communities with an open-roof garage use the space for things such as “beer festivals” and “pickle-ball tournaments.”
Grab also said his company is working on “an outreach effort” in order to form partnerships with downtown business owners and possibly creating a “newsletter” to explain how the garage operates as well as “fine tuning” signage.
Councilor Roger Beaupre said he was less than impressed after the presentation.
“It’s just the same old story,” Beaupre said. “It seems to be a constant problem. They have no incentive to do anything because they are guaranteed a profit.”
During his campaign to become the city’s mayor, then city councilor Marty Grohman had strong words for Premium Parking, promising to “get tough” with the garage operators and have them appear before the council on a regular basis.
“It seems to be a constant problem. They have no incentive to do anything because they are guaranteed a profit.”
— City Councilor Roger Beaupre
On Tuesday, the mayor’s tone about the garage and surface lots was markedly different, saying the company has been “very responsive” and saying that he liked their ideas for increasing usage.
Council President Liam LaFountain also said he was hoping to drill further down in the data and hear more concrete solutions on Tuesday.
LaFountain pointed out that the council – in August 2023 — asked City Manager Jim Bennett to provide the council with some ideas about parking companies that could be used in Biddeford.
Bennet said “things were going well” and that he basically forgot about the council’s request.
Betsy Martin, a senior citizen advocate and chair of Age Friendly Biddeford, said she has received a lot of negative feedback about the garage.
She suggested that the city should implement a shuttle service between the garage and downtown because “it’s not an easy walk” for seniors.
Grab said that he would personally attend the council’s next meeting in January.
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The Biddeford City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to find funds in its current budget to fully repay a contractor who led the effort to renovate the Seeds of Hope Neighborhood Resource Center.
Jim Godbout, a well-known community volunteer and philanthropist, appeared before the council Tuesday to provide an update about the project and its funding.
Earlier this year, city officials “cleaned out” an encampment of unhoused residents that was located adjacent to Mechanic’s Park on Water Street.
Part of the city’s plan to address issues related to the unhoused included funding a renovation project that would allow overnight respite at the Seeds of Hope building on South Street by renovating and improving the building’s second floor.
The Seeds of Hope building is a former Episcopalian church, built more than 100 years ago that takes up an entire city block.
On Tuesday, Godbout was asked to provide the council with a timeline of events that led to confusion about how the renovation work would be funded.
Jim Godbout, owner of Godbout Plumbing & Heating
“City officials asked me in mid-June if I could help with the project that would provide expanded resources for unhoused people,” Godbout said. “I was happy to help because these projects are an important element for our community.”
Godbout told the council that he immediately knew that the renovation would be “a good-sized project” that would require the help of other contractors. The city, he said, provided a budget of $800,000 to complete the task.
In June, City Manager James Bennett told the council that the $800,000 project would be funded with federal funds the city receives for Community Development Block Grants (CDBG).
With the funding source seemingly secured, Godbout said he and others jumped in feet first, even though he was still involved in another massive project to convert the St. Andre Church building into a teen center, a $3.5 million project that took almost two years to complete.
Despite being stretched thin, Godbout told the council that he was confident he and others could finish the job at Seeds of Hope before winter weather arrives.
“Before we could even start work, we had to remove more than eight 30-yard dumpsters worth of debris from the second floor,” Godbout explained, telling councilors that the building’s roof repairs were the first priority for his team.
Because the building is on the historic register, the renovation project required additional approvals and permits.
Godbout said he was about two-thirds into the project when he received a call in mid-August from city officials telling him that there were problems securing the CDBG funds and applying for the necessary historic renovation approvals.
“I couldn’t just walk away at that point,” Godbout said. “I decided to keep moving forward because the community needed this project done.”
Godbout praised the help and in-kind donations he received from several other contractors, pointing out that his team was able to complete the project well under its initial $800,000 budget, for a total of roughly $655,000.
Although Godbout made sure that the other contractors were paid, the city was unable to pay him for the full balance of his work. Godbout said he was thankful that the city was able to pay him $400,000; with a plan for him to raise an additional $250,000 in private donations to cover the project’s total cost.
“I couldn’t just walk away at that point. I decided to keep moving forward because the community needed this project done.”
— Jim Godbout
“I have been doing projects in Biddeford for more than 40 years,” Godbout said. “I am happy to help, but the cost comes back to me.”
Following Godbout’s presentation, Mayor Marty Grohman expressed gratitude for the work done by Godbout and others, including volunteers.
“Thanks for getting this project over the finish line,” Grohman said. “The key is that this project is done. It was a team effort and a significant achievement.”
Council President Liam LaFountain then made a motion to direct the city manager to find possible funding sources in the current budget in order to pay Godbout the balance he is owed.
“We now have an opportunity to make good on our obligation,” LaFountain said.
Councilor Marc Lessard said he was in “complete agreement” that Godbout and his team should be “made whole.”
“We all have to pay our personal bills on time,” Lessard said. “It’s no different for the city. We need to be more efficient, and we need to show appreciation for the help we received.”
Bennett is expected to provide the council with suggestions about potential funding sources in January.
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Following a sometimes-awkward conversation, members of Saco’s Coastal Waters Commission abruptly voted 5-1 Tuesday to remove an item from the top of their December 10 meeting agenda.
The citizen commission was poised to hear a presentation regarding how the University of New England’s controversial pier proposal might impact the city of Saco.
According to James Katz — the commission’s chairperson – he decided Tuesday afternoon – only a few hours before the scheduled meeting — that it would be “inappropriate” for the commission to hear the presentation since no one from the university was invited to the meeting.
Ron Schneider, the university’s lead attorney, however, was also present at Tuesday’s meeting with a pen and notebook in hand.
A view from the Camp Ellis pier overlooking the proposed location of a controversial pier for the University of New England. (Seaver photo)
When one of the commissioners suggested that Schneider should be given an opportunity to speak about the issue, the attorney politely refused. “I’m just here to listen,” Schneider told the commission.
According to Katz, he had previously invited John Schafer to speak to the commission about the university’s proposed pier.
Earlier this year, Schafer resigned as chair of Biddeford’s Harbor Commission. For several months Schafer has been pushing Biddeford city officials to be more transparent about their relationship with the university and how the proposal was being handled at the local level
“Obviously, I am disappointed,” Schafer said during a telephone interview Tuesday evening. “This appears to be a coordinated effort to keep the public in the dark about this project.”
Schafer said Katz was very apologetic when he called to cancel the presentation only a few hours before the meeting.
“I made a mistake,” Katz told his fellow commissioners Tuesday evening. “This presentation was never sanctioned by the city council, but now I guess the bell has been rung, and I would like to have us vote on removing the item from the presentation.”
Schafer said he was stunned by the last-minute notice, but understood that Katz was in a difficult position.
I’m not sure why city leaders in Saco are reluctant to talk about this issue, Schafer said. “The university’s proposal will impact anyone who uses the Saco River, including people from Saco.”
— John Schafer
“They were eager to hear from me, but somebody shut them down,” Schafer said. “They have been left in the dark about this proposal and how it could impact Saco and residents who use the river for recreation and fishing.”
Saco City Councilor Michael Burman serves as the city council’s liaison to the Coastal Waters Commission. Burman is also a professor at the University of New England. Burman did not attend Tuesday’s meeting.
“Jim [Katz] kept tripping over himself to apologize, but he repeatedly declined to say who exactly asked him to remove the presentation,” Schafer said. “I asked was it the mayor? Was it the council? Was it the city manager?
“He just kept saying ‘the people of Saco’ were opposed to having the presentation take place,” Schafer said.
Schafer said he has been trying to connect with Saco officials about the pier proposal for several weeks, but no one from the city has returned his inquiries.
“I’m not sure why city leaders in Saco are reluctant to talk about this issue, Schafer said. “The university’s proposal will impact anyone who uses the Saco River, including people from Saco.”
According to the city’s website, the Coastal Waters Commission exists for studying and evaluating public usage of and boating access to coastal waters under the jurisdiction of the city of Saco; planning for its future use, advising the city council on policy matters and proposing regulations concerning the Saco River and coastal waters.”
Schafer said he wrote to Saco Mayor Jodi MacPhail four times between October 15 and November 26, about meeting with “her and her team to compare notes” on the UNE proposal. Schafer said MacPhail never replied to any of the emails.
When contacted Tuesday evening, MacPhail declined to say why she and other city officials have been ignoring emails sent by Schafer.
“I feel very badly for Jim Katz,” Schafer said. “Somebody put him in a very bad spot. I could viscerally feel his discomfort as he told me over the phone that I could not come to the meeting tonight. I know that he honorably extended the original invitation to me in the spirit of openness and transparency, but he got his knuckles rapped, obviously.”
Editor’s Note: In the interest of full disclosure, Saco Mayor Jodi MacPhail is the writer’s stepsister.
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As Chaucer once said, all good things must come to an end.
And that’s where I find myself today: another fork in the road, another pivot point in my career.
Over the past few days, several people have asked me why I started the Biddeford Gazette, and why I am no longer writing for Saco Bay News.
Some have speculated that I had a “falling out” with Liz Gotthelf, the publisher of Saco Bay News. Nothing could be further from the truth – at least from my perspective.
In fact, I consider Liz to be a good friend, and I very much respect and admire what she has built from the ashes of the Journal Tribune, once this area’s daily newspaper.
With grit, determination and maybe a prayer, Liz launched Saco Bay News only weeks after the Tribune closed its doors forever in 2019. Since then, she has almost single-handedly built her business into an active and respected local news source.
A couple of years ago, Liz approached me and asked if I would be interested in being a contributing writer for her publication. Although I had given up professional journalism many years prior, I thought that the idea would be a good side hustle.
I was already writing a blog about Biddeford politics, and I missed the dynamic ebb and flow of the news business. I would only need to avoid writing about my PR clients.
Liz could not afford to pay me very much, but that was okay. One of the benefits was that she would publish my All Along The Watchtowersatire column once a month.
Over the next two years, I wrote more than 140 stories for Saco Bay News, including breaking crime stories, political coverage, feature stories and 12 of my opinion columns.
I gave Liz her money’s worth in coverage, often breaking news stories well ahead of the Portland Press Herald, the Biddeford-Saco Courier and Portland’s television stations.
Liz gave me a lot of latitude, and I like to think that I helped her solidify the reputation of Saco Bay News as a serious and respected news outlet that left no stone unturned.
I am an old-fashioned reporter. I ask hard questions and do not shy from controversy, but not everyone likes a reporter with lots of questions, especially those who had become comfortable in an environment of comfortable journalism.
This is where it ends
Things seemed to be going well. Summer was quickly approaching and news stories were popping all over the place.
Writer George Orwell reportedly once said that “journalism is printing something that someone does not want printed. Everything else is public relations.”
That distinction was apparently lost on those who control the campuses of the University of New England and Thornton Academy, a public-private high school in Saco.
The PR folks at both institutions were less than impressed with my reporting of their activities. They didn’t complain to me. They went straight to Liz and suggested that it would be best if I don’t publish any more stories about them.
They didn’t offer any corrections or additional perspective. They just didn’t like the idea of me shaking the bushes. Liz — who had only days before lost her husband to a sudden illness — quickly agreed to their requests. I was not part of the meeting. I was not asked for input or clarification.
I was pissed with the intimidation tactics deployed by both UNE and Thornton Academy, but I also understood that Liz is running a media outlet on a shoe-string budget. She is alone at the helm of the ship. She decided it wasn’t a battle worth fighting.
Fine. Let’s just move on. There’s plenty of other stuff to cover. At the same time, more and more people were reaching out to me, telling me stories of dysfunction at Biddeford City Hall.
For better or worse, I have a reputation for digging up news in places that would rather remain darkened.
Former city councilors, current city employees, former city employees, business people, civic groups and municipal leaders from other communities were all calling and texting me, complaining with one central theme: Biddeford City Manager James Bennett was acting like Nucky Thompson in Boardwalk Empire.
The complaints kept coming. I had people meeting me in my backyard, breaking down in tears as they described what it’s like to work in City Hall, afraid that Bennett would find out they were talking to me.
I never liked Bennett anyway. I had nothing to lose. No one else was willing to step up, so I decided to take on the task, even though by doing so I had to relinquish what I loved: covering Biddeford City Hall.
Liz and I met at Garside’s Ice Cream. I told her that I would begin an organized effort to oust the city manager. Further complicating things, my stepsister had become Saco’s new mayor. I was up to my eyeballs in conflicts of interest. I told Liz that I would still write feature stories for her.
She agreed. I then turned my attention on ousting Bennett. It took me less than eleven weeks before he finally announced his resignation.
But now, with Bennett finally put in place, how am I supposed to be an unbiased reporter again? I can’t, and that’s why I decided to launch the Biddeford Gazette, especially since it was becoming increasingly clear that Liz was pulling further away, wanting to avoid ruffling feathers and steering clear of any controversy.
Liz and I are friends, but we have very different styles in pursuing news stories. Both styles are necessary and equally valid, which is why Woodward and Bernstein made such a good pair at the Washington Post. Liz is more like Woodward, curious but cautious. I’m more like Bernstein, brash and impatient.
A few weeks ago, I pitched a story idea about a high-profile real estate developer filing bankruptcy. She said she was not sure she wanted the story. A couple of days later, she asked if I had any related files. She was giving the story to someone else.
I politely forwarded the files, and Saco Bay News published the story with absolutely no mention of my contributing work. It was now crystal clear to me. It was time for me to move on.
A man of wealth and taste
A few months ago, I started re-reading Outlaw Journalist, a biography of one of my favorite writers, Hunter S. Thompson.
Thompson worked as a reporter for Rolling Stone magazine and several other publications across the country, and he is the one who coined the phrase “Gonzo Journalism.”
Wikipedia describes Gonzo-style journalism as “an approach to news reporting that represents a notable departure from traditional media protocols. Gonzo journalism offers readers a ‘more personal approach’ to news reporting. This style of reporting is not limited by the standards of objectivity and often includes the reporter providing a first-person narrative of the story.”
Common trademarks of Gonzo Journalism include sarcasm, humor and profanity.
I suddenly had what alcoholics describe as a “moment of clarity.”
I knew exactly what I wanted to do, and how I wanted to do it. I am now semi-retired, and I have more years behind me than I have in front of me.
If I’m going to be broke, frustrated and full of discontent, why not move forward on my own terms? Why not write and publish whatever I want, whenever I want?
The Biddeford Gazette is NOT intended to compete with Saco Bay News, the Courier or the Press Herald. I’ll be leaving traditional coverage to them..
In my mind, the Biddeford Gazette will serve three primary functions.
We will use social media tools to collect and share news about Biddeford from other media outlets. We will only publish their headlines and provide our readers a direct link to their news site. This gives people in Biddeford, a convenient one-stop destination to find out what’s happening in their community. It also helps other media outlets by driving more traffic to their sites.
We will fill some notable gaps in local news coverage by publishing limited, original content in a non-traditional manner, Gonzo Journalism. Unlike other media outlets, we will focus solely on the city of Biddeford.
Finally, the Biddeford Gazette will track and monitor the actions and maneuvers of our city’s legislative delegation, something that is not being regularly reported on by existing media outlets.
State Rep. Ryan Fecteau
For example, this week I am working on a story that will provide a preview of the upcoming legislative session and what our Biddeford delegation is planning. We will interview each of them and ask hard questions.
State Rep. Ryan Fecteau has once again been named as Speaker of the Maine House. That’s great news. But is Fecteau skirting at least the spirit of Maine’s term limits law? He already served four terms in the House before moving to a new district a few blocks away from his former home.? As Speaker, can he give his full attention to his Biddeford constituents?
State Rep. Marc Malon
State Rep. Marc Malon is returning for a second term. Congratulations! I put one of his campaign signs on my lawn, but how does he plan to separate his full-time job with the Maine Democratic Party from his service to constituents who might not be Democrats?
Hang on, things are going to be fun. We’re dusting off our keyboards and putting fresh batteries in our flashlights. We’re working for you. If you have a news tip, question or concern, please let me know. biddefordgazette@gmail.com
Cheers!
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I have never been so ashamed to be a resident of Biddeford, Maine as I am tonight.
What I witnessed during this evening’s city council meeting was a complete and utter failure of leadership, morality and principles.
Tonight, the city council and Mayor Marty Grohman found a way to screw over a local businessman who, ironically, was just trying to help the city help our unhoused neighbors.
Tonight, the city sent a signal to every resident, business owner and potential resident: Welcome to Biddeford! We don’t pay our bills!
Gotta hand it to our courageous leaders. They finally found a way to save taxpayers some money. We just won’t pay our bills.
Sure, Biddeford was recently featured in Good Housekeeping magazine for its Christmas “vibe.” Even a Boston news station plugged the city as a top destination.
Well laddi, laddi da! Isn’t that precious?
Sip your fucking cocoa, marvel at the white lights strung along Main Street, and poop unicorn dust in the Lincoln lobby, but never forget that this is also a city being run by an incompetent, self-absorbed moron.
Why am I pissed?
If you don’t know him, Jim Godbout is the owner of Godbout Plumbing and Heating, one of the most respected local companies in southern Maine.
Godbout is always ready to help the community, and he is damn good at rallying other business leaders to pitch in and make seemingly impossible dreams possible.
For example, Godbout led the effort to save and restore Waterhouse Field. As a recognition for his civic leadership there is a street named in his honor next to the field.
Jim has also been leading the renovations at the former St. Andre Church into a community teen center. He is involved in working with students at the Biddeford Regional Center of Technology.
And recently, he again agreed to help the city by providing bare-bones pricing for necessary renovation work at the Seeds of Hope Neighborhood Resource Center.
That renovation project was spearheaded and rushed through by Mayor Marty Grohman and City Manager Jim Bennett.
After all, the city needed some good PR after demolishing a homeless encampment on Water Street near Mechanic’s Park earlier this year.
The city manager assured the council earlier this year that the cost of upgrading the Seeds of Hope Building would be covered by Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds. Yippee! Free money from the federal government, Bennett assured us. Taxpayers will not feel a pinch.
Oopsie! Something went wrong.
Get Ry Cooder to sing my eulogy
Apparently, the renovation work at Seeds of Hope proved to be more intense than what the city thought it would be. There were problems with the roof and even bigger problems with windows that were literally falling out of the building.
No worries, the city and its contractors pushed forward. They did a truly awesome job. The Seeds of Hope is now able to serve more people although the demand for their service is exploding.
Once the work was finished, Godbout, following an agreed upon budget cost, sent an invoice for his crew’s work, a total of about $655,000.
But the city found out that they could not use CDBG funds for the project.
And then there was silence.
A few days ago, on Nov. 4, Godbout sent a note and a copy of his invoice to Vassie Fowler, executive director of the Seeds of Hope.
“Vassie, please forward [this invoice] to the city as they had promised the funding for this project and have not come through with anything. I am carrying a lot for them making them look good having a warming center open in time for bad weather. Thanks, Jim.”
Godbout was unavailable for comment at press time, but here’s another glimpse at what kind of man Godbout is.
Godbout told the city that he would settle for $400,000 and go out to the community and run a fundraising campaign to cover the remaining $255,000 balance.
Let me say that again slowly. Godbout – a man who is getting screwed by the city – said he will settle for about 60 percent what was owed to him and would raise the remaining balance by coordinating a community fundraising drive.
So, taxpayers have to come up with $400,000 and then likely be called upon to donate to a fundraising campaign for the project.
Kids, you can’t make this shit up.
And the council bought it. Hook. Line and Sinker.
Although Council President Liam LaFountain made a motion to pay Godbout the full amount, only Councilor Marc Lessard voted in favor of paying Godbout every penny of what he is owed.
In the end, the council voted unanimously for the less painful option, even knowing that Godbout is paying interest on a loan he used to finance the work.
Godbout will get $400,000. He will have to raise the rest from the community.
Imagine when you get your next tax bill. Just tell the city to fuck off. Tell ‘em you’ll pay 60 percent of their debt and have Mayor Grohman open a lemonade stand to make up the difference.
If you don’t pay your taxes, the city will take your property. But if the city owes you money . . . sorry, Charlie.
What kind of message does this send to the larger world? What contractor will ever want to do work for Biddeford? Will this impact our bond rating?
Sure, come to Biddeford, visit the glorious Lincoln Hotel and fart hot cocoa from your ass. But when it gets right down to it. When our backs are against the wall. When there are no more shell games to play, this is a city that doesn’t pay its bills.
I have been covering Biddeford City Hall for nearly 30 years. This is an all-time low.
Lessard summed up his frustration with yet another of his famous pithy quotes. “I expected the city manager to be driving the car on this issue. Apparently, that car doesn’t have a steering wheel.”
And where was our illustrious lame-duck city manager? Reportedly he was home, still recovering from shoulder surgery.
I am ashamed to be from Biddeford tonight.
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LESSONS IN MEDIOCRITY 