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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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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Former Biddeford Mayor Donna Dion had a favorite saying that she often repeated throughout her political career, including during her unsuccessful bids to become Maine’s governor.
“You can’t have community without unity,” Dion would often say, pointing out that we all have a stake in the game, a moral obligation to work together for the common good.
The restored, historic City Hall Clocktower in Biddeford (Seaver photo)
Over this past week, I have come to better understand what Dion meant when she repeated that phrase over and over again. “You can’t have community without unity.”
Three events in Biddeford this week reminded me that we are a community, and that we are stronger when we are united in purpose; when we are connected by common threads — a sense of community.
In the span of just six days, our community experienced a full range of emotions – from pure holiday joy, to a poignant reminder of our shared past and then –, sadly — the tragic news that we lost a young and much beloved member of our police department.
Sgt. Jacob Wolterbeek was killed in a traffic accident on his way home at the end of his shift on Thursday morning. He was only 41-years old and leaves behind a wife and three young children just days before Christmas.
Let’s back up a bit, and think about last Friday night.
From joy to sorrow
I have the privilege of being one of four administrators on a Community Facebook page dedicated to the Biddeford-Saco region. It’s a volunteer gig that is sometimes frustrating – – watching adults bickering with each other over petty matters — but it is also rewarding to see just how quickly the entire community bands together in a time of need, a time of loss.
It was a cold night, and Laura was away for the weekend. It was also the night when Santa Claus makes an official stop downtown to greet all the good boys and girls.
The Merry and Bright Night event is coordinated by the Heart of Biddeford, a non-profit organization that takes the lead in organizing community events in the downtown area.
I really didn’t want to leave the warmth and comfort of my home, but something made me want to go and check out the festivities.
As soon as I parked my truck on South Street, my mood improved dramatically. It was bitterly cold, but there were several fire pits, where I found dozens of residents teaching their kids how to make S’mores.
There were hundreds of people milling about, almost everyone was smiling. Holiday lights were strung everywhere and holiday music was being played over a loudspeaker.
Hundreds celebrate the kickoff for the holiday season in downtown Biddeford (Seaver photo)
Before Santa Claus arrived to greet the children, before the city’s Christmas tree was lighted – I realized that it took a lot of work to make this happen. It took scores of volunteers – but it also required loads of help from city employees, including public works, the police department and even the fire department.
A lot of people pitched in to help make that night magical for families and dozens of onlookers
It was a great night to be part of our community.
Pride in the name of love
Every community – whether it’s Bedford Falls or Biddeford, Maine – has its own curmudgeons. But even Ebeneezer Scrooge, Henry Potter or the Grinch himself offer us lessons about the power and benefits of community.
A few years ago, Biddeford voters overwhelmingly approved a renovation project at City Hall. The project included life-safety improvements, energy efficiency and the outside appearance of the building and its landmark clock tower.
Yes, a handful of our local curmudgeons took to Facebook to complain about spending taxpayer money to restore and repair the clock tower.
That clock tower is a focal point for our community. It is a symbol of community pride. Something that is apparently lost on the curmudgeons.
Mayor Marty Grohman was offering residents tours up into the tower during the downtown holiday celebration.
Biddeford Mayor Marty Grohman and I strike a pose near the mechanical gears of the clocktower (Daniel Boucher photo)
After climbing nine flights of stairs, our group finally reached our destination. The walls surrounding the clock’s 150-year-old mechanisms seemed to be dripping with history.
The mayor offered each of us the opportunity to leave our name on the walls where dozens of others over the years have left their own names.
It wasn’t that long ago when Biddeford had two clock towers. One was perched atop City Hall, the other atop the then vacant and crumbling Lincoln Mill Building across the street.
A few of us tried to rally the community in an effort to preserve the Lincoln Clocktower, but we failed. That tower was eventually removed and destroyed because of structural concerns.
I think that was a lesson for all of us, a reminder that we have to show effort to preserve our history, which brings me to this week’s second lesson in the power of community.
Take me to the river
The former St. Andre Catholic Church in Biddeford was closed nearly 15 years ago after being an integral part of the community for more than 100 years.
The church remained vacant and somewhat neglected until a team of people decided that the magnificent structure could be brought back to life as a place to provide nurturing, learning and social activities for young people.
The community celebrates the grand opening of the My Place Teen Center in the former St. Andre Church building (Seaver photo)
On Monday evening the community gathered in the building once again, not as a church – but as admirers of a renovation project that required millions in monetary donations and lots and lots and lots of heavy lifting by volunteers and others, including state and local officials.
Scores of people attended the grand opening of the new My Place Teen Center.
Renee O’Neil of Biddeford was one of those people who attended Monday’s event. O’Neil shared memories of attending church at St. Andre’s when she was a little girl.
“I used to stare at those murals,” she said, pointing to two historic murals near the altar of the former church. “It’s just incredible that they were able to preserve so much history. It really warms my heart to know that this building will continue to be a place for community support.”
Jim Godbout, a well-known community volunteer and the owner of Jim Godbout Plumbing & Heating, once again stepped forward and offered his help as the lead contractor. He was able to rally many others to pitch in to the complex and daunting renovation task.
The transformation of the long-since neglected building was nothing short of amazing.
The St. Andre building served the community for so many years, a vital part of its working-class neighborhood. Today – thanks to a community effort – it will once again serve the community.
“This is a story of resurrection and new life,” Tim Higgins, chair of the My Place Teen Center’s board of directors, told reporter Tammy Wells a York County media specialist. “Lives will not only be changed here, they will be saved here,” Higgins said.
A devastating loss
Unfortunately, a community that celebrates together also grieves together.
On Thursday morning, we learned that we had lost a much-admired member of our community.
Within moments of sharing the awful news on our community Facebook page, the shock and sorrow spread throughout our community — and beyond.
Sgt. Jacob Wolterbeek receives his Seargeant badge from Police Chief JoAnne Fisk (Photo courtesy of Biddeford Police Department
It became quickly apparent that Sgt. Jacob Wolterbeek had a profound impact on our community. Within two hours more than 400 people reacted to the awful news, expressing sympathy and support for Wolterbeek’s family, friends and co-workers.
But one particular Facebook comment really struck a chord with me. It came from a young man who had met Wolterbeek under not such great circumstances:
“That police officer changed my life,” the young man wrote. “I was into some bad stuff as a teenager. He arrested me. Gave me a talk about the road I was going down and what it would lead to.
“For the next two years — anytime he saw me walking — he’d stop to check in; to make sure I was alright, to ask if I was having trouble; as a boy with no present father.
“For a stranger to do that. It changed my thinking. I went to college and I became a nurse. [He] used to protect us breakers. Always telling us “I see the good you do in the neighborhood”
That, my friends, is community. The good times, the shared connections and the bad times.
Today, I am feeling blessed to be a small part of such an extraordinary community.
Donna Dion was right. We are stronger and better when we realize that unity is a fundamental part of community.
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State Rep. Marc Malon (D-Biddeford) will soon begin his second term representing a portion of Biddeford in the Maine State House of Representatives.
Malon is one of three lawmakers – all Democrats — who make up the city’s legislative delegation. State Rep. Traci Gere is also returning to Augusta and represents Biddeford’s coastal area and the town of Kennebunkport.
State Rep. Ryan Fecteau was chosen by his peers to reprise his role as Speaker of the House following a two-year hiatus after being termed out of office.
State Rep, Marc Malon
Malon, 42, said he is eager to begin his work in Augusta. He was unchallenged for his seat in both the primary and general elections.
During his first term in office, Malon served as a member of the Labor & Housing Committee, and the Veterans & Legal Affairs Committee.
Although committee assignments have yet to be announced, Malon said he is ready to serve wherever needed.
The 132nd Legislature is creating a new Joint Standing Committee this year. The new Housing and Economic Development Committee is a hybrid from a special committee that was formed four years ago to tackle issues surrounding housing.
“Housing is one of the biggest issues facing Maine right now,” Malon said. “I would love to serve on that committee, but I’ll be happy to serve wherever – whether it’s back to the Labor Committee or Veterans & Legal Affairs.”
Because of his day job as director of party affairs for the Maine Democratic Party, some have question whether Malon can effectively avoid an obvious conflict of interest.
I think our delegation did an outstanding job during the last term, and I’m confident that we are going to hit the ground running.
State Rep. Marc Malon
Malon does not shy away from those conversations, and points to his previous service when he worked closely – and effectively — with several Republican lawmakers.
“I certainly understand why my work for the party may give some people a moment of pause,” Malon said. “But I also think it’s important to note that the bulk of the work we do is very bipartisan.”
In a previous interview, Malon explained the sometimes-subtle differences of what actually happens in the Legislature versus the rather partisan headlines that dominate political discussions on the national level.
“Before I decided to even put my name out there as a candidate, I went to the State Ethics Commission for an opinion,” Malon said last year. “Their opinion was that I could do both. To a certain extent, almost everyone in a citizen legislature faces the same concerns. For example, can farmers objectively serve on the Agriculture Committee and so forth?
“I think my professional experience and time working in the State House as a private citizen actually benefits my constituents. When I got elected, I already knew my way around and understood the procedures.
“My employer does not lobby me on any issue that comes before us. I think they know, and I hope my constituents know, that if it ever came down to it, I would choose my constituents over my job.”
Today, Malon says the Legislature is facing several important issues, most notably what has been described as a housing crisis and the struggles with sharply rising property taxes.
“We certainly have our work cut out for us,” Malon said. “I think our delegation did an outstanding job during the last term, and I’m confident that we are going to hit the ground running.”
Malon says that his close friendship with Speaker Fecteau will be a benefit to his constituents.
“Ryan and I have known each other for a while,” Malon said. “But I don’t expect any special treatment. We’re both going to be keeping in close touch with Mayor [Marty] Grohman and the city council.”
“Once again, I firmly believe that Biddeford will be well represented in Augusta,” Malon said.
Editor’s Note: This is the first installment of the Biddeford Gazette’s Local Legislative Preview. Further installments will be focused on State Sen. Henry Ingwersen, State Rep. Traci Gere and Speaker Ryan Fecteau.
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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The Biddeford Gazette learned Tuesday that the city of Biddeford is losing yet another Finance Department director.
According to Mayor Marty Grohman, Sasha Pavlak submitted her resignation letter yesterday. Pavlak provided the city with ample notice. Her resignation will be effective Dec. 31, 2024 Pavlak, hired just a few months ago, was the city’s sixth finance director in just the last five years.
Grohman said Pavlak decided that the job was “not a good fit.” The mayor also said, Pavlak was able to accomplish “many good things for the city.”
Pavlak’s resignation follows on the heels of some chaos in City Hall, including delayed tax and sewer bills and “cash flow” issues. In October, Biddeford City Manager James Bennett announced his own resignation, effective April 26, 2025, roughly 16 months before his contract was set to expire.
Grohman said he is optimistic that city can find a well-qualified persons for both positions. Grohman said the city has issued an RFP (Request for Proposal) in order to hire a national search firm. So far, nine national firms have responded.
On December 10, the Biddeford City Council will host a public workshop to solicit public input about what they want in a new city manager. Grohman said two members of the public will be invited to join selected city councilors in the interview process.
“I think we’re going to land in a good space,” Grohman said, “I’m optimistic. I think we’ll be okay.”
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Biddeford Mayor Marty Grohman said this week that the city may not be included in the review process of a new pier that the University of New England wants to build on the Saco River.
According to city ordinances, such a project generally must first be approved and facilitated by the city’s harbormaster before any other regulatory agency can conduct its own review of the proposal, including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Saco River Corridor Commission.
However, because of actions by the city’s harbormaster and the chair of the Biddeford Harbor Commission, Grohman said the only way for a “fair review of the application” might now include the city withdrawing itself from the review process entirely.
“At this point, they [UNE] are holding all the cards,” Grohman said. “I don’t know how we can get them back to the table.”
On Friday, John Schafer abruptly resigned his position as chair of the Biddeford Harbor Commission.
Schafer told Saco Bay News that he felt “shackled” in his attempt to provide “clarity and transparency” to the discussions surrounding the university’s proposal.
Schafer admits that he should not have played an advocacy role in the review process, but says he was angered by the university’s threat of litigation against the city if their new pier and its specific location is not approved.
According to documents obtained by Saco Bay News, the university began raising threats of litigation months before their pier proposal was formally submitted to the city in June.
“Talk about putting the cart before the horse,” Schafer said. “You had UNE bullying the city with threats of litigation even before they submitted their proposal.”
Several months before the university formally submitted its proposal, Ron Schneider, the university’s general counsel and vice president of legal affairs, sent a letter to the city’s attorney, arguing that the proposed location for the pier was already a “settled issue.”
“It is our position that the planned location of the GMSC Pier is a settled issue,” Schneider wrote. “Mr. Lariviere, and by extension the city, is estopped from reversing course at this time and mandating a different location for the pier.”
In his letter, Schneider says that both Lariviere and former harbormaster Marshall Alexander “specifically told university representatives” in 2015 that the proposed pier should not be built in the location that Lariviere is now suggesting as a more appropriate location.
Lariviere denied Schneider’s assertions about the location of the pier. “That is a complete fabrication,” he said. The harbormaster also says the city’s ongoing actions in removing him and the assistant harbormaster from the approval process violates several state laws.
Grohman says the situation has become a “real mess for the city,” and is causing “unfortunate delays” for the university.
“I’m not sure how we can proceed from this point,” the mayor said during a telephone interview on Sunday.
“There’s really nothing in our ordinances about how to proceed in this situation,” Grohman said. “We have been put into a difficult position.”
Although City Manager James Bennett has previously declined to say whether the university has threatened the city with possible litigation, two letters from Schneider to City Attorney Harry Center make clear that the university is prepared to use litigation if the city does not approve their proposed location for the new pier.
In his Feb. 13 letter, Schneider wrote that Lariviere’s “continued inappropriate obstruction would result in delay that would adversely affect Biddeford, would cause project delay, and would significantly increase expense to the university.”
“It is our sincere hope that UNE is not forced to resort to litigation to avoid the delay and expense that will result if Mr. Lariviere were to insist on obstructing the building of the pier,” Schneider wrote.
Schneider said the university “cherishes its relationship with the city and its people and only wishes to continue being a valuable member of the community.”
Grohman said the University of New England is one of the top-ten academic institutions in the world in field of marine research.
“What they are hoping to do with their pier will result in a lot of positive outcomes,” the mayor said.
As part of his resignation letter to the mayor and all members of the city council, Schafer included a brief video he produced that affirms what the city’s harbormaster, assistant harbormaster and others have been saying about the river depth where the university wants to build its pier.
In the video, depth measurement equipment clearly shows that the river is, in fact, deeper closer to the shore than in the location proposed by the university.
Lack of adequate mooring depth has been one pf the primary concerns raised by Biddeford’s harbormaster in connection to the university’s proposal.
UNE representatives, however, say the water depth is better in their proposed location, citing research from engineering firms they hired to study the issue.
Grohman said he has a high opinion of Schafer and his abilities. “I am sorry to see him step down, but I do think it was the appropriate thing to do,” he said.
“The best and fairest way to move forward may be to have the city withdraw from the approval process and see what other agencies have to say about the project,” Grohman said. “One way or another, we have got to get this thing figured out.”
Although the University of New England earlier this month formally submitted its plan to build a new pier on the Saco River, that plan still remains mired in controversy.
Both the university (UNE) and Biddeford’s harbormaster seem to have their heels dug in regarding how the pier should be built.
Before the pier can be built, the plan must first be approved by the city of Biddeford’s harbormaster. The plan will then also require review and approval by several other agencies, including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Maine Department of Environmental Protection and the Saco River Corridor Commission.
As of press time, it remains unclear how the city will be able to review the proposal because City Manager James Bennett removed both the city’s harbormaster and assistant harbormaster from the review process in May.
Bennett said he removed the harbormasters because he felt they were biased and would not be able to objectively review the application.
In May, Bennett said he would appoint a harbormaster “Pro-Tem,” specifically for reviewing the university’s plan. Last week, Bennett told Saco Bay News he has not yet been able to find a temporary harbormaster to review UNE’s proposal.
“It is taking a bit longer than I anticipated, but we are going to continue our search in order to ensure that the university’s proposal is handled fairly and objectively,” Bennett said. “There are not a lot of people with that kind of experience. So, we need to go back to the drawing board.”
According to documents obtained by Saco Bay News, Bennett reached out to and was then rebuffed by the Maine Harbormasters’ Association when he asked that agency for guidance and suggestions about someone who could review the university’s proposal.
In a June 4 email response to Bennett’s inquiry, Daryen Granata of the Maine Harbormasters’ Association, said Bennett’s desire to appoint a temporary harbormaster was “unprecedented” and would likely be a violation of state law.
“Our board is unaware of any precedent for such a position,” Granata wrote. “Review of the relevant state law contains no provision regarding such a position. To do so would be inconsistent with the explicit state law.”
“The Maine Harbormasters Association discourages you from pursuing a ‘protem’ harbormaster as it is inconsistent with the prevailing law. Instead, we recommend that you work within the review hierarchy laid out in your harbor ordinance.”
Bennett said both he and city attorney Harry Center disagree with the legal opinion given by the association.
Bennett would not say whether he contacted Saco’s harbormaster to help review the application.
Dan Chadbourne, Saco’s harbormaster, said he was told that he should not comment on the controversy surrounding UNE’s proposed pier.
“All I can say is that channel is a joint jurisdiction between the cities of Biddeford and Saco,” Chadbourne said. “At some point, the city of Saco will be involved.”
Why the controversy?
UNE wants to build a pier jutting away from the shore in a perpendicular design and into the channel with a T-shaped configuration. The new pier will be used to dock the university’s marine research vessel in close proximity to their Marine Sciences building on the Biddeford campus.
Biddeford Harbormaster Paul Lariviere said the university’s plan would have a significant impact on existing moorings, navigation and public access. Last year, he shared an alternative proposal with UNE officials.
Lariviere’s alternate design runs parallel to the shore, without jutting into the channel. The university has dismissed the alternate plan, raising concerns about water depth during low tide.
But Lariviere says water depth at low tide is actually deeper closer to the shore in that specific location.
Lariviere says he has nothing personal against the University of New England, and is not attempting to block their attempts to build a new pier for their research vessel.
“They [UNE] have been talking publicly about their plan to construct a new pier for a few years now,” Lariviere said. “My concern has always been about following existing laws, regulations and city ordinances. I took the time to do some research in order to offer them a plan that would better meet their needs and have fewer impacts on public access, navigation, existing moorings and water depth.”
While university representatives maintain that their design is the only one that will give them adequate water depth for docking their research vessel, Lariviere and others say that’s simply not true, pointing to recent data they collected.
“The way the river runs, they (UNE) would be much better off with the alternative I provided them,” Lariviere said. “At mean low tide, there is actually better depth closer to the shoreline than further out in the channel.
“Frankly I don’t understand their adamant objection to the alternative plan we developed,” Lariviere said. “It would probably cost them less money to build, meet all of their stated needs and offer better depth for their vessel. The alternative plan I showed them would have no impacts on existing moorings and would remove concerns about public access and navigation.”
Lariviere said that over the past several months, many people have asked him his thoughts about the university’s plans for a new pier.
“I have just been answering questions people asked me,” Lariviere said. “Of course, I told people that their plan – as presented – would never fly. It’s simply because their plan does not meet existing standards and regulations. It’s not bias. It’s common sense.”
What UNE Says
According to Sarah Delage, a spokesperson for the university, the university’s proposal was rigorously reviewed and designed by engineering and environmental consultants.
Delage said the location of the proposed pier was chosen after expert marine engineers looked at nine potential locations and considered potential impacts to mooring, navigation and environmental concerns.
In their application, the university altered the harbormaster’s proposal. Their design adopts a starting point at a shore location almost identical to what the harbormaster suggested. But the university presented a T-shaped perpendicular design that juts out from that starting point on shore well more than 150 feet into the river, at odds with the harbormaster’s recommendation.
Delage said the alteration was designed to point out the necessary depth that would be required for docking their research vessel.
Although Delage said “there is no physical map or design to represent” the harbormaster’s alternative, the university’s application does include a reconfigured drawing of the harbormaster’s alternative.
Delage says the university was first made aware of the harbormaster’s alternative during an informal meeting at City Hall in October 2023.
That meeting was attended by City Manager James Bennett, Harbormaster Paul Lariviere, UNE President James Hebert and John Schafer, chair of the Biddeford Harbor Commission.
“This was a verbal conversation,” Delage said. “The harbormaster never provided us with a physical alternative design.”
Based on the verbal feedback, Delage says the university then created a diagram of a pier in the location suggested by the Harbormaster to show what a pier would look like if it were designed to reach sufficiently deep water.
“With the assistance of the marine engineers, UNE understood that a pier hugging the shoreline would not reach deep enough water,” Delage said.
Lariviere disputes the claim regarding low tide depth, pointing out that he and several others conducted rigorous depth surveys in that location.
Furthermore, If the university were to adopt the harbormaster’s alternative, Delage said such a pier would have “to be about twice the size” of the alternate design that Schafer shared with the media.
Delage said the alternative plan would be more disruptive to the harbor and unable to accommodate both the university’s research vessel and the city’s fireboat.
“The bathymetric survey information relied on by the engineers to establish water depths comes from work done by Statewide Surveys in 2015,” Delage said.
Delage added that the shoreline elevations are further “corroborated by low-tide aerial imagery available from Maine Office of GIS and an additional imagery service used by GEI (Nearmap), which depict an intertidal zone along the shore, and the low-water location in close agreement with the location identified by on-the-ground land survey.”
Delage said the university’s research was summarily rejected by the harbormaster during another informal meeting at City Hall in January. She said that UNE’s design team and other staff, the city manager, City Councilor William Emhiser and Lariviere and Schafer all attended that meeting.
The cart before the horse?
Even before the regulatory review process has started, the university sought and received commitments of federal funding to help pay for the construction costs.
The university and city manager say that both Lariviere and Schaeffer should not have been making public comments about the proposed pier before the plan was even formally submitted.
Delage said there was a joint meeting of the Harbor Commission and the Shellfish Conservation Commission in February that was not publicly noticed.
“There was no agenda published, and no minutes are obtainable from the city’s website,” Delage said.
In addition to the lack of public notice, Delage says the university did not receive any notice of this meeting, despite the fact that their pier proposal would be discussed.
“Again, UNE has never received a drawing of any kind from the harbormaster specifying his preferred design and location,” Delage said.
Delage says that Schafer, chair of the city’s Harbor Commission, sent email messages to multiple people, including city councilors, indicating that he agreed with the harbor master.
Those actions are the basis of why Lariviere was removed from the review process, according to City Manager James Bennett and City Attorney Harry Center.
The Harbor Commission is the body to whom an applicant must appeal any adverse decision by the harbormaster, Center explained. “You simply cannot present yourself as able to review an application if you have already publicly stated an opinion about that application,” Center added.
“It is my professional opinion that the city would be unable to defend itself in a court hearing if the applicant decides to appeal a decision that was pre-determined before the application was submitted,” Center said.
Schafer said all meetings of the Harbor Commission are open to the public. He also said he rigorously prepares meeting agendas before each meeting and also provides minutes of every meeting to a long list of people at City Hall, including City Clerk Robin Patterson, the designated staff liaison for the Harbor Commission.
Schafer provided Saco Bay News with copies of emails he distributed before and after the joint Feb. 21 meeting with the Shellfish Commission.
“I specifically sent the detailed minutes of that meeting to a whole bunch of people,” Schafer said. “I am a strong supporter of open and transparent government. When I heard that UNE might be considering litigation against the city, I made it my mission to relay what our commission heard from the harbormaster at the Feb. 21 meeting.”
Schafer said every monthly meeting of the Biddeford Harbor Commission includes a standing agenda item entitled “Harbormaster Summary.”
“I had no idea what Paul [Lariviere] was going to say ahead of time,” Schafer said. “But I sure as heck made sure that everyone knew what he said during that meeting. We have never had a meeting without an agenda or detailed minutes.”
According to the meeting minutes that Schafer shared with Mayor Marty Grohman, all members of the city council, Police Chief JoAnn Fisk and the city clerk, Lariviere said he would not be able to approve UNE’s proposal simply because it did not conform to existing regulations.
“Yes, people have asked me questions and my opinion about the university’s plan,” Lariviere said. “There has been a lot of talk about this pier dating back to 2008. People have questions. I have been consistent with my response.”
During a prior interview with Saco Bay News, Alan Thibault, vice president of operations at UNE, said the university’s pier design was included in a master plan that was approved by the Biddeford Planning Board several years ago.
Delage says the university is only asking to have its proposal reviewed fairly and objectively, like any other applicant that goes to the city for an approval.
“No member of the community should have to be concerned that their applications would be rejected in advance,” Delage said.
If the harbor commission has already stated a position, any appeals by the university could be considered futile acts, Delage said.
“In my opinion, a lot of errors have been made,” Schafer said. “But I think it is absolutely critical to remind everyone that no one – – no one – has said that UNE cannot or should not have a new pier. This entire conversation is about where that new pier should be located. That’s it.”
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