Sept. 21. 1983
Raymond M. Foote becomes editor of the American Journal effective with this issue. He continues also to be assistant publisher. Foote succeeds Margo E. Greep, who resigned after more than four years on the staff. After serving as reporter-photographer, she was editor for more than two years. She intends to travel and seek work in Washington or
New York City. Foote, 30, became a full-time member of the staff in 1978, after more than 10 years of part-time work. He has worked in all departments of the paper, including as a reporter, photographer and news editor. He is a graduate of Deering High School and attended Vassar College. He is the son of AJ publisher and Mrs. Harry T. Foote, and lives in Portland.
Westbrook Postmaster Leo Pinette, returning from vacation, said he is interested in the suggestions offered by American Journal readers for “snorkel” mailboxes away from the post office proper. We can’t put them every place,” Pinette said. “We have to collect those boxes, and time is money. But there are some good ideas there and we’re going to look at them. We’ll check them out, and if we’re interested we’ll check with the Police Department before we do anything. I’m particularly interested in the Bridge Street spur and that little turnout there.”
Ronald Usher is out and Charles Malcolm Roma has clear sailing for the Democratic nomination for mayor of Westbrook. That was the picture this week, at least, as lines were being drawn for the Democratic general caucus Sept 25. Usher said he
had decided he wants to continue as state senator and wouldn’t have time for both jobs. Roma said he favors leaving the city clerk spot empty on the Democratic ticket. “I don’t think we can find a better candidate than Bill Clarke (longtime city clerk and a Republican). So far as I’m concerned, he can have the job as long as he wants it.”
The Westbrook Housing Authority let its option on the old high
school-junior high school expire Sept. 1, but still has hopes of
finding a way to convert the property for apartments. The housing authority’s goal was to raise $1,150,000, take over those parts of the building that were vacant or occupied, including the manual training building and the parking lot, install 28 one- and two-bedroom apartments and rent them at rates competitive with private apartments, and without federal rent subsidies. The authority would have paid a full property tax to the city. “It can’t be done that way by the Housing Authority,” James Smith, executive director, said.
Sept. 22, 1993
The City Council will take final action Sept 27 to set salaries of 14 Westbrook city officials for the year that began July 1. All but two are getting a $400 raise for the year, averaging about 1.2 percent. The two who will get the $400 and more are George Googins, public works director, whose rate is scheduled to go up $3,410.50 as another installment in the raise given him when he took over the Forestry Department last year; and John Marcellino, who took over as Parks and Cemeteries director in the middle of last year and is scheduled for a raise of $1,924. The highest paid job, administrative assistant to the
mayor, is not on the list; it will be dealt with separately. Mayor
Fred Wescott is in the late stages of hiring someone for the job, left vacant with the resignation of Peter Eckel this summer.
Former Westbrook Police Chief Carmine Russo and local musician Don Doan are among the three new nominees for custodian positions on the agenda for the Westbrook School Committee meeting. Russo is nominated for lead custodian at the junior high, replacing Jim Reali, who transferred to another position. Doane is tapped for a four-hour-a-day job as custodian for the central office, left vacant by a transfer, and one hour at Canal School. Also nominated is Theresa Harris as general custodian five hours a day for the Home and Family
Living Center, also vacant due to transfers.
Neighbors won a second victory last week over William Gowen’s effort to get land at Duck Pond Corner rezoned. In a 3-3 tie vote, the Westbrook City Council refused to reconsider its 5-2 vote two weeks earlier rejecting the rezoning. In contrast to the well-attended debate two weeks earlier, only two
neighbors were there, Bruce Fifield and William Loring. Gowen came alone. Of those three, only Fifield spoke, and it was a brief speech.
The Westbrook School Committee will give a second-reading vote on buying an engraving machine for the Vocational Center for $14,983.02. Michael Kane, Vocational Center director, described it as a sign maker useful for training marketing education students. It will make sticky-back cut signs used on trucks, banners, engravings on hard surfaces and other customized signs. Asked if it would make signs in
Braille, he said it’s a possibility.
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