At a special meeting last Tuesday, Standish councilors appointed Jeffrey Richardson to serve as Area 4 Council Representative.
A veteran to the council and to town involvement, Richardson fills the seat vacated by Gerald Spencer, who resigned a few months ago because of health reasons.
Richardson chose to leave his position on the SAD 6 Board of Directors to assume the council seat, in which he will serve until the June, 2006 municipal election.
According to Standish Town Manager Gordon Billington, Richardson’s seven years on the council in the 1990s as well as his other service to the town make him well-prepared to step into the position now.
“He brings a wealth of experience back to the council,” Billington said. “He’s a respected member of the community – I look forward to him coming back.”
Although his earlier service on the council, including three years as chair, caused him to feel “kind of burned out,” Richardson is eager to resume his work. But he won’t commit to running for another term in June’s election.
“I have to get back into it and see how much time it will take,” he said.
He is particularly interested in the issues between Standish and the Portland Water District.
“When I went on the council in ’94 or ’95, the relationship was not very good (between Standish and the district),” he said. “We brought in a facilitator and we went through period of eight or 10 years where it was better. We need to look at the long-term goals and objectives between the town and the district.”
Council Chairwoman Cindy Hopkins is excited about Richardson’s return. When she first came on the council, he was the chair. And according to Hopkins, he “served as a mentor to several of the councilors.”
Hopkins will be asking the council to confirm her appointment of Richardson to several committees, including the Appointments Committee and the Ordinance Committee as well as to chairmanship of the Portland Water District Steering Committee.
“He brings that wonderful background and level of expertise,” she said. “He will provide guidance and bring in some new ideas.”
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