Throughout the 10 years John Bubier has been the top boss for the city of Biddeford ”“ Maine’s sixth most populous city ”“ he’s overseen a lot of changes.
The city manager, who announced last week that he is stepping down from his position, came on board while The Shops at Biddeford Crossing on Route 111 was being built and mill district development ”“ an effort that had gone on for decades ”“ began to gain steam.
Then the 2008 recession occurred.
But even during those tough economic times, plans for the city’s future were in the works: a mill district master plan was created, steps were taken to develop the Biddeford RiverWalk; and outside the city proper, the Robert G. Dodge Business Park was built, which is nearly full to capacity ”“ just to name a few of the goings-on.
Then, as the economy began to improve, so did Biddeford’s fortunes, with Bubier at the helm.
The most significant change came when the city negotiated to purchase, close and remove the Maine Energy Recovery Company waste-to-energy incinerator from downtown.
The closing of that facility in December 2012 was a game-changer for the city center, as new restaurants, residences and businesses were attracted to the mill district and downtown.
This year, the most significant renovation in the mill district will begin with the redevelopment of the Lincoln Mill. This 19th century architectural marvel, a remainder from the city’s booming textile past, will see new life as it is turned into a boutique hotel, new residences and two restaurants.
Bubier has had a hand in all these developments.
And he will continue to.
When Bubier announced he was stepping down from the city manager position, he also said he wouldn’t be leaving Biddeford city government altogether.
It was later learned that the city had negotiated a contract to keep Bubier around for at least three more years.
For $75,000 per year.
With no public discussion of the new position.
Bubier’s new job is as a special projects assistant to the mayor and City Council, focusing on economic development.
Tasks will likely include continuing to assist with development of the mill district, work with state agencies to help secure funds for the city, lobby for city interests in Augusta and more.
While Biddeford is on the cusp of growing in significant ways and such a position ”“ in addition to an economic and community development director, a contracted grant writer, and a soon-to-be-hired new city manager ”“ may be needed, it would have been nice to have had a public vetting before the new position was a done deal.
The negotiations and confirmation of the contract were conducted behind closed doors, most likely during executive sessions of the City Council.
There is nothing in the city charter that City Clerk Carmen Morris is aware of to prevent the council and mayor from creating and filling this position the way they did, she said.
However, not everything that is allowable is necessarily the right thing to do, especially in the eyes of the taxpayers who are ultimately ponying up for Bubier’s salary.
According to Mayor Alan Casavant, the new position will be funded primarily through tax increment financing ”“ money from new valuation that goes into a special pot rather than the general fund, the fund that the rest of Bubier’s paycheck will be paid from.
It would have been nice to know that such a position was being considered. In addition, although Bubier might ultimately have been the right choice ”“ he already knows all about Biddeford and no training period is necessary ”“ maybe a public search should have been done.
Finally, the announcement of creating this position would have been the perfect time to talk about all the good that’s going on in Biddeford and why this $75,000 investment was necessary and would more than pay for itself because of the economic development it would bring to the city.
John Bubier knows a lot about Biddeford. He has overseen the city through a recession and during a time when it appears to be turning a corner to a new era of growth and prosperity. Hopefully, he will prove his worth with more and greater progress for the city. Hopefully, the questions of the how and why this new position was created will fade into the background and people will recognize that it was in fact a good call.
— Dina Mendros is a Maine native, having lived in Saco most of her life, and is the associate editor of the Journal Tribune, where she has worked for more than eight years.
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