Select Board welcomes interim Town Manager, considers FY22 goals, and discusses professional support for Economic Development and Sustainability Committee.
Select Board will be voting on priorities for FY22 at the September 7 meeting. During August 17 meeting, members listed their top goals for the upcoming year. Brian Sites (Chair) will consolidate the list for members to vote on at next meeting. There was overlap with several of the goals, including addressing senior housing and tax assistance, supporting business development and growth, and reviewing budgeting process.
Community comments were brief and touched on working towards tax relief for seniors and criticism of TIF. Frustrations were voiced regarding school board accountability to the town. Forward looking topics included anticipation of American Recovery Act moneys and the Old Town House Relocation Project.
Select Board introduced the interim town manager, Chris Bolduc, who is also the Assistant Town Manager for Cumberland. Bolduc will provide part-time support to NY while the Select Board conducts its search for a permanent replacement for Rosemary Roy, who submitted her resignation in July, following three months personal leave. Bolduc has 30 years of experience with Cumberland. Formerly Rescue Chief, he currently oversees much of the town operations including Parks, Public Works, Valhalla Golf Course, and all large capital infrastructure projects. He enters this role with the full support of Cumberland and town staff. Bolduc will be posting office hours when he will be in North Yarmouth. Residents are also welcome to schedule an appointment to speak with Bolduc. SB formally voted to transfer official duties to Bolduc.
Other business for the evening included approval of contract with Maine Municipal Association (MMA) to conduct town manager candidate search at a cost of $6,400. MMA will meet with Select Board to do a needs assessment regarding the town manager position and will support the Select Board through the entire search and interviewing. The process will begin Sept 1 and is expected to take several months to complete. Currently, 29 other communities are looking to for a town manager. MMA is confident they will be able to find someone in a 3-6 month timeframe. Next steps, such as choosing interview candidates and interviewing process, are yet to be confirmed.
The remainder of the meeting focused on disagreements about town’s role in regards to developing business. Kit Maloney outlined the Economic Development and Sustainability Committee (EDSC) outstanding projects and professional service needs to support that work. This was in response to Select Board decision on July 20 to not renew contract with Vanessa Farr of Maine Design Works. Maloney acknowledged the Board’s hesitancy to approve an extended term contract. However, she emphasized the town is in need of support to implement improvements approved at Town Meeting and guidance for prospective businesses. Maloney proposed the Select Board consider a modified term to the Maine Design Workshop contract to address current projects and cover gap until a replacement planner is hired.
Related Story: July 20 Select Board Meeting
Select Board member, David Reed, has been outspoken in his disapproval of Maine Design Workshop. Residents critical of the recent development in North Yarmouth link much of the change to Farr.
Reed asked, “What projects would EDSC not be able to do, right now successfully, if this contract isn’t renewed in some way, shape or form?”
Maloney responded, “Just to clarify, I am not even proposing to renew the contract. I am proposing to amend it to give some coverage.” She further stated, “In terms of the EDSC project list, it’s almost not as important as it is to understand that this professional support helps us with the things that were approved at Town Meeting for the use of the TIF money and to help Public Works execute.” According to Maloney, the primary benefit of a planner or economic development consultant is to attract the businesses North Yarmouth wants, providing guidance and networking for prospective businesses.
Reed stated he did not think it was the town’s responsibility to directly help businesses. Rather, the town should be focusing on creating an environment for businesses to thrive with good infrastructure and lower taxes.
Maloney countered businesses do indeed need advisory support to navigate the process and to connect with resources such as available land or developers.
Residents Beau Burgau and Byron Kern outlined their perceptions and experiences as potential business owners. Both stated their consideration of North Yarmouth as a viable business location was due to Maine Design Workshop. Regardless of whether the town chooses to use Farr, even on an as needed basis, Burgau and Kern attested that having consulting resources was key to the new business development process.
Alicia Dostilio recommended the SB review the charge for the EDSC. Sites confirmed this needs to be done. EDSC currently does not have a clear mission or goal and has been working solely in conjunction with Maine Design Workshop. Sites also confirmed that individual Board members have done some preliminary searches for other consultant options, but the SB has not started a formal search.
Steve Palmer cautioned that in this process we consider the message a “reset” gives to businesses looking to establish in North Yarmouth. Palmer is concerned that this reset could set the town back significantly.
Select Board Vice Chair, Jim Moulton, responded, “I guess it depends on how you’re looking at the problem.” He acknowledged opinions will differ. Moulton considered the approach as methodical and responsible. Money is in the budget and should be used to hire a professional based on town’s needs. Moulton stated the Board is committed to transparency.
Diane Morrison, former EDSC Chair, stated her reason for resigning from EDSC was due to lack of support and professional resources. Morrison faulted the Boards decision to not renew contract with Maine Design Workshop. Morrison insisted that to achieve the goals the SB is considering, Farr would be needed. Morrison did not believe anyone currently on the Board had the skills needed to support commercial development in North Yarmouth. Hiring Farr for a limited contract was “a no-brainer, a win-win for the town.”
Anne Graham questions whether the decision to not rehire Farr will jeopardize PACTS grant and future federal revenue, as it will signal to the state that North Yarmouth is “stumbling.” Graham advocated to contract with Farr for a modified term to “wrap up some of the work that has been done and move forward.” Graham urged the Select Board to “take some reasonable, rational steps as opposed to cutting a contract that has been valuable to this community.”
Kate Perrin touted the success of her business. Yet when considering where to build her company facility, she ultimately chose not to place it in North Yarmouth as she did not consider it a stable place to invest. She characterized the conflicting opinions as a “viper den.”
Mike Mallory highlighted hiring a professional planner will not necessarily guarantee beneficial economic development. What he considered mistakes related to recent town development within the TIF limits future potential for the town.
Bill Young supported the Select Boards decision. Young argued North Yarmouth needs professional guidance regarding the TIF and development. A reset would allow the town to clarify “What is the plan?” The extent of residential development within the village center limits any other potential for commercial options. “We need a plan to have some planning.”
Sites summed the discussion by stating the Board will not take action at this point. Sites thanked Maloney and the EDSC. He closed, “We need to have some tangible things to react to, and if we can plug Vanessa into those things, then that is a different discussion."
Further discussion will be needed to identify projects.