Biddeford City Manager announces retirement

Biddeford City Manager Jim Bennett has announced his retirement, effective April 18.

Bennett made the announcement at Tuesday night’s City Council meeting. He served as a town selectman in Lisbon from 1982 -1986, and since then has served in municipal management for several Maine communities. Bennett said throughout his career, he’s worked long hours, attended council meetings at night, and relocated his family several times.

He referred to himself as “a change agent,” and said he mostly took positions at communities that were facing significant difficulties, such as those with bad practices that led to financial problems and bad images. In many of these communities, dramatic changes had to be made, he said.

“Being a change agent comes with the realization that not every person will be a fan of the changes or the person who has implemented them. I’m proud that I’ve left every community I’ve served in a better position than when I started. Biddeford is no different,” he said.

Bennett said when he started as City Manager of Biddeford in 2015, there were more than 20 empty storefronts downtown, there was a lot of vacant mill space, and there was no pedestrian activity downtown. He said there was a desire in the city to implement changes, but no centralized plan to achieve them.

“Biddeford is now recognized as the place to be,” he said.

Now, downtown storefronts are occupied, and mill space is better utilized, he said. The city’s valuation has increased, he said. Sidewalk improvements and planters with flowers downtown show the city pride, and Biddeford has been written up in numerous publications.

“Financially the city is as strong as it’s ever been,” he said.

The shortfall in the wastewater budget when he arrived is now nearly eliminated, the city fund balance has increased, and city investments are up, he said.

Mayor Marty Grohman said Bennett had accomplished a lot in his tenure. He said it was very considerate of Bennett to give the City Council and leadership six months to plan for his retirement, and the time was very appreciated.

Saco Bay News Publisher Liz Gotthelf can be reached at newsdesk@sacobaynews.com.