City of Biddeford Welcomes New Management Staff

BIDDEFORD — The City of Biddeford is pleased to welcome three new Deputy Department Directors to its staff in Spring 2022.

 Deanne Cray stepped into her role as the Assistant Assessor on April 27. Cray is an experienced municipal assessor, having previously served as the Deputy Assessor for the Town of Bar Harbor and a Property Appraiser at Maine Revenue Services.

“This is a very exciting time to be joining the team in the City of Biddeford’s assessing office,” Cray said. “I’m very grateful for the opportunity to lend my knowledge and experience as we navigate all of the current market fluctuations and positive changes within our city.”

The assessing department will see additional changes in the new fiscal year. After reviewing the needs of each community, the City of Biddeford and Saco Assessing Departments terminated an agreement to have two Assessing staff members split their employment between the two departments. Assessor Nicholas Desjardins will now serve the Biddeford Assessing Department full-time.

“The Assessing Department has gone through a time of transition and opportunity in 2022, and we’re very excited that Deanne will be a part of shaping the future of our Department,” Desjardins said.

 Lisa Thompson joined the Biddeford Recreation Department as Biddeford’s first Deputy Director of Recreation on May 16, a new position approved by the City Council at their April 19 meeting. Thompson has over 20 years in municipal Parks and Recreation experience and has served in Recreation positions for the Town of North Yarmouth, Town of Wiscasset and City of South Portland. In 2019, she was named the William V. Haskell Recreation Professional of the Year by the Maine Recreation and Parks Association.

“I am excited to be working with the dedicated and experienced staff at Biddeford Recreation, and look forward to building positive relationships with residents and families in the community,” Thompson said. “Biddeford has so much to offer as a city and as a place to live, and I look forward to being part of a team that provides quality services and programs in order to enhance the quality of life for its residents.”

“We’re thrilled to have Lisa on board in this new position to help us keep pace with our growing Department,” said Recreation Director Carl Walsh. “Her vast experience in the field of Recreation over the past ten years makes her a great addition to our team.”

 Matthew Grooms, who will start his role as the City Planner on June 13, will also serve as the Deputy Director of Planning and Economic Development. He has most recently served as a Senior Planner for the City of Portland Department of Planning & Urban Development, where he has managed a wide array of development review proposals and policy initiatives.

“As a planning professional, I couldn't be more excited to continue my career journey with the City of Biddeford. Few places exhibit such a unique blend of rich historical context, strong sense of community, and embrace of both innovation and evolution,” Grooms said. “It is a privilege to have been selected for this position, and I look forward to working closely with the community to ensure that future change is in line with Biddeford's vision.”

“It is not often that we get to add so many new perspectives to our management team at one time. I am looking forward to seeing how these talented and forward-thinking leaders will find new ways to meet the needs of our growing community in the coming years,” said City Manager James Bennett.