| Joanne Cole |
At a brief meeting on November 4, the Select Board formally accepted “with deepest regret” the resignation of Fire Rescue Chief Craig Bouchard, talked logistics for the December 8 visit by Wreaths Across America to the Veterans Monument, and decided to defer discussion about the Pineland TIF’s expiration in 2031.
Fire Rescue Chief Craig Bouchard resigns; Deputy Chief Hale Fitzgerald to serve as Interim Chief. New Gloucester is once again putting up the Help Wanted sign, as Fire Rescue Chief Craig Bouchard is headed to Lisbon. At the November 4 meeting, the board formally accepted Bouchard’s resignation “with deepest regret,” as member Colleen Strickler proposed. “Absolutely,” said Chair Dustin Ward, echoing the sentiment.
Manager Bill Kerbin described Bouchard’s departure as a loss to New Gloucester and thanked him for his “service to the town and for his sound leadership of the department.” Deputy Chief of Operations Hale Fitzgerald has agreed to serve as Interim Chief as of November 16, Kerbin told the board. Meanwhile, an ad is up and a search committee for a permanent chief is in the works.
Bouchard joined New Gloucester Fire Rescue in 2019, later serving two lengthy stints as Interim Chief after appointed chiefs came and went.
By the time of his own appointment as Chief in late June 2023, Bouchard had attained more than 25 years’ experience in the fire service and had earned the enthusiastic backing of New Gloucester department members. They specifically and publicly credited him with improving departmental morale and professionalism.
Notably, Bouchard also led NGFR in collaborating with surrounding towns on training and mutual aid, as well as partnering on community safety initiatives in New Gloucester. Projects included working with the Red Cross and volunteers from BLING (Building Livability in New Gloucester) to install free smoke alarms and in distributing free “File of Life” emergency health kits.
NGX’s Debra Smith talked with Bouchard this summer about the department’s successes and challenges, as well as the changing landscape of emergency response. Read Smith’s story here.
Pineland TIF discussion deferred. The board had a letter from Mike O’Donnell of John E. O’Donnell and Associates, assessors for New Gloucester, responding to members’ questions about the financial implications of the Pineland TIF expiring in 2031. Board members agreed to table the topic until O’Donnell could attend and provide context.
As Pineland has grown, its increased property valuation since the TIF was created in 2000—previously sheltered—will ‘count’ when the State computes what New Gloucester is entitled to in revenue-sharing and, presumably, New Gloucester’s share of MSAD 15 expenses and Cumberland County taxes. O’Donnell pegged that sheltered sum at $27 million for 2024 and suggested that the Maine Municipal Association and MSAD 15 would be better positioned to calculate specific impacts. Manager Bill Kerbin reached out to both but doesn’t yet have answers.
Wreaths Across America visit traffic plan. The board approved a plan to divert traffic away from the segment of Lewiston Road/Route 100 by the Veterans Monument when Wreaths Across America stops for a brief ceremony on December 8. Northbound and southbound cars will detour onto Bald Hill Road and Upper Village Street, which runs behind Link’s.
Janine Roberts, Law Enforcement Liaison for Wreaths Across America, was in the Meetinghouse and provided details about timing and logistics. Tractor trailer trucks carrying wreaths bound for Arlington National Cemetery will continue on to Portland without stopping, while other vehicles will pause for the ceremony in the Upper Village. She anticipates an escort party of between 70 and 100 people.
The ceremony will include an Amvets and Legion honor guard and remarks from Tom Blake providing historical context, organizer Jean Libby told the board. Parking will be available at McCann Fabrication, Lyn’s Spring Service and other locations on the Veterans Monument side of Route 100.
In other news… The Library will be closed November 20 and 21 for further mold remediation work, Manager Bill Kerbin said. He also told the board that no one has applied for the Planner position, vacant since Kathy Tombarelli resigned in August. Kerbin is exploring contracting out planning services on an interim basis.
View video of the November 4, 2024, Select Board meeting at this link. Find contact information for Select Board members and links to meeting agendas, minutes and related documents at this link.
