Town of Raymond searching for new Town Manager after Crocker resigns

By Ed Pierce

For the fourth time in 20 months, the Town of Raymond is seeking a Town Manager following the resignation of Joseph Crocker last week.

Raymond Town Manager Joseph
Crocker, who has served in that
position first as interim manager 
since March and then as the
permanent town manager since
May, has resigned and the town
will undertake a new search to
find a replacement.
FILE PHOTO    

Crocker, 37, had formerly served the town as Parks and Recreation Director, and was appointed to the Town Manager position in May succeeding Sue Look, who resigned in March. The Raymond Select Board had then tapped Crocker to serve as the interim Town Manager until a permanent replacement could be hired.

Look had served as Raymond Town Clerk before succeeding longtime Town Manager Don Willard in January 2024 upon his retirement. Willard had been Raymond’s Town Manager for 23 years until he became ill, and while recovering chose to retire from the Town Manager role. Willard was elected in June 2024 to serve on the town’s Budget and Finance Committee for a three-year term.

Originally from Saco, Crocker attended high school at Thornton Academy and then went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in exercise science from Saint Joseph’s College of Maine. He later earned an MBA in sports and recreation management from New England College. Prior to coming to work for the Town of Raymond, Crocker worked in parks and recreation for Saco, Auburn, Kennebunk and Lewiston. In 2020, Crocker was hired to lead Raymond’s fledgling Parks and Recreation Department as director.

Crocker was hired for the Town Manager position after a competitive recruiting and hiring process conducted by HR Maine Consulting, LLC. All told, there were 46 applicants for the town manager position. Nine of those candidates participated in a rigorous essay and pre-screening process, with four candidates moving forward in the panel interview process, consisting of the Raymond Select Board Chair, Vice-Chair, a community member, town department heads, a Town Manager from another community, and Betsy Oulton from HR Maine Consulting.

His contract was for three years at an annual salary of $100,000.

Raymond Select Board Chair Denis Morse posted on the town’s website on Monday that he and all the Select Board members placed “high value” on Crocker as a town employee and that following his resignation, Morse asked him to remain as a town employee “and be a part of our ongoing work to devise a transition plan that included being mentored by an interim town manager.”

Before that could happen, rumors and misinformation began to swirl about Crocker’s departure, Morse said. He says this caused strife, anxiety and discomfort directed at other town employees as well as members of the Select Board.

According to Morse, this behavior, including some public comments made about the situation from former elected town officials “is the opposite of civil discourse and would be unconscionable even if this situation happened to be contentious or controversial, which it is not.”

Morse also posted a letter that the Raymond Select Board had received from Crocker which amended the timeline for his original resignation.

“I will stay on in a capacity to help with the transition to find a Town Manager who will bring experience that will fit the needs of the community,” Crocker wrote in the letter. “If this transition involves a space for me after the search has ended, I would be happy to stay in a different role if it works for everyone involved.”

Crocker said he does not wish any animosity toward the Town of Raymond but prefers to keep the reason he resigned private.

“When you provide services to a small town for so long, they become your friends,” he said. “All I can say is I have given my best effort to make the Town of Raymond better, and all I ask is that our elected officials act in good faith to do the same.” <

New Finance Director joins Town of Raymond

By Kendra Raymond

Brenda Fox-Howard has hit the ground running as the newly hired Finance Director for the Town of Raymond. On board since late August of this year, Howard is busy learning the ropes and getting up to speed on the town’s financial operations.

Brenda Fox-Howard is the new Finance Director
for the Town of Raymond. In her position she
will oversee the town's finances and help to
formulate the town's annual budget.
SUBMITTED PHOTO  

A seasoned veteran working in town government, Howard hopes to integrate her years of experience into her new role.

“I have over 15 years of government financial experience working with different municipalities in and outside of Maine,” she said. “I enjoy the small community feel – it’s just my preference.”

Raymond Town Manager Sue Look said that she is pleased with the addition of Fox-Howard.

“Brenda has jumped in with both feet. She’s doing a fantastic job,” Look said. “We are thrilled to have her.”

Fox-Howard says that she’s optimistic about her new role and is enjoying getting to know folks from all walks of life in Raymond.

“There is a lot of vibrance here. Certainly, a lot of moving parts going on, and that is great,” she said.

She said that she is quite familiar with the area, having served as the interim Town Manager of New Gloucester recently.

As the Town of Raymond’s Director of Finance, Fox-Howard also serves as the town’s Treasurer. She oversees a vast array of financial responsibilities associated with the town’s operations. Fox-Howard says that some of her responsibilities include managing accounts payable and receivable, overseeing payroll and taxes, bank reconciliation, and a lot of general ledger management.

According to the position advertisement, the job description states, “This is a full-time position reporting to the Town Manager and is responsible for all activities and operations of the Finance Department. The Finance Director will be responsible for the collection and disbursement of all municipal funds. Duties include budgeting, investment of funds, financial forecasting, and capital planning. Also invoice payment, payroll management, cash receipts, bank deposits, any other financial transactions. The Finance Director is responsible for the preparation of the town’s annual budget, while working closely with the Town Manager and all department heads. Will also work with financial advisor to prepare for bond financing. Must have the ability to prepare the required reports as mandated by Federal, State, and County agencies and serve as the chief liaison with the accounting firm. Will be responsible for seeking bids for all insurance and administer employee medical insurance enrollment.”

Fox-Howard says that the town is currently conducting an audit, and along with that she is presently working on formulating next year’s budget for review by the Raymond Budget-Finance Committee and the Raymond Board of Selectmen.

She’s happy to report that the current software system used by Raymond is “good to go for many years to come” and the town is working on a new purchase order system.

Originally from Connecticut, Fox-Howard has been a Maine resident for many years. She received her education at Colorado Technical University, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Management. She has previously worked as the director of finance in several towns, including Peterborough, New Hampshire, Putnam, Connecticut, and Winchester, Connecticut. She’s also served as a materials analyst at several companies in Connecticut including General Dynamics Electric Boat Division in Groton, Millstone Nuclear Power Station in Waterford, and Dow Chemical in Gales Ferry, where she was also a rail fleet manager, and as a Financial Manager III for the State of Vermont from 2012 to 2014.

Fox-Howard says she has a positive outlook about her new position in Raymond.

“Everybody has been very nice to work with. It’s such a great group,” she said. “Even though I been very busy, I am enjoying the small-town feel here in Raymond.” <

Congratulations to Windham's new Town Manager Barry Tibbitts

Interim Town Manager, Barry Tibbitts being officially sworn in as the new Windham Town Manger by Town Clerk, Linda Morrill on Wednesday, March 11. He was unanimously voted in by the Town Council on Tuesday evening at the regular meeting.

A big thank you goes to Tony Plante for outstanding service to the Town of Windham

Tony Plante in 2016 celebrating his Stackpole Award

By Lorraine Glowczak

Serving as Windham’s Town Manager since 1996, Tony Plante’s official last day on the job was this past Wednesday, October 10. During his 22 years of service, Plante has provided exceptional leadership with dedication to the community and town staff.

In a previous interview with The Windham Eagle, Town Clerk Linda Morrill expressed her admiration for Plante’s loyalty and devotion to his career. “Being a town manager is not an easy job, and if anyone switched jobs with him they would find that out in a hurry,” Morrill said in 2016. “A manager needs to be on top of everything, 24/7. You need to be dedicated, and Tony is.”

Morrill was interviewed as part of an article written about Plante when he received the Linc Stackpole Manager award of the Year by Maine Town, City and Country Management Association two years ago. (August 19, 2016 edition by Michelle Libby).

The Stackpole award is named for Lincoln Stackpole, who served as town manager in Machias from 1970 until his death in 1977. It recognizes integrity and leadership, and recipients must demonstrate a socially responsible approach towards their community; concern for the well-being, support and growth of their municipal colleagues; and contribution and service beyond their community.

It has been reiterated in recent weeks about Plante’s concern for the well-being of not only the members of the community but for the town staff as well. Police Chief Kevin Schofield stated in the 2016 interview that Plante was a very easy boss to work for. “He gives us a lot of autonomy. He’s very analytical, thoughtful and well spoken. He promotes a family atmosphere within all the departments and employees,” Schofield explained.

Town Councilman, Jarrod Maxfield who has always been a big supporter of Plante stated that he has always admired Plante’s professionalism. “I appreciated his focus and dedication to his work and the community. He was respectful, not only to individuals in the community but to town staff as well.”

Many staff members are sad to see Plante go and have stated that the next town manager will have big shoes to fill. Jen Alvino, Director of the Windham Public Library, shared her thoughts about Plante and his new direction.

“He has so much to offer and whatever he chooses for his new path, I sincerely wish him well,” Alvino began. “Where ever he goes next, those who get to work with him will benefit from his leadership, expertise and knowledge. I will really miss him.”

Donna Chapman, Chair of the Town Council also wishes Plante well. “We all honestly wish the best for Tony as well as the best for his family.”

The community of Windham wishes you luck, Tony Plante, although you won’t need it. Thank you for your many years of service, dedication and extraordinary leadership.