Raymond residents start to receive revaluation notices

By Erin Rose

Raymond residents have started to receive notices informing them that their property’s value has changed and prompting concerns about an increased property tax burden, but town officials urge caution as the ultimate tax rate is still to be determined.

Raymond residents are receiving notices that their property's
value has changed, but town officials say the town's ultimate
tax rate has yet to be determined. PHOTO BY ED PIERCE 

The town conducted a reassessment of properties in the municipality, determining their value based on the land’s current status, including size, condition, location, and features. The valuation also considers comparable sales of nearby properties. The data is used by officials to determine the entirety of taxable property in the town and establish the tax rate, also known as the mill rate, for the upcoming fiscal year.

“People should not assume that if their property value doubled, that their taxes are going to double,” said Curt Lebel, Assessor’s Agent for Raymond. “That’s not the case. In the end, we’re going to have more than double the property value with which to distribute the property tax, which is going to move that tax rate down.”

Many residents’ assessments went up significantly, representing the change in property values in the period since the last revaluation was completed in 2005. The process of establishing a current value enables the town to redistribute the existing tax base to ensure that property owners are paying an equitable share of the overall tax burden.

“What it does is change how that tax pie is sliced, so it reapportions individual taxes according to market value,” Lebel said. “It resets equity and redistributes the tax according to the Maine constitution. It reshuffles how much of the tax burden each property is going to absorb.”

Concerned residents are encouraged to review the details provided in the letters informing them of their updated property valuation, as those details will have a significant impact on their taxes once the tax rate is established.

“We’ve asked residents to look at their property cards to make sure the information is correct, to look at their comparable neighbors to make sure they fall in line with them, and to look at the actual sales in the marketplace to be able to get a sense as to what similar properties in their area are selling for,” Lebel explained. “It’s going to be one of the drivers of their tax, so we want that value to be right. What the tax ramifications are, that will come later. The first thing to do is to say, ‘is the value reasonable given the current market and what other people are paying?’”

As a Raymond resident of 35 years, Laurie Wallace said that property values have changed significantly in the time since the last reassessment, especially after COVID-19, and the updated valuations reflect that.

“I think it is something that is long overdue, and we’re paying for that in a big way,” she said. “It’s been 20 years since the last revaluation, so of course values are going to feel significantly higher.”

While many residents fear a major increase in their property tax bill, the evaluation will not necessarily mean an increase in their annual payment. The reassessment is the first step in the process of determining each property owner’s fair share of the town’s overall tax burden.

The revaluation was done by KRT Appraisals, a Massachusetts mass appraisal firm based in Haverhill, and one that has completed such reviews in almost 30 different communities in Maine. The firm was selected through a Request for Proposal process that invites businesses to submit bids for services to be provided to the town.

“They actually worked on revaluations with Vision Appraisal in the last tax cycle,” Lebel said. “The appraiser who is doing the appraisals for Raymond this year did the appraisal work in 2005. He’s familiar and even has his materials from 20 years ago, so he didn’t come in blind. They knew the town coming in and had a good base of knowledge.”

Once KRT has finalized the valuations, expected to be completed in September, they will be issued to the town, and the Raymond Select Board will then calculate the tax rate for the 2026-2027 year. In late September, tax bills will be issued to residents, with the first payment being due on Monday, Nov. 2.

The town’s tax rate is developed though a simple calculation. The portion of the municipal budget that is funded through the payment of property taxes is divided by the town’s total taxable value, as determined by the town’s Assessors, using the revaluation data, to determine the tax rate.

“At the end, we take the total amount of the school, county and municipal budget that needs to come from property tax, and then we divide that by the total taxable value of the property,” Lebel explained. “That yields a tax rate. And then we apply that tax rate out to the individual property to arrive at their tax distribution.”

Wallace urges residents to wait for the town to establish its next budget and mill rate before attempting to calculate their new tax burden.

“I get the concern,” she said “I’m retired and living on a fixed income with my husband. And I’m not panicking yet. There is no reason to panic, and soon enough we will know for sure. If you look at the letter and the town’s website, you’ll see that they even say that this is not your taxes.

She also encourages people concerned about their new valuation to research how KRT came up with that number and make sure that the firm was accurate as to the characteristics of their property.

“KRT is making reasonable efforts to have people speak to them and work with them on those details if they feel something is wrong,” Wallace said, adding that if the number of bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchens or the size of the property is incorrect, it will impact the calculations. “It’s a calculation so the data against which they’re calculating has to be right. If you did not allow them to come in, or they came in and took the wrong notes, if there’s an error on the valuation card, it’s worth talking to them about.”

Residents can also use the KRT website to view their value summary, data, and general revaluation information, and can see the assessments of other similar properties to help compare.

“We can’t know everything about every property,” Lebel said. “If there’s things we need to know about a particular property, sometimes it’s good to have the owners come in and give us the layout of what’s going on that particular property, so we can make adjustments.”

KRT is providing opportunities for concerned residents to discuss their valuations with the firm, both over the phone and in person at the Raymond Broadcast Studio on Webb Mills Road. Informal hearings can be scheduled by following the details provided in the revaluation letter or by calling KRT at 855-228-4033 but representatives will not be able to discuss residents’ potential tax rates at those hearings.

The firm used a mass appraisal method to use data to determine the property values, instead of reviewing each property individually. The analytical tool estimates market value for a type of building, such as single-family homes “by relating sale prices to property characteristics such as square footage, age, location, condition and lot size” according to a presentation prepared by Lebel’s office. “The model is calibrated using recent verified sales … then applied uniformly across the whole population of properties.”

“I think the model that they’ve created is working really well,” Lebel said, noting that KRT communicates with the town regarding issues that residents are raising during meetings with the firm.

The town was required by state law to conduct the revaluation at this time, as property tax laws require that a town conduct a revaluation if its property assessments fall to below 70 percent of market value to ensure the tax burden is spread fairly among residents. In the 2025-2026 fiscal year, Raymond’s average assessment was in the range of low to mid 40 percent.

“The Maine constitutional requirement that all taxes be apportioned equally according to just value” Lebel said. “The legislature added standards on the statutory level. During the past few years, especially during the pandemic, the market value accelerated quite fast and the assessments didn’t change so we came out of compliance in terms of the assessment ratio.”

Raymond residents with questions are encouraged to follow the guidance in the revaluation letters mailed to each property. There is also additional information listed on the town’s website, https://www.raymondmaine.gov/pages/property-revaluation-project-1. <

Raymond voters to weigh short‑term rental ordinance aimed at balancing tourism and neighborhood peace

By Dina Mendros

As short‑term rentals continue to expand across Maine’s lake communities, Raymond residents will soon vote on a proposed ordinance designed to regulate the fast‑growing industry. Supporters say the measure would protect neighborhood character and ensure accountability, while critics argue it adds unnecessary oversight for responsible property owners.

Raymond residents will vote on June 9 on a proposed
Short-Term Rental Ordinance that would establish a
comprehensive registration and enforcement system
for any dwelling rented for fewer than 30 consecutive
days to ensure they operate safely and responsibly.
PHOTO BY ED PIERCE 

The proposed Short‑Term Rental (STR) Ordinance was placed on the warrant by a 2–1 vote of the Raymond Select Board and will be voted on by residents June 9. It outlines a comprehensive registration and enforcement system for any dwelling rented for fewer than 30 consecutive days and Select Board Vice Chair Kaela Gonzalez said the goal is not to eliminate STRs but to ensure they operate safely and responsibly.

“A Short‑Term Rental is defined as a permanent dwelling unit that is rented to guests for a period of time less than thirty consecutive days for compensation,” Gonzalez explained. “STRs must register annually, provide septic data, and proof of insurance. Some of the rules include providing a 24‑hour emergency contact, occupancy limits, off‑street parking, and displaying Good Neighbor guidelines.”

Raymond, like many Maine towns, has seen a surge in short‑term rentals as platforms such as Airbnb and Vrbo attract seasonal visitors. The ordinance’s stated purpose emphasizes the town’s desire to preserve “the peace and quiet character of residential neighborhoods” while acknowledging that many property owners rely on rental income.

“To preserve the fabric of residential neighborhoods and to protect the safety of existing residents and visitors, the Town of Raymond believes the operation of short‑term rentals must be monitored,” the draft ordinance reads. It goes on to stipulate that the proposal aims to “balance the desires of the property owners who wish to rent their properties… with the desire for residents wishing to preserve the character of their residential neighborhoods.”

Gonzalez says that Raymond is not alone in pursuing STR regulation.

“Many municipalities are creating and passing similar ordinances,” she said. “The Select Board directed the Planning Board to create a draft ordinance. After a lengthy process with the Planning Board, it was brought to the Select Board for consideration.”

If approved, all STR owners – existing and new – would be required to register annually with the town.

Registration would include:

• An application and fee

• Septic system information or proof of public sewer connection

• Evidence of insurance

• An inspection by the Code Enforcement Officer

A registration certificate would list the approved occupancy and must be displayed inside the rental.

The ordinance also outlines performance standards. Occupancy would be capped at two overnight guests per legal bedroom or the septic system’s permitted capacity, whichever is lower. Owners must provide off‑street parking for all guests and supply a local emergency contact able to respond promptly. Subletting and event hosting that interferes with parking would be prohibited.

The ordinance establishes a complaint process through the town’s Code Enforcement Officer, who would maintain records and determine whether violations warrant suspension or revocation of a registration. Violations - such as operating without registration, excessive noise, trash issues, or advertising higher occupancy than allowed - could result in fines, with each day counting as a separate offense.

Supporters say this structure gives residents a fair and accessible way to address problems.

The Raymond Short‑Term Rental Initiative, a local advocacy group, argues that the ordinance “restores accountability to you, the environment and the community.” The group says that with the ordinance in place, “the town has a way to collect critical data on this expanding industry, provide guidelines for them to follow, and recourse if they fail to operate properly.” They emphasize that residents would finally have “a method of recourse that won’t cost you a fortune to pursue if you’re being negatively impacted and ignored by an unresponsive STR owner with deep pockets or their unruly customers.”

The group also contends that responsible STR owners stand to benefit: “These minimum standards will improve the industry in town, allowing owners to charge a premium and promote the continuity that standards bring to the market.”

As Raymond prepares for its vote, residents face a choice that will influence the town’s character, economy, and quality of life for years to come.

The complete text of the proposed short-term rental ordinance can be found online in the Raymond Voter Guide at raymondmaine.gov/news/voter-guide. Voting takes from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, June 9 at the Jordan-Small Middle School Gymnasium at 423 Webbs Mill Road in Raymond. Also on the ballot are Municipal Election of Officers, Select Board (two 3-year terms; one 1-year term to fill a vacancy), Budget-Finance Committee (one 3-year term; two 1-year terms to fill vacancy) and RSU 14 Board of Directors (one 3-year term); the Annual Town Warrant; RSU 14 Budget Validation; and the State Primary. <

Poised for permanent role, Raymond’s interim town manager reflects on first months on job

By Dina Mendros

Raymond has weathered a turbulent stretch in town leadership, cycling through four town managers in just two years. Interim Town Manager Glenn Michalowski hopes to bring that instability to an end – and to put down long‑term roots in the community.

On Feb. 3, the Raymond Select Board voted to offer Interim
Town Manager Glenn Michalowski the position permanently,
pending final approval of an employment agreement at an
upcoming meeting, He joined the Town of Raymond in
November on an interim basis after serving as the
Lisbon Town Manager. SUBMITTED PHOTO  

After longtime Town Manager Don Willard retired in January 2024, former Town Clerk Sue Look stepped into the role. She resigned in March 2025 and was succeeded by former Parks and Recreation Director Joseph Crocker. When Crocker announced his resignation in the fall, Michalowski, who had been the other finalist during that hiring process, was appointed interim town manager and began work in November. On Feb. 3, the Select Board voted to offer him the position permanently, pending final approval of an employment agreement at an upcoming meeting.

Originally from New Jersey, Michalowski said he is grateful to be in Raymond, which he called “an incredibly beautiful community … a special place with tremendous natural resources.”

But what has impressed him the most, he said, is the people. “The dedication of the staff, residents, and elected officials stands out. I arrived during a period of transition, following some leadership gaps over the prior 18 months,” Michalowski said. “I found an organization that was fundamentally stable and a community that was welcoming and eager to move forward. That collective commitment has made the work both meaningful and enjoyable.”

Raymond is a shift from the larger communities where he previously worked, most of which operated under a council‑manager form of government. From 2014 to 2018, he led a regional shared‑service paratransit organization serving five towns in Morris County, New Jersey, while earning a master’s degree in public administration from Rutgers University. He later served as assistant business administrator in Maplewood, New Jersey, a community of about 25,000 residents. After moving to Maine in 2021, he became Lisbon’s first assistant town manager in 2022 and then town manager from October 2022 until November 2025.

“Transitioning to a traditional New England town meeting form has been the biggest change – and a positive one,” he said. “I genuinely enjoy the direct democracy aspect, where citizens serve as the legislative body. It can mean a more deliberate process, but it also creates flexibility and strong community ownership of decisions.”

Maine’s strong home‑rule tradition, he said, offers municipalities meaningful local authority compared to states with more restrictive frameworks.

Since arriving in Raymond, Michalowski’s primary focus has been the Fiscal Year 2027 budget. “Beyond the budget, we are working on standardizing internal procedures, strengthening training and HR functions, finalizing the fire union contract, establishing the Jordan‑Small Middle School Committee and Comprehensive Plan Implementation Committee, and supporting department heads and the Select Board in achieving their priorities,” he said. “Equally important has been relationship‑building: meeting with residents, community stakeholders, and regional partners. After budget season, I look forward to expanding community engagement efforts.”

He acknowledges that Raymond faces challenges, though none he considers alarming. Rising external costs, particularly in solid waste and recycling, remain a concern. The town is also completing its revaluation this spring and ensuring that residents understand the process will be important. More broadly, he said, municipalities across Maine and the country are grappling with an aging workforce and fewer people entering public service.

“Retaining and developing the talent we have is a long‑term concern for local government everywhere,” Michalowski said.

Still, he sees significant opportunities ahead. “There are meaningful opportunities to capture additional grant funding and federal resources,” he said. Recent census changes have positioned Raymond to qualify for both urban and rural funding streams, especially for highway and infrastructure projects. “Those urban classifications may also create opportunities related to public transportation funding, which I would like to explore further.”

Despite the town’s recent leadership turnover, Michalowski is optimistic. “Trust is built over time and through consistent action. By supporting staff, maintaining transparency, and focusing on steady progress, we will continue to strengthen confidence with our neighbors.” So far, he said, “the atmosphere has been positive and collaborative. Staff have been engaged, and morale appears strong.”

Michalowski and his wife have family ties to Maine, and they’re eager to settle in with their two dogs, Fern and Pepper. He’s also looking forward to enjoying his favorite pastimes – backcountry skiing, sailing, fly fishing, and exploring Maine’s mountains and waterways.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to serve Raymond,” he said. “My focus is on steady, professional management; supporting the Select Board’s policy direction; and ensuring the town is well positioned for the future.” <

Year in Review: Part Two

By Ed Pierce 

2025: A year of new opportunities and moving forward

Bill Diamond of Windham, a longtime legislator, educator,
business owner and child welfare advocate, died Aug. 31 at
the age of 80. He co-founded Windham Neighbors Helping
Neighbors to provide heat assistance to those in need and
the Walk A Mile In Their Shoes Foundation to end 
child homicide in Maine.  FILE PHOTO  

JULY

July 4’s top story was about Raymond’s new Code Enforcement Officer Jason Williamson, who had been serving as the town’s assistant Code Enforcement Officer, but was promoted to his new position after Chris Hanson was selected to the Raymond Select Board in June. A graduate of the University of New Hampshire with a background in carpentry and building, Williamson says he finds his code enforcement job to be both challenging and rewarding. “The biggest challenges, I would say are when you’re dealing with some issues that crop up with neighbors,” he said. “It seems like you’re taking sides … but you’re really trying to be fair and not infringe on anybody’s rights.” Getting people to see the other side’s point of view “can be extremely difficult,” he said. An important part of the job, Williamson says, has to do with enforcing shoreline zoning and protecting the waterways, as much of the building that takes place in Raymond is along or near lakes. “Protecting the water quality, making sure and informing homeowners when they are doing projects in and around the lakes and showing them how to do it in a manner that’s going to be respectful to the lake,” is one of his biggest responsibilities. Williamson said, “Everybody wants to do what they want with their property, but most people understand that there’s a responsibility of being down by the water. When you get people who understand is the most rewarding, I would say.”

The top story for July 11 reported on the Town of Raymond’s intention to apply for a grant later this summer to help the town prepare for climate change. The Raymond Select Board conducted a workshop where residents and Select Board members discussed priorities of how the grant, if approved, could be best be put to use. During the workshop, which was led by Lucy Perkins of Siler Climate Consulting, community members were invited to share their thoughts about how the town could use grant funding to make the town more resilient in planning for climate change. Funds can be used to support projects that reduce energy use and costs and make communities more resilient to climate change effects, such as flooding, extreme weather, drought, and public health impacts. The town of Raymond has contracted with Siler Climate Consulting, together with North Star Planning, for assistance in enrolling in the Community Resilience Partnership, a program under the Maine Governor’s Office of Policy Innovation and the Future and applying for a Community Action Grant that would range between $50,000 and $75,000. The grants are funded through a mix of federal and state sources. According to Perkins, so far 263 Maine municipalities have enrolled in the program, which encompasses about two-thirds of the state’s population; and a large percentage of those communities have received funding.

July 18’s top story was about Windham High School graduate Brady Afthim, who has dreamed of playing Major League Baseball since he was a child competing in Windham Little League. His dream took a step closer when the Cincinnati Reds selected him in the 13th round of the 2025 MLB Draft with the 384th pick this week. A right-handed pitcher who dominated opponents while playing for Windham High School, Afthim, 22, was the closer for the University of Connecticut Huskies after graduating from WHS in 2021. At Windham, he was honored as Maine Gatorade Player of the Year, was USA Today Player of the Year in Maine, and was recognized as First Team All-Southern Maine Athletic Association as both a pitcher and a catcher. He also won the John Winkin Award designating him as the top senior high school baseball player in Maine in 2021 and he was named as the recipient of the 2021 Mr. Baseball in Maine Award. This year as a senior, Afthim closed out his college career as second in UConn history with 92 appearances. He was tied for 8th place overall in team history with 17 career saves and he posted the lowest opponent batting average in Huskies’ history at just .211. Afthim also had a career-low 2.45 ERA, earned nine saves and had two wins as the team’s closer. In 22 appearances, he racked up 53 strikeouts. Afthim signed with Cincinnati and played for its Rookie League team in Goodyear, Arizona and was promoted to its Single-A affiliate at Daytona Beach in the Florida State League by the end of the season.

The top story for July 25 was about Mason Hall, 11, a skilled artist who has been honored as the first-ever winner of the Finance Authority of Maine’s (FAME) “Design Your Dream Money Contest.” The contest was created this spring and intended to help raise awareness of the importance of teaching financial skills to younger students in partnership with the Alfond Scholarship Foundation. Students in first grade through sixth grade were invited to create their own $500 bill using a template created by FAME. Hall was a student in Lynne Latham’s fifth-grade classroom at Jordan-Small Middle School this past spring and he joined his classmates in learning about basic financial education, capped off by the students entering FAME’s “Design Your Dream Money Contest.” During a school assembly before classes let out for the summer in June, Jordan-Small Middle School students cheered when Hall was announced as this year’s “Design Your Dream Money” contest winner. For his winning design, Hall received an Amazon gift card and a box of prizes including a T-shirt with his $500 bill design printed on it. “I was really surprised by winning,” he said. “I truly felt like I accomplished something.”

AUGUST

Aug. 1’s top article told the story of Brysen Sheridan of Raymond, 10, whose dream of building his own boat and taking it out on the water came true. He spent more than 10 months designing his own boat and working to pay for materials to build it. The son of Rob and Chanelle Sheridan of Raymond, Brysen came up with the idea for a small boat last fall. “I just had the idea and wanted to make it happen,” he said. “I thought of the idea before bed one night and I drew it out and started making it the next day.” He first had to figure out how to pay for the building materials he needed to construct the boat and then saved to purchase them. Throughout the winter, Brysen shoveled snow from driveways and sidewalks for his neighbors and helped them with yard work. As the weather slowly warmed up this spring, he earned some additional money from mowing lawns and stacking firewood. Working steadily in his family’s garage and outside in his yard from his initial design, the boat project began to take shape. The project was wrapped up on July 11 and resulted in a vessel measuring about 6 feet by 2 feet. He named his new boat “the unsinkable” and tested it out with his family watching to ensure it was safe to be out on the water. During the summer, Brysen has taken his younger brother Bennett (Benny), 5, out on the water for a fishing trip on “the unsinkable” on a small cove near Jordan Bay in Raymond. “You can do whatever you put your mind to,” he said. “I’d tell other kids wanting to build a boat to stick with it even if it’s hard.”

The top story for Aug. 8 reported how a Windham family had their faith tested and strengthened their resolve when their 22-year-old son, who was working as an electrician and was installing solar panels on a roof in Kingfield, suddenly fell 20 feet to the ground and sustained multiple breaks in his T-11 vertebrae which smashed and put pressure on his spinal cord. It left him paralyzed and struggling to cope while his parents did their best to lift his spirits and motivate him to go on. “One of the hardest things for me is not being able to make things better for him,” said his mother, Kathleen March. “I can't heal his broken heart. I can't promise or even tell him he will get better because it's an unknown of time and faith. It's been hard to see our son who was just beginning his life in his chosen career, enjoying it and doing well to lose it all, including the possibility to be able to return to that job as he did it.” Parishioners at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Windham rallied to help and support Brian and Kathleeen March and so did American Legion Post 148 in Windham. The couple’s son, Ethan, is doing better now and in a motorized wheelchair and aiming to become a pilot.

Aug. 15’s top story was about Greta Paulding, a 2023 Windham High School graduate, who has found swing dance to be her way of not only coping with stress, but also noticed improvements physically, mentally, and socially. This is the second year that Paulding has served as president of the Windham Swing Dance Club, a group she founded. When she left for college in the fall of 2023, she decided to join a swing dance club for an extra-curricular activity and found that she not only enjoyed it, but also noticed improvements in her life mentally, physically, and socially. She decided to bring the idea back home when she came to Windham for summer break and started a high school swing dance club, open for incoming students, current high school students, and recent graduates. “We started off very small withia group of around eight people,” says Paulding. “It was small, but the people who attended were loyal and would invite other people; we had a lot of fun. Coming back this year, we have grown to between 20 to 30 regulars and about 20 attendees each event.” Since the club’s inception students from South Portland, Durham, and even students from New Hampshire have traveled to swing dance with the Windham Swing Dance Club.

The top story for Aug. 22 was about a Windham attorney, Katie Winchenbach, who won the National United States Mrs. 2025 Pageant. After winning the title of United States of America’s Mrs. Maine for 2024, Winchenbach was crowned National United States Mrs. 2025 at the National United States Pageant, held in Hershey, Pennsylvania from July 28 to Aug. 1. “In 2024 I competed for the United States of America (USOA) pageant system. This time I competed in the National United States pageant,” Winchenbach said. “I chose to switch to National United States because the pageant has a significant community service focus through the ‘Crowns Making an Impact’ initiative and I felt that it was more closely aligned with my personal values and goals.” Beside winning the national title, Winchenbach was honored at the pageant with the Diamond Crowns Making an Impact ™ Award for her dedication to volunteering and community service. She is passionate about advancing women’s leadership, breaking barriers, and inspiring confidence in women of all ages. Winchenbach is the founder of Lead Fearlessly, a movement and podcast dedicated to elevating women’s voices, sharing stories of resilience, and providing actionable strategies for personal and professional growth. She is also the designer behind a new clothing line created to inspire confidence through bold, empowering designs. “This title means more than a crown and sash. To me, it’s a platform to encourage women to embrace their full potential, trust their intuition, and step boldly into leadership,” Winchenbach said. “I’m honored to represent the National United States Pageant system and to connect with women across the country who are ready to lead fearlessly.”

Aug. 29’s top story reported about the new Roosevelt Trail Maine History Tour featuring eight important local historical sites which will be open to the public with free admission. The self-guided auto or bike tour includes open houses and some guided tours and stretches all the way from Westbrook to Harrison along the historic Roosevelt Trail. Brochures are available throughout the area and include a list of participating historical sites and museums, a trail map, and museum profiles and missions. Margaret Myatt is the publicity coordinator for Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Boyhood Home and the Hawthorne Community Association in Raymond and says that she is looking forward to the tour and hopes to spread the word to the community. “It should be a fun event if we can get people out there. I hope it is a well-received event,” she said. “It is sort of an open-house road show of history sites, informal, but easy. I think Windham Recreation caught wind of it and may do a van or bus.” Myatt also said that they plan to distribute brochures at adult recreation and assisted living facilities in the area. She said that the tour is perfect for all age groups from youngsters and teens to families and seniors.

SEPTEMBER

Sept. 5’s top story covered the death of former Windham State Senator and State Representative Bill Diamond, who died Aug. 31 at the age of 80 following a hard-fought battle with cancer. He spent more than 40 years in politics and Diamond also served as Maine’s Secretary of State from 1989 to 1997. He left behind a legacy few will equal. Diamond grew up on his grandfather’s farm in West Gardiner and came to Southern Maine to study to become a teacher at Gorham State Teacher’s College, earning a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in education. He married his wife Jane in 1968, and the couple raised two daughters, Kristin and Karyn, in Windham and now have eight grandchildren. He taught from 1968 to 1986 in Windham schools and was the first principal of Windham’s Manchester School. He went on to lead Field-Allen Junior High School and Windham Middle School as principal and was Superintendent of Schools for Raymond. As the cost of heating homes rose in the early 2000s, Diamond co-founded and served as president of Windham Neighbors Helping Neighbors in 2007, an all-volunteer effort which raised money to provide emergency heating oil to community residents in need. He also served as a board member for the Maine State Society for the Protection of Animals in Windham and Hospice of Southern Maine. In 2023, Diamond launched the “Walk A Mile In Their Shoes Foundation,” a non-profit dedicated to preventing child homicides and the abuse of children who are under the supervision or direct care of the State of Maine or who are or have been associated with the state’s Child Protective System.

The top story for Sept. 12 reported on significant progress made on the construction of the new Windham Raymond Middle School on Windham Center Road, including moving the horse barn on the property for future use as an outdoor classroom. Christopher Howell, RSU 14 Superintendent of Schools, says that construction costs for the school have remained constant and the project continues to be on schedule for a planned opening of September 2027. The new school will be a free-standing multi-story building with more than 260,000 gross square feet of new construction for learning space, an auditorium, gymnasium, and dining facilities. Howell says that the new school will use a team-teaching concept where students will be divided into 12 teams to provide personal connection and then broken up into smaller instructional teams. It will incorporate Integrative Project Based Learning through team teaching, a method of instruction where a group of teachers work together to plan, conduct, and evaluate learning activities for the same group of students and the school’s design takes all of that into account with the team areas of the building allowing for a science teacher, math teacher, social studies teacher, and an English teacher to be in the same teaming area. “It’s just been an amazing process to watch and see the large precision of this process,” Howell said. “We are $16 million under the original budget and expect things to remain that way.”

Sept. 19’s top story was about Tia’s Prom Project, an initiative to memorialize the late Tatiana “Tia” Morrell of Windham, who tragically died at age 28 in a moped accident. She was a real estate agent and business professional who loved proms. Her friends and family say that they wanted to find a way to remember Tia in a meaningful and lasting way because of the type of person she was. Tia’s Prom Project will provide dresses to high school and middle school students in Cumberland County for prom, homecoming, or any other formal or semi-formal school events at no cost to the student. The inspiration for remembering Tia through Tia’s Prom Project stems from an event that took place when she was just in eighth grade. A new girl started school in Windham and Tia, her mother said, wanted to help the girl by buying her a dress to attend a semi-formal dance cruise that eighth grade students were attending at the end of the school year. Tia enlisted the assistance of her mother and together they bought a dress and on the day of the dance cruise, Worthing helped the new student with her hair and makeup. Her mother said that story helped inspire this new initiative.

The top story for Sept. 26 detailed the opening of the Space to Thrive non-profit childcare organization’s new facility, located on Pope Road in Windham. The 6,000-square-foot facility welcomed families, community members, and local and state leaders for a music-filled event to celebrate the grand opening. Colorful chalk decorated the sidewalks, as families enjoyed music, snacks and an opportunity to explore the new building. The building’s five classrooms are welcoming spaces, with activity-specific areas dotted around each, and doors leading directly to a new playground. Each teacher assembled and arranged their classrooms to fit their students’ needs, ensuring that children will find enrichment wherever they turn. The event was attended by Maine Gov. Janet Mills and State Senator Tim Nangle. “Parents across the state need consistent, affordable care for their children, not only so they can go to work, but so their children can have a great place to learn and grow,” she said, while touting her administration’s accomplishments in helping to expand childcare access in Maine. As someone who raised five daughters and as someone who is now a grandmother to five, I deeply appreciate the work that childcare providers do every day, and I know it isn’t easy,” Mills said.

OCTOBER

Oct. 3’s top story was about the resignation of Joseph Crocker as Raymond Town Manager. 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. 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. “When you provide services to a small town for so long, they become your friends,” Crocker 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.” <

The top story for Oct. 10 reported on the return of the Presumpscot River Revival Race after an absence of three decades. The race is sponsored by the Friends of the Presumpscot River at Dundee Park for a day of friendly paddle competition and celebration. The 2.5-mile race and festivities at the river will span several hours to include paddling, food trucks, leaf-peeping, and more. The goal of the event is to “bring awareness and community to the river,” says Leah Zwain of FOPR. The organization has been increasing its outreach efforts to help build connection with the river and to each other. It provides that opportunity to connect through Community Paddle and Grill events and Evening Paddles on the Presumpscot and hosts conversations and presentations at local libraries or yacht clubs, partnering with other nonprofits such as Friends of Casco Bay. Some of the proceeds from the races will help with the FOPR school outreach program which is designed to get students in Gorham, Westbrook, Windham, Portland, and Falmouth out on the water, and the program introduces children to the river. Students are taught paddling techniques and learn about the Wabanaki and industrial history of the waterway, while also discussing the river’s future.

For Oct. 17, the top story unveiled plans for the final segment to extend the Mountain Division Trail from Windham to be added to Maine Department of Transportation’s Three-Year Plan. During a meeting of the Portland Area Comprehensive Transportation System’s Advisory Committee, PACTS members voted to recommend the project to be included on MaineDOT’s Three-Year Plan spanning 2026-2027-2028. Aubrey Miller, Senior Transportation Program Manager for the Greater Portland Council of Governments (GPCOG), said that following the Draft Plan’s adoption by the committee, the GPCOG Policy Board will review and consider adopting the Regional Trail Plan on Oct. 23. The $16.2 million project will extend the Mountain Division Trail from its current end at Main Street (Route 202), in Windham, and extend the trail about 5 miles south to Bridge Street in Westbrook. Doing this will create a continuous, nearly 10-mile off-road bicycle and pedestrian transportation link running from Standish to Westbrook. Once funded by MaineDOT, project work will include new pavement, gravel, curbing, drainage, signing and striping, retaining walls, fencing, and rectangular rapid flashing beacons located at the trail crossings on Bridge Street in Westbrook, Depot Street in Windham, and Main Street (Route 202) in Windham.

Oct. 24’s top story covered the induction of Windham High School boys’ basketball coach Chad Pulkkinen into the Saint Joesph’s College Athletics Hall of Fame. He has led Windham High School to consecutive state boys’ basketball championships and competed for Saint Joesph’s as a player in the 1990s. In his freshman year at Saint Joseph’s College, Pulkkinen tore his Anterior Cruciate Ligament. Less than a year later, he tore his ACL again in what he described as “extremely dark moments” for his first two years playing college ball. Being injured was a life lesson for him. It took away everything he loved. He said he thought it was the best thing for him because he looked at the game differently; he appreciated it differently, especially after the second injury. He overcame that adversity and finished his college career strong and eventually went on to play professionally in England for the Northampton Neptunes in the European Basketball League. “I want Windham alumni to be proud and hopefully my experiences including failures and successes can help my current players,” said Pulkkinen.

The top story for Oct. 31 was about the Windham Town Council choosing Anthony Blasi to succeed longtime Windham Town Clerk Linda Morrell, who is retiring. Blasi will be sworn in Nov. 4 and understands that he has big shoes to fill. “Linda is a tough act to follow. I can only hope to command the love, respect, and trust that the people of Windham have bestowed upon her,” Blasi said. “Linda is so helpful. You see the way she interacts with people, and she is always willing to help. If she cannot do something or is not sure, she always finds out the answer. I learned more about resourcefulness from her and hope to be as resourceful as she is.” Blasi is originally from Auburn and graduated in 2015 from Edward Little High School. He then earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from the University of Maine Farmington in 2019. Before coming to work in Windham, Blasi served as the Town Clerk of Woolwich for about a year and a half, and he applied for the Windham job because it posed more of a challenge. He is a Certified Municipal Clerk by the Maine Town and City Clerks Association and is a Notary Public.

NOVEMBER

Nov. 7’s top story reported on the Nov. 4 municipal election in Windham as three new Windham Town Councilors and two members of the RSU 14 Board of Directors will be sworn in following the election. In Windham’s North District, Margaret “Maggie” Terry defeated Deborah Devou, while in the South District, Doug Fortier beat Michael Russin for the council seat. In a race for an At-Large council seat, Katie Cook defeated Clayton Haskell and Joseph Campbell, and a recount challenge confirmed her victory. In a five-candidate race with the top two vote tallies earning seats for three-year terms on the RSU 14 Board of Directors, incumbent Christina Small and first-time candidate Matthew Irving received the most votes and won seats on the school board, over candidates Adam Zajac, Megan Potter and Destiny Johnson. Voters in Windham and Raymond were among state residents casting ballots in Tuesday’s election to decide the fate of two statewide referendum questions. Question 1 about requiring voter identification and eliminating two days of absentee voting failed statewide, while Question 2 prohibiting individuals posing potential harm to others from having dangerous weapons was approved statewide.

For Nov. 14, the top story covered the 2025 Veterans Day observance hosted by VFW Post 10643 at the Windham Veterans Center on Veterans Day. Featuring guest speaker Elizabeth Cormier of Honor Flight Maine, VFW Post 10643’s new commander Jeffrey Cook served the master of ceremonies and local essay winners for the VFW’s Patriot’s Pen for grades 6 to 8 and Voice of Democracy audio essay contest for grades 9 to 12 were announced. The Patriot’s Pen winner was Windham Christian Academy eighth grader Elsa Pearson with second place awarded to Annaelle Kawaya. The Voices of Democracy winner was Windham sophomore Shea Carey. Pearson spoke of the importance of volunteering and how when she was in fifth and sixth grade, she volunteered at the local food pantry setting up Thanksgiving baskets. She said helping our community is one step closer to making our country better. She and her class have also traveled across southern Maine to perform juggling acts for nursing homes and spread the gospel, while visiting with the residents of these homes. Carey’s essay was about the many ways to display patriotism. Her version of patriotism involves the simplest acts of kindness and integrity. She values being a kind person and hopes those who heard her essay take those words and strive to make a difference where they can.

Nov. 21’s top story was about a Windham parent who enlisted teens and members of the community for a food drive that raised more than $500 to purchase food items for the Windham Food Pantry, along with collecting additional food donations from Windham residents. Angela Libby spent a little under two weeks collecting funds and donations, ending up with more than four shopping carts full of food for the food pantry. She assembled a group of teens from Windham High School to help with both collecting donations and with a shopping trip to Market Basket in Westbrook. “I wanted to help, and I wanted my youngest daughter to be involved and see that there are people who are less fortunate than us” in the community, she said. “Having the kids hear about how many are in need, how many people come [to the Food Pantry], and what is available was really eye opening for them, which is exactly what I was looking for.” Libby said that hearing from a food pantry volunteer that there are 38 families from the Windham Primary School seeking help from the community organization really hit home for the kids. Upon hearing about recent cuts to SNAP benefits, the mother of three daughters used a group chat from a group of teens who attended Homecoming together to reach out to parents and their kids to see if any would be interested in participating. “Everybody of course said yes,” she said. “Some kids came over with boxes of food they had collected, and others collected money.”

For Nov. 28, the top story reported on a Windham veteran who was surprised by every aspect of her Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. earlier this year and describes it “as an experience of a lifetime.” Alola Giffin Morrison, 88, grew up as the daughter of a U.S. Coast Guard captain, and lived in eight different cities ranging from New Orleans to throughout the Northeastern U.S. and as far north as Agentia, Newfoundland in Canada growing up. After earning dual Bachelor of Science degrees in nutrition and home economics in 1959 from the University of Maine, she completed a one-year dietetic internship at Beth Israel Hospital in Massachusetts, qualifying her to become a registered dietitian in 1960. Later that same year, she became a commissioned officer in the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) in Boston and was sworn in by her father as a Lieutenant Junior Grade. She married her University of Maine classmate and sweetheart Joe Morrison in November 1961 at Hanscom Air Force Base in Massachusetts and resigned from the Public Health Service in June 1962 to move to Orono, Maine to start her family in August 1962. Resuming her military career by re-enlisting in the U.S. Army Reserve Medical Corps (USARMC) as a captain in 1974, she was assigned to the 1125th Medical Unit out of Auburn, Maine and Section 1 in Bangor for 12 years as a registered dietitian. She retired from the USARMC in 1986 having obtained the rank of Major. The Honor Flight experience was very humbling and Morrison said going to the Women’s Military Memorial was her favorite. Her military story was officially entered into the Women's Military Memorial. She was one of 77 veterans from Maine and was the only female veteran on this trip.

DECEMBER

For Dec. 5, the top story was about the Maine Dance Company and the Maine Dance Center’s upcoming new holiday dance production, Christmas at the Castle, premiering Dec. 20 at the Donald M. Gay Performing Arts Center located at Edward Little High School in Auburn. Dancers of all ages from the Maine Dance Company and the Maine Dance Center, located on Roosevelt Trail in Raymond, will take the stage to help the Sugar Plum Fairy retrieve her lost wand to ensure Christmas magic will carry Santa Claus across the globe. “If Sugarplum Fairy doesn’t have her wand, Christmas is in jeopardy,” said Adrienne Pelletier, one of the two authors of the show’s storyline, when detailing the adventures the cast will face. Pelletier, along with her sister and co-author, Rhiannon Pelletier-Guerrette, worked to develop the show for almost two years, after a performance at Windham’s Summerfest in 2023. Once the duo founded the company in 2024, they realized they had talented dancers to fill the roles and develop a full performance. They began writing in January of that year and spent almost two years finishing a script and patching the music together. Both Pelletier and Pelletier-Guerrette are each principal dancers with the Maine State Ballet. Family support will be essential as the Maine Dance Center expands in a new location in the North Windham Shopping Center behind Windham Jewelers in February 2026.

Dec. 12’s top story was Raymond residents voicing both support and criticism of their town’s Select Board chair, and vice chair during a packed public hearing on a recall election that could remove them from office. Former Raymond Select Board member Teresa Sadak initiated the recall petition against Chair Denis Morse and Vice Chair Kaela Gonzalez. The election is scheduled for Dec. 30. In her petition, Sadak listed four reasons for the recall including failing to put Raymond’s interests first, creating division, micromanaging, and denigrating employees during public meetings. Sadak detailed actions she said supported her claims, many tied to the board’s treatment of former Town Manager Joseph Crocker. Crocker, who resigned earlier this fall, had served as director of Parks and Recreation before becoming interim town manager in March and the permanent town manager in May. He continues part-time work on a special project for the town. Glenn Michalowski, formerly Lisbon’s town manager, was appointed interim town manager on Nov. 18. During the public hearing, Sadak accused Morse and Gonzalez of violating board protocols, citing emails obtained through a Freedom of Information request and accounts from staff. She said the two Select Board members berated Crocker over a septic issue at a church leased for town programs, their voices loud enough to be heard by staff and residents. She also criticized Morse and Gonzalez for contacting staff, attorneys, and other town managers without board authorization. Raymond Select Board members Chris Hanson and Derek Ray acknowledged some of those actions occurred. Crocker himself wrote a letter that constant questioning of his decisions from certain board members contributed to his resignation. Despite the support for the recall, many Raymond residents defended Morse and Gonzalez during the public hearing, praising their efforts to address longstanding town issues and urging that Morse and Gonzalez to not face a recall vote.

For Dec. 19, the top story was about Amanda Lessard being designated to serve as interim assistant town manager for the Town of Windham until a permanent candidate can be hired by the Windham Town Council. Windham Town Manager Robert Burns appointed Lessard to the role last week. Lessard had been serving as Senior Planner/Project Manager for the town. Burns became the first person to hold the position of Assistant Town Manager for Windham with his appointment to the role in December 2021 and was named Windham Town Manager by town councilors when Barry Tibbetts stepped down from that position June 30. Lessard had served as Windham’s Planning Director from 2019 to 2024 when she joined Royal River Conservation Trust in Yarmouth as Conservation Director. She subsequently was rehired by the town and will now assist Burns in his duties on an interim basis until councilors appoint a permanent assistant town manager. As a town planner, Lessard was involved in everything from the creation of Windham’s Comprehensive Plan, handling zoning issues, reviewing subdivision and commercial building plans to the development of the town’s Open Space Master Plan. As Planning Director, Lessard led Windham to partner with Presumpscot Regional Land Trust to purchase and conserve 661 acres near Little Duck Pond in East Windham. Called the East Windham Conservation Area, the project acquired the forested acreage for recreational opportunities in Windham while also adding 1,545 feet of undeveloped water frontage on Little Duck Pond, the 150-acre Deer Wintering Area for hunting, and Atherton Hill. She helped Windham obtain a $1 million grant from the Land for Maine’s Future initiative for the project. <

Towns consider how to repurpose middle schools

By Dina Mendros

In September 2027, the new Windham Raymond Middle School is set to open, welcoming about 1,000 students from Windham and Raymond fifth to eighth grades. Not only is the new school exciting for students and staff of RSU 14, but it also creates an opportunity for both towns to repurpose the two schools that will be closing to provide benefits for local residents.

Repurposing committees for the towns of Windham and
Raymond will make recommendations abut the best uses
for Jordan-Small Middle School, left, and Windham
Middle School once the new Windham Raymond Middle
School opens in September 2027. Ownership of both
properties will be transferred to the towns at that time.
PHOTOS BY ED PIERCE   

Committees have been set up and are mulling over ideas for how to best use these spaces. Proposals range from a community center, a rec center, a new library, moving town hall there and a combination of these and more.

In Raymond, a Jordan-Small Middle School Visioning Committee was formed and came up with a slew of ideas.

“The JSMS Visioning Committee is recommending to the Select Board and the future Building Development Committee to use the school building to house the Parks and Recreation Department, the Library, Town Hall Offices and Community Services,” Committee Chair Peter Lockwood said in an email earlier this year. “Our focus is to create a Community Center that supports all ages and residents of Raymond.”

After the work that committee was tasked with was completed, the committee assembled a report, presented it to the Select Board and was disbanded. The town is in the process of creating another committee, and on Sept. 16, it asked Raymond Town Manager Joseph Crocker to come up with a plan to form a new committee to move the process forward.

Select Board member Kayla Gonzalez asked Crocker to come up with a plan on what the committee should look like, such as the number of members and who should be included along with a timeline.

The formation of a new committee was to be taken up on Sept. 16 during a Select Board workshop and again later that day during the board’s regular meeting, but they ran out of time. Instead, it will be taken as an agenda item during a future meeting.

“It’s going to be important to speak I think publicly on how we want to move forward with it,” Raymond Select Board Denis Morse said when postponing the discussion.

He did say that “a lot of the Jordan-Small Middle School could be used immediately without spending a lot of money because the town already has to start to absorb all the utilities and expenses.”

The town of Windham is also working toward a plan on how to reuse the Windham Middle School once the new school opens and the old one is no longer needed by the RSU 14 School District.

The Middle School Repurpose Advisory Committee serves as an advisory body to the Town Council and to analyze the potential re-uses for the school and a potential benefit as a community center.

The 20-member committee was charged with, during its deliberations, to use a community engagement study conducted in August 2019 “which identified the need to create a multigenerational home for all residents, that enhances the quality of life for Windham, provides flexible spaces for a range of activities, and is a self-sustaining business practice that fosters fun,” according to the committee webpage on the town’s website.

Also during the process, committee members are to “incorporate the migration of the services and space required for the Windham Public Library, Windham Parks and Recreation Department, Windham Social Services/Food Pantry facility and the Windham Medical Loan Closet facility into the new spaces as well as flexible spaces for the community to engage in various activities,” the webpage says.

The committee was also established to review the condition of the building and improvements that would be needed to accommodate new uses and come up with a budget and then report back to the Windham Town Council.

Windham Town Manager Robert Burns said the Town Council “is interested in the use of that facility” and is considering many different purposes such as a community center or for a town hall.

Moving the Windham Parks and Recreation Department to the building is another possibility, Burns said.

“It has a fair amount of some athletic opportunities over there. There’s a basketball court inside,” he said, saying that the large rooms at the school would be useful for that department.

He said the committee is about halfway through the process of coming up with a conceptual design along with an estimated cost.

He said an architect is looking at the square footage and to see how many different departments and functions the building could serve as home for.

“We’re excited to see where this leads,” Burns said.

Both towns will need support by their respective town council and select board as well as approval by residents before moving forward with any plan that committees develop.

“There’s a lot of steps yet to go through,” Burns said. He added, “it’s a very exciting opportunity for Windham residents.” <

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.” <

Statewide alliance provides valuable guidance for private road residents

By Dina Mendros

Private roads are prevalent throughout Maine, especially in the Lakes Region. They are so commonplace in Windham and Raymond that both towns have resource pages on their town websites providing information about how to form a road association, references to state statutes regulating such roads as well as how to get in touch with the Maine Alliance for Road Associations.

Terrace Road at Thomas Pond is a privately
maintained road off Route 32 in Raymond 
and administered by a road association for
sharing costs of plowing, grading and
upkeep. PHOTO BY JIM BUNTIN 

The alliance, known as MARA, provides a wealth of information on road associations from how to form them to helping provide solutions for individuals and associations when problems arise.

MARA is a nonprofit corporation with a volunteer board of directors. It was formed in 1998 by Betsy Connor Bowen. “The alliance,” according to the MARA website, “is an online volunteer-sponsored community in response to the need to disseminate information to property owners who wish to form road associations for sharing maintenance costs of private ways under the continually evolving statute.”

MARA board member Andrew “Sandy” Allen says the organization helps members deal with “the challenges in common that face the people living along private roads in Maine, whether they belong to an informal road association, or a statutory road association, or a nonprofit corporate road association. Allen says they are concerned with road maintenance and sharing of expenses, understanding the laws that apply to road associations, and state laws.

He says they often have neighbor disagreements, and differences of opinion that we need to resolve to move forward with our maintenance in harmony and have a need for resources and answers to questions about the state laws that are now in existence.”

“MARA,” Allen said, “is formed to help answer questions that road association members might have and to provide perhaps some solutions to those problems that they might face.”

Maine’s road association statutes go way back stemming from archaic statutes having to do with private ways, MARA board member Roberta Manter said.

“Private ways were roads that were laid out at the request of an individual whose property was not yet connected to the public road system. Through changes in legislation and court cases it got to a point where the statutes didn’t apply to anything anymore,” she said. “Many people from lake associations and some other people went before the legislature and said, ‘look right now these statutes don’t apply to anything but it would be very useful if you just reworded it so they would apply to private roads rather than these private ways.’

“Although informal road associations may be successful for some owners, MARA favors the more formal ‘Statutory’ structure permitted by the Private Ways Statute,” according to the alliance website,” Manter said. “This statute offers road association governance through democratic processes, cost-sharing that is enforceable, and gravel road maintenance that is sustainable and environmentally friendly.”

Statute 23, sections 3101 through 3106, lays out how statutory road associations are formed and run. It also covers what happens when a private road property owner neglects to pay required fees for road maintenance, which can involve civil action; and it describes how a notice of claim at the county registry can be attached to the land for unpaid fees which must be paid upon the transfer of the land.

MARA is important because “many towns have more private roads than public roads,” Allen said.

In Windham, about 115 miles of roadways, roughly half, are private roads, according to Town Manager Robert Burns. He says that figure, which is from 2021, includes roads which are totally private as well as roads with public easements. Of the 108 private roads, 95 have public easements which allow the town to provide winter maintenance such as snow plowing.

According to Allen, private roads are very prevalent in Maine in part because of their expense, an expense that often municipalities don’t want to take on. When subdivisions are built, often the developer is responsible for building the road. Sometimes a town or city will accept a road as public and take on the expense for maintaining the roadway. However, even if a community had the will to do so, such roads would have to be built to the municipality’s standards, with shoulders, room for emergency vehicles, etc., and many private roads are not built to those standards.

To learn more about the Maine Alliance for Road Associations or become a member, go to the website maineroads.org. MARA’s website has resources regarding private road state laws, guidance on how to form a statutory road association, templates for road association bylaws, a discussion forum where members can post questions and other members can post answers and more.

In addition, to provide more information to its members the alliance holds an annual conference where attorneys, Maine Department of Environment Protection staff members and others hold workshops on specific topics like road maintenance and keeping roads environmentally friendly, liability insurance for road associations, conflict resolution, and more.

This year’s MARA conference will be held Oct. 4 at Maple Hill Farm Inn and Conference Center in Hallowell. To register or for more details, go to maineroads.org/ <

Raymond voters to determine van program’s fate

By Dina Mendros

Raymond voters will decide Tuesday whether to approve funding a transportation system that would provide rides to grocery stores, doctors’ appointments and the like. The ride system would provide transportation for seniors, those without licenses and others who find it difficult to get where they need to go.

Raymond voters will decide on June 10 whether to fund a
mini-van for RTP's QuickRide program which would
schedule and provide transportation for local residents
anywhere within the town. SUBMITTED PHOTO 

At the June 10 election, residents will vote on whether to approve $67,500 in funding – Article 19, Referendum Question Q on the Town Warrant – which would be the town’s share for the QuickRide program. The town would partner with the Regional Transportation Program which would provide the service.

Unlike a typical bus service where people wait at established bus stops to catch a bus that drives a specific route, riders using QuickRide would schedule, either via telephone or online, a micro-van that would pick them up at their home and take them where they want to go within the Raymond community.

Raymond Town Manager Joseph Crocker compared the bus to an Uber service that provides door-to-door service.

“The thought is to get people to be transported to groceries or doctors’ appointments, things like that, in the area,” Crocker said. “Use almost like an Uber that comes to your house but through RTP. They have an app or office to call to schedule (a ride). They’ll pick you up at your location and then drop you off at either appointments or groceries. So it’s kind of like a scheduled transportation service. So, it’s a little more customizable than just a regular bus stop.”

The Quick Ride program is needed in Raymond, Crocker said.

“Public transportation has definitely been on the radar for people,” he said. “Obviously, being a rural area, it’s kind of tough to get to certain areas for like shopping or anything like that. It’s definitely been something that’s been heard in our community.”

Currently, Age Friendly Coordinator Debbie Tarr has been taking seniors to appointments in her own car, Crocker said. If voters do approve funding for the RTP mini-van program it will take the strain off Tarr and offer the ability to accommodate more people.

If approved, the QuickRide program would run Mondays through Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. It would start sometime this summer and continue year-round. Customers would pay about $3 per ride.

RTP Executive Director Don Libby said if Raymond voters approve funding, RTP and the town would run a 12-month QuickRide pilot program and then reevaluate how the program is working.

The program was started in January 2024 in Windham; it also runs in Gorham and Standish.

“The goal,” Libby said, “is to run in every town up and down the 302 corridor to Bridgton.”

The QuickRide program is working well in Windham, said Windham’s Age Friendly Coordinator Erica Bell-Watkins.

One of the reasons that Windham adopted the program was because transportation was identified as one of the top needs in a community survey, she said.

Anyone of any age can take advantage of the program, but it’s especially important for seniors, Bell-Watkins said.

“As people get older and decide not to drive or people sometimes use it because they’re getting their eyes dilated or getting a colonoscopy so it’s not just for people who don’t drive it’s for people who are not driving that day,” she said. “That QuickRide program has been very helpful. “It’s all been successful.”

She said she shared Windham’s experience with a town staffer in Raymond.

“I told her I thought it would be great for Raymond because it has been a great success here,” Bell-Watkins said.

Election Day voting in Raymond will take place from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, June 10 at Jordan-Small Middle School. <

Raymond to establish selection process for new town manager

By Ed Pierce

A selection process will be set up by the Raymond Select Board in the coming weeks to identify candidates and interviews for the town manager position.

Raymond Town Manager Sue Look, who has been serving in that role since January 2024 has resigned, citing more than an hour’s commute from her home in Richmond.

Raymond Town Manager Sue Look, left, has resigned and 
will be leaving her position on March 21. The Raymond
Select Board has appointed Raymond Parks and Recreation
Director Joe Crocker, right, as Interim Town Manager
until a new permanent Town Manager can be chosen.
FILE PHOTOS

Look had been working as the Raymond Town Clerk when she was appointed by the Raymond Select Board to replace Don Willard as interim town manager in July 2023. Willard officially retired in January 2024 after being out on Paid Medical Leave and Look took over as permanent town manager at that time.

She had worked as Raymond Town Clerk for more than a decade prior to her serving in the town manager’s position. Look was born in Lewiston and has worked for the Town of Raymond since July 2014. She formerly served as the Town Clerk for the Town of West Bath and she was originally hired by Willard to replace longtime town clerk Louise Lester who was retiring at the time.

The Town Manager is a fulltime position appointed by the Raymond Select Board and is responsible for administering the policies as established by the Select Board and the Town Charter. The Town Manager serves as the chief administrative officer and head of the administrative branch of the town’s government.

The position’s duties include executive direction and supervision of the administrative services of the town and overseeing the finances of the town. The town manager also is responsible for implementing all town policies and providing all Town of Raymond staff with clear and efficient operating procedures necessary to conduct their assigned tasks.

Other duties of the town manager are to attend and participate in all meetings of the Raymond Select Board, work with the Raymond Budget and Finance Committee in developing an annual town budget, and work with the Select Board to meet the process requirements in time for the annual Town Meeting and tax bill preparation.

The Raymond Town Manager creates and submits to the Select Board an Annual Town report to distribute at the Annual Town Meeting in June, develops and updates annually a five-year Capital Improvement Plan for presentation to the Select Board, and stays up to date with changes in Maine state regulations that could affect town ordinances, policies, and budget. The town manager is responsible for submission of applications for state, federal and other grants for the benefit of the municipality, as approved by the Select Board.

To fill in until a new permanent town manager can be hired, the Raymond Select Board has appointed Raymond Parks and Recreation Director Joe Crocker as Raymond’s interim town manager.

Crocker, 37, joined the Town of Raymond as Parks and Recreation in February 2020 and essentially built the town’s recreation program from the ground up.

He attended Saint Joseph’s College, where he earned a degree in Exercise Science and then continued his studies at New England College in New Hampshire, earning an MBA in Sports and Recreation Management.

Among his many duties as Parks and Recreation Director, Crocker has managed improvements that the Town of Raymond has made to Tassel Top Park and facilities there and providing recreational activities and overseeing a department budget to meet resident needs.

Crocker said he will be a candidate for the permanent town manager position.

“I plan to apply, and if selected, I would be honored to serve the town in this new capacity,” he said. “If the Select Board decides to hire externally, I will gladly continue serving the community as the Parks and Recreation Director.”

Look’s final day with the Town of Raymond will be March 21. <

Raymond Comprehensive Plan process nearing completion

By Kendra Raymond

With the final stages of the Raymond Comprehensive Plan draft complete, committee members will review feedback from residents as the plan progresses into the final stages of completion. A public hearing was conducted Wednesday, Dec. 4 at the regular Comprehensive Plan Committee meeting where residents had an opportunity to be heard, get caught up on the committee’s progress, and review feedback from the recent request for public feedback on the draft plan.

Suggestions from residents about growth,
transportation and conservation were
discussed during the formulation of
Raymond's Comprehensive Plan. Once 
all reviews are complete, the plan will go
to the Raymond Select Board for approval
to put it on the 2025 Town Warrant for
residents to vote on.
PHOTO BY KENDRA RAYMOND   

The public comment period has now closed and according to the CPC email updates Raymond town staff, the Comprehensive Plan Committee, and North Star Planning have been working together since May 2023 to update the town’s comprehensive plan. This draft plan includes Maine State requirements along with goals, policies, action items, and a Future Land Use Plan based on what we’ve heard from the Raymond community through online surveys, workshops, informal polls, and the committee.

The State of Maine Municipal Planning Assistance Program will review Raymond’s plan for completeness and compliance with the state’s Growth Management Act.

Once the public comment period has ended and state review is complete, Raymond staff, the Comprehensive Plan Committee, and North Star Planning will make edits and updates to finalize the plan. Then, the plan will go to the Select Board to vote on inclusion in the 2025 Town Warrant, where residents will be able to vote on its approval.

Kaela Gonzalez serves as co-chair of the Comprehensive Plan Committee and offered an update about the process.

“We have done some outreach, including handing out fliers at the election to let citizens know about the comment period and the upcoming CPC meeting which will allow the public to comment and share feedback on the draft plan,’ she said. “I would imagine after the meeting that we would have more to say as the next steps hinge on Wednesday's meeting.”

The Comprehensive Plan lists the following Raymond’s Priority Goals and Actions; Building a resilient Raymond; working with Maine DOT to complete an assessment of and work plan to improve town culverts and road infrastructure at risk from increased flooding (priority action), and adding staff capacity to seek and manage grant funding through additional staff, a consultant, or regional partnerships.

It also seeks to protect Raymond’s natural and water resources; develop a process to determine the appropriateness of sites in Raymond for solar development, and incorporate these criteria into Raymond’s Solar Ordinance (priority action); invest in road and traffic improvements; purchase or lease portable solar powered radar speed displays which collect data on excessive speed and traffic volume as well as act as traffic calming devices on Raymond’s roadways (priority action); create a Route 302 Master Plan in partnership with DOT, based on the vision for Route 302 in the Future Land Use Plan.

The plan also seeks to prioritize walking and biking around Raymond; building a trail or sidewalk that spans the length of Raymond Cape Road (priority action); strengthen Raymond’s sense of community; develop a master plan supported by public input to repurpose the Jordan-Small Middle School and determine the future use of other town-owned buildings, including the library and town office (priority action).

Potentially adding sidewalks or a breakdown lane on the Raymond Cape also created some discussion in a local social media group.

Raymond resident Laura Abbott posted, “Just a reminder to all - pedestrians have the right of way and it’s pretty easy (and lawful) to give them space on Cape Road. Especially this time of year when there is no other traffic. Passing close enough to touch is highly illegal. Cape Road improvement is on the Comprehensive Plan, thank goodness. A sidewalk or jogging path was listed as a priority! I’m hopeful there will be one someday.”

Another resident, Kelly Rocheleau responded, “Actually it is not easy to give space on the Cape Road. I understand what you are saying but just because the summer people and Frye Islanders are gone, the Cape Road has a number of new year-round homes and is quite active. I have encountered walkers, bike riders and once a roller blader with poles on the road. Not easy to go around on a curve in the road. I feel it’s a good idea for us to get the town to invest in the Cape Road and give us some breakdown lanes! It would be productive for us Capers to get our road safer! Something needs to be done about this road before another fatal accident happens. A sidewalk or path would be great! The road is too twisty and curvy. More of a police presence isn’t going to help when vehicles take the corners no matter how fast they are going over the line and sometimes in the middle of the road!”

Cape resident April Bisnette chimed in, “I’ve often thought that there should be a sidewalk on the Cape Road for all the runners and pedestrians both in summer mostly, but yearly too. I live at the beginning of the Cape, and it is only 25 mph, but get tailgated like I’m only doing 5mph,” she responded to the post.

Brian Raymond is a resident of Raymond Cape and works in the road construction industry.

“I think the Comprehensive Plan has brought forth a lot of great ideas. It’s good to see these all come together in one place,” he said. “I like the idea of improving traffic congestion on 302 and adding a walking path to Cape Road. But I hope that we don’t overspend on some of these potential improvements. Like many things, they are popular and seem attractive, however we need to remain fiscally responsible with tax dollars. I’m really excited to see what we can accomplish that brings value in a responsible way.”

Review the Comprehensive Plan draft here: https://compplan.raymondmaine.org/index.php/review-the-plan/ <