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“In all likelihood we are looking at another 5% to 6% [tax] increase”. - Marc Lessard, City Councilor At-Large At-Large Councilor Marc Lessard (Biddeford) January 9, 2026, City Councilor At-Large Marc Lessard was first elected to the Biddeford City Council in 1993 and has since been reelected for 11 terms. With his family having lived in Biddeford for 6 generations, it’s safe to say that he has deep roots in the community. Throughout Councilor Lessard’s tenure on the City Cou

📰BIDDEFORD | Councilors Praise Police Chief for Partnering with City of Saco | Council Approves Contract “We miss too many opportunities to work with our neighbors from Saco… I offer praise to you and your team for working with them.” Jacob Pierson, Ward 6 Councilor January 6, 2026, At tonight's city council meeting, Biddeford Police Chief JoAnne Fisk asked City Councilors to approve a contract between the City of Saco and City of Biddeford pertaining to the purchase of new

January 6, 2026, In a press release sent to the Biddeford Buzz, York County Commissioner Justin Chenette has announced he will seek a second four-year term in the 2026 election for District 3 (Saco, Old Orchard Beach, Hollis, and Buxton). Justin Chenette (submitted photo) Chenette is the first millennial and first openly LGBTQ+ individual ever elected to the commission and was selected by his fellow commissioners to serve a term as vice chair. “Since taking office, county gov

December 19, 2025, The City of Biddeford will receive sealed bids for the Alfred Street Sewer Separation Phase 3 Project until 2:00 p.m. prevailing local time on January 22nd, 2026 at the Biddeford City Hall, 205 Main Street, 3rd floor – Engineering Dept., Biddeford, Maine 04005. Bid documents shall be in clearly marked sealed envelopes titled Alfred Street Sewer Separation Phase 3 Project. All bids will be opened and read aloud at the Biddeford City Hall at 2:00 pm on Janu

Please note, some local sources are incorrectly referring to this committee - THIS IS A INSTITUTIONAL ZONE REVIEW COMMITTEE, NOT A "UNE REVIEW COMMITTEE". December 18, 2025, On Tuesday, the City Council authorized the creation of an ad hoc Institutional Zone Review Committee. This committee was formed for the purpose of reviewing all Institutional Zone provisions of the Biddeford Zoning Ordinance, including but not limited to the Institutional Zone and the Institutional Maste

📰BIDDEFORD | UNE Responds to City’s Litigation December, 4, 2025, The following message was recieved from the University of New England regarding the City of Biddeford’s litigation pertaining to the UNE Pier. "The University of New England is aware of the City's litigation against the Saco River Corridor Commission. UNE respectfully disagrees with the City's position. As the Saco River Corridor Commission confirmed after seeking counsel from their lawyer at the Maine Attorne

📰BIDDEFORD | City of Biddeford Files Court Challenge for UNE Pier Approval BIDDEFORD, Maine (December 4, 2025) — The City of Biddeford has filed a Complaint for Review of Final Agency Action in Maine Superior Court seeking a judicial determination that the Saco River Corridor Commission's (SRCC) 2024 approval of a new pier at the University of New England (UNE) is unlawful and invalid. The filing asserts that the SRCC did not apply a binding 2001 permit condition requiring a

PARKING BAN December 1, 2025, There will be a citywide Snow Emergency Parking Ban in effect for the City of Biddeford from 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 2 until 7:00 a.m. on Wednesday, December 3. On Tuesday, December 2, parking will be permitted until 10 PM on Main Street between Hill Street and Elm Street for short-term business parking ONLY. Designed by Biddeford Buzz Inauguration attendees may take a shuttle from the Pearl Street Parking Garage to City Hall. The shuttle

November 25, 2025, This morning, city hall personnel confirmed that Brian Phinney, Biddeford's Chief Operating Officer (COO), has formally announced his intended retirement from public service effective January 15, 2026. "Brian has been a huge help to me since I joined the City a few months ago, said City Manager Truc Dever." Dever went on to say, "I appreciate all that he has done for the City of Biddeford and for this community. I wish him all the best in retirement." In a

Have you ever had someone come up to you and question you about something, and rather than answer the question, you think, “who are you to even be asking me this?”... Well, in the most anecdotal fashion, that’s exactly what happened at tonight’s UNE Pier appeal hearing; according to the Zoning Board of Appeals and city procedure, the individuals who filed the appeal, can not legally be recognized (qualified) as appellants, therefore, the appeal was denied. November 13, 2025,

Bobby Mills November 6, 2025, I am filled with pride for the remarkable turnout in the recent election held in Biddeford on Tuesday. This city holds a special place in my heart, and I cherish it deeply. My family and I have been fortunate enough to experience numerous extraordinary opportunities that we could never have imagined. While it is true that there were winners and losers in the election, we all played a crucial role in shaping the future of our community. I am parti

Opinion: Why I Voted YES on 1, It's About Trust, Not Politics By Scott Thibeau November 5, 2025, As a citizen of Biddeford, a local business owner, a Realtor, a Veteran, and the President of the Heart of Biddeford, I recently posted on my personal Facebook page to better understand why the voter ID measure was decisively defeated. I want to be absolutely clear: the views I express on this topic are solely my own and do not represent the opinions of any organization I own, l

Opinion: Why It’s So Important that Question 1 Failed By Ian Garcia-Theriault November 5, 2025, Maine voters recently rejected Question 1, which would have required voter ID and rolled back parts of our absentee voting system. I’m relieved it failed—not because I oppose secure elections, but because I see it as the first step down a very familiar slippery slope. Biddeford voters wait in line to drop off completed ballots On the surface, voter ID feels like common sense. We sh

Opinion: Biddeford Needs Leadership That Puts Accountability First By Loren McCready November 3, 2025, With Tuesday’s election approaching, the issue on nearly everyone’s mind is the cost of living, especially housing. It’s also the subject most candidates have been pressed to address. Mayor Marty Grohman’s recent column offered a confident vision of Biddeford’s future: rapid growth, new housing, and economic momentum. But his portrayal of an opponent as anti-development and

📰BIDDEFORD | Speaker Ryan Fecteau Endorses Liam LaFountain for Mayor November 2, 2025, Earlier this evening Speaker Ryan Fecteau publicly announced his endorsement for Biddeford Mayoral Candidate Liam LaFountain. Below is Speaker Fecteau's statement: ***I am supporting Council President Liam LaFountain for Mayor.*** I wasn't planning to offer public support for any of the mayoral candidates, but I read a write-up today that was entirely unfair in regards to Liam's record. So

Interviewer: "So right now, if we get a really heavy rain, there's the possibility that sewerage could overflow and end up in the river?" Answer: "That is correct." - Jeff Demers, Director, Biddeford Public Works November 2, 2025, This past week The Biddeford Buzz, along with WGME CBS 13 News, Portland, and Spectrum News Maine, were invited by the City of Biddeford Government to tour the various sewage facilities and learn more about the upcoming sewer bond (Question 1) that

-Mayor Marty Grohman Takes Jabs at Mayoral Opponent Liam LaFountain... Little to No Mentioning of opponent Norm Belanger- "It’s disingenuous for my opponent [Liam LaFountain], who is the Council President, to now claim that he’s pro-business, when he has relentlessly driven up the costs of business: like making it cost ten thousand bucks to hook up a sink." - Marty Grohman By MARTY GROHMAN - November 2, 2025, In Biddeford, the mayor doesn’t have a vote. The Council has all th

By Bobby Mills - November 2, 2025, We are on the brink of selecting a group of candidates here in Biddeford. On Tuesday, November 4th, we will elect a mayor, city council, and school committee for the next two years. This is an exciting time and an opportunity to bring about positive changes. It is crucial that you choose someone who aligns with your values and concerns. Bobby Mills If you are dissatisfied with the ongoing increases in taxes and sewer bills, it is time to tak

📰BREAKING: Judge Blocks Suspension of SNAP Benefits | Will it hold? UPDATE 6:00 PM - The Trump Administration has stated that it is willing to comply with the order from the federal judge in Rhode Island, but has requested clarification on the ruling and additional documentation. A timeline is unclear at this point. UPDATE 3:35 PM - A 2nd federal judge out of Boston has deemed the Trump Administration's suspension of SNAP benefits "unlawful"; U.S. District Judge Indira Talwa

📰BIDDEFORD | Teachers Association Endorses 2 Mayoral Candidates? UPDATE 9:05 PM 10/29/25: The Biddeford Buzz has received a copy of the letter sent to both mayoral candidates from Allison Pickering, Vice President, Biddeford Teachers Association and Chair, Biddeford Teachers Association Screening and Endorsement Committee that stated "after great consideration, the committee has decided to make a dual endorsement in the mayoral race, recommending both you and Liam LaFountain