📰 UNE ATTORNEY ENRAGED AT CITY OF BIDDEFORD

(Biddeford, Maine) The General Counsel at the University of New England wrote a scathing email to the City of Biddeford yesterday, criticizing a proposed schedule change for the process to hear an appeal of a recent planning board decision.

The proposed change came about mostly because Biddeford’s city attorney needed more time to prepare for the appeal. Also, Biddeford’s Zoning Board of Appeals has not met for several years, and its current members need to receive proscribed training before they hear any appeal.

Richard Schneider, General Counsel, Vice President of Legal Affairs, Senior Administration

Ron Schneider, General Counsel to the university, lashed out in an email reply to Biddeford’s code enforcement officer, Roby Fecteau. He said the appeal has no merit, and that delays caused by waiting for the appeal process to conclude are “unfair,” “inappropriate” and “unwarranted.” Also, Schneider scorned the central issue of the appeal, which is whether a certified harbormaster ever approved UNE’s application for the pier. He described that as a matter “not relevant to the Planning Board’s decision.”

Community anger about the regulatory review of UNE’s application has focused almost entirely on the harbormaster issue, and a perceived departure from what is required by city ordinance.

After Biddeford’s code enforcement officer suggested the change in schedule, the city solicitor agreed to it without issue, as did the appellant.

“Biddeford residents are entitled to due process in government matters, and those rights are guaranteed by the city charter, by the state constitution, and by the United States Constitution,” said John Schafer, a member of a citizens coalition that is pressing the appeal. “We are exercising our rights as citizens, so UNE might want to exercise some patience as we do that.”

Schafer said coastal residents appreciate the effort by city officials to patiently explain the appeals process to Biddeford residents. The hearing in front of the Zoning Board of Appeals is scheduled to be heard on Thursday, November 13, 2025.