Resignation of Finch accepted by city council

As of January 1, 2010, Eastport will be without a city manager. At the December 14 city council meeting, Eastport city councillors accepted the resignation of long-time City Manager George "Bud" Finch, effective December 31.

Finch cited the difficult economic times and the need for the city manager to have "the support of the council. Without that support I cannot do my job." He noted that the councillors had the option of accepting, tabling or discussing his resignation. Councillor Paul Critchley promptly moved to accept the resignation with Councillor David Morang seconding. Councillor Robert Peacock, newly elected as council president until the council's January organizational meeting, accepted comments from the public prior to the council vote.

Of the more than 20 audience members, most voiced their concern about the gap in time between the manager's last day and the time it would take to hire a qualified manager to replace him. Code Enforcement Officer Robert Scott, Eastport Fire Chief Richard Clark and Police Chief Matthew Vinson stated the good working relationships they have with the manager and with each other as department heads. They each supported keeping the manager in place during the interim period. "We've got a new budget coming; you'd be crazy to let him go," Scott said. "We should have some kind of transitional period. Is someone going to be acting city manager?" asked Clark. "I don't think the timing is right," added Vinson.

"I've worked with Bud for many years," said local business woman Meg McGarvey. She noted that Finch had put in extensive time working for the city. "If I were on the council, I would accept the resignation but keep Bud until you have found a replacement. I am afraid for the city," she said, echoing the city manager's remarks about the challenges the city and region faces. "Don't just let him walk out the door on December 31."

"This is a huge task," said business woman and facilitator Linda Godfrey. "Several of you have just been elected. There has hardly been time to figure things out. It seems premature." She recommended that the council retain Finch during the search period and learn about the complexity of the position. In response to Councillor Critchley commenting, "It's up to us [the council] to have a vision for going forward," Godfrey stated, "You should bring forth your vision for the city to discuss whether they agree." Godfrey noted that the city's comprehensive plan provides a clear vision for the city. "You need to represent the good of the community."

Gerald Morrison of Perry was the sole audience member to express dissatisfaction with the city manager, saying that he had heard that the manager had been in Augusta stating to the Department of Transportation that the city did not need MDOT funds for the port. In response Finch said that he could not answer to what people were saying he said, but that he "supported the port absolutely."

The council did not add to the discussion and voted unanimously to accept the city manager's resignation, after which Councillor John Miller told the audience, "None of us received Bud's letter before reading the letter in The Quoddy Tides." Portions of the city manager's letter of resignation were published in an article in the December 11 issue of the newspaper. Miller stated that it was a "surprise." Finch calmly stated that the letter was in Councillor Small's packet and that a draft had been sent "over a month ago. This has been an issue since July." Finch then thanked the audience. "I appreciate everyone's fine words."

The council's ability to proceed with city business without a manager was raised again during open forum. Ed Scott asked, "Who is going to run the city when Bud is gone?" George Lyon stood up and asked the councillors, "Do any of you have the capability to step into the position?" Lyon made it clear that he was not being rhetorical. He repeated his question until the councillors responded. Peacock and Critchley replied that they did not personally have that experience. However, Miller did not answer, instead redirecting the question to Lyon by asking him, "Do you?" Councillor Morang did not answer Lyon's question, but asked Lyon to understand the difficulty of the entire evening, "This is not easy; Buddy is my friend," he said.

Other business

Despite the difficulties of the evening, the city's business soldiered on. The city will hold a firearms ordinance workshop on Monday, January 11, at 6 p.m., one hour prior to the regularly scheduled council meeting held at Shead's band room. Workshops are open to the public.

There have been nine deer-related car accidents so far this year, with five occurring in the last month. Chief Vinson told the council, "We're about half where we were last year." In 2008 there were about 18 deer-related accidents. The police received 37 calls for service for the month, down from 43 in 2008.

CEO Scott reported that the city has received two building permit applications, both for the Rowland B. French Medical Center. Councillor Peacock requested that for the January meeting the CEO provide a 2008 and 2009 tally of total permits by type.

The downtown committee submitted a letter of intent to proceed with a $168,000 Community Development Block Grant application. The "streetscape" grant would be to create a pocket park at Overlook Park that would include an amphitheater-style seating area and green space. The grant would also continue with a facade program. Critchley explained that the grant would be for $150,000 with $18,000 required in matching funds for the facade program.

City Manager Finch discussed the city's intervener status with the Passamaquoddy Water District's rate increase case before the Public Utilities Commission. "This is significant," he said. "There needs to be an alternative water source." He explained that the district's current water source, Boyden's Lake, requires significant treatment both when it comes in to the system and when it exits the system through Eastport's sewage plant. "Our sewer plant is run on a waiver," he said. Finch noted the complexity of the process, some of which, he said, would need to be taken over the councillors.

Peacock agreed to meet with Finch the following morning to discuss both the intervener role and other city management issues. Of that meeting, Peacock said in a prepared statement issued on December 15, "Mr. Finch offered to help in any way needed for the transition, agreed to prepare a memo showing the short, medium and long-term issues he has been working on or that are facing Eastport, and discussed pending and proposed grant applications. The council and city manager are working on a plan for the smooth transition to hire a new manager and a timeline of the process is being prepared over the next few weeks. We both agreed that we would work together in the best interest of the people of Eastport in a professional manner that they would expect from the city council and the city manager. It was a pleasure working with Bud this morning."

The city's firearms ordinance, comprehensive plan and charter describing the duties and selection process of the manager, acting manager and councillors can be viewed at city hall or at <www.eastport-me.gov.>