People
(from the February 2006 Maine Townsman)

Andrea Sponberg Powers has been appointed town manager in Washburn, filling the vacancy left by Jim Gardner, the current town manager in Ashland.

Veteran Washington County Sheriff Joseph Tibbetts is retiring after more than 35 years in law enforcement. Tibbetts plans to campaign for a seat in the state House of Representatives.

Richard Lagarde has joined the finance department in Portland as city treasurer. Lagarde recently served as finance director in Standish, and before that, in Biddeford.

Robin Lint, Readfield’s deputy town clerk, has been promoted to town clerk, filling the vacancy created by the retirement of longtime clerk Martha Winter-Vining.

In Hollis, two selectmen were elected January 17 to fill seats vacated after the recall of two selectmen in December. Goodwin Hannaford won a 6-month slot and Stuart Gannett won an 18-month slot.

Longtime Oxford Police Chief Ron Kugell is retiring after 47 years with the Oxford Police Department. His retirement becomes effective March 15. A successor has not yet been named.

Hope’s Town Administrator Jerry Storey will be retiring effective July 1. Storey has served in the position for two years.

New Gloucester’s first full-time planner, James Isaacson, has resigned to take a senior planner position in New York.

Presque Isle City Councilor Richard Benjamin resigned his position effective February 5, due to his upcoming relocation to New York.

Joseph Massey was elected on January 12 to the Clinton Board of Selectmen in a three-way race. Massey is the deputy chief of police in Waterville.

Shawn Babine, Scarborough town councilor, has been appointed by National League of Cities President James Hunt to the NLC Council on Youth, Education & Families for 2006.

Rob Baldwin has been hired as Orono’s new director of planning and community development. Councilors voted on January 9 to approve a one-year contract.

Bridgton Town Manager Ronnie Belanger, 65, died on February 5 at a Portland hospital. Belanger had served in Bridgton since 1998, and spent three years in Clinton before that. A memorial service was held on February 10 in Bridgton.

Josh Potvin is the new full-time sheriff’s deputy in Harrison, and is accompanied by his K-9 partner, Major.

Long-time University of Maine professor of Public Administration, James Horan, 70, died on January 8 as result of injuries sustained in a car accident. Horan served as chair of the Orono Town Council in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

Former planning board member and selectman for the town of Mexico, as well as a former representative and state senator, Donald O’Leary Sr., 82, died on January 23.

Erwin E. Piper , a Troy selectman died on January 17. He was serving his 25th year as selectman. Troy also lost David A. Rock on December 31. He was a member of the Troy Planning Board for over 30 years.