Council split on vote for planning board

The Biddeford City Council confirmed Matt Hight’s appointment as interim planning board chairman during a Feb. 16 meeting.

The decision followed two failed attempts by Mayor Joanne Twomey to appoint Hight to the position. The council voted 5-4 to appoint Hight, a former city councilor who ran unsuccessfully for the council last year. Councilors Patricia Boston, Jim Emerson, Clement Fleurent and Rick Laverriere voted in opposition.

The board voted against Hight’s appointment as chairman on Jan. 19 and Feb. 2. Twomey said she consulted with the city attorney before asking Hight be appointed interim chairman. The city’s code of ordinances says the board’s vice chairman conducts meetings when a chairman is not available.

Twomey said she wants Hight to lead the board because they have similar views.

“There are many, many important issues that come before this board. It is key we have people on that committee that kind of share the vision that I have for the city,” she said. “This isn’t about being a dictator and it isn’t about being stubborn. It is my vision for this city.”

Laverriere said he takes issue with the legality of the appointment because the code of ordinances does not include an interim chairman. Councilor George Lamontagne said he continues to support Hight because he is “a perfect fit” for the board.

Boston said she was concerned there was no timeframe attached to the interim position and liked the idea of appointing an experienced planning board member as chairman.

“We have three experienced planning board members who have given their hearts and souls to the board. Any of the three of them would be competent as chair,” she said.

According to the ordinance, the planning board chairman is appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the council each January. The chairman votes only to break a tie and may not serve more than two consecutive terms.

Saco man drowns off Ocean Park

Old Orchard Beach police continue to investigate why a Saco man was in the ocean before he drowned Sunday morning.

Timothy Skaggs, 42, was pronounced dead at Maine Medical Center after the Coast Guard pulled him from the water. Old Orchard Beach Fire Chief John Glass said people walking on the beach reported the man was yelling and flailing his arms shortly after 9 a.m. in the area of Temple Avenue in Ocean Park.

When rescue crews arrived, two firefighters tried to swim to where Skaggs was seen struggling to stay afloat, Glass said. The firefighters were not able to reach him before he went under without resurfacing, he said.

Glass said personnel from the Coast Guard and Scarborough Marine Patrol searched for Skaggs and pulled him from the water around 9:45 a.m. He was located about 100 yards from shore and was being pulled out by the tide, he said.

Old Orchard Beach Detective Sgt. David Hemingway said the state Medical Examiners Office will examine the body as part of the investigation. Police are trying to determine why the man was in the water fully clothed, he said.

OOB agrees to create Ballpark commission

The Old Orchard Beach Town Council voted last week to create a Ballpark Commission to manage the town-owned ballpark facility.

At a Feb. 16 meeting, the council voted 4-1 to create the commission to manage the Ballpark. Councilor Robin Dayton opposed creating the commission.

Chairman Sharri MacDonald said commissioners will be appointed by the council. She said councilors are working to create a draft ordinance before a public hearing scheduled for March 2.