Hallowell mayor outlines 2022 goals, reflects on past year

HALLOWELL — Mayor George Lapointe led the inaugural 2022 meeting Monday, which involved swearing-in candidates, reflecting on the past year and outlining key priorities for the year.

Hallowell Mayor George Lapointe Joe Phelan/Kennebec Journal file

Councilors Maureen AuCoin, Peter Spiegel, Kate Dufour and Patrick Wynne were sworn in for an additional term with their previous titles. AuCoin and Spiegel are councilors at large, while Dufour represents Ward 1 and Wynne represents Ward 5.

AuCoin was also reelected as council president.

In reflecting on the challenges of 2021, Lapointe thanked everyone who helped make the city vibrant and kept it going.

“Your participation in city issues makes our city better and more inclusive,” he said. “For this, I thank you all, even if you’re all too numerous to mention individually.”

He specifically thanked outgoing conservation commission members Catherine Murray and Deb Sewall for years of service and dedication to the city, adding that there will be a celebration held in their honor later in the year.

“As is the case every year, we’ve had a busy year, among the issues that were addressed or advanced are first hiring a new city manager,” he said.

At the start of 2021, former city manager Nate Rudy left to take on a new position as town manager of Gray. His last day in Hallowell was Feb. 25. Hallowell Code Enforcement Officer Doug Ide was appointed as interim city manager on Feb. 22, and the city began its search for a new manager.

The search lasted until June, when the city council voted to appoint Gary Lamb, who was serving as Waterboro’s town administrator, as the city’s new manager, effective Aug. 9.

“I am proud of the process that the council used to seek diverse, qualified candidates, and I’m pleased with our city manager Gary Lamb for hitting the ground running and for his engagement with Hallowell businesses, people and issues,” said Lapointe. “His experience shows in how he addresses issues, and we’re lucky to have his skills directed at Hallowell.”

The mayor thanked Dr. Sydney Sewall, Dr. Scott Schiff-Slater and Dr. Annette Beyea of the city’s board of health for their guidance amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I am sure the city is better off for their expertise,” he said. “What we learned from COVID is that adaptability and flexibility are key. In midsummer, we thought we were going back to in-person meetings, and then came along the delta variant, and (now) the omicron variant, which both have demonstrated that we are still in the thick of addressing the pandemic, and will be for some time.”

Lapointe reflected on the city’s historic fire station, a nearly 200-year-old building that has been the subject of discussion for several years about its future uses.

“We’ve discussed divesting the city of the building or keeping it under municipal ownership for any number of purposes. Last year we saw a plan to house the Hallowell Police Department and people certainly have differing views on the scope and footprint of housing the police department in the building, but I get the sense that we’re ready to move ahead with the future of the building.”

The cost of doing this, according to Lapointe, will be significant. If the city does decide to renovate the building, it will need to be bonded. He added that the city will also look into additional funding sources to help fund the project and preserve the city’s historic building.

The IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access) Task Force, also made strides in 2021, completing six months of research, discussion and surveys of local residents about issues the city faces.

“The IDEA Task Force gives us a road map for this important work,” said Lapointe. “I encourage everyone to look at the IDEA Task Force report, which is available on the city website, to see where they can lend their time and insights to this work, which is at the core of what makes Hallowell a great, unique place.”

In addition to further addressing the fire station and issues brought forth by the task force, Lapointe said some of this year’s challenges will involve looking at a new location for the public works department.

“This too will require funding,” he said, “but modernizing the public works facility to meet the city’s needs for decades to come is something we need to do.”

He added that the city should also consider discussion of modernization and renovation of city hall as the year progresses.

Officials will also discuss American Rescue Plan Act funding, and how this money would best be used to address hardships amid the pandemic.

The city received $240,000 in ARPA funding with a 2024 spending deadline. Some previously pitched ideas for the funding to include personal protective equipment, broadband expansion, assistance for the Harlow Gallery, the Hallowell Food Pantry and the Hubbard Free Library, and a program to help Hallowell musicians whose livelihoods were impacted by venues closing amid the pandemic.

Affordable housing will be another major discussion topic this year, according to Lapointe, adding that the issue is a focus of several city groups and committees.

“All these efforts recognize that available affordable housing impacts so many people and families, and people we know that work in Hallowell businesses and music culture venues,” he said. “The recent public discussions about changes to Water Street businesses and housing was a manifestation of this economic and demographic change.”

Looking ahead, the council has a workshop planned for 9 a.m. Saturday, which Lapointe said will include additional discussion of the city’s roles in addressing affordable housing. Their first regular meeting of the year is set for Monday at 6 p.m.

“Hallowell has had a busy year with lots of activity, many new businesses and dealing with issues such as COVID,” he concluded. “My hope for this new year is that COVID becomes more manageable, that businesses and activities continue to pick up as they have done, and that Hallowellians work collectively on opportunities and challenges that come our way.”