Biddeford City Manager James Bennett announced a “phased retirement” after more than nine years with the city.

Bennett made the announcement during his report at the city council’s regular meeting on Oct. 15. He said his retirement would be effective April 18, 2025, giving the city six months to find a successor.

“You’ve accomplished so many good things for the City of Biddeford over the last nine years,” Mayor Marty Grohman said following Bennett’s announcement.

According to a biography on the city’s website, Bennett grew up in Lisbon and was elected selectman there at age 21. He has worked in public administration since 1982. He managed eight different municipalities, including Presque Isle, where he was manager from 2010 until he came to Biddeford in 2015.

“I’m proud that I left every community that I served in a better position than when I started,” he told the council Tuesday night. “Biddeford is no different.”

When he took over in August 2015, Bennett said Biddeford’s tax rate was $18.36 “and climbing” and the wastewater fund had a deficit of more than $4.6 million. 

The city, at the time, was facing allegations of sexual harassment by management, Bennett said. The relationship between city management and municipal employees was so acrimonious, he recalled, that employees picketed outside city hall, and there were concerns about the safety of city councilors during meetings. 

At his first meeting as city manager, Bennett said seven Maine State Police troopers were on hand to keep the peace.

“Employee morale was very low, and trust was lacking,” he said.

Today, Bennett said, all of those problems have been addressed. The city’s website indicates the tax rate is now $14.22 per thousand, and he said the average homeowner spent less on property tax in 2022 than in 2014.

“This is unparalleled by any of our neighbors,” he said.

The wastewater shortfall, Bennett said, has been “all but eliminated,” and a majority of the city’s leadership team is now female.

“This community is a better community and has done well,” he said. “While I don’t claim to have done all of this, I do certainly claim that I had my hands and participated in it.”

On Tuesday night, Bennett described himself as a “change agent,” and said he has ruffled feathers in the past.

“Change is not easy and often met with fierce opposition by some,” he said.

Randy Seaver, a Biddeford resident and former reporter who covered the city, has maintained a blog that describes Bennett as “well-qualified for his position” and “a decent human being.”

However, the blog has also criticized Bennett during his tenure, particularly in the last few years with allegations of discontent among city workers.

Seaver has also accused Bennett of contributing to some of the city’s financial management problems.

Bennett himself acknowledged Tuesday night that “the last couple of years have been extremely challenging” due to changes in the finance department.

On Wednesday, Seaver said he did not dislike the city manager, stating, “He has done some very good things for Biddeford, there’s no question about it.”

Still, Seaver said, nine years can be a long time for any city manager, and he noted that Bennett made his announcement with a year and half left on his contract, which he said suggests that Bennett “saw the writing on the wall.”

“I think this is the most graceful way to leave at this point,” Seaver said.