Brewer council returns mayor to post
11/19/09 | 12 comments

Brewer council returns mayor to post


By Nok-Noi Ricker
BDN Staff

BREWER, Maine — The vote was not unanimous, but Arthur “Archie” Verow, who served as mayor for the last year, was named to the post for another year on Tuesday at the City Council’s annual organizational meeting.

Joseph Ferris also was reappointed deputy mayor, in a duplicate 3-2 vote, with Councilors Larry Doughty and Manley DeBeck voting against both Verow and Ferris.

Doughty nominated DeBeck for the post of mayor but was overridden by the three votes for Verow. He also nominated Ferris for deputy mayor and then voted against him.

“Joe called me last Friday afternoon and told me Archie was going to be the mayor,” and that they had the three votes needed, Doughty said on Wednesday. He said he nominated DeBeck to demonstrate his displeasure with the council’s leadership.

During that same conversation, Ferris asked Doughty to nominate him for deputy mayor, which Doughty said he was happy to do, even though he voted against him.

“I just feel I’m not happy with the way a couple of things have happened in the last year,” Doughty said. “I wanted to send a message that I’m not particularly happy.”

Doughty said there are no hard feelings between councilors.

“The council is going to get along fine,” he said. “We’re all there for the same purpose.”

Before the leadership votes were taken, new Councilor Jerry Goss was sworn in, along with Doughty. In the audience were Goss’ parents, Ralph and Phyllis Goss, his wife, Jean Goss, and his brother Kevin Goss.

In the mayor’s speech, Verow thanked fellow councilors and city and school leaders for their hard work over the last year and added, “This past year has been another year of tremendous progress in the city” with the opening of several new businesses, including the city’s largest taxpayer, Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline.

“While we pause to celebrate our accomplishments, we are mindful that there is more that is required to be done,” he said, listing the mandated sanitary and storm water separation project, the riverfront stabilization and trail projects, changes to the downtown traffic flow and parking, and plans to make City Hall handicapped-accessible.

And with the struggling economy, “There is certainly no shortage of challenging decisions that the City Council will face this year,” Verow said. “At times there will be differences of opinion among council members as to courses of action.”

Another issue that needs addressing is what to do with the school buildings that will be vacated once the new school for pre-kindergarten through eighth grade is open in 2011. Verow said he wants the public to have a hand in deciding what to do with the buildings once they’re empty.

Before the school board met to choose its leaders for the next year, new school board member William “Bill” Birch was sworn in along with incumbent Amanda Bost and Brewer High School district trustee incumbent Albert “Al” Gibson.

During a special school committee meeting, chairman Mark Farley was reappointed, for the fifth year in a row, to lead the board, and Bost was selected as vice chairman for the second year.

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Comments
12 comments on this item
On 11/19/09 at 3:52 PM, Fran43 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Council will get along just fine, as Councilor Doughty stated. As Council Chairman (Mayor) I feel that the Citizens expect us to conduct their business in a fair and honest manor and to set a good tone for Brewer. Now that the dust from the November election, has settled, we will get to work on issues that are important to the people. I encourage citizens to attend our Council meetings (normally on the Second Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall). AS former City Councilor and Mayor Arthur P. Doe used to say, "I need your head in my business." He was a barber.

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On 11/19/09 at 5:24 PM, Coronadrinker wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

I believe brewer would be a much better council if they fired Doughty. He is useless and just dont understand what he is doing

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On 11/19/09 at 11:10 PM, Larryt39 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Oh no, coronadrinker-from High Street in Bangor- is back. He is so courageous and proud of his remarks that he just cannot seem to put his real name to his postings. Just no guts, I guess. One of those that we often refer to as cowards. Sorry you don't have the guts to identify yourself. Larry T. Doughty, South Brewer

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On 11/19/09 at 11:40 PM, chersully2000 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Larry: You are so right; bingo. Quite a few cowards on the BDN comment pages. Yes indeed.

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On 11/20/09 at 1:18 AM, teefen wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

I HOPE THE COUNCIL WILL MAKE A FEW CHANGES. 1. GET THE WALK LIGHTS FIXED AT ALL INTERSECTIONS AND ADDITIONAL CAUTION LIGHTS INSTALLED AT CROSSWALKS [ WHERE NEEDED ]. 2. A HIGHER POLICE PROFILE TO " SLOW THINGS DOWN " 3. HAVE A COUNCIL THAT WORKS TOGETHER IN THE CITY OF BREWER`S BEST INTERESTS. I HOPE THE SIDEWALK PLOWS ARE WOKING BETTER THIS YEAR THAN LAST YEAR.

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On 11/20/09 at 7:02 AM, Larryt39 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Chersully, absolutely. The way I see it, if you want to made nasty, personal comments about people, then at least have the guts to attach your name. As for teefen comments, the City Manager reads these comments, and I'm sure he will take note of same. As for City Councilor's working together, that is the name of the game. All I would expect from my City Councilor's is an honest approach, and not do the backstabbing, that has been apparent. Honesty is the very best that anybody, especially in elective office should be pursuing. Larry T. Doughty, South Brewer- larrytdoughty@yahoo.com, www.ourstory.com/larrytdoughty/

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On 11/20/09 at 9:42 AM, Larryt39 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Here is a response from our Chief of Police Perry Antone, to City Manager Bost. So, Teefen, please call the police at 989-7001..this skirts the dispatcher's, so no interrogation by them, whenever calling police. As the Chief writes, they need to hear from the citizens. Larry T. Doughty- South Brewer

Steve,

This morning I was reading the Bangor Daily News article concerning annual council meeting held on November 17, 2009. In reading the comments I saw where a citizen expressed concerns about traffic in Brewer. The writer states the police should provide a higher presence to slow traffic down. The Brewer Police Department takes traffic enforcement seriously and provides a presence and enforcement in areas throughout the city. We often ask for assistance from our citizens to help us identify what areas need our attention. Citizens wishing to assist us in identifying specific issues in certain areas should feel free to contact any officer with the Brewer Police Department. When citizens identify an area of concern we then have a number of ways to address these reports, including having our staff conduct directed patrols to specifically take enforcement action in these areas.

When reporting concerns about traffic we would request the following information if possible; location, day of week, time of day and if there is one specific individual that seems to be the primary violator. By obtaining this information we can take a more efficient approach in addressing your concerns.

Perry B. Antone, Sr.

Chief of Police

Brewer Police Department

151 Parkway South

Brewer, Maine 04412

207-989-7001

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On 11/20/09 at 10:06 AM, chersully2000 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Larry: I could not agree more with your comments at 7:02 AM Bravo. Dishonesty always catches up with one in the end; what is the point! Anyway, doing the right and honest thing gets rewarded at the end of the day (even though it might not seem so, sometimes!)

As for the poster mentioned before: very disturbed, as is evident. Pathetic. It will not be allowed to continue indefinitely. The personal comments will be addressed with the appropriate people, believe you me.

Have a great day.

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On 11/20/09 at 4:28 PM, Larryt39 wrote: Click here to view hidden comment         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden
On 11/20/09 at 8:43 PM, iTHINKso2 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Larry, new traffic signals won't do much good if the police do not enforce people stopping at them when they turn red. Might as well save the money, or just turn them off the way people are driving these days.

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On 11/20/09 at 8:45 PM, iTHINKso2 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Congrats to Archie for another term as Joe's little pet monkey

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On 11/21/09 at 7:35 AM, Larryt39 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

iTHINKso2- Your comments will be addressed by Chief Perry Antone. As he is watching this page also. Your second commente is interesting, to say the least. Your support is much appreciated. Larry T. Doughty- South Brewer

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