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Town of Buxton
Selectmen’s Report
2015/2016
Looking back over the past year, we realize that many changes have taken place.
Several long-time employees have left and were replaced by excited, new individuals who were
ready to take on the challenges of their positions. Fred Farnham, our long-time Code Enforcement
Officer (CEO), retired and moved west to pursue new challenges in his life. Fred will be sorely
missed but his replacement, Peter Gordon, the former CEO in Hollis, stepped right in to make a
seamless transition, filling those large shoes and doing an excellent job.
In the front office Suzanne Shorter, the Motor Vehicle Agent who has been a familiar face in the
Buxton Town Office for many years, chose to retire as well this year. She was replaced by Angela
Michie, a young, energetic and enthusiastic individual who has embraced her new job and has
quickly become a front office favorite.
Michael Grovo, the Town’s Police Chief for the past nine years, has decided to resign from that
position to pursue new opportunities. He is being replaced by Troy Cline, a former, home-town,
“Buxton boy”. Chief Cline’s first day will be March 28 and he is excited to get started. He is
presently the Police Chief for the Town of Wiscasset.
In the Selectmen’s office, Chad Poitras was elected to replace Penny Booker who decided not to
run again for that position. Chad is seeing that there is a lot to learn in his first year and is adjusting
just fine.
While we are discussing people who left our community this year, we would be remiss if we didn’t
mention Stephen Nichols who left Buxton and moved south to be with his family. Steve served on
the Select Board, Budget Committee, Ancient Cemetery Committee; he was a Trustee of the West
Buxton Public Library, a Mason, and dedicated a lot of time working on many other committees
and community projects. He is a kind and giving man who will be greatly missed.
We would like to take this opportunity to say “thank you” to our Fire-Rescue Chief, Nathan Schools,
and all of the dedicated men and women in the Fire-Rescue Department who have worked so
diligently on getting the ISO Fire Protection Rating lowered for the Town. That will have a big
impact on lowering property insurance rates. A vast amount of time and effort has gone into this
project and we are thankful for their commitment.
This past year there have been some notable changes for the community. The Dollar General and
long anticipated Dunkin Donuts projects were completed. They have been welcome additions to
our business community. In the course of watching those businesses being built, the Board decided
it was time for the Town to put together a plan for what we want our business commercial district
to look like. So, the Business District Community Focus Group, including members Stephen
Heroux, Laurie Warchol, Tom Saxby and Mark Libby was formed and tasked with creating a new
vision for the business district zone. Their recommendations to the existing ordinances that were
adopted in past years will support that vision and help create a more uniform environment for
future business growth.
Also of importance was the demolition of the old Samuel D. Hanson School and Gym which was
replaced with a lawn area where a future monument and benches will be placed. The demolition
of the old Public Works Garage on the corner of Haines Meadow and Route 22 also occurred. No
decision has been made yet about plans for that lot.