Maine Town & City
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Maine Town & City The magazine of the Maine Municipal Association MARCH 2018 MAINEHOMETOWNCAREERS.ORG ALSO IN THIS ISSUE Hiring tips from a pro Clearing the winter roads 2018 Technology Conference Meet Linda Johns, the City of Brewer’s official planner Her love of the outdoors and all things Maine led Johns to a career that she never regrets, even when she’s taking ‘random’ photos of bus stops and public gardens. By Stephanie Bouchard inda Johns, the City of The last store Brewer’s planning di- on our tour was the HOMETOWN CAREERS Lrector, is a Jersey Girl, Baskin-Robbins in but – she’s quick to point the Bangor Mall. City of Brewer Planning Director Linda out – not the kind of wild Never having been Johns appears in Maine Municipal Jersey Girl portrayed on to Maine before, Association’s Hometown Careers today’s television shows. we arrived late in campaign, along with many other city She and her family moved the evening and and town officials. To learn more about from central New Jersey to made it over to Hometown Careers, go to: https:// the northern part of the the mall just be- www.mainehometowncareers.org/ state where she grew up fore closing. After on a small lake at the foot a quick look, we of the Kittatinny Moun- spent the night at Maine at Orono. As a newly licensed tain and the Appalachian a local motel and Maine forester, I planned to work on Trail. went back the next creating a new genetic variety of tree Much like those of morning for a clos- that would grow fast and have fiber many Mainers, her child- Linda Johns er look. I don’t re- superior for Maine’s manufacturing. hood days in New Jersey call who said what, Unfortunately, International Paper were spent playing and hiking outside, but all of us just knew – this was going closed their forestry greenhouses taking care of rescue animals (includ- to be home. months before my graduation and we ing horses), tending a huge vegetable My life now includes two “home- all know what happened with the mills garden and walking around the lake to towns.” There is my “adopted” home in Maine. visit her grandparents. Her childhood – the City of Brewer – where I spend As part of my studies at UMO, I was experiences shaped her love of nature much of my time with my work family. required to take land surveying cours- and being outdoors and put her on Then there is also the small town of es. I accepted a job with a land survey- track – albeit a circuitous one – to a Clifton, where I reside. ing company in Limerick and got my career in local government. I live on Chemo Pond with Chick state land surveyor license. Wanting to Here’s how she got there. Hill nearby and my parents living move back to central Maine, I accept- ed a position with a survey company in Q. Tell us how you got to Maine down the road. My two daughters were fortunate to have had a childhood sim- Bangor, where I worked for 13 years and a little about yourself. not only performing all aspects of sur- A. As I neared my senior year of ilar to mine and they, too, thoroughly enjoy the outdoors. veying but also consulting and prepar- high school, my father saw the hand- ing land use plans and applications. writing on the wall in that the com- You can most often find me out- doors on the lake, hiking or taking A medical emergency left Brewer pany he worked at for almost 25 years without a city planner. I was asked was close to letting him go. A friend of wildlife photographs. While being on the top of Mount Katahdin and sit- to fill in. As a land surveyor, I spent his had recently purchased a Baskin- many years designing and bringing Robbins ice cream store franchise ting beside the ocean are special to me, I also enjoy the little things, like site plans and subdivision plans and and suggested to my parents that they presenting those to area Planning might be interested (in one of the listening to the loons and watching the sunset. Boards for approvals so I was very fa- franchises). We got a list of company- miliar with land use and the Planning owned stores that were for sale, then Q. How did you end up as a city Board process. I worked both jobs for set out to visit all the northeast loca- planner? five months before moving into the tions to see if any were the right fit. A. I moved to Maine my freshman city planner position full time in 2001. year of college and graduated with a Stephanie Bouchard is a freelance writer from I work with great people and (most Bachelor of Science degree in Forest Bath and a regular contributor to Maine Town & days!) enjoy going to work. City, [email protected]. Management from the University of MAINE TOWN & CITY MARCH 2018 19 Q. What do you do as the Planning Public Safety departments to review The most rewarding aspect of my Director for Brewer? each site plan or subdivision applica- work is helping landowners, devel- A. The entire planning depart- tion and then work with the applicant opers, groups and organizations de- ment consists of one full-time and on any changes. sign and implement the best product one-part time position, so I do a little Long-range planning is also an which meets both their needs and of everything. Planners in Maine often important aspect of my job. Planning the city’s, and benefits all. I am also wear several hats, especially municipal for the future can be exciting! Brewer fortunate to consult with local law planners in smaller communities. In completed its latest Comprehensive firms and be involved with many re- a single day, I can work on transpor- Plan in 2015 after a two-year process gional organizations such as Bangor tation issues, the construction of a of committee and public meetings. Area Comprehensive Transportation new building or use, ideas for a new A comp plan is the vision of the mu- System (BACTS), Lower Penobscot open space, writing ordinance amend- nicipality and the basis of future town Watershed Coalition, Heart of the Pe- ments, and meet with a landowner to decisions. nobscot, Fields Pond Audubon, Maine answer questions. I can say it’s never Coast Heritage Trust and other local boring. My position also oversees the Plan- Engineers | Scientists | Planners | Designers 500 Southborough Drive ning Board and the Conservation Suite 105B Commission – two great groups of South Portland, ME 04106 207.889.3150 residents who volunteer their time to www.vhb.com Serving Maine for more than 30 years the community. The Planning Board VHB’s roadway, structural, traffic, environmental, holds public hearings and reviews and land development professionals deliver many development projects. In order to make their work easier, the Plan- solutions that help communities thrive. ning Department does much of the legwork leading up to their meetings. A planner doesn’t need to know every- thing but does need to know where to get the right information. I work closely with the City Engineer and the Code Enforcement, Economic Devel- opment, Environmental, Water, and Maine lawyers working with Maine municipalities. With over 60 years experience, it’s no wonder that municipalities, counties and school districts across At Jensen Baird, Maine depend on the knowledge of Jensen Baird. our commitment is to you. We are your trusted source in providing solutions to a broad range of issues. With prompt, practical and cost-effective guidance, our lawyers are regularly recognized as among The Best Lawyers in America. Portland / Kennebunk • 207-775-7271 • 1-800-756-1166 • jbgh.com 20 MARCH 2018 MAINE TOWN & CITY land trusts. There are also great regional groups Municipal Association (MMA) can also Q. When you’re not working, and that can assist your journey such as be a great asset, especially with training you’re in other communities for busi- the Northern New England Chapter opportunities. ness or pleasure, are you able to turn of the American Planning Association Q. What are the frustrations of the off the city planner role in your head (NNECAPA) and our own Maine Asso- job? What are the things about the job or do you always look around at other ciation of Planners (MAP). The Maine communities with the eye of a town planner, trying to get ideas or noticing things that aren’t working? Smarter banking is A. My family has often commented on my not being able to “turn off” be- smarter financing. ing a planner, but they are used to my taking pictures of random bus stops Public-sector financing and rain gardens for ideas back home. available state-wide. Q. What qualifications do you need to be a city planner? Androscoggin Bank can meet all of your financing needs, including: A. The first question most people • who are interested in becoming a city Lease financing for 100% of new or used equipment; planner ask is whether there are any • Tax-Anticipation Notes and Bond-Anticipation Notes (TANs and BANs); educational, licensing or certification • General Obligation Bonds (GOBs). requirements in Maine. The answer Ready to discuss your options? is no. However, there are many sug- gested routes to consider. Higher edu- Call John Simko today. cation in public administration and in Vice President, Androscoggin Bank planning are certainly a benefit. The [email protected] American Planning Association (APA) androscogginbank.com 207-376-3623 offers educational opportunities along with the American Institute of Certi- fied Planners (AICP), a nationwide Smar ter Banking ™ independent credentialing program.