BELFAST - The City Council on Tuesday appointed Norman Poirier as the city's new Parks and Recreation Department director, filling a six-month vacancy and leaving city officials optimistic about the future of the department.

Poirier is currently director of parks, recreation and facilities for the town of Orono, a position he has held since 1989. He has a bachelor's degree in Health, Physical Education and Recreation from the University of Maine at Presque Isle and has a variety of work experience in health services, recreation and sports.

During his 23-year tenure with Maine Recreation & Park Association, he's held a range of positions, from secretary to president, and has lobbied in Washington, DC on behalf of funding for parks programs.

So why come to Belfast?

“A lot of people have asked me that,” Poirier said Wednesday. 

“Part of the the attraction is the city itself,” he said, noting that his home in Winterport is equidistant from Belfast and Bangor and he often comes to the smaller city. “I've always been impressed with the city and its rebirth or redevelopment, and particularly the things they've done in the last four or five years.”

Looking ahead, Poirier said he doesn't have specific plans in mind for Belfast but anticipates a period of getting to know what's already here, including the seasonal schedule of routine work and special events.

"I’ve been in the field for 23-plus years but each community has their own flavor, their own sense of identity," he said. "So it’s going to take me a little time to get acclimated to that.”  

At Tuesday's announcement, several city officials spoke highly of Poirier.

"He's met all of the expectations we had," said Parks and Recreation Chairwoman Carol Good. "We wanted a parks and recreation professional and that's what we got, so we're really looking forward to the future."

City Manager Joe Slocum said Poirier's outgoing personality would make him a familiar face in the community. Slocum also said he was impressed with the depth of Poirier's knowledge and experience in the field.

"He's a very talented guy," Slocum said. "If there's something in Maine he doesn't know about parks I'd be shocked."

The vacant position drew 25 applicants for the position, Slocum said, including several from out of state. A selection committee including the city manager, two members of the Parks Commission, Public Works Director Bob Richards and Waldo County YMCA Director Dale Cross turned in a unanimous endorsement of Poirier, he said.

Tuesday's appointment ends a six month period during which Belfast had no parks director and the future of the position was at times uncertain.

The city's only previous parks director Jim Bell resigned in October after a month-long absence. Rather than advertise to fill the vacancy, Slocum proposed reviewing the mission of the department. In the process, he suggested that a director might not be needed, setting off a minor firestorm among members of the Parks and Recreation Commission, who had been seeking to expand the programming aspect of the department.

Slocum argued that maintaining park facilities, much of which was done by the public works department, should be the first priority and that recreational programming could potentially be ceded to outside organizations like the Waldo County YMCA and school programs.

The question of who does recreational programming in the city became a bone of contention between the manager's office and the parks commission. During the debate, YMCA Director Dale Cross lobbied publicly for the Y to be the go-to organization for recreational programming in the city. His argument was bolstered in the opinions of some city officials based on the city's financial support of the Y over the years.

Members of the Parks Commission, however, felt the city should have its own programming that was free to residents.

Under Bell, the Parks Commission opened several recreational facilities including the old ski area on City Point Road and the ice rink, located behind Waterfall Arts. Other initiatives like a proposed ping-pong tournament met with friction and were ultimately dropped.

Negotiations between representatives of the Parks Commission, the city manager and public works director ultimately resulted in a two-part agreement. The city would hire a full-time parks director and modify its code of ordinances to include the parks and recreation director position and define its relationship with the Parks Commission, the city's original park advisory group dating to the 1930s.

A revised job description stated that the new director would hold a degree in parks and recreation — a condition requested by the Parks Commission — and would also work cooperatively on programming with outside entities including the YMCA, Little League and schools.

Speaking on Wednesday, Poirer echoed the importance of cooperation, saying that he was familiar with some of the issues that can arise between municipal parks departments and outside recreational groups.

“I’m not a person who believes in duplication," he said. "I think if something is working well, we look to complement it, develop it, or improve it so there's better access for residents.”

One area he said he plans to look at is services for senior citizens.

The City Council signed off on the recommendation to hire Poirier, who will receive a salary of $47,871 and a vehicle stipend of $1,200.

Ethan Andrews can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com