KENNEBUNK — Friends, family, elected officials and members of the public gathered at the Waterhouse Center in Kennebunk on Wednesday to celebrate the career of outgoing Town Manager Barry Tibbetts.
 
Tibbetts announced in September he would not seek renewal of his contract after 24 years with the town, 19 of which he served as town manager. A news release from the town said he is one of the few managers in the state who has served a single community for nearly a quarter century.
 
Town officials remembered Tibbetts as a positive force in the town of about 11,000, calling him as a “visionary” for his work in the community.
 
“It’s been great working with Barry. He’s a wonderful visionary,” said Selectman Chris Cluff. “We wouldn’t be the community we are today without Barry’s leadership. If you look at the vision of Main Street, certainly it’s made an impact for the better.”
 
A presentation shown at the community celebration, which drew more than 100 people to the downtown center, praised Tibbetts for his, “restorative and visionary projects.”
 
Under his leadership, he developed policies that have spurred economic development — creating more than 700 jobs, according to town officials — and revitalized the downtown and village centers. 
 
His work also included restoration of seawalls at Middle and Gooch’s Beaches, protecting the two, and consolidation of town government. He also oversaw construction of the West Kennebunk Fire Station, implemented a recycling program, developed tax-increment financing, or TIF, districts and maintained a AAA bond rating through much of the last decade.
 
Many lauded Tibbetts’ forward-thinking policies and energizing leadership.
 
“I hoped when I joined the board, when I was elected, that I’d have a manager that I would have to hold back as opposed to push,” said Dick Morin, chairman of the Board of Selectmen.” I’ve never had to push the man in my life. In fact, I’ve had to run to keep up with him and sometimes we did have to hold him back.”
 
But despite his and the town’s success, Tibbetts said he couldn’t pinpoint just one project of which he’s proud.
 
“It’s hard to identify a single item,” he said. “In looking back over the years, I think it’s having built a really good staff, team at the town hall. 
 
“You’ve got great people working there,” he said. “They really care about the community They want to do what’s right for the community, and that made coming to work a lot more enjoyable, a lot of fun.”
 
Michael Pardue, who previously served as interim town manager from December, having been signed as manager for three years in May, said while he’s pleased with Tibbetts’ success, and he wants to “blaze new trails” of his own.
 
“I think you always look at someone who’s been in a position for 19 or 20 years and say, ‘What new paths will we chart for the community?’” he said. “Part of what we’re looking at is how to stabilize and take care of the essential components of government, make sure we bring our roads into compliance and facilities, looking at that and looking for new revenue streams.”
 
He did thank Tibbetts for making the transition as “seamless as it could possibly be.”
 
Tibbetts, who will be moving into work in the private sector, said he was “humbled” by the turnout at the celebration.
 
“Kennebunk is a wonderful community and the residents and business people have seen a lot of changes and we had a lot of fun working through those changes and I just find it very humbling,” he said. “To see all the different faces from different committees — there’s multiple board members here from throughout the community — and the elected officials from many years, is just very, very comforting.”
 
— Staff Writer Alan Bennett can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 329 or abennett@journaltribune.com.