OLD ORCHARD BEACH — Three candidates are vying for two council seats in Old Orchard Beach — two current town councilors and a former town councilor.

Roxanne Frenette, 56, is retired from the Maine Turnpike Authority after 30 years of employment and is currently an occupancy specialist at The Pines.

Frenette said she has several years past experience on the Town Council. “I would bring a different perspective which I believe is necessary,” said Frenette.

If elected, she said, her top priority would be to work in a fair and equitable sewer user fee instead of the current method of charging everyone, regardless if they have sewer. The sewer user fee makes up 10.2 percent of property tax bills. 

Frenette said the top issues facing Old Orchard Beach are the deteriorating infrastructure including the sewer treatment plant, school facilities, streets and sewer lines and not having the capital to facilitate repairs.

Jay Kelley, 65, is a retired firefighter. He is a current town councilor, and has served for five years. 

“I want to continue the positive atmosphere within the Town Council, while allowing us to be progressive in handling the town’s business,” said Kelley.

Kelley said if elected his top goal would be to maintain the work of the current Town Council and to continue to move Old Orchard Beach forward in a positive direction.

He said the top three issues the town is facing are dealing with aging sewer lines and wastewater treatment facility, upgrading the school’s facilities and continuing to upgrade and maintain the streets in town. 

Joseph Thornton, 33, is a public safety emergency telecommunications manager. He is a current town councilor, and has served on the Town Council for four years.

Thornton said the number one priority of the Town Council is to protect the tax impact on residents and businesses. 

“As a council, it is our responsibility to ensure that the impact of rising prices, and government spending is controlled at a rate that is fair, and achievable for our residents,” he said. “I will work tirelessly to ensure all ta payers of Old Orchard, that they will never be faced with the question of, ‘has it become to expensive to live or do business in my own community.’”

Thornton said one of the three top issues facing the town is infrastructure needs. This includes sewer projects, road maintenance, and possibly most pressing, the wastewater treatment Plant, he said.  

He said the other top issues are maintaining fiscal responsibility and adopting an updated comprehensive plan. The updated comprehensive plan currently being designed is the most powerful tool for the council, as it outlines exactly what the people of Old Orchard Beach want, and should be the foundation for positive changes to come, said Thornton.

— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 325 or egotthelf@journaltribune.com.