Jennings, who has been city manager since 2015, would start his new job in Clearwater, Florida, on Nov. 8 at an annual salary of $230,000.
Randy Billings
Staff Writer
Randy Billings is a government watchdog and political reporter who has been the State House bureau chief since 2021. He was named the Maine Press Association’s Journalist of the Year in 2020. He joined the Press Herald in 2012 as the Portland City Hall reporter, where his beat touched on a wide range of topics, including municipal government, immigration, homelessness, housing and social services. Prior to that, he worked at various weeklies as well as business and arts publications. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Maine, Orono. He lives in North Yarmouth with his wife and two children and enjoys the outdoors and playing his upright bass.
Posted inBusiness, Local & State, News, Schools and Education
Developer plans apartments in Portland building where college considered dorms
The Maine College of Art & Design dropped plans for a dorm on Forest Avenue after the city decided to move its social services and public health offices, including its health clinic, next door.
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Posted inBusiness, Local & State, News
Portland reclaims lot once part of the ‘midtown’ project using eminent domain
The city plans to pay 3 limited liability companies just $10 each for the property in Bayside, since a city appraisal determined it has a negative fair market value.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Portland council supports mask mandate, but pushes vote back until next week
At a workshop Wednesday, councilors expressed support for requiring everyone 2 and older to wear masks in all public indoor settings.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Portland health officials recommend that city restore indoor mask mandate
Portland would become Maine’s first municipality to revive a requirement that people wear masks in public indoor spaces regardless of vaccination status.
Posted inLocal & State
Portland plans to seize midtown lot using eminent domain
The city, which is embroiled in a lawsuit with the developers of the failed project, is proposing to pay just $30 for the land, citing an appraisal that claims the property has a negative fair market value.
Posted inLocal & State, Nation & World, News
Ticket agent struggles with guilt, trauma over two decades
The American Airlines agent who gave two of the 9/11 terrorists their boarding passes from Portland to Boston is haunted by that unthinkable day.
Posted inLocal & State, Local Elections, News, Politics
Portland councilor, a plaintiff in lawsuit against the city, won’t recuse herself from dispute
April Fournier’s decision runs counter to the city attorney’s recommendation that she recuse herself from deliberations of the clean-elections case.
Posted inLocal & State
Jon Jennings selected as next city manager of Clearwater, Fla.
Jennings, who was named Portland’s city manager in 2015, said he is excited to begin negotiations in Clearwater but sad to be ‘possibly leaving Portland city staff.’
Posted inLocal & State, Local Elections, News, Politics
Portland councilors consider next move in clean elections case, but too late for fall vote
Advocates want the City Council to reverse course and put the 2019 citizen initiative on the November ballot, but the clerk says ballots are already being printed.