News

New Gloucester Public Works Director retiring
Wealth of knowledge and strong work ethic
By Naomi Morrison

New Gloucester--As the saying goes, "they just don't make 'em like they used to," and that makes it even harder for New Gloucester staff to let Public Works Director Willard Waterman retire.

Waterman was born in New Gloucester and brought up on Hillsdale Farm. Later he sold farm and industrial equipment for the Oliver Stores Logging and Construction Equipment and Supplies, also located in New Gloucester. He began his career with the Town of New Gloucester 29 years ago as a road foreman. He went to Director 10 years later and has been so ever since.

Left, in August 2002, Waterman accompanied the Selectmen and then-manager Bill Cooper on a site walk of the NG Fairgrounds, formerly known as Trotters Park.
The Monument: Ellie Fellers file photo

The job doesn't leave much time for oneself, he said, and in retirement he's just going to enjoy what he loves most, hunting, fishing and spending time on his own plots of land. Chuckling, Waterman said he has no plans to go to Florida just because he's retired, he likes it just fine in the cold. "It will be nice looking out the window when it's snowing," he continued, "and say 'hey fellas, have a good time.'" In August 2001, Waterman accepted an award from the Jeff Brinck of the Cumberland County Soil and Water Conservation District in recognition of Waterman and his crew's commitment to conservation practices within the watershed.


Town Clerk Barbara Seaver said she remembers a very bad snow storm a couple of years ago when Waterman stopped in and told her he'd be back when she got off work to drive her home on his plow route. He just wanted to make sure she was safe, she said. "He'll be missed because he's a fixture with us," said Seaver. "We see him all the time."

Assistant Director of Public Works Scott Hodgman has been working with Waterman for about 20 years. He was a hands on type of person, he said, and would work right with the crew. As foreman, he wanted to make sure things got done and were completed cost effectively, he said. Waterman even did his endless amounts of paperwork during his time off and on weekends because he wanted to be out with his men during the week. He had to give up a lot of family time to do what he does because even in the summer, this job isn't a 40 hour a week position, he said. "I don't know if we'll get that with someone else who is new," said Hodgman.

Residents relied on his knowledge, too. At town meetings, Waterman would always address the residents' concerns of property lines and right of ways. He'd even walk them right out the door to explain things to them, and even walk their property with them to help them find their boundary markings.
Seaver said that Waterman was available night or day to help on highway issues. "Even if you sit down and look at what he does and what's been required of him over the years," said Hodgman, "you just can't see all he does." He was dedicated. There's no doubt about that."

Waterman, who just turned 76-years-old, would outwork the younger staff. Hodgman, who's in this 50's, said that even last winter he'd be dead on his feet after 36 hours of plowing and Waterman would send him home and keep going himself. He just has a strong work ethic. "I suppose you just get put into that position of responsibility and coming from that era, you do what needs to be done," Hodgman said.

Hodgman also remarked on Waterman's ability to design and plan many things that saved the town a lot of money. For instance, Waterman designed and built the sanders that were needed and also designed and built the truck mount sweepers that are still being used today. "He knew more about equipment than the salesmen who tried selling him stuff over the years," said Hodgman, "he should have been the salesman."

The town also saved a lot of money on expensive engineering studies because Waterman used his common knowledge approach to design many of the roads in New Gloucester. Hodgman said that knowing equipment and dealing with people isn't something you can learn from a degree, you learn it from experience. "It's going to be tough to find someone with all those attributes," said Hodgman, "fill the Bill we've all come to know."

On December 10 there will be a retirement celebration for Waterman in combination with the town's Christmas party. The public is invited and it will be held at Spring Meadows from 5 to 8 p.m.