City manager visits local PROBUS Club
PRESQUE ISLE — The PROBUS Club of Aroostook met Oct. 15 at Northern Maine Community College with 15 members attending. Dana Crory, president, called the meeting to order.
Ginny Joles, program chairperson, introduced Presque Isle City Manager Martin Puckett as the guest speaker. A native of Hancock, Puckett has lived in The County for seven years and has served as town manager in Sangerville, Livermore Falls, Mapleton, Chapman and Castle Hill. He graduated from the University of Maine with both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in public administration.
He is past president of the Aroostook Municipal Association and the Maine Town, City and County Management Association. He is a member of the Presque Isle Rotary Club and has helped organize races to benefit the Red Cross, UMPI and Wintergreen Arts color runs.
He resides here with his wife, originally from Presque Isle, and their daughter.
Puckett described what the Star City has to offer and presented an overview of city projects.
Among the highlights, he told the group a downtown map has been completed; the building for the public market is to be similar to a train station; Derik Smith has been helping with Music in the Park by obtaining bands; and building expansions have included Save-A-Lot, Falcon Transportation, and ongoing projects at Machias Savings Bank and Acme Monaco.
Puckett stated the mission of the city is: to preserve Presque Isle’s heritage and natural beauty while delivering public programs and services that encourage health, happiness and prosperity.
In other business, the secretary’s and treasurer’s reports were approved, and Janet Snow gave a reading on “Walking My Dog Teaches Me About Life and Business” by Deb Neuman.
The next meeting will be held Thursday, Nov. 19, at the Presque Isle Area Chamber of Commerce at 10 a.m.
PROBUS invites retirees who want to keep up with their community to join the club. Meetings take place the third Thursday of each month. For more information, call Crory at 425-7991.
