LIMESTONE, Maine — Limestone’s annual chamber of commerce and development foundation meeting featured speeches from two officials who came on board earlier this year: Economic Development Coordinator Dennis McCartney, who joined the town this summer, and Town Manager Matthew Pineo, who began in early October.
McCartney told attendants of the event on Nov. 16 at the Limestone Country Club about what brought him to Limestone and why he took the job. He also touched on some of his current projects, and emphasized the potential within the town.
For over a decade, McCartney and his wife Susan had traveled from their home in Pennsylvania to visit their son Michael, who teaches English at the Maine School of Science and Mathematics in Limestone. The town quickly grew on them and they also found themselves driving up more often to see their grandchild.
The 24-hour round trip eventually became too much for them, and McCartney said he was inspired to move up after seeing an ad on the Limestone website for a new economic development position.
“I saw that the position was available, and thought, ‘This is interesting.’”, McCartney recalled. “I’m a semi-retired businessman and, over the years, I’d been very critical of chamber of commerce people because they never really seemed to have a grasp of what it took to run their own business. I’d made fun of them over the years, so when I saw that opening, I thought it was a chance to put my money where my mouth is.”
“I’ve never had the feeling I had while serving this position,” he said. “It seems like everywhere I go, people say they’re glad someone is here, and they’re glad to have someone on board. I’ve never had anyone say that to me before, and all it does is make me want to work harder.”
McCartney emphasized the potential within Limestone, and how it contains resources that he didn’t see while living in Pennsylvania.
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- Dennis McCartney, Limestone’s economic development coordinator, discussed his first five months working with the town, emphasizing many of the town’s current assets, such as an indoor swimming pool, country club, and private school, during the town’s annual chamber of commerce and development foundation event on Nov. 16 at the Limestone Country Club. (Christopher Bouchard)
“I don’t know of any towns in Pennsylvania with their own indoor pool,” he said, “but you have one. The town I came from didn’t have its own country club, but you do. There are a lot of things Limestone has going for it, like the best private school in the state of Maine: MSSM. These things are already in place. All we need to do is upgrade the housing and upgrade the stores in town, and I’m working hard on that.”
He added that he’s been working to get a bank into Limestone, and that he’s meeting with officials from another branch soon to see what steps need to be taken in order to get one into town.
“I’ve heard a lot of people say that everyone uses electronic banking and we don’t need a branch anymore,” he said. “I’m sorry, but that doesn’t fly.”
Like McCartney, Pineo also emphasized the town’s positive strengths during his address.
“Like Dennis said, this town has an amazing amount of assets for a small community,” Pineo said. “Everything is just sitting there waiting to start over again. I really feel, in the next five years, Limestone is going to go through a change. The more volunteers and help we have, the better off this town is going to be.”
Pineo told guests that he has an “open door policy to the public,” and that anyone can come in to discuss anything related to the town.
“We’re collecting every idea,” he said, “because no idea is a bad idea. Any idea on how to rejuvenate our town and grow our town back is what I’m looking for. No idea is bad; keep throwing stuff out there.”
Pineo said he works with McCartney on economic development matters every morning, adding that so far, a Dollar General store is coming to the town, and they are looking to add a laundromat.
The town manager also addressed Limestone’s declining value, citing a loss of six million dollars in valuation over the past year.
“We need to put our boots back on, look forward, and think of grand ideas on how to rebuild this community and bring it back to being a vibrant place to live,” Pineo said.
Pineo estimated that, over the past three years, the town has lost roughly $20 million in value, and that “we really all need to work hard to get this back.”
“I’m here to lead and help do whatever I can to make this happen,” Pineo said.
Both McCartney and Pineo said that, despite being newcomers, they truly feel welcomed into the community.
“Limestone feels more like home to me than any other town I’ve been in [as town manager],” Pineo said. “Thank you for having me here as your manager.”
“It’s a pleasure to be here,” McCartney said. “My wife and I are really enjoying ourselves, and the thing I enjoy is that we’re being welcomed into your community. It’s a pleasure to be here, and a pleasure to be of service.”
