Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE – City Council kicked off 2008 with an awards ceremony Jan. 7 honoring several municipal employees for their dedicated service to the community.
Staff photo/Kathy McCarty
CITY EMPLOYEES HONORED – City Council honored a number of city employees for their many years of service to the community. Receiving awards were, from left: Donna Downing, dispatcher for the Public Works Department, honored for 30 years with the city; Clayton Turner, five years, Presque Isle Industrial Council; Jack McLean, five years, Public Works; Vicki Kinney, 15 years, Presque Isle Police Department; Joyce Price, 25 years, Recreation and Parks Department; Nancy Nichols, 15 years, Finance Department; and City Manager Tom Stevens, 15 years, General Government. Absent from the photo: Garrett Belanger, five years, Forum; Lynn Hartley, five years, PIPD; Kevin Schumacher, five years, PIPD; David Easler, 10 years, Public Works; Thomas King, 10 years, PIPD; Margaret Wallace, 10 years, PIPD; Dean Doody, 15 years, Northern Maine Regional Airport; Gerald Cousins, 20 years, Presque Isle Fire Department.
The afternoon began early for Council, starting at 4 p.m. with members of Girl Scout Troop 726 on hand for the presentation of flags. Before departing, the Scouts led those present in the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by the singing of “My Country Tis of Thee.”
Chairman Walt Elish then requested a moment of silence in memory of Neil Michaud.
City Clerk Nancy Nichols administered the oath of office to Councilors Don Gardner and G. Melvin Hovey, incumbents who ran unchallenged for their seats on the Council.
Next, Elish presented a number of employees with a certificate of appreciation and a monetary gift for dedicated service to the city and its citizens.
Recognized for five years with the city were: Garrett Belanger, Forum employee; Lynn Hartley, an officer with the Presque Isle Police Department; Jack McLean, with Public Works; Kevin Schumacher, an officer with the PIPD; and Clayton Turner, of the Presque Isle Industrial Council.
Achieving their 10-year anniversary with the city were: David Easler, of Public Works; Thomas King, dispatcher with the PIPD; and Margaret Wallace, dispatcher with the PIPD.
Celebrating 15 years with the city were: Dean Doody, Northern Maine Regional Airport; Vicki Kinney, of the PIPD; Nancy Nichols, of the Finance Department; and City Manager Thomas Stevens, General Government.
Marking 20 years with the city was Gerald Cousins, a member of the Presque Isle Fire Department.
Joyce Price, a member of the Recreation and Parks Department, was honored for 25 years of service.
Retiring after 30 years with the city was Donna Downing, dispatcher for the Public Works Department. In addition to the certificate and monetary award, Downing was presented with a clock for her many dedicated years as a municipal employee.
“We thank her for her service and wish her the best in her retirement,” said Elish.
Staff photo/Kathy McCarty
TIME FOR RETIREMENT – Donna Downing, dispatcher for the Public Works Department, has retired after 30 years with the city. In honor of her dedicated service to the community, Council Chairman Walt Elish presented Downing with a clock at the Jan. 7 City Council session.
