NEW GLOUCESTER —Town officials have hired a Durham man to serve as town planner.

Paul First, who also serves on the Durham Planning Board, said his
initial duties will be to redraft a number of New Gloucester ordinances
that include the town’s road standards and shoreland zoning amendments
to comply with state law.

He plans to work directly with the Planning Board, the Land Use
Management Committee, the New Gloucester Economic Development
Committee and Assistant Planner Amanda Lessard.

“The most important thing for me is to listen and hear from the community members,” First said.

For nearly the past decade the town has grappled with plans to make
Upper Gloucester a pedestrian-friendly village. Several studies have
been completed and community forums have been held. A public water
supply has been discussed, but no action to date has occurred.

“I think there is tremendous opportunity in Upper Gloucester,” First
said, adding that it will be part of future planning efforts.

 For the past four and a half years, First served as executive director of the Woodie Wheaton Land Trust in northeast Washington and Aroostook counties, where more than 100 miles of shoreland have been conserved along the St. Croix River. Numerous lakes in the area have also been protected by the trust.

First’s duties there were project management, fundraising and building the organization within an international chain of lakes linking Maine and New Brunswick, Canada.

 
He earned a master’s degree in community land planning from the State College of New York. He and his wife, Tina, are the parents of two young children.