Kathleen Billings on Steering a Small Town in Maine Through COVID and a Tense Election Year

In this episode, Debbie talks to Kathleen Billings, town manager of Stonington, Maine, the small coastal village on Deer Isle that she and her husband now call home.

Debbie wanted to talk to a local leader about the challenges of this election and pandemic year and Kathleen was the perfect person. She is matter of fact, deeply knowledgeable, and forthright.

Kathleen, 56, has been Stonington’s Town Manager for almost 20 years. She tells us how the town’s twin industries of fishing and tourism have fared and how she began to prepare for COVID back in February. She and Debbie talk about the friction between People From Away (PFA) and locals and how it was exacerbated by COVID.

They also talk about the political tensions that Kathleen has had to face this year and how she‘s handled them. On a side note Kathleen talks about the very real issue of rising sea levels and how the town is addressing that.

They end by reflecting on the year 2020 and how Kathleen has focused on maintaining a positive atmosphere so that everyone can get through this time without being "ground under," as she puts it. She expresses gratitude for the many nonprofits on the island that address community needs.

PHOTO CREDIT: Debbie Weil

Mentioned in this episode or useful:

• Town of Stonington, ME
• Town of Deer Isle, ME
• Hancock County, ME
• Manager embraces town's waterfront way of life (Ellsworth American, July 17, 2019)
• Maine's attitude towards outsiders ignites fears during pandemic (Bangor Daily News, April 13, 2020 )
• Stonington's little houses removed after one is vandalized (Island AdVantages, July 30, 2020)
• Maine's Coastal Vulnerability to Sea-level Rise (University of Maine)
• Obit for Kathleen's legendary uncle, Neville Hardy
• Island Women Speak and the podcast episode
• Frank Weil's blog on liberal politics

Some of the local groups on Deer Isle that work together:

• Healthy Island Project (HIP)
• Salt Air Seniors run by Barrett Gray
• Opera House Arts
• Stonington Library
• Island Ad-Vantages (the local newspaper)
• Deer Isle-Stonington High School

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Credits:

• Host: Debbie Weil
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