WATERVILLE $ City Councilor Dana W. Sennett, D-Ward 4, was re-elected by the council Tuesday to serve as council chairman, a post he has held three times during his 12-year tenure on the panel.

Sennett, 56, was elected 4-3, with councilors Charles "Fred" Stubbert Jr., D-Ward 1, John O'Donnell, D-Ward 5, Carl S. Basgall, an unenrolled councilor representing Ward 7, and Sennett himself voting for Sennett; and councilors Mary-Anne Beal, D-Ward 2, Rosemary J. Winslow, D-Ward 3, and Thomas R.W. Longstaff, D-Ward 6, voting for Winslow.

Longstaff had nominated Winslow for the chairmanship; Stubbert nominated Sennett.

"I'm pleased to think that the councilors showed confidence enough in my leadership to allow me to be council chairman again," Sennett said of his re-election. "I think we have a strong council and a strong leader in Mayor Paul LePage."

Asked if there is anything in particular he wants to pursue in the next year as chairman, Sennett, an advertising executive for the Morning Sentinel, said:

"I think probably the focus will on having a balanced budget without increasing the taxes. I would love to have great economic development, but right now with the state of the economy, if we can hold on to what we have and maintain, I think that'll be a success."

In other matters, councilors took final votes to approve a 25-year lease extension with the Waterville Opera House and accept cash donations for the Quarry Road Recreation Area.

They also voted to contract for design services with TFH Architects for up to $5,000, for renovations that will be necessary to City Hall as a result of an Opera House renovation project.

Councilors voted to renew contracts with Albion, Rome, Sidney and Belgrade for police dispatch services for 2009.

City Manager Michael Roy announced that a new deputy city clerk has been hired $ Heidi Poland Bernier, who formerly worked for the city's Parks & Recreation Department, as well as Thomas College.

Shelly Ingalls has been hired as an administrative floater for the city; Donna Twombly, as administrative assistant in the assessor's office; and Debbie Caron, as finance clerk.

All are replacements, according to Roy.

Amy Calder $ 861-9247
acalder@centralmaine.com