09-06-2025
Raymond town manager reflects on first weeks on the job
Jun. 9—Raymond Town Manager Joseph Crocker discussed his first weeks on the job, and the issues the town is facing as it heads into the summer tourist season.
Crocker, who was officially appointed to the position on May 20, previously served as director of parks and recreation for five years. According to a Facebook post from the Parks and Recreation Department celebrating his appointment to the role of town manager, Crocker's tenure saw major new installations such as a snack bar and bathrooms at Tassel Top Park, as well as the construction of tennis and pickleball courts, and over 50 programs and events being "built from the ground up."
Crocker first took on the role of interim town manager after his predecessor, Sue Look, stepped down after a year in the position. Crocker told Lakes Region Now that Look accepted another job closer to her home in Pittsfield.
When asked about what the most important issue facing the community of Raymond was, Crocker said his main focus in the early days of his tenure has been the Jordan Small Middle School Visioning Committee. The committee is in the later stages of presenting possibilities for what could be done with the soon-to-be-vacant building. Noting that the committee was charged by the Select Board to gather information in a relatively short period of time, Crocker praised their efforts, particularly committee head Peter Lockwood.
The middle school is due to be shuttered in 2027, when Raymond and Windham plan to merge their middle schools into a single building, and the old building will be turned over to the town. The committee, which includes representatives from the Comprehensive Plan Committee, the library and a senior citizens group, among other stakeholders, was formed earlier this year to discuss potential uses for the school building. Possibilities include facilities for seniors, and a new home for the library or community center.
While Crocker did not directly indicate his preferred use to Lakes Region Now, at a Select Board meeting in late 2024, he mentioned how Westbrook had successfully converted a former school into a community center.
When asked what lessons he is carrying over from his previous role as parks and recreation director, Crocker said he was hoping to focus on community development. Parks and recreation, he said, was about community building, and providing services that are valuable to all community members, whether children, adults, or senior citizens. As town manager, he said, he wanted to make sure that he kept building on those services, and trying to adapt as those services are implemented.
Copy the Story Link
