Solon Selectman, Rockport Manager Join Maine Municipal Executive Committee

AUGUSTA, Maine – Solon Selectman Elaine Aloes and Rockport Town Manager Richard “Rick” Bates were appointed recently to the 12-member Executive Committee that helps to guide the priorities and operations of the Maine Municipal Association.

Aloes, who has chaired the Solon Select Board since 1998, has more than 26 years of municipal experience, dating to 1990, when she first ran for the town board. Like many “hands on” municipal officials in rural Maine, Aloes has served on Solon’s budget committee, prepares the Solon town budget and Town Meeting warrants, and applies for municipal grants.

Since 1999, Aloes has served on MMA’s 70-member Legislative Policy Committee, which steers the organization during each legislative session on municipal priorities and legislative positions at the State House. She previously served on MMA’s Executive Committee, from 2001-2003.

Aloes works as an automobile damage appraiser for Bishop Auto Adjustment Co., doing mostly auto
appraisals but also looking at large trucks, farm equipment and mobile homes and travel trailers. She is a graduate of Medfield High School in Medfield, Mass., attended classes at the former Kennebec Valley Technical College (now Kennebec Valley Community College) in Maine and she has participated in many training sessions held by MMA, the Insurance Institute of America and the State of Maine.

Bates is a well-known municipal leader in both New Hampshire and Maine. He has served as Town Manager in Rockport since June 2013. Prior to that, Bates managed the Town of Raymond, N.H. from 2000-2007. He was that town’s long-time Parks and Recreation Director, serving in that capacity from 1977 to 2000.

He also served on the Executive Committee of the New Hampshire Municipal Managers Association, holding the position of vice president at one point, and he is a past president of the New Hampshire Recreation and Parks Association.

Bates graduated from the former New Hampshire College (now Southern New Hampshire University) with emphases in Community Development and International Studies. He is a credentialed manager with the International City/County Management Association, and he received a 30-year service award from that organization.

Both Aloes and Bates will serve two-year terms on the MMA Executive Committee. Those terms will end on Dec. 31, 2018.