Brandon Mazur, Chair of the Planning Board and Christine Gramando Director of the Planning Deparatment  at a Recent City Council Meeting at City Hall..

The city of Portland is looking for a Planning and Urban Planning Development Director to run Maine’s largest and most complex municipality,  The Director reports to one of the two Assistant City Managers and ultimately the city manager and oversees an operating budget of $1.9 million.  The Department is fully staffed with 17 employees.

The starting salary range is $119, 868 – $138,890 annually depending on skills and experience.

The city will be replacing Christine Grimando whose last day on the job was yesterday, Monday, April 9, 2024.  “She left because an opportunity came along she couldn’t turn down” said a city emplyee.  “She was good and she will be missed.”

Depuy Director of the Planning Department Kevin Kraft is serving as the Interim Director until someone is hired permanently for the position.

It is known that the city is seriously understaffed. In addition, it is often used as a stepping stone to better jobs.  One of Ms. Grimando’s predecessors, Jeff Levine, left city hall for a position he couldn’t turn down as a part-time planning professor at MIT,  Cambidge, Masssachusetts.   For example, members of the police department have moved on for more lucrative positions in private industry after their employment at city hall.