City Council gets organized for 2010

    The Caribou City Council met Monday evening for a 2010 organizational meeting where newly elected councilor John Boone and re-elected councilor Karla Bell were sworn in by Caribou City Clerk Judy Corrow, for their three-year terms.

Aroostook Republican photo/Barb Scott
    Caribou City Clerk Judy Corrow, left, swears in newly-elected Caribou City Councilman John Boone and re-elected Councilwoman Karla Bell during the first meeting of 2010, held Monday evening, Jan. 4.

    With the complete panel seated councilors proceeded to address their first meeting agenda for 2010, which was the election of council chairperson/Mayor for the 2010 city council. Following a motion from councilor Karla Bell, seconded by Mary Kate Barbosa, the group unanimously voted Kenneth Murchison to continue his position as Mayor of the city of Caribou.
    Councilor Karla Bell was nominated by Christopher Bell to serve as the 2010 Deputy Chairperson/Mayor. Following a second to the motion by councilor David Martin, K. Bell was unanimously voted to the position.
    The council then considered the appointment of a secretary to the Caribou City Council for 2010. Councilor Martin nominated Judy Corrow, Caribou city clerk, to continue as secretary to the panel. A second to this motion was voiced by Barbosa and once again, Corrow was unanimously voted to continue as secretary to the council.
    With the 2010 positions in place, council members approved an established date, time, location and rules of procedure for the regular meetings of the city council for the 2010 session. It was determined that the council would continue to meet at 7 p.m. on the second and fourth Monday of every month in the council chambers with meetings conducted following the Roberts Rules of Order format. It was also established that any necessary workshops would take place following the second meeting of the month. Councilors voted 6 – 1 in favor of this agenda item.
     Council members considered authorizing the continuation of city government functions from January, 2010, until final adoption of the 2010 city budget. Following a motion by K. Bell, seconded by Mary Kate Barbosa, the group voted unanimously to authorize this continuation.
    In other  business, city council members voted to authorize Caribou City Manager Steve Buck to approve any treasurer’s warrants for 2010, also voted to approve a 2010 slate of council appointments pertaining to municipal officials, Caribou police officers, Caribou police reserve and dog constable.
    City Manager Buck informed the panel that there were four changes from the 2009 slate of names. These changes included the addition of Rebecca McBrearity, as the alternate code enforcement officer, filling a vacancy created by a former city employee leaving the position; Michael Shrewsberry as community development director and the addition of two Caribou police reserve officers, Erik Jandreau and Arik Jepson. A complete list of these individuals and their positions follows at the end of this article.
     The city council also approved through a unanimous vote, authorizing the collection of property tax prior to the 2010 commitment date with no interest being charged on these prepayments.
    During this first meeting of 2010 the Caribou City Council also voted unanimously to authorize the city to provide a Tax Club for the new year, as has been established in the past. City Manager Buck stated that a large number of residents and businesses have taken advantage of this club, which allows taxpayers to pay their taxes in 12 equal installments. The 12 payments are based on the prior year’s tax bill with the actual balance being reconciled on the 12th month’s payment. Anyone taking advantage of this Tax Club will also not see any interest charged during October through December.
    At this time, the council entered into executive session to discuss the fulfilling of vacancies of appointed Board positions. A complete of these appointments follows the list of municipal appointments previously mentioned.
    It is noted that the city manager, Caribou fire chief and chief of police have been appointed for an indefinite period of time, pursuant to Charter Sections 3.01 and 3.04 respectively.
    Municipal appointments for 2010 include: Judy A. Corrow, city clerk; Jayne Farrin, deputy city clerk; Wanda L. Ouellette, city treasurer and finance director; Mary Ann Scott, deputy treasurer; Elizabeth O’Bar, tax assessor; Wanda l. Ouellette, tax collector; Kathleen Mazzuchelli, director parks and recreation; Roy E. Woods, emergency management director; David Ouellette, public works director; Stephen Wentworth, building inspector; and Roy e. Woods, assistant building inspector.
    Also: Ellen S. Gendreau, general assistance administrator; Stephen Wentworth, health officer and plumbing inspector; Rebecca McBreairty, alternate plumbing inspector; Stephen Wentworth, electrical inspector, code enforcement officer; Rebecca McBrearity alternate code enforcement officer; Jeanie McGowan, Nylander Museum director; Diane Dubois, librarian and Michael Shrewsberry, community development director.
    Caribou Police officers include Michael W. Gahagan, Ronald A. Curtis, Edward Dubie, Kevin P. St. Peter, Bobbie D. Worley, Paul L. Vincent and Mark A. Gahagan. Also Craig A. Peterson, Douglas W. Bell, Keith K. Ouellette, Dwight Wilcox, John Deveau, Jason Matheson, Corey Saucier and Jay Trainer.
    Caribou police reserve officers include Dale Campbell, Anthony Collins, Darryl Hitchcock, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Philip McDonough, III, Neal Ouellette, Erik Jandreau and Arik Jepson.
    Charles Ketch is the city of Caribou dog constable.
    2010 Board re-appointments, which are all three-year terms except the registrar of voters which is a two-year position include: LDA Board of Trustees: John Swanberg and Miles Williams; Caribou Planning Board, Richard Fortier, James Zapatka and Jim Cerrato; Zoning Board of Appeals, David Genthner, Sr.; Cary Board of Directors, Rob Kieffer and Dr. Sherri Dumont; Hospital District Board, Norman Collins; Utilities District Board, Louis Greenier and Scott Willey; Registrar of Voters, Judy Ann Corrow; Registration Board of Appeals, Doris Pelkey and Jacqueline Beaupre; and LDA Planning Board, Lynn McNeal.