To the editor:
Once upon a time, many years ago, then City Manager, Terry St. Peter, asked me to run for city council. My husband said I would run “over his dead body”, but actually it wasn’t his dead body that concerned me so much as the dreaded city charter! I worried that there would just be no way that I would be able to understand something as complicated as a city charter. I had never read it, never even looked at it, and didn’t want to! So, my husband’s dead body was as good an excuse as any to decline. Now, as a member of Citizens for Responsible City Management (CFRCM), I have read the charter and realize that there was never a reason to be afraid of it. It is simply a written set of rules, ordinances, laws or whatever you wish to call them, by which this city is governed. CFRCM does not argue the fact that this charter has served the city well over the past 40-plus years. But Caribou is not the same city it was 40 years ago. It’s not the same city it was 20 years ago.
I don’t need to take up space listing the businesses that are no longer here or giving you a rundown of all the empty buildings Caribou now has, with more to come, I’m afraid. That is why CFRCM feels it’s time to take a good long look at the current charter to see if it can be improved upon to meet the needs of the Caribou of 2010 and beyond.
In June, when you go to the polls, you will be asked if you favor establishing a charter commission. You have absolutely nothing to lose by voting “yes”. A “yes” vote will allow a commission to be formed by electing a group of Caribou citizens in a future election. That group will then study the charter and come up with suggestions in which to revise the charter to better fit today’s economic, political and social climate. Then, once the commissioners have agreed upon these changes, each change will be approved or disapproved separately by you, the voter, at the next scheduled election. If you like the change, you can vote “yes” to implement it. If you don’t like the change, simply say “no” and that change will not take place.
The power to change or to leave as is will rest with you. Voting “yes” to establish a charter commission does not mean the charter will change. The commissioners will make suggestions, but the final decision will be entirely up to you.
Check out CaribouWatch.com often for meeting dates, around the state news articles, opinion polls and other topics of interest concerning our local government. And no matter what your position is concerning our local government, be sure to exercise your right to vote in the June election. Remember, you can always vote by absentee ballot. You don’t need a reason. Call or stop by the city office to request your absentee ballot. I believe you can do this as early as the first week of May. Let your voice be heard.
The next meeting of CFRCM will be held on April 14 at 6:30 p.m. at the CCC&I building in the Downtown Mall. All are welcome to attend.
Caribou
