To the editor:
The Caribou Charter Commission has met eight times to work through the Charter considering suggestions presented at the first Public Hearing on Dec. 15, 2010. The Commission heard the desire to allow more citizen input in Council matters, especially in the budget process, and to require more responsibility from city councilors in their own tax payments. A request for the city to be divided into wards was considered twice but failed to pass. Likewise “Zero Budgeting” was discussed at length before a new budgeting procedure was accepted.
The Commission debated with two principles in mind: to give the Citizens more information and opportunity for comment in Council matters, and to preserve the ability of the elected Council to govern and make final decisions. Individual members of the Commission conducted considerable research to determine how other Maine communities structured their charters and resolved controversial questions.
The proposed revised Charter contains an entirely new budget procedure, which accelerates the submission deadlines, brings the Capital Expense Budget submission in parallel with the Expense Budget, and allows for increased citizen participation prior to a Council vote.
Dated language that referred to the initial Charter was removed from the Charter; references to State Laws were updated; and the reality of the schools being now part of RSU 39 was recognized. A new preamble was written and a new Article X Transitional Changes was required.
This proposed revised Charter, if passed, will govern the affairs of the city in the future; it is imperative that the Commission receives the opinions and critiques of the public on the changes we are proposing. Therefore a public hearing to accept Caribou citizens’ comments on the proposed revised Caribou Charter is scheduled by the Caribou Charter Commission for Tuesday, June 14 at the Caribou Performing Arts Center at 6:30 p.m. Citizens may obtain printed copies of the document at the City Office or access the Charter on the web at: www.cariboumaine.org/charter.asp
After the hearing, the Charter Commission will meet to review the comments, make corrections if necessary, and send the revised Charter for a legal review. Following that review, there will be another hearing to answer questions about the Charter. The revised Charter will go to the voters on Nov. 8, 2011 at the general election.
The members of the Charter Commission, Roy Alden, Sandra Huck, David Martin, James Savage, John Swanberg, Scott Walker, Ronald Willey, Bryan Thompson and I, look forward to Caribou citizens’ response to our work at the Public Hearing June 14th.
Patricia Collins, chair
Caribou
