To the editor:
Once again a reminder that election time is near and a decision has to be made whether or not you want or like business as usual in the Caribou political arena. How much and what can we afford that is germane to the health and well being of all the citizens of this community? Caribou is one of the only communities in Maine that’s spending money like drunken sailors (I don’t mean to insult the sailors) and not looking into ways to economize in a way that would stop the spiral upwards of property taxation. We can’t sustain this and should not allow this to happen.
In my last letter I said that Caribou had a bloated government. This is because of past practices of some council members on the public dole who believe that we can afford anything they want in the budget. They are also in the majority. Check the wages and benefit packages these people get. (It’s all public information) and then tell me in all honesty if these compensations are in line with private sector jobs in this community. We should all be so lucky to have guaranteed wages and benefits like these. The health benefits, vacation time, and sick leave are a scandal. No one in the private sector has seen anything close to this. Also low retirement ages are also a joke and we’re really being taken for a ride there. They retire, stay on the same job and double dip along with all the same benefits. I could go on and on.
All I can say is the citizens in this community better get off their butts and vote for responsible citizens from the private sector that have a little common sense for the available seats or all is lost with no one else to blame but yourselves. You’ll never have a better chance than now.
One must also look at the city charter question that will be on the ballot. This city charter commission that were elected by you have done you some grave injustices by taking away that which was of benefit to you, the citizens of this community. Those who haven’t read or heard of our charter had better read both the old and the new proposed revised charter and see what transpired. You’ll be shocked. Please feel free to call me if you need help with this and I’d be pleased to explain what the problem with the new revised charter is. Please get involved because your rights have been infringed upon without you knowing about it.
I can tell you if my ties to this community were not so dear (having been a life-long resident of Caribou), I would leave Caribou in a heartbeat. With all the deficiencies in the old charter we are still better off keeping it and amending it from time to time for our own protection.
Please consider voting for the write-in candidates (Mark Goughan and Doug Morrell) and Gary Aikens along with Phil McDonough for a more responsible government in our community. You won’t be sorry and you can take that to the bank.
Wilfred Martin
Caribou
