Say ‘promised’ repairs are long overdue from state
By Lisa Wilcox
Staff Writer
CARIBOU — The condition of the Fort Fairfield Road and efforts of citizens residing on the road to get the state to repair it was the topic leading off Monday’s Caribou City Council meeting.
Fort Fairfield Road resident Mark Goughan took advantage of the public comment portion of the meeting to address council regarding the poor condition of the road and past efforts to get the state to repair it.
The local businessman referenced letters of support received from the Caribou City Council and Fort Fairfield councilors in the past that prompted promises of repairs to begin in 2008. However, five years later, Goughan pointed out, no repair work has even been started. Goughan asked the council to provide another letter of support.
After contacting the state in October regarding the issue, Goughan stated he was advised that the road improvement bond would need to pass first, which it did in November. Goughan said it was also explained to him that a lot of money was spent on the Caribou bypass and that funds need to be distributed equally to other towns. Goughan referred to the fact that the citizens of Caribou were assured that the bypass would not affect repair work done to other roads. He stressed that safety is the main issue of concern.
After discussion with Mayor Gary Aiken about whether Goughan would be approaching Fort Fairfield for the same request, Goughan stressed that the Fort Fairfield end of the road had been fixed and Fort Fairfield has moved on to other projects. He thanked the council for their time and hoped he would be successful in obtaining a letter of support.
After Goughan’s presentation, there was no other public input.
Council unanimously approved a consent agenda that accepted the January 2013 financial report, provided quit claim deeds and deeded land back to property owners who previously owed taxes, approved the renewal of Napoli’s restaurant’s liquor license and the designation of Assistant City Manager Tony Mazzucco to act as city manager in the absence or disability of Austin Bleess.
Bleess addressed the council regarding Caribou business property owner Dana Cassidy requesting a credit enhancement agreement as part of the Downtown Tax Increment Financing Program. Bleess advised that he reviewed the Downtown TIF and has found nothing that allows them to offer a new CEA. After checking with the Department of Economic Community Development, Bleess confirmed that his understanding of the Downtown TIF is correct.
If they were to allow a new CEA, it would affect the amount that the city would be able to retain in many qualified areas of the plan, including marketing and economic development, which is where TIF funds are being utilized currently in order to promote Caribou. Bleess stated he was looking for guidance from council as to whether they would like for him to proceed with a TIF District amendment, not just for Cassidy, but for the district as a whole.
Councilor Philip McDonough motioned to table the vote until they can conduct a workshop on the TIF program. Deputy Mayor Ken Murchison recommended that they seek guidance from TIF experts and NMDC. It was decided that the TIF workshop would be held an hour before the next regularly scheduled City Council meeting on March 11.
The next item on the agenda, the expense budget, was tabled at Mayor Aiken’s suggestion until labor negotiations with New England Police Benevolent Association Local 605, which was slated for council’s executive session and would affect the expense budget, were completed. The council unanimously voted to hold that vote until the next regularly scheduled meeting.
Council then unanimously accepted a wood pellet bid from Daigle Oil Company for $200 per ton at 8,400 BTUs with 4 to 5 percent moisture and .5 percent ash. The bid included delivery and a total amount of 219 tons annually.
Bids received on two tax-forfeited properties were then reviewed by council. The bids of $3,500 by Carl Pinette for 219 Albair Rd. and $600 for 0 Mayo St. were accepted by council. There were 12 other properties that were put out to bid and received no response. Deputy Mayor Murchison recommended that council give Bleess leeway to handle the other properties as he sees fit. Mayor Aiken reminded council that the city’s staff is currently working on a policy to handle properties that go out for public bid.
Council then discussed when the proper time would be to hold an the election for the remainder of the term currently filled by Councilor Joan Theriault. Council approved holding the election in November with Councilor David Martin opposed and Councilor Theriault abstaining from vote.
Bleess provided a report on the last regular agenda item, the installation of LED lighting in the city. Bleess shared information he received back from the company Trane on the cost of installing the lights, which would be $1,460,092. That includes 575 lights, 700 wooden poles, 10 control panel assemblies, 100,900 feet of overhead cable and connection material, and fees to connect the existing aluminum poles to the new service entrance. Bleess advised that Maine Public Service will not allow the city to put up the LED lights on their poles or tap into the wiring that is already there.
Councilman Martin expressed his disappointment with Maine Public Service and Deputy Mayor Murchison suggested perhaps checking with Fort Fairfield for guidance on how they switched their lights over to LED. Council further discussed the Trane proposal and the issues holding up the project. No vote was necessary as Bleess was just providing council with a progress report.
The next Caribou Town Council meeting will be held at 7 p.m. on Monday, March 11, with a TIF workshop tentatively scheduled beforehand at 6 p.m.
