CARIBOU, Maine — The Caribou City Council again tabled the public hearing date for the Caribou Secession Committee at Monday night’s meeting.
The most recent proposal from the secession committee was to have their public hearing held on Saturday, May 23, at 7 p.m. at the Caribou Performing Arts Center. The idea of using the CPAC surprised the city council partly because it costs money to use the facility, “If cost is a factor we’d be willing to share in the cost,” Secession Committee spokesperson Paul Camping said.
“I don’t have any problem using CPAC,” Mayor Gary Aiken said. “Truthfully most of you fellas every time you come in here, you talk about spending money we don’t have to.”
The original proposed destination for the public hearing was at the Caribou Wellness Center where it could be used at no additional cost to the taxpayer.
The debate on the public hearing continued as board members also questioned the start time of 7 p.m.
“I think you’ll get more production from a morning or afternoon meeting,” City Council member David Martin said.
“If we have nice sunny weather people are going to be doing their lawns, they’ll be outside enjoying the fresh air,” Camping said.
“If people want to be involved they’ll come regardless of doing it on a Saturday morning or a Thursday night or whatever,” Mayor Aiken said. “I think we’re best if we wait to [set a date] until you fellas are ready.”
Camping stood composed before the council and accepted that the Secession Committee has more work to do and left the meeting along with other committee members.
In other business, Larry Pelletier voiced his concern about his neighbor’s shed and barking dog. He told the council he has complained to local authorities about the state of his neighbor’s shed and the amount of dog barking in the past and would like to know why the city hasn’t done anything to help.
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| Aroostook Republican Photo /Joshua Archer Parks and Rec Superintendent Gary Marquis addresses the Caribou City Council on the purchase of a new lawn mower and the approval to build an ATV connector bridge over the Caribou stream. |
“You get tired of calling. I pay my share of taxes in this town,” Pelletier said. “I’m getting disgusted.”
The council told Pelletier they’d look into his issue.
The council went on to approve an organizational change for the Nylander Museum. The museum requested a public hearing to switch to either a five- or seven-member board with the loss of the treasurer position.
“I think we’ll have an easier time of finding board members,” Secretary for the Nylander board of trustees Jessica Feeley said. She explained the museum also just doesn’t have the funding to support the need of a treasurer and would like to cut the position.
Council members also approved moving the $30,000 Knox Memorial Fund off of their books and transfer ownership over to Cary Medical Center.
According to City Manager Austin Bleess, back in 1976 the city of Caribou accepted the donation of $30,000 to be used solely for the Cary Medical Center. Only the interest can be used and the principal is not to be touched.
The council rejected bids placed on a city fire truck that can no longer be used. The retired fire truck was acquired with grant funds through FEMA and per regulations can no longer used as a fire truck in the U.S. Council members approved the idea of seeking bids outside the country, primarily in Canada.
The council approved the spending of over $7,000 on a new lawn mower for the Caribou Recreation Department and approved the construction of a $45,000 permanent bridge over the Caribou stream that will connect a trail utilized by both ATVs and snowmobiles.
The next meeting of the Caribou City Council will be held Monday, May 11 at 6 p.m. in council chambers at City Hall.
