Staff Writer
CARIBOU — The Caribou City Council met on Dec. 7 for a meeting that lasted over three hours and covered topics including an introduction to Carroll St. Peter and the Veterans Memorial Park Association (VMPA), a presentation from Director of Community Development Mike Shrewsberry on downtown parking and a presentation of the 2010 Capital Improvement Plan by City Manager Steve Buck.
Aroostook Republican photo/Natalie Bazinet
This was the last city council meeting for longtime councilman Miles (Rick) Williams. Williams served as an intermittent councilman after the passing of councilman Robert Albert in the spring of 2009.
Chairperson of the newly formed VMPA, St. Peter, spoke to the councilors about the association’s intentions of creating a park to honor living veterans and generate patriotism throughout the area. St. Peter also requested that the city donate a suggested parcel of land near the corner of Glenn Street and Sperry Drive behind the County Federal Credit Union. While the councilors agreed that being officially listed as Friends of the VMPA would be beneficial, the councilors also agreed on the suggestion made by councilor Karla Bell to invite members of the VMPA to attend a city council workshop to further discuss projects the association has initiated.
Council members approved the 2010 Capital Improvement Plan; according to the presentation, the council will act upon the program during the 2010 budget process.
A topic that provoked moderate deliberation among council members, Shrewsberry presented a proposed downtown parking policy, which suggested that 153 parking spaces be subject to a one-hour use limit and 316 longer-term parking spaces be made available through annually purchased permits with enforcement being issued between 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Two requests from the Caribou Recreation Department — one to use $3,500 from the Equipment Reserve Fund to purchase a “V” type plow for use by the department in order to better maintain the facilities and the other to act upon bids in order to sell the retired 2000 John Deere grooming vehicle — were approved by council members after discussion.
Aroostook Republican photo/Natalie Bazinet
Chairperson Carroll St. Peter introduced council members to the newly formed Veterans Memorial Parks Association (VMPA) during the Monday meeting of the Caribou City Council.
Council members accepted the financial statements from the period ending Nov. 30 2009 as presented and also signed and implemented a Memorandum of Understanding between the city of Caribou and the Maine Department of Transportation (MDOT) which will effectively place 1.5 miles of the Bog Road under the maintenance responsibility of Caribou.
A letter of appreciation to State Senator Jackson, and Representatives Edgecombe and Theriault was approved; the letter was drafted to thank the legislators for meeting with the council to review MDOT-relaters matters.
Also regarding transportation, the council received an update on the current status of proposed rail line abandonment by the Montreal Maine and Atlantic railroad (MMA) for 243 miles of Aroostook County track. Though the situation is critical and remains closely monitored by council members and the city manager, Buck reported that there wasn’t much for the city to do at this point in time regarding the preservation/revival of the lines.
The Caribou City Council will next convene on Monday, Jan. 4 for an organizational meeting and again on Monday, Jan. 11 for regular business
