Staff Writer
Citizens for Responsible City Management, an organization of Caribou citizens who formed in June of 2009, met Jan.13 , to continue their work which focuses on municipal issues and possible changes to the city of Caribou’s charter. The group seeks to address a number of changes within the city’s charter that they hope to see appear on a referendum question put out to the voting population of Caribou in the future.
Members of the group frequently attend the regular city council meetings and have plans to address the council regarding a number of concerns during the public input sessions of the council meetings within the coming weeks. Anyone wishing to address the council must file their intentions along with the topic to be discussed prior to the regular council meetings.
During the Jan. 13 meeting the group discussed possible revisions to Article II, sections 201, 202 and 203 within the city charter.
The considered revisions included:
Section 201: Consider having the six council members elected to three-year terms; deputy mayor would continued to be appointed by the council but the mayor of the city would be directly elected by Caribou voters, not appointed by the council; the mayor would only vote on council issues in the case of a tie between the six councilors.
Section 202: The stipend paid as compensation to the councilors could be changed only by a public vote.
Section 203: The mayor/council chairperson is a neutral position elected by the voters.
The next meeting for Citizens for Responsible City Management is scheduled for 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 27, at the Caribou Chamber of Commerce & Industry location.
