By Natalie Bazinet
Staff Writer
CARIBOU — It’s going to be a rough 2013 for Caribou and its planning board unless three more community members step up to fill board vacancies.
There are just enough members right now for a quorum (the minimum number of people that can be present in order for business to be conducted), but Murphy’s Law stipulates that not every planning board member is going to be able to attend every single meeting for a whole year.
“If everyone shows up right now, we’ll have a quorum because we have four members, but things like business trips are a reality of life,” said current chair of the Planning Board Troy Haney. “Most of the folks that are on the planning board are businessmen or have commitments to other things — which is understandable and acceptable by all means. That’s why you have seven on the board, so you can always have four there at the typical meeting.”
With only four members, decisions have to be unanimous for anything — project or policy — to get planning board approval.
Aside from adopting ordinances — like the well-discussed cell tower ordinance and others pertaining to daycares, small businesses and home businesses — the planning board is vital in allowing businesses to take root Caribou, like the new shop out on the west Presque Isle Road and a quarry off of Route One in 2012. The board also handles items of public safety, municipal planning and even the city’s layout.
But without a full board, none of those business-friendly activities can come to fruition.
“When the planning board isn’t able to meet and can’t get a quorum, that holds up that particular project which then, in turn, the project may just dissolve or go to a different town,” Haney explained. “Without a quorum, any new projects that come forward are put on hold until you can put a full board together.”
Unless three more people step up to serve on the volunteer board, it will limp along in 2013 most likely to the frustration of those trying to bring positive economic activity to the city.
Adviser to the planning board, Caribou’s Code Enforcement Officer Steve Wentworth said people with applications and ideas that need planning board approval are usually highly motivated and anticipatory for the next meeting to roll around.
The planning board meets twice a month — once for a workshop and once for a business meeting — and the meetings last less than two hours. It’s important work, it’s interesting work, and it is tremendously important that community members bring the board to full occupancy.
“People sometimes comment that the town isn’t business friendly and things of that nature,” Haney said. “This is the spot where people can make a difference — by getting involved on these boards, such as the planning board, looking at the rules, making suggesting and bringing them forward to impact how the city works.
Wentworth said that it would be wonderful to have community members like businesspeople, builders, developers, real estate brokers and contractors to add to the board’s diversity by contributing their knowledge.
“A nice diversity of skills from various professionals would make an excellent planning board; all the different disciplines support each other,” Wentworth said.
A full board making informed decisions means good things for Caribou, which Wentworth says already has a lot of things going for it.
“There are a lot of positive happenings in Caribou; we’re well above the other community in Aroostook this year for growth and businesses coming to town and things along that line,” he said, citing over $3 million worth of construction that occurred in the city over the last year.
Albeit a bit poignant, Wentworth stated the bottom line quite plainly.
“Without a quorum, we’re out of business.”
Individuals looking to join the Caribou Planning Board are encouraged to pick up an application in the City Clerk’s office or by visiting www.cariboumaine.org.
