By Lisa Wilcox
Staff Writer
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| Aroostook Republican Photo/ Lisa Wilcox Newly elected Caribou Mayor Gary Aiken prepared to conduct his first council meeting as mayor/chairperson on Monday night. |
CARIBOU — After a secret-ballot election conducted by Caribou’s City Council during Monday night’s organizational meeting, the city of Caribou has a new mayor.
In a close three-to-four vote, Councilor Gary Aiken was selected by the council as mayor/chairperson. Former mayor Ken Murchison ran uncontested and was unanimously elected as deputy chairperson.
“I appreciate the confidence council has put in me since I’ve only served one year here,” Mayor Aiken commented after his election.
The election of mayor/chairperson and deputy chair was accompanied by City Clerk Jayne Farrin swearing in newly elected Councilor David Genthner Sr. and re-elected Councilor Philip McDonough II.
In other organizational matters, the council unanimously approved the appointment of the proposed slate of city officers. Wanda Raymond will remain as city treasurer and tax collector. Farrin will continue her duties as city clerk, general assistance administrator and registrar of votes. Mary Ann Scott will stay on as the deputy city treasurer, and Kalen Hill will remain as deputy general assistance administrator and deputy city clerk.
The council then reviewed the slate for city board officers. All board members were approved, with the exception of the City Planning Board, which had two candidates drop out of the running. Citizen Wilfred Martin commented that council should review candidates for all city boards in the future instead of simply relying on the particular board’s recommendations before approval. Mayor Aiken agreed with Martin’s suggestion and council approved reviewing the Planning Board candidates at the next meeting.
In other business, the council selected the second and fourth Mondays of each month at 7 p.m. in city council chambers as their regular time and place for meetings and authorized City Manager Austin Bleess to approve treasurer’s warrants for 2013. The council voted to have Freedom of Access Act training added to the Jan. 14th meeting agenda and discussed the responsibility of Caribou’s Public Works Department for plowing parking lots owned by the city. Bleess informed the council that the Maine Municipal Association has advised that while they are not legally obligated to do so, they strongly recommend Public Works continue plowing the parking lots.
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| Aroostook Republican Photo/Lisa Wilcox From left, Caribou City Councilors Philip J. McDonough II and David Genthner Sr. were sworn in by City Clerk Jayne Farrin at the council’s organizational meeting held on Monday night. |
Bleess continued the discussion of public works by advising council that a second Public Works employee submitted their resignation, putting the department down by two employees. Bleess requested the council approve lifting the current hiring ban in the Public Works Department to allow for a single hire. Council unanimously approved lifting the freeze for one hire only.
The public comments portion of the meeting resulted in Martin voicing his belief that labor negotiations should be conducted in a public forum. Martin was advised by council that both parties involved in the negotiations, the union and the city, need to agree to public forum before that can happen.
Public comments were concluded with Idella Thompson, an applicant for the Planning Board, expressing her desire to be considered for the panel.
The next city council meeting is scheduled for Monday, Jan. 14, at 7 p.m. in city council chambers.
