To the editor:
Wow! The secession movement was a great topic in the Sept. 17, 2014 Viewpoints section. Let me be very clear on this, I’m a lifetime Caribou citizen and I agree wholeheartedly with the secession committee even though I am not in that part of the city, and yes to those who say if you don’t like it here and want to move help is available to help you pack and go. I say to them don’t show your ignorance with your poor choice of words, after all the citizen who made that statement is not a lifelong citizen of Caribou and will be gone long before I have providing I don’t die first.
I for one was very surprised at Dale Gordon’s negative attitude about the secession committee being the nice person that she is and well educated too. Their reasoning for such a move is because of poor representation by the present city council. Her snide remarks about them not liking to pay taxes was very wrong, they all believe in fair taxation, not the twisted version that you and few others in this community who want everything for nothing by getting all citizens to pay for the programs that a certain few enjoy.
A city form of government for such a small town as Caribou does not afford for great representation on a city council which can be easily manipulated by public servants who are a large voting block within our community. A town form of government is more appropriate for Caribou and with better representation.
Let’s target the secession movement and some misunderstandings, and yes poor judgment and favoritism by city council. Deplorable taxation within our community is a prime reason for such a drastic move. I might also add from my experience that all citizens of this community are not treated equal — there are those who have crossed the lines of legal precedents and gotten away with it because of their status in this community whereas the little guy would have suffered the consequences of such actions, I know because I’ve had personal experiences where this community has tried to do its best to do things to me that were inconceivable, but being the way I am I will fight like a junkyard dog for my inalienable rights.
Our mayor who has indicated he knows everything and who has suggested a lack of transparency on the committee has absolutely no knowledge of how to go about the legal steps one has to take concerning a secession movement and effects of the movement with the RSU 39 educational system. There are legal procedures required by the state that prevent that until a certain time when adequate signatures are collected in the secession area only are met, only then will a mediated meeting between the secession committee and city council be open to the public, but not for public discussion.
You want transparency, Mr. Mayor, you got it. This is only the second step in the chain of events necessary to secede. The final outcome will be with the state legislature, this is a long process and no one should panic over this. A good outcome would be that the described part of town would be allowed to secede, a little competition between small communities could go a long way to compete to hold taxes down, somewhat like a business.
Another good reason would be that a town government, if done right, is more transparent and has more citizen participation. But even some town governments do not work in the best interest of its citizens if everyone does not get and stay involved and use common sense with their spending habits. Also I sure like the ring of Lyndon which was the first name given to the community of Caribou.
I also passed some petition papers in favor of the meeting between the secession committee and the city council (only one link in the chain of events before Lyndon fruition even though I will remain in Caribou area). Only then will the community of Caribou have to cut back on spending because of its smaller size and as our illustrious Mayor said “we won’t have to plow all those roads anymore.” Regarding the Mayor’s nonsensical remark about not being surprised if the proposed Lyndon budget goes up 20 percent. Do the math Mr. Mayor that would still place them in a tremendous lowering of taxes below Caribou’s present tax situation.
I also notice that the majority of people that closed the door in my face and where rude were our public servants who are feeding out of the trough of higher taxes. Of course higher taxes are a great benefit to them, if their taxes go up they only pay a small portion of their wage increases, then we in the private sector pick up the tab for their higher wages which never plateau like in the private sector, so they live the good life and we have to scratch a little harder for our existence. To add insult to injury they retire earlier by bleeding the Social Security system a lot more than the private sector citizens that pay all the bills.
Franklin D. Roosevelt when he was president of the United States told the American people not to allow unions in government, it would disrupt the country, a truer word has never been spoken. Now the unions are part of the government and look where we are now.
I want to give my heartfelt thanks to the citizens who are trying so hard to accomplish this secession process. The citizens of this community don’t realize how much time, money, and effort they are providing without cost to anyone but themselves. Also if this happens I have to wonder if all the people who resent this petition drive and secession move and just happens to get a reduction in their taxes, would be so kind as to give back the saved portion to the inner city of Caribou to help them with their endeavors to spend all they want, no this is not a joke, just an appeal to your benevolence to help your neighboring town.
Wilfred Martin
Caribou
