From a Simple Farmer’s point of view

To the editor:
    Wage and Classification Tool: A method of keeping non-union wages and salaries comparable with other similar communities, agencies and firms, and also maintain a salary schedule for all positions.     The Wage and Classification Tool was presented to the council on March 24th, and was passed by a 5-1-1 vote. There were 5 in favor, 1 against and 1 absent. I was absent because I did not stay for the “workshop” as there was not supposed to be a vote taken that night.
    The “Tool” used comparable communities that were averaged to determine the mid-point range for the different non-union positions. The communities that were used were: Kittery, Standish, Cape Elizabeth, Yarmouth, Brewer, Rockland, Bath, Orono, Old Orchard Beach, Winslow, Bar Harbor, Camden, Old Town, Presque Isle, Cumberland, Buxton, Berwick, Farmington, South Berwick, Waterboro, Gray, Ellsworth, Belfast, Fairfield, Rumford, Houlton, Winthrop, Gardiner, Eliot, Oakland, Paris, Poland, Turner, New Gloucester, Bridgton, Lincoln, Waldoboro, Caribou and Harpswell.
    As I said before, I oppose this Tool. In my opinion, these comparable communities do not meet the definition of “similar communities” defined in the first paragraph.
    To build this Tool solely on population is an incorrect premise. I do not ask you to agree or disagree with my almost “No” vote, I only ask you to ask yourself, after reading that list of communities, how would you have voted? Remember, this simple farmer’s philosophy is: You can never cut cost in government nor keep cost the same; government always grows. It’s the amount of growth that you try to regulate. The list of comparable communities used does not meet my personal definition of “holding government to some controlled growth”. Ten years from now we will be using communities along Cape Cod. Why not? They have the same population. It’s location, location and location.
    There is also the issue of “past practice”, a term I’ve learned since being on the council. If a task has been done over several years, it is assumed that task will become standard operating procedure, regardless of economic conditions. This list of comparable communities could become a done deal. If it becomes a done deal and if it is good enough for our municipal employees, then why shouldn’t our educational employees be able to use the same comparable communities in determining their pay scale? From my point of view. they would have every right to ask for and expect the same use of this Tool.
    Watch your tax obligations grow. Maybe this explains the midnight vote. Maybe this is why Caribou’s charter originally prohibited school employees from municipal elected positions. There are long-term consequential obligations with this Tool.
    My first question at the start of this long-winded reason for my “No” vote was: What happened to the art of problem solving in local government? How do two different philosophies meet at the council level and resolve problems? Whether it is dealing with union contracts, non-union contracts, building budgets, almost moving street lights that don’t belong to the city, almost deeding land which the city has no right, giving the National Guard permission to build, then eight months later telling them to move, etc., are exercises in which “problem solving” would be top priority. Constantly changing the parameters in which we operate is not problem solving. Keeping things simple, understandable and transparent, such as using televised workshops and proper agendas, having a council leadership that is more knowledgeable in Robert’s Rules, parliamentary procedure and the workings of the City Charter would certainly help. Being consistent in our problem solving procedure, regardless of the issue, instead of working the procedure to derive a desired outcome would be helpful.
    This vote on the Wage and Classification Tool should have been properly brought forth to the Caribou taxpayers and not voted on unannounced in the wee hours of the night. To have the majority that voted “Yes” on this Tool enter into a civil debate, in public, on the merits of this Tool would have also been helpful. I understand that the majority of the council understands the methodology of this Tool, but I do not. Just because the city government is in motion, I will not be a bobble-head doll and shake my head up and down in agreement if I do not understand.
    In closing, some might say I’m a little harsh in my opinion of the city manager’s process in creating this Wage and Classification Tool. I like to think of it as getting frustrated, and keeping this diary has helped. At times I feel that city administration is getting too far out ahead of the council’s decision-making process. I’ve been “troubled” with city administration being so actively involved in creating a Tool that directly affects their compensation. I have been “troubled” with city administration being so actively involved when dealing with the compensation of those directly under the city manager. The possible perception of favoritism “troubles” me. I understand that once the Tool is created, it is the city administration’s task to implement the working of that Tool.
    I have to also say with 100 percent certainty that nothing was done, no monies were spent and no Tool was activated without first having a vote by your duly elected council, even if it was done outside the view of the taxpayer. The final decision was solely that of the council. The Wage and Classification Tool is now a council-created Tool by virtue of a majority vote. I worked my hardest, staying true to my beliefs and philosophy, whether I thought it unfair to the taxpayers. I just happen to be in the minority. And I realize that the city manager’s job is a very difficult one at best, especially when he has to deal with someone in the minority as I am.
    I take labor relations with our city employees very seriously, and the opportunity to explain my “No” vote was important to me. I have placed my personal opinion on this subject in the public forum so the Caribou taxpayer and employees can form their own opinions. I have tried to do it in a fair, unbiased way.
    As an elected official, I felt you, the Caribou taxpayer, should know about your newly created Wage and Classification Tool. Thank you for your time on this subject. Wishing you all a great summer.
farmer Mark Goughan
Caribou city councilor