By Barbara Scott
Staff Writer
Although we are some time away from the proverbial hot August nights or the dog days of summer, things were a bit heated during Monday evening’s meeting of the Caribou City Council.
With most all available seats taken in the council chambers, the chatter prior to the meeting focused on the changes in tax estimates residents were receiving, the result of the city’s revaluation process.
Several in the audience were members of the Citizens for Responsible City Management group. Doug Morrell, CFRCM chair addressed the council and City Manager Steven Buck stating, “One concern of the CFRCM in relation to this process (revaluation) is the timeline. The city council stated a timeline in the 2011 tax bill summary statements, that the citizens of Caribou would be receiving their 2012 revaluation estimates by March 2012. It is the opinion of CFRCM that due process (in relation to fairness) has not been met by giving the taxpayers their estimates, the end of May 2012, with only four weeks, not the original 12 weeks, to try and digest, debate and appeal the inequality in the revaluations, keeping in mind that for the largest landowners in Caribou this is their busiest time of the year.”
“Due to this new timeline put forth by the council,” said Morrell, “we feel it important that the council represent all the citizens of Caribou and get actively involved in this process, a process that this governing body has given to the Caribou citizens. CFRCM would like to ask if the council has any intentions of stepping in and overseeing the process to make sure on behalf of the taxpayers of Caribou that due process has been met. My question to you is do you have any intention of becoming involved?”
In reply to Morrell’s question Mayor Ken Muchison stated the city’s intention was to “let the contractors (revaluation team) do their work.”
Caribou resident Milo Haney approached the council inquiring as to what the building was going up next to the town garage. Murchison informed him that it was a cold shelter, obtained via a surplus purchase. Haney continued to ask what the cost for the building was, who approved the purchase and what it would be used for. Manager Buck stated the building, which was being put together by city employees would be used to store/protect city equipment.
Unhappy with these responses Haney stated, “You trimmed $200,000 from the budget and the RSU took it. The school budget goes to vote on Tuesday but we know how that goes. We’re (city) just going in circles — it’s up to you to cut costs.”
Following Haney, Wilfred Martin asked a favor of the council in having all Caribou property taxes placed on the internet for comparison purposes, citing that most citizens don’t have the time to come to the city office for this information.
“I think you are right,” stated Murchison, “but we have to consider the initial cost of setting something like that up.”
“Could you check it out?” requested Martin. “Other poorer communities do this — maybe you (city) could lay someone off to cover the cost. You need to do this. I don’t think the cost of doing this is very high,” he added.
Manager Buck informed Martin that the cost of the necessary module to set a program up would cost the city an estimated $4,000 plus maintenance to the site and a host. Buck did concede that the city’s existing server might be able to host the site.
Caribou residents are reminded that if they wish to discuss their revaluation tax estimates there are still slots available for appointments on June 14, 18 and 19. Residents are encouraged to contact the city office to schedule their appointments as soon as possible.
Among other agenda items, council members were asked by Manager Buck for their assistance in developing a response to the grievance filed by city employees on April 24, regarding the last-minute inclusion of five mandatory furlough days for city employees (excluding fire, ambulance and police personnel). Although the initial grievance had been withdrawn, the result of the council removing the budget amendment, the requested response was to be in reply to the city employees’ grievance asking what process the council used to include the furlough days in the first place.
After some discussion, with counselors offering little input to Buck’s request, Kathy Mazzuchelli, director of the Caribou Parks and Recreation Department, offered an explanation to the council as to how historically when working on a municipal budget, communication and information between the council, department heads and their employees had always proven to work toward the common good.
“I asked you at the start of this budget process what avenue you suggested to engage in,” stated Buck to the council members. “So much of what has been successfully put into place was torn down — that’s why I am so frustrated — 10 years of worthy work —gone.”
During the discussion Murchison stated, “Although furloughs days are not my favorite force in the budget process I do appreciate the employees coming forward with their concerns.”
Councilman Gary Aiken stated, “As I understand it, the council can make budget changes at any time during the budget process.” At that Mary Kate Barbosa, who did not vote to include the furlough days, interjected, “We can make changes but in this instance we did not have any discussion and city employees did not have an opportunity to at least come and speak with us — every other budget item gets discussed.”
“I’m the one that brought the furlough days to the table — I didn’t know if it would fly or not but we did follow the budget process. We righteously made the decision to include this,” said Councilman Philip McDonough.
“What if in the next budget process we come to discontinues some of the city’s personnel positions,” Aiken prodded, “what happens then?”
Councilman David Martin quietly commented in reply “I would like to think that wouldn’t take place at the last minute.”
“I regret asking for the furlough days,” said Councilman John Boone, “and I regret asking departments to cut a specific amount of money and then adding to that amount. when they came back to us.”
“It’s all about engagement, trust and communication,” Buck continued, referring to the council working with city employees and department heads. “You asked departments to come back before the council with a certain amount of money cut from their budgets. They made the adjustments and came back, and you asked for more — then the furlough days appeared and no one knew about it. We have had a fine tuned mechanism, the employees have been engaged in the budget process,” stated Buck. “They weren’t even asked — that is the issue. In my opinion you negated their trust by waiting until the last minute to include the furlough days. I will draft the letter,” he added.
The next meeting of the Caribou City Council will be on Wednesday, June 27 at 7 p.m.
