
Caribou city councilors authorized brownfields cleanup funding and heard the first budget proposals from several departments Monday night.
The group voted to allow City Manager Penny Thompson to sign paperwork that will provide a $24,000 grant and a $24,000 low-interest loan to clean up the former Birdseye site in preparation for the city’s new police station.
Money for the project comes from the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development’s Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund. The work is projected to cost $48,000 and will remove the last of soils contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs, at that site, Thompson said.
The department will issue a grant for half the cost and provide a loan for the rest. The city’s application was approved in October, and now Thompson will sign the loan paperwork.

Councilors also voted to table adopting a code of conduct for 2025 until the city attorney approves a paragraph concerning conflict of interest, to make sure it complies with local and state laws.
That paragraph reads: “We agree to avoid conflicts of interest as required by state law and the city charter. To that end, we agree to avoid situations where we or our immediate familial or business associates might derive or appear to derive personal or financial benefit from actions or decisions made in our official capacity.”
Five city leaders presented the first look at departmental budgets for the coming year. Most proposals showed increases from 2024, owing largely to health insurance and electricity costs.
Public Works Director David Ouellette requested an annual budget of $3.1 million, up from $2.9 million last year. Total electricity costs are expected to rise by about 25 percent, from $15,925 in 2024 to a projected $18,900 for this year.
Last month’s electric bill was nearly $2,000, Ouellette said.
“I’ve never seen it that high. And my electricity [projections] may not be enough at this point,” he said.
Other major increases were in health insurance costs, anticipated at $335,379, up nearly $56,000 from last year, and vehicle maintenance, projected at $190,000, up $27,000 from last year.
Road salt and asphalt will also likely increase simply because of the rising cost of materials, Ouellette said. Salt is projected at $171,000, up 20 percent from 2024, with asphalt set at $575,000, up 6.5 percent.
Ouellette requested $453,500 in capital expenses, which would include $220,000 for a new pickup and replacement of a 2006 backhoe with a non-functioning engine. Other requests are $170,000 for street and sidewalk repair and $63,500 to replenish reserves for future street and parking lot projects.
Peter Baldwin, director of the Caribou Public Library, presented a total budget request of $305,536, up just over $7,000 from last year. Salaries will go up to $181,022, up 2.6 percent or $4,600, which is below the normal 4 percent annual increase, he said.
Electricity costs will rise 21 percent to $8,000 for the year, with health insurance projected at $28,100, up more than $2,000 from last year. Decreases are seen in travel and training, down $600, and Social Security, down nearly $1,300, he said.
Baldwin requested $19,600 in capital expenses, including $14,000 to replace a boiler and pumps, $2,500 to replace carpeting, $2,500 to go toward future roof repair and $600 for a new computer.
Baldwin also directs the Nylander Museum and presented a total budget of $66,193, up 15 percent or $8,500 from last year. Again, the biggest hike was in electricity, anticipated at $2,200 for the year, up 76 percent.
The museum is using more power because it’s open more, he said. The facility shut down during the pandemic and has increased attendance since its reopening. Last year it saw an average of 234 students a day.
Caribou Fire and Ambulance Chief Brian Lajoie shared a budget of $2.8 million, up nearly 7 percent from $2.6 million last year.
“I’m in the same boat as everyone else. Electricity just keeps going up and up,” Lajoie said. “And I’ve already been notified by our clothing supplier that costs are up.”
Clothing, which includes uniforms, firefighting gear and boots, will rise nearly $10,000 to $34,100, he said. Electricity is projected at $15,500, up $2,000 from last year, with health insurance at $420,235, up $42,000 from last year.
Firefighters have to maintain two sets of firefighting clothing — one set usable while the other is being washed, he said.
Salaries are also up because the department anticipates filling an open position and has budgeted for that, he said.
The department anticipates decreases in overtime pay, heating fuel, unemployment compensation and diesel fuel, Lajoie said.
The chief also presented $1.3 million in capital funding requests, the largest of which is $550,000 to be put in reserve for a new ladder truck that is due to be replaced in 2027. That vehicle could cost more than $1.6 million, he said.
Other capital requests included $225,000 toward replacing two ambulances in 2027, $310,000 toward vehicle repair and $90,000 for two truck replacements.
Caribou Housing Authority Director Lisa Plourde reported her budget of $223,318 is entirely funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The related family self-sufficiency program is budgeted at $95,000 and will receive a $72,000 grant, with the remainder paid for by reserve funds, she said.
Recreation and Parks Superintendent Gary Marquis presented reduced amounts for the recreation, parks and snowmobile trails budgets.
Recreation comes in at $668,223, down $3,284 from 2024. Parks, set at $191,553, is down $1,707 from last year, and snowmobile trail maintenance is down $5,600 to $75,787.
Marquis requested $43,500 to go into reserve funding, including $10,000 for roof repair at the Caribou Wellness and Recreation Center, $26,500 in vehicle reserve funding and $5,000 for park improvement.
The city council will meet next at 6 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 10.