WARNING. This column may cause heartburn, upset stomach, severe stress levels, high blood pressure, nausea, insomnia and every other ailment known to mankind. If you experience any of these symptoms, please discontinue reading at once and consult your local physician.
I would like to thank everyone for the positive comments I received after my article was published in the Aroostook Republican a few weeks ago. Your e-mails, phone calls, and personal conversations were all appreciated. Many of you suggested that I should write additional columns. I have agreed to do this along with the newspaper’s blessing based on everyone’s understanding of the following:
• I am not a career politician and have no desire to run for any State or Federal office. (Anyone who does should probably keep this article to use against me should I ever change my mind.)
• I am completely aware that I will probably be one of the most controversial council members that Caribou has elected. (unless of course I change my position on item no. 1)
• I do not intend to run for another term on city council, especially if I change my position on item no. 1.
Now that we all know where I am coming from, the articles I write in the future will deal with local issues pertaining to our city. The topics will involve things that Council is dealing with, as well as many of the local opinions I hear regarding what the city is doing wrong. My goal is not so much to influence people, but to provide information so everyone can see both sides of the issues.
One of the great things about this country is that everyone can have their own opinion and be able to voice it. I have learned over the years that many issues do not have a right or wrong answer. I have also come to the realization recently that when business people make wrong decisions very few people are aware of it, but when a municipal employee makes what is perceived to be a wrong decision, everyone talks about it.
One issue I have received many comments about recently, and it is probably due to the season, is snow plowing. We’ve all heard the comments and questions: “Why do we need to have the plows out as soon as it starts snowing, or they only do that so the employees can get overtime, or why are the plows still running around when the streets are clear?”
Admittedly, I have asked some of the same questions. I realize that this is due to my business background and always considering the costs involved in any operation. I have also come to realize that I’m glad it is the city manager and public works director who have to make the decision as to when to call the staff in and get the plows on the road and not me. I’m sure they have all heard the same things I have, but I doubt if they receive many calls telling them what a great job they did in clearing the streets etc. after a big storm. I am also quite sure that if they started leaning too far toward my train of thought in trying to save money, and we ended up with an accident involving one of our school buses and had children injured or worse due to the road conditions, all the armchair quarterbacks who had been criticizing the public works dept. would be chastising them for not having the equipment on the streets sooner. They really are in a no-win situation and it is impossible to always make the right call every time.
Although I will continue to do everything I can to look at ways to reduce costs in the city and will continue to second guess some of the decisions that are made, deep down, I hope if our employees make the wrong call, they continue to err on the side of safety and are able to put up with the flack they don’t necessarily deserve.
“What have you done today to make Caribou a better place for all of its citizens?”
This column is strictly my opinion or view and does not necessarily reflect the views of the city of Caribou’s administration staff, its employees, or other council members.
Gary Aiken may be reached at garyaiken@hotmail.com.
