CARIBOU, Maine — Roger Felix, commander of Caribou VFW, and Wayne Little, commander of Caribou American Legion, approached City Council members Monday to discuss decreased funding to their organizations.
When the council adopted the 2016 budget in January, local veterans organizations responded with a letter that addressed concerns over decreased funding which is used annually to purchase flags and flag holders to mark veterans’ graves.
“Under Maine statute law 30-A indicates municipalities have to place flags and flag holders on all graves of the veterans,” Felix said. “In the past it has been our understanding that it has been an agreement that the veterans organizations were assisting the city of Caribou in accomplishing this.”
Previously city councilors allotted $600 a year, split between the two organizations, to order and purchase flags and flag holders. “This year we were surprised when our Quartermasters informed us that had been reduced to $50 for each organization which in fact no way, shape or form could ever cover the cost of the flags to be placed in the cemeteries,” Felix said.
Both the VFW and the American Legion would like to compromise with the council and try to figure out what they can do as organizations “so veterans don’t lose and their families don’t, because what’s going to happen is if this doesn’t happen on a yearly basis, the phones are going to ring off the hook, and we’re going to be forced to then refer them to the city council, which nobody wants because nobody’s going to win. Our veterans aren’t winning that’s for sure,” Felix said.
“I don’t think you have the manpower or realize that’s going to cost more than $600 a year to put those flags up if it’s put back into the municipality’s hands,” Felix added.
Little took the $50 check his organization received out of his pocket and handed it over to City Manager Austin Bleess. “I’ve got your check here for $50, and next year if you can buy flags and flag holders for $50 you let me know how much that you spent. Thank you,” Little said.
Mayor Gary Aiken asked how many flags they put out every year. “Split between the two groups we average between 750 flags,” Felix said. The organizations spend around 80 cents per flag, and purchase them in bulk. Felix explained the flags only last a season or two, and they have to replace half of them every year.
Council member Philip McDonough II requested Bleess schedule a meeting with the VFW and Legion to discuss the responsibilities of the flags.
In other business, council members approved a request by the Caribou ATV club for temporary access to land on the Bowles Road for a fund-raising event the club will host on June 28.
The council accepted a bid on a city fire truck from Smith Farms of Presque Isle in the amount of $7,109.
The council approved a bid on the Parks and Rec Department’s Stream Bridge Project. BMB Construction of Hampden bid $76,900 for the project, which was an increase of $811 from what the Rec Department had initially discussed at a previous council meeting in April.
Council members heard a request for a change in terms to the agreement Virtual Managed Solutions formed with the city over the payment of delinquent personal property and real estate taxes on their Sweden St. facility.
The Council voted to keep the agreement as is and to apply tax payments to the oldest taxes first, which are personal property taxes. VMS was requesting a change to the agreement to allow money be applied to real estate taxes before personal property taxes.
A public hearing on Secession will be held on Thursday, June 11 at 6 p.m. at the Caribou Performing Arts Center. A video copy of the hearing will be available for broadcast following the event.
The Caribou City Council will hold their next regular meeting on Monday, June 22 at 6 p.m. at the council chambers.
