To the editor:
My father, Philip Bernaiche, passed away on September 17, 2016. He died in the town he loved, Houlton, Maine. He lived his entire adult life in Houlton, where he raised his six children. For more than four decades he actively worked to make Houlton a better place. He did so both as a town councilor and as a private citizen working for change with the town council.
As anyone who knew him could attest, my father always advocated for the less fortunate. He was a friend to the powerless and the underdogs. But he was also a friend to many small businesses in town. He did what he believed to be just and right, and he tried to make the Houlton Town Council accountable for their choices. He was dedicated, passionate, forthright, courageous, tenacious, and at times, stubborn as a mule. These attributes made him a force in trying to make Houlton a better place, and a place where he hoped none would ever be forgotten or ignored. He may have ruffled feathers on occasion, but no one ever questioned his integrity or his motivations. Phil Bernaiche could not be controlled by Houlton, and as a town councilor, his vote could not be bought,
At the Houlton Town Council meeting that took place shortly after he passed, a longtime citizen of Houlton, and a good friend to my father, requested that a vote be taken to have the meeting be held in honor of Philip Bernaiche.
Remarkably, not one town councilor responded, even though my father was a former town councilor himself. Instead, the request was ignored and no reason was given as to why the request could not be granted. No one asked that the council spend money to erect a statue, to purchase a plaque, or otherwise. It was a simple request to honor a man who had given so much of himself to Houlton, and all that was asked of the town council was a gesture. A gesture that would have cost nothing and would have required no more than a couple minutes of the council’s time. Yet not a single councilor was willing to make such a gesture. My father deserved better.
I could not be more disappointed in the Houlton Town Council. Each councilor in attendance should be ashamed. This disgraceful behavior proves my father’s concerns. There is no substance or character on this town council. It’s about what you have or who you know in this community, and any person in this town who has less is irrelevant.
My father believed the town council worked best when all viewpoints were welcome to be heard by open-minded councilors. He and I had countless discussions about what was happening in Houlton. He told me that local businesses often would approach him and request that he raise their concerns with the town council.
I spent the first 18 years of my life living in Houlton. I loved growing up in Houlton, and there is no question that much good can be said about being raised in a small community. To all of those who helped my father as his health declined, and to all of those who offered kind words after his passing, please accept my profound gratitude. Your help and kindness reminds me of all that is good about Houlton.
So for the sake of Houlton, I urge everyone to be more proactive in the community. Get involved. Attend the town council meetings and make it accountable for their decisions. My father had the ability at times to help the town council expand their vision and see things from a different perspective. Each of you has that ability too. Was my father the proverbial gadfly to the town council? Maybe. Ok, probably. But does this town council only honor those that toe their line? Does this town council only work for a select few? Has this town council forgotten that they represent all of Houlton’s citizens?
My father never forgot that he represented everyone, not just the special interests. He fought for all of you. And Houlton is a better place today because of him.
