CARIBOU, Maine — Caribou City Council recognized outgoing library board member Jan Murchison and the passing of long-time city employee Gil Dufour during a Jan. 11 meeting.
City Manager Dennis Marker first spoke about Murchison’s service to the city, as she served on the Caribou Public Library Board of Trustees for 14 years.
“She faithfully served through four directors. She used her professional knowledge to assist the library through four directors,” Marker said.
The city manager said Murchison helped out with structural projects, including a roofing project that fixed leaks in the director’s office and children’s room. Recently, she assisted with mapping the usable space on the two open floors of the library amid the pandemic.
“Although busy with full-time work, family and various community service projects, she always found time to volunteer at the library during book sales and various events. Jan is an incredible advocate for the library and will be greatly missed,” he said.
Mayor Jody Smith thanked Murchison for her service to the city, and Murchison, who was connected to the meeting via Zoom, said a few words about the recognition.
“Thank you. This was a surprise. I didn’t expect this. I didn’t expect this at all. I love the library, and I love books. I would rather be reading than really doing anything else, ever. I might be back, but we’ve got some incredible people at the library, and we’ve got a great board. We picked up some more people that are also fantastic, and I’m sure they will be great advocates for the library. I enjoyed my time there; it’s a great place,” she said.
The councilors all thanked her, and Smith said they will be awarding her a clock for her time serving the city.
Marker then offered condolences for the passing of city employee Gil Dufour, who was hired by the Public Works Department on Nov. 29,1968, at the age of 17 and stayed with the city until he retired on Dec. 26, 2017.
“… Dufour was an employee who worked for the city for almost 50 years,” Marker said. “He started back in 1968 with the public works department holding a shovel and moved up the ranks, working with road crews and the snow plows and everything in between.”
“I had an opportunity to know Gil for the entire time I was here,” Public Works Director Dave Ouellette said via Zoom call. “He will be sorely missed for sure.”
Marker said Dufour’s family asked that there not be any real fanfare with his passing, and that it’s currently unclear if there will be any funeral arrangements.
“But we definitely want to express our condolences to his family, and express appreciation for his, almost literally, lifetime of service to the city.”
