CARIBOU, Maine – Outgoing city councilors Lou Willey and Mark Goughan received special honors at Caribou City Council’s final meeting of the year.
Willey served a three-year term on the council before opting to run for the RSU 39 school board this fall. She was elected to the school board in November.
City Mayor Jody Smith presented Willey with her council nameplate and an engraved clock in honor of her service.
“I have thoroughly enjoyed my time spent on the council,” Willey said. “There have been a lot of challenges, and I hear there will be plenty of challenges at the school board level.”
Goughan did not attend Monday’s council meeting but City Manager Penny Thompson said she would present him with his nameplate and clock at a later time.
Goughan served on the council for 12 years, including several years as city mayor.
“Mark had infinite wisdom and impact on this city as a councilor. I’d like to thank him for his service,” said Councilor John Morrill.
City councilors briefly discussed other business before adjourning until the new year.
Thompson told councilors that the city cannot proceed with clean-up bids for 15 Prospect St. unless Aroostook Superior Court Justice Stephen Nelson rules in their favor. The city took property owner John Barretto to court Dec. 1, hoping that Nelson will uphold the city’s dangerous property declaration.
Nelson has not yet announced his decision, Thompson said. The city will keep the four clean-up bids until then.
The council agreed to let Thompson draft a letter of opposition to the proposed consolidation of operations from the U.S. Postal Service’s Hampden location to the facility in Scarbourough, roughly 130 miles away.
U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, a Caribou native, opposes the consolidation, arguing that the move would lead to longer mail processing for northern and central Maine residents.
Caribou City Council will swear in re-elected councilor Courtney Boma and new councilors Tamara Lovewell and Jennifer Kelley at an organizational meeting Tuesday, Jan. 2 in the council chambers, located at 25 High St. The meeting will begin at 6 p.m.
