CARIBOU, Maine – Caribou city councilors rejected a proposed youth council Monday that would have given high school students a voice in city-level policy decisions.
Had the Caribou Horizons Youth Council formed, city councilors would have appointed seven Caribou High School juniors and seniors to the group. Student members would have attended city council meetings, discussed local issues with their peers and presented recommendations to city councilors on impending decisions.
City Councilor Dan Bagley said that he thought the Youth Council could have instilled a sense of civic duty within Caribou’s younger generations.
“Over the past few years on the [city] council, it occurred to me that the youth don’t really have a formal voice on the direction of the city,” Bagley said. “[This youth council] could hopefully spark a continued love of civic service throughout their lives.”
Caribou High School Assistant Principal Ben Goodwin also supported the proposed youth council.
“This is another opportunity to connect the city and school. I would like to see this come to fruition,” Goodwin said.
But other councilors saw potential issues with creating a youth-specific advisory committee to the city council.
Councilor John Morrill said that he disagreed with Bagley’s belief that students do not have a voice in local government.
“Their student council is the best place for them to learn about government before they go on to bigger and better things,” Morrill said. “To throw them into an environment like this is an issue.”
Councilor Joan Theriault noted that any student is welcome to address the city council during their meetings’ public comment periods. She pointed out that Goodwin was the only school representative who attended Monday’s council meeting.
“I’m not seeing the students here to advocate for themselves and that concerns me,” Theriault said.
City Mayor Courtney Boma suggested that the council invite Caribou’s student council to attend a meeting once a year and give them a chance to voice opinions. Several city councilors supported that idea.
Bagley made a motion to approve an ordinance establishing the Youth Council but that motion failed after no one seconded it.
In other business, the city council approved facade improvement grants for the Caribou Inn and Convention Center, Sullivan’s Floor Covering and County Ag & Turf Supply. All three businesses will receive $7,500.
Caribou Inn and Convention Center will use their award for new signage, fencing, awnings and paint. County Ag & Turf will remove overhead doors and improve their entryway, while Sullivan’s will install a vestibule to their building.
The awards come from tax revenue generated within the city’s R-2 Tax Increment Financing District. There is $14,000 remaining in the city’s budget this year for the facade program, which focuses on businesses with the Downtown and R-2 TIF Districts, said City Manager Penny Thompson.
All businesses in the facade program must complete their projects within a year in order to receive the full funding, Thompson noted.
Councilors approved the following bids for projects that Caribou Public Works will complete in 2024: $11,307 for culvert repair to Paris Farmers of South Paris, Maine; $10,200 for street line paint from Haney’s Building Supplies of Caribou; $85 per ton for road shim and patching from Soderberg Construction of Caribou; $91.70 per ton for country road paving from Lane Construction of Presque Isle; $99.50 per ton for town road paving from Soderberg Construction; and $18.25 per ton for winter road sand from Trombley Industries of Limestone.
Councilors also approved $48,500 for crack sealing at Caribou Municipal Airport from 180 Sealcoating of Caribou; and $62,500 to Trombley Industries to repave the fire station’s back parking lots.
Public Works Director Dave Ouellette said that although Soderberg had the lowest bid for road shim and patching, his department often will purchase products from the other bidders – Trombley Industries and Lane Construction – if their product matches what he immediately needs for road work.
“Depending on the location [of a project] or the materials, we might use another vendor, and all three companies are okay with that,” Ouellette said.
Lane Construction bidded $87 per ton and Trombley bidded $90.50 per ton for road shim and patching.
The city council had previously decided not to pursue crack sealing for the airport’s roadways but Ouellette said that water could seep in and vegetation could grow out of the cracks, making the city subject to poor inspection ratings from the Federal Aviation Administration.
“I don’t have the equipment [for that project], but I think it needs to be done,” Ouellette said.
Per a proposed three-year contract, Caribou would provide snow removal services to Connor Township starting in 2024. If county commissioners approve, the county would pay Caribou $71,788 for the 2024-2025 fiscal year, $73,942 in 2025-2026 and $76,160 in 2026-2027. City councilors approved the contract Monday.
The next regular Caribou City Council meeting will be held Tuesday, May 28 at 6 p.m. at Caribou Municipal Building, 25 High St.
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