[{"_1":2,"_122":-5,"_123":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86,98,110],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6341820,"mediaKeyId","2256343-fa20e0c8838c1c3b5b45538863450da0","parentId",2256343,"title","Council reappoints Lisa Bresette and names Heather Bartlett to Caribou Congregate Housing board","audioSeconds",84,"startMs",274000,"endMs",358000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2256343-fa20e0c8838c1c3b5b45538863450da0&start=274&end=358","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2256343-fa20e0c8838c1c3b5b45538863450da0/thumbnail_274000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6341820/Caribou/Aroostook-County/Maine/Council-reappoints-Lisa-Bresette-and-names-Heather-Bartlett-to-Caribou-Congregate-Housing-board","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6341820-20a11fba9ed23de140ebeb9144b1b920/orig.mp4?Expires=1776657557&Signature=Zpj-cW1EKEyHWCbof-NDZAWNrfAtzgHVEX~1yXEAsVjkhVaK~Z1ngKX4ysCOKkBAjmRYicQZtdxq5Yirc2t2w0kqLHYMEWXo2DnnuaLhZaUj-WWNTNU6NmWoS9TuA5uK5Nhkkvnose-TOI8E0SONunvQw~XnHLhHqhP~g~iv9B4mLOgkCDA-~dYhkIyE9C710kPBbOm~WQHhasxAFW8Ib5fX-shwcmPlx9RM6A~UlHlPMDhcMk2vnYNRbQPHYqjcogx6rqPJniNIEvBfKRF26WyEF-d22PjIZoJt7HBEG8g3OWWVGPglL3egIloEBiGcAqAeT5mdu39ydBSJPpU3cA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-02-10T22:57:24Z","article","The Caribou City Council voted Feb. 10 to reappoint Lisa Bresette as the city’s representative to the Caribou Congregate Housing Development Corporation Board and to appoint Heather Bartlett, HCV occupancy specialist, to replace Danielle Brissett.

The council packet listed a request to reappoint Lisa Bresette, housing director, and to appoint Heather Bartlett as HCV occupancy specialist to the Caribou Congregate Housing Development Corporation Board of Directors. A motion and second were made and a roll-call vote recorded councilors Bagley, Kelly, Lovewell, Smith, Terrio and Watson as voting “Aye.” The presiding officer announced “Motion carries. Congratulations, Lisa.”

The council did not discuss terms or background at length during the Feb. 10 meeting; the appointments were recorded as council action and will be reflected in board membership records.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Caribou City Council 2/10/25","oneSentenceSummary","The Caribou City Council voted to reappoint Lisa Bresette and to appoint Heather Bartlett to the Caribou Congregate Housing Development Corporation Board of Directors, replacing Danielle Brissett.","taxTitle","Caribou, Aroostook County, Maine","taxId",52157,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6341824,"Council holds required public hearing for County Ag CDBG application and approves application slate",283,527000,810000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2256343-fa20e0c8838c1c3b5b45538863450da0&start=527&end=810","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2256343-fa20e0c8838c1c3b5b45538863450da0/thumbnail_527000.jpg","/articles/6341824/Caribou/Aroostook-County/Maine/Council-holds-required-public-hearing-for-County-Ag-CDBG-application-and-approves-application-slate","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6341824-293270d0767c84e6a8721688378a09ea/orig.mp4?Expires=1776657557&Signature=HRTsF8BBO-kKN7n0ZYMva2W4ATcmn6DiYAd~GXuu8m~LXugCX-2lGC35c9SSNSaF-g1cHAvZBEZjH2lNvxINIpUtyXmD2haNVmtrzzm-B79HJOZR9GA96FggGYTpUMfhlIGR85Lm3wYUxEQ8ROunUtTuPzm04OddKFGQJRap1gRYEkNL2gX~WaXCXQ29wEYbsNCE9H~eUfbGaqBsM28y~fAJHFeBmTpO~Dm-QtFFu77cvPLDo3uUIO7g~By68Waa9-sSG04W7CN9TrsfIKs-SEhL7X0662RQWN3t5QWQDhhePEbsizInkIgLm0uINVY8NlEubJ91iZE6g57sJ6OIAQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Caribou City Council opened a public hearing on Feb. 10 to accept comment on a Community Development Block Grant application that Local business County Ag, working with Northern Maine Development Commission (NMDC), is preparing to submit to the State of Maine.

Penny (City staff) explained that County Ag has qualified to apply for a CDBG through NMDC and that the municipality — the City of Caribou — must apply and administer the grant on the business’s behalf if the applicant is selected. Penny emphasized that no municipal funds would be used as match for County Ag’s project and that a public hearing is part of the state application process. County Ag owner Mrs. Neto was present to answer questions, the city said.

Councilors and staff discussed administrative workload for grant administration. Penny said NMDC provides assistance and that the city’s finance staff has received training on grant requisitions; the city manager added that much of the heavy paperwork for CDBG compliance had already been prepared citywide and that some items were general to municipal applications rather than specific to County Ag.

A councilor asked whether current staff resources were adequate to administer the grant. Penny and the manager said NMDC would help and that city staff had prior experience administering CDBG grants. The manager noted that much of the required documentation — equal employment opportunity resolution, fair housing resolution, residential displacement plan, standards of conduct, Section 504 plan — had been prepared and were city‑wide templates.

Following the public hearing, a councilor moved to “move this slate” of required documents and resolutions; another councilor seconded. The roll-call vote recorded councilors Bagley, Kelly, Lovewell, Smith, Terrio and Watson as voting “Aye.” The motion carried and the items required for the CDBG application were approved for submission with the city as applicant and administrator if County Ag is selected.

Penny and staff said they would continue to coordinate with County Ag and NMDC as the application proceeds.","The council opened and closed a public hearing on a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) application for County Ag; councilors then voted to approve the slate of required resolutions and plans to permit the city to apply on County Ag’s behalf and to administer the grant if awarded.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6341828,"Council accepts Haley Ward proposal to design Caribou library renovation, stays under estimate",136,380000,516000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2256343-fa20e0c8838c1c3b5b45538863450da0&start=380&end=516","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2256343-fa20e0c8838c1c3b5b45538863450da0/thumbnail_380000.jpg","/articles/6341828/Caribou/Aroostook-County/Maine/Council-accepts-Haley-Ward-proposal-to-design-Caribou-library-renovation-stays-under-estimate","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6341828-0caa79cfab923015b3774c34720b7c78/orig.mp4?Expires=1776657557&Signature=SSmPd~SkY0bdLmJ4QyHrKmLme9FFmhY8ZCiMCNBjC7hQhX55LFx~2Ics4Sh3OuS62gB3hYs-I2na71rrjwE0LG7Kncwv5muWouGUs4F636IGLOSG80OgnqGq7tz~RFu1sqSdi0S2~Hi6IcudxEiZbouC98ftuW6CiPqR~OBQ7X25dEu7k6Z-y73rmIA5n~z7x2MmX8a3Rk-aqgFlRjVnIk94VCRbg1izbFvFucBYrsPPu6NJsLM9laSF51iz-OVS4ETBTpgRqrkVcbRgCCaaRKWcCz8OMffeBTd~USibhqSqjGoa~XGxlc~4ZLVQKI9djPKTSXBea695BSRNtrTkVA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Caribou City Council voted Feb. 10 to accept a single proposal from Haley Ward for architectural and engineering design services and project management for the planned library renovation and abatement work.

Peter Baldwin summarized the procurement: the municipality received one proposal from Haley Ward, which the packet shows priced design services and project administration at $166,600 as a line item within the full project estimate. In the meeting packet the total bid amount appears as $166,600 for the design/PM portion; Baldwin said the overall renovation is “almost $2,000,000” and that the Haley Ward proposal put design/PM costs about $40,000 under the city’s earlier estimate.

A councilor moved to accept the bid and another councilor seconded; the roll-call vote recorded councilors Bagley, Kelly, Lovewell, Smith, Terrio and Watson as voting “Aye.” Mayor or another councilor’s vote is recorded as “Aye. Motion carries.” The council’s motion accepted Haley Ward’s proposal and directed staff to move forward with that contract.

Baldwin said Haley Ward’s package broke charges into sections including building administration and contract administration, and that the consultant will also remain on the project as project manager if retained. Council discussion included an expression of relief that the contract included a construction manager function: “I was pleased to see that we have a construction manager within this contract,” one councilor said.

The council did not specify a start date during the meeting; an addendum included with the proposal adjusted start and end dates and extended the period for architect responses, Baldwin said. The council voted to accept the bid as presented.","Council voted to accept a Haley Ward proposal to provide architect/engineer design services and project management for a roughly $1.66 million library renovation; the bid came in about $40,000 under the project's budgeted amount.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6341833,"Council splits on bypassing design-review checkpoint for public safety building; full package due March 15",182,839000,1021000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2256343-fa20e0c8838c1c3b5b45538863450da0&start=839&end=1021","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2256343-fa20e0c8838c1c3b5b45538863450da0/thumbnail_839000.jpg","/articles/6341833/Caribou/Aroostook-County/Maine/Council-splits-on-bypassing-design-review-checkpoint-for-public-safety-building-full-package-due-March-15","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6341833-44f1cedaed42e616bb264b56bf689756/orig.mp4?Expires=1776657557&Signature=RPlBtrr9Fd3e3nJJY0CaaQzyOZnmhaRiPJvkqOTCdSpLM2RlbMbhznBB48D72jdBdGuLRbMoTSy2pvUsuCR-FMkwHOuMPNXvKwEX-2S55FohExgOzTCJvbejJALfq1abdxlC1OQdR4-sTAH1z8hxIXTC2J53idX5bLKzpI3UgF7NaQJtzp~q0jJfF-jbz48Xs~yud~TrPj0Vaj-~qkeUzd-iDkwHU8DOjjbA4pDDwadmfo2AUU0R55367Zilca-wkMu6tpKlk5I-2ocV15SHlf-v8--6VgJBW86rH9qRV2y-P0tBe3ySYF-aXvDNwbdUrJ~3c75nbQMLUJxhy~HA5w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Caribou City Council spent an extended portion of its Feb. 10 meeting debating oversight and review steps for the city’s Public Safety Building project after the Public Safety Building Committee and architect proposed moving from design development to construction documents with a March 15 delivery schedule.

Councilor (unnamed in the transcript) objected to skipping the formal design-development review, saying the review is “a key decision point for the city” and that the council’s charter and contract checkpoints required a full council review to avoid costly rework later. “I’m unhappy with the process,” the councilor said. “We need to follow the contract.”

City staff and committee representatives, including the city manager, said Artifex (the architect) would deliver all design development materials by March 15 and that the committee had authority under its charge to manage the interim work. The manager said the construction documents would be ready by March 15 and the committee and consultant were “really moving quickly.”

The dispute was procedural rather than a show of substantive design opposition. Councilors who supported the committee noted the architect had been responsive and that meetings had been frequent; opponents said the full council has ultimate authority and must not cede oversight. One councilor asked for assurance that the March 15 materials would be delivered in writing and requested a council review on March 4 if the package was ready.

Council members also raised cost-control concerns tied to scope changes and materials selections, with one asking for updated cost estimates because “they’ve expanded the footprint somewhat.” Staff said they had not yet received a multi‑page cost breakdown from an estimator but that the design team reported no substantial increase to date and that some reconfiguration had been intended to reduce cost.

The committee and staff agreed to deliver the design-development package to councilors by March 15 and to attempt to schedule a council review on March 4 if materials were complete. City staff said they would follow up with the council and with committee chair Rick (last name not provided) about scheduling the interim review.

No formal change to the contract or a vote to delegate authority was taken during the Feb. 10 meeting; councilors asked staff to confirm the timeline and make the design-development materials available for an interim full-council review if ready.","Councilors debated whether to let the Public Safety Building Committee and architect proceed from design development directly into construction documents without a full-council interim review. The committee and manager said construction documents are due March 15; some councilors objected and asked for a formal interim review on March 4.",{"_33":111,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":112,"_41":113,"_43":114,"_45":115,"_47":116,"_49":117,"_51":118,"_53":119,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":120,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":121,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6341837,"Caribou police chief asks council for new lieutenant, officer and dispatchers in 2025 budget",404,2692000,3096000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2256343-fa20e0c8838c1c3b5b45538863450da0&start=2692&end=3096","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2256343-fa20e0c8838c1c3b5b45538863450da0/thumbnail_2692000.jpg","/articles/6341837/Caribou/Aroostook-County/Maine/Caribou-police-chief-asks-council-for-new-lieutenant-officer-and-dispatchers-in-2025-budget","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6341837-2dca395b7af530d6ee1594b196719717/orig.mp4?Expires=1776657557&Signature=hiW82zUGnRIb01ig-zElNaw0LTup5i1zDJWsO-VQSdonhyMi4LK4H64E0zjFk676nPnDVkJUY6809--P43-NaK8GKpybSPWhUrrdi19-QQT3rXvhEPH4yezYhhmpag6VeaxowcLF5nxmLHEMQz7uPCYDxix-n-mdqQfGAuAI4XOqkHCvnK6jTgBknpPp-4UpYGiS~16MGw4vt5yC9AkeNnHZMlwMCSHIhLKhALcwGLjtFrdiWlSnK-1E-X2Vank3GN9yWmtgVmfOzNTRBmwKftXDPF-1Z32JZYU7V54m0Z586xgg2Ai8ZaFtpiozJLRaDZAHfFv5ANK6X9cKd6nwMw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Caribou Police Chief Justin Saucier told the Caribou City Council on Feb. 10 that his department’s 2025 budget request includes a proposal to add a lieutenant, one patrol officer and two dispatchers, and a set of capital and training items aimed at reducing overtime and improving certification and instructor capacity.

The proposal seeks to reduce a heavy overtime burden. Saucier said the department had 19 open shifts in January and filled 12, resulting in $6,630 in overtime pay for that month; February was already at $5,080 midway through the month. “I think the overtime budget could be slashed quite a bit if we even got 1 more officer and 2 more dispatchers,” Saucier said.

Saucier framed the staffing change as a chain-of-command improvement: “Right now, you have the chief, you have your 4 sergeants, and then you have your patrolman. Because it's really difficult to monitor or even, kinda guide our sergeants. If we have a lieutenant, that would make things a lot easier.” He said a lieutenant would provide clearer supervision and an operational flow: patrol officer → sergeant → lieutenant → chief.

Training and academy slots figure prominently in the request. Saucier said each cadet costs about $3,500 for the Maine Criminal Justice Academy and that travel and lodging add additional costs for downstate training. The department currently has one officer in the academy and hopes to send two more in August, which would require expanded training funds.

Saucier also requested several capital items for 2025: a three-year PowerDMS subscription to manage policies and training ($2,761.56 in 2025 as a first-year parcel payment), body armor replacement shared with a grant (city share about $10,000 in 2025), a leased TASER replacement program ($4,549.80 per year), cruiser radios and repeaters, and a planned new marked cruiser (quotes in the packet ranged up to $65,183.60 including equipment and installation). The chief presented a capital subtotal of $89,097 for 2025.

Saucier defended the training increases as investments that could yield other benefits: training officers who become certified instructors could host regional classes locally and build interagency cohesion. “When you and all of the guys know each other,” he said, “you have a day where you've got training and all that camaraderie. And I think it helps us if we have a situation where we need to call someone or we are responding to something in another town.”

Council members asked about recruitment prospects. Saucier said he has applicants for dispatcher openings and a few officers who have expressed interest in returning. He said the department would consider both internal promotion and external hiring for a lieutenant. On costs tied to pay raises and union contracts, Saucier noted that salary burdens reflect contractual increases and a 4% cost-of-living adjustment included elsewhere in the budget packet.

The presentation included a discussion of departmental operating lines — vehicle maintenance, tires, uniform replacement and training — and the chief indicated some lines could be trimmed (for example, communications expense). He also noted revenue offsets, including grant reimbursements (COPS grant and other salary reimbursements) that reduce net cost.

The council did not take a final vote on the chief’s requests during the Feb. 10 meeting; the department’s budget will be considered as part of the council’s ongoing municipal budget deliberations.","Police Chief Justin Saucier told the Caribou City Council during the Feb. 10 municipal budget hearing that his department needs a lieutenant, one additional patrol officer and two dispatchers to reduce overtime and improve training; he also outlined capital and training requests.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council reappoints Lisa Bresette and names Heather Bartlett to Caribou Congregate Housing board

Council holds required public hearing for County Ag CDBG application and approves application slate

Council accepts Haley Ward proposal to design Caribou library renovation, stays under estimate

Council splits on bypassing design-review checkpoint for public safety building; full package due March 15

Caribou police chief asks council for new lieutenant, officer and dispatchers in 2025 budget