Courtship: The Caribou City Council swore in newly elected members and completed its annual reorganization at a Jan. 2 meeting that also approved administrative appointments and multiple board and commission nominees.

The newly sworn members and the council then elected leadership for 2025, with Courtney Beaumont continuing as mayor and Jody Smith selected deputy mayor. The council also approved a slate of city administrative officers and a package of committee and board appointments that filled many city vacancies.

Why it matters: City leadership and appointed boards carry out routine municipal operations and oversight (for example, the municipal manager, deputy clerks, library and hospital boards and regional utility or waste boards). Filling vacancies keeps committees functional and allows boards to make decisions on loans, services and local projects.

Key actions and outcomes
- Swearing-in: Two officials were sworn in at the start of the meeting (transcript record of the oath and signing).
- Mayor and deputy mayor: Courtney Beaumont was confirmed as mayor; Jody Smith was chosen deputy mayor.
- Administrative appointments: The council approved the proposed slate of administrative officers, including Christina Drinkle as deputy city clerk, Holly Dutti as deputy treasurer and Gary Marquis as acting city manager if the city manager is absent.
- Board and commission appointments: The council approved multiple nominees across boards and commissions, including John Weeks (Board of Assessors), nominees to the Carey Medical Center Board of Directors, Nylander Museum trustees, Caribou Hospital District, Caribou Housing Authority, library board, riverfront committee, recreation commission and others (see “Votes at a glance” for itemized outcomes).
- A contested vote failed: a motion to appoint Troy Haney and James Nelson to the Caribou Development Committee did not receive council approval (motion failed).

Councilors and staff said they would continue to recruit for committees that remain open. City Manager Penny Thompson confirmed material such as meeting packets for Aroostook Waste Solutions and other regional boards will be circulated to councilors who accept appointments.

Ending: With the leadership in place and most vacancies filled, councilors said they expect committees to resume work; remaining contested or open appointments will be revisited at future meetings.