Water District trustees have approved the purchase of a Ford Focus station wagon for district staff.

The low bid of $13,606 from Rowe Ford was accepted. The manufacturer’s suggested retail price of the 2003 Focus is $17,820, according to bid information from the water district.

– John Plestina
Poland:

Town preparing

to switch dispatching

The Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Department has given selectmen a contract for dispatching services.

In March, Sheriff’s Capt. Ray Lafrance had presented the possibility to the board of the county handling the town’s fire and rescue calls. The issue was approved by voters on April 26.

Last Tuesday, Lafrance described the contract as generic and similar to the ones being used by Greene and Turner for county dispatch services.

The target date for Poland is June 29, but Lafrance said the start-up date is questionable because the town is waiting for delivery of equipment necessary for routing the emergency telephone calls.

The town of Raymond has been providing the dispatch services for Poland.

– John Plestina
Lewiston:

Council summer schedule in question

Busy agendas could keep city councilors off their summer schedule in August.

Councilors agreed to meet just once in July for a regular council meeting and to skip their regular workshop meeting that month.

But councilors could face meeting three times in August. Councilors will decide in July if they need to meet for two meetings in August.

“There is just a lot happening in the city right now, and they have a lot to do,” City Clerk Kathy Montejo said.

Councilors normally meet twice during the summer, in July and August. The regular Tuesday night meeting schedule, every second and fourth Tuesday of the month, is set to resume in September.

– Scott Taylor

Lisbon:

Selectmen honor Duval for service

Selectmen presented board Chairman Gertrude “Trudy” Duval a plaque thanking her for her three years of service on the board. She didn’t seek re-election for a second term.

In other business, selectmen last Tuesday accepted the low bid of $43,000 from Whited Ford Sterling of Auburn for a 2003 Ford dump truck cab and chassis, which will replace a 1990 model.

The board also approved closing Main and Union streets during the upcoming Moxie Festival and also Capital Avenue, and the temporary closing of part of Route 196 for the Moxie Parade.

Laurent Veilleux, Harry Darling and Harry Gorman were reappointed and David Moss appointed as civil constables. All are employed by Ace Security. Carol Shimko was appointed for a one-year term on the Advisory Board.

Several year-end transfers among various accounts were approved, totaling $3,000, about an average amount, said Town Manager Curtis Lunt. These were to cover additional costs for gas, police car maintenance, legal expenses and the unanticipated, extra state election in June.

– Connie Footman
Greene:

Town seeks bids for firefighters’ equipment

Selectmen have authorized Town Manager Stephen Eldridge to solicit bids for fire safety equipment.

At the annual town meeting in March, voters approved expenditures of up to $55,000 for a new radio and equipment for the Fire Department. Between $18,000 and $20,000 would pay for new equipment to outfit 15 firefighters this year including turnout gear, hoods and helmets. There are 27 people on the department’s roster.

Eldridge plans to seek bids from several vendors in and out of Maine, all of them companies in New England.

– John Plestina