LIVERMORE FALLS – Several suggestions were made to and by selectmen Monday night about ways to save money on upkeep of the library building, but no advice was received from Roger Ouellette, president of the Livermore Falls Library Association.

“You’re looking again at the wrong person,” he told the board. “The selectmen are charged with maintaining the library. The trustees of the Library Association are charged with the internal workings of the library, they have nothing to do with maintenance.”

Voters approved $52,000 for library wages and books at the annual town meeting, despite attempts by Chairman Bill Demaray to reduce that amount.

Ouellette will not contribute any of that money toward maintenance, but Demaray said the vote might have been different had citizens known of the shortfall at that time.

Ouellette also raised objections to Selectman Ken Jacques’ proposal to cut back the time allotted by Custodian Ron Morris for library upkeep by three or four hours a week. He currently is assigned there 10 hours a week.

This would save about $280 a month, Jacques estimated, just over half the $540 a month needed since the trust fund is not producing an amount adequate to cover the $2,100 a month in expenses.

Starting this month, the town will receive only about $1,600 per month and must find ways to live within it.

Selectman Bernal Lake’s suggestion that the librarians vacuum the floors was rebutted. “Would you ask schoolteachers to clean their rooms?” Ouellette asked.

Library employee Elaine Smith defended the staff, objecting to Lake’s suggestion. “When we work at the library, we’re always at work, we’re busy the whole time,” she said.

“If Ron isn’t there, are you going to let the dirt pile up?” Demaray asked. Ouellette relented and said, “As long as you don’t expect them to clean the bathrooms.”

Selectwoman Doreen Maheux suggested the board charge a fee for use of the downstairs auditorium but Demaray favored a deposit system that would be returned if the room were left clean.

A spokesperson at the town office Tuesday morning said the room isn’t used very much any more. Reservations for July and August found only a support group there every Friday night, a public hearing by the Planning Board for July 16, a private party (a one-time event) on July 19 and Community Concepts for fuel assistance interviews on Aug. 13.

Alcoholics Anonymous no longer uses the rooms twice a week, as it has in the past, the clerk said, and she hasn’t even had reservations confirmed by library staff for their usual reading club party.

In the past, the Skateboard Committee used it for meetings, she said, the King’s Daughters had it one Saturday in May, and the town used it for two budget sessions in April or May, the only dates listed.

Selectmen Lake and Clayton Putnam indicated they were not in favor of going back to the town for more money, one of the suggestions, and Demaray asked for a partnership with everybody. “We have to look at the whole picture,” he said.

A decision was postponed until the next meeting to allow for an energy audit, removal of a phone downstairs and an attempt to find funds to support the custodial services.