GREENE – Selectmen from Greene, Leeds and Turner agreed Thursday night to hold a combined meeting with state legislators in November to discuss options for regionalization.

Gov. John Baldacci’s proposal for regionalization would combine small school districts and other services that are currently budgeted and administered by municipalities.

Greene, Leeds and Turner meet jointly three times a year to discuss matters of mutual interest. They met with administrators from SAD 52 Thursday.

“We’re hard pressed to come up with ways we can regionalize,” said Greene selectmen’s Chairman Ron Grant. “Some of the state funding we’re going to get from Augusta is going to depend on what we do for regionalization.”

“Let the people in Augusta know what we’re already doing,” said Leeds Selectman Abe Additon. He cited mutual aid by area fire departments as an example. “I think we’re doing a poor job of letting them know what we’re doing.”

“We should see if we can get someone from the governor’s office, if they dare to come (to the next tri-town meeting),” Grant said.

“First of all, Ron, I can’t believe anyone from the governor’s office would be that foolish to show up here,” Additon said. Members of the state House and Senate who represent the region should be invited instead, he said.

The selectmen decided to meet with legislators, and not invite a representative from the governor’s office, when they hold the next tri-town meeting in Turner in November.

Other towns bordering some of the three towns may be invited, including Monmouth and Wales.

In other business, SAD 52 Business Manager Chris Trenholm discussed possible joint purchases between the towns and the school district. Currently, SAD 52 enjoys greater savings with fuel purchases and photo copying because of the larger volume of purchases.

The three boards of selectmen will individually look at purchasing options before the town managers meet with Trenholm.

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