JAY – Budget Committee members unanimously voted to recommend approval of two articles to face voters Dec. 9.

Committee Chairman Pearl Cook said there was about an hour’s discussion on each proposal. One is to transfer money from undesignated and unexpended funds for a $357,000 renovation of school and town garages and the other is a $55,689 proposal to eliminate a food service program deficit.

Selectmen and School Committee members had previously recommended yes votes.

Approximately 30 people attended the meeting, Cook said, and many questions were asked.

The special town meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 9, in the Jay Middle School cafeteria.

The proposal to renovate the two garages was recommended to meet state and federal mandates and to fit all town vehicles in a garage for a mechanic to work on them. Mechanics have to work on some firetrucks, and transfer and recycling trucks outside because they don’t fit in the garage. The move, which would also consolidates mechanics, is expected to save money over time.

Of the $357,000 for the total project, voters are being asked to transfer $235,500 from undesignated revenue. The remaining $121,500 would come from departments’ reserve accounts and money saved from eliminating a mechanic’s position. The school mechanic is expected to retire in March and the position would not be refilled.

In the other article, the School Committee has recommended that $55,689 be transferred from the school’s $332,000 unexpended fund balance. Much of that is allotted to other things. Superintendent Robert Wall told selectmen that the food service program is not self-supporting and hasn’t been for a long time. Voters approved $82,955 in April for this year, but it still left a shortfall.

The School Committee is expected to act on other proposals at 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 4, at the Middle School to prevent the lunch program from going in debt again.

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