LIVERMORE FALLS – Frustrated by their inability to make decisions with only four members, selectmen voted Monday night to begin the process to hold a special election to fill the vacant seat on the board.

They had hoped to continue with four members until the annual town meeting in June, but have had only three members attend each of the last two sessions.

Since it is actually a five-member board, any action must be done by a majority of three and, when they do not all agree, nothing can be done.

“We really need to do it; we can’t guarantee four people will be here,” Selectman Bill Demaray told Chairman Bernal Lake and Selectman Ken Jacques.

Lake opened the meeting with a brief hearing on two junkyard applications. After the hearing, a permit for George Allen was approved without comment.

Richard Castonguay’s permit was granted with the provision that vehicles in view be put behind a fence by spring. If he does not comply, the board plans to deny his application next year.

Guy Palmieri, chairman of the Planning Board, asked that map and lot numbers be included in advertisements in the future so citizens can determine where the properties are located.

Olan Johnston from Franklin Memorial Hospital and Felicia Harris of Community

Emergency Services, the local ambulance operated by the hospital, discussed the $8,588 town share of the nearly $28,000 increase requested in next year’s subsidy from Jay, Livermore and Livermore Falls.

Johnston noted that Medicare and Medicaid took a 23 percent hit from the state, the major reason the subsidy needed to increase. The board members seemed resigned to the increase but took no action on the hospital’s request for a three-year contract.

Selectmen again discussed dispatching with Police Chief Ernest Steward Jr., who urged them to make a decision on it so he could do needed hiring. “I can’t promise anyone a job until I know,” he said, noting that one dispatcher is already looking for other employment.

In reference to cutting back the police overlap, Steward maintained it should be a seven-day-a-week position. “I would not take that protection away from that officer.”

Steward also said it was hard keeping up with the workload without a person who can do flex time. “The workload is still there, no matter what happens,” he said.

In other business, the tax abatement request from J. Peter and Kellee Riordan was again tabled until a full board is on hand. Riordan wants a rebate for the years he maintains the town taxed him for more land than he owned.

The board had been advised by its professional assessor to deny the request. Riordan promised he would not let the matter drop. “It could get costly for everyone and I’ll keep the taxpayers informed where their money is going,” he said in leaving the meeting.

Town Manager Alan Gove will discuss disposition of the generator at the sewage treatment plant with school officials, Betty Nadeau was appointed to the Board of Appeals, a quit claim deed was signed for John Wood Jr. and John Sweeney, and a resolution by Taxpayers for a Fair Budget was signed.

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