MINOT – Selectmen will urge state officials to keep the Androscoggin County sheriff’s office as the area emergency 911 call center, one of three in the county.

State legislation last year directed the Public Utilities Commission to reduce the number of statewide emergency call centers from 48 to between 16 and 24, if possible, by October 2005. Androscoggin County has three: the sheriff’s office in Auburn, the Lewiston-Auburn 911 Center in Auburn and Lisbon Police Department.

The board directed Town Administrator Gregory Gill to write a letter to the PUC expressing its support for the sheriff’s office to remain as a 911 call center.

Fire Chief Steve French said he sent a letter, speaking for the town’s fire and emergency response squads.

“I sent a letter to the PUC telling them to leave well enough alone,” French said. He said that when Minot residents dial 911, their calls are picked up at the sheriff’s office, which dispatches for police, fire and medical emergencies at a reasonable cost.

French said Androscoggin County should continue to be served by both the sheriff’s office and the Lewiston/Auburn 911 Center because each meets special needs.

French said the PUC is stipulating that only one call center in a city or town receive funding from the Emergency Services Communication Bureau.

If the state decides to fund only the Lewiston/Auburn 911 Center and it has to expand, he said, “who’s to say they wouldn’t move that to Lewiston?” He said it used to be in Lewiston and could cross the river again.

French agreed that the state could probably have fewer than 48 call centers, but a range of factors should be considered in any paring, he said.

In other matters, Road Manager Arlan Saunders reported that Goodwin and Verrill roads and Grange Avenue have been paved, and the paving account was still well within budget.

Saunders also reported that the town crew should be finishing up work on Jackson Hill Road by the end of next week.

The board gave Joshua Gilpatrick permission to undertake his Eagle Scout project on town land.

Gilpatrick intends to fix a bridge that crosses a portion of two vernal pools and add ramps so Minot Consolidated School students won’t have to walk into the vernal pools to gather their samples.

The pools are near the school, and science teacher Sandy Ferland has been using the area as an outdoor classroom for years. Gilpatrick is working with Ferland and has received School Committee permission for the project.