BUCKFIELD – Tony Lord and nine of his Buckfield Rescue volunteers asked selectmen Tuesday night to consider having the organization become a town department.
Selectmen set a town meeting for 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 3, at Buckfield High School to consider this change.
Buckfield Rescue started in 1971 as Hebron/Buckfield rescue. Lord said they are at a point where they need to start charging customers through their insurance as other neighboring rescue units do. They also propose to hire two full-time staff to be available daytime Monday through Friday because most volunteers have full-time jobs and it is getting more difficult to have people available. The unit has 17 volunteers.
The new personnel would work 40 hours a week at a pay of $18,720 a year. The volunteer personnel would be paid according to each response similar to the Fire Department.
Town Manager Glen Holmes noted Fire Chief Steve Bly said there is an office available in the second floor of the station that could be used.
If the town approves this change, the rescue service would fall under the jurisdiction of the town manager.
SAD 39 Superintendent Rick Colpitts said a new state law means the local assessments will be based on enrollment. Buckfield has more than half of the students in the school system. The other member towns are Sumner and Hartford.
The state has placed a 8.26 percent cap on what each district can raise for education.
The state has also mandated the town have a gifted and talented program, which means hiring new staff, and foreign language will be mandated in the next year.
Colpitts said it is very unlikely he will be presenting a budget with no increase next year.
Selectman Oscar Gammon said the state has changed nothing; it’s just playing with numbers.
Colpitts suggested he should call his representative.
“I’ve already done that,” Gammon replied.
Holmes announced that Jillian Chabe from the Buckfield Recreation Department had received a $45,000 grant from the Land and Water Conservation Fund for a new playground at the ball field.
Holmes announced that the Lowe property at 23 Turner St. will be sold at 9:30 a.m. Feb. 22 at the law offices of Gary M. Prolman, 482 Congress St. in Portland. The town has foreclosed on this property which partially burned three years ago. It is next to the Odd Fellow Theater.
Fred Cooper Jr. presented the results of a poll he conducted on future use of the former town garage.
His proposal for use of the vacant building was not well received by selectmen because the garage is next door to the fire station. Selectmen think any business or recreation would interfere with fire engines and be a hazard to people using the facility. Also, if the fire station expands in the future, this property would be needed.
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