By Donna M. Perry,Staff Writer

LIVERMORE FALLS – Selectmen voted 3-2 Tuesday not to extend Town Manager Alan Gove’s contract.

Gove, who lives in Mercer, is in his fourth year as town manager. His contract runs through June 30, 2006.

Voting not to extend the contract, Gove said, were Selectmen Joyce Drake, Russell Flagg and Bernal Lake. Favoring extension were Selectman Bill Demaray and board Chairman Kenny Jacques.

The vote followed discussions during a closed-door session.

When reached Wednesday, Selectman Drake said, “I had to vote what I thought was in the best interest of the town.”

For his part, Gove reacted by saying that the town has many positive developments ongoing.

“I don’t feel bad about it,” Gove said. “I know from whence it comes.”

Gove said he will continue carrying out his duties for the time being. There are a lot of good things going on, he said.

“We’ve been working on trying to build the tax base,” he said, noting economic-development work with several groups including a downtown business committee.

He’s also overseen ongoing town improvement projects including an Adopt-A-Spot program and a Town Clock Committee that’s trying to raise money to keep the town’s historical timepiece going. There also is a committee trying to get a bike and walk path built near the river.

Gove said he believes there are more businesses in town now than when he became manager.

He also worked with residents to help get the skate park built. He worked to get grants for downtown planning and for a sewer line replacement. The latter was for $118,000.

There is also a gateway grant application in to spruce up the entrance to the town, Gove said.

The town has started the process of studying whether it is feasible cost-wise to move from Androscoggin County to Franklin County.

In addition, town offices have been moved upstairs in the Municipal Building to where the court used to be, which gives the Police Department more room downstairs.

“We’ve done a lot of good things, and we’ve got a lot of good things continuing,” Gove said.

Gove said his annual salary is $45,000 and he doesn’t take the town’s insurance benefit, which is a savings to the town of $13,000.

“So I’m as cheap a manager as you’ll ever get,” Gove said.

Four selectmen did not immediately returned calls.