LIVERMORE FALLS – A state legislative committee has scheduled a public hearing Monday on a proposal to let Livermore Falls switch from Androscoggin County to Franklin County.
The Joint Standing Committee on State and Local Government will hear comments on the proposed bill, L.D. 1316, among other bills at 1 p.m. Monday in Room 216 of the Cross Building, formerly known as the State Office Building in Augusta. It is located immediately to the west of the State House.
If approved at the state level, the proposal would go to Livermore Falls’ voters, either at this year’s regular town meeting or at a special town meeting.
If it gets to that point, the town’s voters would be asked, “Do you favor the removal of the town of Livermore Falls from Androscoggin County and its annexation to Franklin County?”
In November, Livermore Falls residents voted 800-423 in a straw vote to pursue studying the pros and cons of changing counties.
That study is done, said Town Manager Alan Gove, who is compiling the results. One issue that still needed more work pertained to the jail, Gove said on Monday.
Earlier, Gove has said the benefits to moving to Franklin County would be the closeness of the jails and courts, and the close ties with neighboring Jay in that county. Livermore Falls’ residents share wastewater treatment and ambulance service with Jay.
If approved by the town’s voters, the measure would need to go to Franklin County’s voters by June 2006. The county’s voters would be asked, “Do you favor the annexation of the town of Livermore Falls by Franklin County?”
If Livermore Falls and Franklin County approve the move, it would take effect July 1, 2006.
Androscoggin County has 12 towns and two cities. Livermore Falls is in its northeastern corner.
Franklin County, which stretches to the Canadian border, has 18 towns, four organized plantations, 22 unorganized townships and three gores. Livermore Falls is closer to Franklin County’s county seat, Farmington, than it is to Auburn, Androscoggin County’s county seat.
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