BETHEL – Two Oxford County commissioners have agreed to meet with Bethel selectmen next month to discuss fire and ambulance coverage in Albany and Mason townships.
This winter, Town Manager Scott Cole has clashed with Oxford County Administrative Assistant Carole Mahoney and commissioners over billing for fire and ambulance protection in the county’s unorganized territory.
Bethel, which provides the services for Mason and the northern half of Albany, is considering ending that coverage.
Earlier this month, Cole claimed that the county refused to fully fund what he said is its proportion of the 2006-07 fire and ambulance coverage for the two townships.
Mahoney said commissioners didn’t object to the ambulance portion, which totals $3,792, but refused to pay $28,320 for the fire portion. It was too big of a jump, she said.
Cole said the increase from $16,179 in 2005 to $28,320 represents debt service on a fire truck and Bethel’s new fire station.
Commissioners agreed to pay only what they budgeted, $17,803.
On Jan. 17, Cole sent commissioners 13 suggested principles of billing, noting that the allocation of coverage costs by state valuations is the ideal method, because it is used for tax assessment within municipalities.
He said he wanted to know if commissioners could agree with the listed items, and, if so, incorporate them into a written contract.
“Their initial response was favorable,” Cole said Wednesday.
That list is what the commissioners are to discuss at the Bethel board’s 7 p.m. meeting Monday, Feb. 6, in the town office.
In other business, selectmen entered into executive session on Monday night to discuss an offer to buy town-owned property.
All Cole would say about it, was that officials had received an unsolicited offer to buy or exchange land or easements. No action was taken.
“The town owns a piece of land abutting someone else’s, but any final proposal would have to go to the June town meeting,” he said.
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