JAY – Selectmen want to see capital reserve accounts capped at the amount needed and to continue to use operational equipment, waiting to replace it. They also want to know what’s in a department’s reserve account and what the short- and long-term plans are.

The board also wants separate articles on the April annual town meeting warrant for the police department and dispatch service to let voters decide if they want the emergency dispatch services to be provided by Franklin County Sheriff’s Department.

In an opinion poll on town and school services, respondents said they would like the service to be provided by the county in a 147 “yes” to 104 “no” result.

It is estimated that move would save Jay $154,710.

Police Chief Larry White Sr., responding to selectmen’s questions, said the sheriff’s office has said the change might be a hardship, requiring another dispatcher each shift.

But as one county commissioner told him, White said, it is not Jay’s responsibility to worry about the funding.

Sheriff Dennis Pike said that another dispatcher would be needed regardless of whether Jay came on board because of all cellular phone 911 calls in the county are going to the Sheriff’s Department rather than state dispatch centers.

All the calls were dispatched after 4 p.m. by the Sheriff’s Department for Jay prior to 1987, when Jay decided to establish a communications base, White said.

All the 911 calls made now first go to the county dispatch center before being transferred to Jay dispatch, he said.

A group is studying a regional dispatch center, he said.

“I think whether we like it or not, we’re going to have regionalize our dispatch somewhere down the line,” White said.

Some things still need to be worked out, he said.

Selectmen also discussed increasing sewer use fees. Currently, the sewer fee is $195 a year per unit with townwide taxation picking up the remainder of the costs.

The survey saw 79 people wanting user fees to stay the same and the balance raised from taxation. Forty-five people wanted the user fee increased and the balance come from taxation and 110 want the user fee increased to pay the total budget.

A couple of the board members said they would like to increase the fee but not all at once.

Sewer Department Superintendent Mark Holt said they could have sewer customers pay for the operation and maintenance, which would be about $340 a year and have the debt service be paid by taxation.

About half of the town is on public sewer and about half has private septic systems.

Holt also said that the town could switch over to a system that would be based on water use, which would have a start-up investment.

Sewer rates will not be set until the first meeting in January.

Holt was told to develop a budget and the revenues would be factored in later.

Selectman’s Chairman Bill Harlow said there was no easy answer to this.

“I’m not against raising it, but raising it over time,” Harlow said.

The board also agreed to set up separate warrant articles for outside donation requests. Survey responders were split on donations and what they would like to see funded.