BUCKFIELD – Chairwoman Rosita Friel of the Buckfield Village Corporation met Tuesday night with selectmen to present a proposal for town office staff to take over the water district treasurer’s duties.

Town Manager Glen Holmes said the corporation estimated it would take 26 hours every three months at a cost of $20 an hour. If the corporation’s proposal is approved by selectmen at their next meeting in two weeks, and by the corporation after that, it would be for a one-year trial at no cost to the district.

“I feel much safer if it’s all here in the office. This has been the shaky part of the organization,” Friel told the board

Selectmen wanted to know how the corporation was doing in making payments on loans that total about $1 million.

Friel replied that bills were being paid, and there is money for the loan payments, one of which is $27,000 due next month on a federal note. She said she is personally knocking on doors to collect late water payments.

“As long as everyone pays their bills in a timely manner, there will be no problem. A third of the people don’t make regular payments,” she said

Corporation Superintendent Lewis Williams has been serving as clerk/treasurer, along with operating and maintaining the system that serves about 130 customers. His annual salary of $36,000 will be reduced by $3,000 if the proposal is OK’d, Friel said.

The treasurer’s duties for the town would include:

• send quarterly bills;

• provide an accounts receivable service;

• process the mail daily;

• prepare monthly warrants;

• provide a monthly statement of accounts;

• provide to the commissioners a list of delinquent accounts;

• prepare a monthly payroll warrant;

• provide space for storage and archiving records;

• provide limited secretarial services as it pertains to corporation correspondence;

• provide other limited services with town manager approval and notification of selectmen; and

• provide a detailed invoice of manpower cost and include it in the monthly warrant even though the bill will be zero for the first year.

The corporation will be responsible for all expenses incurred from providing the services other than manpower. It will have a separate and published phone line installed at the town office.

Selectmen in no way are assuming any responsibility for the control, operation, oversight or direction of the corporation.

Friel said the commissioners – she and Peter Gagnon – will vote on a third member next week to replace Richard Pope, who resigned last week. She said Holmes has expressed interest in the position.