MINOT – Selectmen have left the door open to further consideration of Buckfield’s proposal for a shared highway department.

“We need to do the math, figure out the actual costs,” Minot Selectman Dean Campbell said.

Campbell promised the Buckfield delegation, Town Manager Glen Holmes and Selectmen Oscar Gammon, Chris Hayward and Chip Richardson, that the Minot board would continue discussion at Monday night’s regular meeting. Campbell wanted to meet with Road Manager Arlan Saunders and Town Administrator Rhonda Irish to discuss the pros and cons of a proposal that, as a start, would see the towns share Saunders’ services.

Minot Selectman Steve French said that since word had gotten out that the two boards were going to discuss such a move, he was getting some “awful negative comments.”

“Maybe we’re being selfish and don’t want to share,” French said.

“It would be a heck of a deal for Buckfield,” Selectman Dan Callahan added.

Selectman Eda Tripp noted that Saunders’ gift has been that he “knows how to get the most done for the dollar.”

“Technically, you are saving if you get more for the same dollar amount,” said Hayward.

Saunders said he didn’t foresee drastic savings in the merger right away but pointed out that Minot’s road budget is about the same as it was eight years ago.

“The benefit for the town of Minot would be down the road but if it costs the town of Minot, it’s my fault,” Saunders said.

Holmes figured Saunders’ time would be split about 60/40 in favor of Minot, a split that about matches the road mileage in the two towns. The Minot highway department takes care of about 65 miles of road and Buckfield about 44 miles.

Selectmen saw savings to Minot coming from Buckfield paying a portion of Saunders’ salary, the advantages that come with bulk bidding and in the sharing of men and equipment.

Tripp was concerned about costs to Saunders as well as to Minot.

“Some people are afraid it’s going to overtax Arlan and they want to know that it’s not going to hurt Minot. People are afraid of losing something,” she said.

Callahan wanted to know why Saunders would want to take on responsibility for a second town.

Stating that he would probably be working another eight or nine years, Saunders said, “It would force me to be a desk jockey and I probably need to do that. I can’t play in the dirt as much as I used to and this would be quite a challenge for me.”

Selectmen said that if they decide on Monday to further explore Buckfield’s proposal, one of the first things they would do is call a public hearing to gauge town support.