JAY – Selectmen voted Monday to wait and see how Livermore and Livermore Falls respond to a request from the Spruce Mountain Ski Club for money to build a fuel reserve before they vote on the club’s request for $5,000.

Judy Diaz, secretary of the club, told selectmen that the club is looking at a huge increase in fuel costs to run the equipment and ski operations this year. They’ve locked in a price of $3.89 for part of their fuel, and the remainder will slide due to market conditions, according to a letter Diaz sent Town Manager Ruth Marden.

The club owns the equipment and operates the Jay ski area, and the three towns own the land and buildings and share some expenses on a per capita formula.

What Diaz would like to see, she said, is a fuel reserve fund set up.

The club’s major expenses are for fuel and repairs to groomers and equipment. Members are starting to raise funds for a fuel reserve account, she said.

Jay has a recreation fund that is supported by lease money from a communications tower located on town recreation land.

Use of the fund is at selectmen’s discretion, and a requirement is that it be spent on recreation, Marden said.

“There won’t be any recreation if there isn’t any fuel,” Selectman Tom Goding said.

The club uses about 5,000 gallons of fuel annually and spends about $20,000 on it, and is assisted by a local mill with electricity costs, Diaz said.

Marden said in the past when the club has come for an additional donation, selectmen have asked members to approach Livermore and Livermore Falls to see if those towns were willing to donate.

Selectman Amy Gould said there is $20,000 in the recreation fund so taking $5,000 would reduce it by 25 percent.

Gould moved to wait to see how the other two towns handle the request before taking action.