JAY – Selectmen voted unanimously Monday to enter into a new contract with a Jay forester to be the town’s agent to oversee the harvesting of town-owned lots.

Selectmen had rescinded a contract with Steve Gettle at their last meeting due to the way it was worded and a new one was developed to go before selectmen Monday.

Under the contract, Gettle will supervise the harvesting of 184 acres in a gravel pit on East Jay Road, the so called tower lot, about 200 acres behind the schools, and the remainder of the transfer station lot. The latter lot was partially harvested earlier this year under the guidance of another forester.

Gettle will be paid $60 an hour for his work in marking and flagging the lot among other tasks, plus he will receive 10 percent of stumpage fees to oversee the gravel pit lot.

Gettle had requested 13 to 15 percent of stumpage fees but agreed to lower his rate after discussion with selectmen.

He estimated that there would be 2,600 to 2,900 cords of wood harvested and the town would make about $103,000 to $105,000 in gross income for that lot.

Gettle said he expects to be at the site at least one day a week.

The lot is going out to bid for stumpage prices. Twenty-five letters have already been sent out to Jay taxpaying loggers informing them of the project.

Gettle said he expects there will be quite a few bid packages to mull over.

Selectmen also agreed to have the transfer station coordinator Bob Sanders waive a $5 fee to weigh the winning bidder’s trucks if that person wants to sell firewood from the lot by the ton, instead of sending it to a mill.

“Thank you for reducing your rate and thank you for the work you have done with the Recreation Committee,” Selectman Steve Barker said.

Gettle formerly served on the committee that is making plans for the tower lot including making trails, improving an adventure course, and establishing an amphitheater, among other educational opportunities.

In other business, selectmen authorized highway foreman John Johnson to make the deal to buy a new heavy duty dump truck and to sell or trade-in two older trucks as part of the deal.

Johnson said the plan is to either trade-in or sell outright two trucks, a 1999 and 1998. Estimated trade-in values so far are about $36,000 combined. He also has a price of $60,239 for a Sterling cab and chassis.

“Our trucks are getting old,” Johnson said Last year, they spent about $65,000 on repairs but only had budgeted $35,000, he added.

“Buying the new truck gets rid of two older vehicles and puts a new one in,” Johnson said.