LIVERMORE — The town plans to explore options for a new snowblower that is used to clear snow from the sidewalk on the bridge over the Androscoggin River for Livermore and Livermore Falls.

The two towns split the cost of paying Jamie Roy of Livermore to run the snowblower, Livermore Administrative Assistant Kurt Schaub said Wednesday.

Roy is paid $90 each time, with Livermore’s portion set at $40 and Livermore Falls’ at $50.

Livermore’s current snowblower is not as heavy duty as it needs to be for the job, Schaub said.

The town budgeted for a new machine in this fiscal year.

The current machine could be used to clear snow around areas at the transfer station, he said, if selectmen choose to buy a new snowblower.

Roy was asked to bring back some cost estimates for new machines.

Another concern raised at the select board’s meeting on Monday was the number of hours town Highway Department employees are spending driving during lengthy snowstorms such as the one over New Year’s Day weekend, Schaub said.

Selectperson Wayne Timberlake brought up the safety issue. The board discussed a 16-hour stretch being the maximum for drivers’ to be behind the wheel before they must take a rest, Schaub said.

There are three full-time drivers, one part-time driver and two relief drivers, he said.

Matt Dion is the most recent relief driver to be brought on board, he said.

Board members encouraged highway foreman Don St. Laurent to bring one more relief driver on board to make sure drivers are getting enough rest, Schaub said.

“It’s trying to find the right balance because people today demand passable roads 24/7 and that’s the standard we try to achieve,” he said. “We’re trying to find the right balance between snow clearing efforts, keeping roads passable during snowstorms and safety, which obviously has got to play a bigger role.”

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