Bio of candidates:

Name: Francisco Timothy “Tim” DeMillo
Street address: 14 Woodman Hill Road
Age: 54
Occupation: Operations manager/estimator at Howie’s Welding and Fabrication, Inc., partner in Otis Ventures LLC.

Name: George J. Doiron
Street address: 35 Church St.
Age: 79
Occupation: Retired

Name: William “Bill” Harlow
Street address: 543 East Jay Road
Age: 63
Occupation: Retired from Verso Paper Corp. after 43 years.

JAY — Three candidates are seeking election to the vacant fourth selectman’s seat during a special town meeting Tuesday, Feb. 16.

The polls will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the town office.

The winner will finish the remaining 16-month term of Steve Barker, who resigned in December.

Vying for the position are businessman Francisco “Tim” DeMillo, former School Committee member George J. Doiron and former Selectman William “Bill” Harlow.

All three candidates share similar concerns about the issues facing the town.

“I don’t think there is just one big issue,” DeMillo said. “Several things are of concern — shrinking population and tax base, job losses, less available funding and less overall revenue. As a town, we need to look at what we provide for services and how to provide for those in the future. Our infrastructure — sewer, water and roads — need to be improved.”

Doiron considers jobs and school financing major issues facing the town.

Harlow believes economic instability, increasing operating costs and loss of taxable properties due to the repeal of personal property taxes are the biggest concerns for the town.

If elected, Harlow said he would work to control cost, budgets and expenditures to help resolve those issues.

Doiron believes having a “good relation with our neighboring towns” would help resolve some of the concerns facing the town.

DeMillo is willing to work with others to move the town forward.

“One person cannot do much alone, so I am interested in working with everyone else involved to find answers or solutions to these issues,” DeMillo said. “Doing things the way we always have needs to change, but we all need to be willing to accept change and work together to do what is best for all.”

Doiron thinks his former school board experience and accounting background will be a benefit to help run the town. He also considers that his knowledge of the whole town and life experience will be an asset.

Harlow believes the time he has served on different municipal and county committees will give him the insight needed to help the town.

Harlow served six years as selectman, a portion of it as board chairman and seven years on the Planning Board, as well as some time on the Franklin County Budget Committee.

DeMillo said he is willing to listen and learn from the people of Jay.

“Being a business person, I believe in trying to be creative in doing more with less, or finding better ways to do a job or provide a service,” DeMillo said. “I tend to think about things and learn as much as I can before making quick decisions that may affect all of us.”

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