LIVERMORE — Incumbent Selectperson Brenda Merrill is being challenged by resident Tim Cox on Tuesday, June 8, for a two-year seat on the Board of Selectpersons.

Elections will be held from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the town office.

Candidates say there are several major issues facing the town.

Among them, Cox said, are the effects of budget cuts from the state and ongoing costs.

“There are more areas that the town budget can be reduced or made a lot more efficient,” Cox said. “I think that the worst is yet to come with the economy — hope I’m wrong — at least in Maine especially with our current state government, and we all will have to face cuts. I know a lot of people that have lost income in the area and I think that the town can help them in a lot of ways.”

Merrill believes major issues facing the town are the possibility of school consolidation, roads and taxes.

Regional School Unit 36 in Livermore and Livermore Falls will work with Jay to develop a plan to consolidate to go before voters.

“Consolidation makes great sense if it is equitable for all of those who would be affected,” Merrill said.

She believes town officials have done the best they can with the amount of funds available when it comes to regular maintenance of roads, she said.

“Ideally the board strives to ‘rebuild’ a road every year according to our priority list,” Merrill said. “However, reality is that every year we run into unforeseen problems that eat into the rebuild money and the cost of the paving material itself has increased significantly so that the town has been fortunate to rebuild a road in the span of two to three years rather than the one year originally planned.”

Taxes are another issue, she said. Though the rate has remained stable, town officials expect to see less state revenue along with reductions in several state programs.

“The state has rearranged its cupboard and shifted the burden of taxes onto the property owner in more ways than one,” Merrill said.

One measure voters will consider at the annual town meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 10, at the elementary school is a mass-gathering ordinance.

Cox believes there may be a need for an ordinance but it shouldn’t be so restrictive that residents can’t get permits if they meet certain restrictions and, or criteria, he said.

“What few events the town has had have brought considerable income to local business,” Cox said. 

Merrill favors the proposal.

“I do support an ordinance for mass gatherings as it will set guidelines to follow to ensure the safety to property and citizens,” Merrill said. “An ordinance serves to provide clear written standards to follow and should leave nothing to chance.”

Cox believes that not having been involved in town politics before will be a benefit to the board.

“Not having been involved in politics I think that I will bring more openness to and a fresh look at things,” Cox said. “I am not afraid to face controversy and not afraid to speak my mind or admit I’m wrong. I will listen and discuss ideas and I think that the (selectpersons) should be more involved in the day-to-day operations of the town. Fair and Just.”

Merrill believes the knowledge she has gathered through working in the town office in various positions including tax collector and town clerk, serving on the Budget Committee for nearly 13 years and as a selectperson for four terms are an asset to help run the town and use the tax dollars as efficiently as possible.

[email protected]

Brenda Merrill

Address: Cozy Cove Road

Age: 51

Occupation: Special education administrative assistant/accounts payable

Timothy Cox

Address: 35 Autumn Lane

Age: 58

Occupation: Retired- 30-plus years Army National Guard