LIVERMORE FALLS — Two will square off for one-three year term on the Board of Selectmen on Tuesday, June 8.

Polls are open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the town office.

Incumbent Selectmen James “Jim” Collins is seeking re-election to the position, while businesswoman Mellette Pepin is running but said she has not decided if she’ll be able to go through with it.

“I haven’t decided at this point if I am going to pursue my interest in the three-year term,” Pepin said last week. “I have pressing family issues that might keep me from being effective in the position. At this time I do not wish to comment.”

Collins is against the Budget Committee’s recommendation to reduce the police force from six full-time officers to four including Chief Ernest Steward Jr.

Collins said he favors the Select Board’s plan, which appears on the ballot, to keep the Police Department intact.

“The proposed budget has Livermore Falls police coverage for 24-7,” Collins said. “If the department is reduced in officers, then we will have to contract with the Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Department to continue current services and pay them $75,000 per officer.”

Collins said he believes the major issue facing the town is school consolidation.

“The (Regional School Unit 36) budget is $9.1 million, and the Jay school budget is also ($9.1) million,” he said. “This is a total cost of $18 million for the region.”

If re-elected, Collins said, “I would work in favor of consolidation to reduce these high costs.

He has served the town of Livermore Falls for more than 20 years on various boards, he said. He believes that experience will benefit the town.

He served 12 years as a SAD 36 director, seven years on the Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments and three years on the Select Board.

“I have significant experience on budgeting in these multi-million dollar organizations,” Collins said. “I know the budgeting process and know how to cut. The Livermore Falls town budget was cut by approximately one-half million dollars this year.”

[email protected]

Name: James “Jim” Collins

Address: 1 Jordan Avenue

Age: 64

Occupation: College admission officer, University of Maine at Farmington