JAY — Selectmen voted 4-1 Monday to allow the Sewer Department to spend $40,027 from a capital reserve account to buy a 2012, one-ton, truck with a V-plow.

The Chevrolet package includes truck body, lift gate and the V-plow, Department Superintendent Mark Holt said.

Selectman Tom Goding opposed the vote, preferring a Ford, which was more expensive. Hight Chevrolet of Farmington was the low bidder. If the Department receives a $2,000 safety grant, that money will go back into the capital reserve account.

Initially the grant was going to be used to help offset the truck cost but selectmen decided to approve the full amount of the vehicle in case the grant does not come through.

In another matter, Chairman Steve McCourt said the owners of 24 Jewell St. apartment building, which burned in a fire in February 2011, have decided to take it down. The owners, Rose and Michael Grimanis of Farmington, initially were trying to renovate the building after tearing off the third floor. The fire was started by a child on the second floor.

In other business, selectmen voted to spend $650 from the board’s contingency fund to support the Spruce Mountain Area Robotics Team’s trip to Missouri to compete nationally at the end of April. It is a high school co-curricular activity.

Steve Gettle and Jill Gingras, both parents of boys in the program requested $1,000 from the town. They said they would be asking the towns of Livermore and Livermore Falls for the same amount.

When selectmen learned they only had $750 in the contingency account, prior to the vote, Selectman Tom Goding said he would donate $100. Ron Ridley of Jay, who was in the audience, also said he would donate $100. Selectman Amy Pineau said she would donate $50, Town Manager Ruth Cushman said she would, too. McCourt also forked over $50. It totaled the $350 difference to make the $1,000.

The robotics team had done an apple orchard cleanup for Selectman Tim DeMillo and wife, Mary Howes of Jay, to raise money and were paid by the couple for their work.

Cushman suggested in the future that the robotics team request any donation prior to budget time for the next year so it could go on the town meeting warrant. It is too late for this year’s vote for the 2012-13 budget.

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