LIVERMORE FALLS — Selectmen voted 4-1 Tuesday to give nonessential town employees the day after Christmas off with pay.

The move gives the employees an extended holiday break and closes the Town Office for 2½ days the week of Christmas.

Selectman Ron Chadwick opposed the vote.

Prior to the vote, Town Manager Kristal Flagg said the town Personnel Policy requires employees to only work a half-day on Dec. 24 and have Dec. 25 off.

Some towns are giving employees Dec. 26 off, while others are requiring employees to use a personal or vacation day to have the day off, she said.

The board motioned to give nonessential employees the day off after Christmas.

When asked if employees would be paid, Selectman Jim Collins said it would be a paid holiday.

“Merry Christmas,” he said.

When someone asked how much extra it would cost the town, Flagg said it wouldn’t cost the town more because the employees would be paid but wouldn’t work, and there would be no replacements for them.

Maine State Housing Authority is giving its employees the day after Christmas off, Selectman Mary Young said. She works for the agency.

Flagg said some towns, including Jay, hold an Employee Appreciation Day paid for through a reimbursement the town receives. Livermore Falls does not do that, she said.

“It’s a show of appreciation at a time it’s hard to do anything above and beyond,” Young said.

Police officers will have to work because they are considered essential employees, Flagg said after the meeting. If it snows and plowing or sanding is needed, the public works crew will have to work. If it doesn’t snow, the public works crew will also get a paid day off that day, she said.

In another matter, Flagg said she sent information to several companies requesting prices for a propane-fueled boiler and an oil-fueled boiler for the Fire Station.

The current boiler is more than 30 years old and is leaking.

She sent the request to A. Maurais & Son Inc. of Jay, Riverview Plumbing and Heating of Livermore Falls, Group Adams Propane Services of Livermore Falls, Winthrop Fuel of Winthrop, Fabian Oil of Jay, Ranor Mechanical of Jay, Anytime Heating Services of Jay and ABT Plumbing, Heating & Cooling of Wilton.

The proposals are due by Dec. 15.

Flagg also said fire Chief Tim “TD” Hardy is expected to meet with a structural engineer this week about a back wall in the station that is cracking and has a slight bow in it. The floor in that area also is cracking and the roof is leaking.

dperry@sunjournal.com

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