JAY — Town managers for Jay and Livermore Falls will apply for a grant to work with a fire protection specialist to identify ways the towns can collaborate on fire services.
The state has up to $1.5 million for intergovernmental projects. Of that, $750,000 is available in each fiscal year of the state biennial budget, Jay Town Manager Shiloh LaFreniere said. The fiscal years end June 30, 2016, and June 30, 2017.
The deadline for applications was extended from Jan. 15 to Jan. 28, she told selectpersons on Monday night. She expects to bring the application to the next board meeting Jan. 25 for approval.
Livermore Falls selectmen are expected to discuss the grant at their Jan. 19 meeting.
Jay Board of Selectpersons Chairman Justin Merrill said officials from both towns met with fire protection specialist Neil Courtney last week. They were Merrill, Vice Chairman Tim DeMillo, Fire Chief Mike Booker, Deputy Chief Corey Leclerc and LaFreniere, all of Jay, and Livermore Falls Selectmen Jeffrey Bryant and Ron Chadwick and Town Manager Kristal Flagg.
They asked Courtney to meet with them to continue discussions on developing ways for the two towns to collaborate on fire services.
One of the options the group has been exploring is sharing long-term use of Jay’s Fire Station No. 2 in the southern end of the town.
Livermore Falls selectmen have also commissioned a study for a minimal fix on the Livermore Falls Fire Station to make it insurable. The insurance company required the firetrucks to be out of the station by Oct. 1, 2015, because of structural deficiencies.
Two of the Livermore Falls firetrucks are housed at the Jay station. Two others are in Livermore Falls, one at the Public Works Department and the ladder truck in a private garage, both on Route 133.
If the two towns share the Jay station, then Livermore Falls may consider putting an annex in the East Livermore section of the town.
Jay selectpersons are hoping Livermore Falls officials will know what they plan to do in the near future about its station. Livermore Falls officials are also dealing with the resignation of Fire Chief Tim “T.D.” Hardy as of Jan. 15.
“We figure it is worth a shot to get some grant money,” Merrill said.
dperry@sunmediagroup.net
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