LIVERMORE FALLS — The Livermore Falls Board of Selectmen Tuesday agreed to put three options before voters addressing structural deficiencies at the fire station at a special town meeting scheduled for Feb. 2 at 6:30 p.m. at the Town Office.

The options, presented by the engineering firm of Lincoln/Haney Engineering Associates Inc., provide for engineering and preliminary work in order to determine the cost of repairs or building a new fire station:

• Option 1: Minimal work for the high bay only. Cost: $26,750.

• Option 2: Work on the high bay and front section of the fire station. Cost: $33,150.

• Option 3: Abandon the existing fire station for a shared fire station with Jay on another unknown site and a substation in East Livermore, on a site to be determined. Cost: $21,150.

The board noted that Lincoln/Haney engineers would be present at the Feb. 2 meeting to discuss the details behind each option.

“Unfortunately, it’s going to cost us some money to figure out how much we’re spending,” Selectman Mary Young said.

Selectman Jeff Bryant asked how fast the figures for fixing the current fire station or building a new one would be available once one of the options was approved.

Town Manager Kristal Flagg said it would be within 75 days after voter approval.

Selectman Ron Chadwick mentioned that at the Dec. 30, 2015, meeting, selectmen had talked about just making the present fire station structurally sound rather than renovating it or building a new one.

“That would be cutting a lot of expense out of there and just going with one,” he said.

Flagg said that selectmen needed to make a decision to select all three options in order to give voters a choice on the warrant.

Chairman Louise Chabot said the town had been working with Jay on a grant to regionalize the fire service. Flagg recalled a study that had been done in 2006 that showed manpower would eventually be a problem for the Fire Department. Now the Fire Department is in a crisis, she said.

“We’re not the only community,” she added. “There isn’t a lot of jobs in the area.”

Young said she felt all of the options should be on the table.

Selectman James Collins agreed, saying the town needed a direction on what taxpayers wanted to see.

Selectmen approved a motion to proceed with an application for a Fire Department grant for regionalization for voter approval. They also accepted, with regret, the resignation of Assistant Fire Chief Alan Chretien, effective Jan. 15.

Chretien, who had served for 18 years in the Fire Department, said in his resignation letter, “I wish the best to all the firefighters and hope always for a safe return home.”

bmatulaitis@sunmediagroup.net

“Unfortunately, it’s going to cost us some money to figure out how much we’re spending.” — Livermore Falls Selectman Mary Young

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