Funding for Jay, Livermore Falls fire services study eliminated

JAY — A grant application that sought $10,000 to hire a consultant to find ways Jay and Livermore Falls could collaborate on fire services and implement them will not be reviewed or funded.

The state eliminated funding for The Fund for Efficient Delivery of Local and Regional Government Services, according to an email Jay Town Manager Shiloh LaFreniere received from Kimberly Smith, associate commissioner of the Department of Administrative and Financial Services.

LaFreniere, with input from Livermore Falls Town Manager Kristal Flagg, wrote the grant to find ways to improve services and reduce costs. If the grant was approved, the plan was to hire Neil Courtney, a fire protection specialist, to identify services on which to collaborate and to help implement those findings.

The state eliminated the program in an effort to help fund Maine’s conformity with federal tax law.

The grant program was one of several cost-saving initiatives reviewed by the Maine Department of Administrative and Financial Services and the state Legislature.

The funding slated for the program was eliminated with the passage of Public Law, Chapter 388, “An Act to Provide for Tax Conformity and Funding Methods” on March 10, according to Smith.

LaFreniere told Jay selectpersons Monday night that she and Jay Fire Rescue Chief Mike Booker will meet with Flagg and new Livermore Falls Chief Edward Hastings IV to discuss ways to collaborate on fire services.

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