JAY — Selectpersons voted 4-1 Monday to enter into a five-year agreement with Regional School Unit 73 to allow the district to use the town’s fueling facility at the Public Works garage.

Selectperson Judy Diaz opposed the measure while Selectpersons Keith Cornelio, Tim DeMillo, Tom Goding and Chairman Terry Bergeron approved it.

According to the agreement, which will go before RSU 73 directors Thursday, the district would pay $1,000 per year as a maintenance fee. If the amount is not used in a given year it would remain with the town.

RSU 73 would pay a 7.5-cent surcharge on all fuel used. It was estimated that the annual amount would be roughly $3,500 including a $1,000 annual maintenance fee. 

Town officials reserved the right to terminate the agreement with 12 months’ notice. A special revenue account will be set up for the money, and any unused money would be kept in the account for future repairs.

RSU 73’s existing underground tank in Livermore Falls is in need of repairs estimated to cost more than $50,000. The district does not have money in its budget for the repair.

Jay voters approved transferring up to $100,000 from the town’s undesignated fund in August 2013 to install a new fuel island at the Public Works garage.

“It looks like a win-win situation for all,” Cornelio said.

It’s expected to be minimal paperwork for Town Office staff, Town Manager Shiloh LaFreniere said. New codes will be put in to determine district use. The island has both diesel and gas tanks.

Former Selectperson Chairman Justin Merrill asked where he could sign up to use the tanks.

They are “our tanks,” he said. “We spent the money.”  

Diaz said she had a little bit of trouble with the deal because Jay taxes paid for that facility. The town would get $1,000 a year for maintenance and if something happened, Jay taxpayers would have to pay to fix it.

“We bend over backwards for the school,” Diaz said.

Jay officials tried to get a 10-cent surcharge during negotiations.

Cornelio said that either way, the money will still come out of Jay taxes.

“We’ve got the tank, we might as well use it,” he said.

In another matter, LaFreniere said a firetruck backed into the center column between the overhead doors at Fire Station No. 2, the station closest to Livermore Falls, on July 28.

Jay’s insurance company has given the go-ahead to make the repairs, she said. The cost for the repair of the post is $5,963.

Fire/Rescue Chief Mike Booker was driving the truck when the accident occurred, according to Livermore Falls Police Chief Ernest Steward Jr.

The center post was damaged and the right-rear corner of Engine 3 received minor damage, he said.

The truck was repaired, except for a light cover that has not come in yet, Booker said. The cost to repair the truck was $1,807, LaFreniere said.

Goding & Son Building Contractor of Jay will fix the center post prior to pouring a 12- by 44-inch concrete slab in front of the two southern bays at the station.

The company, owned by Selectperson Tom Goding, was the low bidder on pouring the slab, at $5,080. He recused himself from the board on July 25 while selectpersons discussed bids and voted to award the contract. The job is not related to the truck accident.

NOTE: The story has been modified since it was initially published to reflect the correct estimated amount of money that RSU 73 will pay Jay. The information was incorrectly provided to the Sun Journal.

dperry@sunmediagroup.net

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