LIVERMORE FALLS — Townspeople will see a decline in their property taxes next year: Selectmen voted 3-2 Tuesday to lower the rate for 2016-17 to $20.90. Last year’s rate was $21.10.

Town Manager Kristal Flagg said assessor Paul Binette recommended a tax rate of $21 and Chairwoman Louise Chabot recommended the board go with that “because we know we’ll have to go up again next year.”

The majority didn’t agree. Selectmen Ron Chadwick, Tom Barker and George Cummings voted in favor of the $20.90 rate; Chabot and Jeff Bryant were opposed.

At previous meetings, selectmen talked about a rusted sewer department truck that won’t pass inspection. Sewer treatment plant Superintendent Greg Given suggested it could be used only on the sewer plant property for plowing.

“There’s really no need for a three-quarter-ton truck other than plowing,” he said. “We could use the old truck to plow and then purchase a car for a second vehicle.”

Selectmen, Flagg and Given discussed contracting the plowing.

“It still may be cheaper to have an outside contractor do it than to look for another plow truck,” Chadwick said.

“To me, you’re better off to get your own vehicle,” Chabot said.

Barker asked why the sewer department was plowing and if the highway department could use its front-end loader to remove snow around the sewer plant and pump stations.

Flagg said the sewer system and treatment plant costs are covered by system users only.

“When you take taxpayer money and use it at the sewer treatment plant, it’s very messy,” she said.

The board asked Given to look into leasing a plow vehicle.

In other business:

* Resident Jackie Crocker asked if she and her husband could purchase a small piece of town land on Sewall Street next to the home they recently bought. She said they were looking at putting in a lawn and placing a small shed on it.

“We want to clear it up and make it look nice,” Crocker said.

Selectmen tabled the matter to their Sept. 20 meeting while they find out what the lot is worth.

* Troy Reed of Farmington was recently hired as a police officer. He previously worked at the Carrabassett Valley Police Department.

* After a short public hearing, selectmen approved a special amusement permit for the Apple Pumpkin Festival on Sept. 24 and agreed to waive the permit fee.

bmatulaitis@sunmediagroup.net