Jay to hold public hearings, set sewer rate

JAY — Selectpersons will hold public hearings Monday, May 22, on two articles that failed to pass at the annual town meeting April 25, and on the proposed sewer rate.

The hearings will be held at 6 p.m. in the cafeteria at Spruce Mountain Middle School.

The first will be on lower amounts for: town government, which is proposed at $459,265, a decrease of $4,500 from the initial article; and the Sewer Department, which is proposed at $526,300, a decrease of $5,313.

Both articles will be voted on at the polls from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. June 13 at the Community Building.

The board will also hold a hearing before setting the sewer rates for the new fiscal year that begins July 1.

Selectpersons and the Budget Committee this year discussed raising sewer rates to offset the amount raised through general taxation. They settled on an additional $54,000.

The decision shifts more of the cost for the sewer expenses to users, Town Manager Shiloh LaFreniere said last month.

Last year, the sewer fees covered approximately 77 percent of the sewer operating and maintenance of the sewer budget, she said.

“The additional $54,000 raised will push the percentage covered to approximately 88 percent,” LaFreniere said.

The remainder of the operating and maintenance budget and debt service is paid through general taxation.

The current rate is $275 for up to 3,200 cubic feet of water, and 8 cents per cubic foot in excess of that amount.

Selectmen will set a new rate after the hearing.

Also on the agenda are a hearing on Planning Board candidate Michael Fournier and a hearing on a special entertainment permit for the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Other items on the agenda include setting Transfer Station hours and an update on the program grants in the proposed $6.2 million Franklin County budget.

[email protected]