LIVERMORE FALLS — Selectmen on Tuesday reviewed proposed library, summer recreation and Fire Rescue Department budgets for 2021-22.

Pat Allen, president of the Livermore Falls Library Association, presented a proposed overall budget of $96.229.49. Of that amount, $92,929.49 comes from town subsidies, including $70,647.49 for wages and associated taxes, and 16,000 for books. The proposed spending plan also reflects a raise for employees, she said.

The proposed budget that is paid for by the town is up $4,564. The rest of the budget will come from fundraisers, donations, fines, membership dues, interest on Memorial Trust accounts.

Library association Treasurer Clayton Putnam said the library served about 150 people per month during COVID-19, compared to the more than 600 people a month served in before the pandemic. The library was closed mostly for the past year but offered programs online, curbside service for library book pickup and offered other services, Allen said.

The proposed spending package is based on there being no pandemic.

Sally Boivin, director of the Summer Recreation Program, asked for the same amount as last year at $12,500. Jay also pitches in $13,000 for the multiweek program. Fees are also charged to participants.

Advertisement

“We didn’t have it last year,” she said. She is hoping the state loosens up the 6-foot and 3-foot social distancing rules so they can have the program this year. The kids need it, she said. Boivin believed they had 25 employees two years ago.

The money raised last year has not been spent.

Edward Hastings IV, fire rescue chief, proposed a $136,576 budget with an overall increase of $3,855. It includes a second per diem position for a second day for a firefighter. Currently a firefighter works from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesdays. The firefighter on duty helps inspect and maintain the trucks and keeps the fire station clean and is available to respond immediately if a call comes in. A second person would also be doing similar tasks on another day.

His overall goal is to eventually have a per diem position five days a week, Hastings said. Most of the on-call firefighters have full-time jobs, he said. By adding a person, the department could cut down on maintenance costs, he said.

Hastings said he is also trying to create a reserve account for maintenance.

The department has a policy that outlines the tasks for which a per diem firefighter is responsible. He would add more tasks if a second per diem position is approved.

Like other fire departments, Livermore Falls is having staffing shortages, he said.


Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.

Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.

filed under: