LIVERMORE — At the Livermore Selectpersons meeting Tuesday, March 1, Administrative Assistant Aaron Miller said he had met with representatives of Androscoggin Savings Bank to discuss capital improvements.
He met earlier in the day with John Simko, the bank’s vice president of government finance, and Lena Hann, vice president business and government service officer.
“They caught wind we’re looking at purchasing a new fire truck,” Miller said. “We had a general discussion. We want to explore our options.”
The bank offers a municipal lease option that could be explored, he said.
“We’ve raised $200,000,” Miller said. “Are looking at raising, appropriating another $100,000 at town meeting this year. We don’t know what the price is going to be, let’s see what that option looks like. You want to keep your options open.”
“We did that with the last Volvo [purchased for the highway department],” Selectperson Scott Richmond said. “We looked into it heavily. We all got nervous when they said the word lease. It is actually a loan.”
“There are benefits,” Miller said. “No lawyer is needed.”
As a commissioner on the Maine Municipal Bond Bank, Simko is a tremendous resource, Miller said.
There have been some concerns raised on what the cost of asphalt and diesel are going to be, Miller noted. The board will need to decide if it wants to hold off or speed projects up, he added.
Potential capital improvement projects were also discussed.
Lack of space at the town office/fire station complex, no running water at the transfer station, and an undersized highway garage were three things noted by Miller.
“The chimney is falling over,” highway foreman Roger Ferland said.
A well could be put in at the transfer station, get a bathroom, some other amenities, Selectperson Brett Deyling said, suggesting a pre-fabricated building with bathroom as one option. The water wouldn’t be drinkable, he added.
“USDA has some very competitive matching grants as far as getting some monies,” Miller said. Another possible source is the approximately $238,000 in American Rescue Plan Act [ARPA] funds Livermore will be receiving, he noted. ARPA funds may be used to mitigate COVID-19 tactics such as being able to maintain six feet social distancing at the town office, he added.
Improvements to the transfer station would pass the straight face test, Deyling said. “It makes it more sanitary for the people working there, reduces cross contamination,” he said.
“You’re going to have to make a decision probably this year on what to do with that [ARPA] money,” Miller stressed.
In other business, Deyling noted, “People have been very respectful at Brettun’s [Pond] this year. The launch is very clean.
Last year the board voted to erect winter-use signs in an effort to protect the beach area.
“There’s not as much ice fishing there, not as many shacks,” Richmond said.
“A lot of people have gone to pop-ups,” Deyling added.
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