LIVERMORE FALLS — The Select Board on Wednesday accepted the resignation of Selectman Ernie Souther, effective April 24, and set a June 11 special election to fill the remaining two years of his term.
Souther has been on the board about nine years, the last four consecutively.
Chairman Jim Long thanked Souther for his time and effort on behalf of the town. He has been involved in several community activities over the years, including Area Youth Sports.
Vice Chairman Will Kenniston thanked Souther for being someone he could learn from since it was Kenniston’s first term.
In other business, Town Manager Carrie Castonguay plans to submit an Assistance to Firefighters Grant application for $858,376 to buy a firetruck. It would replace the 1993 Engine One. The grant is through Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Police Chief Ibrahim “Abe” Haroon told the board there were 366 calls for police service in February, the equivalent of 11.5 calls per day. There were 19 arrests, including two fugitives from justice known to be involved in drugs.
Haroon also commended officer Trevor Gagnon for saving a life by administering Narcan to revive a person who overdosed on drugs.
Public Works Supervisor Bill Nichols told the board that representatives of paving plants are considering opening early this year, depending on the weather. The plan is to start paving on Knapp Street and do curbing, if the weather allows, he said.
In other matters, selectmen voted to use up to $5,000 from the Wastewater Treatment Plant joint reserve account to install a waterline for the plant upgrade. Brackett Mechanical of Jay plans to do the work. The waterline was an oversight, Superintendent Mark Holt said.
The Jay Select Board will be asked to approve using the joint reserve money. Livermore Falls owns the plant and Jay and Livermore Falls share the operating and maintenance cost based on each town’s treated sewage.
Selectmen also decided in a 3-2 vote to set the interest rate at 7% for overdue taxes for 2024-25, which begins July 1.
The board could have set the rate at 8.5% as allowed by the state. Chairman Long said the 7% would give those who have the money for taxes an incentive to pay. Souther and Selectman Jim Cyr said if people are short on money and cannot pay their taxes right away, it puts more of a hardship on them. They were willing to go to about 5%.
Long, Kenniston and Selectman Bruce Peary voted for the 7% and Cyr and Souther opposed it. Kenniston said because the money is already factored into the proposed revenues for next year, he would leave it alone.
They also set the interest rate for overdue sewer bills at 8%.
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