JAY – Selectmen approved use of up to $36,000 from the Fire Rescue Department’s capital fund to buy a new air pack system, board Chairman Steve McCourt said Wednesday.

Fire Chief Scott Shink’s requested Tuesday to use the money to buy a new compressor and air packs that are compatible with other area departments.

Shink will advertise the old system for sale and put the proceeds back into the department’s capital fund, McCourt said.

Selectmen also consented to Sewer Department Superintendent Mark Holt’s request to use up to $15,000 from the department’s capital fund to buy an economical vehicle to do checks on pump stations and other duties that do not require the use of a pickup truck, he said.

Holt plans to use the department’s 1997 GMC truck to do repairs and for jobs that do require a truck and he’ll use the new vehicle for other business, saving money on fuel, McCourt said.

Holt plans to sell a 1995 GMC pickup truck that has 143,000 miles on it and put that money back into the Sewer Department’s capital fund.

Selectmen also decided against buying a truck for the town cemetery sexton, animal control officer and town custodian Larry Wright through a state surplus auction, McCourt said.

The board had approved that request in April because of the deteriorating condition of the truck Wright uses.

“We didn’t think that was a very good move to make to purchase someone else’s vehicle that needs repair,” he said. The vehicles at those auctions are bought as is and most require repairs, he said.

Instead, Wright will take the pickup truck currently used by Highway Department foreman John Johnson.

Town Manager Ruth Marden said in April that half the money toward a vehicle for Wright would come from the building and grounds capital reserve and the rest from the cemetery reserve.

Johnson will put the money received for his truck back into the Highway Department’s capital reserve account and buy another truck, McCourt said.

Wright will sell the truck he uses and put that money back into the reserve accounts, he said.

In other business, the board elected McCourt as chairman and Warren Bryant as vice chairman.

Selectmen also agreed to go back to meeting every two weeks on Mondays at 6:30 p.m. at the new town office.

Previously the board alternated between Mondays and Tuesdays to accommodate board members’ shift work, McCourt said.

The next selectmen’s meeting will begin with the board meeting at the highway garage to go over the status of equipment with Johnson. They’ll return to the town office at 6:30 p.m. for their regular meeting.

The board also set an open house at the new town office across from the Jay Plaza from 2 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, July 15, McCourt said.

Jay selectmen committee assignments:

Road Committee: Tom Goding, Steve Barker

Franklin County Budget Committee: Steve McCourt, who already serves, and Steve Barker, who will seek election when the time comes.

Economic Development: Steve Barker

Morning Development: Amy Gould

Recreation: Steve McCourt

Androscoggin Valley Councils of Government: Warren Bryant

Ordinance Committee: Steve Barker, Tom Goding

Channel 7: Amy Gould

Regional school planning: Warren Bryant, Steve Barker as alternate