LIVERMORE FALLS – Selectmen voted unanimously Monday to approve a search committee’s recommendation to appoint Billy Nichols as the new public works department foreman. He will be paid $17.36 an hour.

Nichols of Livermore Falls is currently a crew member of the department.

Five applications were received by the town with the committee interviewing three of them, Town Manager Martin Puckett said.

One person removed their name after the application process.

Each candidate was given a survey with about 20 questions on it related to specific areas including team atmosphere and budgeting, he said.

Nichols’ position will now be posted.

In other business, selectmen also heard an update from Fire Chief Ken Jones that the new pumper/tanker truck has arrived and has been lettered but won’t be put in service until a few adjustments are made by the manufacturer.

Jones also explained that if the town wants to receive more grants from Homeland Security and other sources attached to federal funding, town officials, public works crew, town office employees, firefighters, police and others need to complete National Incident Management System training.

Training will be available later in the month with the time and place to be announced.

Puckett also said that he has met with Maine Department of Transportation and railroad company representatives to discuss the three railroad crossings in town that are in disrepair. Legislators and the DOT have also been talking to railroad representatives to have repairs made. Repairs are planned, Puckett said, but he doesn’t know when.

In another matter, selectmen also requested that Sewer Department Superintendent Kent Mitchell come to the next meeting to report on sewer line upgrades and why Chestnut Street has had to be dug up several times for sewer work. Several roads had sewer upgrades in conjunction with water line replacements.