LIVERMORE FALLS — The Board of Selectmen on Tuesday debated increasing members’ annual pay from $1 per person to $2,100 per person in the proposed town budget.

Last year, they voted to receive $1 each, for a total of $5 for the five board members. Previously, they had each received $2,100, for a total of $10,500.

Chairperson Louise Chabot urged the board to go back to the $2,100 salary, saying the current pay was so low it discouraged people from running for selectman. Some people in the community had asked that residents get the opportunity to decide instead of selectmen setting the amount, she added.

“I personally feel it is a civic duty,” Selectman George Cummings said, adding he didn’t care how much he was paid.

Selectman Tom Barker said he talked to some in the community who approved of selectmen receiving $1 each.

There will be a 1 percent increase for Town Manager Kristal Flagg in next year’s budget. She will receive $60,600. The town treasurer, who works 28 hours per week, will receive $23,296, and the full-time tax collector will get $39,353.60.

There will be a 1 percent wage increase for the code enforcement officer in the budget, to $15,049. The town’s animal control officer will receive $11,200 next year, the same as this year.

One area of the town budget that will see a decrease is the ambulance contract. Next year, it will be $30,045, down about $15,000 from this year.

In other business at the meeting, Summer Recreation Director Sally Boivin gave a presentation, explaining that more than 250 students attended the Spruce Mountain summer recreation program last year, which serves children from Jay, Livermore, Livermore Falls and surrounding towns.

“It’s just good for all of our kids in these towns,” said Boivin, adding that the children participate in all kinds of summer activities and field trips.

The program will once again take place at the former Livermore Falls High School. Students get free breakfast and lunch, Boivin said.

Last year, Boivin, along with 21 counselors and two assistant directors, worked for the program. Fees for next year will be $35 per student in Livermore Falls and Jay, $65 for Livermore, and $110 for students from other towns.

The program takes place five days per week, and is insured through the town of Livermore Falls.

Library trustee Pat Allen also gave a presentation. She noted that the total library budget for next year will be $79,981, with the town paying $67,681.

The rest of the money will come from grants and fundraisers, Allen said.

She said the state has advised the library to replace one computer per year. Allen said that some of the machines still use Windows 7.

“They’re used by so many people,” she said. “It’s an extension of what libraries used to be.”

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