LIVERMORE FALLS — Town officials are considering all options for police coverage, Board of Selectmen Chairwoman Louise Chabot said Monday.

“Right now, with money as tight as it is, we have to pursue all of our options,” she said. “It ultimately will be the people’s decision.”

The board had directed Town Manager Kristal Flagg to contact the Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Office for information on contracting police service. Sheriff Eric Samson will attend a meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 28, to explain how much it would cost the town for service from the Sheriff’s Office compared to keeping the local police force.

“We need to be sure that the numbers we get are sound and we will get 24/7 coverage,” Chabot said at the board meeting Monday.

The proposed town police budget for fiscal year 2018 is $537,624, up from $415,807 in the 2017 fiscal year. Flagg said much of the increase was because of the Federal Insurance Contributions Act tax imposed on employers to fund Social Security and Medicare, which wasn’t part of this year’s total.

Road Foreman Bill Nichols said he was still waiting on sand and fuel prices to come in so he could include them in the road budget. Last year, the town bought 1,000 yards of sand instead of its usual 2,000 yards because it had so much left over after a mild winter.

However, this winter’s more severe conditions have reduced the supply considerably, and the town may have to buy more, Nichols said. Next year’s budget figures in 2,000 yards of sand.

Selectmen, Budget Committee members and Nichols discussed the condition of the town’s sidewalks, which Nichols said need extensive work. Budget Committee member Melissa Crocker asked if it would be possible to save money by designating pedestrian walking areas with white lines and taking out sidewalks in some places.

“I would really like to do something with Union Street,” Nichols said. “That sidewalk gets used by a lot of people and is in very bad shape.”

Nichols is also in charge of the transfer station, and said repairs are needed to the solid waste compactor. He said he would get local welders to look at fixing the floor, which is getting rusty.

The Board of Selectmen and the Budget Committee agreed to add $12,000 to the $77,541 in the capital reserve account. 

Rural Community Action Ministry Executive Director Mary Beth Paquette was present to request $2,000 from the town. She said RCAM provides housing services, homeless prevention, hunger prevention and transportation to medical appointments.

The average cost of service is $100 per person, Paquette said. RCAM is looking to establish a pilot project in Livermore Falls that will serve up to 20 individuals, she said.

“The more funding we can get, the more people we can help,” she said.

Selectman Tom Barker, who used to work for RCAM, said he strongly supported the town giving money to the agency because it has helped so many needy local people.

Selectmen and the Budget Committee also supported Area Youth Sports’ request for $1,250.

“We have to have something for the kids,” Budget Committee member Ann Souther said.

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