LIVERMORE — The cost of health insurance will increase by 4 percent in 2012, which is less than half of what was estimated in the town budget.

Last year the increase was 9.5 percent, town administrative assistant Kurt Shaub said Wednesday.

He budgeted for a 10 percent hike for the coming year, but Maine Municipal Association Employee Benefit Trust held the increase to 4 percent, he said.

Schaub said he also told selectmen on Nov. 21 that he and Town Clerk Renda Libby checked in on the progress of the University of Maine at Augusta students who are working on the design project to incorporate a new town office space with a revitalized community building.

University students visited the existing town office this fall and spoke to clerks and Schaub to see what worked in the town office and what didn’t. They also went to the Brettuns Community Building building on Church Street and took measurements and toured the grounds.

“Though they have several weeks to go before their assignments are complete, we can report there are some very creative ideas that will be coming our way,” Schaub said he told the board.

“For example, most opted to make the most of the outdoor space as well, designating space that could be used for community picnics and/or a farmers market.”

The board also accepted the Road Committee’s recommendation to pay Rampart Bituminous 50 percent of the amount due on the paving work completed to date, with the balance due on completion of supplemental work in the spring, Schaub said.

The town had held pack payment due to authorities not being satisfied with the work the company did earlier this year.

Rampart’s President Tom Gibson stressed to the Road Committee at a prior meeting that his company’s reputation is very valuable to him, that he sincerely regrets the paving work not measuring up to contracted specifications, and he has every intention of making Livermore a satisfied customer, Schaub said.

Selectmen approved paying $28,000 of the $56,000 to the company for work done. The rest will be paid after corrective work is done to the town’s satisfaction, he said.

Work needs to be done on Tessier Road, Schoolhouse Hill Road and Old Leavitt Road.

dperry@sunjournal.com