JAY – Selectpersons on Monday authorize the town manager to sign a grant application for money to hire a consultant to study ways Jay and Livermore Falls could collaborate on fire services.

The state has up to $1.5 million for intergovernmental projects for efficient delivery of local and regional services. Of that amount, $750,000 of the state biennial budget is available in each fiscal year, Jay Town Manager Shiloh LaFreniere previously said. The fiscal years end June 30, 2016, and June 30, 2017.

LaFreniere said Livermore Falls Town Manager Kristal Flagg brought the draft application to selectmen and they approved it Jan. 19.

The grant application is due Thursday, Jan. 28.

The grant seeks $10,000 to contract Neil Courtney, a fire protection specialist consultant, to work with the towns to find ways to collaborate on services and implement them. There are in-kind contributions from the towns from municipal staff, including personnel from both fire departments and finance personnel, and compilation and printing of documents.

A committee made up of town managers, firefighters and selectmen from each town have been exploring ways to save money for several months.

One idea is to have the two towns share the Jay Fire Station which is closest to Livermore Falls. Firetrucks were removed from the Livermore Falls Station on Oct. 1, 2015, due to state insurance requirements that stem from the building’s structural deficiencies. The trucks are stored in places, including the Jay Fire Station and the Livermore Falls Public Works Garage.

It is estimated Jay could save $18,750 by sharing costs for its station utilities. It is anticipated that Livermore Falls could save $31,250 by eliminating its station and sharing a station with Jay. It is also anticipated that Livermore Falls could avoid spending $493,466 for a new station, or $170,815 for repairing its station.

Additional benefits for both towns that are anticipated but not now quantifiable are:

• Both communities have a ladder truck, a pumper truck, a utility/squad truck and multiple fire engines. Not replacing a ladder truck could save $750,000; an engine, $500,000; and a utility truck, $60,000, according to the application.

• The number of air packs which need to be retained or replaced for both towns would be reduced.

dperry@sunmediagroup.net