JAY — Selectpersons approved Police Chief Richard Caton IV’s request to use $3,280 from the department’s capital account to purchase a 50-watt repeater.

The old one is more than 10 years old and has been out of production for five years. When the repeater went down, Dirigo Wireless was called and was unable to fix the repeater on site.

The department is currently using a loaned repeater and it’s approaching the end of the road, he said.

Caton presented three options to the board:

• spend $1,670 to fix the current 40-watt repeater; 

• spend $7, 570 for a 100-watt repeater; or 

• spend $3,280 for a 50-watt repeater, the option that Caton recommended.

The cost includes the rental for the loaner, he said.

Selectpersons also approved a Fire Rescue Department policy change proposed by Fire Chief Mike Booker to reimburse firefighters and emergency medical service providers after they have completed their training class. If people want to take a class, they have to pay up front first. Once they complete the class, they will be reimbursed, he said.

“Right now, we’re paying for training up front,” he said. “What we have is we pay for it and people don’t complete it and we are out $500.”

The change is long overdue, Fire Capt. Darren Roundy said.

“I think this will help weed out people who are not going to finish training, while holding them accountable,” he said.

Exceptions to this policy may be made only with the approval of both the fire chief and town manager.

dperry@sunmediagroup.net