LIVERMORE FALLS – Differing opinions separated selectmen Monday night as they again reviewed the proposed 2003-04 budget.

At issue were the dispatch, police and highway budgets, as well as the ambulance subsidy and the amount paid to the assessor’s agent.

Selectman Clayton Putnam was the major roadblock, presenting his own budget figures in opposition to those provided by the town manager.

He would have 16 hours of dispatch done daily by the Androscoggin Sheriff’s Office, with only the day shift in operation locally.

This would cut the proposal from $125,867 down to $65,100, he estimated, “for a service we already pay for.”

Putnam also suggested cuts in the police department, from $297,558 to $262,427. This would have the chief as supervisor of the remaining dispatch, no sergeant position and only three days of overlap, done by reserves.

Under his plan, another man would be cut from the highway department, leaving the working foreman, two operators and the mechanic. “We can find some efficiencies and still get the work done,” he said, noting that it would be just one man in a truck patching, for example.

Questions were raised about who would be cut, with differing opinions on who was the last man on, the foreman or an operator.

Selectmen explained it would have to be the junior operator as the union contract lists three classes: foreman, general operator and custodian (who is also covered.)

Putnam joined with the majority of the board in accepting Selectman Ken Jacques’ suggestion that selectmen take a 10-percent cut in their stipends as a goodwill gesture, making a savings of $950.

Town manager Alan Gove was asked to consult with the assessor’s agent to negotiate a lower fee, and the board was scheduled to interview Tuesday afternoon three agencies interested in providing ambulance service.

Agreed upon by the board was to eliminate all agency requests except that of the Tri-Town Ministerium, which operates the local food cupboard.

Other changes suggested included that the ladder truck be sold. “It costs us money every year. Is it worth having it with mutual aid?” asked Chairman Bill Demaray.

Gove suggested the town consider borrowing money to start much-needed road repairs and Town Clerk/Treasurer Kristal Flagg suggested the discount for taxes paid early in full be reinstated.

“Personally I’d like to see it come back, perhaps not at 2 percent but at 1 percent so people would come in and pay,” she stated.

Another session will be needed to finalize the selectmen’s proposal, which will appear on the June 11 warrant along with recommendations from the recently named Budget Committee, scheduled to meet Tuesday night.

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