MEXICO — Selectmen learned at a meeting Tuesday night of a business that could help lower the town’s electric bills.
Mexico town secretary Sheryl Briggs presented information from Electricity Maine, a Maine owned and operated electricity supplier serving residents and small businesses.
Briggs said that by going through Electricity Maine as a supplier, the town could save $30 or more on each town electricity bill through the municipality.
Currently, the town has bills for various electricity uses in municipal buildings, street lights and traffic lights.
“Even if we save $30 a month, that’s worth it in my opinion,” Selectman Richard Philbrick said.
Selectman Reggie Arsenault agreed and motioned to switch from Central Maine Power to Electricity Maine and review the savings and rate on Feb. 1.
The motion was seconded and unanimously approved by the board.
During the meeting, Selectman Byron Ouellette brought up concerns about staffing in the Police Department.
Currently, the department is advertising for a full-time police officer to replace Kyle Matthews who resigned. Another officer is on medical leave due to an injury, leaving the department with three full-time officers.
“It seems like we are having a constant battle trying to keep police officers in this town,” Ouellette said. “I think it’s time we revisited the possibility of having the Sheriff’s Department cover our town.”
Some of the selectmen were hesitant about the idea, but Philbrick said he thought it was worth comparing the cost between having a town-run police department or contracting services through the Oxford County Sheriff’s Office.
In other business, Town Manager John Madigan said he spoke with Albert Aniel and discussed the town’s decision to no longer plow his driveway.
“He seems to be on board with the decision and is looking toward paying to have the driveway paved,” Madigan said.
The town had unanimously voted to no longer plow or maintain the driveway after Madigan had researched town maps and deeds and learned the Backkingdom Road ended 200 feet short of what was originally believed to be the road.
“I think the decision was well made,” Ouellette said. “A lot of research and time went into making sure we did things right.”
Send questions/comments to the editors.
