LIVERMORE FALLS — Rural Community Action Ministry will need more money from Livermore Falls to continue serving its residents, Executive Director Mary Beth Paquette told selectmen at their meeting Tuesday night.
Last year, voters appropriated $1,000, after selectmen reduced RCAM’s original request.
“We asked last year and we’re asking this year for $2,700,” Paquette said.
She said that RCAM gets its funding from towns and local United Ways. Livermore Falls is one of 14 communities that RCAM serves, having been added last year as a pilot project.
United Way of the Tri-Valley Area has reduced funding this year, she said.
Paquette said RCAM served 52 individuals in Livermore Falls last year, with an average cost per person of about $140. Services provided included homeless assistance, disconnect notice assistance, rental assistance, and transportation for senior citizens to get to doctors’ appointments.
In other matters, Spruce Mountain Summer Recreation Program Director Sally Boivin said last year, 128 children from Livermore Falls, 113 from Jay and 25 from Livermore participated in summer programs.
“We keep them busy and active for six weeks,” she said.
Children are given free breakfast and lunch. The program runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to noon Fridays from the end of school to mid-August.
Selectmen talked about the foreclosure process for properties. Tax Collector and Registrar of Voters Dawn Young noted there was a problem last year with some people putting bids on every advertised property and only agreeing to take one after selectmen approved their bids for multiple lots.
Now, bidders will have to provide a non-refundable fee to bid on a property. Their total bid must be at least what is owed on back taxes on the lot, and they also have to pay a $2,500 security deposit that will be refunded once they clean up the property to a standard the town manager and code enforcement officer feel is acceptable.
Selectmen agreed to foreclose on and set minimum bid amounts for the following properties:
• 15 Sewall St., $5,000
• 11 Hidden Ave., $7,500
• 11 Cargill St, $3,500
• 249 Leeds Road, $1,000
They decided to waive foreclosures for 201 Pine Ridge Loop and 30 Gilbert St., and tabled a foreclosure request for 112 Leeds Road.
Town mechanic Jay Gile has given his resignation. The town is looking for someone to fill the position and has advertised for it.
Livermore Falls also needs someone to serve as a representative to the Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments. Anyone interested can stop by the Town Office or call 207-897-3321.
Selectmen will meet at 6:30 p.m. Monday, March 12, to discuss the budget.
bmatulaitis@sunmediagroup.net
Livermore Falls Town Office. (File photo)
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