JAY — An alarm will be installed on the boiler at the North Jay Fire Station that will send out an alert if the temperature in the building drops below a certain degree.
Selectpersons requested on Dec. 12 that the annual service on the boiler be moved up a month to January. They would also like to get a general assessment of the boiler to find out if parts are available.
Fire officials had been told that the more than 20-year-old boiler was obsolete and parts are hard to come by, if they can be found at all, Fire Chief Mike Booker said in November. They have been spending $1,500 to $2,000 annually to keep the boiler going, he said previously.
The town had received four quotes from plumbing and heating businesses to replace the oil-fueled boiler with a propane gas-fueled boiler. Selectpersons tabled the issue in a mixed vote. Selectperson Judy Diaz also requested a price of an oil boiler. All quotes fell within the $30,000 range.
Town Manager Shiloh LaFreniere, Selectperson Judy Diaz, Booker and Deputy Fire Chief Corey Leclerc met recently with a heating professional who had not submitted a quote to get an outside opinion.
The professional said the current boiler is working and that parts should be readily accessible, so a replacement is not necessary at this time, LaFreniere told the board.
It was also recommended that a simple alarm system be installed to send an alert if the temperature drops.
The professional recommended that a small electric hot water heater be installed so that hot water is available year-round, LaFreniere said. The heater is connected to the furnace and the boiler is shut off from April to November.
In other news, the Town Office is closed on Friday, Dec. 23, and Monday, Dec. 26, in observance of Christmas; and Monday, Jan. 2, in observance of New Year’s Day.
The Transfer Station will be closed Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, Dec. 25, 26 and 27, and Jan. 1, 2 and 3.
Selectpersons will meet as scheduled Dec. 26.
dperry@sunmediagroup.net
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