JAY – Selectmen voted Monday to ask residents at the annual town meeting in April whether to accept a gift of 40 acres in North Jay.
Selectmen also agreed to survey townspeople to see if they would like to buy a firetruck and go forward with a new town office.
Larry Plaisted of Hampden sent a letter to selectmen asking if the town would want a donation of 40 acres off the Old Jay Road, north of Jay Hill.
His parents, Beryle and Norman Plaisted, left the land to him.
Since the land is only accessible from the old railroad bed and the existing snowmobile trail, it appears that the land’s best use might be as it presently is, a natural habitat of wildlife and plants or a wilderness park, due to its being in a private, secluded and quiet area, Larry Plaisted wrote.
It is an ideal location for students to see and learn about Maine natural history and science, he wrote.
Selectman Raymond Pineau said the land is in a swampy area and would make a nice wildlife habitat where school students to study nature.
In other business, Selectman Rick Simoneau gave fellow selectmen an update on an ad hoc committee set up to study a new approach to buying a firetruck.
The committee was set up after voters rejected buying the truck twice before.
Firefighters say a new truck is needed to replace an aging frontline truck.
Simoneau said he could see the reason the truck is needed. Its life is coming to an end, he said.
Selectmen are having the Fire Rescue Department’s equipment and trucks audited, to see what shape they are in.
Simoneau suggested an exit poll be conducted on Election Day to see how voters feel about buying a new firetruck and building a new town office. Voters also previously rejected the latter.
“We do know at some point we’re going to need a truck,” Simoneau said. “And we know we’re going to need a town office.”
Townspeople have voted to save money in reserve accounts for several years for both projects.
After more discussion, Town Manager Ruth Marden said she would look into the best way to survey voters and bring her proposal to the next selectmen’s meeting.
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