In Livermore, the annual town report was dedicated to Jeff and Cheryl Marceau during the selectpersons meeting Monday, June 7. Cheryl reacts after being presented flowers. Jeff is sitting in front and their granddaughter Scarlett Marceau is at right. Pam Harnden/Livermore Falls Advertiser Buy this Photo
LIVERMORE — Jeff and Cheryl Marceau were surprised Monday evening, June 7, when the annual town report was dedicated to them.
Town Clerk Renda Guild tricked them into attending the selectpersons meeting by telling Jeff he would be getting a check. The pair was instrumental in developing Perley Field, two baseball/softball fields with a small parking lot. Later they helped expand it to include a basketball court and multisport field.
“Jeff and Cheryl have both selflessly served this town for more than 20 years,” she said.
In the mid 1990s they along with Annie O’Shea were made aware of funds and property available to be invested in a community recreation facility, Guild read from the dedication. The couple has coached youth sports teams and been active at the Spruce Mountain ski slope, she noted.
“I really don’t know what to say,” Jeff Marceau said.
“I knew the only thing that would bring you, kind of pull you in tonight was money,” Guild said.
“Well you definitely had me,” he quipped.
Word needs to get out that people can’t leave their garbage at Perley Field, Jeff noted during his remarks.
“I’ve been down there, picking up garbage lately, they need to take it with them,” he said.
The Marceau’s involvement began about 25 years ago when the fields on both sides of the street became unavailable, Jeff said.
There was no place to play ball, a girls’ team wasn’t allowed to play for some reason, he added.
“We needed to change that,” he noted. “I had two boys but I wouldn’t want to be told that my girls couldn’t play. It went from there.”
Money had been sitting in an account for decades that was to be used for children’s sports, Jeff said. This woman decided back in the day that kids worked in the fields, didn’t have an opportunity to play sports, be kids, he added.
He explained how the fields were expanded with the support of area businesses and AYS.
“It’s an ongoing thing,” Jeff said. “Like anything, you need money and you need people. It’s somewhat self-sufficient, we’re trying to keep it so it’s not coming out of taxpayers’ money.”
The Dollar General land donation increased Perley Field to about 25 acres, providing areas suitable for walking trails and things that were in his future plans, he said.
“The thing we need now is new blood, young people with kids in the community who want to donate a little bit of time,” Jeff said. “There’s some things that need to be done. We’re always taking money but it’s not just the money, it’s the time. Without people volunteering things kind of fade away.”
The hope is that this never fades away, keeps going from this generation to the next, he added.
“From one parent of the many parents that sit here, thank you for all you’ve done for our children and continue to do,” Guild said.
In other business, selectpersons agreed to meet with Michael Webber to discuss his contract for mowing the town’s cemeteries.
In March 2020, Webber was the low bidder on the three-year contract. He bid $7,000 per year. Robert Martin of Livermore Falls bid $17,500 for each of the three years and Sunshine Pools of North Jay bid $19,000 for 2020, $20,000 for 2021 and $21,000 for 2022.
Then-Administrative Assistant Amy Byron expressed concern over the range. After verifying the amounts the board went with the low bid.
There is $5,000 in the cemetery budget that can be spent before June 30 when the fiscal year ends, Administrative Assistant Aaron Miller said. $7,500 is budgeted for tree service, signs and stone repair, he noted.
“If there’s $5,000 left, spend it all,” Selectperson Brett Deyling said.
A lot of cemetery complaints come to the town office, Deputy Clerk Jean Tardif said.
“They never raked Gibbs Mill (cemetery) last year outside of the wall,” Tardif said. “There are tons of acorns from last fall around my parents, a few other graves. There was no fall cleanup. It fries my butt.”
More than one marker at Lakeside cemetery has been run over, cemetery committee chairman Tim Cox said. He suggested getting four foot markers to steer people away and redesign the loop.
That area was never meant to be used, according to Selectperson Scott Richmond. He said people are supposed to use the Loop Road.
Blocking the area off would create problems as many people can’t walk, Cox said.
Peter Stokes, who was appointed to the committee May 25, said he was concerned about the future of the cemeteries.
“I’m the new guy on the (cemetery) committee,” Stokes said. “I’m looking at new things.”
Among his concerns were cutting down bushes, removing rubbish, mowing around flowers, if there are by-laws and cemetery roads.
People’s grandparents, great-grandparents and veterans are buried there, he said.
“We’re all going to end up there,” he stated. “There’s a lot of history there. I’m looking out for the cemeteries.”
There are 24 cemeteries the town is responsible for, plus one that can’t be located but is listed in historical records, Cox said.
Deyling asked if the contractor knew about all 24 cemeteries and Tardif said that information was given out with the contract.
“If it’s in the contract, it needs to be addressed before the next meeting,” Richmond said.
Webber will be contacted to see if he can meet 5 p.m. June 10.
Selectpersons also renewed junkyard permits for Richard Damon and Rod Newman.
A medical marijuana store license was approved for Seth and Kathy Langlin. The store will be built on an undeveloped lot along Route 4 in the town’s Limited Commercial Zoning district, Miller said.
Brettun’s Wheelers ATV Club was given access to 0.4 miles on Butter Hill. With the access ATVs will be able to get to local stores again.
The board approved the formation of an economic development committee.
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