JAY – The Selectboard approved the purchase of a police cruiser, a reduction of service at local cemeteries and a set of job descriptions for the fire department at Monday evening’s meeting.
The job descriptions, pay rate structure and personnel policy update approved by Selectpersons Monday evening all relate to the Jay Fire Department. Previously, the department utilized a set of bylaws created in 1927 and a pay structure that paid different rates for personnel responding to different incidents, such as car accidents or structure fires. There were two issues with that system, Fire Chief Mike Booker told the board Monday: billing became confusing, as the town needed to track specific sorts of hours, and it didn’t offer incentive to personnel that sought out higher levels of training.
Under the new system, a base fee would be paid to junior, regular and officer firefighters. Personnel that acquired higher levels of training, such as the Firefighter I or II certifications, would receive more per hour of service. The set rates would be paid for all firefighting activity.
The update to the town’s personnel policy simply adds mention of firefighters into the policy, Town Manager Shiloh LaFreniere said. The job descriptions provide more guidance for personnel on what their duties in the department will encompass.
The board also approved the low bid for a 2016 Ford Explorer Interceptor model for the Jay Police Department. Farmington Ford was awarded the bid, offering $8,000 trade-in value for the department’s Ford Expedition. That vehicle has more than 150,000 miles on it, Chief Richard Caton, IV told the board. The $23,000 “road ready” package includes a siren, upgraded headlights and other lights. The board also approved expending $3,300 for a new, 100-watt Motorola radio system, which will replace an aging Kenwood device.
In other business, the Selectboard agreed to amend the Cemetery Policy to end the practice of having the town lay cement bases prior to the installation of headstones. Funeral homes contacted by the town had agreed to undertake that service themselves, LaFreniere said. It is not a service typically provided by municipal governments, town officials noted.
