The towns of Damariscotta and Newcastle, which awarded a joint cemetery maintenance contract Monday, are in talks to create a consolidated public works department.
“We are looking to consolidate services to save money and provide more efficient services,” said Greg Zinser, the Damariscotta town manager.
Ron Grenier, the Newcastle town administrator, told his Board of Selectmen the two towns are also working on a joint cable television contract with Time Warner.
“We are brainstorming the public works department idea, to see if we can save staff time, save on materials, and administrative costs,” said Grenier.
“I don’t see a deal breaker here, but we want to go slow,” said Zinser.
During a joint meeting of the two towns’ select boards, Damariscotta Selectmen chair Dick McLean explained the role of the public works services is evolving into a thing that may need to be done.
“Maybe there is something we can share the costs (on) and use it on both sides of the river,” he said.
For example, Zinser said Damariscotta purchased a wood chipper several years ago. Most of the time it just sits in a shed. Maybe it could be used by both towns, he said.
Possible duties of the public works department could expand beyond maintaining the roads to include taking care of public buildings.
Newcastle Selectman Pat Hudson told both boards that Newcastle has five public buildings and is unable to maintain them.
That is why we got into a mold problem last summer at the Sheepscot Village fire station, she said.
Ways to fund the consolidated department and possible staff requirements are still under consideration, said Grenier.
Zinser said the two towns have discussed a possible consolidated public works department for three years.
“Now we need to try it out for two years to see if it works,” he said.
Both towns awarded the two-year cemetery maintenance contract to F and S Property Maintenance. Newcastle will pay $26,265 and Damariscotta $25,395.
