Aylward returns to Mexico police force

MEXICO -- A familiar face is returning to the Mexico Police Department.

Upon the recommendation of Police Chief Jim Theriault, the Board of Selectmen approved Josh Aylward to fill a vacancy in the department.

Theriault said Aylward is returning after a year away from the department. He has yet to attend the police academy.

In a related matter, the board also approved Theriault's recommendation of Derek MacDonald of Dixfield as a reserve police officer.

He said MacDonald, a criminal justice major attending Husson, are required to go through three phases. One is 40-hour online training, second is a 100-hour course at the academy and last is 80 hours of on-the-job training. The chief said the last phase is the most difficult because they have to find a police department to give them a chance.

Theriault is doing just that. He has another criminal justice major he plans to make a reserve in August.

In another business, Town Manager John Madigan said that each January, the town receives a franchise fee check from Time Warner, which is based on the number of Mexico subscribers to the cable service.

This year's check was $8,917.16, which is down from $10,600 of last year. The reasons for that include fewer customers, as well as writing off bad debts.

Madigan noted that the town has an ordinance that authorizes the town to donate up to half of the franchise fees to the local access channel. The problem this year is that the town budgeted a like amount for expected franchise fees, $5,300.

The balance their budget, selectmen went with Madigan's recommendation to take $5,300 from the franchise fee total, leaving the remaining $3,617.16 for the donation to the local access channel.

Following a public hearing, the board approved annual trailer park license renewals to Leisa Young, dba Young's Trailer Park; Lisette Waugh, dba Waugh's Trailer Park; NU Realty, dba Riverside Mobile Home Park; Pat Jones, dba, Jones Court Trailer Park; and William McDougal, dba Abbott Brook Trailer Park. Tabled until the paperwork is submitted was a license for Brian and Laurie Frost, dba Oak Street Mobile Park.

Present was McDougal, a new owner, who also owns a trailer park in Livermore.

Selectman Reggie Arsenault noted that David Errington, the town's code enforcement officer, has no problems with any of the parks.

Approved was a new taxi cab license for Gilbert Scott, dba EZ Taxi. Scott, who was present, said he has a business at 43 Congress St. in Rumford. When Courtesy Cab stopped operating, Scott said he decided to start his cab business. To start, he is the only driver with his van.

Scott had operated a cab company in Berlin, NH for eight years. With EZ Taxi, there are three local cab companies.

In the monthly budget report, Madigan said the winter roads budget is about half expended, which is about on target as winter is more than half over.

"We're holding our own and on target. We're in good shape," he said.