MONTAGUE — A mosquito control plan proposed by the state Department of Agricultural Resources has raised concerns among town officials, who are now leaning toward opting out of the state plan and instead pursuing an alternative.

The cause for concern in the state’s program is that it includes an option for spraying insecticides, either on a truck-mounted machine or from an airplane or helicopter, if certain viruses are found in local mosquito populations.

Towns may opt out of the state’s program, but they must have their own method of mosquito control in place. For example, the Wendell Selectboard voted earlier this month to pursue an alternative to the state program. Many local towns use the services offered through the Pioneer Valley Mosquito Control District.

Eyeing the May 15 deadline to opt out of this year’s program, the Selectboard voted on Monday for Montague to pursue its own plan. However, the board did not say specifically whether it prefers for the town to develop its own mosquito control program, or to join the Pioneer Valley Mosquito Control District.

The Selectboard’s opinion was informed by the Board of Health and Conservation Commission, both of which had already voted that they support leaving the state’s program.

A public hearing to share the new plan must also be held before the May 15 deadline. A date for the hearing has not been announced yet.

In the brief conversations among Selectboard members so far, the key issues have been the potential financial cost of an alternative to the state’s program, and the expertise that would be necessary beyond the town’s employees.

Regarding the price, Selectboard member Michael Nelson noted that the state’s program is not free; the cost is actually deducted from yearly state aid to the town. In that case, Selectboard Chair Rich Kuklewicz said, the town wouldn’t necessarily be spending significantly more by using an alternative program.

The greater problem may be that mosquito control requires certain expertise that the town’s staff may not have. Public Health Director Daniel Wasiuk noted that, if the town were to develop its own program, it would be necessary to understand the water environments where mosquitoes cluster, such as streams and standing water pools.

“That’s just something outside the scope of the Board of Health or the (Department of Public Works),” Wasiuk said.

Reach Max Marcus at mmarcus@recorder.com or 413-930-4231.