New Gloucester begins new fiscal year with new appointments

NEW GLOUCESTER — Selectmen began a new round of work Monday in the new fiscal year that began July 1.
The board worked at assigning its five members as liaisons to town volunteer committees and began spending funds that voters approved in May.
The board on Monday received 11 bids for the purchase of sand and gravel that are under review. Public Works Director Ted Shane began to review the submitted list of items that include sub base, base, standard surface and Maine Department of Transportation grade surface and winter sand prices. He will make a recommendation to the board.
The prices are based on the town picking up the materials from various pits located in Gorham, Auburn and New Gloucester.
The board also awarded paving work for local roads to Pine Tree Paving for $263,289, which includes butt joints and tack. The bid is lower than the Greater Portland Council of Governments bid, which totals $276,126. And, voters here in May authorized the board to spend $282,519.
The board agreed to spend the remaining $19,000 to pave the rest of the Penney Road from the railroad to Route 231, a portion of the Quarry Road, Bluff Circle and the Colbrook Road, if possible.
Board Chairman Steve Libby said the town was behind in its paving work. The remaining funds, he said, would be returned to the undesignated fund balance if not spent and not into a reserve account for future projects.
Finally, the board agreed to take down an informational sign located on private land in Upper Gloucester Village that is damaged. The board agreed to investigate placing the sign at another site based on citizen input.