NEW GLOUCESTER – Selectmen on Monday agreed to study two bids to renovate the exterior of the Town Hall.

Hebert Construction of Lewiston submitted the higher bid of $106,625 with a reduction of $5,400 if cedar siding is replaced by finger joints.

Portland’s Ironwood Construction low bid was $89,900 minus $11,000 for finger joint substitution.

Selectmen will study the bids and act at the Sept. 22 meeting.

In other business, a written job description for the town manager was approved unanimously by the board. This is the first time the town has had one.

Selectmen are interviewing candidates for the position from a pool of 52 people.

Town Manager William Cooper resigned this summer, but agreed to stay on the job until a replacement is named.

In addition, a new code enforcement officer will begin duties Sept. 22 to replace William Parquette who is also retiring. Debbie Parks, formerly Gray’s code enforcement officer, accepted the position.

Yet to be named is a full time fire chief. That post, by ordinance, should have been filled by July 1, but selectmen postponed the decision and all current officers were sent letters.

An ordinance approved by voters last winter disbanded the New Gloucester Fire and Rescue Association and effectively put the Fire Department under municipal control.

Also, the fire trustees of volunteers and two selectmen were abolished from their oversight duties with the volunteer force.

The ordinance also spells out how the town manager holds interviews and recommends a candidate for hire that selectmen approve.

Formerly, fire and rescue members elected their officers annually.

Selectmen put off hiring a fire chief until a town manager is hired.

Selectmen said they need to hold a workshop before beginning the Capital Improvement Plan reviews.

“My goal is to have each department have a long-range plan that coincides with other departments in town,” said Chairman Steve Libby.

“We need to pull ourselves together as a board before we bring in other department heads. We need to set out a direction,” Selectman Kevin Sullivan said.