PARIS – Town Manager Steve McAllister reported to selectmen Monday night that the town has received three bids on a new police car.

Augusta Ford has a police car up to town specifications for $19,989. Ripley and Fletcher of South Paris has a similar car for $21,468 and a car that does not meet specifications for $19,997. The second car at Ripley and Fletcher lacks an AM/FM radio and a Kevlar-lined trunk organizer. It is also gray. The town’s other police cars are white.

Selectmen voted to table the matter pending further investigation.

Police Chief David Verrier was unable to attend the meeting.

Selectmen approved an application from Gail A. Brusoe. She was appointed a full-time position on the conservation committee and an alternate position on the Budget Committee.

In other business, selectmen authorized the Paris assessor to execute the County of Oxford Assessor’s return. The return was in the amount of $166,976, 1.9 percent higher than the current year’s budget of $163,846.

McAllister reported that he attended the Budget Committee’s organizational meeting Thursday night.

“The budget is about 95 percent complete,” he said. “I will have a final budget for (selectmen) and the committee the week of the 15th.”

The committee will meet for an overview of the budget on March 25.

The town highway director is working on a $16,000 grant for expenses incurred because of the December 2003 storms. Another grant would provide $20,000 for the reconstruction of the culvert system on Oxford Street. McAllister said work will begin on the culverts in a few months.

“They have to wait until everything’s all opened up,” he explained.

After a 15-minute meeting, selectmen went into executive session for police union negotiations, contractor negotiations, and to discuss personnel matters in administration, highway, and parks and recreation.