OXFORD – Selectmen on Thursday approved building a storage room for spent computers, fluorescent bulbs, radios and similar waste and putting the project out to bid.

The town will be required by the state to accept, separate and handle such universal waste from homeowners by the new year.

Interim Town Manager Sharon Jackson urged the board to move forward with the project so the community would not lose a $6,500 grant awarded by the state in June 2003. The town has $7,000 budgeted for the project.

The board recently met at the transfer station and discussed having the 10- by 20-foot room built in the recycling building, which has electricity, instead of having it at the bulky waste building, which houses old refrigerators, stoves, mattresses and other oversized items, Jackson said.

The grant was approved to have the room in the bulky waste building.

Jackson noted the board could amend the application but it would need to be reviewed and may not be approved for funding. If the amended application did not get approval, the community would need to fund the entire project, she noted.

Jackson also reminded the board about the Jan. 1 deadline.

“If the amended grant were not accepted then we could go back to the original plan,” she said. “I’m asking you how you want to proceed on this.”

Selectman Dennis Sanborn noted a change in location would clearly make it impossible to meet the Jan. 1 deadline. Board members agreed and approved the grant as written and to put the project out to bid.

The approved grant proposal calls for adding a 10- by 20-foot locked area to an existing 50- by 60-foot metal building. The addition will also have electricity to run an exhaust fan.

In other business, the board approved the Staples Hall lease with the Firemen’s Association. Fire Chief Fred Knightly told the selectmen the association would like to continue using the building for BEANO and senior dances.

“Will you have enough money for the fuel this year?” selectman Dave Ivey asked.

Both Fred and Ed Knightly said “yes” together.

Board Chairman Floyd Thayer noted there had been problems in the past with the association making fuel payments late.

Jackson noted this would not be a problem this year because the bill will come to the town office and it will be paid out of an account set up at the town office for the fuel funded by the association.