DURHAM – Although Christmas hasn’t arrived, selectmen are already making preparations for the 2005 town meeting and town report.

After more than 40 years there will be a new company printing the annual town report. Park Press of South Paris has been awarded the contract on its low bid of $2,370. The only other bidder was Data Forms of Portland, with a bid of $4,270. The firm that has printed Durham’s reports for more than 40 years, the Village Press of Freeport, did not submit a bid.

Selectmen accepted a citizen petition submitted by Donna Church seeking a referendum on two local-option liquor sales questions, one that will allow the Maine State Liquor Commission to authorize an agency store and the other to allow off-premises sales.

Another petition asking the town to increase the number of free trash tags, from the current 26 to 52 per year, was accepted for inclusion in the 2005 town meeting warrant.

A group of residents that asked selectmen to consider amending the town’s back lot ordinance, to relax road standards for roads serving family-owned back lots, was told it should take its proposal to the Planning Board.

The board also agreed to include in its 2005 budget proposal to the Budget Committee a request from Dave Bushnell of the Tri-Town Penguins Snowmobile Club for a $1,000 donation. The funds would be used towards the upkeep of snowmobile trails in town.

In other business, the board voted to abate $733.20 in tax to Rand and Melissa Griffin, and agreed to send supplemental tax bill to Melissa Griffin and Dale Adams for $8,227 as a result of land being taken out of tree growth.

Also, the contract with Network Systems Inc., for a software license, was renewed.

The selectmen also accepted Southworth-Milton’s quote of $12,250 for a generator, which will be funded through a homeland security grant.

Selectmen also reported that they have not received a response to a request for a replacement for the red blinking light was removed during reconstruction earlier in the year. The Maine Department of Transportation has said it will seek funding for a blinking light at the intersection in its 2006-07 budget.