NEW GLOUCESTER – Selectmen held lengthy discussions Monday on Woodman Road reconstruction and a new fire station as they prepare the town warrant for voters at the annual town meeting on May 7.

Nine bids were opened to reconstruct a portion of the Woodman Road.

The bids will be reviewed by Brian Taddeo of Oest Associates, the project managers of South Portland. A recommendation to the board is next.

Selectmen hope to complete Phase I reconstruction of the Woodman Road, 2,500 feet from the Durham Road to the Ayer Road, at a cost of $539,000.

The reconstruction of the entire several miles of Woodman Road is estimated to cost $2.1 million.

Selectman A. Wayne Cobb said the entire project can and should be funded this year using undesignated fund balances, capital reserves and Pineland tax increment financing funds. The Pineland TIF fund totals $849,717. The town has $9,116,473 in several accounts: undesignated fund balance at $6,697,263; capital reserves at $2,579,138 for specific projects and purchases; and special accounts of $1,040,565.

A new fire station estimated to cost $2.1 million remains uncertain for sources of funding this year.

The town’s Budget Committee recently recommended no funds for the new Fire/Rescue Station project due to an incomplete cost analysis and because too much would have to be used from the undesignated fund balance. The panel recommended that alternative funding including grants and bonds should be considered.

Cobb said both projects should be funded this year.

“This is the best time to build both projects. We’ve been waiting 30 years to do this project and it needs to be presented to voters,” he said.

In other business, resident Cliff Andrews tasked the board to do a better job communicating municipal decisions with the community. “I firmly believe you can never over-communicate. If the community knows, more people will get involved. There’s a communication gap.”

He also told the board that a facilities master plan committee needs to be formed.

In the last three years, selectmen have approved studies on facilities, water, Woodman Road, Upper Gloucester, for example spending $190,000 of TIF funds. An Economic and Business Development Study at roughly $41,000 was completed last fall with 21 recommendations to start immediately.

A broad citizen group participated with the final recommendations expected to guide the town, but Andrews says nothing has been initiated yet.

Andrews says the gap widens that leaves out the community to participate with the town’s future that is managed by a few, namely the board.

Selectman Dave Lunt said he agrees that it’s time to get citizens involved as the town deals with growth and the need for more complex programs and infrastructure needs with community demand.

Andrews was tasked to develop a scope if a new committee of citizens is formed.