NEW GLOUCESTER – Selectmen on Monday agreed to award a contract to A. H. Grover of Cumberland to complete the first phase of rebuilding a portion of Woodman Road.

Voters must approve the agreement at the annual town meeting next month.

A. H. Grover was the low bidder from a field of nine contractors. It won the nod from engineer Stephen D. Harding of OEST Associates Inc. of South Portland, who reviewed the proposals.

The first phase begins at the Durham Road and ends at the Ayer Road, and includes rebuilding and widening a bridge crossing. The cost is $161,490. The second phase is to rebuild the entire road bed to full depth for $240,057. An initial coat of pavement adds $52,000, which New Gloucester’s Highway Director Ted Shane recommends.

Capital reserves for the road now total $293,245, which voters will be asked to spend.

A draft warrant article also includes a $325,000 request for the Woodman Road. In addition, capital reserves for the project will also be added for the next phase of the 2.6 mile road, which will be rebuild in three steps.

In other business, the board defeated adopting a proclamation implementing the National Incident Management System. The vote was 2-2.

Town emergency manager Tim Joy told the board the system provides a consistent, flexible and adjustable national guideline so government and private entities can work together to manage an incident.

The program originated in February 2003 when President George Bush issued a directive to develop and administer a NIMS. The program includes planning, training, exercises and personnel and equipment qualification and certification standards, and an updated emergency plan. Grants may be awarded if the municipality adopts the program, Joy said.

New Gloucester will hold a training session in mid-May. After the training session, the issue will be reconsidered for adoption by selectmen.