NEW GLOUCESTER – The resignation of Selectman David Lunt was accepted by the board Monday night, then he was appointed its representative to the Cumberland County Community Development Block Grant Municipal Oversight Committee.

Lunt said in his letter, which was accepted with regret, that he thought he could serve the town better in another position.

He was also appointed to the Community Fair and the Public Safety committees. He requested to remain on the Fire Station Committee, but the board said the post will be filled by Selectman Steve Libby.

Also Monday, Selectman Lenora Conger was elected chairwoman of the board and Linda Chase as vice chairwoman. Conger has been chairwoman before.

In other business, representatives for the Maine Turnpike Authority and its engineering firm, HNTB of Westbrook, requested approval for a land exchange to accommodate with the Mayall Road bridge reconstruction slated to begin in several weeks.

The single-lane bridge over the Maine Turnpike will become two lanes.

Paul Danforth, right of way manager for HNTB, said a quitclaim deed from New Gloucester is needed.

The board will determine if they can issue a quitclaim deed rather than bring the issue to voters at the May 5 annual town meeting.

Selectmen agreed unanimously they would write a letter of support for the Royal River Conservation Trust’s effort to protect and conserve a large forested area from the Doherty Road to the Town Farm Road that adds to connector route for a future trail system from New Gloucester to Bradbury Park.

Jane Arbuckle of the Royal River Conservation Trust said an application to protect part of the corridor’s open space will be sent to the Land for Maine’s Future board for funding approval. In addition, six acres owned by the town could also link to the future trail system, she said.

“There is not a lot of conservation land in New Gloucester beyond the Shaker Village lands,” Arbuckle said. She noted that traditional recreational use would remain open to the public, including snowmobile trails, horse trails, walking and bike trails.

She said if the project is approved, the Royal River Conservation Trust would be the caretaker of the land.

Also Monday the board approved put an article in the town meeting warrant calling for the old schoolhouse lot on Route 231 to be deeded to the New Gloucester Historical Society. The land would be used for a building to store items. The board agreed that if the lot is not used in five years, it would revert back to the town.