NEW GLOUCESTER – Town Manager Sumner Field III was appointed town clerk, tax collector, treasurer, road commissioner and welfare director until June 2009 by selectmen Monday.

On the job five days, Field attended his first selectmen’s meeting with all five members present.

Field is a former New Glou-cester resident and served on the town’s Budget Committee and Capital Improvement Planning Committee years ago. He resides in Gray.

In other business, the board agreed to hold a special town meeting Jan. 26 to ask voters to approve a lease for the New Gloucester Historical Society’s History Barn.

A ground lease has been drawn up for 75 years at $1 a year. An extension is possible upon the mutual agreement.

The Historical Society requested the town provide land at a nominal rental fee so the society could construct a facility for the safe storage and display of its collection of artifacts and papers.

Selectmen agreed it is in the best interest of the town to provide the opportunity to accomplish the goal. The collection is scattered throughout the town in private homes and barns.

The board is expected to sign a warrant for the special meeting Jan. 5.

The society will demolish a stable and dispose of the debris with the help of the town.

Newly elected state Rep. David Van Wie sought the board’s ideas on pending work at the state level.

“This is not going to be a very uplifting session, especially the way the economy is now,” said Van Wie.

He said many budget cuts will impact programs and services. “There will be tough decisions to be reached there,” he said

Board Chairwoman Lenora Conger said the town wants to follow up on work with the Maine Department of Transportation on a gated railroad crossing on Morse Road and heavy traffic on Route 100 by truckers diverting from the Maine Turnpike to avoid paying tolls at the New Gloucester barrier.

Van Wie said he hoped selectmen would favor revising the town’s cable ordinance to allow state legislators to address the cable audience to improve communication.

and keep them informed.