NEW GLOUCESTER — Eleven sealed bids were opened at Monday’s selectmen meeting on the Morse Road’s Phase I engineering services for survey, design and construction engineering.

Selectmen agreed that a spread sheet be developed by Town Manager Sumner Field III for a thorough review of the bids by an appointed committee of two selectmen, the Public Works director and town manager, who will make a recommendation to the board.

The bids ranged in cost from a low of $42,346 to a high of $69,200.

Morse Road is presently a 7,000 feet paved stretch, 24 feet wide that has seen some improvements over the years.

There are underground utilities in the area, including natural gas lines.

The road serves as a connector from Route 100, 202 and 4 to Pineland Center at Route 231.

Selectmen hope to get the project out to bid for the construction season of the summer of 2010, pending funding by voters.

In other business, the board signed a proclamation that the town’s ninth annual New Gloucester Community Fair on Oct. 17 and 18 be dedicated to the New Gloucester Historical Society.

Selectmen say the New Gloucester Historical society is an integral part of the fabric of the community. The proclamation states that the NGHS has worked tirelessly to raise funds for preservation of the town’s historical artifacts.

Recently, the society dedicated a Living History Barn at the Town Hall Complex funded by private donations. Voters agreed to give a 75-year lease on the land to the group at a cost of $1 per year.

And, the board reviewed requests for capital improvement spending from department heads and committees for the 2010-11 year.

Reviews will begin within the month by a committee to rank the projects for improvement requests and reserve accounts.

Finally, Tamilyn Wayboer was appointed to fill the unexpired term on the Planning Board held by her mother, Ruth Waterhouse, who died last month.

Waterhouse had served for 23 consecutive years on the board.