MINOT — Selectmen expressed concern Monday night that the state’s move to implement a statewide building code for all new housing construction may cost the town more than just money, it could cost it its code enforcement officer.

Town Administrator Arlan Saunders told the board that Ken Pratt, the town’s code enforcement officer, is taking tests required to become a “third party inspector,” a key feature of the new statewide building code.

Selectman Danny Gilpatric characterized the addition of a third-party inspector as achieving nothing more than creating jobs for building inspectors.

“The word for it is dumb, just dumb,” Gilpatric said.

Selectman Dean Campbell said that the way the statewide building code is being implemented is bound to cost towns more money. Not only is the town going to have to hire a code enforcement officer, but it’s going to need a third-party inspector to make sure the code enforcement officer is doing his job right.

“The thing I can’t figure out is where in Maine are you seeing all the houses that are falling apart? It isn’t like we’re living in Haiti,” Campbell said.

Saunders noted that once Pratt, who figured the new state program would allow him to be a code enforcement officer in some communities and a third-party inspector in others, got into the training, he discovered a wrinkle.

“The fly in the ointment is that they just announced that the building inspector cannot be the third-party inspector. Now they realize there is a problem,” Saunders said.

In another matter, Saunders told selectmen that he had received word from Maine Emergency Management Agency officials saying they were recommending funding to replace the culvert on Shaw Hill Road.

According to Saunders, the town stands to receive a hazard mitigation grant for about $53,000 to replace the 4-foot diameter culvert that channels Indian Brook under Shaw Hill Road with a concrete box culvert that would be something on the order of 6 by 8 feet.

“It would mean a 16-inch lift to the road over about 300 feet of Shaw Hill Road,” Saunders said.

Saunders noted that the project has not received final approval, but the paperwork is now off to the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Indian Brook floods frequently and has been a thorn for years, Saunders noted. It could well do it again next spring as, at best, midsummer is the earliest the project could be undertaken, he said.

Selectman Eda Tripp reported that townspeople responded with an outpouring of donations allowing her to prepare 17 complete baskets for families in need this year.

“I want to thank folks for the turnout. This was really a needy year, and the families were real appreciative,” Tripp said.

Selectmen announced that beginning Wednesday, Dec. 1, applications will be available at the town office for residents interested in applying for the Roland and Noella Hemond Scholarship and the Kurt Theriault Memorial Scholarship. They noted that because of the low interest rates earned this year, the Harris and Simeon scholarships will not be available.