NEWRY — Selectmen will discuss two proposed ordinances and a straw poll at their meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 3, in the Town Office.

They will also continue work on rental insurance for long-term use of the Bear River Grange Hall, as well as discuss the budget, Town Report work, roads and proposed language changes to the fire suppression ordinance.

Administrator Loretta Powers said Friday that Code Enforcement Officer Dave Bonney drafted a parking ordinance and an entrance road ordinance because the town doesn’t have them.

The parking document was created from ordinances in other towns for parking enforcement near hiking trails entrances on Route 26 at Step Falls and areas along Sunday River Road, Powers said. Without an ordinance, Newry can’t enforce parking.

“Dave wrote one up and tweaked it from parking ordinances for other towns,” she said. “We didn’t need to reinvent the wheel.”

The road entrance ordinance is needed for people who want to make a driveway off a road, for which they need a permit, she said.

Selectmen have scheduled a public hearing at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 17, in the Town Office on the ordinances and proposed changes to the Planning Board ordinance, which would reduce the number of board members from seven to five.

Selectman Brooks Morton asked to hold a straw poll via secret ballot at the annual town meeting in March to determine whether residents want to take out a bond or do piecemeal funding for reconstructing a section of Sunday River Road at the Monkey Brook Road intersection to the gravel section.

Regarding renting the grange hall, Powers said selectmen have discussed it at length but have yet to make up their minds on what to do.

In other municipal news, absentee ballots are available to vote for a selectman and two SAD 44 directors. Morton is seeking re-election and is being challenged for the three-year seat by former Selectman Jim Largess.

School Director Bonnie Largess, Jim’s wife, is running for a two-year term.

School Director Whitney Gray is seeking to finish Deb Webster’s remaining year, Powers said.

Municipal elections will be held from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, March 2, in the Town Office. The town meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 3, in the grange hall, preceded at 5 p.m. with the town’s traditional potluck supper.

tkarkos@sunjournal.com