RUMFORD – Selectmen decided Thursday night to form a five-member ad hoc committee to study the town’s next cable franchise agreement.

Town Manager Jim Doar said the 10-year contract expires Sept. 1, 2009, but work on the next one should begin soon.

“This will be a complicated issue,” he said, referring to the bankruptcy of former cable provider Adelphia and the subsequent take over by Time Warner. “This will likely also require an outside counsel.”

Kevin Saisi, who said he was instrumental in the start-up of the local access channel, offered his expertise in the matter.

Selectmen will advertise for five members, then make appointments at a later meeting.

Before the town begins negotiations with the cable company, Doar said at least one public hearing will be held.

In other matters Thursday, selectmen granted a provisional liquor license and special entertainment permit to John DiConzo, owner of DiConzo’s Ristorante on Congress Street.

Fire Chief John Woulfe said the annual inspection of the business revealed violations remaining from a previous inspection. However, he said DiConzo had met some of the requirements.

Also on Thursday, selectmen opened bids for two projects to be conducted under the authority of the Parks Commission.

The first, with bids ranging up to $8,000, would provide for the repair and replacement of about 800 feet of chain-link fence at Hosmer Field, expand the parking lot in the area, and install asphalt along one of the field’s paths, among other things.

The second, with bids ranging from just under $12,000 to about $45,000, would provide for the cleaning and repair of the gravestones in the town’s 12 cemeteries. Parks Superintendent Tim Gallant said he will take the bids to the commission, which will review them at a special meeting on Aug. 28. The commission’s recommendations will be made to selectmen Sept. 6.

The board also agreed to lend the town’s sweeper to neighboring Dixfield for about a week, beginning today. The equipment will be rented to Dixfield for cost. They also agreed to allow a public works employee knowledgeable about blasting to work one day in Dixfield to help remove some ledge.