HARTFORD — Selectmen learned Thursday night that longtime editors of the Hartford Newsletter, Arlene Nason and Sylvia Fisher, will retire after 14 years. The last issue will be May 2011.

Residents have depended on the quarterly newsletter to keep them in the loop of town, school, church and State House events. The newsletter has grown over the years to a 25-page paper filled with local advertisements, garbage pickup dates, scheduled meetings, committee reports, building permits issued and other information.

Anyone interested in helping to continue the newsletter should contact the town office at 388-2674.

In other news from the meeting, resident Arthur Harvey expressed concern about erosion in the ditch near the office mailbox. He asked if gravel could be added to prevent further erosion.

Selectman Jack Plumley said Route 140 is a state road and the town could not legally do anything. He asked board Chairman Lee Holman to call the state and also report a collapsing culvert on Route 219 down the hill from Church Street.

The board voted to have Webster Tree Service from Auburn cut a large pine tree at the Hartford Center Cemetery near Route 140 and Bear Pond Road. The tree is diseased and threatens stones in the cemetery if it falls. Plumley said he will try to get the service to cut some 8-foot logs.

Otherwise, the tree will be cut in 4-foot lengths. The fee of $900 does not include removing the logs.

The board reviewed the code enforcement officer’s report, which noted a permit issued for a new mobile home on Pratt Hill Road.