Newport OKs industrial park lot sale to local builder

NEWPORT – After a brief executive session to negotiate Wednesday night, the Newport Board of Selectmen approved the sale of a lot in the town’s industrial park to a local construction company.

Building Construction Services, which employs eight people, expects to add four new employees with the move, explained spokesperson Anissa Brescia.

The property is lot No. 2, the second lot on the right of the entrance. Fall construction is planned on a fabrication and maintenance shop and an office building, and the construction will be completed in two phases.

Until all paperwork is signed, neither party will reveal the selling price.

BCS will join two other new businesses already locating in the park, including a mushroom farm and a marine service center.

A fourth business, SteriLogic Inc., which processes hospital waste, has already received approval from the town’s planning board to locate in the park, but the company is also assessing a location in Pittsfield. SteriLogic’s decision is expected by the end of the week.

In a separate action, the board awarded BCS the contract to provide engineering services for the town’s new recycling facility. Two bids were received: BCS, $8,500, and Plymouth Engineering, $17,200.

Selectmen also approved hiring Gary Friedman and Associates of Bangor and Bar Harbor as fund-raiser for the $1 million Newport Culture Center.

The center, to be located on Main Street, will house both the town’s library and historical society and museum.

Town Manager James Ricker said Friedman and two associates met Tuesday night with the culture center’s advisory board.

Friedman and Associates is asking $129,000 to raise $1.3 million, approximately 10 percent of the funds raised. The company has agreed to work on the project in phases, said Ricker, because the cultural center has only about $75,000 in cash on hand.

The first two phases will cost $66,050 and will include organization and a “quiet” campaign.

Selectman Richard Parlee, a member of the culture center’s advisory board, said a 15-member Campaign Committee will be established and will operate separate from the advisory board.

Ricker said, “This is new ground for us, raising this kind of money, building this kind of building. But everyone was very, very excited when we met last night.”

In other business, the board authorized Ricker to obtain estimates to reopen the public restrooms at the Sebasticook Lake public boat launch on North Street.

The facilities have been closed for a decade after vandals repeatedly smashed the doors and toilets. Ricker said stainless steel toilets will be purchased this time to avoid such damage.