NEWPORT – The Board of Selectmen took steps Wednesday night to encourage healthful lifestyles among town employees when they instituted an incentive program for those participating in a weight loss challenge.

“This will be a way to increase weight loss and generate fitness,” Town Manager James Ricker said, adding that the benefits to the town will be less sick-time hours and a decrease in insurance claims.

The selectmen agreed that the employee who loses the greatest percentage of body weight each month will be rewarded with a one-month gym membership.

Ricker said the program was informal and employees are participating on their own in whichever way they choose. “But already it is developing into a competition,” he said.

Employees are offered use of exercise equipment in the Newport fire station, Ricker said, and Selectman Chris Dow offered to donate a Nordic Track machine to augment the equipment.

Already seven full-time employees are participating, Ricker said, and a number of part-time employees will now be included.

Ricker also informed the board that the 2008 tax rate could be as high as $20.50 per $1,000 of valuation – which would be a 1.8 mill increase – or could be $19.20 if $75,000 is used from surplus to lower taxation.

“My goal is to have a half-mill increase,” Ricker said. “But remember, we can’t deplete your overlay.” Ricker blamed decreasing revenue streams for the increase. He said excise tax collections are dropping and the town will receive about $17,000 less in state revenue sharing.

“All the towns are looking for other sources of revenue other than property tax,” he said. Ricker said the figures are preliminary and “they are all contingent on the school budget.” He said that SAD 48 Superintendent William Braun will attend the May 7 selectmen’s meeting and that more firm figures should be available by then.

In other business, the selectmen:

. Agreed to explore working cooperatively with surrounding towns to purchase paving equipment and conduct their own paving programs on secondary roads. Ricker said he is meeting May 9 with several area town managers and he will broach the subject.

. Awarded the 2008 $900,000 tax anticipation note to Merrill Bank in Pittsfield at 2.13 percent. Only two banks, Merrill and KeyBank, provided bids.

. Awarded the bid for demolition of a tax-acquired, dilapidated property at 112 Elm St. to Hopkins Construction of Plymouth for $9,650.

. Congratulated Wal-Mart and Unicel employees for adopting several town roads for cleanup on Earth Day.

. Set May 6-10 as Cleanup Week during which items such as tires, refrigerators, air conditioners and bulky furniture will be accepted at the transfer station at half price.

. Agreed to offer for sale a number of tax acquired properties, including a mall lot on Sebasticook Avenue, a 1-acre parcel on Pine Street, 5 acres on the south side of Interstate 95, 7.5 acres on Carter Avenue and one-half acre on Loon Drive. Ricker will clarify with the town’s attorney whether the properties must be placed out to bid or can be sold outright.

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