NEWPORT – Selectmen opened bids Wednesday night for rebuilding two dirt roads and debated what to do about a long list of paving projects with a small budget.

Town Manager James Ricker explained that of the $140,000 appropriated for road work, $132,000 remains. Of that, the lowest dirt road bid, from Hopkins Construction of Newport for $12,068.99, needs to be deducted, as well as $10,000 for emergency repairs.

“That leaves $110,000 for paving,” Ricker said.

The problem with that, he said, is that the town’s list of planned work is considerably higher.

Ricker said the priority roads were about one-third of Palmer Road, Lunt Road, Spring Street, Sebasticook Street, Nason Road and West Street.

Those projects are estimated at $145,787. Another $18,680 worth of work is needed at two major intersections, Progress Park and Main, and Spring Street and Main. There was also planned $8,400 worth of work for the Newport Cultural Center parking lot.

Ricker said that the cost of paving has risen from $54 a ton last year to $78 a ton, conservatively. On top of that, costs will be higher due to diesel fuel costs.

After some discussion, the board accepted Hopkins’ bid, and decided to put the entire paving package out to bid and then stretch the budget as far as it will go.

Ricker also reported that a work crew has been hired to finish the exterior and porch work on the Newport Cultural Center.

“The sheetrockers are 90 percent done,” he said. “It is coming along good. Once the sheetrock is hung and taped, we’ll move on to the ceilings, floors and painting.”

Ricker explained that the contractor mismeasured the height of the front steps and they were removed and will be replaced at no cost to the town.

“When this is completed we’ll have a $3 million building,” Ricker said. “We’ve put $1.2 million into it.”

Selectman Richard Parlee said he had visited the Charleston Correctional Facility, where the bookcases for the center are under construction, and had high praise for the quality of workmanship.

“They will also have a special crew come and build the circulation desk and if it is built to the same specifications as those cabinets are, it will be a beautiful thing,” he said.

The same group of inmates is building display cases that will hold the Newport Historical Society’s artifacts.

Ron Hopkins of the historical society told the board that members were carefully cataloging all items and boxing them up. “We have a large collection and this will be a huge process,” he said.

In other business:

. The board approved a 1,200-foot parking ban on the south side of U.S. Route 2 at Newport Metals to relieve congestion and safety concerns.

. No one spoke up at a public hearing to ban certain trucks from Railroad Avenue. Ricker explained that one side of the road is zoned industrial and the issue was tabled to allow Ricker to contact the industrial property owners about the truck ban proposal. “It will definitely affect their property values,” he said.

. The changeover of the town’s telephone system will begin on July 7 and continue through July 9. Ricker said there will be no disruption of service.

. The Fire Department remodeling of office space cost $993, which includes construction and materials.

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