NEWPORT — A group of paving companies are working in Newport this summer and according to local officials, a sort of “range war” appears to be brewing. Newport police have received complaints from one paver that a rival paver has been tossing kerosene or diesel fuel onto recently completed driveways so the work will decompose and appear inferior.

In addition, other concerns have prompted police and other agencies to look more closely at the business operations of several of the companies. Pittsfield police have received numerous inquiries “about the validity of the companies,” and Waterville police said complaints have surfaced periodically over the years.

Earlier this week, a 14-year-old boy from Biddeford came into the Newport police station to complain about his employer. The boy said he had been “beat up” by his boss and bruises were visible on his face. He also said the boss tried to run him over with a pickup truck, threw tools at him and threatened him with more severe injuries.

Later in the day, the boy returned and dropped assault charges against his employer, saying he was “scared because this is a big family and he said he will have his cousins hurt me.”

The boy was one of many young men working for three rival paving companies that recently have begun appearing in the mid-Maine area. American of Waterville, Thyng of Biddeford and North Shore Paving of Etna have been paving driveways and parking lots in mid-Maine for the past several weeks. But allegations about questionable business practices have prompted Newport Police Chief Jim Ricker to institute an investigation.

Ricker has filed an official complaint with the Attorney General’s Office against American Paving, based on allegations by some of the paving employees that at least one of the three companies is hiring children 13 to 15 years old, failure to provide proof of Workers’ Compensation coverage, and not providing consumers with the standard three-day backout time on contracts.

Ricker said that customers are being approached with “the deal of a lifetime” but are offered a very low price if the work can begin immediately, often within hours. “My advice to the people of Newport is, if it’s too good to be true, it isn’t. Newporters should ask for company references, ask for proof of liability insurance. I know the citizens don’t always care about these things, the bottom line is often the price, but they should.”

Brown’s Funeral Home owner Phil Brown said he was “extremely pleased” with the work that American did paving his business. “In fact, I complimented the owner about how nice the crew was.” He said he was given a price by North Shore and, within an hour, American showed up at his business with a quote $1,000 less. “I was provided with a written contract and 72 hours to back out,” he said.

Ricker said that he was preparing to suggest to the Newport selectmen that an ordinance be created to monitor out-of-town services, such as pavers and other contractors. He said that such an ordinance could require contractors to provide proof of liability insurance, bonding, Workers’ Compensation participation and whatever else may be needed to control more closely who is servicing the people of Newport.

Dawn DeMartino of the Boston headquarters of the Better Business Bureau said that her agency had handled several complaints on two of the paving contractors. Thyng Paving of Alfred, Biddeford and Waterville has had two complaints against them this year, she said, and both have been completely adjusted by the company.

American Asphalt has several complaints against it as well, she said, but it has not responded to those complaints.

“It is very unfortunate,” said DeMartino, “that in today’s world you must have a healthy skepticism to protect yourself and your money. We often handle cases when inferior-quality products were used. Often it is just a sealer, not paving. It is also easily tracked into the house and ruins carpeting and flooring. Consumers must learn to be incredibly careful. Businesses are very aggresive. Check with local authorities and the Better Business Bureau before signing anything.”