Newry Select Board hears updates on mutual aid, roads, IT, and taxes

The Newry Select Board met on October 7, 2026, with no executive session and no public hearings. Members heard updates on a regional mutual aid agreement, road and culvert work, a junkyard cleanup consent agreement, a possible new IT vendor, and town finances and elections. No formal votes were taken during the meeting.

Key points

• A board member reported attending a state training session in Augusta for newly appointed select board officials, covering topics including municipal legal status, the General Assistance Program, and MMA membership benefits.
• The board discussed the Northern Oxford Mutual Aid (NOMA) agreement, which is being updated and re-signed by area towns; no vote was needed until the document is brought back for signature.
• Road work continues, including the Brent Road culvert (awaiting asphalt) and planned work on Valley View, where four driveways wash out and an asphalt apron is being considered.
• The town is pursuing a consent agreement with the owners of a junkyard property, setting a six-month cleanup timeline instead of the 30 days the owners initially wanted.
• The board discussed switching IT providers after the current contractor became unresponsive since around July; a new company is scheduled to assess the town's computers, with a possible six-month contract.
• The assessor reported Newry's valuation at 89 percent and reviewed tax rate changes: 32.93 percent in 2025, 5.42 percent in 2026, and 6.49 percent in 2027.

Next steps

• Bring back information from the new IT company after its Thursday visit for review at the next meeting.
• Continue work on the junkyard consent agreement, with the town attorney drafting it.
• Await word on the security camera grant, expected in October, before ordering equipment.
• Complete the NOMA mutual aid agreement signings with area towns.
• Continue Valley View driveway work and asphalt paving before cold weather.

Read the full transcript