Newcastle selectmen welcomed Sherman Marsh resident Marva Nesbit, who read a letter of thanks to the board, the legislative delegation, town officials, area residents, and the press for their role in working with Sherman Marsh residents to stop the eminent domain taking of land near the marsh.

“We wouldn’t have been able to prevail without everyone’s support,” she said. “I’m so proud of Newcastle, and I’m proud to live here.”

The board took the letter to include in the minutes with thanks.

The board discussed the possible sale of a property on Estey Road. Two abutters had expressed interest, but the offer fell a little short of the amount the board was looking for, so selectmen will put the property out to bid for two weeks before reaching any decision.

Selectmen decided to look at the town office building’s configuration to try to better use the space. Other projects may include a sidewalk project on Main Street and Mills Road, possibly in conjunction with the Maine Department of Transportation which holds the right of way, and a new salt shed at the old dump. They said they would prefer to build a shed to last many years, rather than a temporary one that might last a few years.

Selectman Ben Frey suggested a new committee on sidewalks and trails elsewhere in town which the town would have to fund. The committee would be called Sidewalks, Trails, and Enhanced Mobility (STEM).

The board noted two selectmen complete their terms this year, and papers for the election will be available by March 20. A new school board member will also be needed. Papers are due back by the end of April.

The board considered the lighting problems on Academy Hill. Lincoln Academy is replacing several street lights with LEDs, but the town said the cost of changing the four Academy Hill streetlights is too high. The LED cost is about twice what the regular lights would cost per month, and the electricity charge isn’t low enough to offset the cost of the infrastructure. The board agreed to replace the lights with the standard incandescent bulbs until the price comes down.

The Marsh River Bridge will undergo surface repair in the spring and summer. The work will take place overnight. The bridge will go down to one lane during the work.