Newcastle Selectman Christopher Doherty likes the idea of independence for Newcastle's roads.

During a meeting on Monday, Aug. 3, the selectman said that the idea of forming an independent public works department was something he would support.

“I like the idea of Newcastle Public Works at the old dump, with some equipment outside and a couple of people working there,” he said.

But, before any equipment or people move into any site, the town will seek to ask voters what its next move should be.

The board agreed to have a public hearing Monday, Sept. 21 at the community room in the fire station to discuss the future of its public works department.

Newcastle and Damariscotta are expected to end the existing shared department after Oct. 31 and go separate ways.

Selectmen’s Chairman Brian Foote said the plan is to at least keep the department going until the snow starts to fall in order to draft a plan for spring 2016.

There were three potential plans for Newcastle discussed at the Aug. 3 meeting.

The first option would be the most similar to the current arrangement, but with some key tweaks. The town would retain current Superintendent of Roads Steve Reynolds, but as a subcontractor to go along with a full-time foreman and a part-time seasonal employee. Reynolds would be used to develop 5-year plans and oversee the general direction of the newly-formed Newcastle Department of Public Works.

The standalone option would likely require the bulk of Newcastle's remaining $109,000 approved by voters for the interlocal agreement. Next year, Reynolds said the cost would likely be approximately $170,000 for the standalone option.

“If we kept the $109,000 we could probably hold our budget this year,” Foote said. “I definitely don't want to have to go to the town and ask for more money this year or next.”

The second option would be to return to the town's previous format, where the town negotiated with contractors for the work it needs.

The third option, which was floated by selectman Carolyn Hatch during Monday's meeting was to try something new. Hatch asked if the town could consider electing a road commissioner, like Edgecomb currently does with Scott Griffin.

“Then (voters) could elect someone in town with a business, who might already have their own equipment, and they could grow their business,” she said.

Reynolds said the town's ultimate goal is to have a maintenance department instead of a work department. Reynolds said the work over the past four years in the interlocal agreement has Newcastle almost caught-up to that goal.

“Ultimately, you want to just be maintaining (the roads),” he said.

Selectman Ben Frey said he hoped the town would decide to keep the full department, especially with Newcastle so close to its ultimate goal.

“By having a department there are services we get by just having people there,” he said. “That has a value — there's no contractor I know who would do handyman work at the drop of a hat. The roads department isn't roads-only.”

Frey echoed Reynolds and said the town could keep the reactive service it has come to expect by hanging onto its own department.

“We are closer than ever to a maintenance department, and that's why it wouldn't be crazy cakes to decide on (choosing) the Newcastle Public Works Department,” he said.

The meeting will be open to the public, and the town plans on having a town meeting to decide on the department’s future after the hearing but before the Oct. 31 end date.