BETHEL — Selectmen on Monday rejected all three bids for cutting trees at Bethel Airport.

The project would have been a step toward qualifying the airport for nighttime and inclement weather air traffic, known as precision approaches.

“We don’t have the money to do this,” Selectman Don Bennett said.

The bids were $58,375 from Cross Excavation, $140,000 from Bedard Excavation and $148,200 from Gary M. Pomeroy Logging.

Eight contractors took out bid packets, town officials said, but only the three were returned.

Bennett said the requirements for cutting trees on the properties of 13 landowners near the airport are very restrictive, requiring surveying, use of machines that do not disturb the ground within 25 feet of wetlands, pH testing of soil brought in and other stipulations.

Selectmen said they might consider proposing a warrant article for the June town meeting for the Bethel Airport Authority to borrow money from the town’s undesignated fund and pay it back over three years.

Bennett also said the town might find ways to save money by looking more closely this summer at the work that needs to be done.

The board approved an $8,000 salary for the recreation director next year. The Recreation Committee asked to increase it to $11,197, citing additional hours worked so far by Director Heidi Godomsky to bring procedures and planning up to date.

The board also accepted, with regret, the resignation of Godomsky, effective April 9.

In other business, the board approved supporting a plan by the Bethel Area Nonprofit Corp. to pay $5,000 to the Urban Land Institute of Boston to do a report on development issues important to the town.

Town Manager Christine Landes said the report would outline such topics as strengths, weaknesses, transportation resources and demographics. She said BANC was interested in focusing on Bethel Station, but she told the organization that Main Street was also important, and suggested combining the development of Bethel Station so it involves Main Street. 

Landes said the town would not pay any money for the effort, but the town’s support is needed for it to proceed. She said investors and stakeholders have pledged to pay for it.

Landes said ULI representatives would come to Bethel for a day or two, talk to businesses and various boards, and then compile the report.