NORWAY – About 75 registered voters Monday passed a $4.42 million municipal budget for next year that reflects a 9.5 percent increase over the current year.

The budget includes funds for two part-time park rangers to patrol the town-owned Pennesseewassee Park this summer, and to give what many felt was a long-deserved $5,750 pay raise to the recreation director, Deb Partridge.

It also provides for $100,000 in borrowing to make needed updates and improvements to the highway garage, and buy the former Norway Water District garage land and buildings to be used for storage in the short term by both the highway and sewer departments.

Voters approved $200,000 in road improvements, taking $84,759 from the state road block grant and $115,241 from surplus. Roads to be done this year include those that need a second coat of pavement, as well as new projects on Crockett Ridge Road and Round the Pond Road toward Nobles Corner.

One of the larger increases in the budget came from employee benefits, which rose from $213,820 to $285,000. The article was passed without comment.

Voters agreed to fund an additional $4,435 for repairs already done to the Opera House clock by clock keeper Jim Bryant of Wayne. Bryant, who is paid $500 a year by the town for maintaining the clock, took the repairs upon himself without getting prior approval from selectmen.

“The board supported what he did” but “he knows not to do it again” without getting prior approval for extra work, said Town Manager David Holt.

Selectman Bill Damon said Bryant fashioned some new gears and other components, and got the bell in working order.

“It’s nice to hear that bell ring again,” said Selectman George Tibbetts.

The $355,500 police budget that was passed included reinstatement of a police officer position that had earlier been slated for elimination.

Fire Chief Mike Mann’s $120,510 budget, reflecting a $28,000 increase, was passed after Mann explained the need and expense of safety equipment and training as mandated by the state.

The $100,000 bond for the highway garage will pay to update bathroom facilities there, and do wiring and ventilation work. Selectman Robert Walker said the slow improvements made over the years to the old building have allowed it to pass state inspections.

Voters also approved $12,000 in small equipment for the Highway Department, $45,000 for a highway dump truck and $10,000 for a Downtown Program Reserve so that Norway may continue to participate in the National Downtown Program.

Voters authorized the town to apply for state Community Development Block Grant funding to conduct a market analysis for the downtown to submit to the Department of Economic and Community Development. No town monies are involved.

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