NORWAY – Debate on a number of warrant articles took voters until 11 p.m. at the annual town meeting Saturday.
“The good news was that for Norway there were a good amount of people and a fair amount of participation,” Town Manager David Holt said Tuesday.
He noted a higher-than-usual turnout at the Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School forum. More than 120 people gathered at 7 p.m., and many stayed for much of the four-hour meeting.
After a lengthy discussion, voters rejected an article to borrow $305,000 for a new firetruck, but they approved setting aside the money over two years and also applying for a grant to buy the vehicle. They also approved borrowing $1 million for major road improvements.
As the hours passed, voters also stopped to debate social services spending before approving a $46,575 expenditure.
Holt said three different spending amounts had been recommended by Norway’s Board of Selectmen, Budget Committee and Provider Committee.
Some of this discussion centered around the inclusion of funds for the Growth Council of Oxford Hills, Service Center Communities and the Oxford Hills Chamber of Commerce in this part of the budget.
“Next year, I’m going to have to do something different here,” Holt said, meaning that he will likely separate those groups from the social service agencies requesting funds on future warrants.
Only two of the 47 warrant articles failed Monday, the second being a $2,000 request to post tax maps and taxpayer information online.
A “disorderly house” ordinance that would allow the town to fine landlords for repeated police visits to their property was overwhelmingly approved with a minor amendment adjusting how police will notify landlords of violations.
Holt hadn’t yet tallied up the results of the meeting so didn’t have an exact budget figure for the coming fiscal year.
The town’s proposed municipal budget was more than $3.6 million. It would have required almost $1.9 million be raised by taxes.
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