NORWAY – A recent incident in town hall involving a weapon has prompted selectmen to adopt a policy prohibiting all municipal employees, except police officers, from bringing weapons into their workplace.

“It’s logical. It’s a simple statement. I really can’t say any more about it,” Selectmen Chairman Russ Newcomb said.

Town Manager David Holt did not give details about the recent incident involving a weapon, but it was enough to convince selectmen to adopt the policy unanimously last week.

Under the policy, all employees are prohibited from bringing firearms or other weapons, excluding knives, to the workplace regardless of whether the person is licensed to carry a weapon or not.

The only exception will be police officers, security guards or others who have been given permission by the town manager to carry a weapon on municipal property.

A violation could result in the employee’s dismissal.

Selectmen agreed with the policy, but Selectman Les Flanders, who said he carries a pocketknife, disagreed with the original draft that included a ban on knives.

Fellow selectmen agreed with him and changed the policy to exclude knives from the list of banned weapons.

Holt, who said he occasionally carries a jackknife, said he was not bothered by the change. He said he is considering asking selectmen to expand the policy by prohibiting the public from bringing weapons onto town property.

“In my experience there have been two incidents in my 30-odd years (in public service),” Holt said. “It’s not always employees. I’ve had times when citizens brought weapons to town hall and been threatening with them.”

Police Chief Robert Federico said that in light of recent events nationally he does support the initiative, although he would have to give some thought to whether he would support a policy restricting the public from carrying weapons on town property.

Norway now becomes what is believed to be one of a limited number of Maine municipalities prohibiting employees from bringing weapons to work. State law already prohibits people from carrying weapons onto school property

“I know people have different ideas of the way life should be,” Holt said, adding he is treading carefully on asking selectmen to expand the policy to nonemployees. He said he is concerned the policy might give outsiders the impression that Norway is something akin to Dodge City, Kan., in the late 19th century when people were told by lawmen such as Wyatt Earp to put down their guns when they entered the city.

Paris Police Chief David Verrier said carrying a weapon into town hall will immediately raise suspicion. However, a person can carry a concealed weapon if they have a permit. “But if it’s concealed, you’d better have a permit,” he warned.

Holt said he would like to investigate whether certain places, such as Lake Pennesseewassee Park, which is open to the public for swimming and boating, and had a weapons incident years ago, should be posted to exclude all weapons.

Holt told selectmen the reason to keep weapons off town property is simple: “It’s unnecessary, unwanted and dangerous.”