NORWAY – Selectmen have agreed to reconsider the weapons policy for town employees following concerns by Highway Department workers that their constitutional right to carry firearms was being breached.

The policy, which bans employees from bringing weapons onto any town-owned property, was enacted last month as a result of a recent incident in the town garage when a 45-caliber automatic handgun was found in a compartment of an employee’s car after a complaint was lodged warning that the gun owner may be dangerous.

About a half-dozen Highway Department employees told the board Thursday night that many of them have guns in their vehicles because they’re hunters, and complained that the town law is too restrictive.

While the board was set to act on a revised policy that would delete the words “town-owned property,” it agreed to set it aside temporarily to listen to more employee concerns about the policy.

“I don’t think that you should lose any rights that any other citizen has. I’m just opposed to having guns at work,” said Town Manager David Holt, who proposed the policy to ensure employee safety on the job.

But department employees told Holt and the board they feel singled out and resent the loss of their right to carry a weapon.

“If it’s in my personal vehicle locked up, I don’t see an issue with it,” said department worker Steve Powers, who said he often goes up to Streaked Mountain after work to hunt and would lose valuable time and gas if he had to go home first to get his gun.

The owner of the gun who started the controversy told the Sun Journal at the time that he usually carried the gun, with a concealed weapons permit, and normally left it in his locked car rather than leave it at his residence where there were children. Because the department required his car to be unlocked when it is housed inside the garage, he conceded occasionally the gun was left accessible. The man no longer works for the town.

Powers said he was concerned that one violation of the policy could mean his job. “With this policy it’s our job on the line,” he said.

Selectman Les Flanders, an avid hunter, said the board has to protect town employees.

“I’m sorry if we have to take your rights,” Flanders said. “I’m not sure this is the whole answer but we have to answer to a lot more people than the Highway Department.”

While agreeing to listen to any employee’s concern, Holt has held steadfast to the policy, saying, “If I had to do it tomorrow, I’d do again. I care more about your safety than your right to hunt.”

Holt said he has been surprised by the number of employees who carry guns and how angry people have become over the issue. “We just need some way to avoid a bad situation,” he said.

The board agreed that Holt, Flanders and several department employees would meet to discuss possible revisions to the policy.

Several of Norway’s largest employers, including New Balance, Stephens Memorial Hospital and the SAD 17 school district, have employee policies that prohibit bringing handguns and other weapons to the work place regardless of whether the owner is permitted to carry them. The only exception are security personnel who are required to wear handguns as part of their employment.

The board is expected to review comments from employees over the next few weeks and then vote whether to change the existing policy.