NORWAY — Selectmen will meet Wednesday to discuss the future of the town and how developing certain ordinances may play an important role.

“We need to sit down as a group and explore where we want to see the town in a year or two or five,” said board Chairman Bruce Cook, who initiated the idea for the discussion.

Cook said he believes a number of issues should be put on the table, such as writing ordinances that would regulate the demolition of historic properties, wind power, outdoor boilers and a discussion on budget prioritizing.

The board dealt with several of those issues Thursday night when discussion centered on the preservation of the historic Opera House and the lack of a demolition ordinance to prevent the owner from taking it down. The board also spoke with local business owner Michelle Gordon about her concerns for smoke from outdoor boilers.

Town Manager David Holt said the goal-setting workshop will allow the board to have a better chance of dealing with important things such as these that sometimes can get lost in the shuffle of day-to-day issues.

Holt provided the board with a sample list of goals that the board might want to consider, including preserving the downtown, improvement of infrastructure and sound financial management. Specifically, he suggested discussion around the areas of saving the Opera House, improving rural roads, filling vacant storefronts, reducing fuel consumption, increasing unappropriated fund balances and avoiding tax anticipation notes.

In a memo to the board, Holt said the workshop was one way to improve communication. “Not only is it important for the community to hear the discussion the board has, the board must work together to set priorities,” he wrote. “That way things get done.”

“I think it’s a great idea,” Selectman Irene Millett said. “We as a board need to be more proactive and not just deal with issues as they come up.”

The meeting will begin at 7 p.m.

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