NORWAY — Selectmen unanimously agreed to allow a one-time use of the town hall for a poker-game fundraiser.

The vote was taken Thursday with several board members expressing some concern over the unprecedented move.

The request to allow a Texas Hold’em game in the municipal building was presented by Shirley Boyce on behalf of Responsible Pet Care, a nonprofit, no-kill shelter for cats that have been abandoned. The facility is located on Waterford Street in Norway.

The game is a variation of poker in which players compete for the amount of cash contributed by the players. Boyce said there is a limit so that people do not leave broke.

“I’m pretty much willing to give it a shot and get feedback, but I do it with reservation,” said Selectman Russ Newcomb, who agreed to it on a “trial” basis.

Responsible Pet Care has been sponsoring Texas Hold’em games once a month during the last year as a fundraising tool at Charlie’s Entertainment Center in downtown Norway. The building, that is owned by Paul Creamer, at 246 Main St., recently closed and is on the market leaving the group without a place to play the Saturday-afternoon games.

Boyce, who also serves as town clerk, said the group has looked at other places to rent, such as the Four Seasons facility in Paris and the American Legion, but both are too expensive. The town hall rents space at $50 a hour.

In the beginning, Boyce said close to 75 people would show up for the monthly games. That number has now dwindled to about 35. Because no liquor can be served in the town hall, Boyce said she believes the number of players may drop further, “if the alcohol group doesn’t come.” If that happens, the fundraiser will not be sustainable, she said.

“We’ll know in one time,” she said.

Town Manager David Holt, who also said he was uncomfortable with having this type of activity in the building that was paid for with taxpayers money, said there is even a larger issue at hand — the need to review the town hall policy regarding rental rates and usage.

He also stressed the need for the town hall to be used primarily as a government facility. “We need to give precedence to government functions first. That’s why it was built by taxpayers’ money. Government functions have to take precedence,” he said referring to times when there are too many groups, both governmental and private, that try to meet in the small building at once.

The motion to approve the use of the building by Responsible Pet Care was made by Selectman Bill Damon and seconded by Warren Sessions.

“My concern is setting precedence,” said Select Chairman Irene Millett.

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