NORWAY — A special town meeting has been set for Jan. 19 to appropriate $50,000 as a match to access a nearly $200,000 grant for the Fire Department.

The town has 30 days to agree to accept the grant and appropriate the match or the Fire Department must forfeit the money.

Action on the request and two other articles will begin at 7 p.m. in the Norway Municipal Building at 19 Danforth St.

Voters will be asked to accept $199,500 from the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program to purchase a new tanker/pumper. The article will also ask for voter approval to take $50,000 from surplus and the balance in the firetruck reserve account (approximately $19,000), to implement the program.

News that the Norway Fire Department had received a $199,500 federal grant was announced Wednesday by U.S. Sen. Susan Collins’ office, but what was not clear from her statement at that time was that the grant required a match.

Fire Capt. Tim Yates, who wrote the grant application, told selectmen at their meeting Thursday that there is a great need to update the department’s equipment. At least half of the equipment is more than 30 years old, he said.

“I know it’s a lot of money right now, but it’s better to come to you for a little bit now than a lot later,” he said.

Yates said the money will pay for a tanker that will replace two outdated tankers — a 1972 GMC that “you can poke a hole right through it with your fingers,” and a 1979 Freightliner that was outfitted with a tank and sways going around corners because of its uneven water distribution. Both tankers have additional problems,  including brakes that have given out.

Both tankers would be taken out of service if a new tanker is purchased.

“I know it’s a lot of money but it’s also a very good opportunity,” Town Manager David Holt said.

Voters will also be asked to adopt the proposed Property Assessed Clean Energy Ordinance. They will be asked to authorize selectmen to establish the program so owners of qualifying properties can get financing for energy-saving improvements.

Other towns such as Lewiston have adopted the program, Holt said. The idea was brought to the selectmen last week by a resident who said she could financially benefit from having the program in place. The board said it should create no additional work for the town’s staff since the state handles the program.

Voters will elect a moderator for the session.

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