NORWAY — Voters at a special town meeting Thursday will be asked to accept a nearly $200,000 federal grant and appropriate $50,000 to purchase a new tanker/pumper.

The meeting to act on the three-article warrant will begin at 7 p.m. Jan. 19 at the Norway Municipal Building on Danforth Street.

After selecting a moderator, voters will be asked accept $199,500 from the Assistance to Firefighters Grants Program to purchase a new tanker/pumper. They will also be asked to authorize selectmen to appropriate the grant funds, along with $50,000 from surplus and the approximately $19,000 balance in the firetruck reserve account, to make the purchase.

Norway Fire Department Capt. Tim Yates told selectmen recently that more than half of the department’s vehicles are at least 30 years old. If approved, the money will pay for a new tanker-pumper to replace a 1972 GMC and a converted 1979 Freightliner tractor-trailer used to transport water to fires. Both vehicles have major mechanical problems.

The two old tankers can not be used for firefighting and will probably be offered to another town department or put out to bid, officials said.

Voters will also be asked to adopt the proposed Property Assessed Clean Energy Ordinance and to authorize the Board of Selectmen to establish a PACE program so owners of qualifying property may access financing for energy saving improvements.

If approved, selectmen would sign an agreement with the state to implement the loan program, which the state would administer. The request to adopt the program was made by a local woman who wanted to make energy savings improvements to her home.

Funds are awarded to Efficiency Maine Trust under the Federal Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant program.

ldixon@sunjournal.com