PARIS — Selectmen approved a draft agreement for a trial merger between the Paris and Norway police departments at Monday’s board meeting. They agreed to hold a public hearing before the July 23 meeting, which will be held at the Paris Fire Station.

The five-page document was the work of Paris Town Manager Phil Tarr and Norway Town Manager David Holt, who combined an agreement written by both towns’ police chiefs and added specifics on funding and hierarchy written by former Paris selectmen Ted Kurtz.

Paris was originally set to vote on the merger at the town meeting in June, but at the May 14 meeting selectmen pulled it from the warrant to get more information and make changes to the agreement.

At the June 12 balloting, Norway voters approved a one-year trial consolidation based on a plan by Paris Chief David Verrier and Norway Chief Robert Federico. Both towns will have to sign the same agreement, which could require another vote on the merger in Norway.

The agreement is meant to give better coverage to both towns without costing taxpayers more, according to Norway chief Robert Federico and Paris chief David Verrier. If the initial trial period is successful, both towns could vote to make the merger permanent, with the option for either town to withdraw later.

The full merger would put Federico in charge of officers in both departments. Verrier would take the position of School Resource Officer at Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School, a position currently held by Paris police Sgt. Hartley “Skip” Mowatt.

The public hearing will be at 7 p.m. Monday, July 23, at the Paris Fire Station.

[email protected]