NORWAY — The Board of Selectmen voted unanimously Thursday night to approve a $4.97 million municipal budget and to post the annual town meeting warrant.

Residents will be asked to vote on the spending plan at the annual town meeting, scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday, June 18, at Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School in Paris.

Town Manager Dennis Lajoie said the budget, which does not include the SAD 17 assessment, is an increase of $98,387, or 2.82 percent, from current spending.

Several town departments would see increases in the budget, including Highway and Public Works, Police Department and Planning and Enforcement.

Lajoie said the increase in the Planning and Enforcement budget was because Code Enforcement Officer Scott Tabb earned new certifications.

“There’s a contractual obligation with the (code enforcement officer), where every time he gets a certification, he gets a bump in pay,” Lajoie said.

The Police Department budget is higher because of less grant money for a school resource officer, Lajoie said, so Norway must cover a greater percentage of the cost.

In other matters, Lajoie said the town has received 29 applications for the soon-to-open office clerk’s position. Lajoie said Bonnie Seames is planning to retire June 29.

“We’ll be meeting sometime next week to start reviewing the applications and figuring out who are top candidates are, and when we want to schedule interviews,” Lajoie said.

mdaigle@sunmediagroup.net

Norway Board of Selectmen Chairman Warren Sessions Jr., left, Selectmen Mike Twitchell, center, and Bruce Cook listen to Town Manager Dennis Lajoie talk about the $4.97 million municipal budget townspeople will vote on June 18. (Matthew Daigle/Sun Journal)

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