NORWAY — The Select Board agreed Thursday to have the town partner with Androscoggin County Valley of Governments and the Center for an Ecology-Based Economy on a proposal meant to combat climate change.

The goal of the Community Resilience Pilot Project with the state is to advance community-driven climate resilience planning and implementation at the municipal level.

AVCOG would serve as the lead organization working with the Norway-based Center for an Ecology-Based Economy. They will partner with the town and perhaps another municipality.

Selectman Thomas Curtis wanted to be sure Norway’s participation would not force the town to do something unless approved by the board.

“It commits us to be part of the planning process,” Selectman Sarah Carter said. “It doesn’t commit us to do anything.”

Going through the process and identifying needs would help inform the town of potential issues, Town Manager Dennis Lajoie said. He speculated that excessive rain and storm runoff would be examples of how climate change could affect the town. Going through the process and submitting a proposal would put the town in a position to look at its needs.

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The project hopes to demonstrate innovative and replicable models that can be used as part of the state’s climate action plan.

The Governor’s Office of Policy Innovation and the Future will award a grant of between $10,000 and $15,000 in each of three regions. Towns in Oxford County are grouped with the noncoastal communities from Franklin, Somerset, Piscataquis, Aroostook, Penobscot, Hancock and Washington counties.

In other business, the board approved a paving bid for $308,012.50 from Spencer Group Paving of Turner. Roads scheduled for new pavement are Bill Howe, Roberts, Sodom, Kal Shore and Gore roads. Spencer submitted the lowest bid by more than $3,000. Bids were received from six contractors, with the highest at $337,400.

The board accepted an $85,000 grant from the Maine Department of Environmental Protection for municipal stream crossing upgrades for safety and improving fish habitat.


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