NORWAY — About a dozen residents at Thursday’s special town meeting approved covering overdrafts in two accounts and up to $150,000 to construct a new fuel dispensing system for the new highway garage.
With Dennis Gray serving as moderator, voters quickly adopted the three spending proposals recommended by the Select Board with money from the undesignated fund balance.
First, they approved spending $931.24 to cover an overdraft in the debt service account when the last interest payment on one road bond was made and the first interest payment on the new road bond was made.
Next, voters approved spending $296.82 to cover an overdraft in the animal control account due to the large number of stray cats brought to Responsible Pet Care of Oxford Hills in Paris for treatment.
Both articles passed with no discussion.
Residents did have questions on the final article that asked to approve spending up to $150,000 to build a new gas and diesel dispensary system at the new town garage. The electricity required to run the system was hooked to the old garage, which is being town down. Town Manager Dennis Lajoie said replacing the power is not as simple as merely running a new cord to the new garage.
The Maine Department of Environmental Protection ruled the current setup is out of compliance and needs to be replaced.
Adding to the project’s price might include removing the old system and underground pipes, which Lajoie said are at least 30 years old. If there have been any leaks, the town would have to remove and replace the contaminated soil.
Lajoie said the project would likely not start until the second quarter of 2022.
Satisfied with the answers, residents approved the project.
At the Select Board meeting after the town meeting, the panel approved the General Assistance maximums developed by the Maine Department of Health and Human Services.
The board reappointed Edward Smith as project director for the Snowmobile Program of Norway, a position he has held for several years. Smith will represent the town and be able to apply for grants.
Smith was joined at the meeting by Norway Trackers Snowmobile Club President Rob Mowatt, who discussed the club’s activities. The group, with 63 members and 15 businesses, oversees 63 miles of trails, all privately owned.
“You can leave Norway and get to anywhere in the state,” Mowatt said.
The group was named 2021 Snowmobile Club of the Year by the Maine Snowmobile Association. Mowatt gave Lajoie the plaque the group received for display in the Town Office.
The town is setting up a portal for its share of the American Rescue Plan Act funds. Norway is due to receive $527,128.48 — half this year and the other half next year. Lajoie said he is still studying the rules on what the money can be used for.
“The devil is in the details, and all the details are not released yet,” Lajoie said.
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