NORWAY — The Select Board authorized Town Manager Dennis Lajoie on Thursday to seek proposals on the town’s first four projects utilizing American Rescue Plan Act funds.
The projects have an estimated combined cost of $101,000 and are all eligible, according to the federal guidelines, Lajoie said.
The town has received half of its scheduled $527,000 in federal pandemic relief money and is expected to receive the other half later this year. All money has to be spent by 2026.
The four projects being considered include:
• Spending up to $35,000 to upgrade the phone wiring in the Town Office, which would also include the Police Department and Fire Department.
• Spending up to $50,000 on information technology equipment to hold remote meetings at the Town Office. The Select Board does not have the capability or technology to hold Zoom meetings.
• Spending up to $15,000 to upgrade the town website.
• Spending up to $1,000 for COVID-19 test kits, which will be distributed to town staff
Lajoie will bring recommendations to the board before any money is spent.
In other business, the board postponed action on a proposed solar array at the closed and capped landfill in Paris so members can review the plan.
The 875-kilowatt, ground-mounted panels will cover 1.87 acres at the the Norway-Paris waste transfer station on Brown Street. The project straddles the town line.
Central Maine Power and the town of Paris have already approved the project.
Lajoie reported that the solar company would lease the property for 20 years, paying Norway $5,000 per year. The town would also have an option to purchase the array if it ever went on the market.
Since the landfill is closed and capped, it is not monitored by the state. The town has been mowing the property, but that may switch to the solar company, which could contract with Norway to continue to mowing within the fenced-in area, Lajoie said.
The Select Board approved a request from CMP to place poles on Shedd Road and Pleasant Street. A liquor license was approved for 290 Main Street. The board also accepted a $100 donation from Chandler Funeral Homes to the Norway Fire Department, which will be added to its training account.
Copy the Story LinkSend questions/comments to the editors.
Success. Please wait for the page to reload. If the page does not reload within 5 seconds, please refresh the page.
Enter your email and password to access comments.
Hi, to comment on stories you must . This profile is in addition to your subscription and website login.
Already have a commenting profile? .
Invalid username/password.
Please check your email to confirm and complete your registration.
Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.
Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.