NORWAY — The town is one step closer to getting the historic Norway Opera House clock tower renovated after the Board of Selectmen on Thursday authorized interim Town Manager Jeffrey Campbell to sign a contract for architectural design services.

Norway Downtown President Scott Berk provided the board with a snapshot of the project to rehab the iconic downtown structure on Main Street.

Norway Downtown was awarded a $1.79 million federal grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development that will be funneled to the Norway Opera House Corp. to fulfill its mission of transforming the 1894 building into a fully functioning opera house.

Under an agreement with the town, the Norway Opera House Corp. is responsible for the majority of the building while the town maintains control of and responsibility for the clock tower, clock and bell.

“We’re planning to do a lot of work on the Opera House and felt like it would be the most cost-efficient way, at that time, to also do any work needed on the clock tower,” Berk said.

“The money that we have gotten is specifically federally earmarked for the Opera House, so we don’t feel like it can be spent on the clock tower,” he added.

The contract is with architect Jake Keeler, who is providing design work for the structure. Board Chairman Russell Newcomb said it made sense to have Keeler do the work on the clock tower, instead of hiring a different architect.

According to the contract, “the Norway Opera House is an iconic building on Main Street and is about to undergo a renovation of the roof trusses, roof, back wall, and to construct a new stair tower on the southeast corner for egress. While a contractor will be mobilizing for this work, the timing is perfect to bid out some needed work on the Clock Tower of the building.”

The scope of the work includes replacing the tin roof on the clock tower, replacing the rubber roof beneath the clock tower bell and repair the lighting on the exterior of the tower.

Keeler’s work would include handling the bidding process from contractors. The clock tower project would be bid separately but the work would be done at the same time to minimize costs.

Design and technical work is anticipated to cost the town about $5,000 for its portion of the building.

“If the work is going to get done by the town, now would be the time to do it,” Berk said.

Built after the Great Fire on Main Street, the Opera House hasn’t been used for entertainment or performances since the 1980s, when it housed a movie theater. Since then, it has sat mostly vacant, its interior wearing down because of neglect.