NORWAY — Selectman Bill Damon offered to pay for the Norway Opera House building permit, after it was revealed Thursday night that there wasn’t one for the renovations that began almost a month ago.

“I would have put a stop-work order on it this week if I didn’t get the prints” for the renovation plans. “I need to issue the permit,” Code Enforcement Officer Joelle Corey-Whitman told selectmen at Thursday night’s board meeting. The fee is approximately $700.

Norway Opera House Corp. Director Brenda Melhus asked selectmen Thursday night to waive the building permit fee saying, “I just feel it would be a small burden off our burden.”

Selectman Russ Newcomb said he was concerned about setting a precedent, since other nonprofits are asked to pay for building permits. He said he was also somewhat worried about the perception that if the corporation could not afford the $700 building fee now, how could it afford the project as it progressed.

“I also promised folks we’d spend as little as possible,” said Newcomb, referring to the town’s contribution to the Opera House project. The town has contributed some money toward the project, including legal fees.

Town Manager David Holt said the confusion was partly his fault after he told some Norway Opera House Corp. the town would probably waive the building permit fee, because it was the town’s project at that time. The deed was eventually given to the corporation.

Several other selectmen also expressed concern about setting a precedent by waiving the fee.

To quickly resolve the issue, Damon said he would pay the fee personally.

“I just feel very strongly about the Opera House being taken care of,” he said.

He and his wife Bea donated $200,000 after the building’s roof failed in 2007. That money allowed the town to take the building from its previous owner in 2010 after it was declared a public hazard.

Corey-Whitman said now that the permit payment issue was resolved she hoped to review the renovation plans Monday and issue the permit shortly.

The 1894 brick building — three stories and in the heart Main Street’s downtown district — was once the center of community activities. The upper floors have been vacant for decades and the first-floor storefronts since the partial roof collapse.

Contractors began the storefront renovations in September under general contractor H.E. Callahan of Auburn. The work is expected to be completed by the end of December.

This week, the Norway Opera House Corp. hired Tony Morra of Bisco Properties on Main Street to manage the property. Advertising has begun for rentals of the five commercial spaces.

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