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NORWAY — Voters on Thursday night unanimously approved funding a $200,000 project to replace failing sewer pipes crossing Pennesseewassee Stream.

The vote allows an appropriation of $100,000 and authorizes the treasurer and Board of Selectmen chairman to borrow another $100,000. Bids requests are expected to go out next spring and construction started next summer.

The pipes near Aubuchon Hardware on Route 26 are about 50 years old and are suppose to run over the stream bed, but they have been sinking and causing problems.

Town Manager David Holt said the town well is just downstream of the pipes and should they fail could cause major problems for the area.

Sewer Superintendent Shawn Brown said there will be traffic tie-up during construction.

Dennis Gray moderated the special town meeting, which was attended by selectmen and less than a dozen other voters. 

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Also Thursday, selectmen unanimously authorized Fire Chief Dennis Yates to negotiate for a used 2004 Pierce Dash, 100-foot platform ladder truck. The truck is being sold by a southern city for $325,000 because it has become too large to negotiate in the city streets. It is considered in excellent condition and has about 50,000 miles on it.

Yates, who is replacing a 1980 truck, said the truck will not only ensure the town’s current favorable insurance rating within a five-mile radius of the fire station, it will ensure better coverage for residents and a more functional truck for firefighters.

The board agreed to use $100,0000 from the Fire Department Surplus Account and to determine if they should finance the rest through state bonds, which does not require voter approval.

Yates said he will have the truck thoroughly looked over before he puts it on a flatbed to bring to Norway.

In other Fire Department news, Selectman Russ Newcomb told selectmen they should begin to look at the future of the Fire Department when Yates’ term is up in two years.

“We have to decide what to do about the Fire Department position,” he said.

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It can elected or appointed.

Holt said he will look at what other towns do but whatever is done, the town will have to find another professional chief to replace Yates when he decides to retire.

“We need to know we’re going to get someone with skills to be chief,” Holt said.

Holt also talked of his future retirement and what form of government Norway should have. He said he has worked in several different forms of government but is sure of one thing: Norway town meeting attendance is very low and usually by only those who “want something.”

He said his concern was the many people sitting at home only worrying about how their taxes would be affected. The board should look at the options, he said.

Denise Whitley offered her services as a strategic planner .

“How do we get our townspeople more involved? We should find that out,” she said

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