PARIS — A majority of voters approved the Disorderly House Ordinance at a special town meeting Monday night.

Despite concern by some residents about what constituted a “disorderly house,” and whether it gave the Police Department too much authority and other issues, the ordinance passed.

About a dozen residents attended the public hearing and meeting.

Interim Police Chief Jeffrey Lange told voters there are repeated disturbances at several houses in town that police are unable to quell because there is no ordinance or state law to address issues such as loud music.

The ordinance gives law enforcement and selectmen authority to deal with such issues, he said. Lange said many towns, like Norway, have implemented similar ordinances and they have been successful.

According to the ordinance, a dwelling where police have responded multiple times within 30 days is declared disorderly. Under the ordinance, the board is allowed to enter into a consent agreement with the owner to control the conduct or the owner can be referred to the town attorney for further action.

Violations of the ordinance, such as failure to abide by a consent agreement, can bring a fine of not less than $100 or more than $2,500, plus attorney fees and costs.

A public hearing was also held Monday night on a revised sign ordinance that was intended to make Paris more business-friendly. Business owner Dennis Creaser questioned the temporary sign portion, saying he objected to paying fees for temporary signs every time a new one was erected.

Selectman Mike Risica said the revisions were simply to streamline the process for people wanting to put signs out in front of their businesses.

In other news:

• A suggested location for the electric vehicle plug-in station is in front of the Police Department building. Norway Fire Chief and master electrician Dennis Yates has offered to donate his labor to wire the connection. At the April 25 selectmen meeting, the board voted 4-1 to accept a donated electric vehicle charger to have a plug-in station in Paris.

• Interim Town Manager Sawin Millett told the board that one of two alternate Market Square traffic plans — installing a traffic light at about $150,000 or creating a roundabout at an estimated cost of $500,000 — would likely be funded or constructed by the Department of Transportation no earlier than 2019.

Both options might be eligible for a 50 percent cost share, but Millett said the board should be prepared to get in line quickly for state funding that will become available next year.

The DOT will update selectmen and a public hearing would be held before any decision was made.

• A meeting of three potential funding sources for the removal of 22 stormwater catch basins to divert runoff from the Paris Utility District treatment process by 2019 has been set for May 16 at the Town Office.

During the citizens’ comment section of the selectmen meeting, residents were told that the search for a new town manager has been narrowed down to six candidates. Interviews begin this week with the goal of having  a manager in place before the interim manager leaves following the completion of annual town meeting in June.

Residents also questioned statements made by Norway Police Chief Rob Federico at the Norway selectmen meeting that no mutual aid would be offered to Paris if there was no officer on duty during certain times of the night.

Residents will vote on whether to disband the police department and contract services with the Oxford County Sheriff’s Office.

Selectwoman Janet Jamison said Sheriff Wayne Gallant has promised to address the mutual aid situation at the upcoming police/sheriff forum on May 17.

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