Norway officials are considering disbanding the town’s police department.
Mayor Brad Fogle, in presenting the town’s proposed 2009 budget for first reading at Monday night’s Norway Town Council meeting, said the police department is currently costing the town more money than it’s generating.
Norway currently does not have a full-time police department and is not seeking a full-time officer at this time, Fogle said. The town’s proposed spending plan for 2009 allocates $152,500 for the police department.
“We have been discussing the possibility of not having a police department for several months. Right now, we only have a part-time officer and although he works very hard, the police department is actually costing the town at this point. I prepared this proposed budget, but I want everyone to understand that we may decide to disband the department completely,” Fogle said. “And, if we approve the budget tonight, it is with the understanding that we may amend this budget during the second reading in January, or we may decide not to have a police department at all.”