NORTON - Closing the town hall once or twice a week is an option if additional budget cuts are necessary, Selectmen Chairman Robert Kimball says.

Kimball said Thursday night he and Town Manager James Purcell have discussed the possibility.

Town inspectors possibly still would do site visits, although town hall would be closed, Kimball said.

Should Norton have an emergency requiring considerable overtime, "there's a very good possibility that your estimated projections for (fiscal year) 2009 could be even less," Kimball told Purcell.

Purcell has presented a $46.8 million balanced budget proposal that's $233,216 less than current spending. That's due to bleak revenue projections and the lack of free cash, of which Norton is spending $1 million this year. Purcell proposes reducing two office positions by 17.5 hours each week, and one position by four hours each week.

One position in the inspections department would be reduced to a vacation and sick time fill-in.

"People are entitled to a week's vacation with their family," Purcell said. "You can't shut down the service."