FARMINGTON — The Board of Selectmen has voted 3-1 to set the salary range for the finance director-treasurer position at between $56,000 and $62,000 when negotiating with candidates.

Diana Young, treasurer-finance director, is retiring around the first of September. The town is advertising to fill the position.

The range is more than Young earns but is closer to what other towns with similar populations pay.

Chairman Joshua Bell said he didn’t have a problem with the higher limit but had concerns about paying someone with less experience more than someone who’s been there 25 years.

Selectman Stephan Bunker was absent from the Tuesday night meeting. Selectmen Andrew Buckland, Michael Fogg and Matthew Smith approved the motion. Bell voted against it.

Farmington pays $54,694 for the position, which is low compared to other towns, Town Manager Richard Davis said. The town’s population is 7,760.

Ellsworth, with 7,741 residents, pays $80,000; Gray, with 7,761 residents, pays $63,360, while Rockland, with 7,297 residents, pays $62,000, according to figures compiled for comparison.

The town needs to find someone it can afford, but also must offer a wage that is fair and competitive, Selectman Andy Buckland said.  

“We can’t afford to hire the wrong person,” he said.

In other business, the board:

* Awarded an engineering contract for design services for the Mohawk-Shawnee-Seminole Road reconditioning this summer. Pine Tree Engineering of Bath got the contract for $6,900.  

Main-Land Development Consultants of Livermore Falls also bid $6,900, but based on an evaluation of the two offers, Davis and the Public Works director recommended the Bath company.

Other bids ranged from $9,500 to $19,150.

* Awarded a striping contract to Lucas Striping of Sidney for $9,888. The town has previously worked with Lucas Striping. Poirier Guidelines of Athol, Mass., bid $13,417.

* Approved changes to the town personnel policy to further define hours and holidays for full-time firefighters. They are: 42 hours a week, with overtime after 52 hours; eight hours for holidays and vacation days; and six paid holidays and six floating holidays for full-time non-management personnel in the Fire/Rescue Department.

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