CHESTERVILLE — Selectmen voted unanimously Thursday night to hire Budget Committee member Rachel Heseltine as deputy town clerk and deputy tax collector.

She will be paid $17 per hour in the part-time position and have an evaluation after six months.

Patricia Gordon resigned from both positions in April.

Town Clerk Pam Griswold, who is also town clerk for New Sharon, and Treasurer Erin Norton, who is treasurer for New Sharon and Starks, are also part-time employees of Chesterville.

The board also voted Thursday to appoint Alan Makey to the Planning Board.

In other business, selectmen voted unanimously to approve buying an excavator, trailer and soil compactor.

Road Foreman Mike Cote said an excavator is more efficient than a backhoe and can do more work.

“I can ditch more with an excavator. Price wise, it’s about the same for the two,” Cote said.

Former Road Foreman Ron Powers said, “An excavator is the only way to go. It’s new school versus old school.”

Board of Selectmen Vice Chairwoman Tiffany Estabrook said she talked with several town managers in southern Maine and they recommended an excavator.  

“Given how far behind we are, with so much work to be done, the excavator is the way to go,” Estabrook said.

Board Chairman Tyler Jenness said he was dead set against an excavator but wanted Cote to have what he needs to run his department.

“There are miles, not feet, of ditching needed,” Cote said.

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