Rindge town officials will spend $1,500 to advertise for a new town administrator.
The Select Board voted Wednesday to take the money out of the executive budget. In a separate vote, the board divvied up the town’s $35,611 wage pool, which was approved by voters at Town Meeting.
“We are working to bring various positions up to a competitive level,” said board chair Robert Hamilton.
The police and fire departments will be given the largest chunk of the wage pool, $13,210 and $6,811 respectively. Cemeteries and parks and playgrounds will be given the least, $97 each. The highway department, town clerk, tax collector, animal control, town buildings, solid waste and library will also receive portions of the wage pool, with the executive budget retaining $721.
Despite Kinder Morgan recent suspension of the NED pipeline, the Select Board worked on updating the town’s trespassing ordinance to ensure that surveyors would not be allowed on town-owned property.
The board spoke with Ann Evans of the Beautification Committee, as she was hoping to get more volunteer members and a financial commitment from the town.
Evans said that membership has declined over the years, and it is becoming increasingly hard for the volunteer group to maintain town-owned properties without financial help.
The board said the budget has already been set for this year, so no funds could be given from the town at this time. Larry Cleveland said that community group Save Our Town had pulled together $200 for the group, and presented a check shortly thereafter.
The board also discussed future goals, rules of procedures, and thanked all who responded to the bomb threat at Rindge Memorial School.
Nicholas Handy can be reached at 924-7172 ext. 235 or nhandy@ledgertranscript.com. He is also on Twitter @nhandyMLT.