Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Select Board discusses unfilled animal inspector post and pay options
Summary
Board members said recruitment for the town's animal inspector role has failed because the posted wage is too low; they discussed possible approaches including blending duties with animal control, hiring a contracted provider, or increasing pay toward an estimated market closer to $5,000.
Town officials told the Select Board June 2 that the town currently lacks an animal inspector and has struggled to recruit for the position because the posted wage is too low.
Board members said neighboring towns and the state are also finding it difficult to staff this role. The town discussed short-term options including increasing pay, combining the inspector duties with the animal control officer or procuring inspection services from a professional vendor. One board member summarized the shortfall in pay by contrasting a cited current figure of roughly $1,200 with an estimated market nearer $5,000 for the responsibilities required.
Members noted that state enforcement and fines are typically only triggered when a specific violation raises the issue, and that the state has not been actively fining towns that cannot fill the role. The board asked staff to continue outreach to neighboring towns and to explore contracting models similar to regional inspection services.
No formal vote or binding decision was made; the item will remain on future agendas as staff gather proposals and budget options.
