Paris intends not to renew contract

PARIS —  In a 3-1 vote, the Paris Board of Selectmen decided to provide Town Manager Phil Tarr notice that it does not intend to renew his contract after it expires on January 3.

Selectman Ryan Lorrain voted against the measure.

During a board meeting on June 19, Lorrian made a motion to allow Tarr's contract to extend which was defeated in a 3-1 vote.

Monday's vote fulfilled the requirement in section three of Tarr's contract, requiring the board to provide Tarr with written notice of its intent not to renew within six months of the expiration of his contract.

Without the letter of intent, Tarr's contract would automatically renew for a two-year term after it ends in January.

In a special meeting on June 11, the board voted to have a lawyer review the letter it would send Tarr.

There was little discussion on the board prior to the vote, although newly-elected Chairman Sam Elliot questioned using the word "intent," which was included in the motion after legal review.

"Intention to do something is different from a commitment to doing it," Elliot said.

"Is it kind of a weasel word that allows something different to happen?"

Board Vice Chair Bob Kirchherr told Elliot he was unsure of the reason the word intent was included by the lawyers.

"I can only say that the lawyer has reviewed the wording of that and has approved it," Kirchherr explained.

A different motion not to renew Tarr's contract was defeated in a 3-1 vote during the June 11 board meeting.

Since that time, the board's make-up has changed considerably – Elliot and Gerald Kilgore were elected to seats left vacant by Ken West and Jean Smart and Ted Kurtz resigned from the board on June 18.