Residents upset with chief's pay

PARIS — Residents criticized the pay raise interim Police Chief Michael Dailey received when he was hired last month.

At the December 11 board of selectmen meeting, resident Janet Jamison asked the board to explain its reasoning for Dailey's pay increase.

"Nothing against Mr. Dailey ... but it didn't seem to be based in any kind of reality when the newspaper went out and pointed out how much everyone else is making," Jamison said.

Dailey received a $5.55 per-hour raise when he took the position making him the highest paid municipal or county officer in the Oxford Hills area.

Dailey's $28.85 an hour is around $3 more than what former Chief David Verrier was earning when he left the position in late November.

Lawrence Reid, another resident, wondered if Dailey was qualified for the job.

"You don't  know if this man can even fill out a recommendation for a pay raise for one of his patrolmen, we don't know his management skills and yet we're going to pay him more than the Sheriff of Oxford County," Reid said. 

Board Chair Sam Elliot said the raise was for Dailey's position as interim chief, if he stayed on as chief he would not get another pay increase.

Selectman Robert Wessels said the board had looked at the salaries for chiefs in 30 towns of equivalent size and with an expectation of a 50-hour work week.

He said Verrier's salary was slightly lower than the other towns.

"And yet you're higher than the Oxford County Sheriff," remarked resident Jack Richardson.

Vice Chair Bob Kirchherr said Verrier's salary was almost at the bottom of the list of chief's salaries in the state.

He said that in order to compete and bring in qualified applicants, the town needed to at least offer a mid-range salary.

"We're not offering top dollar compared to other towns our size," he said.

Elliot recognized there was concern about the police force and said the board was confident in Dailey's ability to lead the department.

Dailey attended the meeting but did not comment.