PARIS — A public hearing on whether the town will enter a law enforcement contract with the Oxford County Sheriff’s Office is scheduled for May 20.
If residents decide in June to contract with the Sheriff’s Office for police coverage, the Paris Police Department will be shuttered, as the Bethel Police Department was in 2010 when voters there opted to take county coverage.
The issue will be put to a referendum Tuesday, June 11, prior to the June 15 town meeting.
The interim town police chief, Jerry Hinton, will work 24 hours per week at $60 per hour, or $1,440 per week. The former Brunswick police chief will not do patrol work and not have arrest powers.
Town Manager Amy Bernard said Tuesday that Hinton’s duties will consist of scheduling, supervising patrolmen and reviewing policies and operating procedures.
Hinton’s pay will cost Paris about the same as outgoing interim police Chief Michael Dailey’s did. Dailey makes $28.85 per hour but for 50 hours per week, or $1,442.50 per week.
Bernard said Hinton will also assist the town manager in finding and hiring a full-time chief. She said that process will begin after the June 11 vote, if residents vote to keep the Paris Police Department.
The hearing will be at 7 p.m. May 20 at the Paris Fire Station.
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