STRONG — Selectmen on Tuesday approved a 2 percent pay increase for five employees, effective Monday, Jan. 16.

Selectman Mike Pond said he called town offices in Chesterville, Kingfield and Phillips to compare employee duties and pay and all had a variety of pay scales and benefits.

“I learned a lot,” he said. “Every town does things differently.”

Phillips has a town manager, Kingfield has an administrative assistant and Chesterville is similar to Strong, with office staff and selectmen.

Based on his research, he recommended a 2 percent salary increase for one part-time and four full-time employees, which selectmen unanimously approved.

The board continued its 2017 budget review, explaining to two members of the Budget Committee how they planned to combine some accounts under a single warrant article at the March 4 town meeting.

Warrant articles will list a comparison of last year’s appropriations in each category, but will bundle the total for a single vote. For example, the recreation and recreation maintenance accounts will be combined, and that dollar amount will be combined with the town park’s appropriation as a single warrant article.

Dedicated accounts for future equipment purchases will remain separate warrant articles, but the goal is to shorten and streamline the town meeting.

Selectmen also emphasized that although many categories are close to last year’s budget appropriations, the insurance costs have increased from $55,000 to $61,000. That includes coverage for buildings, vehicles, health benefits and workers’ compensation. The employees’ insurance package is approximately half of that, according to board Chairman Jim Burrill.

Budget Committee member Terry Kenniston said $30,000 for employee insurance is a lot of money.

“You say it like it’s a joke,” he said. “I don’t think it’s a joke.”

The Budget Committee meets this month to review selectmen’s recommendations and make suggestions for the budget.

Selectmen agreed to present a warrant article asking for $20,000 to extend paving of the Pond Road.

“We listened to people on the Pond Road, and we can take it to the voters,” Burrill said.

Selectmen also will ask voters to allow them to take up to $10,000 from unassigned funds for emergencies or unanticipated expenses. The goal is to avoid special town meetings for small amounts at the end of the year.

Highway foreman Duayne Boyd said the town’s backhoe is 29 years old and the grader is 30 years old. Voters historically have set aside $20,000 per year toward equipment replacement.

Pond suggested that a $35,000 payment for a lease/purchase agreement for five years could buy a new piece of equipment. He proposed asking voters for $50,000, with $35,000 for a lease/purchase agreement and $15,000 for equipment maintenance.

Selectman Rob Elliott suggested selectmen should compare the cost of renting equipment or subcontracting jobs.

Pond suggested that when a culvert is broken, the highway crew needs to address the problem quickly, rather than requesting bids and hiring a contractor.

In other matters, Burrill received applications for custodian, and selectmen agreed to have a special meeting Tuesday, Jan. 17, to interview candidates and possibly make a decision.