Alna selectmen agreed January 17 to offer a local man the job of animal control officer, but they weren't sure he'd accept.

Marla Blagdon resigned from the job for personal reasons. When Blagdon gave the town two weeks' notice January 4, the board sought her replacement through news reports and asking around to people other residents had suggested.

Former selectman David Seigars' name had come up, but he declined to do it for the $12 an hour it pays, First Selectman David Abbott reported at the January 17 meeting.

The pay isn't negotiable, Second Selectman Jonathan Villeneuve said. The town will also cover mileage and the cost of any training. Pay is capped at $1,500 a year.

Abbott said Jack Cheney had inquired about the job, but selectmen didn't know if he had gotten the information and if he was still interested.

The board should find that out before agreeing to hire him, Abbott said; however, Villeneuve and Third Selectman David Reingardt favored  making the offer.

The board eyed a number of fallback plans in case Cheney declined,  from calling the Lincoln County Sheriff's Department if needed until someone is hired,  to seeing if Alna could contract with another town for animal control services.

Instead, they decided to ask past animal control officer Toby Stockford if he would step in while Blagdon's successor is found and trained.

New meeting schedule

The board plans to meet every Thursday, starting January 24, to prepare the budget and other items voters will face at the annual town meeting March 16.  The meetings will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the town office.

Selectmen are asking for all proposed warrant articles to be submitted by February 14.

Susan Johns can be reached at 207-844-4633 or sjohns@wiscassetnewspaper.com.