WILTON – Planners took a poll to see how many members of the board still supported an 8-hour increase for the code enforcement officer during its meeting Thursday.

The move came in the wake of the selectmen’s decision this week not to add an increase in hours to the proposed municipal budget.

Selectmen agreed they could not justify such an increase while asking other departments to keep their budgets down this year. Three of the seven members said they no longer support an increase because the board is in the process of hiring a new, probably inexperienced officer.

Some members of the attending public questioned whether that would mean a new officer would need even more hours for training. Code Enforcement Officer Brenda Medcoff , who resigned from the position, said she would continue to help the town until a new officer is hired.

The town received nine applications for the post. Selectman and Planning Board member Norman Gould said none of them have any education or experience as an officer. Medcoff said whoever is hired will be required to take necessary courses and testing to become certified within one year. Planning Board member Keith Swett, Gould, and Planning Board Chairman Russell Black will meet with three candidates for the position Friday, April 2. Medcoff said one of the most important qualities an officer must have is strong organizational skills in order to keep good records.

Medcoff said she does not feel what is entailed in the position is understood. She plans to present the town’s Finance Committee with a list of all the duties.

“It will probably be about 10 pages long. People don’t understand what’s involved,” she said. Medcoff suggested officials consider lowering the pay rate rather than refuse to increase the hours. The proposed pay rate for the upcoming year is $11.84 per hour.

Medcoff said while she works fewer hours in three other towns, the pay rate is higher and the duties are less. She said Wilton requires three times more work to be done in less time. Medcoff said that Wilton has an extensive zoning ordinance that cannot be enforced while working only 20 hours per week. She said the additional hours will be necessary no matter who the officer is.

Board member Bryce Weeks agreed. “We are trying to run a full-size city here with all part-time help,” he said.

Black agreed. He said he feels selectmen should not try to decide for the town whether the hours should be increased.

“The town will decide whether they want to fund it or not at town meeting,” Black said. Swett said the budget process is not over. He said the issue still must go before the town’s Finance Committee before being presented to voters in June.

Two of the Planning Board members are also selectmen. They said they no longer agree with the increase.

Medcoff said she spoke with an attorney with Maine Municipal Association who told her only one member could legally serve on both boards if the board was established prior to 1977. But Black said Town Manager Peter Nielsen also looked into the issue and was told it was perfectly fine for more than one person to serve on both boards.

Member Keith Swett said his term on the Planning Board runs out this June and he does not intend to seek re-election. Black said he intends to run for selectman this year and if he is elected, he would resign his post on the Planning Board. That would leave only Norman Gould serving on both boards.