POLAND – The town lacks any formal review process for its municipal employees, and elected officials want to see more accountability.

The Board of Selectmen has requested updated job descriptions and sample performance evaluation forms so annual reviews for the town’s 24 full-time employees can begin. Until now, the practice has been an informal one, said board Chairman Glenn Peterson.

“It’s difficult to have any accountability or maintain any kind of discipline when we don’t have accurate job descriptions,” said Peterson. “The board wishes to run the town more like a business than it has been done in the past.”

Town Manager Richard Chick said that each municipal employee does have job descriptions that were last written in 1990. However, he noted that many of the references are archaic and some duties have shifted.

“As the board membership changes, there are different ideas about what should be done,” said Chick, who has served as town manager for the past 30 years. “A lot of the changes are being driven by town growth. And a lot of it is the evolution of the board.”

Newly elected board member Wendy Sanborn voiced opposition at a recent selectmen’s meeting to reappointing Chick to town manager until selectmen reviewed his performance.

“I’m not questioning anyone’s competence,” said Sanborn. “I just think it’s good business practice, especially for a job as important as town manager.”

Selectmen David Corcoran suggested that the town should have a contract, up for annual review, with the town manager.

“I don’t think we can do a review until we get an accurate job description,” said Peterson.

With a 4-1 vote, the board reappointed Chick for the next fiscal year staring July 1, along with other town employees.

“He’s been doing this job for 30 years and has been through a lot of boards and been reappointed every time,” said Selectmen Bud Jordan. “I don’t see a problem with reappointing him now.”

The board began addressing town staff issues last year, said Peterson. The goal was to have had new policies in place by July. Peterson said he expected changes to occur in the next couple of months.