PARIS – Members of the Board of Selectmen had the holidays on their minds Monday night as they discussed employee days off and Christmas decorations.

Interim Town Manager Elisa Whiteley asked board members how the Christmas and New Year’s holidays would be treated because both fall on Saturdays this year.

Selectman Raymond Glover first suggested that town employees be given the preceding workdays off in each case.

Selectman Bruce Hanson disagreed.

“If we do that, we’re going to be paying time and a half and holiday pay for any employees that work,” he said.

Hanson said the town had problems last year when members of the Paris Police Department said they weren’t fairly compensated for administrative holidays, such as snow days. On those days, he said, they have to work while other employees are given paid time off.

“So what you’re suggesting, Bruce, is they work their regular 40-hour work week and then get an extra 8 hours pay?” Selectman Barbara Payne asked.

“Yes, or whatever their shift is,” Hanson said.

After some discussion, Payne said it sounded like a good idea if the town could “get by with the 40 plus the eight extra pay hours.

Selectman Gerald Kilgore said the board would not please everyone.

The board voted 5-0 in favor of Hanson’s suggestion.

Whiteley then brought up the issue of holiday decorations. The town office staff is not interested in putting them up this year, she said.

Whiteley suggested buying decorations through Young’s Flower Shop and Greenhouse, and then paying someone to put them up.

The town’s traditional decorations are in bad shape, she said.

“The toy soldiers have, like, cat litter to hold them up and they have holes in them, so every time you move them there’s cat litter everywhere.” The wings are falling off the angels, she added.

Whiteley estimated that buying wreaths and garlands and paying someone to put them up would cost $200 to $250.

She said there is about $1,270 in the town manager’s account.

Glover made a motion to approve the expenditure of up to $250 from the town manager’s account, which passed with a 5-0 vote.