PARIS – Selectmen aren’t expecting any big changes when Sharon Jackson takes over as town manager in January, according to a board member.

Bruce Hanson, vice chairman of the Paris Board of Selectmen, said Tuesday the town manager position is “pretty much set by state statute.”

Former Town Manager Steve McAllister “took on a lot of things another town manager might not want to take on,” Hanson said. He said that beyond her assigned duties, Jackson’s level of involvement with town issues and the public will be her choice.

Hanson said he expects the transition to go smoothly as Jackson takes over from interim Town Manager Elisa Whiteley.

Jackson will be paid $42,900 in 2005, according to a contract approved by selectmen at the board’s regular meeting Monday. That number is less by $9,200, or 21 percent, from what McAllister was making at the time he resigned.

According to McAllister’s last contract with the town, he would have made $52,100 in 2005. By July 1, 2006, his salary was set to jump to $57,200.

Hanson said the difference in salaries is due, in part, to Jackson’s lack of experience.

“Steve had six years of town management experience,” he said, comparing that with the two periods Jackson served as interim town manager in Oxford.

Hanson said McAllister started out at a pay rate of $38,000 per year.

Selectmen Chairman Bill Merrill echoed Hanson’s comments. “She doesn’t have a lot of experience as town manager, and I’m sure that the board will go back and look at (her salary) as we progress through this contract,” he said.

Jackson will have access to the remaining balance in an expense account that was held by McAllister, Hanson said. Town Clerk Betty Larson said the balance was $1,200 as of Tuesday.

The account would be renewed to $1,500 after July 1, 2005, Hanson said.

He also said Jackson will not be compensated for in-town and regional automobile use as McAllister was. According to McAllister’s contract, he was paid $230 per month for travel using his own car.

Under McAllister’s contract, the town was to pay for expenses relating to association memberships and dues, meetings, conventions and professional development activities.This clause is not in Jackson’s contract, but Hanson said she may use her expense account to pay for similar activities.

Although Jackson has fewer perks, she does have the unanimous support of the board of selectmen. McAllister’s last contract, dated May 10, 2004, was signed by Merrill, Hanson and Raymond Glover. Former Selectman Nancy Record and Selectman Gerald Kilgore did not sign the contract.

Kilgore said Tuesday he refused to put his name to the document because he could not support salary increases and expenses that totaled about $6,000.

He indicated that there may have been some initial disagreement over Jackson’s contract, but said, “We all agreed on it this time.”

“I think she’ll make a nice town manager,” Kilgore added.

Merrill said he hopes Jackson’s skills as a “financial whiz” will help during the approaching budget season. Jackson served as finance clerk for the town of Oxford for eight years.

“I’m looking forward to working with her. I think she’s got a lot on the ball,” he said.