FARMINGTON – Selectmen voted 4-1 Tuesday to approve a full-time secretary for the Police Department.

Bonnie Pomeroy of Wilton was chosen for the position by a 3-2 vote. She was recommended from a pool of 15 applicants.

At issue was the posting for the position for 29 hours weekly.

Chief Richard Caton III said Pomeroy was clearly “head and shoulders above the rest” but that she could not take the job at the proposed rate of pay of $9.97 per hour. At issue for Pomeroy, it turned out, was health insurance, which the 29-hour job would not provide. Caton asked selectmen to approve hiring her full time. The cost of insurance would be between $6,300 and $10,000 annually.

Selectmen were reticent to approve the full-time position initially, but admitted they had discussed the possibility in order to find the right applicant.

The department has a part-time secretary and the open position was full time. Selectmen had asked Caton to attempt to save money by making the full-time position part time.

Chairwoman Mary Wright said she recognized the position was not an ordinary one and required the right person.

Selectman Mark Cayer said he thought they could “hold the line on this one,” by asking the chief to readvertise the position.

Town Manager Richard Davis said the position is important, dealing with sensitive communications and sometimes an angry public.

The board approved the position full time, with Cayer opposed.

A member of the public asked if selectmen had considered what the pool of candidates might have been had they advertised for a full-time secretary. This prompted a search for a copy of it which Caton read aloud. The ad clearly stated the position was 29 hours weekly but said nothing about benefits.

Davis told selectmen there is nothing illegal if Pomeroy was hired under these conditions as any conditions of hiring are negotiable.

But Wright said she couldn’t support Pomeroy’s hiring because she thought, though unintentional, the practice was unethical. Other people might have wanted that job but didn’t apply because it was advertised as part time, she said.

Selectman Dennis Pike agreed.

This hiring would be “damaging to the reputation and credibility of the town,” he said.

Pomeroy’s hiring was approved 3-2, with Wright and Pike opposing.

Wright said her opposition was based on principle, not the candidate.

Selectmen also approved changes to two parking ordinances for the business district defining the district as the area between Anson and South streets and Front to High streets prohibiting parking within 10 feet from an alleyway, residential driveway or fire lane there. They also changed the overnight parking rules for Main Street to be consistent with other streets in the district prohibiting parking from midnight to 6 a.m. from Nov. 15 to April 15.

Selectmen also accepted a bid to sell a police department 1986 military surplus Chevrolet Blazer for $1,510.