DIXFIELD – Selectmen decided Monday night to investigate whether a town employee’s serving on the Finance Committee constitutes a conflict of interest.

Committee Chairwoman Bettina Martin reported that Town Manager Nanci Allard asked her to have Darlene Brann resign.

“The administration is saying this employee needs to resign, but we are not going to ask her to resign. I don’t think anybody can ask her to resign,” Martin said.

Allard was absent Monday night.

According to Martin, Allard told her that it was a conflict of interest for Brann, a town employee and union member, to consider and make budget recommendations concerning employee wages.

Martin pressed selectmen for guidance.

Selectmen Chairman Eugene Skibitsy initially agreed, citing an article from the union contract that states that town employees should refrain from seeking office with town government.

But Martin reiterated that because the committee is not a governing body, she could not act on Allard’s request.

Committee member Norine Clarke asked the board what difference it made, with 11 members on the committee.

“It’s never, ever been an issue. The Finance Committee has no legal reason to do anything. It is one vote out of 11,” she said.

Skibitsky said the matter was not the board’s to decide because Brann was a committee member before she was hired by the town. But, he conceded, “Off the top of my head, I don’t see a problem” with Brann staying on as a member.

The board tabled the matter while it reviews Martin’s memo on the issue, and consults with Allard and the Maine Municipal Association.

In other business, the Finance Committee’s first meeting to review the proposed 2005-06 municipal budget is scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 12, in the community room at Ludden Memorial Library.