By Gail Geraghty,Staff Writer

OXFORD – There’s been a good deal of interest in the Oxford treasurer’s position vacated when Sharon Jackson became Paris town manager.

The town has received 27 applications for the job, including several from local people, Town Manager Michael Chammings said Friday.

Whoever is chosen will not have the same job description that Jackson did, Chammings said. The town’s auditor has recommended that the new treasurer not be given the authority to withdraw and transfer funds.

“The person who is reconciling the checks shouldn’t be writing the checks,” Chammings said. He said the change was in no way a reflection of how Jackson, who worked as deputy treasurer and tax collector for eight years, did her job.

Rather, the change is in keeping with the standard for best practice in municipal treasurer positions, he said.

Jackson had the authority to withdraw and transfer funds, as well as sign checks and track revenues and expenses, he said.

Chammings has winnowed the field of applicants to four candidates and is in the process of interviewing those people, he said. He will then conduct a second round of interviews and perform a background check before making a final recommendation to selectmen.

Jackson was paid $14.10 an hour for her deputy treasurer and tax collector position. The position has been advertised as paying between $26,000 and $32,000 annually.