JAY – Selectmen unanimously voted Monday to extend the town manager’s contract for three years giving Ruth Marden a 3 percent raise in each year of the contract.

Marden’s existing contract expires June 30, 2007. The new agreement goes into effect the following day, July 1.

There were no other changes to the contract.

Marden makes $57,401 now, and that will increase to $59,123 next year once the new contract kicks in.

Selectmen’s Chairman Bill Harlow said he reviewed other salaries of town managers of towns comparable in size and Marden is actually the lowest paid in the area.

“She does a great job for us. We appreciate the job she has done. We’re very fortunate,” Harlow said.