WEST PARIS – Selectmen voted unanimously Thursday to institute better financial controls over the expenditures concerning the West Paris Athletic Association. The group gets tax money annually to cover ball field maintenance and general operating expenses.

Town Manager Donald Woodbury said association officials will have to obtain purchase orders from the town office when payments are made to allow for better record keeping.

“In the past the association has paid out money from its account to cover the cost of field maintenance, uniforms, equipment and other needs directly without first getting approval from the office, The selectmen felt they would prefer better control of the money so they can see how the money is being spent. Also the account can be monitored more carefully,” said Woodbury.

The board also decided to have Selectman Wade Rainey, who is a state certified assessor, determine why town assessed property values do not match the property sales values. Because of that property values do not match the 100 percent values required by the state. Unless the values are close they will affect state reimbursement funds.

“The sales values on property are larger than our assessed values so we do not come close to the 100 percent value the state recommends,” said Woodbury, “so Wade (Rainey) will be looking into this for us and will report back at a later date with recommendations as to what we need to do.”