PARIS – Selectmen need greater interaction with the people they appoint to town committees, their chairman argued Monday.

“It doesn’t seem appropriate to bring people in and not even ask a question,” said Ernest Fitts III during the public comment portion of the meeting.

Fitts suggested that people who have applied for a seat on a committee should state why they want to serve. He also said anyone in the audience should be able to pose questions or make comments about the candidate.

Town Manager Sharon Jackson said the board requests anyone who has submitted an application to appear before the selectmen, although it is not required.

Resident Tom Hurd, who applied unsuccessfully to be an alternate on the Planning Board at the last selectmen’s meeting, claimed he heard one of the selectmen say he didn’t know one of the alternates chosen.

“I think the selectmen need to know who they’re voting on and what they stand for,” Hurd said.

Selectman Raymond Glover said any actions on Fitts’ proposals would have to be submitted as agenda items.

“I’m not really looking to get it on the agenda,” Fitts replied. “I’m just making suggestions.”

The suggested procedure was put into practice later in the meeting when Shelley Everett, Charlene Ripley, Troy Ripley and David Starbird were appointed as alternates to the Budget Committee. Both Troy and Charlene were present to give their reasoning for wanting to serve as alternates, while Jackson and resident Bob Ripley spoke on behalf of Everett and Starbird, respectively.

Everett was also appointed to the policy and procedure, and social service committees.

Fitts also mentioned concerns he had over the ordering of two Planning Board alternates appointed at the last selectmen’s meeting. Fitts said his brother, Ron Fitts, should have been made the first alternate since his nomination had been tabled from an earlier meeting.

Planning Board member Jackie Young said the board had already decided to switch the ordering after agreement by Jean Smart, who was also appointed as an alternate.

Selectmen voted 3-2 to extend a deadline for submitting concerns to an ad hoc committee reviewing the subdivision ordinance. Committee Chairman Bob Ripley said residents were not given enough time to submit concerns prior to the first meeting.

Selectman Raymond Glover and Gerald Kilgore opposed the extension.

“I just feel they’ve got enough on their plate,” Glover said.

Kilgore said he didn’t feel the proposed changes should be delayed and go to a special town meeting, as the annual town meeting is approaching in June and a special town meeting will cost more money.

“I’m more concerned with having citizen input than having a timeline,” Ripley replied.

Selectmen also voted unanimously to accept a $6,526.18 grant awarded to the Fire Department through the Maine Forest Service. The town will be required to make a 50 percent match. The grant was applied for to purchase two gas-powered portable pumps, two mobile radios and six portable radios.