PARIS – Selectmen unanimously appointed Philip M. Tarr on Monday to be the next town manager.

“I think Paris is a great town,” Tarr told the people at Monday’s meeting. “I live not too far from here, and I’m looking forward to working with all of you.”

Under a contract signed with the town, Tarr will begin serving in the position on Jan. 4 and continue for three years, with the possibility of an additional two-year extension subject to a performance appraisal by selectmen. Tarr’s annual salary will be $57,000 plus benefits, including four weeks of paid vacation.

The contract says the selectmen may establish an expense allowance for Tarr to use in the course of his duties as town manager, including mileage reimbursement for travel to out-of-town meetings and conferences. The contract allows Tarr to live outside Paris, but stipulates that he must be within an hour’s drive.

The contract stipulates that the selectmen can request Tarr to resign or terminate his contract without cause before it expires. In that case, the town would have to pay Tarr a sum equivalent to nine months’ salary unless he is terminated for “gross misconduct of office.” The board must give Tarr six months’ notice if they intend not to renew the contract, and Tarr must give the board eight weeks’ notice if he wishes to voluntarily end the agreement.

Selectmen went into executive session for five minutes at the start of Monday’s meeting before returning and unanimously agreeing on the terms of the contract.

“We tried to get the best contract that we could,” said selectman Raymond Glover. “I’m not satisfied with it, but it’s the best that we could do, and I am satisfied with the person that we chose.”

Tarr, 69, has been the town manager of three different communities. He served in the position in Bridgton from 1984 to 1990, in Bethel from 1997 to 1999, and in Skowhegan from 2005 to 2007. Tarr also worked as the executive director and chairman of the Maine Harness Racing Commission from 1990 to 1995 and community manager at the Lake Arrowhead homeowners association in York County from 2001 to 2005.

“I’ve had my 18 or 16 months of retirement, and I really want to get back to work,” Tarr said.

Tarr will replace Michael Thorne, a former town manager of Raymond and Harrison. Thorne has been filling the position in an interim capacity since selectmen voted 3-2 in June to terminate former town manager Sharon Jackson’s contract without cause. Jackson has since filed an appeal in the Oxford County Superior Court seeking reinstatement to the position.

Tarr said he will focus on providing as much information as possible to the selectmen, including creating a working memo of items that need comment from the board. Acknowledging the heightened tensions that have been apparent at selectmen’s meetings since the decision to fire Jackson, Tarr said that he would also encourage the town to “communicate with itself.”

During the citizens’ comments portion of the meeting, resident Bruce Sargent offered a greeting to Tarr as well as a comment on the political climate in the community.

“I am getting sick and tired of watching this town go down the tubes,” Sargent said. “I think it’s disgusting what is going on in this town, in this audience, and up at that table. … Mr. Tarr, I welcome you, and you have my heartfelt condolences.”

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