PARIS — Selectmen postponed the formation of a Land Use Study Committee on Monday.

The board said it acted out of concern that the six applicants wouldn’t represent all the interests that the board hoped the committee would represent.

The goal of the group is advise the town on adopting ordinances to make future development conform to the 2007 Comprehensive Plan.

The plan suggested that the town adopt ordinances to protect natural resources and open space while shaping growth in both business and residential areas.

On Nov. 2, a question was posed via ballot in Paris asking if residents support a land-use ordinance in town. Voters favored an ordinance 1,429 to 513.

The town created an advertisement, which was run in the Sun Journal and Advertiser Democrat, stating the Board was looking for a committee representing a variety of issues, naming “residential/rental property owners, historic district residents, agricultural interests, the business community including the development and construction industries and conservationists.”

The applications distributed at the Town Office did not ask what interests applicants wished to represent, but three of the six applicants named their neighborhoods in the field for background experience. Two others cited experience with conservation issues.

Selectmen voted to reopen the application process, which had ended Jan. 14. The new deadline for applications is Feb. 25.

Selectmen commented that the advertisement may have been too small and asked the town clerk to run a larger ad with fewer words. Town Manager Phil Tarr was asked to write a news release.

Tarr suggested to selectmen that they use word-of-mouth and invite people they know to apply to join the committee.

Selectman Ted Kurtz was concerned the advertisement is looking to pigeonhole residents, and that some people might be uncomfortable with representing, for example, the town’s farmers.

Kurtz was also concerned about the recommendation for a five-member committee with six applicants. However, the committee can have as many members as the board sees fit.

Selectman Ken West said the low number of applicants may indicate a decreased interest in volunteering.

The committee could be a long commitment. The land-use study could take as many as two years, Tarr said.

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