FARMINGTON — Franklin County commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday to hire Nicholas Zecher of Farmington as a deputy.

Zecher, 24, is currently working as a police officer in Wilton.

He will fill a full-time position left vacant when Heidi Wilcox became chief of the Wilton Police Department.

Franklin County Sheriff Chief Deputy Raymond Meldrum said Zecher previously worked as an intern for the Maine State Police and security for U.S. Marshal Service, District of Maine.

He is a recent graduate of the Maine Criminal Justice Academy in Vassalboro and has a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice.

Four candidates were interviewed, Meldrum said.

Zecher scored 50 points above the next person, he said.

Zecher’s starting pay will be $13.60 an hour.

Chief Wilcox was at the meeting and said Zecher was taking a pay cut of about $3 an hour to go to the county.

Zecher said Wednesday that he always wanted to patrol the county and have a bigger zone.

In other business Tuesday, commissioners also voted unanimously to hire Vickie Braley of Jay as county deputy treasurer/deputy clerk.

She will replace Michelle Berry of Livermore, who is leaving due to a family matter.

Braley is currently working as tax collector and motor vehicle director for the town of Wayne. Before that, she worked for the town of Pittsfield for seven years, County Clerk Julie Magoon said.

Braley has 10 years of experience, she said.

The hiring committee interviewed four candidates and unanimously chose Braley, Magoon said.

Braley will be paid $15.50 an hour and work 37½ hours per week. She will be eligible for health insurance with the county after 60 days, per the personnel policy, Magoon said.

She will start the beginning of January.

dperry@sunjournal.com

Copy the Story Link