JAY — Selectmen did not appoint former part-time building inspector and assistant code enforcement officerJames Butler Jr. to the Budget Committee on Monday.

Selectman Amy Gould said she had personal concerns about the appointment but made the motion to appoint Butler.

The motion failed due to lack of a second.

Butler was terminated as a part-time building inspector and assistant code enforcement officer by Town Manager Ruth Cushman in August 2009 after nearly a year on the job but still during a probationary period. At the time, Butler requested that his appeal hearing be held in public with his attorney, David Sanders, at his side.

Cushman said during the hearing that she terminated Butler due to an accumulation of actions by him that displayed “poor judgment” and resulted in a lack of trust and confidence. All of them were related to his actions as a Jay firefighter. Those included insubordination and using the Jay Fire Rescue Department’s credit card without the appropriate permission.

Butler denied any wrongdoing during the hearing and brought witnesses in to testify on his behalf.

Butler told the board at the end of Monday’s meeting that he was disappointed in its decision to not appoint him to the committee.

He said he is a taxpayer and volunteered to serve on the committee, which has one full-time member and two alternates.

He accused the board of being coached in their decision by the town manager but apologized if that was not the case.

Gould said she was not coached.

After the meeting, some of the selectmen said they also had personal concerns about the proposed appointment.

Butler is code enforcement officer and assistant fire chief for the neighboring town of Livermore Falls.

It is the second time since 2010, the Jay board has rejected an appointment to the Budget Committee.

The board voted 2-2 in January 2010 to not reappoint longtime member Barbara Cook based on what some board members said were concerns about behavior during public meetings.

dperry@sunjournal.com