PARIS — With a 3-1 vote, selectmen gave Town Manager Phil Tarr notice of their intent not to renew his contract in December.

Had the board not given Tarr notice, his contract would have been extended automatically for two more years, according to its terms.

Tarr was silent during the vote.

Vice Chairman Robert Kirchherr made the motion to read aloud the letter approved by the town’s attorney. The letter explained the town’s intention not to renew Tarr’s employment, “letting it expire at the close of business Jan. 3, 2013, at which time Tarr’s employment with the town will end.”

Selectmen supported the motion 3-1, with Ryan Lorrain dissenting. Lorrain said at a previous meeting that he thinks the town should allow the automatic extension.

Chairman Sam Elliot said he was concerned about the letter’s use of the word “intent.”

“Is that a weasel word that allows something different to happen?” he asked.

Kirchherr said that was the wording an attorney approved.

Tarr was hired as the town manager effective Jan. 4, 2010, for a three-year contract, with an additional two-year renewal unless selectmen voiced their intentions not to renew his contract by the end of June.

At the June 11 meeting, the board voted against giving Tarr notice of their intent not to renew. Since then, former Selectman Jean Smart’s term ended and Selectman Ted Kurtz resigned from the board. Smart had voted for ending Tarr’s contract; Kurtz voted against it.

New Selectmen Sam Elliot and Gerald Kilgore were elected to the board and both voted in favor of notifying Tarr of the board’s intention not to renew the contract.

[email protected]