NORWAY – Police Chief Robert Federico said Wednesday that his proposed salary increase for Detective Gary Hill is based on a desire to bring the detective’s salary in line with other detectives of equal experience statewide.

“Unfortunately, the town historically has given (to its employees) a 2 to 3 percent increase. It catches up to you eventually, and it’s real apparent when you compare it (the salary) with other towns. You can’t just make one correction,” Federico said.

On Tuesday night, the chief presented the Budget Committee with proposed salary figures that showed a nearly $5-an-hour increase for the detective. The amount would raise his annual salary from $31,782 to $41,787. The proposal raised questions from Budget Committee members.

Selectmen and Town Manager David Holt said they were prevented from discussing the salary issue because the salaries of Hill, Sgt. James Ventresca and four police officers are in contract negotiations. Under bargaining agreements, neither side can publicly discuss salary issues while negotiations are ongoing, Holt said.

The chief’s salary is the only one in the department that is negotiated outside of the bargaining unit.

Federico said his challenge during a budget process where contracts are unresolved is to plug a fair number into the budget, knowing that number may not be the one town meeting members act on once negotiations are completed.

Federico said he based the detective’s proposed hourly rate of $20.09 on a 2006 Maine Municipal Association survey and information he gathered from area police departments with detectives on their payroll.

According to the MMA information, the average detective is paid $20.09 per hour. That average is based on two responses from towns that have similar populations ranging from 3,500 to 4,999.

In Rumford, population 6,143, the pay for detectives ranges from $39,052 to $43,836, said Rumford police Lt. Mark Cayer.

In Farmington, population 7,583, a starting pay for a detective is $34,049 a year and the top pay, minus annual cost-of-living increases, is $35,152, according to Farmington police Chief Richard Caton, III.

The Oxford County Sheriff’s Office detective is paid $18.15 per hour, the Oxford Police Department’s detective is paid $16.70 per hour and the Paris Police Department’s detective is paid $19.17 per hour, according to information from Federico. The Paris detective’s number will probably change once that union’s contract is settled, said the chief. The Paris Police Union has reached a tentative agreement, but the contract has not been ratified, he said.

Federico said the Oxford detective is new to the job. Hill, on the other hand, has a 20-year police background and extensive training, he said.

“He started extremely low, way under what the average was,” said Federico of Hill, who was hired last year. “He has well over 20 years experience.

The department is at full compliment with a detective, one sergeant and four officers, the chief said.