FARMINGTON — County commissioners voted to hire Richard Biegaj to fill the new part-time clerical position at the jail.

Biegaj of Wilton will work 20 hours a week and be paid $12.06 an hour.

Biegaj has worked part time for the county since 1998 and had performed similar duties prior to the state changing the mission of the jail to a 72-hour holding facility, Sheriff Dennis Pike said Tuesday.

Pike also informed commissioners that full-time dispatcher Tyler Richards has resigned to go to other employment.

The position was posted in-house for 10 days to adhere to the union contract. There were applicants, but none that were qualified, Pike said.

The position has been posted for another 10 days, externally, through the CareerCenter, Pike said.

The cost of advertising in newspapers is expensive, he said.

More applications have been received through that process, Pike said.

Commission Chairman Gary McGrane of Jay said the position should be advertised publicly to let the general public know that there is a vacancy.

“I don’t feel comfortable not advertising,” Commissioner Fred Hardy of New Sharon said.

Chief Deputy Ray Meldrum said there is a need to get qualified applicants. Training is expensive, he said.

If they are going to advertise through the newspapers, he said, it needs to be done quickly to cut down on overtime costs, he said.

The county received the resignation letter on Aug. 18, and the shift is now being filled by people working overtime, he said.

County Clerk Julie Magoon said she would put advertisements out through The Franklin Journal in Farmington, The Irregular in Kingfield and Maine Municipal Association in addition to the CareerCenter.

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