Chichester Town Administrator Jodi Pinard returned to the job she resigned 10 weeks ago, but her bump in salary caught the attention of residents who had questions for their elected officials.

At a selectmen’s meeting Tuesday night more than 100 residents packed Grange Hall to voice concerns over the board’s decision to rehire Pinard with a $31,000 pay increase for a total annual salary of $120,000. The heated discussion lasted almost three hours.

Resident John White said the salary felt “too rich for the blood of this town.”

“We would be okay with someone lesser than that at a rate that we could afford, and we could feel comfortable with them as one of our peers, and we don’t feel that way,” White said. “That’s kind of the thing I get from this room, not that your intentions are bad, but the outcome just doesn’t fit Chichester.”

In Chichester, the median earnings for a full-time male worker is $72,703 and $63,636 for a woman, according to U.S. Census data.

The board explained that the salary increase aligned with their effort to pay town employees higher salaries following a municipal wages study conducted by nearby Allenstown. The board determined the town needed to pay more to retain its employees.

“We have to be competitive with other towns,” Selectmen Chair Stephen MacCleery said. “In my feeling, unfortunately, just because we are a small town, we can’t expect our employees to work for less money than they could earn somewhere else.”

However, residents weren’t satisfied with the justification.

The board met behind closed doors in non-public session on a Friday morning in early February to discuss the “dismissal, promotion or compensation” of a public employee. Pinard signed the town’s offer to return on Saturday, February 8.

Pinard didn’t participate in the public conversation about her compensation Tuesday night.

“I am very happy to be returning and looking forward to serving the residents of the community in the position of Town Administrator,” Pinard said in an interview Wednesday.

After Pinard resigned in December, the board led a seven-week search for her replacement. Their decision to fill the position was accelerated by the impending departure of the planning coordinator/administrative assistant, who had been filling some of the town administrator duties.

The most common question voiced at Tuesday’s meeting was, why was the salary increase so large?

Several residents asked about the board’s decision to offer Pinard $120,000 per year rather than the $100,000 per year they included in the proposed budget – already an increase from the $89,000 per year she was being paid prior to resigning in December.

“The question that I have is why, since you already went through the process of giving these positions raises based on other external factors and things like that, why the additional $20,000?” said Tara Blaney. “That is my question, and that process is not transparent, and that I think at least for me, is what is causing me to be here tonight.”

Board member Richard Bouchard offered a broader look at the town budget and reminded residents that even with the raises, the tax rate is set to decrease by about nine cents on the town side.

“So we’re lowering the tax rate, and at the same time we’re talking about this, the school tax rate is going up about 75 cents. So keep that in mind when we’re criticizing what’s going on here. We’re lowering, they’re raising,” Bouchard said.

Still, residents felt concerned about the difference between $100,000 and $120,000 for the town administrator’s salary.

“Where’s that extra money going to come from?” asked Wanda Clarkson. “Who’s going to get shorted? What equipment’s not going to get bought? Because you’ve got to adjust now you’re giving the extra $20,000 to that position.”

MacCleery explained that because of Pinard’s absence, her total wages for the year will be about $100,000, which is reflected in the town budget that will be approved at town meeting.

“Next year, it will show $120,000,” he said.

Pinard, who had been working for Chichester for eleven years prior to resigning in December, stepped back into her role on Monday and had continued working on a part-time basis to help get the town through budget season.

The board hasn’t yet had the chance to determine a plan for filling the vacant planning coordinator/administrative assistant role but intends to come up with a plan soon. They hired a part-time employee in January to help with some administrative tasks.

This year’s warrant contains 23 articles, seven of which relate to zoning and planning. Voting will occur at Grange Hall on Tuesday, March 11 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., with town meeting taking place on Saturday, March 15 at 9 a.m. at the Chichester Central School.

Rachel Wachman can be reached at rwachman@cmonitor.com